Shangguan Shu's hair was disheveled, his official uniform had been stripped off, leaving only a white undershirt, and black and red blood stains on his back.
The jailer carried him out of the cell and tied him to a cross.
The cell was dim, with a bit of moonlight like snow leaking in through the window on the top side. Various torture instruments were placed on both sides of the wooden frame, with the blades shining coldly, hidden in the darkness. Candles were placed in the four corners.
Opposite was a table and chairs, with a tea set on the table, and steam rising above the tea bowls.
The man had his head down until he heard the sound of footsteps.
He looked up at the person who came, and the next second, his pupils froze.
"Ying'er..."
Zhao Ying, who was supposed to be imprisoned like him, appeared in front of him with her head and face straightened.
He seemed to have thought of something, and the color of his eyes changed instantly, confusion, thought, vigilance, enlightenment... and finally an inextricable darkness.
Perhaps, he understood when he was imprisoned and no one brought him medicine to treat his injuries and no one asked him to show concern.
Zhao Ying sat opposite him.
Her clear eyes stared at him without saying a word.
The two seemed to be competing with each other, and neither of them was willing to speak first.
In the end, Shangguan Shu couldn't bear the pain and coughed.
Zhao Ying heard the voice, raised her eyebrows, and curled the corners of her lips slightly.
Looks like you're in a good mood.
Shangguan Shu chuckled softly, then said, "Your Highness, what a clever plan! Your Highness's move today... ahem... isn't aimed at Princess Huai'an, but at... you, the humble servant, isn't it?"
Shangguan Shu seemed to understand that the woman in front of him was no longer his wife, but the princess of Da Chu, the princess who wanted to break up with him in a fair and impartial manner.
I simply stopped calling Zhao Ying by her maiden name.
"I wonder why Your Highness is so determined to send me to the Imperial Clan Court... I hope Your Highness can tell me."
The man's tone was calm, just like usual, without any trace of the desolation and fear of being a prisoner.
"It's okay to tell you!"
Zhao Ying stood up and slowly walked towards Shangguan Shu.
"Remember the last time you asked me what Yue'er said to me..."
Shangguan Shu's body stiffened, and he slowly raised his head and looked at her.
There was a thick and unresolvable hatred and...resentment in Zhao Ying's calm eyes.
"I lied to you..."
"Yue'er told me a lot."
"She said that you've always been obsessed with Zhao Yao, and your affection for me has been completely insincere. She also said... hehe." Zhao Ying seemed to find it amusing and chuckled twice. "She said that you were scheming to usurp the throne!"
As soon as Zhao Ying finished speaking, Shangguan Shu's pupils trembled, he held his breath, and his Adam's apple rolled uncomfortably.
Zhao Ying put her hands behind her back and walked around in front of Shangguan Shu. "She also said that my entire Zhao family would die at your hands, and you would make Zhao Yao the queen, Zhao Ziyin the crown prince, and Zhao Zihua the princess... hehe..."
Zhao Ying leaned over to Shangguan Shu, staring at him intently with flushed eyes. "Shangguan Shu? Why on earth did you want to confer the title of Emperor Zhao Ziyin?"
"Because he's your son, right?"
Shangguan Shu was visibly panicked. He opened his eyes wide, looked at Zhao Ying, and said in a trembling voice, "Ying'er, listen to my explanation..."
Zhao Ying was not willing to listen to even a single word he said.
She accused in a deep voice, each word tearing her heart out, "So! My Qi You was harmed to this extent by the bastard you sired?"
"How could I be so foolish as to sympathize with you, tolerate Zhao Yao, and even take care of her daughter for her?!"
She grabbed his collar and yelled, "Shangguan Shu! How can you be so worthy of me!!"
"Ying'er..." He looked at her with heartache.
Zhao Ying slapped the man with her backhand, using all her strength, and marks soon appeared on his face.
She said angrily: "You deserve to die!"
"If fighting makes you feel better, then go ahead!"
Zhao Ying sat back panting, took a sip of tea and calmed down his temper.
"Ever since I learned your true colors, I've been thinking all day and all night about how proud you and Zhao Yao must be in private, playing me, my brother, my father, and our entire Zhao family around. You thought you were my brother's right-hand man and Zhao Yao was some detached saint!"
"Every time I think about it, it's like I've taken a poison that penetrates my intestines. Every part of my body aches."
"Ying'er, you've wronged me. I have no intention of disobeying you. How can you convict me based on Yue'er's one-sided statement?"
"You still want to quibble?"
Shangguan Shu stared at her with indulgence.
Zhao Ying was so angry that she couldn't contain herself!
But she quickly calmed down and said, "Do you think I dare to send you in without any evidence?"
She sneered, her tone leisurely, "There's a secret room hidden in your study, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Ying saw Shangguan Shu's expression turned cold and serious.
"You went in?"
Zhao Ying didn't answer directly, but continued, "You have another hidden item in your secret room..."
Zhao Ying hesitated to speak.
She thought Shangguan Shu understood.
"My brother has already taken people to the Zhenguogong Mansion to search for stolen goods. Soon, the charge of treason will be confirmed. I know you hold the tiger talisman and command a million troops from the border, but I'm afraid you won't be able to wait for them to rescue you."
Shangguan Shu spoke in a deep voice, his eyes dark, "Ying'er, do you have to be so ruthless?"
Zhao Ying walked in front of him again, her sharp armor lifted the man's chin, and her eyebrows revealed a seductive look.
"Is this considered absolute?"
"Shangguan Shu, have you forgotten that I grew up in the inner court of the imperial palace? My methods are far more numerous and ruthless than you can imagine!"
"But I recently discovered a new way to torture people..."
"This still depends on our precious daughter Yue'er. She said... if you imprison me after you ascend the throne, the rest of my life will be worse than death!"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
