The moon sank behind the western ridge, and the sky had turned completely dark.
Zong Zhengheng had just emerged from the Water Dungeon.
Lanterns were being lit beneath the eaves, their dim yellow glow falling on the bluestone pavement, casting the shadow of his staggering figure as he moved forward.
This day, he had not eaten a single grain of rice.
This day, he tasted the bitterness of the Water Dungeon for the first time.
This day, he memorized rules for the first time—the rules of Jinglan Garden.
An Yi recited them to him.
“Rule One: The young lady’s words are the absolute truth. They must not be disobeyed, questioned, or refuted. If you have any objections, refer to this rule.”
Zong Zhengheng: …?
“Rule Two: When the young lady tells you to kneel, you kneel; when she tells you to stand, you stand. Do not ask a single extra question. If you must ask, kneel properly first, then ask.”
“Rule Three: Whatever the young lady rewards, no matter how bitter, you must swallow it; whatever the young lady punishes, no matter how painful, you must endure it. If you truly cannot swallow or endure it, you may request additional punishment—fighting poison with poison.”
Zong Zhengheng wondered if he had misheard.
“Rule Four: You must not say ‘no’ to the young lady. If you absolutely must say it, begin with ‘The young lady is wise,’ use ‘but’ as a transition, and conclude with ‘Of course, everything the young lady says is right.'”
Zong Zhengheng: …
“Rule Five: You must not harbor resentment toward the young lady in your heart. If you truly cannot help but resent her, silently recite ‘The young lady is the most beautiful, the young lady is the best, the young lady is the gentlest and kindest person I have ever met’ one hundred times until the resentment disappears. If the resentment still remains after reciting, it is recommended that you reflect on whether you have some problem.”
“Rule Six: When the young lady is angry, you must apologize immediately. The apology format is as follows: ‘Young lady, I was wrong. I should not have breathed, I should not have lived. I will atone for my sins with death.’ If the young lady laughs, the punishment may be reduced at her discretion.”
“Rule Seven: When the young lady is happy, you must share in her happiness. If you do not know why the young lady is happy, you must still laugh along. If your laughter is not sincere enough, refer to Rule One.”
“Rule Eight…”
He listened for as long as An Yi recited.
Zong Zhengheng—when had he ever imagined that one day he would have to memorize such things?
But he memorized them nonetheless.
Because if he failed to memorize them, he would have to remain in the Water Dungeon.
The experiences of these past two days were far removed from what he had anticipated before entering the Prince of Jin’an’s mansion.
He had thought that, with his cunning and methods, dealing with a spoiled noble daughter would be as easy as lifting a hand.
Little did he expect that he would encounter a madwoman.
Unpredictable in mood, elusive, and changing her expression faster than turning a page.
Zong Zhengheng walked along the corridor leading from the Water Dungeon to the main quarters, his steps unsteady, but his dark eyes remained calm.
The suffering he endured today, he remembered.
Since he had endured it, he would not allow himself to have suffered in vain.
He must obtain the account books of the prince’s mansion.
He must bring Qiao Nanyu’s evidence of crimes back to the capital.
The night was deep, and the corridor was dim.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from around the corner.
It was a young woman, dressed in fine silk and adorned with pearls and jade, her face bearing a slight resemblance to Qiao Shuyi.
She stood there, looking him up and down:
“Are you the man my younger sister snatched?”
Under the moonlight, this man’s face was excessively handsome.
His eyes were deep-set, his nose bridge high and straight, his thin lips slightly pressed together, exuding an air of cool elegance and nobility.
Though drenched and disheveled, standing there, he seemed like a figure who had stepped out of a painting.
No wonder that madwoman Qiao Shuyi had snatched him.
“Young master, I am Qiao Shuqin, Shuyi’s elder sister. I originally came to discuss the Spring Banquet that the prince’s mansion will host three days from now, but I did not expect to run into you.”
Zong Zhengheng frowned.
Before coming to Jinzhou, he had investigated the situation of the Jin’an Prince’s Mansion.
Qiao Shuqin, the eldest daughter of Qiao Nanyu.
Originally, she was the legitimate daughter of Qiao Nanyu.
But later, in order to marry Liu Jinyu, the only daughter of Jinzhou’s wealthiest family, Qiao Nanyu forcibly demoted his first wife to a concubine.
Overnight, this eldest daughter fell from being a legitimate daughter to a common one, plummeting from the clouds into the mud.
Seeing him remain silent, Qiao Shuqin glanced over him and said:
“You… you’re completely drenched. Could it be that Shuyi locked you in the Water Dungeon?”
“And… you were whipped too?”
She took a step closer, looking up at him:
“My younger sister has been spoiled since childhood and has quite a temper. But no matter what, she shouldn’t have treated you so harshly.”
“Young master, I’ll have someone send you some medicine later. Don’t blame her, she’s actually…”
Before she could finish—
“Sister.”
A soft, delicate voice drifted leisurely from the other end of the corridor.
Zong Zhengheng looked up.
Under the moonlight, a figure in red gracefully approached from the end of the corridor.
The red dress flared brilliantly, fiery and intense, setting off her snow-white skin and cloud-like black hair.
She walked unhurriedly, her waist swaying gently, her skirt trailing behind her like a fairy stepping through the moonlight, or like a blooming red spider lily in the night.
As she drew closer, the moonlight fell upon her face, truly—
A smile as radiant as flowers, a face as flawless as jade.
Zong Zhengheng was momentarily stunned, but soon, a chill crept up his spine.
He suddenly understood the ancient saying—
“Extreme beauty often conceals evil, and all such things are to be feared.”
The more beautiful a person appeared, the more likely they harbored venomous intentions.
The one before him was a living example.
Without even thinking, Zong Zhengheng could guess that Qiao Shuyi and Qiao Shuqin’s relationship was far from amicable. Wouldn’t she be angry seeing him with Qiao Shuqin?
The more furious this malicious woman became, the calmer and more harmless she appeared.
Who knew what method she might use to torment him next?
At this thought, he couldn’t help but blame Qiao Shuqin beside him.
Didn’t she know her younger sister was a capricious madwoman? Yet she had approached him without restraint, calling him “young master” and offering medicine—
This wasn’t concern; it was harming him.
As for Qiao Shuqin, her expression stiffened the moment she saw Qiao Shuyi.
“Shu… Shuyi…”
It was impossible not to fear her younger sister.
Because the sweeter Qiao Shuyi smiled, the crueler her methods became.
Qiao Shuyi walked closer, her gaze sliding from Qiao Shuqin’s face to Zong Zhengheng, then slowly shifting back to Qiao Shuqin.
“Sister, why are you still here so late? Did you come specifically to see my person?”
Qiao Shuqin’s face paled slightly.
“I… I came to ask you about the Spring Banquet… I just happened to pass by, pass by…”
“Pass by? This corridor from the Water Dungeon to my courtyard doesn’t lead to your residence. That’s quite a detour.”
Qiao Shuqin was left speechless.
Qiao Shuyi paid her no further attention, turning instead to walk up to Zong Zhengheng and tapping his chest with her fingertip.
“Zhi Gui, what did she say to you?”
Zong Zhengheng lowered his eyes, remaining silent.
Her fingertip traced circles on his chest: “Did An Yi not teach you the rules of Jinglan Courtyard today?”
Zong Zhengheng’s temples throbbed as he replied in a low voice:
“She asked… if I had been locked in the Water Dungeon.”
“And what else?”
“She said… she would send me medicine.”
“Oh?” Qiao Shuyi raised an eyebrow, turning her gaze toward Qiao Shuqin. “Sister, you were going to send him medicine?”
Qiao Shuqin’s face had already turned as pale as paper.
“I… I was only…”
“Only what?” Qiao Shuyi smiled innocently. “Sister is kind-hearted, I know. But what Sister doesn’t know is—”
“My people, even if they die, can only die by my hand.”
“There’s no need for others—to hypocritically worry.”
“Fuzhi, what are the rules of my Jinglan Garden again?”
Fuzhi stepped forward, bowing her head as she replied:
“Miss, Eldest Miss secretly contacted Zhigui Gongzi behind your back. According to the rules, she should be punished by kneeling for two hours.”
“Oh—two hours.”
She tilted her head, like a curious kitten:
“Sister, do you think that’s too harsh?”
Qiao Shuqin’s lips moved, but no words came out.
“Hmm, then kneel.”
She suddenly sighed again, putting on a reluctant expression:
“Sister, your legs will suffer tonight. Next time, don’t do things that upset your little sister, alright? You know, I’m the softest-hearted person. Punishing Sister makes me—”
She raised a hand to press against her chest: “It hurts so much.”
Qiao Shuqin’s face paled even further, but she didn’t dare utter a single word of refusal.
Biting her lip, she knelt down.
Zong Zhengheng watched from the side, the corner of his mouth twitching.
So this woman wasn’t just using this trick on him—she used it on everyone.
Qiao Shuyi nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Fuzhi:
“Fuzhi, stay here with Sister tonight, so she won’t be lonely.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Having arranged everything, Qiao Shuyi finally turned around to look at Zong Zhengheng standing nearby.
“Zhigui, you see how good I am to you. Someone wanted to send you medicine, and I stopped them for you. Aren’t you going to thank me? After all, if you had really accepted my sister’s medicine, I would have had to punish you too, and how could I bear that?”
Zong Zhengheng: …
“Thank you, Miss.”
“Good, come back with me.”
“Change out of your wet clothes, and I’ll apply medicine for you.”
She extended her fair, delicate hand.
Zong Zhengheng looked at it for a moment, then placed his own hand in hers, their fingers intertwining.