On the way to Ziyan Palace, Jing Xin found that she was not as frightened as she had been the night before. Qi Shen had already believed her for the most part, so as long as no more troublemakers appeared around them, things should be fine.
In the book, after Qi Shen dealt with Zhou Pu, he was in high spirits and went out of the palace to hunt freely.
Once this crisis passed, she would request to join him on a hunting trip outside the palace, and then find an opportunity to escape. He could go meet his white moonlight instead.
Boom—
A sudden bolt of thunder split the clear sky and struck right in front of Jing Xin. She watched in shock as the koi in the pond flipped belly-up, water splashing more than ten meters high and soaking half her body.
“How strange, how could there be thunder on a clear day?” Chang Huan’s brows jumped in alarm. “Your Highness, could it be that the King has sensed something?”
Shou Quan said worriedly, “Your Highness! Are you frightened? Your dress is soaked. You should return to the palace first and tidy your appearance before meeting His Majesty.”
Jing Xin glanced at her wet skirt and shook her head. At a time like this, delaying would only look more suspicious. It was just thunder. She had survived everything from the twenty-first century, even a pandemic, so why would she fear a little lightning?
The sun disappeared behind the clouds, and after that strike of thunder, the bright sky quickly turned overcast.
Jing Xin walked briskly, but suddenly slipped on a stone and performed a full split on the spot.
Jing Xin: …
Her legs hurt, her bottom hurt, and even her waist felt twisted.
Although the original body had dance training, this fall had truly hit her hard.
Was today cursed for going out?!
She had no time to linger. With Chang Huan’s help, she hurried toward Qi Shen’s palace again. On the way, they encountered a palace servant delivering an order, saying that Qi Shen had summoned her to the prison.
Based on her years of reading novels and watching dramas, this man was likely trying to psychologically pressure her, maybe even testing the truth of her words through interrogation.
On the way to the prison, Jing Xin was struck by thunder again, this time landing to her left. It did not hit her, but it shocked Chang Huan so badly that her hair bun went completely frizzy.
She faintly began to understand something. Could this be related to last night’s dream?
Was she really supposed to “cleanse” this tyrant, or she would die?
Suddenly, the ground beneath her gave way. By the time she reacted, she realized she was at the top of a steep staircase, already falling down.
Her vision spun. Her elbows and joints struck hard, and pain spread through her body. Tears welled in Jing Xin’s eyes as she looked up at the sky.
“Do I really have to follow the instructions from that dream?”
A breeze passed over her face. In an instant, the dark clouds scattered, the sun returned, and the sky turned blue again.
She understood.
There was no system, but there was fate.
What choice did she have? Let herself be killed by heaven? She could only swallow this bitter reality with tears.
But… why couldn’t she have transmigrated as Qi Shen’s mother instead? That would make things so much easier. She would have raised him properly from childhood.
…
The prison was filled with a thick smell of blood. Jing Xin arrived before Qi Shen and bowed.
It was a tightly sealed cell, like an underground parking structure with multiple levels. She had descended several flights of stairs to get there. There were no windows, no ventilation, only torchlight illuminating the space. The fire ate away at the already foul air, making even breathing feel difficult.
Qi Shen ignored her greeting. Instead, someone beside him spoke.
“Greetings, Your Highness, Imperial Consort Jing.”
Jing Xin looked up. The original host’s memories told her this was Qin Wuheng.
The man wore dark official robes. His features carried the steady composure of someone skilled in restraint. He had a dignified, upright aura, neither servile nor arrogant. Compared to Qi Shen, he looked like a hero who saved the world, while Qi Shen resembled a demon who slaughtered with elegance. No, even demons seemed less terrifying than him.
“Your Majesty, I do not like this place. It is too gloomy,” Jing Xin said softly. Following the original body’s usual behavior, she crouched beside Qi Shen, delicate and soft, resting her head on his shoulder.
At a time like this, a servant should have sensibly brought a chair, but none did. The tyrant had not yet fully lowered his suspicion of her.
Qi Shen looked at the prison cell. “How coincidental. Lord Zhou also dislikes this place.”
His deep eyes curved slightly in a smile, his brows sharp and cold.
“Lord Zhou, is that so?”
Inside the cell was Zhou Pu. The man in his thirties was hunched like an old elder, covered in blood, his face barely recognizable.
Zhou Pu spat, “Dog emperor! Don’t get too proud! I could not kill you in life, but after death I will curse you forever! I will become a vengeful ghost and take your life!”
“Curse me?” Qi Shen was not angry. Instead, he smiled. “Should I act afraid?”
Then he continued calmly, “Very well. First remove his teeth, then cut out his tongue. That way, even after death, he cannot curse me. You call me a dog emperor? Then I shall have an expert perform a ritual so you may first become a beast in the animal realm. After I live for ten thousand years, I would still like to see you wagging your tail.”
Jing Xin felt a chill run through her.
So this was how terrifying the tyrant truly was?
In ancient times, people deeply believed in reincarnation. Sending someone into the animal realm was not something a human should casually say.
Qi Shen then said, “By the way, what exactly were you conspiring about with my beloved consort?”
Jing Xin’s eyelid twitched. This was already the start of interrogation.
Zhou Pu, disheveled and chained, shifted slightly. His sharp gaze briefly landed on Jing Xin. In that instant, it triggered fragments of memory in her mind.
In Biandu, when Zhou Pu first met Jing Xin, he had been momentarily stunned. While teaching her court etiquette, he often lost focus.
In the military camp the previous night, the original host had gone to seek refuge. He had embraced her tightly and confessed that he had always had feelings for her. At that time, they nearly became intimate, but the original Jing Xin had held back to preserve her life and status. Zhou Pu had restrained himself despite discomfort.
Jing Xin tensed. Her life might depend on a single sentence.
Zhou Pu spat again. “Conspire? Conspire to kill you? Your woman is filthy. I would not touch her.”
Jing Xin froze.
Was he helping her? Why? Because Zhou Pu truly loved the original host?
The suspicion in Qi Shen’s eyes toward her vanished completely. He pulled Jing Xin closer and played with her hand.
“Insulting my consort is another offense,” he said lightly. “Why are your hands trembling, my dear consort?”
“…My legs are numb from squatting,” she replied.
Qi Shen pulled her into his lap. Jing Xin maintained her position, sitting on him with practiced ease, though inwardly she rolled her eyes.
Of course he was a tyrant. Cleaning him up would be extremely difficult.
Qin Wuheng, however, seemed uneasy.
He leaned slightly and whispered, “Brother, what if he is protecting Imperial Consort Jing’s life? She was sent here by Zhou Pu. Their private meetings…”
Jing Xin heard everything clearly.
So the male lead was also scheming. Of course. If they did not kill her, how would Shen Qingyue’s path be paved?
Qi Shen cut him off with a laugh. “You misunderstand. My consort is very clever. She merely brought me useful information. Lord Zhou, would you prefer to go underground first, or wait for your son to return from Kunyu Mountain and leave together?”
Zhou Pu finally broke down completely, struggling against his chains, roaring and cursing. Jing Xin quietly observed Qin Wuheng.
His brows twitched sharply. His pupils narrowed as he looked at her.
Jing Xin smiled at him gently.
It must feel terrible to have your plan stolen.
Qi Shen seemed pleased with the prisoner’s reaction. He released Jing Xin’s wrist and stood up.
The sudden motion caused her to lose balance slightly.
Damn it, what a scumbag.
Was she just air to him? She was still a person hanging on him moments ago.
Qi Shen said, “Look, Lord Zhou is cursing you too. My dear consort, feel free to vent. Do not be afraid. He can take it.”
Then he left with Qin Wuheng to handle state affairs.
The states of Biandu and Liang Dynasty had allied in rebellion. Only the nearest state had arrived to assist Qi Shen, while the others were delayed. He needed to deal with the situation personally.
Zhou Pu’s curses and cries echoed in the prison. Jing Xin hesitated, then walked forward.
Zhou Pu glared at her viciously. After a long silence, he finally realized she could not possibly know such confidential information. He had never told her in the military camp that night.
Jing Xin spoke softly. “Qin Wuheng already knew. I only happened to notice by chance.”
Her voice was low. Shou Quan and Chang Huan stood aside deliberately talking, shielding her from Qi Shen’s attention.
“Your son is already dead. The day you left the capital, he had already died from illness on the road. The soldiers did not tell you so you would not be distracted.”
Zhou Pu’s eyes widened, tears falling uncontrollably.
“Compared to being tortured here, dying earlier was perhaps a form of relief,” Jing Xin said with a sigh. “Thank you for saving me just now.”
Zhou Pu broke into sobs, still cursing Qi Shen.
Jing Xin felt uneasy. She did not belong to this world, yet she had truly stepped into it. Here, lives were as cheap as ants, and power ruled everything.
Only now did she understand that the dream and so-called “heavenly will” might not be entirely wrong. Even if she escaped Qi Shen, this world itself was dangerous. Survival outside might be even harder.
Perhaps it would be better to “clean up” Qi Shen and turn him into a good ruler. From Shen Qingyue alone, it was clear he could distinguish right from wrong. He was simply a twisted person shaped by his upbringing.
Zhou Pu finally calmed down. After a long silence, he suddenly looked up.
“Lord Lu is also plotting rebellion. If he succeeds, you may take refuge with him to survive. Tell him my words. He owes me. He will treat you well. If he fails…” He paused. “Then use this information to gain favor from that dog emperor.”
He explained everything in detail.
Lord Lu was one of the regional lords who had not yet arrived to protect Qi Shen. This plotline did not exist in the novel.
Jing Xin was grateful to Zhou Pu, and also to the original host. It was this face that had saved her life.
They could not continue speaking. Jing Xin hesitated, then looked at him with reluctance.
“Do you want me… to send you off?”
Zhou Pu stared at her for a long time, eyes filled with tears, then smiled.
“Yes.”
Jing Xin turned her back.
“Carry out the execution!”
It was her first time giving such an order, even if it was to help Qi Shen gain merit.
As she turned away, she heard the man behind her speak in a deep voice.
“Take care.”
Finally leaving the prison, Jing Xin felt the outside air was almost precious.
Shou Quan quickly caught up. “Your Highness, Zhou Pu has been dealt with. He did not suffer. I handled the wounds, so His Majesty should not notice anything. But will the Emperor blame you…”
Jing Xin could not think about that now. Did she really want to watch someone suffer such torture?
And if she did not act, she would die.
Tears welled in her eyes.
She did not return to Tangcui Palace, but instead went directly to Mingzheng Hall to plead guilty before Qi Shen.