“I refuse.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Cheng Qiqi’s clear voice rang out: “In life, I belong to the Shizi; in death, I am the Shizi’s ghost. In this lifetime, I will never remarry!”
With the Kongjian, Cheng Qiqi was confident she could live a good life with her daughter anywhere.
Remarry?
Was she out of her mind? Which man in ancient times didn’t have three wives and four concubines? What was so appealing about a rotten cucumber?
Not to mention the man before her was the Shizi’s enemy. If she were truly foolish enough to agree, she would likely die even more miserably. Better to go into exile with them!
Liu Suyi’s eyes lit up, her gaze toward Cheng Qiqi filled with complexity.
Cui Lie’s eyes darkened, his sword tracing an arc in the air before its tip pointed directly at Cheng Qiqi.
The icy sword tip, with a drop of blood congealing and falling.
Cheng Qiqi’s heart skipped a beat, but she spoke calmly: “Sir, you are carrying out the imperial decree to confiscate the family property. Did it say you could administer private punishment?”
“Now that I am registered in the Jinjia family tree, I am a member of the Zhongyong Houfu.”
Clad in mourning clothes, she knelt upright, holding her child. Her face was pale, but her eyes shone brightly like stars.
Cui Lie’s sword brushed past Cheng Qiqi’s cheek as he sneered, “You hold such deep affection for Jin Mozhi. What a pity—the Jinjia family doesn’t want you and your daughter to live!”
Cui Lie’s eyes flickered, his sword pointing to the side: “Thanks to your Jinjia family’s tip-off, how else would I have remembered that Jin Mozhi had a Shizifei and a daughter?”
“Lin Huilan?”
Liu Suyi glared at Lin Huilan, gritting her teeth. She had wondered why Cheng Qiqi and her daughter, who had almost no presence in the Houfu or Jingdu, were also brought along during the confiscation!
Exposed, Lin Huilan panicked for a moment before putting on an innocent expression: “The Shizi is gone. Shouldn’t his wife and daughter come to pay their respects?”
Since they were all going to be exiled anyway, what was there to fear?
As for Cheng Qiqi and her daughter trying to stay out of it?
Wishful thinking!
If they were to die, they would all die together!
“You…”
Liu Suyi was so angry she didn’t know what to say. Cheng Qiqi pulled a steamed bun from her bundle and said, “Mother, it’s not worth getting angry. Have a bun.”
Since she had just spoken up for her, she would give her the bun to eat.
“…”
Liu Suyi looked at Cheng Qiqi with a complicated expression.
“Hahaha~”
Lin Huilan’s mocking laughter seemed to ease the pain of the recent confiscation. She sneered, “Country folk really can’t handle the big stage. Even at death’s door, they’re still thinking about buns. Truly a starving ghost reborn.”
“How pitiful—the Shizi’s body isn’t even cold yet, and his wife is already eating meat buns.”
Lin Huilan spoke sarcastically. The thought of all the jewelry and beautiful clothes she had collected over the years—gone in an instant—made her seethe with rage!
“I hope Madam Lin will have the same backbone when we reach the prison.”
Cheng Qiqi spoke lightly, then turned to Liu Suyi: “Only by surviving can we clear the Shizi’s name and restore the Houfu’s honor.”
“An’an, give this to Grandma.”
Cheng Qiqi placed the bun in her daughter’s hands.
Jin Suian held the meat bun, timidly offering it to Liu Suyi, and said in a crisp voice, “Grandma, eat the bun.”
Liu Suyi took the bun, still warm. She accepted it and took a big bite. Only by surviving could she clear her son’s name and restore the Houfu’s honor!
The aroma of meat buns mingled with the scent of blood. Lin Huilan froze. What had she gained by winning a momentary verbal victory over Liu Suyi?
They were about to be dragged off to prison.
“Guards, take them all to the imperial dungeon. In three days, they will be exiled to Lingnan!”
Cui Lie paid no attention to the buns. The journey to Lingnan would be fraught with hardships.
“Lingnan? Can we even survive there?”
Upon hearing “Lingnan,” Lin Huilan felt her vision darken repeatedly. A land rampant with miasma, venomous insects, and fierce beasts—it was thousands of miles away from Jingdu.
“Poor Sui’an, you’re still so young. How will you endure this?”
Liu Suyi could no longer eat the bun. Looking at Jin Suian, who was barely three years old, and then at the injured Marquis, sorrow welled up within her.
“Why should we suffer for my elder brother’s mistakes? I don’t want to be exiled. I don’t want to die!”
A man dressed in gaudy clothing stood up, his eyes filled with terror at the thought of exile. He tried to make a run for it.
“Ah…”
A scream rang out the next moment as the gaudy figure was kicked several meters away.
Cui Lie stepped forward and planted a foot on his back.
“Please show mercy, sir.”
The stunned Lin Huilan scrambled toward Jin Yanzhi on her hands and knees. After just two steps, a guard’s sword was pressed against her neck. Her words of concern were instantly swallowed, and she could only stare helplessly at her son.
“Seize him and take him away.”
Cui Lie didn’t even spare a glance. Immediately, two guards dragged Jin Yanzhi away. Jin Yanzhi tried to speak, but a rag was stuffed into his mouth, silencing him instantly.
The entire Houfu was shrouded in deathly silence, except for Cheng Qiqi, whose eyes lit up!
Lingnan was perfect—full of fruit trees, with lychees, longans, coconuts… all her favorites.
Abundant seafood—fish, shrimp, crabs—weren’t they everywhere?
If it was near the sea, they could even produce sea salt. In ancient times, salt was incredibly important!
Most importantly, it was far from the emperor’s reach. Wasn’t that better than being trapped like prisoners in the Houfu?
Imperial Dungeon.
“Ah, a rat!”
A scream echoed. Cheng Qiqi, holding her daughter, looked over. It was Lin Huilan’s daughter, Jin Xue’er. Earlier in the Houfu, she hadn’t made a fuss, but it turned out she was paralyzed with fear.
“Mother, I don’t want to stay here. Tell Father to get me out now.”
“I’m the only young lady of the Houfu. I, I don’t want to stay in the imperial dungeon.”
Jin Xue’er complained about every aspect of the dungeon.
“Xue’er, be good. We’ll leave here soon.”
Lin Huilan’s comfort was clearly ineffective. Jin Xue’er ordered Cheng Qiqi, “Cheng Qiqi, take off your clothes and lay them down for me.”
After the bumpy journey, her daughter had fallen asleep. Cheng Qiqi was about to hold her and get some rest when she heard Jin Xue’er’s words. She raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways. “Jin Xue’er, do you still think you’re the young lady of the Houfu?”
In the past, she had endured everything in the Houfu just to avoid disturbing her peaceful life. But now that they were being exiled, if she continued to endure, she would be nothing but a coward!
“How dare you speak to me like that!”
Enraged, Jin Xue’er rushed forward, grabbed Cheng Qiqi’s arm, and raised her hand to slap her.
Holding her daughter, Cheng Qiqi sidestepped. Jin Xue’er’s palm struck the dungeon wall instead, leaving her hand sticky with grime. Furious and humiliated, Jin Xue’er turned and glared viciously at Cheng Qiqi. “You actually dared to dodge!”
“Stop!”
Liu Suyi stepped forward. Even in plain clothes, lacking the luxurious garments and opulent jewelry of her former days, she still stood there as the mistress of Houfu.
The aggressive Jin Xue’er instantly fell silent. She awkwardly withdrew her hand, pursed her lips, and said, “She doesn’t know what’s good for her. This place is so dirty, yet she didn’t even think to take off her clothes to cushion the ground for me. How dare she mock me for not being a Houfu daughter!”