Judging by his reaction, Hua Zhiyun knew the crystal core had taken effect.
Then she noticed something extraordinary.
The withered straw beneath Chu Linzhang began turning green again.
Tiny shoots pushed through cracks in the stone floor.
Vines rapidly climbed over his arms and legs.
A Plant-type ability?
Hua Zhiyun hadn’t expected Chu Linzhang to awaken a supernatural power.
Chu Linzhang himself stared at the scene in utter disbelief.
“This… this is…”
“It’s your ability,” Hua Zhiyun explained. “Try seeing if you can make them bloom… or bear fruit.”
Chu Linzhang followed her suggestion.
Never in his life had he encountered anything so miraculous.
There were no words to describe the shock.
Who could have imagined such an incredible phenomenon existed?
At his command, the once-barren vines visibly flourished.
Leaves unfurled.
Flower buds appeared.
The flowers blossomed.
Then fruit ripened.
The entire process took less than the time needed to drink a cup of tea.
Moments later…
Chu Linzhang’s face turned pale.
His strength gave out.
The vines immediately withered again.
He had exhausted his energy.
His life had been saved.
Not only that—
He had awakened a Plant-type ability, allowing him to manipulate plants and vines at will.
A rather useful power.
Before he could ask any questions…
Footsteps echoed outside.
The escort officers responsible for taking them into exile had arrived.
“Bring all the prisoners out!”
“His Majesty has ordered that the exile begin immediately!”
Hua Zhiyun exchanged a glance with Chu Linzhang.
He already knew she was no longer his princess consort.
There was no reason for her to accompany him into exile.
Since she now possessed a divorce agreement, leaving was perfectly reasonable.
Chu Linzhang had no intention of dragging her down with him.
Nor did Hua Zhiyun intend to be exiled.
She smiled politely at the officer.
“Sir.”
“Prince Chu and I have already divorced by mutual agreement.”
“We no longer have any relationship.”
“I shouldn’t need to accompany him into exile, should I?”
“Divorced?”
The officer raised an eyebrow.
Hua Zhiyun produced the divorce agreement.
At the same time…
She discreetly handed him a one-hundred-tael banknote.
The officer glanced at it.
His large hand quietly accepted the money.
After confirming the agreement was genuine, he was just about to wave her away.
Then—
A fierce-looking man strode over.
Without giving anyone time to react, he snatched the divorce agreement from Hua Zhiyun’s hand.
Rip!
He tore it neatly in half.
The officer: “?”
Chu Linzhang: “??”
Hua Zhiyun: “???”
Rip!
He tore it again.
Now it was in four pieces.
Su Wen sneered.
“You think a divorce agreement will let you leave?”
“Dream on.”
“Hua Zhiyun.”
“You live as a member of Prince Chu’s household.”
“You’ll die as a ghost of Prince Chu’s household.”
“The entire Prince Chu Estate is being exiled.”
“You’re going too.”
“Take them away.”
Hua Zhiyun narrowed her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
The next instant—
Su Wen suddenly grabbed her clothes and ripped them apart.
“This official never jokes.”
“You’d better behave during the journey.”
“Otherwise…”
“Don’t blame me for being merciless.”
He barked another order.
“Give them prison uniforms.”
He tossed Hua Zhiyun’s ruined clothes onto the ground like a pile of rags.
She was left wearing only her inner garment.
For a woman in this era…
Such humiliation was almost unbearable.
Hua Zhiyun, however, didn’t even frown.
Instead…
Su Wen looked disappointed.
“Why aren’t you screaming?”
“You want to hear me scream?”
Hua Zhiyun swiftly slipped into the prison uniform.
Brushing back her long hair, she smiled faintly.
“As you wish.”
Before Su Wen could react—
She lifted her leg.
Bang!
Her kick landed squarely between his legs.
As he collapsed to the ground, Hua Zhiyun’s embroidered shoe came down hard.
Then she deliberately ground her heel into the same spot.
“AAAAAAAHHHHH!!”
Su Wen shrieked so loudly his voice nearly cracked.
“Get this crazy woman off me!”
Hua Zhiyun’s gaze turned icy.
“Whoever dares touch me…”
“Will end up exactly like him.”
Every officer instinctively crossed his legs.
Just watching made them feel phantom pain.
Su Wen roared,
“What are you standing around for?!”
“Move!”
“If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility!”
The officers looked at each other.
Finally, they drew their sabers and charged.
The instant they raised their weapons—
Something caught their feet.
Crash!
Bang!
Every one of them stumbled and fell flat on their faces, swords and all.
Hua Zhiyun glanced toward Chu Linzhang.
Despite the branding on his ruined face, his eyes remained bright.
Hidden vines had silently stretched across the ground, tripping the officers.
He gave Hua Zhiyun a look that clearly said:
You’re welcome.
She responded with a look of utter disdain.
Mind your own business.
They should’ve attacked.
Every killing blow aimed at me would simply have rebounded anyway.
Chu Linzhang: “…”
What a strange woman.
I helped her, and she still isn’t grateful.
Then again…
Considering the mysterious treasures she possessed…
Perhaps she had never needed his help at all.
He had simply interfered unnecessarily.
His fingers twitched slightly.
The dry straw beneath them immediately sprouted fresh green shoots.
Seeing the vibrant greenery…
Chu Linzhang became completely certain.
He truly had awakened supernatural powers.
“You’ll take responsibility, huh?”
Hua Zhiyun smiled wickedly.
She pressed down even harder with her foot.
Su Wen screamed until he was on the verge of passing out.
“Help…”
“Please…”
“Let me go…”
Looking at the officers who dared not approach, Su Wen finally abandoned his pride.
Compared to saving face…
Saving his manhood mattered more.
“I beg you!”
“Please let me go!”
“Fine.”
Hua Zhiyun agreed readily.
She lifted her foot.
The moment he was safely out of reach, Su Wen scrambled backward like a frightened crab.
Clutching himself, he pointed at Hua Zhiyun and shouted,
“Arrest her!”
“We’ll deal with her slowly during the exile!”
The officers answered,
“Yes, sir!”
Hua Zhiyun merely smiled.
She was actually curious to see…
Exactly how they intended to torment her.
As for the destroyed divorce agreement…
She couldn’t care less.
If she truly wanted to leave…
Who could stop her?
Soon afterward…
Hua Zhiyun and Chu Linzhang were escorted out of the prison.
Chu Linzhang’s limbs had all been crippled.
The character “犯” (“Criminal”) had been branded onto his face, forever marking him as a convicted felon.
Unable to walk, he was locked inside a prison cart.
Hua Zhiyun lazily followed alongside.
As she passed him, Chu Linzhang whispered,
“After we leave the capital…”
“Write another divorce agreement.”
“I’ll stamp it for you.”
“Deal.”
Hua Zhiyun knew now wasn’t the right time.
With so many eyes watching…
Leaving safely wouldn’t be easy.
The moment the exile procession appeared on the streets…
The capital emptied.
Crowds packed both sides of the official road.
Everyone had come to watch.
In their hands were stones.
Dog feces.
Pig manure.
Cow dung.
As soon as the prisoners appeared—
The barrage began.
Most of it was aimed at Chu Linzhang.
“Traitor!”
“Enemy collaborator!”
“Scum of Great Xiao!”
“Beat them to death!”
“The imperial court treated you so well, and you betrayed His Majesty!”
“You deserve to die!”
Dog droppings flew toward Chu Linzhang.
Thanks to the prison cart, only a few actually struck him.
Frustrated, the crowd shifted their attention to Hua Zhiyun, who was walking beside the cart.
Dog feces.
Horse urine.
Cow dung.
Rotten vegetables.
Spoiled slop.
Even buckets of human waste that hadn’t yet been emptied.
Everything came flying toward her.
Hua Zhiyun’s eyes turned cold.
She glanced sideways.
Instantly—
Every filthy projectile changed direction as though it had come alive.
Dog feces splattered onto their owners’ faces.
Cow dung landed squarely on heads.
Human waste drenched bodies.
Soiled baby diapers plastered themselves across faces.
Horse urine sprayed straight into open mouths.
The people who had thrown the filth stared in horror.
They couldn’t understand why everything they had hurled had somehow ended up covering themselves instead.
“Ptui!”
“Ptui!”
Cursing erupted everywhere.
They had intended to humiliate Hua Zhiyun.
Instead…
They humiliated themselves.
Meanwhile…
Hua Zhiyun walked leisurely beside the exile convoy.
Her prison uniform remained spotless.
Not a speck of dirt touched her.
Everyone else looked miserable.
Even Chu Linzhang hadn’t escaped completely.
Several buckets of human waste had splashed over him.
His head.
His face.
His clothes.
The stench was overwhelming.
From the corner of his eye, he looked toward Hua Zhiyun.
Not a drop of filth had landed on her.
This woman…
She’s fascinating.
Just as they were about to leave the capital…
A hidden arrow suddenly shot toward Hua Zhiyun’s back.
The arrow whistled through the air.
Halfway there…
It abruptly curved.
Before the assassin could react—
The arrow pierced straight through his heart.
He toppled from the rooftop.
Thud!
His corpse crashed onto the street before the stunned spectators.
The crowd screamed and scattered.
Hua Zhiyun looked back.
A faint smile curled her lips.
Serves you right.
Meanwhile…
Su Wen had been rushed to a physician.
After a careful examination, the doctor delivered grim news.
“The injury struck a vital area.”
“I’m afraid…”
“…you’ll never again perform as a man.”
Su Wen collapsed into despair.
He was devastated.
His fury reached its limit.
He stamped his foot in rage—
Only to pull the injured area again.
He sucked in a sharp breath through gritted teeth.
“That bitch…”
“I swear…”
“She won’t live to see tomorrow morning.”