“Your Highness…” Lin Ruzhen whimpered, gazing at Dongfang Yan through tear-blurred eyes.
His heart softened at the sight.
Dongfang Yan owed his life to Lin Ruzhen’s rescue – even if she had told some lies, it couldn’t erase her life-saving grace.
“Don’t be afraid, Zhen’er. I promised to protect you for life, and I won’t let anyone harm you!”
The man who had been gentle moments ago now turned an icy gaze toward Lin Qingyue:
“Even if Zhen’er told some lies, she remains a pearl in the sky, incomparable to a venomous woman like you! Guards!”
The guards stepped forward to seize Lin Qingyue.
Tabby Cat blocked their path, emitting low growls: “Dongfang Yan, you truly can’t distinguish right from wrong! Back off!”
Unfortunately, no one could understand, seeing only an overestimating kitten.
Lin Qingyue found it bitterly ironic – everyone in the Lin residence remained indifferent, only this cat stood up for her.
Dongfang Yan touched the cat scratches on his hand, recalling their previous encounter, and coldly ordered: “Guards, kill this beast first!”
“Go!” Lin Qingyue urgently shouted at Tabby Cat.
Tabby Cat felt deeply distressed: If only I were still The Crown Prince, I could at least use status and power to suppress Dongfang Yan, preventing Lin Qingyue from being bullied.
However, it could barely protect itself now. Staying would only be a burden. Before the guards’ blades could strike, it darted into the bushes, swiftly leaped onto the eaves, and vanished into the night.
Several other guards received Dongfang Yan’s order to apprehend Lin Qingyue.
Lin Qingyue said: “No need for your hands, I’ll walk myself!”
At this moment, she could feel the original host’s lingering obsession within her fading – even the original host must have completely given up on him now?
She suddenly looked up, casting a cool glance at Dongfang Yan.
Good! This would be her last submission – there wouldn’t be another.
Dongfang Yan felt inexplicably startled by her gaze, an indescribable sorrow arising in his heart. As if he had lost something important.
“Yue’er!” Zhou Shi chased after a few steps before being pulled back by Lin Xiao. “This is her own fault! Sisters should work together in harmony. Instead, she turns against her own.”
“Mother, I’m sorry…” Lin Ruzhen tearfully reached for Zhou Shi.
But Zhou Shi’s heart had chilled, coldly brushing off her hand.
After returning to the palace, Lin Qingyue was imprisoned in the dungeon.
A massive black iron lock fell, securing the cell door.
Dongfang Yan watched her through the prison bars: “Lin Qingyue, stay honest inside. Don’t think about escaping. This black iron chain specially counters magic arts. I borrowed it from the imperial court just for you.Lin Qingyue sneered: “For me?” Didn’t you go through all this trouble for Lin Ruzhen?”
But was that lying woman truly worth it?
If one day you discover she’s an impostor pretending to be a noble lady, would you still be so devoted?
Or would you cast aside class prejudices to be with her regardless?
Dongfang Yan detected the mockery in Lin Qingyue’s eyes, finding it increasingly irritating.
This woman was stubbornly detestable!
Why couldn’t you just yield? Why must you always be so aggressive?
He absolutely loathed Lin Qingyue’s current attitude—not just because of Lin Ruzhen. More than that, he felt as though all his methods were striking cotton, utterly powerless. It made this high-and-mighty prince feel as if he couldn’t control this woman at all.
The more this happened, the more he couldn’t resist wanting to crush her arrogance.
He refused to believe she could remain this stubborn forever!
“Lin Qingyue, since you’re so capable, I suppose going hungry for a few days won’t kill you. Stay here and reflect on your actions. When you admit your wrongdoing and stop harming others, I’ll release you!”
After throwing down these words, Dongfang Yan stormed off in a fury.
Steel is tempered by fire, and hunger breaks pride—he refused to believe she could remain so arrogant and unruly after a few days without food!
Lin Qingyue tested the cold iron chains and found they were indeed coated with a faint restraining force. Her strength and spells sank into them like a clay ox drowning in the sea, utterly useless.
“You damned prince, I underestimated you.”
Abandoning the lock, Lin Qingyue began examining the cell instead.
The prince’s dungeon was dark and damp, with a palm-sized window on the back wall letting in a sliver of moonlight.
A normal human body naturally couldn’t fit through such a small window.
Should she practice bone-shrinking techniques? No, no—that art was too unsightly. She’d rather die than learn it!
Just as Lin Qingyue was pondering other options, she suddenly heard a meow from the direction of the small window.
Looking up, she saw a tabby cat squeezing through the window, its round eyes glowing like two little lanterns in the darkness.
After assessing the situation inside, the tabby cat leaped down: “Meow, meow…” Finally found you!
The cat circled Lin Qingyue’s feet a few times, only settling down after confirming she was unharmed.
“Good thing you didn’t confront him directly. The prince’s guards alone number over a thousand.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Lin Qingyue’s spiritual power was still weak. The spells she crafted might seem powerful, but they were primarily effective against evil spirits.
In a direct fight against thousands of soldiers, brute force alone wouldn’t suffice.
That’s why she hadn’t clashed head-on with Dongfang Yan earlier.
Lin Qingyue said, “I thought you’d left. I didn’t expect you to return. Are you afraid that without me, no one can help restore your identity?”
The tabby cat replied, “Whether you can help me regain my status or not, I’ll still assist you. You saved me once, and I believe you don’t deserve such treatment from Prince Jin.”
“You were his lawful wife. Even if you used a Curse, there were reasons behind it. Since he married you, he should have treated you with the respect and privileges due to a princess consort—not side with an outsider and ignore right and wrong!”
Lin Qingyue smiled faintly. “Rumors say His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is wise and benevolent—it seems true. Since you came back for me today, if your body still exists, I’ll help restore your soul and identity. But for now, we must find a way out first.”
She sighed, pointing at the lock on the cell door. “I have no idea which turtle’s grandson designed this thing. I can’t open it for now.”
The tabby cat averted its eyes guiltily. “Sorry, that was me…”
Lin Qingyue: “…Heh, you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve.”
Tabby Cat hurriedly explained, “This was originally designed for evil individuals with supernatural abilities who commit crimes. I never expected Dongfang Yan would use it to lock you up.”
“Fortunately, during the initial design phase, I created two unlocking methods as a precaution. Besides using a key, it can also be opened with a passcode.”