In the solitary cell, Wei Qiang looked on woodenly as the eunuch entered carrying the poisoned wine.

The eunuch had been dispatched from the palace and needed to watch together with the Jinlin Guard as everyone from the Prince of Pingnan’s estate breathed their last before he could return to report.

“Time to depart.” The eunuch’s shrill voice echoed in the dim cell.

The Jinlin Guard who entered with the eunuch watched Wei Qiang warily, guarding against him going mad in his final moments.

After all, how many people could calmly accept death? He had seen plenty of desperate struggles at the end.

Unexpectedly, this deposed Crown Prince before him was extraordinarily calm, or rather, numb.

He slowly spoke: “Bring it here.”

The eunuch breathed a sigh of relief at this.

Such cooperation saved him considerable effort.

The eunuch carried the poisoned wine and walked step by step toward Wei Qiang.

“Wait a moment.” A voice came from the doorway.

The young woman’s voice was clear and ethereal, yet ringing out in this dim cell, it inexplicably carried a sinister quality.

The eunuch’s hand trembled, and the poisoned wine on the tray sloshed.

“Grand Governor.” The Jinlin Guard immediately saluted upon seeing Grand Governor Luo accompanying Luo Sheng.

The eunuch looked at Luo Sheng, then at Grand Governor Luo, his face full of confusion.

What was this situation—Grand Governor Luo bringing his daughter to see off the deposed Crown Prince?

“Grand Governor, this is—” the eunuch tentatively began.

It was rare for a death row prisoner to be so cooperative—better to let him die quickly and avoid complications.

Grand Governor Luo glanced at Wei Qiang and cleared his throat lightly: “It’s like this—Wei Qiang still owes my daughter money for wine.”

The eunuch’s eyes went round.

The man was about to die, yet they were pursuing the debt all the way to the cell?

Looking at the coldly indifferent young woman, the eunuch shuddered.

Miss Luo truly was not to be provoked!

Grand Governor Luo also felt somewhat awkward and laughed drily: “Gonggong, do us a favor and let my daughter exchange a few words with him.”

A weighty gold ingot fell into the eunuch’s hand.

The eunuch nearly failed to catch it, then beamed as he withdrew with the poisoned wine.

Convenience for others meant convenience for oneself—even without this gold ingot, would he, a mere eunuch, dare make things difficult for Grand Governor Luo?

Seeing the eunuch depart, Grand Governor Luo gave the Jinlin Guard a look.

The Jinlin Guard immediately withdrew.

“Father, you should go out as well.”

Grand Governor Luo frowned and said in a low voice: “Sheng’er, people facing death are capable of anything. Your father should remain here.”

Luo Sheng smiled: “Father, rest assured. If he truly tries anything untoward, he’s no match for your daughter.”

Grand Governor Luo thought about it and agreed, instructing: “Say just a few words. Come out immediately when finished. If anything happens, call for help.”

Luo Sheng nodded repeatedly. After Grand Governor Luo left, she looked at Wei Qiang expressionlessly.

Wei Qiang also looked at her.

For an instant, in this dim and sinister cell, it became so quiet only their breathing could be heard.

Wei Qiang spoke: “I don’t recall owing Miss Luo money for wine.”

At this, he smiled bitterly: “Even if I did owe it, I’ll repay it in my next life.”

For some reason, seeing Miss Luo at this moment, that numb heart seemed to come alive somewhat.

To see this girl who resembled Luo’er before death was perhaps heaven’s mercy toward him.

Luo Sheng scoffed: “That’s exactly what I fear, which is why I came to make things clear with you.”

Wei Qiang stared at the mockery at the corner of Luo Sheng’s mouth, doubt rising in his heart.

Even with their few unpleasant encounters, Miss Luo wouldn’t come at such a time specifically to mock him, would she?

“Why has Miss Luo really come to see me at this moment?” Wei Qiang stared into her eyes and asked.

Luo Sheng curved her lips: “I’ve come to see you off.”

She walked step by step closer to Wei Qiang.

Wei Qiang had been sitting on the ground but now couldn’t help standing up.

Luo Sheng stopped before him, a smile hanging at the corner of her mouth, cold light held in her eyes, saying in a low voice: “I once said something—I wonder if you still remember.”

“What?”

She stood right before him—her brows and eyes, her casual tone—all gave him an increasingly strong sense of familiarity.

This feeling made his heart beat rapidly, a premonition that something was about to happen.

Luo Sheng looked at Wei Qiang and said word by word: “Wei Qiang, your family will have retribution. From the azure heavens to the yellow springs, I will watch with wide-open eyes, waiting for the day retribution comes.”

Wei Qiang felt as if struck in the heart by a heavy hammer, his expression changing dramatically: “Luo’er—”

Quick as lightning, he reached out and grasped Luo Sheng’s wrist.

The young woman’s hand was ice cold, her expression even colder: “Let go.”

“You’re Luo’er, aren’t you? Tell me, who exactly are you!” Wei Qiang’s expression was agitated, his hand involuntarily tightening its grip.

Luo Sheng felt the pain but didn’t even furrow her brow, staring at the disheveled man with mocking eyes and saying lowly: “You see, what I said came true, didn’t it?”

She pulled her hand back. Wei Qiang gripped it tightly and wouldn’t let go: “Luo’er, don’t leave. I’ve always wanted to tell you—I was wrong, I truly was wrong!”

Luo Sheng smiled: “I know you were wrong. You needn’t say it repeatedly.”

“You—”

“Oh, I don’t forgive you.” Luo Sheng spoke casually, her eyes full of icy coldness.

Wei Qiang stared at her in a daze.

Luo Sheng took the opportunity to withdraw her hand, saying softly: “I came to see you off just to tell you this. You needn’t think about what to do when you reach the underworld.”

“Luo’er—” Wei Qiang gazed at the young woman before him, tears in his eyes.

That heart which faced death with only numbness was now filled with despair.

“Farewell forever.” Luo Sheng turned around.

Her wrist was grasped again. To make the person before him stay a moment longer, Wei Qiang blurted out: “Luo’er, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Grand Governor Luo?”

Luo Sheng turned back, looking at Wei Qiang with eyes full of contempt: “You caused my death once—what’s strange about causing it again?”

“It wasn’t me… Luo’er, listen to me. Father Prince promised me he wouldn’t harm you. I never intended for you to die—”

A soft laugh sounded.

“Wei Qiang, have a bit of backbone and let me think slightly better of you, won’t you?”

Thirteen years ago, they had both been seventeen—one could say they were young and ignorant. But now this man was already thirty years old, yet he hadn’t progressed in the slightest.

This too was a kind of ability.

After hearing Luo Sheng’s words, Wei Qiang fell into long silence.

He remained silent watching Luo Sheng leave, silent as the eunuch entered, silent as he drank the poisoned wine.

Even as the toxic wine entered his belly and he collapsed in convulsing agony, he made no sound.

As darkness descended, Wei Qiang used all his strength to open his eyes and look toward the cell door.

Luo’er had just walked out from there.

When he reached the underworld, he wouldn’t see Luo’er either.

For an instant, he wanted to shout out Luo’er’s identity, to have her accompany him to the yellow springs.

But under Luo’er’s contemptuous gaze, he dismissed that thought.

Luo’er was not wrong—thirteen years ago, he had caused her death. From then on, this path of life from birth to death was destined to be walked alone by him.

Wei Qiang stopped breathing with his eyes open.

Walking out of the cell, the sunlight was instantly bright. Luo Sheng gently exhaled a breath of stale air and headed toward the Youjian Wine House.