Although it was currently summer—

This place was permeated with cold everywhere.

Qinghua wore only a single garment, and from head to toe she felt a chill.

She looked left and right. In this room, there were only her and Chu Rui.

Chu Rui was a sickly person.

She should be able to break free from Chu Rui’s grasp.

She calmly got up from the ground.

Just as she was about to turn around, whoosh—something flew past her ear and with a thud, embedded itself in the pillar ahead of her.

She touched her ear.

Her hand came away sticky and wet.

A piece of flesh had actually been sliced from her ear, which kept dripping blood.

The blood dripped onto her shoulder, instantly soaking her garment.

Chu Rui spoke with a smile: “Princess Qinghua, now can we properly discuss cooperation?”

Qinghua’s entire body trembled as she turned around. Only then did she notice that in the darkness of the room stood a young eunuch.

In that young eunuch’s hands, he was playing with several small knives.

She had no doubt whatsoever that if she dared try to escape again, those knives would surely slash her throat.

“What—what exactly do you want to do!”

Qinghua forced these words out with difficulty.

“Now that’s more like it.” Chu Rui’s smile deepened. “Why are you standing? Sit. Let’s chat while drinking tea.”

The young eunuch moved a table over and poured each of them a cup of tea.

Fragrant tea wafted up. Qinghua made no move.

“What’s wrong, the tea isn’t good?”

At the sound of Chu Rui’s voice—

Qinghua immediately picked up the teacup with trembling hands.

She discovered that the person before her was a madman. How could Father Emperor allow such a person to live?

He should have died together with the Empress Dowager long ago!

Her heart was full of fear and rage, but she didn’t dare show it. Trembling, she held up the teacup, not daring to drink. She feared she would be infected with a child worm like Mother.

Only then did Chu Rui speak: “The child worm in Consort Yin’s body was killed by Yun Chu. I had no choice but to ask you for help. If you want to blame someone, blame Yun Chu. Originally, you wouldn’t have needed to suffer this calamity at all.”

Qinghua clenched her back molars tightly.

If Yun Chu hadn’t discovered that Mother was infected with the child worm, then Father Emperor right now might be suffering who knows what… She was grateful Yun Chu was clever.

But she herself was too stupid and had absolutely no idea how to escape.

“I invited Princess Qinghua here because I want the Princess to help with something.” Chu Rui’s attitude was good. “Now, you will write a letter to Meng Shen. Whatever I say, you write.”

Qinghua’s pupils contracted sharply: “…Alright.”

No matter what, first agree and then figure things out.

A princess disappearing would surely be discovered quickly, and rescue would surely come soon…

The young eunuch presented brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Chu Rui said unhurriedly: “Shen’er, your mother has been captured. If you feed this packet of medicine to His Majesty, your mother will be safe and sound.”

As his words fell, he took out a packet of medicine from his sleeve and placed it on the letter paper.

Qinghua had only written the two characters “Shen’er” when she couldn’t continue: “What medicine is this?”

“That’s not something the Princess should be asking about.”

As soon as Chu Rui’s words fell, Qinghua put down the writing brush: “Since we’re discussing cooperation, shouldn’t I also have the right to know? I… Ah!”

The young eunuch picked up the teacup and coldly splashed the tea water onto her face.

Although the tea was no longer scalding hot, for a princess to be treated this way by a servant was more humiliating than being slapped.

“Calling it discussing cooperation is just giving the Princess face.” The young eunuch sneered. “Our Prince gives the Princess dignity. The Princess should cherish it.”

Qinghua wiped the tea water from her face, her shoulders shaking: “I won’t discuss this cooperation anymore. Chu Rui, abandon this idea. I absolutely will not harm my Father Emperor… Ah!!”

Her long hair was seized by Chu Rui in one grab. Her entire head tilted backward.

“Since you won’t accept the soft approach, then we can only use the hard one.” Chu Rui showed a smile, took out scissors, and cut off Qinghua’s beautiful hair.

Qinghua let out a wretched scream.

She cared immensely about her appearance, which was why the year before last she had gone to seek a divine physician’s disciple for beauty and youth-preserving medicine.

Her proudest feature—her hair—fell to the ground handful by handful.

She was nearly breaking down.

“If the Princess still won’t properly write the letter, then next, these scissors will cut the Princess’s face.” Chu Rui spoke with a smile. “Hair can grow back after being cut, but if scars appear on your face, you’ll be an ugly woman forever.”

“Ahhh! I’ll fight you to the death! Chu Rui! You conscienceless thing! My Father Emperor spared your wretched life, and you actually want to harm my Father Emperor! I’ll kill you!”

Qinghua violently rushed forward, wanting to grasp Chu Rui’s neck.

But she was easily thrown to the ground by the young eunuch.

Chu Rui crouched down. The scissors stabbed below Qinghua’s eye and slashed forcefully, creating a bloody gash that gushed blood.

Qinghua fainted directly from the pain.

The young eunuch brought a bucket of water and splashed it on Qinghua’s face.

Qinghua choked on the water. After waking, seeing Chu Rui’s face, she was terrified to her core: “Kill me! Just kill me directly!!”

Chu Rui’s expression was extremely grim.

The reason he had abducted Qinghua was because in his understanding, Qinghua was an idiot who could surely be used by him after some threats and enticements.

Unexpectedly, after using both soft and hard tactics to this extent, Qinghua still refused to cooperate and even single-mindedly sought death.

Chu Rui said in a deep voice: “Go capture Meng Shen.”

Qinghua shouted in disbelief: “If you dare touch my son, I won’t let you go even as a ghost! Chu Rui! Adult matters have nothing to do with children! Don’t touch Shen’er, you’re not allowed to touch him!”

“Not touching him is also possible, but you must write this letter!”

Qinghua cried in angry collapse.

Between Father Emperor and her son, she had to choose one?

Choose who?

Who should she choose?

Her ear hurt, her head hurt, her face hurt. She was covered in tea water. Living this long, she had never experienced such things.

“I, I…”

Qinghua kept crying.

Her instinct was to save Shen’er.

But!

If this letter was written, Father Emperor would surely have an accident!

If Father Emperor had an accident and Chu Rui ascended the throne, Chu Yi would die. Then she would also die. Could Shen’er even survive?

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.

Although she was foolish, how could she not understand this basic principle?

“No… I won’t write it!”

Qinghua closed her eyes.

Immediately a vicious kick struck her face.

Her head knocked heavily on the ground and she fainted directly.

“My Prince!” The young eunuch raised his head. “Right now the palace is searching everywhere for Princess Qinghua. Going to capture Meng Shen at this time would be quite difficult.”

Chu Rui punched the wall with his fist.

Something he was so confident about—he still couldn’t accomplish it.

In a few more days, once the mature worm died, he would never be able to turn things around.

There was only one method left…

Just then, firelight suddenly blazed outside.

“Not good! Someone has found us!” The young eunuch’s expression changed. “My Prince, this servant will lead you in retreat!”

A sinister smile appeared at the corner of Chu Rui’s mouth: “Retreat what? Just wait right here. It’s time for a direct confrontation.”

The chaotic footsteps outside drew closer and closer.

Firelight lit up from all directions.