Everything happened too quickly, too decisively.
Caught off guard, Song Jiuchen turned to look at her, momentarily stunned.
Bewilderment was the first emotion that flashed through his mind.
Then came emptiness, followed by complexity…
He did not fly into a rage, only silently felt the emptiness in his arms, the weight and lingering warmth on his lap gradually fading away.
He narrowed his eyes in disappointment.
The entire hall fell silent.
Shen Qingyao knelt on the ground. Though the initial nervousness had faded, she maintained a respectful demeanor toward the man. Hearing no response from him for a long time, she knew he was angry. After a moment’s thought, she raised her head to look at him.
Yet, despite being prepared for reprimand, her heart trembled when she met his calm gaze.
It seemed to conceal a murderous, icy abyss.
“Your Highness, I apologize.”
She apologized immediately, though the apology did not imply she was wrong—it was merely an attitude.
She had come for the deal to protect her uncle’s official position. Now that it could not be saved, she felt the deal was no longer worth it.
Song Jiuchen stared at her, then curled the corner of his mouth ever so slightly—a self-mocking gesture.
Turning his face away coldly, he remained silent for a moment.
“Shen Qingyao, have I been too lenient with you? Have I given you the illusion that you can be so capricious and overstep your bounds?”
His words were uttered softly, yet they carried immense weight, crashing heavily upon Shen Qingyao’s heart.
She fell silent briefly before replying, “To be frank, Your Highness, my purpose in coming to confess was not primarily to exonerate myself but to plead for my uncle. If he can receive a lighter sentence, I will do anything you ask.”
At this point, there was no need for lies. She laid her cards on the table—the choice was his.
Song Jiuchen sneered, “Then do you know that your exposure was entirely due to Liu Hui’s foolishness? Even so, you would still risk your life for him?”
What?
Shen Qingyao widened her eyes in disbelief, almost instinctively asking, “What do you mean?”
She truly did not know. Her uncle had been involved, but how could her exposure be attributed to his foolishness?
Song Jiuchen paused briefly before turning to reveal the truth. “The day after you returned, he came to the palace on official business and asked me what I thought of you. I said nothing, and he immediately guessed something had gone wrong on your end. He left the palace at once to find you.
His foolishness lay in this: after learning the truth from you, according to the principle of ‘the ruler’s humiliation is the minister’s sorrow,’ he should have returned to the palace as your elder to apologize to me. Yet, for some reason, he did not come. What else could this be but an indirect exposure of your deceit?”
Shen Qingyao: !!
Damn!
So that’s how it was?
She had thought it was because this man was clever. After all, Mo Niang had told her that the prince had taken an interest in her and was investigating her private affairs. She had assumed he had grown suspicious after returning home and unwilling to let it go, secretly investigating her.
But it was actually her uncle?
“Well? Do you still insist on your earlier resolve?” Song Jiuchen asked, watching her closely.
It was, in a way, her final chance.
Shen Qingyao met his gaze, then bit her lip, feeling deeply conflicted.
Now it turned out that not only had she not dragged her uncle into this mess, but she had been sabotaged by him instead. Otherwise, everything would have been fine.
So… what now?
Suddenly, a terrifying conjecture flashed through Shen Qingyao’s mind.
Her pupils contracted, and her entire body went numb!
This subtle expression was precisely captured by Song Jiuchen.
“What are you thinking?” he immediately asked.
Shen Qingyao snapped back to reality and met his eyes.
She was stunned for a moment, then shook her head, “Nothing, I’m just very surprised.”
Uncle has been in the officialdom for many years and is a brave and resourceful general. Could he truly be so foolish and lacking in strategy in this matter?
Or was it really for the sake of her life that he momentarily didn’t know how to face this man?
Song Jiuchen didn’t believe her words, but since she wasn’t willing to speak, he couldn’t be bothered to ask further. He was still concerned about another matter, “Have you thought it through? Do you still insist on your principles?”
Shen Qingyao furrowed her brows tightly, hesitation flickering in her eyes. If she didn’t answer the question now, this man would probably lose his patience.
After a moment of thought, she said, “Your Highness, although General Liu unintentionally exposed me, he has taken care of me for many years. This debt of gratitude is greater than heaven. I cannot abandon him because of one unintentional mistake.”
Before the truth is uncovered, she absolutely must not be ungrateful. She must share both fortune and misfortune, which also serves as a way to uphold her bottom line of not becoming a concubine and repay Uncle’s past kindness!
Song Jiuchen stared at her, then turned his face away, his expression unreadable.
“Twenty lashes would kill you. Are you truly not afraid?”
Meaning, he would not show leniency.
Shen Qingyao pursed her lips, thinking of the third line of small characters Mo Niang had written. Would saying it now be useful or not?
Her eyes shifted, but she decided against it—better not to invite humiliation.
The difficulties a woman faces in this world are even greater than those of a man.
Although these words were spoken by the Grand Dowager, they didn’t apply to her, because this man had not actually forced her in any substantial way.
She had made a mistake, she came to admit it, and he punished her—it was only fair.
Forget it, she would accept her fate!
“Your Highness, actually, you don’t need to go through all this trouble for me. Just grant me a cup of poisoned wine.”
No need for the white silk—hanged corpses with their tongues sticking out look very ugly.
Song Jiuchen remained silent, his expression still unreadable.
A moment later.
“Fine, this is your own choice. I will not give you another chance.”
As soon as he finished speaking, “Ye Zhao.”
At this call, Shen Qingyao’s heart leaped into her throat.
A stern-looking man immediately ran in from the entrance of the hall. After glancing at the situation on the high seat, he awaited orders.
Song Jiuchen turned his head slightly to observe Shen Qingyao’s reaction. Seeing that she still remained silent, he nodded.
“Take her away. First… lock her in Cell Five of the Punishment Mansion. Serve three years of hard labor, and confiscate all family property.”
Huh?
Shen Qingyao lifted her head, looking at the man with surprise and a hint of delight—locked in the Punishment Mansion?
Did that mean he wouldn’t beat her?
And no exile?
Song Jiuchen no longer looked at her, but he could guess she was surprised and even relieved. A trace of mockery flashed quickly in his eyes.
Meeting Ye Zhao’s gaze, he silently conveyed his instructions. Ye Zhao understood immediately and accepted the order.
“Yes.”
“Miss Shen, shall we go?”
Shen Qingyao’s eyes darted around. She prepared to get up but paused to think, “Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness.”
After saying this, she scrambled up and scurried away without looking back, making Song Jiuchen narrow his eyes, unsure whether he was angry or amused.
A woman who refuses to turn back until she hits the wall!
Ye Zhao led Shen Qingyao away, off to serve her sentence in the Punishment Mansion.
She had heard of this Punishment Mansion before. It was located within the Prince’s estate, though on the outskirts—a place for detaining spies and traitors. It was terrifying, and they said ghostly cries could be heard at night, earning it the nickname “Yinjiang.”
But no matter how terrifying it was, it was still better than being beaten to death. She was a materialist and didn’t believe in ghosts; at worst, the environment would be harsh.
A quiet room?
She decided to take a look.
On a moonless, windy night, one must watch their step for snakes.
Shen Qingyao, hungry and weary, followed Ye Zhao through twists and turns for what felt like an eternity. Finally, they passed through a narrow forest path and arrived at a place…
Good heavens!
She shuddered in shock!
Before her stood a gate shaped like the character “回,” illuminated by torches on either side. Both the gate and the surrounding walls were splattered with what looked like fresh blood, now dried but still horrifying at first glance.
It resembled a murder scene!
Her face froze in disbelief. Peering through the gate, she looked inside—oh, heavens!
She stiffened on the spot. Could this be the entrance to the underworld?