Chapter 3 Imprisonment

The shadows of the trees were dense, and the further we walked, the more remote we became, until finally only the lantern in the butler's hand provided a few rays of light.

A cold wind whistled through the broken window that had never been put to rest.

It added a touch of coldness and terror.

If it were any other woman, she would probably be trembling with fear, begging for mercy and saying all sorts of nice things.

But Yunxi was different. She simply pulled her cloak tighter around herself and even took a step forward.

"Brother, it's dark here. You walk behind me."

It's as if she would rush forward to shield him from any danger.

Fan Zishi suddenly stopped in his tracks.

This woodshed is probably the most secluded place in the huge Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion.

When the door was pushed open, a lot of dust even fell out.

Yunxi stepped into the courtyard, and after a few steps she realized that Fan Zishi was standing outside the door and had not come in.

The darkness of night surrounded him, and because the cloak had been given to him, his figure appeared exceptionally frail.

Just over a month has passed, and it is the time when the spring chill is still sharp.

A chilling wind seeped into your bones, leaving you nowhere to hide.

Fan Zishi was still ill before Yunxi left Beijing.

If one catches a cold after recovering from a serious illness, it can easily lead to a prolonged illness.

"Big Brother" Yunxi suddenly grinned, his eyes filled with pride. "My martial arts skills have improved a lot recently. This place is lush with vegetation. If I stay here undisturbed for a few months, I will definitely be invincible when I come out."

She spoke with unrestrained arrogance, showing no fear or discomfort whatsoever despite the dilapidated and gloomy place.

Imprisoned, yet he comforts others.

Fan Zishi was speechless for a moment.

It wasn't until Yunxi walked up to her and she was enveloped in warmth that she realized she had taken off the cloak he had given her.

"Yunxi," he was about to speak when Yunxi immediately turned around, used her light-footed skill to enter the courtyard in the blink of an eye.

She turned around and gave him a flamboyant smile, "Brother, I have such strong internal energy that I feel hot even in winter. Your cloak is too thick. You should wear it yourself, or I'll get a rash from it."

As she spoke, she wore a light spring dress from Jiugefang and, braving the cold wind, followed the steward into the depths of the courtyard.

His swaggering gait didn't seem like he was being punished, but rather like he was eagerly preparing for seclusion and training.

Until the butler lit the oil lamp.

Yunxi glanced around and saw a bunch of iron locks lying next to a wooden pillar in the corner.

Before she could think it through, the butler said, "Miss, please forgive me."

Two servants stepped forward and took the chains.

"They even have to be chained up," Yunxi frowned, asking incredulously, "Is this what our parents want?"

"It was all the master and madam's order," the butler nodded in reply.

She is skilled in martial arts, and if she so desires, no ordinary place can confine her.

Her parents were probably worried that she would run away again.

Not wanting them to worry, Yunxi willingly reached out her hand.

She couldn't help but flinch when the cold metal touched her skin.

It's so cold.

With her hands bound by thick shackles, Yunxi instantly lost the ability to resist and protect herself.

But she thought to herself, what does it matter as long as it makes her parents feel better?

Over the past year, she has really hurt her mother, but what exactly did she do wrong?

She learned martial arts and swordsmanship from a young age, solely to protect herself and her family so they could live a good life.

But even her words and actions were considered vulgar and superficial by her mother, who wanted to teach her manners.

Speak softly, walk steadily and slowly, and don't let your skirt sway freely.

"If I had really become this weak and helpless, I would have been killed a thousand times over by the Japanese pirates and bandits." Her pride made her even more unwilling to deny herself over the past seventeen years, as if her adoptive parents had really raised her so badly that she couldn't be seen in public. How could she accept that?

He immediately argued back with his mother.

Her mother earnestly advised, "The behavior of a noble lady reflects the family's upbringing. If you are impolite and behave improperly, it will bring shame to the family's reputation and affect your siblings' marriages."

Upon hearing that it would affect others, she had no choice but to force herself to learn, no matter how unwilling she was.

She can learn martial arts quickly, but she is clumsy and slow when it comes to learning music, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and other traditional crafts.

Her mother assumed she was unwilling to learn and grew increasingly disappointed. Unwilling to lose face by explaining that she couldn't learn or control herself, she soon became universally disliked after returning home.

Later, her parents even forbade her from going out. The maids and servants around her would try not to talk to her, let alone discuss anything outside, for fear of provoking her to go out and bring shame to the Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion.

She was confined to the courtyard and felt suffocated all the time, but her mother said to her, "Yunxi, this is for your own good."

She couldn't help but argue with her mother, "If it's for my own good, let me out. I'm going to suffocate if I stay locked up any longer."

Her mother frowned and gently scolded, "As a lady from a distinguished family, how can you speak so rudely? How can you face people like this?"

"If that's the case, why are you keeping me here? Why not send me away so I won't have to see you and feel annoyed?"

Her mother looked at her in shock and disappointment, tears slowly streaming down her face.

Although Yunxi was extremely dissatisfied, she couldn't bear to see her mother like this, so even though she was suffering, she rarely went out anymore.

She even suppressed her temper and followed her mother's wishes to learn music, chess, calligraphy, painting, do needlework, and read "Admonitions for Women".

Hearing that the Prince of Huailing had caught a cold, she could only sneak out at night to deliver the fox fur coat, no matter how worried she was.

However, her licentious behavior was witnessed by others, and the news spread throughout the capital overnight. The entire Jiangyuan Marquis's mansion became the talk of the town.

She never cared about other people's opinions, but her relatives did, which is why she decided to send the inkstone away and then join the army.

Yunxi lowered her eyes, staring at the iron chains binding her wrists. Was she really wrong?

Before leaving, the butler glanced back at Yunxi.

Yunxi sat down on the thin blanket in the corner without any concern.

The thin blanket was hastily laid out, with no mattress underneath, just straw that the other person had been using for who knows how long.

The straw had already become moldy due to the rain.

Noticing the butler's gaze, Yunxi immediately looked up and said with a smile, "Uncle Li, you must bring me some hot food early tomorrow."

The butler paused for a moment before nodding, then led his men to close the door and hurriedly leave.

Yunxi felt that everyone was acting strangely today.

But she was used to being carefree and didn't think about it carefully at all.

When the dilapidated courtyard returned to silence, Yunxi finally threw down her fan and began to undress.

On her fair left chest, a blood-red scar was a shocking sight.

Further down, there were several bloody holes on her legs that had not yet fully healed, oozing traces of blood that had already stained the fabric with scarlet spots.

Although Yunxi had practiced martial arts for many years, she was not as afraid of pain as ordinary women.

But it still hurt, and with no one around, she grimaced and finally couldn't keep up the act anymore.

When he took the medicine out of his bag, he bumped into the inkstone.

The stone was so cold that she frowned. Despite the pain, she couldn't help but pick it up and examine it closely.

This is a simple crescent-shaped Duan inkstone. At first glance, it looks ordinary, but upon closer inspection, you can see that the stone is delicate and tender with fine texture. When backlit, you can see the glossy, wet marks on the inkstone that look like centipedes crawling across it.

This inkstone comes from Fuke Mountain in Xijiang. Both its stone quality and texture are of the highest standard. What makes it even more unique is that it was once used by Zhang Xunzhi, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

This inkstone accompanied Zhang Xunzhi for most of his life. Because of his noble character of bowing to the people, he was praised by people all over the world, making this inkstone, which he used, the most beloved in the hearts of countless literati.

Unfortunately, the inkstone disappeared after Zhang Xunzhi's death.

Yunxi curled her lips, a hint of smugness appearing in her eyes.

The world may not know, but she does. She had encountered this famous Grand Secretary when she and her adoptive parents were traveling the world.

However, despite some superficial connection, Yunxi endured a lot of hardship to obtain it, suffering injuries all over her body for several days, but still persevering through it all.

His slender, pale fingers caressed the inscription on the edge of the inkstone, which read "The sun and moon shine together."

The inkstone pool is like the moon, and the inkstone surface is like the sun.

She is the sun, he is the moon; the sun and moon shine together—what a beautiful symbol!

But when she thought of what he had just said, Yunxi's expression instantly fell.

After clumsily bandaging her wound and putting on her dress, Yunxi's forehead was covered in tiny beads of sweat.

Thinking that he could still fight with Dao Yi and Dao Er despite the long journey, he realized that his martial arts skills had indeed improved a lot.

A smug smile crept across her pale face, making her feel that she was indeed exceptionally capable.

Satisfied, he pulled up the blanket and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Exhausted, Yunxi returned home and slept for a long time, feeling relaxed both physically and mentally.

When I finally opened my eyes, I glanced at the sun outside the window and realized it was already at least noon.

She rubbed her eyes, fully waking up amidst the pain of her wound being pulled.

After a brief respite, a sudden and fierce wave of hunger washed over me.

"I'm so hungry, why hasn't anyone brought me any food yet?" She felt like she could eat a whole cow right now.

Even if her parents are angry, they wouldn't stop them from eating, would they?

Thinking this, Yunxi lay back down peacefully.

But as she waited, she watched helplessly as the sunlight by the window gradually moved westward.

Then it was gradually swallowed by darkness.

The candle had long since burned out.

All that's left are piles of cold tears.

Yunxi hasn't eaten or drunk anything since last night. She lies weakly on the haystack, muttering, "Has something bad happened at home?"

She frowned worriedly and looked out the window, only to find it filled with darkness.

Even the wind seemed particularly biting in the secluded courtyard.

After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, there was still no sound.

Yunxi couldn't sit still any longer. Something must have happened at home, otherwise there would be no one to bring food.

She tried desperately to unlock the iron lock, but after a series of clanging sounds from the chains, Yunxi slumped her shoulders in dejection.

Because she was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, apart from a silver moon sword, she had no gold, silver, or jewels on her body, and without a sharp object, it was impossible to open the iron chain lock.

She quickly composed herself and turned to look at the wooden pillar.

She stroked her chin and her eyes darted around.

Since we can't unlock it, why don't we try cutting this pillar down?

"Never mind, I'm so hungry I can't even hold my sword."

Lying back down on the straw, she sighed deeply and cried out, "Brother, where are you? Your dear sister is about to starve to death!"

"Mother, Father, I know you're angry, but please let me eat something first."

As the Prince of Huailing emerged from the bath, water droplets rolled down his thick eyelashes and meandered along his muscular chest.

He was extremely tall, with broad shoulders and long legs, and an excellent physique. His wet black hair hung down to the side of his face, revealing a full forehead, and his phoenix eyes with slightly upturned corners captivated countless women.

When they travel, the carriage is filled with fruit thrown at them; once they meet, they will never forget them.

His personal maid helped him put on his clothes.

He returned to his study and read for a while longer.

Just before he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly remembered something and called out "Dao Yi" towards the door.

Soon, Dao Yi pushed open the door and entered. Before he could even bow, the Prince of Huailing asked, "What is the current situation of the Marquis of Jiangyuan's residence?"

Although Dao Yi and Dao Er are twins, Dao Yi is not as simple-minded as Dao Er.

He quickly replied, "There's been no major commotion at the Jiangyuan Marquis's residence. Miss Fan has been locked in the woodshed in the backyard and hasn't been released yet."