On a summer night, the Milky Way hangs low, and all is quiet.
Bai Wei and the others rested comfortably at the post station, but Li Zan didn't receive such good treatment.
Li Zan and the two guards escorting him rested in a grove of trees.
The moonlight was thin, like a sliver of silver gauze peeking through a gap gently torn open by dark clouds, barely illuminating his weary and dejected figure.
All around were vast wilderness and sparse trees. The wind, though carrying the warmth and humidity unique to a summer night, also carried loneliness and unease.
Sweat streamed down his gaunt face, mingling with the dust and leaving mottled marks. The summer heat was even more intense in this unshaded wilderness, offering no respite from the night.
Li Zan could only huddle under a withered tree, trying to find a sliver of shade, but the dappled shadows could not block the lingering heat of the scorching sun, nor could they soothe the anxiety and despair in his heart.
What he found even more unbearable was that hunger and thirst, like two invisible beasts, were tearing at his will and strength.
Two constables nearby were enjoying their braised pig's head. Li Zan licked his chapped lips, gazing helplessly into the distance, desperately wishing for rain to come and temporarily relieve his unbearable thirst.
As night deepened, the cool breeze did not arrive; instead, it seemed that even more mosquitoes were attracted by this relentless suffering and swarmed towards Li Zan.
He waved his arms, trying to drive away these uninvited guests, but exhaustion and weakness made his movements seem so powerless, and he could only let them leave one red and swollen mark after another on his skin, bringing waves of itching and pain.
During this long and unbearable summer night, Li Zan felt as if he had been abandoned by the whole world. Loneliness, despair, and pain intertwined into an invisible net that bound him tightly.
He looked toward the location of the post station and couldn't help but think: If I hadn't divorced Bai Wei, she wouldn't have taken the risk of coming back to find evidence of my crimes and being imprisoned by me. An'er wouldn't have gone to Chaoyang County to find his maternal grandfather.
Li Zan knew that he had been caught off guard and that Shen Hanshan was undoubtedly behind it, and Li Huai'an's maternal grandfather was naturally not immune either.
He hung his head in dejection. He was dealt a perfect hand, yet he had squandered it terribly!
And all of this is because of that person! From the very beginning, the woman in red was trying to lure him into the trap!
"Hey, here's your reward!" A dry, hard sesame seed cake was tossed from mid-air, hitting Li Zan on the brow bone and interrupting his thoughts.
He hurriedly picked up the sesame seed cake from the ground and took a big bite. It tasted like cardboard, but it was enough to keep him alive.
“Look, doesn’t it look like a dog?” one of the constables mocked him. The other constable chuckled, “Of course it does!”
The two exchanged a glance and prepared to play a little game with Li Zan.
"Would you like some water?" one of them asked, squinting.
Li Zan nodded gratefully.
"I feel sorry for you, come on, open your mouth." One man opened the kettle, while the other quickly unbuckled his belt.
Li Zan's attention was focused on the kettle, and he didn't notice the commotion beside him.
Suddenly, a stream of warm water spurted into his mouth, carrying a strong smell of urine.
Li Zan hurriedly lowered his head and began to gag. He vomited for a while, but nothing came out.
Shame and anger made his face look ferocious.
"You, you all..." Li Zan pointed at them angrily, his face flushed red with rage, unable to utter a complete sentence. His eyes widened, and veins bulged on his forehead, as if they were about to spew fire.
"What happened to us? What happened to us, huh?" The man looked at him coldly, a mocking smile on his face. He suddenly tightened his belt, making a crisp sound, then raised his foot and kicked Li Zan hard. Caught off guard, Li Zan was kicked to the ground, looking utterly disheveled.
Li Zan was used to being flattered and fawned over; he had never suffered such humiliation before! He struggled to his feet, wiping the dirt from the corner of his mouth, his eyes flashing with anger.
"I have no recent grudges or past grievances with you two officials, so why are you treating me like this?!" He glared at the two men, his voice trembling with resentment and grievance.
"Hmph, no grudge? You've probably forgotten how you used to bully and oppress the people by abusing your power!" another man sneered, his eyes filled with deep disdain. "We may not be big shots, but we can't stand scoundrels like you who rely on power and act arrogantly. Today, we're going to teach you a lesson!"
Hearing their accusations, Li Zan felt a sharp pain in his heart, and his face turned deathly pale. He also realized that he was no longer the high-ranking Duke, but a prisoner whom everyone could scorn.
"I know I was wrong, please, gentlemen, show mercy..." Li Zan lowered his head, his tone pleading.
In his heart, he cursed inwardly, "A tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs!"
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