Because the salary of a palace maid was not high, Su Zhenzhen had not saved up much money.
She gathered all her valuable belongings, but they barely amounted to fifty taels. The only truly valuable item was the token Mu Dan had left her, which was made of pure gold.
She wondered if this token, which supposedly granted access anywhere, could get her in to see Mu Dan just once.
Clutching the token, Su Zhenzhen stepped out of her tent.
Autumns were rainy this year. Su Zhenzhen walked a short distance with her umbrella, but her clothes were soon soaked by the autumn rain.
She struggled against the wind with the umbrella for a while, nearly getting blown away along with it.
Giving up, Su Zhenzhen simply closed the umbrella and continued forward, braving the autumn rain.
"Excuse me, brother. May I ask where Mu Dan, who was arrested for stealing the sacrificial vessels, is being held?" Su Zhenzhen found a Brocade Guard and slipped him some silver.
The Brocade Guard glanced down at her. He seemed to recognize her.
He looked around, and seeing no one, reached out to accept the silver Su Zhenzhen offered. Then, he lowered his voice and said, "They are all locked up in the warehouse of the Imperial Temple. You won't be able to get in."
"Not even with this?" Su Zhenzhen took out the token.
The Brocade Guard took one look. "The Imperial Temple is a restricted area. Even with a token, you cannot enter."
The Imperial Temple was unlike other places; even the Emperor could not come and go casually, let alone someone with a mere token.
Su Zhenzhen thanked him and returned to her tent dejectedly, only to find it in complete disarray.
"Sushan?"
"Meow..."
A small cat crawled out from under the bed.
Su Zhenzhen held Sushan and inspected the tent.
Her jewelry box was empty. There were no other major losses, except for some smashed pots and pans. The rice cakes she had been keeping had also fallen to the ground, covered in dirt and dust, completely ruined.
Fortunately, she had packed her valuables in advance and kept them on her person.
The medicine bottles in her chest had been opened and rummaged through, but they were left untouched, likely because the intruder did not recognize them.
In truth, she had some quite valuable medicines in there.
Su Zhenzhen had heard before that some eunuchs and palace maids would sneak into others' tents to steal valuables when no one was around.
In an encampment setting like this, the strict hierarchy and security of the Imperial Palace or the Qingliang Palace were absent, making such incidents highly probable.
This was the first time it had happened to Su Zhenzhen since she moved in.
Looking at the mess on the floor, she calmed herself down.
The autumn rain was not heavy, just rustling down and clinging to her body, forming tiny water droplets that slowly seeped into her clothes. It was only when half of her body was soaked that Su Zhenzhen felt the chill.
Su Zhenzhen arrived at the kitchen tent. She came here often, so the eunuchs already knew her.
The one who had slipped her a note last time had already been dragged out and executed. Now there was a new one, and she had a fairly good relationship with him.
"Sister, come with me."
Seeing her, the eunuch Ah Sui quickly ushered her into the tent.
Su Zhenzhen followed him in with a puzzled look, only to see a person tied up in the corner of the tent. The person was wearing the uniform of a low-ranking eunuch and had his mouth gagged.
"These are your things, right, Sister?" Ah Sui handed the items in his hand to Su Zhenzhen.
Su Zhenzhen took them and found it was a bundle containing her hairpins.
"How did these end up here?"
"It was this brat. He sneaked in to steal when you were away." As he spoke, Ah Sui kicked the eunuch. "You might not know, Sister, but he often commits petty thefts, though he doesn't hurt anyone."
"Thank you." Su Zhenzhen looked up at Ah Sui.
Ah Sui was about the same age as Mu Dan. When they first met, he had been coughing so hard his face turned red, yet he tried to hold it in, terrified of being scolded by higher-ranking eunuchs.
A severe cough could lead to lung disease, and without proper rest, his body would break down.
At that time, Su Zhenzhen gave him a bottle of lung-clearing pills and a few packets of herbal medicine, telling the young eunuch to brew them himself.
"Sister, after taking the medicine you gave me, my cough has improved."
For eunuchs like them, no one would treat their illnesses. Surviving depended purely on luck.
"That's good," Su Zhenzhen nodded. She glanced at his complexion and added, "Take it for a few more days to stabilize your condition."
Ah Sui nodded and hesitated for a moment. "If you have any difficulties, Sister, please don't hesitate to tell me."
The news about Mu Dan had mostly spread.
Su Zhenzhen clutched the bundle of hairpins and jewelry, about to speak.
Wait a minute, what is this?
Besides Su Zhenzhen's own jewelry, this bundle contained someone else's jewelry as well.
Su Zhenzhen's finger picked up a chain.
This chain looked very familiar.
Su Zhenzhen had spent several days polishing the sacrificial vessels in the warehouse. Wasn't this chain from... the golden sacrificial vase?
Su Zhenzhen's mind raced. She remembered this chain. It was very thin and easily broken. Every time she polished it, she was on edge, terrified of snapping it.
Could it be that Li Jinhuai accidentally broke it while switching the sacrificial vessels, and it ended up dropped in his tent?
Su Zhenzhen's gaze fell on the unremarkable young eunuch once more.
Did this little eunuch actually dare to steal from the tent of Li Jinhuai, the Vice Commander of the Brocade Guards?
"I have something to ask him."
Ah Sui nodded and removed the gag from the young eunuch's mouth.
Clutching the gold chain, Su Zhenzhen crouched down. "I am going to ask you one thing. If you answer truthfully, I won't hand you over to the Brocade Guards."
Everyone knew the methods of the Brocade Guards. The eunuch knew too that if he were handed over to them, he would likely lose his life.
Therefore, to survive, the eunuch nodded immediately.
"Did you steal this chain from the tent of Vice Commander Li Jinhuai of the Brocade Guards?"
The kitchen tent was incredibly quiet, with only the crackling sound of burning firewood.
Although Su Zhenzhen knew the plot and knew that Li Jinhuai was the one who stole the sacrificial vessels, time was too tight. She hadn't gathered any evidence yet. Without proof, no one would believe her empty words.
She vaguely remembered that Li Jinhuai had a counterfeiting workshop in a secluded alley in Jinling City, operating under the guise of an antique shop. Investigating the whole matter would be very troublesome.
But now... Su Zhenzhen clutched the chain in her hand, feeling that her luck was truly excellent.
Under Su Zhenzhen's expectant gaze, the young eunuch slowly nodded and said, "...Yes."
Su Zhenzhen's eyes instantly lit up. She looked up at Ah Sui. "Ah Sui, can you leave this person to me?"
"Sister, what are you..."
"I have matters to attend to."
Ah Sui nodded. "Alright." After a pause, he asked, "Is Eunuch Mu Dan doing alright?"
Su Zhenzhen shook her head. "I can't see him, and I don't know exactly what happened."
From the rumors outside, it sounded like he was only arrested and not yet convicted.
Actually, Su Zhenzhen had a selfish motive for coming here.
She whispered to Ah Sui, "Who is delivering the meals inside the Imperial Temple today? The wind and rain are heavy right now. How about I go in his place?"
The sky was turning dark. The autumn rain had stopped, but the wind remained strong.
Su Zhenzhen stood at the entrance of the Imperial Temple, carrying a food container.
The Brocade Guard guarding the Imperial Temple paused his gaze when he saw her.
Su Zhenzhen kept her head down and stood there as the autumn wind swept past, swirling the fallen leaves on the ground. "This servant is here to deliver the meals."
"Don't eunuchs usually deliver them?"
"We rotate shifts."
"Follow me inside."
Su Zhenzhen smoothly entered the imperial temple. A Brocade Guard led the way with a gauze lantern. Su Zhenzhen kept her head down and followed him all the way until she reached the front of the sacrificial vessel warehouse, where she subconsciously stopped in her tracks.
The warehouse was very messy, with doors and windows tightly shut. The guard used the key in his hand to unlock the door, revealing a young man sitting on the ground.
The young man was still wearing his red round-collar robe. In such a dim place, even the bright color of the robe was suppressed, making it look grayish.
Lu Hexu sat in the corner, resting his chin on one hand. As he raised his head slightly, he saw the woman standing at the door looking at him.
She was carrying a food box in her hand. When her eyes met his, her eye sockets instantly turned red.
Su Zhenzhen tried hard to hold back her tears, took out some silver, and handed it to the guard. "I want to say a few words to him."
The guard frowned. "No."
The matter was of great importance, and the guard did not want to make a mistake for a little money.
"Give it to me." The guard took the food box from Su Zhenzhen's hand, placed it in front of Lu Hexu, then turned around, walked out, and locked the door.
"You can't stay here. Follow me out."
Su Zhenzhen left, looking back with every step she took.
Lu Hexu looked at the food box in front of him, raised his hand, and opened it.
Inside was a normal meal, along with a plate of red bean cakes drizzled with honey.
Lu Hexu raised his hand to pick up a piece of red bean cake and found a piece of paper pressed underneath it.
He put the first red bean cake into his mouth, revealing the first word: Be good.
Picking up the second red bean cake revealed the second word: Wait.
Picking up the last red bean cake revealed the third word: For me.
Lu Hexu quietly looked at the note, reached out, and picked it up.
The note was stained with a little honey, and its edges were soaked.
Very ugly handwriting.
-
Su Zhenzhen followed the guard along the corridor towards the outside.
The autumn wind was bleak. She raised her eyes and glanced at the sky. It was rainy today, and there was no moon.
Suddenly, a burst of footsteps came from ahead, accompanied by a dull, low thud. It was the sharp sound produced when a scabbard struck metal.
Su Zhenzhen was very familiar with this sound. When she worked in the palace, every time the guards patrolled past her, she could hear this chilling sound.
Su Zhenzhen looked forward and saw a familiar face.
Li Jinhuai, wearing a cloud-brocade flying fish suit, walked over from the corridor ahead.
The autumn rain soaked the golden bricks under the corridor. Li Jinhuai's gaze swept over Su Zhenzhen's face and then stopped.
"My Lord." The guard standing in front of Su Zhenzhen respectfully bowed to Li Jinhuai.
Li Jinhuai bypassed him and walked up to Su Zhenzhen. "Why is sister-in-law here? Is there something you need from me?"
"I came to deliver food." Su Zhenzhen stood there with her head lowered, her voice scattered by the autumn wind.
Li Jinhuai's gaze moved from her lowered neck to her slender, sloping shoulders, and then to her plain hands hanging in front of her. "Is there no one left in the imperial kitchen tent? To have you deliver it?"
"I was idle and just helping out a little."
Li Jinhuai didn't expose her lie, and Su Zhenzhen didn't speak plainly either.
"Why won't you look at me?" Li Jinhuai was still quite confident in his own looks.
Because she was afraid she would throw up if she saw his face.
Su Zhenzhen continued to keep her head down. "This servant does not dare."
Li Jinhuai chuckled lightly, lowered his posture, and leaned in front of Su Zhenzhen, just about to speak to her, when Su Zhenzhen suddenly took a step back.
It was a physiological disgust.
Li Jinhuai: ...
"Sister-in-law," Li Jinhuai stood up straight, his face visibly displeased. "A wise man submits to circumstances. Since Brother Mu did such a thing, I have no way to protect him. However, you are Brother Mu's partner, and Brother Mu and I were brothers of a sort after all. If you have any difficulties, you can always come to me."
A bunch of high-sounding words, but in reality, he just wanted to sleep with her.
"Is My Lord lacking a witness?"
Su Zhenzhen still kept her head down. Although her voice was soft, Li Jinhuai heard it very clearly.
Li Jinhuai's eyes flickered slightly. He waved his hand to his side, and the guard walked away.
Only the two of them were left under the corridor.
Li Jinhuai said, "What did you just say?"
If Su Zhenzhen remembered correctly, according to the Brocade Guards' procedures, in order to close the case as soon as possible, Li Jinhuai would definitely use severe torture to extort a confession. By then, unable to withstand the torment, Mu Dan would admit that he stole the sacrificial vessels.
Even if he didn't admit it, dead men tell no tales, which would also be an excellent outcome. They could just write it off as a suicide out of fear of punishment.
Of course, these were extreme methods.
If there was a more decent way, someone like Li Jinhuai, who cared about his reputation, would definitely prefer the latter.
"If Mu Dan refuses to confess, I can be My Lord's witness, as long as My Lord guarantees my safety."
Hearing Su Zhenzhen's words, Li Jinhuai revealed an 'as expected' smile on his face.
Knowing that her backer was about to fall, she immediately came looking for him.
"You really are a smart person."
Su Zhenzhen curtsied and bypassed Li Jinhuai to leave.
There was no telling what kind of things a person like Li Jinhuai would do to Mu Dan, so Su Zhenzhen could only choose to stall him first.
To Li Jinhuai, he wouldn't even put a lowly palace maid like her in his eyes. Naturally, he wouldn't expect her to have such ambition, daring to dream of saving someone from the hands of the dignified Vice Commander of the Brocade Guards.
Su Zhenzhen left the imperial temple. Blown by the autumn wind, she actually became more clear-headed.
The sky was dim. Looking ahead, everything was pitch black.
She couldn't wait any longer.
Su Zhenzhen filtered her options. It was impossible for Shen Yanci to help Mu Dan. Everyone was a chess piece, and Li Jinhuai's value was obviously higher than Mu Dan's. Even if Li Jinhuai didn't push Mu Dan out as a scapegoat, Shen Yanci's side might push him out themselves.
Su Zhenzhen thought it over and over, and only one person was left.
Wei Heng.
Su Zhenzhen sprinted all the way and arrived in front of Wei Heng's tent.
Running too fast, she got a stitch in her side.
A sharp, unbearable pain radiated from her chest and abdomen. Su Zhenzhen slowed her breathing while reaching out to press down on the spot.
There were also Brocade Guards watching over Wei Heng's tent, along with a few young eunuchs.
"I need to see Lord Wei Heng." Su Zhenzhen caught her breath and stood outside the tent, holding up the token in her hand.
The guard stopped Su Zhenzhen. "Lord Wei Heng is busy right now and is not seeing anyone."
"I really have an urgent matter and need to see Lord Wei Heng."
Wei Heng was inside organizing memorials to the throne when he suddenly heard the noise outside.
He lifted the curtain and came out.
Su Zhenzhen was arguing with the guard when she saw the tent curtain ahead being lifted, and a gentle man wearing a red round-collar eunuch robe walked out.
She met Wei Heng's gaze and spoke dryly, "Godfather."
Wei Heng: ...
"I am Mu Dan's partner."
Wei Heng stayed silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Godfather, I have something..."
Before Su Zhenzhen could finish her words, a sound suddenly came from the tent behind Wei Heng.
Wei Heng subconsciously frowned, raised his hand, and said to her, "Wait a moment."
Wei Heng returned to the tent and was met with the pitch-black face of Shadow One, who was hanging upside down from the tent beam. He was tapping a dagger against the table, making a sound to draw him in.
Seeing Wei Heng, Shadow One put away his dagger. "His Majesty has been captured."
"What?" Wei Heng was greatly perplexed.
It was always His Majesty who provoked others; since when did anyone dare to provoke him?
Shadow One landed on the ground. "At the imperial temple. Come with me."
"Mm."
Wei Heng lifted the curtain and stepped out. Seeing Su Zhenzhen waiting at the door, he raised a hand toward her and said, "I have matters to attend to. We will talk when I return."
"Godfather, just a moment, I really have an urgent matter..." Su Zhenzhen yelled until her voice went hoarse, but Wei Heng did not stop his steps.
She wanted to chase after him, but was stopped by the Brocade Guards.
-
Li Jinhuai walked into the warehouse and saw Mu Dan sitting there.
In front of the eunuch sat a food box.
Li Jinhuai chuckled. "Brother Mu still has an appetite?"
Lu Hexu raised his eyes to glance at him.
Li Jinhuai knew that this eunuch must be furious inside, but he never expected his reaction to be so calm.
Could it be that he had accepted his fate?
"Does Brother Mu have nothing to ask?"
Lu Hexu sat there, resting his cheek on one hand. "Do you have anything else to say?"
Li Jinhuai was speechless.
Then he smiled. "Mu Dan, the one who is going to die now is you, not me. You can only blame your own bad luck. Originally, I was very willing to cooperate with you, but who knew you would be discovered by the people from the Taipu Temple."
Li Jinhuai crouched down in front of Lu Hexu and reached out to pat his shoulder. "Oh, right, and that palace partner of yours, Su Zhenzhen, did you know? She just said she wanted to be my witness."
Lu Hexu's previously downcast eyes lifted, meeting Li Jinhuai's gaze.
"In your next life, reincarnate into a better family. That partner of yours is truly a smart person."
It was the truth.
Lu Hexu's dark pupils fixed on Li Jinhuai's face.
The lighting in the warehouse was dim; there was only a single lantern held by the Brocade Guard standing behind Li Jinhuai.
For some unknown reason, meeting this eunuch's gaze, Li Jinhuai actually felt a chill of terror. It was a sixth sense reaction, his body subconsciously detecting danger.
Li Jinhuai stood up, surprised at his own bizarre feeling of fear toward a lowly eunuch.
Frowning, Li Jinhuai said to the Brocade Guard behind him, "The usual rules. Beat him up first, but don't kill him."
"Yes, My Lord."
-
"You don't need to worry too much about His Majesty either." Shadow One spoke leisurely as he watched Wei Heng walking out of breath. "You are getting old, take it easy."
Wei Heng looked at Shadow One, who was hidden in the darkness.
Was he worried about that ancestor?
Would that ancestor go on a killing spree and burn down the imperial temple?
Wei Heng led a squad of Brocade Guards to the imperial temple.
The door to the sacrificial vessel storehouse was pushed open, and the first thing that rushed at their faces was the thick stench of blood.
The corpse of a Brocade Guard lay on the floor, blood seeping from his abdomen and pooling near Wei Heng's feet.
The moonlight broke through the dark clouds, casting a hazy glow.
Lu Hexu sat on the ground, his hands covered in blood.
He was wearing a red round-collar robe. Between the dark red and the light red, for a moment, it was impossible to tell which parts were blood.
The young man lowered his head, his expression obscured. He took a piece of red bean cake out of the food box.
It had been a while, and compared to a freshly steamed red bean cake, the outer skin of this one had become hard and rough.
The blood from Lu Hexu's fingertips dripped onto the red bean cake. He opened his mouth and bit into the pastry.
The soft, sticky red bean filling inside stuck to the young man's pale finger bones, mixing with the fresh blood on his hands.
"Your Majesty..."
"Bring Li Jinhuai here. Just now, I forgot to kill him."
-
The night was pitch black, with no moon in sight.
Li Jinhuai was forced to his knees inside the imperial tent. "Your Majesty, this subject was framed! It was all that eunuch named Mu Dan, he..."
"Oh?" A familiar voice sounded right in front of Li Jinhuai.
Li Jinhuai shuddered all over. He slowly raised his head and saw the young man sitting behind the imperial desk.
The young man, having just bathed, was wearing a bright yellow everyday robe embroidered with dragon motifs. He rested his cheek on one hand, looking at him expressionlessly.
This face, this face...
Li Jinhuai's face instantly drained of color. "Impossible, this is impossible..."
Lu Hexu lowered his eyelashes, his entire being exuding a calm sense of madness. "I will give you one chance. I want the roster of the patrol camp that Zhao Lingyun planted in the Brocade Guards."
Wei Heng stepped forward and presented the roster of the Brocade Guards currently at the imperial temple to Li Jinhuai. "Lord Li, please."
Li Jinhuai knew he had been set up.
Trembling, he gripped the brush and began drawing circles on the roster.
The vermilion ink spread, and dozens of Brocade Guards' names were circled.
Wei Heng stepped forward and presented the list to Lu Hexu.
Li Jinhuai knelt on the ground, meeting the dark pupils of the young emperor, and kowtowed incessantly. "Your Majesty, this subject was merely momentarily confused. Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing this subject's life. Your Majesty's grace is vast as the heavens, this subject will certainly..."
Before Li Jinhuai could finish speaking, a dark shadow fell over his vision.
He looked up, shivering, and saw Lu Hexu crouching in front of him.
The bright yellow imperial robe trailed on the ground. The young man's hand resting on his knee was long, slender, and pale, even looking somewhat frail.
At this moment, that hand was toying with a silver dagger.
The cold silver pressed against his pale skin; the two extremes of cold merged together, giving off an ultimate sense of chilling gloom.
Lu Hexu reached out, pressing one hand against the back of Li Jinhuai's neck, while his other hand gripped the silver dagger, pressing its sharp tip against Li Jinhuai's throat.
"When did I say I was going to spare your life?"
Wei Heng acutely sensed that this ancestor was in a very bad mood right now.
What had Li Jinhuai done?
Lu Hexu lowered his eyes, his pale, exquisite face carrying a gloomy hostility.
"Your, Your Majesty, spare my life, it was all, it was all this subject's fault. This subject is willing to serve Your Majesty..."
The hand gripping the back of his neck exerted an astonishing amount of force, and the dagger in front slowly pierced into Li Jinhuai's neck. Fresh blood sprayed out, landing on Lu Hexu's face.
The young man did not even blink.
Wei Heng stood to the side, his head bowed, not daring to look up.
Li Jinhuai's words were cut off by the sharp suffocation and pain in his throat. His terrified eyes reflected the young man's expressionless face.
Li Jinhuai tried to speak, but only a gurgling sound came out.
Lu Hexu pulled out the dagger and let go.
Blood surged up his throat as Li Jinhuai's body began to convulse and lose heat. Finally, his head tilted and he collapsed onto the ground, his eyes gradually losing focus until all light faded from them.
Fresh blood soaked the white felt rug.
Lu Hexu raised his hand, smearing the blood from his fingertips onto his face.
He casually wiped the dagger on his clothes, then turned around, his face still stained with blood.
He stabbed the dagger into the roster on the imperial desk.
"There is one more person."
Gripping the dagger, Lu Hexu began carving words into the imperial desk.
The young man carved harder and harder, almost unable to control his own strength, until he pierced straight through the desk with the dagger.
Standing to the side, Wei Heng looked through the glow of the glazed lamp and saw the name carved into the desk.
Su Zhenzhen.
The sharp dagger was stabbed into the final character. The young man stared at the name, his eyes extremely ruthless.
-
Su Zhenzhen had been staying near Wei Heng's tent.
Since entering autumn, the temperature difference between day and night had grown drastic. She was still wearing the same clothes from the daytime, half-damp and not quite dry, making her shiver whenever the wind blew.
Su Zhenzhen tried her best to lean against places sheltered from the wind. She was so cold that she alternated between stomping her feet and rubbing her hands.
She waited for a long time, but still did not see Wei Heng return.
Getting tired of standing, Su Zhenzhen crouched down again.
Wearing half-wet clothes, and the wind was so strong.
Su Zhenzhen felt her throat starting to itch, and waves of cold washed over her body.
She absolutely could not afford to get sick, especially at such a critical moment.
Su Zhenzhen curled up even tighter, then squatted on the ground and did some bunny hops.
After hopping back and forth a few times, her body felt much warmer.
A faint light appeared in the distance.
Su Zhenzhen paused her steps and stood up. Sure enough, she saw Wei Heng walking back, carrying a gauze lantern.
She immediately went to meet him.
Godfather.
Wei Heng paused his footsteps, his gaze falling upon Su Zhenzhen's face as she sprinted toward him.
The night wind was strong, blowing the young woman's face red. Her eyes were crystal clear, and when she looked at others, she always evoked a sense of pity and closeness. Like a jade pendant submerged in water, she exuded an aura of absolute purity and kindness.
This face was indeed captivating.
Thinking of the person inside the imperial tent, Wei Heng subconsciously lowered his voice. Is something the matter?
Su Zhenzhen said concisely, I know who stole the sacrificial vessels. I have evidence.
Right now, Su Zhenzhen could only hope that Wei Heng didn't know about Mu Dan's identity as a hidden spy and would be willing to protect this godson of his.
Wei Heng's gaze landed on Su Zhenzhen's face. His tone carried an imperceptible trace of pity and regret. Are you absolutely certain?
Su Zhenzhen nodded. Yes.
Very well then. Follow me to see His Majesty.
What?
-
A palace maid of Su Zhenzhen's rank would never have seen His Majesty in her entire life if not for today's disaster.
The night was already very deep. Su Zhenzhen stood before the imperial tent. The massive structure before her looked like a gigantic black beast, standing there quietly, yet still unable to conceal its ferocious nature.
She subconsciously clenched her hands.
All of Su Zhenzhen's knowledge about that tyrant came from the original plot of the book.
Bloody, brutal, a lunatic, a homicidal maniac.
Any negative word imaginable could be piled onto this villainous tyrant.
Although there was now a significant deviation from the original plot, the tyrant's bloodthirsty, gloomy, and cruel image hadn't changed much in her heart.
For all she knew, the moment she walked in, she might be stabbed to death before she could even open her mouth to speak.
The corpses being dragged out of the great hall flashed through Su Zhenzhen's mind.
The autumn wind brushed past her cheeks, carrying a chilling cold. The heavy flaps of the imperial tent were lifted, like a giant beast opening its abyssal maw.
Through the lifted curtain, Su Zhenzhen saw eunuchs inside cleaning up bloodstains.
The floor was covered with fluffy, soft white felt. Once stained with blood, it could never be wiped clean.
The eunuchs rolled up the white felt. The blood had seeped into the wooden boards beneath. After wiping it down carefully, they laid out a new piece of white felt.
Two Imperial Guards came out from inside, carrying a corpse wrapped in a straw mat.
Su Zhenzhen subconsciously took a step back, her face growing a few shades paler.
Wei Heng cast a glance at her.
The bright light from inside the tent spilled out, shining on the young woman's face, making her look as pale as a sheet of paper.
Follow me. Wei Heng led the way for her.
Su Zhenzhen kept her head down, not daring to look up. Her legs were trembling slightly.
The tent was very dim. Only a standing glass lamp in the corner cast a hazy glow.
Su Zhenzhen smelled the thick stench of blood. She felt like throwing up.
Wei Heng stepped forward and stood before a screen. He lowered his eyes to look at the woman who had walked in with her head bowed. His gaze swept over her deeply before landing behind the screen. Your Majesty, she has arrived.
A heavy red sandalwood screen stood across the tent. Carved upon it was a flying dragon in the sky. The massive golden dragon had its giant mouth wide open, descending from the heavens. A heavy, oppressive feeling rushed straight toward Su Zhenzhen.
Su Zhenzhen carefully remembered the teachings of the female official from when she first transmigrated into the book. She walked in with her head lowered, then threw herself into a deep kowtow on the ground.
The imperial tent was obviously much better than her shabby little tent. Beneath her were nailed wooden boards covered with soft white felt.
Although it had just been replaced, Su Zhenzhen felt as if she could smell the blood that had seeped into the wooden boards right through the white felt.
When Su Zhenzhen knelt down, she accidentally used too much force. It didn't hurt, but the sound was quite loud—so loud that it startled even herself.
She was too nervous. Her nerves were so frayed that she was terrified by the slightest sound she made.
Su Zhenzhen knelt on the floor, her slender body prostrated. With her forehead resting against the back of her hands, her whole body trembled with anxiety.
Who wouldn't be afraid when facing a psychopath who could take their life at any moment?
The tent was incredibly quiet. Su Zhenzhen could only hear her own uncontrollable, heavy breathing.
Then, from behind that heavy screen, Su Zhenzhen heard a sound that stood out sharply in the quiet tent.
Lu Hexu sat behind the screen. His pale, beautiful hand shook the white porcelain bottle he held, which contained a few remaining sugar pills.
The hard sugar pills clinked against the white porcelain bottle, emitting a long, chaotic clinking sound.
On the desk in front of him sat a gilded gold vase with intertwined lotus patterns.
The lamplight illuminated the young man's gloomy face.
Lu Hexu raised his hand, opened the white porcelain bottle, and poured all the sugar pills inside into his mouth.
When eating sugar pills, he didn't like to lick or suck on them; he only liked to bite them.
The rock-hard sugar pills were crushed by his teeth.
Kneeling on the ground, Su Zhenzhen could only hear the crunching sound from behind the screen, exactly like the sound of chewing bones.
You terrified my precious baby, pay up.
Thanks.
Thank you babies for your love, and for spending your money.
