Chapter 55: Embassy Cage, Humiliation

The black carriage stopped in front of the enemy's embassy, ​​its vermilion doors wide open like a devouring maw. The guards roughly dragged Yun Zhi from the carriage. She stumbled a few steps, her knees banging against the bluestone slabs. A piercing pain shot through her—the old wound from Xiao Jin's throw to the ground had been torn open again.

"Hahaha! Prime Minister Shen really didn't lie to this envoy!" A burst of rough laughter came from the embassy. Batu, wearing an exotic golden brocade robe, walked out with a swagger. His eyes swept over Yun Zhi greedily, as if he was looking at a rare toy. "She is indeed a stunning beauty! Much better than those dancers!"

He reached out to touch Yun Zhi's face, but Yun Zhi suddenly turned her head away, her eyes filled with cold hatred: "Don't touch me!"

"Oh? Pretty intense?" Batu laughed instead of getting angry, grabbing her wrist with such force that Yun Zhi gasped in pain. "This envoy likes intense things! The more intense, the more fun it is to play with!"

He dragged Yunzhi into the embassy. Yunzhi struggled desperately, her nails digging deep into Batu's arms, but his skin was as rough as iron and he paid no attention. The embassy was luxuriously decorated, yet oppressive. The columns were carved with ferocious wolf heads, identical to the pattern on Batu's cuffs, and seeing it made Yunzhi feel cold.

"Take her away and take good care of her. Don't hurt her face." Batu pushed Yun Zhi to the maid beside him, with a lewd smile in his tone, "Wait until this envoy finishes his official business, then I will come and take good care of her."

The maids approached, roughly grabbing Yunzhi and dragging her into a secluded room. The room contained only a simple bed and a wooden table, its doors and windows reinforced, clearly intended to imprison her. The maids searched her body and removed any sharp objects, even the plum blossom hairpin that had contained the secret letter, leaving her with only a thin dress.

"Stay still and don't even think about escaping," a maid said viciously. "The embassy is heavily guarded. You can't escape even if you have wings! If you displease the envoy, you'll be in trouble!"

The door slammed shut and locked. Yun Zhi slumped to the floor, staring at the empty room, her heart filled with despair and anger—Xiao Jin had truly sent her here, into this den of wolves! She thought of her father's injustice, the child she hadn't saved, and all the humiliation she had endured. Tears finally fell, but she quickly wiped them away.

No, she couldn't cry! She couldn't just accept her fate! She had to find out the truth about Prime Minister Shen and Batu's conspiracy, and she had to find Zhao Feng and avenge the Yun family!

Yun Zhi stood up, walked to the window, and peered through the crack. The embassy was laid out in the shape of a Chinese character "回" (a Chinese character for "U"). A central courtyard surrounded the rooms. Guards patrolled every half hour, long knives in hand, their eyes alert. She also spotted a locked room not far away, even more heavily guarded than the others. It must be Batu's study—perhaps there was evidence of Prime Minister Shen's collusion with the enemy.

She silently noted the guard change times and the location of the study, then walked to the bedside and began to examine everything. The bed board felt loose, so she pried it open, revealing a loose tile underneath. Prying it open, she found it was empty, perfect for hiding something. A sharp splinter lodged in the corner of the wooden table. She carefully broke it off and hid it in her sleeve—her only weapon now.

After an unknown amount of time, the door opened again, and a maid came in with food. She placed the food on the table and said in a harsh tone, "Eat quickly! Don't even think about going on a hunger strike. The envoy said that if you become too skinny, we'll be in trouble!"

Yunzhi looked at the food, her heart filled with vigilance—she wondered if Batu had drugged it. She picked up her chopsticks and pretended to eat, but when the maid wasn't looking, she dumped the food under the floor tiles under the bed and put the empty bowl back on the table.

The maid didn't notice anything unusual and left cursing. Yun Zhi replaced the floor tiles, leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, and began to plan her escape and search for evidence. She had to act quickly, otherwise, by the time Batu finished his official business, she would be finished.

As night fell, the lights in the embassy began to light up, and more guards began to patrol. Yun Zhi leaned against the window, closely watching the movements outside, waiting for the perfect opportunity. Suddenly, she heard a quarrel in the distance, as if the guards were arguing with someone.

She was startled. Could it be Xie Heng? Or Liu Zhong's men?

At this moment, the door suddenly opened, and Batu walked in, reeking of alcohol, his eyes blurred and a lewd smile hanging on the corner of his mouth: "Beauty, this envoy is here! Now, it's time for you to serve this envoy well!"

He approached step by step. Yun Zhi clenched the wooden spikes on her sleeves and retreated to the corner, her eyes full of vigilance: "Don't come over! If you dare to touch me, I will die in front of you!"

"Die?" Batu sneered, grabbed her shoulders, and pressed her against the wall. "Do you think that if you die, everything will be over? This envoy tells you, even if you die, I will bring your body back to the country and you will never rest in peace!"

He leaned his face close to Yunzhi, his alcohol-scented breath spraying on her face, making her stomach churn. Yunzhi suppressed her nausea and suddenly stabbed Batu's chest with the wooden spike on her sleeve!

"Ah!" Batu screamed, took a few steps back, and looked down at the wooden thorn in his chest. Blood was oozing from the wound. He was completely furious, his eyes becoming ferocious. "Bitch! How dare you hurt this messenger! This messenger will make you pay!"

He rushed forward, grabbed Yunzhi's hair, and threw her onto the bed. Yunzhi's head hit the bed, and her vision went black, and she almost fainted. Batu rushed over, holding her hands and feet, and was about to tear off her dress.

Yun Zhi struggled desperately, crying and shouting, but it was no use. At this moment, a muffled sound suddenly came from outside the window, followed by the guard's screams!

Batu paused and looked out the window warily: "Who?!"

Yun Zhi was delighted—it was Xie Heng! He really came!

She took advantage of Batu's distraction and pushed him away, got up from the bed, and ran towards the door. But Batu reacted quickly, grabbed her ankle, pulled her to the ground, and kicked her hard: "Want to run? Not so easy!"

Yun Zhi curled up on the ground in pain, but she still didn't give up. She looked at the door and silently said to herself: "Brother Xie, hurry up! Hurry up!"

There was a sound of fighting outside the door, getting closer and closer. Batu's face changed, and he let go of Yun Zhi and turned to grab the long knife on the wall. At this moment, the door was kicked open and Xie Heng rushed in with a dagger in hand. Seeing Yun Zhi curled up on the ground, her body covered with scars, his eyes were full of anger: "Batu! How dare you hurt her!"

Xie Heng swung his sword at Batu, who dodged quickly, and the two instantly engaged in a fight. Yun Zhi struggled to get up, looking at Xie Heng's back, her heart filled with gratitude—he really came to save her!

But she quickly calmed down and turned her gaze to the study not far away - now was the best opportunity, she must take advantage of the chaos to find evidence of Prime Minister Shen and Batu colluding with the enemy!

"Brother Xie, hold him back!" Yun Zhi shouted to Xie Heng, "I'm going to the study to find evidence!"

Xie Heng nodded as he fought with Batu: "Be careful! I'll cover you!"

Yun Zhi bypassed the two fighting people, rushed out of the room, and ran towards the study. The guards in the corridor heard the commotion and were rushing over. Relying on the route she had memorized, she nimbly dodged them and soon arrived at the study door.

The study door was locked. Yun Zhi pulled out a wooden spike she had hidden from her sleeve and tried to pry the lock open. But the spike was too thin and it was useless. Just then, she heard footsteps behind her. It was the guards chasing after her!

Yun Zhi was so anxious that she was sweating. Suddenly, she remembered the lock-picking skills she had learned in the palace. She looked around and saw a loose iron nail in the corner of the wall. She quickly pulled it out, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it gently.

With a "click", the lock opened!

Yun Zhi pushed the door open, rushed in, and slammed it behind her, propping it up with a table and chairs. She turned around and took in everything in the study—the bookshelves were filled with books and letters, and on the desk lay an open document, densely written and bearing Prime Minister Shen's seal!

Her heart began to beat wildly. She quickly walked to the desk and picked up the document. It contained the plan agreed upon by Prime Minister Shen and Batu to launch a surprise attack on the Daqi military camp at the border, as well as the transportation route for military rations! This was irrefutable evidence of Prime Minister Shen's collusion with the enemy!

Yun Zhi quickly folded the document, hid it in her arms, and began to search for the letters on the bookshelf. At this moment, the door was knocked open by the guards. Batu also broke free from Xie Heng and rushed in. Seeing the document in Yun Zhi's hand, his face suddenly changed: "Bitch! Return the document to this messenger!"

Yun Zhi took the documents and stepped back to the window, her eyes filled with determination: "Want to get the documents back? Only if I die!"

She looked out the window and saw Xie Heng, struggling with the guards, gradually losing strength. She knew she couldn't wait any longer! She flung open the window, looked down at the ground, and took a deep breath—jump down, maybe there was still a glimmer of hope!