Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Open

Outside, a figure was kneeling.

The figure's head drooped repeatedly, his bloodied knees nearly shattered, bones dislocated, and bruised. His fists clenched tightly, digging into his palms, yet he felt no pain; his heart was numb.

The tearing sounds coming from inside were extremely loud, and the candlelight flickered incessantly. Pieces of tattered cloth were reflected on the windowpane, one falling and another rising, constantly exchanging and pausing in the air.

Everything came into his view.

Whether the man inside did it on purpose or not, the noise was so loud that everyone in the courtyard knew what was going on inside.

What followed was heavy breathing and masculine whispers and murmurs, his voice slightly hoarse and husky, occasionally rising in volume to reveal his excitement.

He Beiqing's eyes were bloodshot, his body trembled, and he was covered in a thick layer of cold sweat. Beads of sweat dripped from the tip of his nose, striking his knees hard. He was on the verge of losing his will.

He tried to get up again, using his sword to support himself, but his knees never had a chance to straighten, never had a chance to get close to the door to rescue her.

He was completely exhausted. Just as he said, they dared not kill him, but they would not let him go either; they had far too many ways to torture him.

Just as he was about to straighten up, the guard struck him again hard on the back of his bloodied knee. He fell to the ground, barely breathing, his eyes closing repeatedly as if he were about to faint completely. He murmured a few words: "Your Highness, ask her..."

Ask her if she's willing.

Inside, came the woman's screams and pleas for mercy, along with faint sobs. Finally, she gave in despair and fell silent.

What's wrong with her?

Could it be that...?

He Beiqing suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes, gathered his strength, tightened his grip on the Fire Lotus Sword, and the blade gleamed sharply, displaying its last remaining brilliance in a desperate final stand.

He instantly leaped into the air, wielding his sword and taking the initiative.

But this was like throwing an egg against a rock; with just a small flying throw, he was knocked to the ground again.

The Fire Lotus Sword in his hand was easily knocked away, drawing a broad, bright arc in the air before crashing to the ground and shattering, instantly losing its color and becoming dull and lifeless.

It was like an ordinary, unyielding rock.

He stood there, stunned, for a long while, his eyes filled with disbelief at the scene before him.

His expression first showed confusion, then resentment, and finally, it was tinged with sorrow and desolation.

The Fire Lotus Sword, which appeared during his most difficult time and accompanied him through countless days and nights fighting for the court and the people, broke.

It broke off at the tail and shattered into two halves.

His veins bulged, and blue-green veins appeared all over his forehead, hands, and body, making him both terrifying and pathetic.

In the end, only indifference remained.

In fact, he had known all along that the Fire Lotus Sword could not withstand the Crown Prince's wrath.

Even before he managed to escape her during the attack by the guards, and before he leaped up, he knew that the Fire Lotus Sword was about to give out.

But why did he still choose this ending?

He thought it might be because he didn't want to break his promise to her again.

After an unknown amount of time, the door, which had been closed for an hour, was finally opened.

A figure slowly emerged, a man with his hair loose and flowing down his back. His robes were also wide open, hanging loosely on his body, vaguely revealing his chest, which was scratched red and covered with bloody marks.

His expression was even more satisfied and relaxed, his brows and eyes were extremely relaxed, the posture of a man after he had enjoyed himself.

He Beiqing quickly lowered his head, not daring to look at him any longer, his eyes becoming even redder.

Shen Jizhao stood a foot away from him, his gilded boots, a symbol of nobility, stopping in disgust before touching his battered and broken knees. Then, his noble head drooped slightly, his gaze pressing down on him inch by inch, crushing him.

He Beiqing had expected him to be berated and severely punished, but staring at the broken sword in his hand, he volunteered for the punishment:

"Your Highness, I have no regrets. You may punish me as you see fit."

However, after waiting for a long time, Shen Jizhao still did not issue a punishment.

He simply nodded in his usual slow, indifferent, and gentle tone:

"Why should I punish you? You did a great job. How could farmers in the deep mountains, who can't even afford food, have horses? You truly are my capable subordinate. In the end, you were on my side."

He rode the strange horse on his own initiative, and they almost managed to escape, but he led them down the path that led to failure and anger!

!!

He Beiqing subconsciously looked towards the window, where a woman was eavesdropping. The woman paused, her previously tightly pursed lips drooping instantly, and her eyes widened.

He knew exactly what Shen Jizhao's punishment would be!

This is punishment for him breaking his promise to her again!

He should be punished for betraying her again!

He was to be punished so that he would never be able to face her again for the rest of his life, and that he would have to avoid her like a rat that couldn't stand the light of day! He was forbidden from even glancing at her!

He Beiqing's body went limp, and he slumped to the ground, letting out a silly laugh.

"Your Highness, you're mistaken. She's just afraid I'll die, which just shows that she doesn't care and doesn't like me."

There was nothing between them, no romantic feelings, and they didn't elope.

She feared his death and worried about him because she treated him as an outsider, as a complete stranger with whom she had no connection.

Because we have no connection whatsoever, we cannot afford to take his life.

Shen Jizhao leaned down, his eyes crinkling upwards as he glanced at him:

"On the battlefield, you are a renowned and strategizing general. You tell me she doesn't like you. What about you?"

That horse shouldn't be in this deep mountain forest.

How could a great general who commands and judges thousands of troops on the battlefield fail to recognize such a flawed and flawed strategy?

It's very simple, because your mind is in turmoil!

He Beiqing knew the answer, and so did Shen Jizhao.

The two fell silent, neither able to utter a word.

The answer to Shen Jizhao's question is self-evident.

He Beiqing remembered a question she had once asked him: what would he do if his sword broke one day?

His answer at the time was that, in every choice he made, he would protect the sword.

But the current outcome only made him smile bitterly.

He truly didn't expect that he would forget his original answer.

He wanted to know when it started.

Shen Jizhao just wanted to end this farce quickly:

"In that case, you should go and ask for a woman's hand in marriage."

He Beiqing's heart skipped a beat, his mind in turmoil. "Whom does Your Highness want me to marry?"

Shen Jizhao straightened up, stroking his sash with his hand, and raised an eyebrow with a domineering and authoritative air: "Tang Shan'er."

The man kneeling on the ground turned deathly pale instantly. Upon hearing those three words, he finally understood what his punishment was.

This punishment is a perfect four-in-one solution!

Shen Jizhao openly declined to marry Tang Shan'er and He Rushuang, citing being busy with state affairs. This argument was clearly untenable. The betrothal gifts had already been given, and the matter could not be left unresolved, otherwise both families and the emperor would lose face.

The emperor would certainly not allow him to be troubled by love, indulge in romantic feelings, and do something as absurd as breaking off the engagement.

If he were to propose to Tang Shan'er, he would not only get rid of Tang Shan'er, but also drag his sister down with him. How could his sister possibly have the nerve to enter the Eastern Palace again if he dared to compete with the Crown Prince for a woman?

The emperor would never blame Shen Jizhao, no matter what.

This situation is only beneficial to Shen Jizhao, and he is also a victim.

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

That was a brilliant move! It completely shattered his defenses!

He Beiqing looked up and stared at him intently, her expression complex and conflicted.

After a long pause, all the emotions that a subordinate shouldn't have hoped for vanished from his eyes, replaced by unwavering loyalty. Finally, he lowered his head.

"Your subordinate obeys."

The matter was finally settled, and he was both his loyal subordinate and his commanding master.

She was the mistress of the master, and also his master.

Shen Jizhao finally managed a smile for the first time that evening. He not only wanted to completely drive her out of Jiang Shuifu's heart, but also to remove all obstacles standing between them.

He wants to marry her again!

The Crown Prince's Palace cannot tolerate a second woman!

.

For ten days straight, Shen Jizhao did not return.

Jiang Shuifu was left all alone.

Although she appeared to be perfectly normal these past few days, eating and drinking as usual, she was actually becoming increasingly depressed, often spacing out and staring blankly into space while sitting on the sunless swing, gazing up at the free and unfettered distance.

Now, she was truly locked up tight. Not only could she not go to her aunt's house outside, but she couldn't even try to get close to the gate of this tiny courtyard.

Everything seems to have returned to its original state.

Sometimes, while sitting on the swing, she would look up at the distant blue sky, surrounded by a closed-off courtyard wall. The only living people there were her and the peach.

For a moment, she even wondered if she had returned to the Eastern Palace.

She was back to being trapped in a deep mansion every day, bound by all sorts of rules that denied her, where the only thing she was allowed to do was to hope for the return of the mansion's owner.

The owner of the house, as always, never set foot there.

Ever since Jiang Shuifu poured out all her grievances last time, saying he was no good, denying his skills, and trampling on his proud self-esteem, he hasn't come back. I wonder if he really hates her.

She might be more than happy to be disliked, but what about her second uncle?

Is he still in jail?

Are you alright?

What if Shen Jizhao gets angry and refuses to save him, and instead punishes him?

Recalling the events of that day, Shen Jizhao was truly furious this time. Ever since she pushed him away that day, he had not stepped into her room again.

It's as if she doesn't exist.

After much deliberation, she had no choice but to send someone to deliver a message to him, hoping that he would return.

The carrier pigeon had been flying for a long time, but it still hadn't reached Shen Jizhao's hands. The farmhouse courtyard remained peaceful, untouched by anyone.

Jiang Shuifu's meals are becoming less and less frequent. Each time they are served, she only eats a few bites as a formality, without any appetite.

Before she knew it, a cool breeze blew in from outside, and Jiang Shuifu's eyelids grew heavy.

"Peach, why is the wind so cold?"

The peach frowned in surprise. Where was she cold? A bead of sweat rolled down her face.

The next instant, the person collapsed.

Jiang Shuifu fainted.

To be precise, he fell ill.

He fell ill after his last life-saving dive, and the lack of proper rest and constant melancholy triggered the illness.

This illness caused me to have a fever that lasted on and off for three whole days.

During this time, Jiang Shuifu had several moments of lucidity. She looked around several times, which made her dizzy again. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips silently. He still hadn't arrived.

What kind of man is he, so easily angered? He should just die of anger.

She was in a daze for longer and longer periods. She could feel many people gathered around her bed, chattering incessantly, but she couldn't hear them. Then she felt something being poured into her mouth.

It was so bitter, she refused to open her mouth, keeping her lips tightly shut.

At this moment, a voice filled with both pressure and displeasure rang out: "Open up."

She refused!

I won't listen to him!

The man, who hadn't appeared for many days, frowned and waved his hand, dismissing the physician and servants behind him. In an instant, the deathly, sickly room was left with only the two of them.

The man first carefully examined the pale-faced woman, his eyes gradually narrowing and sparkling with a few scattered thoughts. Then he reached out and pinched her chin, feeding her spoonful by spoonful.

However, she still couldn't get it in. The person on the bed was very stubborn and defiant. Her lips trembled, and she spat it out.

The man got angry, put down the medicine bowl, and roughly pried open her lips with his fingers. Before he could even scoop up a small spoonful of the dark medicine, her nimble little tongue enveloped his fingers.

It was held in its mouth.

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Author's Note: One more chapter to go