Silence spread through the prison cell, broken only by the crackling sound of the candle burning.
Cui Yunchu set down the food box and pushed it slightly forward. “Is there anything... you want to ask me?”
Shen Xiabai lifted his gaze and looked at her for a moment. After a pause, he slowly shook his head. “No.”
It was as if something had crashed onto the surface of Cui Yunchu’s heart, stirring ripples that would not settle—bitter, suffocating, deeply uncomfortable.
She said nothing more and turned to leave.
But suddenly, the man’s voice came slowly, soft and gentle. “Actually, from the moment you said those words, I never intended to let him live.”
True or false,
he had always meant to kill Gu Xuan.
Cui Yunchu froze. She stood there, not turning back, not moving, like a statue stripped of all ability to act.
“It’s dark in the prison. Don’t come again.”
Her lips trembled slightly.
But... I’m not afraid of the dark anymore.
At the entrance of the Dali Temple, Xing'er rushed toward Cui Yunchu the moment she saw her, only to find her pale, limbs cold, while her palms were clammy with fine sweat.
“Miss, what’s wrong? Did something frighten you?”
Cui Yunchu staggered and gripped Xing'er’s wrist tightly. She crouched on the ground, gasping for air.
Wet streaks fell from her face. She looked back toward the dim prison cell, her eyes vacant.
“Miss, please tell me what’s happened! Say something!”
Cui Yunchu clenched the hem of her skirt so hard that she bit her lip until blood beaded.
Xing'er helped her stagger onto the carriage. Cui Yunchu curled up, leaning against the wall as if she were freezing.
She hung her head, saying nothing the entire way, leaving Xing'‘r sweating with anxiety. Even the carriage full of gold, silver, and jewels could lift her spirits.
Back at the Chu Garden, she refused to change clothes or wash up, burrowing straight into her blankets. “Leave me alone. I’m tired. I want to sleep for a while.”
Granny Zhang immediately knew—the young lady was unhappy. Deeply unhappy.
She pulled Xing'er out of the room.
Cui Yunchu wrapped herself tightly, pressing her hand over her mouth. After a long moment, muffled sobs broke through.
She couldn’t name the feeling in her heart.
Before she went, she had braced herself for it: his accusations, his sneers, his hatred or disgust.
But why... why was it so different from what she had imagined?
It was like Prince An under the poison given by Yunfeng.
She couldn’t understand. She struggled to grasp how anyone could care for, and even risk death for, someone who wanted to kill them.
Cui Yunchu didn’t know when she fell asleep. When she woke again, it was already the next morning. She crawled out from under the covers. Granny Zhang and Xing'er stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter.
Cui Yunchu threw off the blanket and got out of bed. She sat down before the bronze mirror. The girl reflected there had rumpled clothes and hair messier than a chicken’s nest.
She lowered her eyelids, drooping in the chair, letting Granny Zhang and Xing'er tend to her.
“Miss, Widow Li came by earlier. She said if you’re awake, you should visit the Pine and Crane Garden.”
“Mm.”
Yesterday, she had gone to the Prince An’s residence without reporting Yunfeng's situation to her grandmother. The elderly lady must be very concerned.
After washing and dressing, Cui Yunchu asked, for the first time, about the Prime Minister.
Granny Zhang paused before answering, “The Prime Minister went to court early this morning.”
“When does he usually come back?”
Granny Zhang thought carefully. “It’s hard to say. If he’s busy, it could be quite late.”
“Why are you suddenly asking about the Prime Minister, miss? Is something the matter?”
Cui Yunchu didn’t reply. She stared quietly at the restored beauty in the bronze mirror.
Actually, if one really thought about it, she was probably the one who resembled the Prime Minister the most.
“I suddenly realize... I’m despicable.”
Unable to scheme against others openly, she had resorted to manipulating emotions—using such flawed, clumsy tactics.
Granny Zhang and Xing'er didn’t understand. They only knew that their young mistress was deeply downcast, as though she had suffered a tremendous blow—worse than the past few days.
When Cui Yunchu arrived at Pine and Crane Garden, Grandmother Cui had long been waiting. Cui Yunchu greeted her respectfully and, without any mystery, recounted Yunfeng’s situation.
Grandmother Cui was stunned for a long moment. “Are you saying that Prince An entrusted all household affairs to Yunfeng?”
“Yes, Granddaughter even went to Prince An’s treasury and brought back quite a few good things.”
“Yunfeng said she’s living like a tyrant at Prince An’s residence, the undisputed boss of the house, and that you shouldn’t worry.”
Grandmother Cui’s taut nerves relaxed slightly. “It seems that although Prince An is ruthless, he treats Yunfeng decently.”
Cui Yunchu smiled faintly.
“Decently” was an understatement.
He could even accept her poisoning him and act as if nothing happened.
How could there be such a foolish person in the world—still giving his heart and devotion to someone who wanted him dead, never speaking a word of regret?
“Yunchu... Yunchu.”
Grandmother Cui called twice before Cui Yunchu came back to her senses.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell, or has something happened?” Grandmother asked with concern.
Cui Yunchu shook her head. “Nothing. It’s just that Yunfeng left, and there’s no one to make mischief with. I’m a bit unused to it. Would you let me stay with you today?”
Grandmother Cui was more than happy.
The two chatted in the room, reviewing the young nobles of the capital one by one, trying to find a suitable match for Cui Yunchu.
But she kept losing focus, stealing glances toward the door as if waiting for someone.
At the imperial palace.
The morning court session was delayed because the Empress Dowager was discussing important affairs with the emperor in the imperial study.
All the officials waited in the great hall, nearly every one of them with heads bowed, bracing themselves for the storm brewing ahead.
Crown Prince and Prince An stood on opposite sides, waiting in silence.
Suddenly, the Crown Prince strolled over to Prince An.
Xiao Yi cast him a sidelong glance without a word, but shifted his body slightly away. The Crown Prince didn’t mind. Smiling faintly, he lowered his voice to a near whisper. “Did you get the task your wife assigned, brother?”
“...”
The two words “Go away” seemed carved on Xiao Yi’s face as he shot the Crown Prince a cold look.
“Do you and your wife have nothing better to do? I’m newly married, and you two insist on drooping over us every single day.”
His whole demeanor radiated irritation.
The Crown Prince was unfazed. “I heard you visited Lord Shen yesterday and brought him some letters to while away the time. You’ve perfected the art of killing with kindness, haven’t you?”
“Better than snatching at someone while they’re down, brother.”
Neither brother moved a muscle, yet every word they exchanged cut to the bone.
The Crown Prince gave a soft laugh. “So it seems we both think Lord Shen is rather pitiable, don’t we?”
Xiao Yi wanted to say he deserved it, but considering his own situation, he kept quiet.
“What exactly are you trying to say, brother?”
