“Don’t get any ideas about her,” the woman reminded. “This is someone His Highness wants.”

“You and I both know clearly that His Highness doesn’t want her because he likes her, but to torment her. Since that’s the case, she’s going to be tormented anyway. Naturally the more miserable the better. Why do you care what I do? His Highness hasn’t arrived yet, has he?”

Jiang Li froze. Prince Cheng hasn’t reached Huangzhou yet?

That woman spat at him. “In any case, I’ve already told you. Don’t get any ideas. If something goes wrong, I won’t speak up for you.”

The man said impatiently, “I know, I know. I won’t do anything.”

Though that was what he said, Jiang Li felt that man’s gaze like a cold, wet snake slowly patrolling over her body, sticky and extremely disgusting. In her heart, she couldn’t help becoming alert, yet she was completely helpless. Listening to the tone of these two beside her, they were going to remain in Huangzhou.

The journey was over. They would likely settle down in a fixed location. This way, if this man wanted to do something to her, it was merely a matter of a single thought. She couldn’t guarantee when this would happen, but at the very least, first she couldn’t take those drugs that made her entire body unable to move. But the woman was extremely cautious and came personally every evening to administer the drug.

Sweat couldn’t help but seep from Jiang Li’s palms.

There wasn’t much time left.

…

In Yan Capital, Jiang Yuanbai still hadn’t given up searching for Jiang Li’s whereabouts. Later on, he even disregarded whether it would affect Jiang Li’s reputation and directly ordered government officials to post missing person notices. Losing reputation was still better than losing one’s life. Jiang Youyao was an example. Every day Jiang Yuanbai returned to the mansion, he would go see Jiang Youyao. Just thinking that Jiang Li might also become like Jiang Youyao’s current state, Jiang Yuanbai was in such pain he couldn’t speak.

He didn’t know what was happening. If it was said that he had committed some great error, the punishment falling on him alone would suffice. Why must it trouble his children? But the matter still had no results. The government officials said that Jiang Li was most likely not in Yan Capital. Because of Princess Yongning’s precedent, this time’s search didn’t even spare people’s mansions, yet there was still nothing.

The maids at Fangfei Courtyard these past days were also dejected all day long. Baixue went to the city every day to search for people. Tong’er’s injury still wasn’t healed, and she too was looking sadly at the whistle on Jiang Li’s desk. How could it be so coincidental that Ji Heng happened to not be in Yan Capital during this time? If the Duke of Su were here, wouldn’t Jiang Li have been found earlier?

But what was thought in the heart was ultimately only what was thought in the heart. The common people of Yan Capital were all shocked by Prince Cheng and Consort Li’s illicit affair and Second Miss Jiang’s disappearance. They were actually indifferent to other matters, including Xiao Deyin’s death.

Xiao Deyin had died.

Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun were beheaded for public display, and their evil deeds from years past were proclaimed throughout the land. Xiao Deyin naturally couldn’t escape punishment either. Though they didn’t take her life, she was severely beaten with fifty strikes of the rod. Xiao Deyin returned in such a dying state. The maids in the mansion found a physician to treat her and barely kept her alive. But it was said that one day, Xiao Deyin’s room door wasn’t closed, and the Xiao Deyin on the bed heard several maids talking outside the door, saying how people in Yan Capital were now discussing Xiao Deyin, saying she was pretentious, cruel, and hypocritical. Xiao Deyin was so angered her qi attacked her heart. After vomiting several mouthfuls of blood, she was actually angered to death.

Xiao Deyin had loved living in people’s admiring and respectful gazes her whole life. She hoped her qin skills were unmatched in the world and was unwilling to be looked down upon by anyone. Now anyone could look down on her. Xiao Deyin naturally couldn’t endure it. Even if she hadn’t been angered to death, eventually one day she would have been unable to bear everyone’s strange gazes and ended her own life.

If it were before, when news spread that Yan Capital’s foremost qin master had passed away, naturally people would pay attention. Perhaps everyone would sigh and feel regret. But right during these troubled times, who could spare attention for someone like Xiao Deyin? Even if someone occasionally learned of it, they would only say “serves her right” and be done with it.

Thus Xiao Deyin ended her life.

At Yaoguang Residence, Jiang Yuanbai was sitting with Jiang Youyao. During the day, the soldiers had conducted another round of searching that still yielded no results, yet Jiang Yuanbai was unwilling to return to his own room. He didn’t know when it started, but his room had become cold and cheerless. He wasn’t someone who enjoyed liveliness, yet even he couldn’t endure that desolation. When alone, he always thought of Ye Zhenzhen, thought of Ji Shuran, Auntie Hu, and his deceased daughter Jiang Yue’er.

Though being here and looking at Jiang Youyao was also sorrowful, at least that suffocating coldness was gone.

A maid’s voice came from outside. “Master, Second Master has arrived.”

Jiang Yuanping had come. Jiang Yuanbai stood up and turned his head to see his younger brother.

Whether at court or at home, Jiang Yuanping always had a smiling, good-natured appearance, which was why he earned the nickname “Smiling Tiger.” But after this series of recent events, the smile on Jiang Yuanping’s face was gone. Looking at Jiang Yuanbai, there was even some solemnity.

“Elder Brother, let’s go inside to talk,” Jiang Yuanping said.

Seeing that he seemed to have important words to say to him, Jiang Yuanbai dismissed those around him and entered the room with Jiang Yuanping.

Once inside, Jiang Yuanbai closed the door and first asked Jiang Yuanping, “How are things in the palace?”

These past days, busy searching for Jiang Li’s whereabouts, Jiang Yuanbai hadn’t gone to the palace, and Emperor Hongxiao could understand. Therefore, Jiang Yuanbai didn’t know what the current situation in the palace was and could only ask Jiang Yuanping.

“Grand Consort Liu has been confined. I originally thought His Majesty would use Grand Consort Liu to threaten Prince Cheng.”

Jiang Yuanbai laughed coldly. “How could Prince Cheng be threatened?”

“His Majesty thinks the same. Grand Consort Liu will likely be unable to escape death, though to humiliate Prince Cheng, it will be deliberately done after Prince Cheng raises his troops.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuanbai’s gaze showed slight surprise, then he nodded. “That’s good too. If before, it would inevitably give Prince Cheng grounds for complaint.”

“Elder Brother, that’s not what I came to say. A few days ago, someone saw Jiang Yuanxing going to the Right Minister’s mansion.”

Jiang Yuanbai’s gaze turned fierce. “That bastard!”

“Though we don’t know what he said to the Right Minister, Elder Brother, I believe that at this point, it’s best to immediately divide the family and explain the situation to His Majesty. We can’t be harmed by Jiang Yuanxing alone. Otherwise, when the time comes, the entire Jiang family will have to be buried alongside Jiang Yuanxing. Though we kept Jiang Yuanxing at first because he might be useful later, it seems that with Prince Cheng already raising troops, keeping Jiang Yuanxing will only be a disaster.”

“What you say makes sense.” Jiang Yuanbai looked at his younger brother. “Tomorrow I’ll make a trip to the palace and explain this matter to the Emperor. As for dividing the family, have your wife explain the situation to Mother. Mother will understand.”

Jiang Yuanping nodded. After a while, he asked softly again, “Elder Brother, do you think A Li’s incident might be related to them?”

Jiang Yuanbai froze, his expression immediately changing. He said, “They wouldn’t dare!”

…

When night fell, Jiang Li, along with that man and woman, arrived before an inn.

This was no longer along mountain roads but in the city. Jiang Li guessed this should be Huangzhou. The surrounding scenery was all different from before. Huangzhou was also different from Yan Capital. Southern architecture was more delicate and graceful.

That woman helped Jiang Li down from the carriage. The server only glanced at Jiang Li once before looking away. The man handed silver to the innkeeper, and the server led Jiang Li and the two others upstairs to the rooms.

This was an extremely desolate inn, so much so that it seemed apart from Jiang Li and this man and woman, there were no other guests at all. After the server brought them up, he opened two rooms—one for the woman and Jiang Li, one for the man. The rooms didn’t know if they hadn’t been occupied for a long time and were covered with a fine layer of dust.

Jiang Li was helped to walk inside and pressed down to sit on the bed. The man gave the server some small pieces of silver, and the server went down to order food to be sent upstairs.

Generally speaking, by evening, as the drug’s effects gradually faded, Jiang Li wouldn’t be completely unable to move and could move very slowly, but she would still be soft and weak. With such strength, threatening someone or committing suicide would be extremely difficult. Moreover, she still couldn’t speak. Even if she opened her mouth, no sound would come out.

So Jiang Li simply didn’t move. First, to reassure these two people, and second, to conserve some strength, though this strength was pitifully small—an ordinary person could easily subdue her.

“Finally arrived,” that man said, patting his shoulder. “These past days of traveling have really been unbearable.”

“Don’t know how long we’ll have to stay here before His Highness comes,” the woman said.

“No matter when His Highness comes, keeping this young lady under control is the proper business,” the man said, stroking his chin and looking at Jiang Li. Whether to deliberately frighten or out of boredom, he said, “Really don’t know what His Highness will do to you. Little beauty, are you afraid?”

Jiang Li looked at him expressionlessly.

Seeing her like this, that man clicked his tongue and raised his hand to lift her veil. Jiang Li’s face covered with scars was revealed before him. That man seemed disgusted and turned his head away, asking the woman, “Where’s the medicine?”

The woman asked, “What are you doing?”

“Don’t you think the way she looks now is really ugly?” the man said dismissively.

“I already told you, don’t get ideas about her,” the woman said coldly. “She’s someone His Highness wants. Moreover, His Highness said before that this woman is very cunning. Don’t let her take advantage of you.”

“Cunning?” The man’s gaze appraised Jiang Li. Probably because Jiang Li’s face was indeed truly ghastly now, he deliberately avoided Jiang Li’s face and lingered over Jiang Li’s body for a while before smiling lecherously. “How is it I feel this little beauty is quite obedient?”

That woman said, “If you’re not afraid of death, naturally you can do as you please.”

Just then, the server brought up the prepared food. That woman immediately put on an honest smile. After the server left, she skillfully divided the food into three portions. For the last portion, she took out a medicine bottle from her bosom, pulled out the stopper, and poured some medicinal powder into the food.

She brought the food to Jiang Li’s face.

But this time, Jiang Li didn’t open her mouth. Instead, she kept her mouth tightly closed.

This woman was extremely cautious. When administering medicine, she had to personally watch Jiang Li swallow it before she would stop. It was impossible for Jiang Li to pretend or spit it out. Except for the first time when Jiang Li refused to eat, every time after that Jiang Li had obediently opened her mouth. Since resistance was impossible, there was no need to waste energy.

So many days had passed, and she was refusing to take this medicine again.

“You won’t eat?” That woman said while stuffing a mouthful of rice into Jiang Li’s mouth.

Jiang Li didn’t move at all, letting her do this, neither chewing nor swallowing. That woman viciously stuffed it into her mouth. Jiang Li only looked at her coldly. The young lady’s eyes were extremely clear, but at this moment they were like a cold pool, making one’s heart turn cold.

The woman tried several times without success. She smashed the bowl down and laughed coldly. She directly picked up the teapot on the table and put the medicinal powder in her hand into the teapot. Then she grabbed the hair at the back of Jiang Li’s head, forcing Jiang Li to have to tilt her head back. She stuffed the spout into Jiang Li’s mouth and ruthlessly poured it down Jiang Li’s throat.

Jiang Li was forced to drink a great deal of water and was nearly choked. By the time that pot of water was completely poured out, Jiang Li had long lost her strength and collapsed limply on the ground.

“Oh my, little beauty,” the man said. “I told you long ago, why resist? Be good and you can suffer less. I’m doing this for your own good.”

That woman didn’t even glance at Jiang Li and called the man to the table to eat. The two of them buried their heads in eating and drinking, paying no attention to Jiang Li still on the ground. As soon as the medicated tea was poured down, Jiang Li felt an intense dizziness. She didn’t even have the strength to move a finger. Moreover, the medicated tea seemed to not only affect her body—even her brain couldn’t think anymore. She only felt muddled and confused, unable to think of any countermeasures.

Just like a fish waiting to be slaughtered.

After finishing the meal, that woman finally walked to Jiang Li’s side, helped Jiang Li up, and threw her onto the bed. Her movements were extremely rough. During the pulling, Jiang Li’s head was also knocked. It was precisely this bit of pain that let Jiang Li recover some clarity. She heard that woman call for the server to come up and take away the empty bowls and plates. Everything returned to quiet.

Outside, the sky had completely darkened.

Usually, Jiang Li shared a room with this woman while the man stayed in another room. The man had previously made advances toward Jiang Li and proposed to share a room with Jiang Li, but was refused by the woman, probably out of fear of Prince Cheng.

However, today, when the man again said with a leering face, “How about letting me stay with the little beauty tonight,” the woman’s answer was unexpected. She said, “Fine.”

Both Jiang Li and the man froze at the same time. The man sat up at once and asked, “Really?”

“This wretch’s eyes make people uncomfortable to look at,” the woman said. “Since you like her so much, do as you please. But you’d better clean up properly to avoid His Highness asking about it.”

That man, as if he had gained a huge advantage, immediately smiled and said, “I won’t. His Highness won’t do anything over her. His Highness kept her in the first place just to slowly torment her anyway. Maybe what I’m doing is exactly what His Highness wants. Hey, if you have nothing to do, then, uh, leave first. A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold…” He laughed extremely lewdly.

That woman walked to Jiang Li’s face, glanced at Jiang Li with a gaze full of malicious schadenfreude, turned and walked out of the room. As soon as she left, that man couldn’t wait to walk to Jiang Li’s side.

“Little beauty,” his disgusting face was right before her eyes.

Jiang Li used all her strength but still couldn’t move. Her body seemed to no longer be her own. She couldn’t make any movements. At this moment, immense despair suddenly burst forth in Jiang Li’s heart. She couldn’t save herself, and no one could come save her. Her previous life was like this. Though she didn’t actually have an illicit affair with that man, the despair of that moment was still vivid. Now, having been given a chance to start over, why must even this nightmare repeat itself?

Even more despairing than that time.

That man smiled lecherously and pulled off Jiang Li’s veil. He seemed to find Jiang Li’s face too frightening at the moment and spat with disgust, saying, “Can’t give you the antidote first. What a pity.” He put that veil back on Jiang Li, and so Jiang Li’s red spots were mostly covered, revealing only a pair of beautiful eyes.

“Little beauty, these eyes of yours are truly beautiful,” that man said while impatiently undoing his belt. After removing his outer garment, he hurriedly came to help Jiang Li remove her clothing. His movements could hardly be called gentle—they were simply like a beast’s. The fabric made a loud tearing sound as it slipped from Jiang Li’s shoulder.

The fair skin almost made this person’s eyes go straight. He laughed strangely and was about to pounce.

Jiang Li suddenly shed tears. In her daze, she seemed to return to the moment of death in her previous life, when Princess Yongning’s servant woman strangled her neck and she was powerless.

Just as she closed her eyes, suddenly there was a tremendous sound from outside, almost ringing in her ears. Jiang Li startled, and the man on her body also froze. That man stood up from beside Jiang Li. The commotion here naturally also alarmed people in neighboring rooms. Jiang Li only heard the door of the adjacent room respond—that woman must have rushed over too.

The candle in the room pulled at the shadows of people, swaying slightly. Jiang Li lay on her back on the bed, unable to move. She couldn’t turn her head or sit up to see who the newcomer was. She only heard the man and woman’s puzzled and vigilant voices.

“Who are you, sir?”

Someone’s footsteps walked inside, step by step, unhurried and unrushed. Jiang Li’s gaze went past the man blocking her view and finally saw behind the man.

There was a young man in red clothing slowly walking into the room. His boots were inlaid with exquisite gold trim, and on the hem of his robe were fluttering butterflies. Step by step, he walked toward Jiang Li’s bedside, his shadow gradually becoming clear in the candlelight. He had a face as bewitching as a demon, but that man and woman only retreated slightly, watching him as if facing a great enemy, without making a move.

He walked to Jiang Li’s side.

Jiang Li’s tears flowed down in an instant.

In isolation and helplessness, at the end of her rope, she suddenly discovered a new thread of hope. This hope came surging forth, impossible to block, with an irresistible dazzling brilliance, illuminating the rest of her life.

The young man held a folding fan horizontally before his chest. His amber eyes were exceptionally captivating. The corners of his eyes naturally lifted slightly upward. When he raised his eyebrows, it was as if he could hook away one’s heart. The teardrop mole at the corner of his eye under the lamplight was like the blood-colored butterfly on his fan tassel—bewitchingly soul-stealing.

“Who are you, sir?” That woman repeated again. These people had an innate sense for danger and were extremely wary facing Ji Heng.

The young man glanced at Jiang Li. His gaze paused slightly on her bare shoulder. Soon, he turned his gaze back to look at the two people before him. In his eyes there was still tenderness as he opened his mouth with a half-smile.

He said, “To actually dare bully someone who’s mine—your courage truly isn’t small.”