Yuan Zhizhi's long eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she was struggling to open her eyes.
Dota suddenly raised his head, his eyes fixed on her little face, the strength in his hands tightened unconsciously, his voice low and urgent,
"Zhizhi?" There was a tenderness in his tone that he himself had not noticed.
Yuan Zhizhi's eyelids slowly lifted, revealing a pair of confused eyes.
She looked at the curtains above her head, then at the adults beside the bed. She opened her mouth slightly as if she wanted to say something, but her voice was as weak as a mosquito.
Duota's Adam's apple moved slightly. He leaned over and put his ear close to hers, whispering, "How are you? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Then he realized that Zhizhi couldn't speak yet, and hurriedly said, "Imperial Physician! Come and take a look!"
The imperial physician was already waiting nearby. Dotta was about to stand up to make room, but his hands were grabbed by a pair of small hands.
He lowered his head and saw the little person on the bed blinking with grievance in his eyes, holding his hand and refusing to let go.
Yuan Zhizhi's voice was hoarse and childish, and her intonation was incoherent.
"The child is afraid..."
When Dota heard these words, a hint of tenderness suddenly flashed in his eyes. He gently hugged the little guy in his arms and breathed a sigh of relief.
His nerves, which had been tense all night, finally relaxed. He whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
…
Yuan Zhizhi woke up only half an hour later and was still very weak.
Her weak little body curled up in Dota's arms, her small hands always holding onto his clothes and refusing to let go, as if she was holding on to her only support.
Dota looked down at the little person in his arms, his eyes showing great restraint and tenderness, and patted her back gently until she fell asleep again.
After confirming that her high fever had subsided, Duota finally placed her carefully on the bed, tucked the quilt in for her, and whispered to Qingzhi, "Watch her carefully. Don't let her have any more accidents."
Qingzhi nodded vigorously, and seeing Yuan Zhizhi's expression, she couldn't help but have red eyes.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Dota turned and walked out of the palace. The palace servants in the main hall, who had been tense all night, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Those who previously thought that Yuan Zhizhi was just an insignificant "illegitimate child" now had a clear idea in their minds -
He is not an illegitimate child at all; this child is clearly the king's beloved one!
Jin Wan followed closely behind. Seeing that Duota looked exhausted, he whispered, "Your Majesty, why don't you go and take a rest? You haven't slept a wink all day and all night."
Dota paid no attention, but continued walking with a cold gaze as he headed straight towards the dungeon.
Inside the dungeon, the dim and humid air was suffocating.
Duota's footsteps echoed on the stone steps, and the tenderness he had shown towards Yuan Zhizhi just now was gone from his face, replaced by cold anger.
Jin Wan stopped outside the dungeon door. Only the Eagle Guards could enter the dungeon.
He thought of Duota's eyes before he entered, and silently lit a candle for Murong Yue in his heart.
Murong Yue was locked up in the cell for a day and a night. Her clothes were disheveled, her hair was messy, and she looked in a terrible state.
Her face turned blue from the cold and fear, and her eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness.
Hearing some noise outside the door, she struggled to get up and was about to shout, but saw the cell door being pushed open heavily.
Two Eagle Guards walked in, grabbed her hair, and dragged her off the ground.
Murong Yue screamed and struggled desperately, her voice was shrill,
"Let me go! Let me go! How dare you treat me like this! I'll make sure you die miserably when I get out!"
The Eagle Guard had an expressionless face as he dragged her through a dark passage and dropped her onto an open space.
Murong Yue fell to the ground and looked back, only to see Duota sitting in front of her, looking down at her.
The firelight illuminated his face, and his eagle eyes were so cold that they seemed to be able to tear people apart.
His hands tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair, again and again, like a ghost seeking revenge.
The moment Murong Yue saw Duota, all the curses she wanted to say were stuck in her throat.
Her pupils shrank slightly, and she hurriedly put on a delicate look, struggling to get up, her voice choked with sobs.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation... I am truly innocent! The little girl fell into the pond on her own, it has nothing to do with me..."
Dota didn't say anything, just looked at her coldly.
His gaze was like a sharp knife, cutting Murong Yue's words into pieces.
The more she spoke, the more guilty she felt. Her voice gradually became softer, until only a faint whimper remained.
"Unjust?" Dota spoke slowly, her voice as low as the cold wind coming out of the ground. "You mean, she was a baby not even a year old, and with so many palace maids watching, she threw herself into the pond and half lost her life in the water?"
Murong Yue was speechless, her body shaking like a sieve, "Your Majesty... your concubine..."
Dota stood up, his hands behind his back, his eyes indifferent.
He didn't even want to lower his head, but just raised his eyelids slightly and ordered in a cold voice: "Bring it here."
The three Eagle Guards immediately took action and carried over a heavy vat.
The tank was pitch black, shining with a cold light, and was filled with ice-cold water. The surface of the water was shimmering, but it exuded a chilling chill.
The huge vat was as tall as two people and looked terrifying.
Murong Yue turned her head stiffly, and the moment she saw the tank, her pupils suddenly contracted and her face turned pale.
Her heart sank to the bottom in an instant, and she collapsed to the ground, her body shaking like a dead leaf in the wind.
I wanted to get up and run away, but my legs were completely limp and I couldn't muster any strength at all.
"Your Majesty... I was wrong... Please spare my life... Please spare my life..." Her voice was hoarse and incoherent, tears fell down, and her eyes were full of fear and despair.
Dota didn't even bother to give her a glance. He just raised the corner of his lips, sneered, and read out the verdict in a calm tone.
"Throw it in."
…
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, spare my life! I will never dare to do it again! Please—"
Murong Yue screamed, but before she could finish her words, she was picked up by the Eagle Guard.
She struggled desperately, waving her arms and legs, but her resistance was useless against the well-trained Eagle Guards.
This look is just like Yuan Zhizhi yesterday.
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