Because Wen Yu had come in haste, her thick black hair was only loosely pinned up with a few large hairpins. Half her clothes and the black hair hanging down to her waist were completely soaked. After being frozen for this period of time, her face had already taken on an ice-sculpted pallor. Only her eyes remained like cold stars and sudden flames, glaring angrily at Xiao Li.

Heartache, fear, and too many extreme emotions surged up together. After seeing him abuse his body like this, they all transformed into fury. She glared with raised brows: “If I hadn’t come, was Mister Xiao planning to torment himself to death in this water prison?”

But Xiao Li only stared at her, saying with unclear meaning: “You came.”

His breath was still scorching, his gaze obsessive, dark, and dangerous.

Wen Yu’s anger hadn’t subsided. Her body trembled slightly beyond her control in this cold pool, yet she still tried her utmost to keep her voice taut and cold: “What does Mister Xiao want to say?”

The large palm that had been stroking her cheek moved down, changing to embrace her waist and hips, lifting her upward. In her urgency, Wen Yu instinctively grabbed onto the clothing on his shoulders and arms.

He seated her on the stone platform, away from the pool water. He himself showed no intention of retreating. Because they were so close, and Wen Yu was still gripping the clothing on his shoulders and arms, for a moment this posture seemed like an embrace.

His hand braced against the edge of the stone platform, his arm forming a cage around her. His breath, burning and slightly heavy with high fever, sprayed entirely onto her cheek.

This posture suddenly made Wen Yu recall being trapped by him against the stone wall of the hot spring at the mountain hermitage. She furrowed her brows slightly, unconsciously wanting to move away, but heard Xiao Li say: “Do you care this much about every prisoner?”

Realizing the other person was responding to her earlier words, but he had already broken free from the iron chains and still refused to go ashore despite the high fever wracking his body, trapping her in the pool—Wen Yu couldn’t help but feel anger rise in her heart again: “Mister Xiao is worth more alive than dead. Naturally this palace must pay attention.”

Something seemed to be swallowed down with difficulty in Xiao Li’s throat. He sneered, the fierceness in his eyes staring at her showing only pitch-black darkness intertwined with crimson red: “Didn’t the Princess say that after seizing the military authority in my hands, no one in the world would say another word? Then what use am I to the Princess that would make you condescend to come see me personally?”

Wen Yu slightly turned her head to the side, lowering her eyes to look at the black iron prison bars nearby. Her lips were pressed extremely tight. Not wishing to continue this conversation with him in the water prison, she only said: “The cold pool water is frigid. Since this palace has fallen into Mister Xiao’s hands, Mister Xiao might as well take this palace hostage and demand a horse to leave the royal court after having an imperial physician examine you.”

Xiao Li looked at her. The mockery in his smile intensified, while the redness and ripples in his eyes gathered deeper and deeper. He forcefully cupped Wen Yu’s cheek with that hand bearing scabs and bloodstains, saying: “What I came here for this time, I already stated when I besieged the royal court.”

“I know I’m overestimating myself. I know it’s foolish infatuation. But Wen Yu, when you said back then that you would marry whoever gave you Xin and Yi provinces, I came to see you with military maps for attacking Xin and Yi provinces.”

He clenched his jaw tight, clearly presenting all the love, hate, pain, bitterness, and unwillingness in his eyes for her to see, speaking that accusation delayed by more than two years: “It was you who went back on your word. It was you… who didn’t keep your promise, changing your demand to troops and authority!”

Something bitter and heavy fell from his bloodshot eyes: “You scorned me, hated me. I left back then, yet it was you yourself who fell into my hands again!

“Didn’t you marry Prince Chen who had troops and authority? Didn’t you weigh the pros and cons and make what you considered the best choice? Didn’t you forbid subjects from coveting you? How did you end up living in such a wretched state? When I protected you going south, as long as I still had a breath in me, did I ever let you be alone in such a dangerous place? But you chose them! How can you expect me to accept this? Wen Yu, I’m asking you—how can you expect me to accept this?”

He questioned her again and again, throwing at Wen Yu all the unwillingness that had corroded countless holes in the beating flesh in his chest over these years. His other hand also cupped Wen Yu’s face, using his fingertips to slowly wipe away the moisture rolling from her eyes. His breath urgent, heavy, and painful, he pressed his forehead almost against hers and said:

“And it was also you who personally denied all the previous hatred toward me, saying you liked me.

“I believed you. I also gained troops and authority. But why still won’t you give up Prince Chen?

“If you won’t choose me, then I’ll prove I’m the strongest, the one most worthy of your alliance. You’re so intelligent, you have so many ways to consolidate political power—why must you have a child with someone else…”

He couldn’t continue speaking. Ripples spread, and something rolled down again from his bitter red eyes. Even his breathing began to tremble. After a moment, he spoke his final accusation with resentment: “What right… do you have to treat me this way?”

Wen Yu was forced to look up and meet his gaze. Her pale face under the dim candlelight was like a cold moon reflected in water, carrying a layer of light in the rippling waves. Her soaked skirt hung down heavily, pulling her neckline slightly open. When she breathed, one could even clearly see the rising and falling arc of her collarbones covered by only a thin layer of flesh.

Xiao Li forcefully cupped her face, their breaths almost intertwined. Yet the moisture on his face increased more and more. His eyes were so fierce, so full of hate, exposing the heart-piercing love and hate within. His Adam’s apple slowly moved as he said: “Wen Yu, why don’t you kill me?”

When saying this sentence, his voice was extremely hoarse. Though he still stared fixedly at Wen Yu, everything before his eyes already had double images.

He hadn’t slept well for two days and two nights. Bearing wounds on his body and having barely eaten, forcing himself to this point was already his limit.

The soreness in Wen Yu’s eyes intensified. Her face was stretched extremely tight. After her hand found the chain fastened to Xiao Li’s neck collar, she suddenly yanked it downward forcefully. Xiao Li was pulled down, forced to lower his head several degrees more.

She didn’t release that chain, letting that heavy black iron collar press against the scabbed bite mark she had made before. She raised a pair of eyes whose faint redness hadn’t faded, glaring at him with no less fierceness, questioning again:

“Why did you kill those twenty thousand surrendered Pei soldiers?”

“Because… they deserved… to die…”

Xiao Li only answered these few words before collapsing onto Wen Yu’s shoulder and neck, his entire body burning hot as charcoal. After being stretched to that extreme limit, he had completely passed out.

In the cold pool’s rippling water reflected by torchlight, Wen Yu saw the arrow wound on his shoulder that had stained the gauze with a mass of red traces. Memories from the past surged into her heart. She leveled her stifled breathing and slowly closed her eyes.

The firelight cast the shadows of two people on the wall. One shadow raised its hand and placed it on the other shadow’s back.

An extremely low voice sounded in the empty, silent water prison: “I will continue to punish you.”

—

The next day, the sunlight was dazzling, the gentle breeze warm and mild.

Inside the palace hall, the curtains were blown gently flying by the wind pouring through the wide-open window lattices.

“…His foundation is good. When examining him last night, the wound on his shoulder still showed some inflammation. When changing the dressing today, the inflammation at the wound site had already subsided. The fever has also broken. After a few more doses of medicine and proper rest, there should be no major problems.”

Imperial Physician Fang stood at a distance, answering respectfully.

Wen Yu sat before the chessboard by the window, holding a piece without raising her eyes, saying: “You may withdraw.”

Under Tongque’s gaze, Imperial Physician Fang bowed to Wen Yu, then respectfully withdrew.

The chess piece in Wen Yu’s hand landed at the corner edge of the board. Only then did she ask Tongque: “Has Pei Yuan confessed?”

Tongque shook her head: “His mouth is extremely hard. He’s been confined in the water prison until now. Even after torture, he still refuses to speak.”

Ordinary criminals would be beaten with intimidation rods before going to the public hall.

Major criminals entering the Heavenly Prison would first be confined in the water prison for a night, with torture methods applied subsequently.

Thus, the night Xiao Li and Pei Yuan were escorted back together, when Wen Yu said to confine them both in the Heavenly Prison, the subordinates mistakenly treated Xiao Li as a major criminal as well, escorting him into the water prison together.

Wen Yu picked up a black piece from the chess basket, only saying: “Continue the interrogation.”

Tongque lowered her head in acknowledgment, knowing in her heart that if Pei Song had turned to Xiling, then Pei Yuan must also know some of Pei Song’s plots with Xiling’s side.

However, when raising her head to look at Wen Yu, she still said with some worry: “Princess, you barely closed your eyes last night. Today’s court session continued with political discussions until afternoon. How can your body withstand being worn down like this? Let this servant attend you to sleep.”

After bringing Xiao Li back from the Heavenly Prison last night, to avoid attention, Wen Yu had first arranged for him to stay in a side hall of Zhaohua Palace.

When Imperial Physician Fang secretly entered the palace to examine him, he discovered that not only had the arrow wound on Xiao Li’s back shoulder torn open again when he forcefully broke the chains, but it had also become inflamed due to the high fever. The situation was currently quite dangerous and required someone to stay by his side to care for him.

Tongque found a trustworthy young eunuch to care for Xiao Li in the side hall, telling him to constantly monitor the fever and fetch water to wipe his body to reduce the temperature.

Wen Yu had already slept for three hours earlier. After returning from the Heavenly Prison, she lost all sleepiness. After changing out of those wet clothes and wringing dry her hair, she continued handling the accumulated memorials in the main hall.

In the latter half of the night, she suddenly heard strange sounds from the side hall. Going to look, she discovered that when the young eunuch was wiping Xiao Li’s body to dissipate heat, Xiao Li—half-dreaming and half-awake, sensing a stranger approaching—had dislocated the eunuch’s hand.

The young eunuch’s face was already covered with snot and tears. Fearing to disturb Wen Yu, he didn’t dare make a single crying sound.

Wen Yu ordered Tongque to take the young eunuch away for proper care. Turning back to look at Xiao Li on the bed, his face flushed deep red from fever, still trapped in delirium, she raised her hand to check the temperature on his forehead. When trying to withdraw her hand, he raised his and gripped it firmly.

He seemed trapped in some nightmare, calling unclearly for “Mother,” then calling her name.

Wen Yu suddenly recalled that when he had fallen ill at the mountain hermitage, he had also gripped her wrist like this.

She fell silent for several breaths before trying to free her hand from his grip. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free.

Later when Tongque returned and saw Wen Yu “restrained” by Xiao Li, she also tried to pry his hand open. But when the other person sensed external force, the more force applied in his delirium, the tighter he gripped. Wen Yu’s hand was gripped until it hurt somewhat, yet Tongque still couldn’t pry it open. Fearing he would injure Wen Yu by gripping too hard, she could only give up for the time being.

Wen Yu was trapped by the bedside. She rubbed her temples and had Tongque bring the memorials she hadn’t finished reviewing. She placed them on her lap and reviewed them by candlelight through the night.

When dawn came and she really couldn’t withstand the drowsiness, dozing off briefly, the vermillion brush in her hand fell out, even drawing a vermillion line on the quilt and bedding.

When Tongque entered to wake Wen Yu for morning court and saw Wen Yu sleeping like that, her eyes were full of heartache. Seeing Xiao Li still gripping Wen Yu’s wrist, her heart felt somewhat conflicted.

Fortunately, after this night Xiao Li’s high fever had finally subsided. However, probably because his qi and blood were severely depleted, he remained unconscious. Only when she tried again to help Wen Yu pry open the hand gripping her wrist did she finally succeed.

Wen Yu—not knowing if she was slightly annoyed—had a poor expression throughout this morning’s court session. The ministers below thought she was worried about the Western Frontier war situation. Fearing to touch a sore spot, when discussing politics each one dared not utter any evasive words. Today’s handling of trivial government affairs was actually more effective than usual.

Now hearing Tongque’s words, Wen Yu twisted that black piece, not finding a place to position it on the board for a long time. The gentle breeze poured into the hall from outside again. One could only hear the rustling sounds of branches and leaves from the tall trees throughout the courtyard.

She turned her head to look out the window, saying: “The Azure Cloud Guards sent word that A’Zhao should arrive at the royal court soon. I’ll rest after seeing A’Zhao.”

When the royal court was besieged and the Azure Cloud Guards sent a letter to Gu Xiyun, following Wen Yu’s instructions, they also sent a letter to Liang territory.

Since Xiao Li had led troops to besiege the royal court without anyone knowing, Wen Yu naturally needed to clarify immediately whether any changes had occurred within Liang territory.

After receiving the letter, Zhaobai, fearing Wen Yu might come to harm, set off beyond the pass that very day.

—

At the end of the Hour of the Rooster, Zhaobai alone on horseback galloped into the royal palace, rolling up the fallen petals covering the ground outside the Eastern Capital Gate avenue.

At that time, A’Li had already awakened from her afternoon nap. Having just cried once, she had been carried to Wen Yu’s side by a palace attendant.

After hurriedly entering the hall, Zhaobai directly braced herself with one hand on the ground and knelt on one knee, saying: “This servant has failed the Princess’s trust and was unable to successfully rescue the Heir Consort.”

Wen Yu had long known the full account of that day’s events from the letter sent back by the Azure Cloud Guards. She personally stepped forward to help Zhaobai up. Thinking of her sister-in-law who had treated her like a younger sister, even though she had known this terrible news for some time, her heart still felt extremely uncomfortable. She only said: “The situation that day was perilous. You already did your best. I don’t blame you.”

She asked again: “How are the wounds on your body healing?”

Hearing this, Zhaobai’s eyes imperceptibly reddened slightly. She quickly lowered her head, unwilling to rise, only answering: “Already mostly healed. Below that cliff was a great river with rapid currents. This servant searched along the river for a long time… to date has been unable to find the Heir Consort’s body.”

Suddenly hearing these words, Wen Yu’s heart also ached. She took a breath. The hand that had been supporting Zhaobai’s forearm changed to gently patting her elbow joint, saying: “Sister-in-law has always been blessed by heaven. She was probably carried by the current downstream and rescued by someone. Send people to continue the search.”

A’Li in the cradle also made a babbling sound. When Zhaobai raised her head to look, she saw that the child could already grab onto the wooden railings of the cradle to stand up—already vastly different from the soft, tender bundle she had been when Zhaobai left the royal court.

Her sorrow was dispersed somewhat. She also knew that after Wen Yu had spoken thus, if she continued kneeling it would be unseemly. She nodded, forcing back the soreness in her eyes, then stood up following Wen Yu, saying: “I left behind some Azure Cloud Guards and had them lead the official troops to continue searching along the river.”

Wen Yu asked: “What about A’Yin?”

Zhaobai’s expression darkened again by several degrees. Shaking her head, she said: “The young county princess often can’t sleep well at night, frequently crying in alarm, clamoring for the Heir Consort…”

The redness that had been suppressed earlier floated back up in her eye sockets. She said: “I originally thought that after finding news of the Heir Consort, I would bring the young county princess to see you. However, after receiving word earlier that something had happened at the royal court, fearing it would be dangerous to bring the young county princess beyond the pass, I first entrusted the young county princess to Madam Chen’s care.”

Soreness also appeared in Wen Yu’s eyes as she said: “When I left Luodu, A’Yin was only three years old. Now… it’s been nearly three years since I’ve seen her.”

A’Li could only stand by gripping the cradle’s railing for a short while. Not knowing if it was because Wen Yu hadn’t paid attention to her for so long, or because she saw the redness welling up in Wen Yu’s eyes, A’Li suddenly pursed her lips and began to cry.

Wen Yu turned and picked up her daughter to soothe her gently. Zhaobai watched this scene, recalling how when she soothed A’Yin at night, speaking of how the Heir once was, A’Yin had asked who the Heir was. When she answered it was her father, A’Yin first showed a bewildered expression, then cried chokingly to tell her she didn’t remember what Father looked like anymore—this made her heart ache dully.

After A’Li’s crying gradually diminished and she was placed back in the cradle by Wen Yu, Zhaobai said: “Princess, regarding the true reason why Xiao Li massacred Pei Song’s twenty thousand surrendered soldiers in Liang territory—this servant investigated it during this trip back to Liang territory.”