Liu Yiyi had cursed until her mouth was dry. Seeing Chu Shengsheng like this only fueled her anger further. Her gaze swept over the sachet tied at Chu Shengsheng’s waist, and an idea struck her. She gave a meaningful glance to the matron beside her.
The matron understood, stepped forward, and roughly tore off the sachet, then respectfully handed it over.
Liu Yiyi took it, weighed it in her hand, examined the crude stitching, and sneered, “The design is rather unique, but this needlework… tsk tsk, it’s crude and unsightly, truly unfit for any respectable occasion.”
“If even your needlework is so poor, how will you serve His Highness if you ever enter the Eastern Palace? Wouldn’t you bring nothing but shame to His Highness?”
As she spoke, she casually tossed the sachet onto the ground.
The matron nearby understood her intent, stepped forward, and stomped on it several times. The sachet tore open, and the remaining traces of “Beauty’s Intoxication” inside scattered into the air, unnoticed by anyone.
Chu Shengsheng watched the trampled sachet, laughing silently in her heart.
Just then, one of the matrons stepped forward, holding a small note. She leaned close to Liu Yiyi’s ear and whispered a few words.
Liu Yiyi opened the note and glanced at it, then turned her gaze to the young woman before her. The disgust and jealousy in her eyes grew even more intense. As she crumpled the note, she said bitterly, “Truly a seductive fox, she’s even managed to ensnare Second Master…”
At this, she completely lost her patience and said coldly, “Take her away. Teach her the rules properly. Let her know who is in charge of the Eastern Palace’s rear courtyard!”
As soon as she finished speaking, two matrons immediately stepped forward, seized Chu Shengsheng, and began dragging her out.
Liu Yiyi sat quietly, watching as this woman offered no resistance and was dragged away. For a moment, she felt a surge of satisfaction, but the contents of the note made her frown again.
She had been married to Pei Zhen for five years, but he rarely visited her. Yet, she happened to be someone who couldn’t bear loneliness. Later, by chance, she ended up with Pei Yang, and from then on, things spiraled out of control.
It could almost be said that for these five years, Pei Yang had taken his place.
Thus, she held complicated feelings for both men—one for power, the other for affection.
But now, to think that both men were so concerned about that Chu Shengsheng—it was like a slap in her face!
The more she thought about it, the more hatred she felt—hatred for these two men, but even more so for Chu Shengsheng.
“Take me to see.”
“Yes, Lady of Goodness.”
Chu Shengsheng was dragged by the two matrons out of the room and into an extremely secluded side chamber in the rear courtyard. When the door was pushed open, it revealed a privately set-up torture chamber. Various instruments of punishment hung on the walls, and the air was cold, damp, and carried a faint scent of blood.
All of this was used exclusively by Liu Yiyi, the Lady of Goodness, to “discipline” those concubines or servants who had offended her or whom she simply disliked. The location was so well-hidden that even the Crown Prince was unaware of it.
Then, she was roughly dragged inside. Her hands were locked in cold iron chains, and she was hoisted up.
Liu Yiyi strolled in leisurely, admiring her disheveled appearance, a look of pure satisfaction spreading across her face.
“Give our Sister Chu a proper welcome.”
As she spoke, she sat down in the chair opposite, picked up a cup of hot tea, and settled in to enjoy the scene.
Upon hearing this, the matron immediately stepped forward with a sinister grin and raised her hand.
“System, exchange the Substitute Doll and the Body Torture Pill!”
The props used earlier had already expired upon leaving the palace, and now she could only exchange for new ones.
[Reminder to the Host: You currently have negative Points and cannot make an exchange.]
“If I get beaten to death now, what’s the point of talking about the mission? System, I want to continue on credit!”
Since she could go into debt the first time, she was sure she could do it a second or third time. She refused to believe the System would just watch her die!
Her previous debt had been a test of the System, and it was also for the convenience of future credit.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the System did not respond immediately, clearly having realized her intention.
[Substitute Doll and Body Torture Pill exchange completed. The Host still owes triple the Points.]
The moment the props took effect, the punishment arrived.
The Substitute Doll instantly split open, its skin torn and flesh lacerated. Soon after, the sounds of beating continued incessantly, and before long, it was a gruesome sight.
Seeing this, Chu Shengsheng knew that Liu Yiyi was absolutely determined to kill her.
Fortunately, she had the System. Otherwise, anyone else would likely have been killed.
Liu Yiyi, watching her endure the pain with gritted teeth, felt a twisted sense of satisfaction, yet she was also displeased that she refused to cry out or beg for mercy.
“Are you not eating enough? Hit her harder! Keep going until she makes a sound!”
Upon hearing this, the matron exerted even greater force, and one of the blows happened to land on her lower abdomen, where the False Pregnancy Pill quietly began to take effect.
Soon after, a pool of crimson dripped from the hem of her skirt.
“Continue.” Liu Yiyi reveled in the thrill of controlling life and death.
The cycle repeated, the torment endless.
After what felt like an eternity, Liu Yiyi grew somewhat weary of watching. Seeing that the other was already on the brink of death, hanging from the chains like a tattered rag, she finally rose with satisfaction.
“Hang her until dawn, then quietly take her away.” Having savored the scene enough, Liu Yiyi stood up, her tone as casual as if she were disposing of trash. She added, “Remember, make it clean. Make it look like she succumbed to her injuries after leaving the Empress’s palace… Understood?”
Satisfied, Liu Yiyi left the torture chamber and returned to sleep.
Little did she know that the skies over the Eastern Palace were about to change.
The torture chamber soon fell silent, leaving only Chu Shengsheng still bound there. Once she was certain there was no movement outside, she immediately had the System release the chains and stood up, stretching her limbs.
Hanging there had been quite exhausting.
[System Reminder: The target mission, Pei Zhen, has arrived in the capital and is currently reporting at the palace.]
Hearing the System’s reminder, she curled her lips into a smile. Excellent, the most thrilling scene was about to begin.
Pei Zhen had traveled day and night, finally returning to the capital. Before dawn broke, he first went to the palace to report and explain the relief efforts.
As soon as he left the palace gates, without even changing out of his dust-stained robes, he rushed straight to the suburban villa.
However, the villa was empty and silent, with only the trembling servants reporting: Miss Chu was summoned by the Empress into the palace yesterday and has not returned since.
His face instantly darkened, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart. He immediately turned his horse around, re-entered the palace, and barged straight into the Empress’s Sleeping Palace.
“Mother, where is Sheng Sheng?” He didn’t even bother with formalities, asking abruptly.