Madam Geng furrowed her brows.
“Such a clamor, what manner of decorum is this? Xique, go and see.”
In front of her son, Madam Geng was as gentle as the warm spring sun, but when facing servants who committed errors, the imposing authority of the high-ranking matriarch came pouring forth.
The lady, who had been all smiles just a moment ago, pulled down her face and instructed her head maid-in-waiting.
“Yes, Madam.”
Xique acknowledged the order and had just intended to step outside when a crowd of armored and blade-wielding soldiers burst unceremoniously into the room.
The subordinate leader at the head was a short-statured, thick-set man, glaring murderously at Madam Geng.
Realizing the situation was turning adverse, Geng Xinghe set down the unfinished ice bowl in his hand, stood up, and nonchalantly stepped in front of his mother: “May I ask this General why you have suddenly broken into a humble residence?”
The armored man glanced at the youth, a flash of astonishment crossing his eyes: “They all say the young master of the Geng family has celestial beauty, making him even more handsome than the head-card young master of the Clear Wind Pavilion on the east side of the city it turns out to be entirely true.”
“Impudent!” Madam Geng frowned, just as she was about to flare up, but was caught by the hand and pushed behind him by Geng Xinghe.
“Mother, do not lose your temper. General, what is the meaning of this after all?” The youth shielded his mother, looking at the soldiers before him with the inner realization that the visitors harbored ill intentions.
The Geng family was not some insignificant household; even if they were merchants, they were imperial merchants across three generations, and his father was someone who had received praise from the reigning Emperor.
To dare break into the back quarters of the Geng estate in this manner meant disaster was likely truly looming large, and he wondered if his father knew about this outside and whether he could mediate.
Shielding his mother, Geng Xinghe gripped his hands tightly, pinching the flesh of his palms until it hurt.
“The young master is quite sensible.” The man’s smile grew increasingly flippant and lewd: “By imperial edict, the Geng clan has been convicted of treason and collusion with rebels; the entire clan is to be arrested and imprisoned, and anyone who resists is to be executed on the spot!”
“What?”
Everyone in the room was shocked, and Madam Geng collapsed into her chair, unable to utter a single word.
Geng Xinghe turned pale, his ears ringing with a buzz so loud he could no longer hear anything else…
Even when someone grabbed and restrained him, he remained entirely unaware…
Collusion with rebels…
Was it because of him? Was he once again bringing misfortune to the people who loved him?
Geng Xinghe felt as though he had been cast into an ice cellar, with even the blood throughout his entire body freezing solid.
The Geng family members were quickly thrown into prison though Geng Xinghe himself was not among them.
Geng Xinghe was taken by that subordinate leader directly to the Prince Huai Manor.
Along the way, Geng Xinghe roughly figured out his own plight.
Prince Ning of Jiangnan had been convicted of treason and rebellion. When Prince Huai was responsible for investigating and handling the case, he submitted a memorial to the reigning Emperor, discovering evidence within Prince Ning’s correspondence proving the Geng clan’s collusion with rebels.
The reigning Emperor flew into a thunderous rage and ordered Prince Huai to oversee the case of the Geng family’s collusion with rebels.
Collusion with rebels?
Geng Xinghe sneered inwardly.
Was it truly collusion with rebels, or had they simply set their sights on the Geng family’s fortune?
After all, no one would fail to covet the vast wealth and assets of the Geng family; even the Emperor himself likely kept them constantly on his mind.
Geng Xinghe was roughly shoved into the dungeons.
The youth, who had once been prized and honored like gold and jade, sat upon the dark and damp ground of the Prince Huai Manor’s dungeon, with only a few moldy straws beneath him.
Geng Xinghe huddled in the corner of the heavenly prison, leaning against the corner of the wall, raising his head to look at that cramped, narrow window.
The window was extremely high, so high that he could barely see it.
Sunlight filtered down through that tiny window, illuminating a minuscule patch of ground while perfectly avoiding the youth’s curled-up body.
Geng Xinghe was completely enveloped in darkness, unable to find a shred of light.
Muffled footsteps echoed within the dungeon, followed by the clanking rattle of iron chains.
Geng Xinghe didn’t move an inch, not even bothering to spare a sliver of gaze for the newcomer.
“Geng Xinghe, His Highness has come to see you!”
The prison warden was an old man, his back hunched and his gait dragging heavily, his voice raspy and unpleasant to the ear.
Geng Xinghe acted as though he heard nothing at all.
The old man’s fawning laughter reached Geng Xinghe’s ears: “Your Highness, this brat was a wealthy young master in the past after all, so he has a bit of a proud backbone. Please come this way, Your Highness, be careful mind you don’t hit your head, it’s dirty in here…”
Geng Xinghe turned his head away, pressing his face directly against the wall.
A woodlouse crawled past his cheek and vanished into a cracked seam in the wall.
The youth didn’t even blink an eye.
The sound of footsteps treading on straw rang out.
A shadow cast itself over Geng Xinghe.
Geng Xinghe closed his eyes.
“Young Master Geng, since our parting at the Orchid Garden, has the Young Master been well?”
Prince Huai’s ill-intentioned laughter came from overhead.
Geng Xinghe tilted his head to side-eye the man clad in brown-red python robes, then turned his head away again and closed his eyes.
Since he was already right here, did this creature think he was doing well or not?
Hah.
Disgusting.
Prince Huai squatted down beside Geng Xinghe.
He was a fatty weighing over two hundred catties.
Though tall, because he was simply far too fat, he looked like a bloated hog.
Prince Huai suddenly grabbed Geng Xinghe by the chin, forcing him to turn his head and look at him: “Before, you refused to yield to this Prince, but now aren’t you still falling into this Prince’s hands!”
Prince Huai laughed sinisterly, his eyes narrowing into slits, his greasy face plastered with an oily and lascivious expression.
Geng Xinghe sneered: “You think that even if I’ve fallen to this state, I will necessarily allow myself to be at your mercy?”
“Don’t forget, your parents’ lives are still grasped in this Prince’s hands.”
Prince Huai laughed with the petty triumph of a villain: “Geng Xinghe, why don’t you serve this Prince until I’m thoroughly pleased, and this Prince will grant your parents a path to survival? How about that?”
Geng Xinghe gave a derisive chuckle: “Since the Geng family has colluded with rebels, how can Your Highness possibly save my parents’ lives?”
The youth smiled faintly, carrying a trace of mockery.
Geng Xinghe’s immaculate demeanor, untainted by even a speck of dust despite being plunged into such a desperate situation, enraged Prince Huai.
The fatty suddenly flew into a rage, preparing to press the youth down beneath him.
Geng Xinghe raised his foot and kicked hard, sending the man flying quite a distance away.
Though tall and heavy, Prince Huai had neglected his studies since childhood, knowing only how to eat, drink, and make merry. After adulthood, he frequented brothels and pleasure quarters, indulging in both men and women without restraint, leaving his body thoroughly hollowed out.
Because he possessed a peerless, country-adorned countenance, the head of the Geng family had always worried that his beauty would attract covetous desires, and thus had hired countless martial arts masters for him since childhood, forging him into someone with formidable physical skills.
How could Prince Huai withstand a kick from him? He was immediately sent flying several meters, his back crashing viciously against the iron-barred door of the cell.
“Your Highness! Your Highness, are you alright!”
Hearing the loud crash, the warden ran over, and upon seeing Prince Huai sprawled on the ground, he was frightened out of his wits and hurriedly moved to step inside and help him up.
“Scram!”
Having his pathetic appearance witnessed by others, Prince Huai vented all his anger onto the warden.
Startled, the warden scurried away, dragging his feet in a hasty retreat.
Prince Huai scrambled up from the ground, narrowed his eyes, and glared viciously at Geng Xinghe: “Geng, you are no longer that prized, honored young master. If you don’t want to suffer, you’d best submit to this Prince.”
“If I do not submit, what can you possibly do?” Geng Xinghe sneered.
“Believe it or not, this Prince will have you stripped bare, tied up in the military camp, and let every single soldier taste what the premier young master of Shangjing feels like?”
He pinched Geng Xinghe’s cheek, fierce as a wolf.
For a split second, a murderous, ruthless glint flashed through Geng Xinghe’s eyes.
Catching that trace of hatred in the youth, Prince Huai grew even more triumphant: “Whatever this Prince wants, I have never failed to get. If this Prince cannot have it, I don’t mind destroying it either.”