flattery
Shangguan Zeyu was whipped every day, either by the jailer or his elder brother, the Emperor Shangguan Kangde. He had become accustomed to the physical pain, but the collapse of his mental world was something he could never heal.
He never imagined that his elder brother, who had once doted on him, loved him, thought of him whenever there was something good, and comforted and relieved his worries, would one day be so cruel and heartless to him!
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand whether his elder brother had always been like this, or if something had gone wrong that made his elder brother like this.
Was the kindness his elder brother showed him before genuine or feigned?
Xiao Yiqing disobeyed her father's orders and sought help to visit Shangguan Zeyu in the prison.
When she arrived at the prison, Shangguan Zeyu had just been whipped.
Shangguan Zeyu was barely breathing, his head drooping weakly. His clothes were tattered and soaked with blood.
Xiao Yiqing glanced at him but didn't recognize him. It was the soldier who brought her who whispered, "This is Prince Duan." Only then did Xiao Yiqing's eyes suddenly redden, overwhelmed with shock.
She could hardly believe it. In just a few days, the noble, elegant, and always impeccably clean Shangguan Zeyu had become so disheveled.
What kind of suffering did he endure? How could he be in such a terrible state?
Tears silently streamed down Xiao Yiqing's cheeks. She wanted to go forward and see Shangguan Zeyu, but her legs felt like lead, and she couldn't take a single step.
The soldier who brought her whispered a reminder to her: "If you have something to say, please do so quickly."
Xiao Yiqing took a stiff first step, then a second, then a third...
She stood before Shangguan Zeyu, looking at his disheveled, tangled hair that resembled a bird's nest, and the wounds from which blood was constantly seeping out. Finally, she could no longer hold back and cried out in sorrow, "Your Highness."
Xiao Yiqing's tears flowed like a burst dam, streaming continuously from her eyes.
Shangguan Zeyu was unconscious and did not hear her calls. Without hesitation, Xiao Yiqing hugged his head and stroked his face repeatedly, crying out, "Your Highness, Your Highness..."
Xiao Yiqing's tears were scalding hot, burning Shangguan Zeyu's cheeks, which brought Shangguan Zeyu back to consciousness.
Xiao Yiqing was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes again: "Your Highness, Your Highness, can you hear me? Your concubine has come to see you!"
Shangguan Zeyu struggled to lift his head.
Xiao Yiqing gently tucked the hair in front of his eyes behind his head: "Your Highness, I have come to see you." As soon as she spoke, tears started flowing uncontrollably, like beads from a broken string.
Shangguan Zeyu's empty, numb eyes focused slightly, and when he saw that it was Xiao Yiqing, he was clearly stunned for a moment before giving a bitter smile.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, you have suffered so much! Your concubine will definitely rescue you."
Shangguan Zeyu slowly closed his eyes and gave a bitter smile: "Why bother?"
Xiao Yiqing immediately became anxious: "Your Highness, please don't say that, it hurts my heart. Your Highness, this is not what I meant, I didn't know it would turn out this way."
"I am now a prisoner, and it is only a matter of time before I am beheaded. Don't waste your time on me."
"Your Highness!!! How could this be a waste of time? I am your wife, it is only right that I do all this."
Shangguan Zeyu slightly opened his eyes.
His eyes were like an abyss, dark and bottomless, revealing nothing of his thoughts or feelings.
Xiao Yiqing seemed frozen in place, staring blankly into his eyes.
Shangguan Zeyu's lips curved slightly, and a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes: "You'll regret this!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yiqing hurriedly said, "No! Your Majesty, I would never do that!!" She seemed so anxious that she wanted to swear an oath to the heavens.
At this moment, the soldier who brought her stepped forward and urged, "It's time, hurry up and go."
Xiao Yiqing's eyes were filled with reluctance, and tears welled up in her eyes once again.
The soldier who brought her there had no choice but to pull her away, and she reluctantly left, looking back every few steps.
Xiao Yiqing's secret visit to Shangguan Zeyu in the prison was quickly discovered by her father.
Her father flew into a rage and couldn't help but slap her, but Xiao Yiqing remained stubborn and insisted on rescuing Shangguan Zeyu. Her father was so anxious that he scolded her, unable to understand why she was so determined to rescue Shangguan Zeyu.
She concluded, "Because my daughter already has his child!"
This sound was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, startling her father so much that he stood there stunned, unable to recover for a long time.
Jiang Yan would go out to inquire about things in the capital almost every day. On this day, she went out to inquire as usual and happened to run into a group of merchants returning from the capital. It was from them that she learned that Shangguan Zeyu had been imprisoned in the imperial prison.
She wanted to inquire further about Shangguan Zeyu, but those people said they knew nothing about it, claiming the matter was being kept secret by the court and hadn't been publicized. They said what they knew was merely hearsay and might not be true.
But Jiang Yan was convinced of what they said: Shangguan Zeyu had been arrested and imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison.
She asked Huang Ying if the Heavenly Prison was a prison specifically for high-ranking officials and nobles. Huang Ying hesitated before answering her, saying that the Heavenly Prison was not just for high-ranking officials and nobles, but for people who had committed serious crimes.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan felt as if a large drum had been pounded in his ear, his head buzzing and he couldn't feel anything.
Qingfeng led his men to Yongfeng Town.
Yongfeng Town is not large. In a short while, he found the people who had recently come here from the capital, and Jiang Yan was one of them.
However, he discovered Jiang Yan not by personally going to find her, but by chance while walking on the road.
Jiang Yan was distracted at the time and was helped out of the alley by Huang Ying.
After arranging his men, Qingfeng followed her alone and found her residence. However, instead of meeting her immediately, Qingfeng hid in the shadows and observed her.
Qingfeng observed Jiang Yan for a day before leaving and returning to the capital. However, he did not immediately tell Chen Run the good news. Instead, he told Chen Run that they had found out that Jiang Yan might have gone to the southern region and that it would take some time to find him.
Chen Run was extremely busy, but upon hearing this, his eyes instantly brightened and became alert.
He exclaimed excitedly, "We must find Ruyi as quickly as possible!"
Qingfeng: "Young master, rest assured, I will bring Miss Liu back safely within two days."
"Thank you for your hard work." Chen Run looked at him, unable to hide his joy.
Even though Qingfeng knew that his joy wasn't because of him, he was still infected by his relaxed and cheerful mood and smiled slightly.
However, when Qingfeng went to find Jiang Yan according to his plan, he found that she had disappeared.
How could it have disappeared?
In his anxiety, Qingfeng stopped passersby to ask, and only after asking five or six people did he learn that someone had taken Jiang Yan away the night before he arrived.
Judging from the pedestrians' descriptions, they must have come from the capital.
Qingfeng couldn't guess who else was as eager to find Liu Ruyi as his young master! He was full of doubts, but when he returned to report, he heard that "Liu Ruyi" was already in the mansion.
"Young master, I have failed in my duty. When I went to look for her, Miss Liu was already gone."
Chen Runcai noticed him and smiled, "It's alright, the person is back."
Qingfeng looked in the direction of his voice and saw Liu Ruyi sitting there looking sullen.
Chen Run was extremely excited, and he ordered people to set out delicious food and drinks, and also had people buy items from the market to please Jiang Yan.
However, Jiang Yan remained unmoved; in fact, she was quite disgusted by Chen Run's attempts to please her.
"Young Master Chen..."
"Call me Chen Run."
"Chen Run! I'm not a three-year-old child, I don't need to be coaxed!"
“I’m not trying to flatter you, I just want to make you happy. Here, try this pastry. It’s made with your favorite yam and red dates. It’s very soft and sweet.” Chen Run took a rectangular pastry that was white on the outside and red on the inside and held it to Jiang Yan’s lips.
Jiang Yan frowned and glanced at it, saying, "I don't like eating soft, mushy things!"
"Then have a pastry. This one, it's a flower, all pink, it should be delicious." Chen Run smiled and offered the pastry to Jiang Yan's lips.
Jiang Yan was still frowning and very anxious, but she still took it and tasted it.
Chen Run was overjoyed to see that Jiang Yan was finally willing to eat what he offered. He quickly bent down, leaned close to Jiang Yan, and asked softly, "Is it delicious? Is it very fragrant and sweet?"
Jiang Yan glanced at him sullenly and nodded.
Qingfeng stood there, witnessing everything that had just happened, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Chen Run then noticed him again and said, "You've worked hard these past few days. Go and get some rest." His tone was very indifferent, his emotions were very indifferent, lacking even half the tenderness and care he showed Jiang Yan.
Qingfeng smiled slightly and said, "Yes, I thank you, young master." He glanced at Jiang Yan meaningfully and then withdrew.
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