Chapter 74 Entering the Dream, the Body Still Remembers That Man
Zhou Ling's figure flashed like a bolt of black lightning, instantly disappearing into the dark passage, shutting out Fang Ru's suppressed cries of pain and the stench of blood in the room behind him.
The passageway was narrow and cramped, allowing only one person to pass by bending over. A damp, musty smell mixed with the stench of dust hit you.
The walls were rough, and occasionally protruding stones would brush against the hem of one's clothes.
His eyes were sharp as an eagle's; in the almost complete darkness, he used his exceptional hearing to catch the hurried, staggering footsteps ahead, as well as the heavy, fearful breathing.
Although Huang Jiang was familiar with the maze-like secret passages, the wounds he had sustained during his previous fight with the Imperial Guards continued to bleed. The intense pain and blood loss greatly reduced his speed, making his steps unsteady.
He could hear the steady, firm footsteps behind him, growing ever closer, like a death knell pounding on his already fragile nerves.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a faint ray of light shone through the distance, revealing an exit!
Just as a sliver of hope rose in Huang Jiang's heart, he lunged forward with all his might.
"Bang!"
He crashed heavily into a dilapidated wooden door that looked rotten but was actually jammed shut by a wooden bolt from the outside. The impact made his vision go black, and he felt excruciating pain from his wound.
In that instant of hesitation, the pressure from behind was already upon them!
Before he could even turn around, a hand with distinct knuckles and terrifying strength gripped his intact left shoulder like an iron clamp and pulled him sharply backward!
In a dizzying moment, Huang Jiang was violently shoved out of the passage and thrown into a more spacious area.
This is an abandoned house with several large holes in the roof. A few dim rays of sunlight slant down, illuminating the dust particles dancing in the air.
He rolled twice on the ground, getting covered in filth, before finally stopping.
He looked up in horror, meeting a pair of cold, emotionless eyes that looked down at him.
Zhou Ling stood in the center of the dilapidated house, his black casual clothes stained with a little dust, but this did not diminish his majesty in the slightest.
He slowly approached, his steps steady, each one seemingly treading on Huang Jiang's heart.
"You dog emperor! I'll fight you to the death!" Extreme fear turned into desperate madness. Huang Jiang roared, drew the dagger he had been holding tightly in his hand, and pounced on Zhou Ling without regard for anything else!
However, this was nothing more than a desperate struggle.
Zhou Ling didn't even move a step; he merely shifted his body slightly, and the dagger, imbued with all of Huang Jiang's power, grazed his clothes and missed. At the same time, Zhou Ling's hand moved with ghostly speed, precisely seizing Huang Jiang's wrist holding the knife.
"Snap!"
The sickening sound of bones cracking was exceptionally clear in the silent, dilapidated house.
"Ah!" Huang Jiang let out a bloodcurdling scream, and the dagger fell to the dusty ground with a clatter.
Zhou Ling then kicked him in the back of the knee, and Huang Jiang fell heavily to his knees with a "thud," as if his spine had been removed, leaving him trembling uncontrollably from the excruciating pain.
Zhou Ling bent down and picked up the dagger stained with Fang Ru's blood from the ground.
The cold metallic touch came through him as his slender fingers caressed the rough hilt of the knife. His gaze fell on the dark red mark on the blade, and his eyes darkened almost imperceptibly.
He walked up to Huang Jiang, the tip of his blade slowly pressing against the fingers of Huang Jiang's other intact hand. His voice was low and calm, yet more chilling than the winter wind: "I will only ask once. Where is the 'Crimson Flame Thunder' buried?"
The coldness of the dagger intertwined with the emperor's ruthless pressure, like the cruelest instrument of torture, instantly crushing Huang Jiang's last shred of hope.
Tears streamed down his face, his mental defenses completely crumbling. He stammered incoherently, "I'll talk! I'll talk! Under the old locust tree on the east side of the mass grave at the foot of the Western Hills in the outskirts of Beijing... and... and inside the abandoned brick kiln in the southern part of the city... and... and..."
He rattled off several hidden burial locations in one go.
Just then, hurried and chaotic footsteps came from inside the passage. Li Zuo led the Imperial Guards and rushed over, following the trail. "Your Majesty!" Upon seeing the scene inside, Li Zuo immediately clasped his hands in salute, his eyes scanning warily over the limp Huang Jiang.
Zhou Ling maintained the posture of pointing the knife at his finger, without turning his head, and coldly ordered, "Li Zuo."
"Your subject is here!"
"You will personally lead your men to the place he described and retrieve the 'Crimson Flame Thunder' without fail! If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible!"
"Your Majesty, I obey!" Li Zuo replied solemnly, then looked at Huang Jiang on the ground, "Your Majesty, this traitor..."
“There’s no need to take him back to the Imperial Prison.” Zhou Ling interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned his head slightly, his profile appearing particularly cold and hard in the dappled light. “I have some things I need to ask about right here.”
Li Zuo's eyes flickered slightly, and he instantly understood.
His Majesty is in such a hurry that he is willing to personally conduct the trial in this filthy and dilapidated place, even skipping the procedures of the imperial prison. The matter he is asking must be related to the constable who is currently in a state of uncertainty about his fate.
He suppressed his doubts and respectfully bowed his head: "Your subject understands! Your subject will take care of it immediately!" Then, without lingering for a moment, he waved his hand and led most of the Imperial Guards to quickly leave the dilapidated house, leaving only two trusted confidants to guard the distance, leaving the space completely to the emperor.
Silence returned to the dilapidated house, with only Huang Jiang's heavy breathing caused by pain and fear remaining.
Zhou Ling slowly moved the dagger away, but the invisible pressure weighed even more heavily on Huang Jiang's heart.
He lowered his eyes, looking at the traitor at his feet, who was like a lump of mud. His voice was low, but each word was like a hammer, striking the deathly silent air:
"Now, tell me. What is your relationship with Shen Fangru?"
Huang Jiang collapsed to the ground, excruciating pain shooting through his severed wrist, his coarse cloth clothes soaked with cold sweat.
He looked up at the emperor standing before him, whose unfathomable eyes held no warmth, as if he were looking at a lifeless object.
"Your Majesty..." Huang Jiang's voice trembled with fear, "I'll tell you everything..."
He swallowed hard, stammering, "It was that night at the Xuanji Banquet... in the alley behind the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Miss Shen came to me... asking for a deadly poison that could... kill His Majesty..."
Zhou Ling's knuckles tightened slightly, but his expression remained calm.
"At the time, I thought... she was like Gu Zhou, a spy planted in the court by the organization..." Huang Jiang's voice grew softer and softer, "But today, when she pressed me so hard about the whereabouts of 'Crimson Flame Thunder,' I felt... I felt she might be someone from the court..."
A brief silence fell over the dilapidated house, with only Huang Jiang's heavy breathing echoing in the air.
Zhou Ling suddenly spoke, his voice low: "Whose child is she carrying?"
Huang Jiang was visibly taken aback, seemingly not expecting the emperor to ask this. Enduring the excruciating pain, he cautiously replied, "It...it should be Gu Zhou, right? She's his fiancée..."
"Besides Gu Zhou," Zhou Ling's voice deepened, carrying an indescribable sense of pressure, "has she had any other men?"
This question completely baffled Huang Jiang.
The intense pain and this absurd question momentarily made him forget his fear, even finding it somewhat absurd. This emperor, outwardly dignified, why was he so concerned with matters of love and sex? If he wanted to know if she had other men, he should ask her himself! Why come to him, a prisoner, for that purpose?
For a moment, Huang Jiang felt that the emperor in front of him, who was high and mighty, was not so scary after all, and was even somewhat... pitiful?
But the thought only flashed through his mind, and he dared not reveal it, so he could only honestly answer, "This... I don't know, I really don't know, Your Majesty!"
Zhou Ling stared at him, her sharp gaze seeming to pierce through him. After a moment, the last trace of warmth vanished from those deep eyes.
The questions that needed to be asked have been asked.
With a flash of cold light, the dagger precisely pierced Huang Jiang's heart.
Huang Jiang's eyes widened suddenly, a gurgling sound came from his throat, and finally his head lolled to the side, and he stopped breathing.
Even in death, a trace of bewilderment and a hint of disdain remained in his eyes regarding that question.
Zhou Ling expressionlessly drew his dagger, letting the corpse slump to the ground.
He stood in the dilapidated house, the dappled light casting a long, lonely shadow of him.
...
He stepped out of the dark secret passage and returned to the room filled with the stench of blood.
His steps paused slightly at the threshold. His gaze first swept over Zheng Yu, who was directing the cleanup efforts, and then fell precisely on the figure leaning against the armchair by the window.
Fangru's eyes were half-closed, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her pale cheeks.
Her hand, which was covering her right abdomen, trembled slightly, and the blood seeping between her fingers spread dark stains on her official robes.
He had clearly seen from the shadows that when Huang Jiang suddenly attacked, she instinctively dodged to the side, the dagger only grazing her side. He estimated the angle and confirmed that no internal organs were injured before decisively pursuing the wanted criminal.
Seeing that although her face was pale, her breathing was steady, he knew that his judgment was correct.
"Your Majesty," Zheng Yu stepped forward quickly and lowered his voice, "Constable Fangru's injuries are not serious. The physician examined her and said it's a superficial wound..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Fangru opened her eyes abruptly, as if startled awake.
When her gaze met Zhou Ling's, her eyes, which had been somewhat unfocused due to blood loss, instantly focused, churning with complex and unreadable emotions—a mixture of lingering shock, relief at surviving a disaster, but more than anything, an undisguised unease and panic.
Was Huang Jiang captured by Zhou Ling? And what about her biggest secret...?
This thought coiled around her heart like a venomous snake, almost suffocating her.
The pain in her wound became insignificant at that moment. She forced herself to stand up, her body trembling, using the back of the chair as support. This movement aggravated the injury, causing her to gasp in pain, and more cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Your Majesty..." Her voice was weak, yet filled with a desperate urgency, "Where is Huang Jiang now?"
Zhou Ling stood still, his dark robes making his face appear calm and serene. He didn't answer immediately, but simply watched her quietly, watching her suppress her pain, watching the unease almost overflowing in her eyes.
After a long pause, he finally parted his thin lips and uttered two cold words: "Dead."
Dead...
These two words eased Fangru's tense nerves slightly, but then tightened them again. Death doesn't mean the secret is buried forever. Before Huang Jiang died, did he...?
She dared not think too deeply about it, yet she had no choice but to ask.
She took a small, laborious step forward, the slight movement sending a sharp pain through her wound, making her face even paler. She licked her dry lips, mustered all her courage, and looked directly at Zhou Ling, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Then...then did he...confess anything...other things?"
Her question was vague, but her eyes, filled with fear, clearly betrayed her true feelings. She was afraid—afraid that her plot to assassinate the king would be exposed.
Zhou Ling's deep gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his eyes sharp as a knife, as if they could cut through all pretense and reach the deepest fear in her heart.
Fangru was almost completely overwhelmed by his gaze.
Just when she was about to give up, he finally spoke, his tone calm and even, yet he gave her the answer she longed for most: "No. He only told her the whereabouts of 'Crimson Flame Thunder'."
With a "boom," it felt as if something exploded in my mind.
The huge weight that had been hanging over her heart finally lifted, and a wave of immense relief washed over her, instantly shattering her willpower.
Fangru's legs went weak, her body swayed, and she almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, the physician who had been watching her closely stepped forward and caught her in time.
She's safe...at least for now. Her father and cousin won't be implicated because of her...
"Thank you... thank you for informing me, Your Majesty." She leaned against the physician's arm, her voice as soft as a breeze, carrying the exhaustion of someone who had just survived a disaster.
Zhou Ling glanced at her indifferently, then looked away and began to whisper to Zheng Yu about the follow-up matters of the search, as if she were just an insignificant interlude.
The physician took the opportunity to help her sit down again and began to carefully treat her wounds.
Cleaning, applying medicine, bandaging—every step was performed with utmost care. A strong herbal aroma permeated the room, mingling with the lingering stench of blood, creating a peculiar and oppressive atmosphere.
After a long period of work, the physician straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said in a more relaxed tone, "Miss Fangru, don't worry. Although the wound is deep, it is only a superficial injury and has not damaged the internal organs. However, you have lost too much blood and are deficient in both qi and blood. You need to rest and recuperate for some time and avoid any further exertion."
He paused, lowered his voice, and smiled with a hint of relief: "As for... the baby in your womb, it is perfectly fine, with a steady and strong pulse. It's truly a blessing."
The fetus... is safe and sound...
These words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, created ripples in Fangru's heart.
Two blushes rose uncontrollably to her cheeks, like white jade dyed with rosy clouds. Subconsciously, she reached out and gently covered her still flat stomach.
There, a life was quietly being conceived, a life connected to her by blood, and to the cold, indifferent emperor before him... a life he knew nothing about.
She involuntarily raised her eyes and looked at the dark figure not far away.
He was facing away from her, intently discussing something with Zheng Yu. His tall figure appeared particularly distant in the dim light, and since returning, he had not paid her any attention whatsoever.
Yes… A hint of understanding flashed in Fangru’s eyes, which was then replaced by a cold clarity.
He hadn't been reborn in this life; he knew nothing of the tangled past, much less that this child was Zhou Ling's offspring. In his eyes, the child she carried was probably Gu Zhou, or some other illegitimate child of dubious origin.
Thinking of this, the shyness and excitement she felt due to the secret and blood ties quickly faded away and froze into a block of ice.
That's fine too.
Isn't this exactly what she's been hoping for?
He assumed she was pregnant with another man's child, so he would despise her, look down on her, and find her filthy, and would never again project that suffocating attention and obsession onto her.
She can finally break free from the shackles that have spanned lifetimes and truly live this life for herself.
She slowly withdrew her gaze, no longer looking at that indifferent back.
Unbeknownst to her, while the physician was treating her wounds, Zhou Ling turned to discuss official business with Zheng Yu, but his eyes were constantly watching the situation. When he heard the physician say "the fetus is fine," his hand gripping the file tightened almost imperceptibly.
The blush that appeared on Fangru's face did not escape his eyes. But the aloofness she immediately showed, and her deliberate avoidance of his gaze, made his eyes darken.
He watched her struggle to her feet and, with the help of others, walk step by step out. That stubborn figure seemed to be walking away from his life.
Zhou Ling finally spoke, his voice calm as ever: "Zheng Yu, send someone to escort Constable Shen back to his residence to recuperate."
This was the only care he could offer, but to her, it was nothing more than a superior doing official business with a subordinate.
Fangru paused slightly, but did not turn around. She simply nodded gently and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Once her figure disappeared outside the door, Zhou Ling withdrew his gaze and said to Zheng Yu, "Continue."
...
As dusk settled, Fangru returned to the Shen residence under the escort of the Ministry of Justice officers. Although her abdominal wound had been properly bandaged, every step she took still caused her a sharp, tingling pain, and her face was paler than usual.
Having already received the news, Shen Wenzheng paced anxiously in front of the mansion gate. When he saw his daughter being helped back in such a state, his heart tightened. He quickly stepped forward to support her, his voice filled with undisguised heartache and reproach: "Ru'er! What... what happened? How did you get hurt like this?"
"Father, I'm fine, just some superficial injuries." Fangru forced a smile and, supported by her father, slowly walked into the mansion. She briefly recounted her day's investigation into the Baiyang Society rebels, her encounter with Huang Jiang, and her fight with him, omitting the dangerous parts that involved her own secrets.
Even so, Shen Wenzheng was already terrified.
He settled his daughter on the soft couch in the hall, looking at her pale face from blood loss, feeling both fear and anger. He said in a deep voice, "Nonsense! Utter nonsense! A young lady from a respectable family, what kind of constable would she be, dealing with those desperate criminals all day long! This time it was fortunate that she only suffered minor injuries, but if... if..." He dared not continue, his tone resolute, "From tomorrow onwards, you are not allowed to go to the Ministry of Justice anymore! Stay home and behave yourself, stay at home peacefully!"
Fangru opened her mouth, wanting to say that she still had unfinished business and needed to deal with the aftermath of the "Crimson Flame Thunder," but seeing the genuine worry and lingering fear in her father's eyes, she swallowed her words. She knew that arguing at this moment would be useless.
Shen Wenzheng felt a little relieved looking at his daughter's silent and obedient appearance, but another, heavier worry surfaced in his mind.
He dismissed the maids on either side, leaving only the father and daughter in the hall.
He hesitated for a moment, his face showing an unspeakable struggle, before finally asking in a low voice, "Ru'er... I've recently... heard some rumors in the government office..." He observed his daughter's expression and asked cautiously, "They... they all say you... are pregnant? This must be those petty people spreading rumors to smear your reputation! Tell me, is it true? If it is, I'll risk my official position to find the person spreading these rumors, clear your name, and restore your innocence!"
Fangru's heart sank suddenly.
What was bound to happen had finally happened. She recalled the scene yesterday at the White Tiger Hall, where she was forced to admit to being pregnant in front of everyone. This matter could no longer be hidden from her father.
She lowered her eyelashes, avoiding her father's expectant gaze, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: "Father... the rumors outside... are not unfounded. Daughter... daughter's situation is a bit complicated, but... but it seems... she really is pregnant."
"What?!" Shen Wen was struck dumb, and stood up abruptly, his face turning deathly pale.
He couldn't believe his ears. His daughter, whom he had carefully raised and was so proud of, was actually... pregnant out of wedlock!
This was a complete shock!
"Who...whose is it?" Shen Wenzheng's voice trembled with shock and anger. Countless possibilities flashed through his mind in an instant. Which scoundrel, which bastard, dared to humiliate his daughter like this!
"Tell your father, who was it? Did someone force you?!" He would rather his daughter have been bullied than willingly do such a disgraceful thing.
Whose child is it? Fangru's fingertips dug deeply into her palm.
She was almost 100% certain that the child in her womb was Emperor Zhou Ling's, an unexpected result of their entanglement in her previous life, which had come to this life along with her rebirth.
But the truth is too absurd and bizarre; how can I tell my father about it?
Looking at her father's face, flushed with worry and anger, Fangru felt a surge of bitterness and guilt.
She couldn't mention Zhou Ling, as that would drag the Shen family into an even deeper vortex; nor could she arbitrarily frame others, as that would harm the innocent.
In utter despair, she could only raise her tear-filled eyes, shake her head, and say in a voice filled with endless weariness and confusion, "Daughter...daughter doesn't know either..."
have no idea?
These three words were like the sharpest knife, piercing Shen Wenzheng's heart.
He seemed to have all his strength drained away in an instant, staggered back a step, and slumped into the chair next to him.
Looking at his daughter's pale, fragile, and tear-streaked face, his initial raging anger was replaced by a deeper heartache and sorrow.
His poor Ru'er must have suffered a tremendous injustice, and she doesn't even dare to say who the person who bullied her is, or perhaps she doesn't want to say...
After the huge blow, Shen Wenzheng took a few deep breaths and forcibly suppressed his surging emotions.
He walked to his daughter's side, no longer asking questions, but gently patted her shoulder with his calloused, slightly trembling hands, his voice hoarse yet carrying an undeniable firmness:
"Never mind... never mind... if you don't know, you don't know." He sighed deeply, as if he had aged several years in an instant. "No matter whose child this is, you are my daughter, Shen Wenzheng's daughter. Now that he's here, then... then your father will take care of you. Although your father isn't very capable, I can still support you and you and the child for the rest of your lives. From now on, stay at home, and your father will protect you."
Hearing her father's almost tragic promise, Fangru's tears finally broke free.
She threw herself into her father's arms, as if she had been wronged as a child, choking back tears, and nodded heavily:
"Okay... Father, I'll listen to you."
As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, the mansion fell into complete silence, save for the faint sound of the night watchman striking his clapper.
Fangru lay on the pear wood canopy bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
The wound on her abdomen still throbbed with pain, and the skin beneath the gauze tingled with itching. But the turmoil in her heart was far greater than the physical pain.
She gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen, which remained flat as ever, yet had become a turning point in her fate.
This child must not be kept.
Once the thought surfaced, it clung tightly to her heart like a vine.
She recalled the days she spent imprisoned in the deep palace in her previous seven lives, those magnificent cages, those inescapable gazes, and Zhou Ling's stubborn, suffocating eyes. He treated her like a caged bird, imprisoning her in the most luxurious cage and binding her with the gentlest words.
But this life seems different.
She carefully recalled the events that had occurred at Anxiang Pavilion that day.
When she was stabbed by Huang Jiang, Zhou Ling clearly saw it, but he didn't even take a step towards her. Instead, he chased after the fugitive without hesitation.
This would have been absolutely impossible in his previous seven lives. In the past, even if she had only scratched her skin, he would have been as nervous as if the sky were falling and the earth were collapsing.
In this life, he truly doesn't care about me anymore.
This realization made her feel relieved, but also inexplicably melancholy.
But then she thought, isn't this exactly what she's been dreaming of?
Fangru took a deep breath and clenched her fist in the darkness.
Once her injuries had healed, she secretly aborted the child and then resigned from her post in the Ministry of Justice.
Huang [illegible], her greatest threat has been eliminated, there's no need for her to remain in this dangerous place. From now on, she can stay with her father and live a peaceful and stable life in the Shen family mansion.
Thinking of this, she finally felt a little relieved and tossed and turned until she gradually fell asleep.
However, her dreams wouldn't let her go.
She dreamt that she was standing in a thick fog, surrounded by familiar palace walls.
Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind, and the scent of ambergris wafted towards her.
"Shen Fangru." Zhou Ling's voice rang in her ears, deep and dangerous, "You dare to abort my child?"
She tried to break free, but he held her firmly in his arms.
"Take good care of her for me." His hand covered hers, his expression one of undeniable authority. "If you dare to harbor any wicked thoughts..."
He turned her around, his deep eyes fixed on her: "I will show you what it means to wish you were dead."
Then, the dream became chaotic and enchanting.
He pressed her down on the dragon bed, the familiar touch sending shivers down her spine. His kiss landed on her lips, possessive and unyielding. She wanted to push him away, but her body responded involuntarily…
"No!" Fangru woke up with a start, her chest heaving violently. Moonlight shone through the gauze curtains, illuminating her still flushed cheeks.
It was a dream... just a dream...
She subconsciously touched the bed sheet, her fingertips touching a cold, damp patch.
This discovery made her blush instantly; even in her dream, her body still remembered the man's touch.
The sound of the clapper at midnight came from outside the window, but Fangru could no longer fall asleep.
She sat on the bed with her knees drawn up to her chest until dawn.
The next morning, when the maid Chun Tao brought in hot water, she noticed the obvious dark circles under Fang Ru's eyes and cautiously asked, "Miss, should we go buy the abortion pills you ordered yesterday today?"
Fangru was about to nod when the vivid dream from last night suddenly resurfaced before her eyes. Zhou Ling's deep eyes seemed to still be watching her, and his words, "Life is worse than death," still echoed in her ears.
She couldn't help but shiver, and even the wound on her abdomen started to ache.
"For now..." she heard her own voice tremble slightly, "It's not necessary for now."
Chuntao looked at her in confusion: "Miss changed her mind?"
Fangru looked at her pale reflection in the mirror and gently touched her lower abdomen. The dream was too real, making her hesitate.
"Let me...think about it some more."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
