The City Lord's Mansion's secret prison.
Chu Changning was locked up here after waking up.
The place was gloomy and dark, with various torture instruments and branding irons on all sides. Not far away was a water dungeon, from which screams of agony could be heard from time to time.
The dim, shimmering flames on both sides made the dungeon even more eerie.
She huddled in the corner, gnawing on a pancake, choking until her face turned red.
"Hey, bro--"
This place is shrouded in darkness, guarded only by a single bodyguard.
Chu Changning pounded on the cage and managed to say with difficulty, "Give me a bowl of water."
She's about to choke to death.
The guards stood straight at the door, completely ignoring the commotion inside.
The orders from above are that she must not be given any food.
Chu Changning has been locked up here for two days. If it weren't for the food in his bag, he would have fainted from hunger long ago.
Now the water's gone, and my lips are so dry they're peeling.
"Hey--say something--"
It was eerily quiet, as if a dead person were standing there.
Chu Changning sat down dejectedly, put the dry biscuit back, and lay down to await his death.
Inside the study.
Yan Beimo sat in a chair, flipping through a file in his hand, his expression cold and stern.
Still no movement?
Nighthawk, "---"
Two days have passed, and the lord has specially sent secret guards to watch over the dungeon, but the lady has neither begged for mercy nor asked the secret guards to send a message to the lord to soften her stance.
He said tactfully, "Perhaps the lady is afraid that the lord will be angry."
"She's afraid?" Yan Beimo sneered. "I'd like to see just how tough she is."
Nighthawk, "---"
"Bring her here."
Chu Changning finally managed to fall asleep on the hard bed, but was woken up by a maid and made to take a bath and burn incense.
They changed her into a clean dress and took her to the main room.
The room was quiet and elegant. On a small couch by the window, a man in a white robe was quietly drinking tea.
Chu Changning paused, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
Yan Beimo heard the noise and glanced at her.
"What are you standing there for? Get over here."
Chu Changning's thoughts of acting cute and yielding vanished instantly when he scolded her. Remembering her pitiful state of having to compromise in Yandu, she was too lazy to pretend anymore.
Her face was expressionless, and she said coldly, "What business does Your Excellency have summoned me in the middle of the night?"
Their eyes met in mid-air.
His gaze deepened.
"Don't you have anything to explain?"
Chu Changning paused, turned his head and saw the tea on the table. He walked over and gulped it down.
Ignored by her, Yan Beimo retorted sarcastically, "Barbaric, rude, and utterly uncultured."
“Yes, we are all barbaric, rude and uncultured. Your Majesty should find someone with good manners.”
Hearing her sarcastic words, Yan Beimo's face darkened, and he picked up the teacup on the table and smashed it at her.
With a thud, her skirt was splashed with water, and Chu Changning instinctively dodged, staring wide-eyed at the splash.
"How dare you collude with Helian Ye to kill me." He slowly walked towards her, approaching step by step. "I'm not dead. Aren't you disappointed?"
He slammed his lower back hard against the tatami table.
Chu Changning was forced to put her hands on the small table behind her and look at him.
"Words are no proof; produce the evidence."
Yan Beimo scoffed coldly, "Do you want this evidence?"
The cold knife was close, pressed against his waist and abdomen.
Chu Changning tensed up instantly and shut his mouth.
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.
He stared intently at her, leaned down, and spoke in a low voice.
Why did you run?
Upon hearing his words, Chu Changning laughed, a hint of mockery appearing in his eyes.
"Should I stay there and continue to suffer humiliation instead of running away?"
"Humiliated?" Yan Beimo sneered, his eyes sharp. "Is that what you think?"
Chu Changning retorted, "Isn't that so?"
The two were very close, their words full of antagonism, their hot breaths brushing against each other's cheeks, their breaths mingling together.
Yan Beimo glared at her coldly, shook her off, and scolded her.
"Sharp-tongued, unruly, and difficult to train; not fit for refined tastes."
Chu Changning was both hit and scolded, and he got angry.
"Lanling Yan Er is nothing but a hypocrite. Who is more noble than whom?"
The two started arguing, neither willing to give in.
Yan Beimo's face turned cold, and he didn't want to look at her anymore. He shouted angrily, "Someone come here!"
Nighthawk came in.
"Take her away and lock her up."
Chu Changning clenched her fists, didn't beg him, and lifted the beaded curtain to leave.
Suddenly, the sound of tables and chairs being smashed came from behind.
Her back stiffened, and she continued walking out.
Nighthawk looked around, then bowed and withdrew.
Chu Changning was sent back to the dungeon.
midnight.
She lay on the wooden bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
What's wrong with her?
Judging from his expression, if she said a few nice words or put on an act, she might just get released.
What are they competing against each other for?
She lay on the hard bed, looking at the pitch-black ceiling, and sighed deeply.
The sound of dripping water could be heard from time to time in the dungeon. It was dark and gloomy outside, with only a faint glow of glass illuminating the surroundings.
Chu Changning drifted off to sleep.
Around four in the morning, the cell door was opened from the outside, and someone climbed onto her bed.
The rich aroma of alcohol wafted over her, and she instantly opened her eyes, using the dim light to see the man on top of her.
What's wrong with you?
Her hands were suddenly seized, chains bound them, and her whole body was in a twisted, sacrificial posture.
Chu Changning's eyes widened, and before she could react, his delicate kisses landed on her body.
He seemed to have been soaked in ice water, his whole body was cold, but his warm breath brushed against her ear, making her feel itchy and numb, and a faint tingling sensation came from her lower back.
She twisted and struggled uncomfortably, her brows furrowing.
Yan Beimo grew impatient, grabbed her slender waist, and leaned down to bite her lips.
Chu Changning winced in pain and deliberately bit him back. The two were like ferocious beasts, neither willing to back down. The taste of blood spread in their mouths as they continued their passionate kiss.
Broken curses echoed throughout the silent, dimly lit dungeon.
She couldn't bear it, sobbing, her eyes reddening with pain.
Yan Beimo heard her sobbing and let go.
He sucked on her earlobe and lingered on her fair neck.
The taste of alcohol mixed with blood spread in his mouth, and Chu Changning's eyes turned red with anger, a sarcastic look on his face.
"Yan Beimo, you are a hypocrite, a man who cannot resist worldly desires beneath your gentle exterior."
He went crazy in jail in the middle of the night, you beast.
Yan Beimo's expression suddenly turned sinister, and he grabbed her by the neck.
"Say one more word, and believe me, I'll really strangle you."
Chu Changning bit her lip and glared at him, her flushed cheeks exuding a natural charm and allure.
He looked away, pulled out a handkerchief and stuffed it into her mouth, then grabbed her waist and pulled her into his arms to kiss her.
He was strong; the force with which he gripped her waist felt as if he wanted to crush her and embed her into his bones.
Chu Changning whimpered in pain, but with her hands bound by chains, she could only let him do as he pleased.
Yan Beimo's eyes were bloodshot as he lay panting on her snowy neck.
"Why not behave yourself? Why are you courting death?"
Chu Changning's mouth was stuffed, and he could only sob and whimper, unable to speak.
Damn it, you beast, why don't you take the handkerchief out? How is she supposed to explain this?
Yan Beimo didn't want to listen to her excuses. Seeing her whimpering, he reached into her mouth and stuffed the handkerchief tightly.
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