Yi Xiao casually asked the maid standing nearby, “Where’s the boiling water I requested?” Frightened by the screams from the back hall, the maid replied tremblingly, “The water is boiling, Concubine. Should we bring it over now?”

“Of course,” Yi Xiao instructed languidly, “First, have someone bring in the empty vat. Pour everything into it.”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, ants and scorpions from porcelain jars and rats from cloth bags were poured into the vat. Almost simultaneously, three loads of steaming hot water were brought in and placed nearby.

Footsteps approached as two jailers escorted a bloodied man back into the hall, carelessly throwing him on the ground. After bowing to Yi Xiao and Feng Suige, they stepped aside.

Yi Xiao, with a charming smile, directed, “Pour honey on his wounds and put him in the vat for the ants to feast on. I’ve heard scorpions will kill each other when disturbed. Let’s see if that’s true. As for the rats, well, they’re said to be good at burrowing into holes. I wonder if that’s true…”

The eldest of the four senior ministers finally spoke up, “Concubine, using such cruel methods for interrogation – aren’t you afraid of the consequences, even if you don’t fear it becoming known?”

Yi Xiao scoffed, “Consequences? If there were truly cause and effect in this world, I wouldn’t need to resort to such methods. If the minister objects, would you like to take over the interrogation?” The old minister was left speechless, glancing at Feng Suige’s impassive expression before sitting down dejectedly.

As the maids stepped forward to pour honey on the man’s body, a jailer approached the vat, observing the writhing creatures inside. With a cruel smile, he loudly praised, “The Concubine is truly innovative. Please continue to enlighten us in the future.” At these words, several of the thirteen kneeling prisoners began to tremble violently. The bloodied man on the ground tried to crawl away from the vat, weakly pleading, “Just kill me, give me a quick death…”

“You can’t take it, and we haven’t even truly begun?” Yi Xiao laughed coldly, looking at the pale-faced thirteen. “You’d better think carefully now – whether to speak or not. Don’t think about dying easily. Anyone who dares to resist will see their entire family executed!”

The fierce jailers pounced forward, lifting the man on the ground and throwing him into the vat. Heart-wrenching screams immediately filled the hall. The jailers used their batons to keep him from climbing out. Soon, the edge of the vat was covered in bloody handprints.

The maids began to cry in fear. The once-silent hall now echoed with inhuman screams and the sobs of women, creating a chilling atmosphere.

After a quarter of an hour, the screams from the vat gradually weakened. Yi Xiao gestured to the chief jailer, “Fish him out. We’re not done yet. Don’t let him die.”

With a thud, the man collapsed on the ground, barely breathing, his body covered in black ants. Only his limbs twitched occasionally. A few scorpions and rats scattered, causing a commotion among the nearby guards. The maids screamed and fled.

Yi Xiao was starting to feel uneasy, but when her eyes fell on the thirteen kneeling prisoners, she gritted her teeth and shouted, “What are you panicking for? There’s water right there!” The jailer, momentarily stunned, grinned broadly as he stepped forward, picked up a wooden bucket, and poured the scalding water over the man’s body.

With an agonizing howl, a cloud of steam rose from the ground, with countless black spots floating on top. The scattered scorpions, rats, and the man all writhed within.

Feng Suige watched, breaking into a slight sweat. He turned to look at Yi Xiao, noticing her dazed expression. He sighed softly and whispered, “Let me take over.”

“No,” Yi Xiao immediately snapped back to attention, standing up resolutely. Her gold-embroidered robe dragged across the damp floor. “Have you made up your minds? If you still refuse to speak, I have no choice left. I’ll have to break your spines, piece by piece. I’m sure the Prince won’t mind supporting you for life.”

The sound of chattering teeth came from below. Yi Xiao’s cold eyes swept over them, pointing at the trembling man and smiling cruelly, “You’re next.”

“Mercy, Concubine!” the man immediately screamed. “We were just following orders, we had no choice!”

“Whose orders?” Yi Xiao’s eyes flashed dangerously, her intense gaze intimidating the others who wanted to stop him from lowering their heads. “It was… it was Lord Yu!” the man cried out. “It wasn’t our fault!”

The four senior ministers immediately erupted in an uproar. Feng Suige stood up, his face dark. Catching Yi Xiao’s questioning look, he gritted out three words, “It was Concubine Zhuang!”

Supported by a servant, Feng Xi Yang alighted from the phoenix carriage. Yesterday, after speaking with the Empress Dowager for a while, she had intended to take her leave, but the Empress Dowager insisted on her staying for a meal. She agreed, and during the meal, the Empress Dowager shared many interesting anecdotes about Xia Jingshi’s childhood. She became so engrossed that she lost track of time. When she realized, it was already past the time for closing the palace gates, she had to spend the night in the palace.

As she walked into Ming De Palace, her heart was filled with unease, not just because she had stayed out without notice, but also because the Empress Dowager’s words kept echoing in her mind: “Can you persevere forever, understanding him, caring for him…”

Is it possible to love someone like that?

Is such love even possible?

In her daze, Feng Xi Yang faintly heard herself say, “I can. For him, I can. As long as I can win his heart, I’ll do anything.” The Empress Dowager smiled, gently stroking her hair. “I wasn’t wrong about you. You truly are a good child. Marrying you is truly his blessing.” Despite the gentle tone, a chill ran down her spine.

Finally, she found Xia Jingshi by Ning Bi Pool. He was wearing a sky-blue robe embroidered with gold, standing quietly and gazing at the lotus-filled pond. Feng Xi Yang slowed her steps as she approached, softly calling out, “Husband…” Almost simultaneously, Xia Jingshi turned his head.

In countless dreams, she had imagined him turning his head, not for any particular reason, but with a faint smile, his eyes gentle and clear.

And now, like the thousands of times he had turned in her thousands of night dreams, without the usual cold edge, but filled with boundless loneliness and grace, Xia Jingshi slowly turned his head, glancing at her with a smile. “You’re back?”

“I’m back,” Feng Xi Yang replied with a smile, suppressing her heartbeat. “The Empress Dowager sent me back in her phoenix carriage.” Xia Jingshi raised an eyebrow, “What did you think of the Empress Dowager?”

Feng Xi Yang’s face showed admiration, “The Empress Dowager is very much like my late mother. Although I never met her, I feel that’s how a mother should be – beautiful and kind.”

“Is that so?” Xia Jingshi chuckled softly. “It seems you and the Empress Dowager got along well.”

“Yes,” Feng Xi Yang, entirely absorbed in the joy of his initiative in conversation, failed to notice the coldness in his eyes. “The Empress Dowager is also very concerned about you…”

“Of course,” Xia Jingshi interrupted her. “If she doesn’t care about me, no one in this world would.”

“That’s not true,” Xi Yang said, lowering her head with a slight blush. “Even if no one else in the world cares for you, you still have Xi Yang.”

Xia Jingshi stared at her for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter and turned away without another word.