Meng Yuxiu was worried in his study. Things were not progressing at all, but time kept passing and two days had already gone by.
A knock came at the door, and Ke Shou was granted permission to enter, but hesitated to speak, his brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?" Meng Yuxiu looked at him, it seemed something had happened.
As soon as Ke Shou spoke, Meng Yuxiu's expression changed, and he suddenly stood up.
“Miss Chang is not well…” Ke Shou looked troubled.
"What's wrong?" Meng Yuxiu asked, his voice trembling with tension, like a drawn bow.
Chang Lili must be having a hard time in the dungeon right now, but Ke Shou's condition makes Meng Yuxiu's heart leap into his throat.
It goes without saying how much Xiao Shu'er hates Chang Lili. Now that she has such an opportunity, could it be that she is going to make a move against Chang Lili?
Meng Yuxiu's mind raced with regret; he hadn't even considered Chang Lili's safety.
"Miss Chang was severely tortured in the dungeon... News from the dungeon was kept very secret, and I only just found out," Ke Shou said, bowing his head.
Knowing that it wasn't Xiao Shu'er who sent people to assassinate Chang Lili, Meng Yuxiu breathed a sigh of relief, but then his anger flared up: "Torture her severely?"
Ke Shou dared not say anything, and Meng Yuxiu's worried face instantly turned as cold as frost.
A moment later, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes as he asked, "Who did this?"
Ke Shou said with shame, "I came to the manor to report as soon as I received the news, but I haven't found out who ordered it yet."
Meng Yuxiu's face was solemn, as if carved by a sword, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white.
Needless to say, he already had someone in mind: Consort Lan or Xiao Shu'er, who had orchestrated this scheme.
This truly shows that even when both sides are in the open, they cannot escape this insidious trap.
"Prepare the horses, I'm going to the palace." Meng Yuxiu strode towards the gate of the mansion.
The horse was quickly led out, and he walked over and then turned back, giving some instructions to the servant in the mansion. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the servant brought out a small food box and handed it to Meng Yuxiu.
Meng Yuxiu told Ke Shou to follow, and then rode off towards the palace on his own.
Upon entering the palace, Meng Yuxiu headed straight for the dungeon, but was stopped by the jailer at the dungeon gate.
Although Meng Yuxiu was famous, he always kept to himself and did not concern himself with matters of the palace. The jailer guarding the gate did not recognize him.
"This is the Emperor's order. Chang Lili is a serious criminal, and no one is allowed to see her," the jailer said confidently, even somewhat arrogantly.
With a cold face, Meng Yuxiu, who never cared about his status, said in a chilling voice, "Do you know who I am?"
His imposing manner softened the jailer's attitude somewhat, and he asked hesitantly, "Who...who are you? But whoever you are, this dungeon is off-limits..."
Before he could finish speaking, he screamed in agony as Meng Yuxiu grabbed him by the back of his collar and threw him out.
What incredible arm strength! The other jailers were so frightened that they retreated one after another, and dared not stop him.
The dungeon exuded a cold, damp atmosphere, along with a faint smell of blood.
Meng Yuxiu couldn't help but frown. As he walked, his eyes gradually scanned the rows of cells, and finally, deep in the dungeon, he saw Chang Lili's figure.
He could hardly recognize that familiar figure anymore.
"Lili..." He felt as if his voice was stuck in his throat.
He hoped that the gaunt figure bound to a wooden frame in prison, with tattered clothes and covered in blood, wouldn't be Chang Lili.
But then she saw a figure lying on the wooden frame, barely alive. Her disheveled hair covered most of her face. She seemed to have used up all her remaining strength to slightly raise her head, her weak voice filled with disbelief: "Meng... Yuxiu?"
Meng Yuxiu felt a burning pain in his heart, as if it were being fried in oil. He kicked open the cell door and, under the terrified gaze of the jailer who dared not approach, pulled out a dagger from somewhere and cut the rope binding Chang Lili.
The small food box was placed aside. Chang Lili, no longer bound by the rope, was as powerless as an autumn leaf and fell to the ground. Meng Yuxiu caught her and let her slide into his arms.
"Lili, it's alright now." Meng Yuxiu carefully held her in his arms, as if afraid of hurting her.
His face was filled with sorrow. Looking at her, he felt that these wounds were even more painful than the wounds on his own body.
At this moment, Shouye arrived at the dungeon entrance. When he was stopped by the jailer, he immediately took out Meng Yuxiu's waist token.
When the jailers saw him enter the dungeon and respectfully perform the ritual of bowing to Meng Yu, they panicked.
It turned out that the man they had stopped earlier was General Meng.
The jailers were all flustered and still felt lingering fear.
After bowing, Ke Shou stepped aside.
After catching her breath in Meng Yuxiu's arms, Chang Lili finally regained some strength.
Meng Yuxiu brushed the stray hairs from her face behind her ear, revealing her pale, bloodless face.
She buried her face in Meng Yuxiu's familiar embrace and said in a muffled voice, "Am I ugly right now?"
Meng Yuxiu was slightly taken aback, a wry smile appeared on his lips, and he said indulgently, "It's okay, you're not that bad looking normally."
Chang Lili did not argue with him angrily, but her body trembled.
Meng Yuxiu felt a burning sensation in his chest, his heart ached, and his eyes burned slightly.
At this moment, several jailers entered the prison tremblingly, carrying teacups in their hands, and placed them on the dilapidated small table in the prison.
They all smiled obsequiously and said, "We didn't know it was General Meng just now. We were very rude. Please forgive us, General..."
"Who ordered you to do this?" Meng Yuxiu turned to look at the prison guards, his gaze so cold that the guards felt as if a sharp knife was pointed at their necks.
They all swallowed hard, and the leader said fearfully, "Ah? General, I shouldn't have stopped you just now, but we were just following the Emperor's orders."
"I'm asking you, who ordered you to carry out the torture?" Meng Yuxiu's eyes were still filled with murderous intent, and his voice became furious.
"This...we...we're just doing our job..." the lead guard said awkwardly, and the other guards echoed him.
A sudden gust of wind swept by, and before the group could react, the leading jailer was slammed against the wall with tremendous force, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
With one arm around Chang Lili and the other around her legs, Meng Yuxiu quickly subdued the other prison guards as well.
“Do you know that she is a member of my General’s Mansion? Even now that she has ended up in the dungeon, she is still a member of my General’s Mansion. She is not someone that you people can touch. Since you have touched her, you will naturally have to pay the price.” Meng Yuxiu’s words were firm and powerful.
The jailers were terrified and wanted to escape, but their legs were too weak to obey them.
They could act arrogantly in front of Chang Lili, but when they encountered Meng Yuxiu, they were like lambs to the slaughter, powerless to fight back, and could only beg for mercy.
Seeing this, Chang Lili revealed her small face and stopped Meng Yuxiu when he was about to kill the jailer in anger.
"Meng Yuxiu, don't do that. They're just doing their jobs."
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