Chapter 77 Death Escape 2 If you dare to run away again, I'll turn you into a human pig...
The maid Chun Tao returned after noon. The hope she had carried when she left had turned into a look of panic in her eyes when she returned.
She hurried into Fangru's boudoir, almost tiptoeing, and tightly closed the door behind her.
“Miss…” Chun Tao’s voice was still panting, “No, all the pharmacies, every single one of them, said they didn’t have any of the herbs that even remotely relate to it.”
Fangru was leaning against the soft couch by the window, holding a book in her hand, but her eyes were not on the words.
Upon hearing this, her fingers tightened slightly. "Not a single one?"
“No.” Chun Tao shook her head vigorously, leaned closer, and lowered her voice even further. “I secretly asked a familiar young shop assistant at the ‘Jishetang’ shop that I frequent. He stammered and said that a couple of days ago, government officials came and strictly prohibited the sale of any…any medicinal materials of that kind. Anyone who violates this order will be punished for treason.”
She uttered the words "treason" very softly, yet they struck Fangru's heart like a piece of ice.
Fangru closed her eyes. As expected, Zhou Ling would not give her any room for maneuver. His iron-fisted methods were so swift and decisive that they completely blocked her escape route.
An invisible pressure, like the increasingly cold autumn day, tightly enveloped her.
Inside and outside the Shen residence, countless eyes were watching her; she was like a bird trapped in a gilded cage.
We cannot sit idly by and wait for our demise.
Fangru gazed at the gray sky outside the window, her fingertips unconsciously stroking her lower abdomen.
Zhou Ling could blockade the pharmacy and monitor the Shen residence, but there must be a glimmer of hope in this vast capital city.
She recalled the undeniable possessiveness in his deep eyes before he left yesterday, and the seemingly benevolent promise he made.
"You don't have to live in the palace, you can go to the Ministry of Justice."
Ministry of Justice.
Yes, it's the Ministry of Justice.
The place was a melting pot of all sorts of people, with piles of case files and a diverse range of backgrounds among the visitors.
There she could find familiar things there, resources she could mobilize, and more importantly, perhaps a sliver of hope to break the current deadlock.
Taking advantage of his position, he could access case files and meet people from all walks of life, always finding loopholes in his prohibitions.
"Change your clothes," Fangru stood up, her tone calm yet resolute, "I'm going to the Ministry of Justice."
Chun Tao, who was organizing her medicine kit, looked up in surprise upon hearing this, her eyes filled with worry: "Miss, you're not fully recovered yet and need to rest. Besides..." she lowered her voice, "Although His Majesty has given permission, wouldn't it be......"
“It is precisely because His Majesty has ‘granted’ my permission to go to the Ministry of Justice to handle the case,” Fangru interrupted her, her tone indifferent, as she picked up a plain outer robe and put it on herself, “that I should go even more. Staying cooped up in this mansion all day ‘recuperating’ is what truly arouses suspicion.”
She needed a reasonable and legitimate reason to leave the Shen family mansion and go to a place where she could use her abilities and find a way out.
At this moment, Zhou Ling's personal promise that she could "go to the Ministry of Justice to handle the case" was the best pass and the only opportunity she could seize.
The carriage was already prepared.
As Fangru stepped out of the Shen residence, she could clearly feel several gazes cast upon her from the shadows. Without glancing to the side, she calmly boarded the carriage and instructed the driver to proceed to the Ministry of Justice.
Returning to the Ministry of Justice, the air was filled with a familiar smell, a mixture of paper, ink, and a faint stench of blood.
When her colleagues saw her, their expressions varied: some were concerned, some were curious, and some were awe-inspiring. After all, there was no one else in the entire capital who could make the emperor visit her residence so frequently.
Ignoring the stares, she walked straight to the case file archive, using the excuse of checking old cases to see if there were any records related to the circulation of banned drugs.
However, she had only been in the file archive for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn when a series of hurried footsteps and suppressed curses came from the direction of the interrogation room deep inside, breaking the tranquility of the yamen.
Soon, the news spread like wildfire: a key figure in the Baiyang Society, Liu Sui, the leader of the Qingmu Altar, had been captured. However, this man was extremely stubborn, and despite all sorts of torture, he refused to utter a single word.
What's even more troublesome is that the Baiyang Society has already spread rumors that it will have a "big move" in the suburbs of Beijing on the seventh day of the new year. Time is of the essence, and the entire Ministry of Justice is shrouded in a cloud of anxiety.
Fangru put down the file in her hand, her mind racing.
This is an opportunity.
An opportunity to intervene in a case, to get close to the core power of the Ministry of Justice, and potentially to make deals with those in power. In her fourth life's memories, Liu Sui was a tough nut to crack, but his weaknesses were not without precedent.
She walked slowly toward the interrogation room.
The door was ajar, and the voice of Zheng Yu, a senior official in the Ministry of Justice, could be clearly heard: "If we can't get him to talk, and something really happens on the seventh day, we'll both lose our heads!"
Fangru pushed open the door and entered.
The room reeked of blood. Zheng Yu paced back and forth in frustration, while several executioners stood helplessly by. Liu Sui, though covered in wounds, still had a defiant look in his eyes.
“Lord Zheng,” Fangru said calmly.
When Zheng Yu saw her, he was somewhat surprised and even more annoyed: "Miss Chen? What are you doing here? This place is filthy, not a place for you."
“Perhaps I can get him to talk,” Fangru said confidently, her gaze sweeping over Liu Sui.
Zheng Yu frowned, instinctively wanting to refuse. Even experienced criminal investigators were helpless; how could she, a woman… “Miss Shen, this matter is no small thing, not child’s play…”
“Give me the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and I’ll speak with him alone.” Fangru interrupted him, her gaze calm yet carrying an undeniable power. “If that doesn’t work, Your Excellency will consider another method. If it does, it will solve the Ministry of Justice’s urgent problem.”
Zheng Yu looked into her calm, watery eyes, then glanced at Liu Sui, who was on the verge of death but still stubborn. The pressure of solving the case was immense, and any possibility was worth trying.
He gritted his teeth, waved for everyone to leave, leaving Fangru alone inside.
The door was closed, leaving only Fangru and Liu Sui inside.
Fangru did not approach him, but stood a few steps away from him, her gaze fixed on his face, which was contorted with pain.
“Master Liu,” her voice was soft but clear to Liu Sui, “the family at the end of Willow Leaf Lane in the south of Cangzhou City, the child named Zhi’er… his surname isn’t Liu, it’s Liu, right?”
Liu Sui, who had been hanging his head, preparing to face the next round of torture, suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide with extreme shock and bloodshot: "You... what did you say?! How could you..." His wife and children, whom he had kept so hidden, were the softest forbidden zone in his heart, and now that they had been suddenly exposed, fear instantly overwhelmed the pain.
Ignoring his shock, Fangru continued in her flat tone, "If you want them to live out their lives in peace, tell me the whole story of Chuqi's plan. Otherwise, the 'loyalty' that Baiyang Society can give you will probably not outweigh the loneliness they will face on their journey to the underworld."
Liu Sui's breathing became heavy, and his chest heaved violently.
He stared intently at Fangru, trying to find any trace of deception on her face, but all he saw was a bottomless calm.
Struggle, fear, loyalty to the organization, and worry for his family were fiercely battling in his eyes.
In the end, the faces of his wife and children overwhelmed everything. He lowered his head dejectedly, his voice hoarse and dry: "...I said. On the seventh day...they were going to...use the crowds at the Niangniang Temple Fair in the outskirts of the capital...to release miasma, create panic, and take advantage of the chaos...to attack the caravans of several imperial merchants..."
When Fangru handed the detailed statement to Zheng Yu, who was guarding outside the door, Zheng Yu could hardly believe his eyes. After quickly reviewing it, his face instantly brightened, and his gaze towards Fangru was filled with shock and gratitude: "Miss Chen! This...you really...have done a great service! I owe you a huge favor!"
Fangru simply wiped her hands lightly, as if what she had just done was a trivial matter.
She looked up at Zheng Yu, who was still excited, and said calmly, "Lord Zheng, there's no need to talk about favors. I need your help right now."
“Please speak, young lady! As long as it is within my power, I will do my utmost!” Zheng Yu patted his chest and promised.
Fangru took a step closer and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, clearly and slowly recited the names of several medicines.
Zheng Yu's smile froze instantly, turning into horror. He almost blurted out, "This...this is strictly forbidden! Miss Shen, you don't mean to..." His gaze unconsciously swept over her still flat stomach, the rest of the words stuck in his throat, and cold sweat poured down his back.
"Tomorrow at this time," Fangru said firmly, unmoved, "I want to see these medicinal herbs, and in sufficient quantities."
"That's absolutely impossible!" Zheng Yu said urgently in a low voice, "The capital city is now extremely strict in its supervision of this item, and all government departments are conducting investigations. I..."
Fangru looked at him quietly, her eyes not pleading, but calmly weighing her options and an undeniable threat: "Lord Zheng, if His Majesty asks how the Ministry of Justice learned of the Baiyang Society's conspiracy before the deadline... should I say that Vice Minister Zheng commanded with composure and skillfully conducted the interrogation? Or should I 'truthfully' report that you spent a long time and exhausted all forms of torture but obtained nothing, and that in the end, it was only through my own efforts as a woman 'recuperating' at home that I managed to obtain this life-saving intelligence by using some methods that are inconvenient to disclose to outsiders?"
Zheng Yu's face turned deathly pale.
He knew all too well that the relationship between the woman before him and His Majesty was delicate and complex, and he was also aware of how serious the consequences of "reporting the truth" would be—not only would he lose his official position, but he might even lose his life.
His back was soaked with cold sweat.
On one side lies the abyss of violating the ban and facing unknown risks; on the other side is the imminent danger to one's career and even life.
Weighing the pros and cons, the immense fear ultimately overwhelmed the principles.
He gritted his teeth and forced out a trembling voice: "...This subordinate...understands. I will...find a way."
Fangru said no more, nodded slightly, and turned to leave. As she walked out of the Ministry of Justice, the cool autumn breeze brushed her face, yet she felt as if there were thorns on her back.
She knew that eyes lurking in the shadows would report her every move at the Ministry of Justice to Zhou Ling. Zheng Yu, the Vice Minister of Justice whom she had dragged into this mess, was standing at the entrance of the yamen, watching her departing figure. His heart was in turmoil, a mixture of fear of an uncertain future and the humiliation of being forced to make a choice, making him almost unable to stand.
As Fangru boarded the carriage, the moment the curtain fell, a hint of weariness crumbled beneath the forced calm on her face. She was taking a risky gamble, using the tiny opening Zhou Ling had created for her to try and pry open the heavy shackles of fate.
Zheng Yu became the first piece she was forced to make in this risky move.
The next morning, the Ministry of Justice was shrouded in exhaustion from a sleepless night and a new wave of tension.
Zheng Yu had dark circles under his eyes, but his spirits were unusually high. Taking advantage of the noisy shift change of the yamen runners, he stuffed a small bag tightly wrapped in dark coarse cloth into Fang Ru's hand.
“Miss Chen, what you want…” His voice was dry and hoarse, carrying the exhaustion of not having slept all night, but even deeper was the fear that was hard to hide. “This humble official… almost risked his life to…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but his slightly trembling fingers and hesitant eyes told the whole story of the perilous situation.
Fangru's fingertips touched the cloth bag; the cold touch and the faintly bitter smell of the herbs sent a shiver down her spine.
She quickly tucked it into her sleeves, the wide sleeves hanging down to conceal this potentially fatal evidence.
Her face betrayed no emotion, she simply said in a low voice, "Lord Zheng, you've worked hard. I know everything that happened yesterday."
Zheng Yu opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more, but in the end he just sighed heavily, turned around and walked quickly towards the interrogation room, where Ma Xian, the adopted son of the leader of the Baiyang Society, an important prisoner who had just been brought in, was waiting to be interrogated.
Fangru quickly hid the dark cloth bundle deep inside her sleeve. Her fingertips lingered on the rough fabric for a moment, feeling the hard outline of the medicinal herbs inside.
She did not leave immediately.
Finding an excuse, she stayed in a corner of the Ministry of Justice's main hall, pretending to browse through unimportant files.
Taking advantage of the absence of attention, she deftly opened the cloth bag under the cover of her wide sleeves, quickly plucking out a few fragments of medicinal herbs. The tea in the Ministry of Justice was coarse and icy cold, but she swallowed the potentially deadly bitterness mixed with the cold tea without changing her expression. A chill ran down her spine, carrying a resolute meaning.
Just as the bitter effects of the medicine began to spread, she subconsciously placed her hand lightly on her lower abdomen, a tremor that she herself was unaware of swept through her heart.
She silently prayed in her heart, with an almost cruel resolve: "Child, don't blame your mother... We are destined to be apart, but please help your mother this time. Whether I can escape this cage today... perhaps depends on your abilities."
The thought flashed through her mind, but she quickly suppressed it.
She needs to maintain a clear mind and sufficient physical strength to complete the next phase of the plan, even if the cost is...
Her ears remained keenly attuned to any sounds coming from the direction of the interrogation room. At first came Zheng Yu's stern questioning, followed by the dull thud of instruments clashing, and then only a deathly silence, occasionally punctuated by Zheng Yu's suppressed, exasperated growls.
Time passed slowly, the sun rose higher, and the faint, throbbing pain in her abdomen seemed to become clearer, like a tiny needle pricking her from time to time, reminding her of the adventure she was on.
She picked up the now-cold teacup, took another sip, and used the icy liquid to suppress the discomfort churning in her throat and the turmoil in her heart.
The door to the interrogation room was finally flung open.
Zheng Yu walked out with a livid face. The collar of his official robe was loosened due to his agitation. He grabbed a cup of cold tea from the table and gulped it down. The tea dripped down his chin, but it did little to relieve his anxiety.
Fangru put down the file and walked over slowly, her demeanor still composed. Only the slightly cold fingertips in her sleeve and the continuous, subtle cramping pain in her body betrayed what she was enduring.
"Lord Zheng, are you still unwilling to speak?" Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached Zheng Yu's ears, sounding unusually calm.
Zheng Yu turned around abruptly and saw that it was her. A complex look flashed in his eyes, a mixture of the anticipation of yesterday's success and the resentment of today's setback, which ultimately turned into a deep sense of powerlessness.
"He's completely stubborn! Even more difficult to deal with than Liu Sui! We've tried everything, but he's like a gourd with its mouth sawed off!"
"Let me try again." Fangru's tone was calm and even, as if she were talking about something perfectly ordinary, as if the storm brewing in her belly had nothing to do with her.
Zheng Yu's pupils contracted slightly as he scrutinized her. Yesterday's success was still vivid in his mind, but the unusual calmness and mystery surrounding the woman before him also stirred a sense of unease within him. Her face seemed paler than usual, and there were even some barely perceptible beads of sweat on her forehead, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, carrying a resolute determination that suggested she had nothing to lose.
But Ma Xian's testimony was crucial, and the shadow of the seventh day hung over his head like a sword of Damocles... He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms. In the end, his desire for merit and his fear of dereliction of duty overwhelmed everything.
“…Okay.” He almost gritted his teeth as he agreed, then waved away his attendants again, giving Fangru a deep look in his eyes, which held both pleading and a barely perceptible warning. “Miss Chen, I’m entrusting everything to you.”
The interrogation room door closed behind me, cutting off outside light and sound.
The stench of blood mixed with the smell of dust in the room was even stronger. Fangru endured the increasingly sharp pain in her abdomen and steadied her slightly trembling breath.
Ma Xian was bound to the rack, his clothes torn, revealing his muscular chest covered in fresh and old wounds. Hearing footsteps, he raised his head, revealing a sinister face, a trace of congealed blood at the corner of his mouth, his eyes like those of a trapped wolf, fiercely and warily staring at Fang Ru.
Fangru did not approach him immediately. She stopped a few steps away from him, looking back at him calmly, as if she were assessing an object rather than sizing up a vicious prisoner.
After a while, just as Ma Xian was getting impatient with her gaze and was about to make a sarcastic remark, she finally spoke, her voice low and clear, making sure only the two of them could hear:
“Ma Xian, I’m not here to interrogate you.” She paused, then said, word by word, “I’m here to help you.”
Ma Xian was taken aback at first, then laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, which aggravated his wounds and made him cough: "Ha... help? The government people, come to help a rebel like me? Woman, have you lost your mind?"
“Because I hate Zhou Ling too.” Fangru ignored his sarcasm, her tone remaining calm, but her quiet eyes revealed a deep, undeniable loathing and repression. “He is tyrannical and domineering, treating me like his own possession, imprisoning me in a cage. I want to break free from his control and fly far away every moment.”
The genuine emotion in those words froze Ma Xian's sneer on his face.
He scrutinized Fangru, trying to find any trace of deception on her face. She was dressed simply and had a cool and aloof demeanor, unlike the typical family members of officials. The lingering melancholy between her brows was not entirely a pretense.
“Words are no proof,” Ma Xian said, his eyes darting around, still wary. “Why should I believe you? Who knows if this is just another trick you're using to extract confessions?”
"Believe it or not." Fangru took a step closer, her sharp gaze meeting his eyes directly. Her voice was even lower, carrying a cold, realistic edge. "But you know in your heart that, given your status, falling into the hands of the Ministry of Justice, you have no chance of survival. Severe torture will only lead to death. Believe me, you might still have a sliver of hope. Do you have any other choice?"
These words struck Ma Xian like a heavy hammer blow.
He knew his fate, of course; the torture he had just endured was merely an appetizer. Despair, like a poisonous vine, had already entwined his heart. At this moment, this sudden "glimmer of hope," however suspicious, was like the only ray of light filtering through the darkness, irresistibly tempting him.
He stared intently at Fangru, his Adam's apple bobbing, a fierce internal struggle raging within him. The instinct for survival ultimately prevailed over rational doubt. "...How can I help?"
Fangru knew he was wavering, so she no longer hesitated and quickly and clearly stated her plan: "You kidnap me. Use me as a hostage, and they won't dare to do anything to you. Ask for a horse, leave the city immediately, and don't let anyone follow you. As long as you leave the capital, you'll be safe."
“They kidnapped you? Why would they be afraid of you?” Ma Xian still had doubts.
Fangru's lips curled into a faint, self-deprecating sneer: "Recently, rumors have been circulating in the capital that His Majesty frequently visits the Shen residence and spends the night at my place. Do you think they would dare to risk His Majesty's 'favorite'?"
A glint of light flashed in Ma Xian's eyes! Yes, if this Jurchen woman had a close relationship with the emperor, then she would indeed be an excellent talisman! Although this plan was risky, it was undoubtedly worth a try compared to sitting and waiting to die!
"Fine! I'll take this bet!" Ma Xian made up his mind, his eyes turning fierce and resolute. "But I need a weapon!"
Fangru said no more. With a slight movement of her sleeve, the small but exceptionally sharp dagger silently slid into her palm.
Taking advantage of her position as she leaned closer to check Ma Xian's injuries, she deftly flipped her wrist and precisely slipped the hilt of the dagger into Ma Xian's hand, which was bound behind the rack.
The icy touch made Ma Xian's pupils shrink slightly, and he instantly understood her intention. A ruthless glint of hope ignited in his eyes.
"You only get one chance." Fangru whispered the last words in his ear, barely audible, then casually stepped back half a step, as if she had just completed a routine visit.
In that split second, Ma Xian suddenly let out a roar, his muscles bulging, and with sheer brute force, he broke free of his restraints! He gripped the dagger in his backhand and with a "whoosh," cut the remaining ropes!
Like a caged beast breaking free of its chains, he moved so fast that he left only a blur. In the next instant, he darted behind Fangru like lightning, his iron arm gripping her neck tightly. The tip of his gleaming dagger pressed precisely against her delicate carotid artery.
"Don't move! Anyone who dares to step forward, I'll make sure they bleed profusely!" Ma Xian's roar was like thunder, exploding in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice.
The entire lobby fell into a deathly silence, followed by extreme panic!
All the yamen runners and judges stood frozen in place, dumbfounded as they watched this sudden turn of events.
Zheng Yu was so frightened that his face turned deathly pale.
He could see it clearly; the dagger was pressed against the very spot that would be fatal!
What terrified him even more was Fangru's identity. This was Miss Shen, whom His Majesty had recently shown special care to, even going so far as to break with convention and allow her to participate in the affairs of the Ministry of Justice!
Rumors had been circulating in the capital for some time that His Majesty was extremely fond of her. If anything were to happen to her right under his nose today… Zheng Yu could almost picture the miserable end of himself and his entire family!
"Put down! Put down your weapons! Back off! All of you back off!" Zheng Yu's voice was shrill and trembling uncontrollably as he practically used both hands and feet to frantically push back his subordinates who tried to approach. "Ma Xian! Calm down! You absolutely cannot hurt Miss Shen! What are your conditions? We can discuss them! We can discuss them!"
Ma Xian held Fangru firmly in front of him, keenly noticing the almost palpable fear and apprehension in the eyes of Zheng Yu and all the surrounding Ministry of Justice officials.
They weren't afraid of Ma Xian himself, but rather that the woman in his arms would suffer the slightest harm!
This filled him with joy and gave him even more confidence.
"Listen up!" Ma Xian shouted sharply, pressing the dagger closer. Fang Ru let out a suppressed groan of pain, a faint sound that made Zheng Yu and the others' hearts leap into their throats again. "Get me a fast horse! Now! Immediately! Everyone back a hundred paces, no, two hundred paces! Anyone who dares to follow can just wait to collect her corpse!"
"Quickly! Do as he says! Prepare the horses!" Zheng Yu practically roared the order, cold sweat already soaking his back.
At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind: no matter what, Shen Fangru must not be harmed!
The officials in the Ministry of Justice were hesitant to act, and amidst the oppressive chaos, they could only watch helplessly as Ma Xian, holding Fangru hostage, cautiously retreated step by step towards the entrance of the yamen.
Every second felt like an eternity.
Outside the yamen, a fine horse had already been hurriedly led in.
Ma Xian cautiously surveyed his surroundings, and after confirming that no one dared to make a move, he abruptly pushed Fangru onto the horse's back, then mounted himself, still holding her tightly to his chest, the dagger never leaving her vital area. He glared fiercely at Zheng Yu and the others one last time, then yanked on the reins.
"drive!"
With a neigh, the horse reared up and galloped away from the Ministry of Justice, disappearing around the street corner in the blink of an eye.
Only when the sound of hooves faded into the distance did Zheng Yu feel as if all his strength had been drained away. His legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground if someone hadn't caught him in time. He stared at the empty government office, his face ashen, and murmured, "Quickly... quickly report to His Majesty... something terrible has happened..." He knew that his career, even his life, was hanging by a thread, entirely depending on whether the kidnapped woman could return safely.
All of this was within Fangru's calm calculations. She cleverly used the "special" gift Zhou Ling had given her to pry open a crack for her to survive in the midst of danger.
The wind whistled in my ears, and the scenery on both sides of the street rushed past.
Ma Xian's heart pounded like a drum, a mixture of elation and the joy of escaping death.
Fangru was held tightly in his arms, and she could feel the violent rise and fall of his chest. Her own heart was in her throat, and freedom seemed within reach.
However, just as the horse galloped out of the long street and was about to turn into the wider official road, a sudden change occurred!
A black iron wolf-tooth arrow, carrying the force of destruction, pierced through the air from the second-floor window of the restaurant diagonally behind!
The arrow was not aimed at Ma Xian, but rather pierced the horse's foreleg joint with perfect accuracy!
"Thud!" The dull thud of an arrow piercing flesh and severing tendons was chilling.
Herod!
The horse let out a mournful cry, its front hooves snapped instantly, and the immense momentum flung the two people on its back forward!
"Ah!" Fangru felt dizzy and was slammed heavily onto the cold bluestone ground. Instant pain spread throughout her body.
She looked up through the pain, and in her blurred vision, she saw a lone figure on horseback standing silently at the end of the long street.
Zhou Ling sat upright on a jet-black steed, his posture as straight as a pine tree.
He held a huge black and gold iron bow in his hand, the bowstring still vibrating slightly and emitting a low hum.
The afterglow of the setting sun outlined his sharply defined profile, breathtakingly handsome, yet his unfathomable eyes were chillingly cold, fixed on her without blinking, as if he already knew everything.
What is he doing here?!
Fangru's heart sank to the bottom of ice in an instant.
Shouldn't he be patrolling the main camp on the outskirts of Beijing? Unless... he had already foreseen this? This thought sent a chill down her spine.
The well-trained guards surged forward like a tide and quickly subdued Ma Xian, who was dizzy from the fall.
Despite the pain all over her body, Fangru stood up with the help of the guards.
She deliberately made her steps appear unsteady, her fingertips trembling slightly as she straightened her disheveled clothes. Head bowed, eyes lowered, she said in a trembling voice, still shaken, "This humble woman...thanks so much for saving my life, Your Majesty..."
Zhou Ling slowly lowered the longbow, his slender fingers casually stroking the bowstring.
He did not dismount, nor did he even glance at the captured Ma Xian. His insightful eyes remained fixed on Fangru, as if he were watching a drama that he had already foreseen.
"My dear minister, you have been frightened." He spoke, his voice eerily calm yet carrying a penetrating power. "It seems that the Ministry of Justice is not very safe."
He waved his hand gently, and the eunuchs carried the magnificent imperial carriage at a brisk pace.
"Send Miss Shen back to her residence." His tone was indifferent, yet each word carried immense weight. "Take good care of yourself."
The road back to the Shen residence crawled slowly through the deathly silence.
The imperial carriage was filled with a rich fragrance, but Fangru felt suffocated.
Although Zhou Ling did not ride with them, his omnipresent sense of oppression followed them like a shadow.
Before Fangru could even settle into her familiar boudoir, the door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang!
She turned around abruptly and saw Zhou Ling leaning against the door frame, his tall figure accentuated by his black dragon-patterned casual clothes.
His handsome face showed no anger, but rather a playful smile. However, the smile did not reach his eyes, making his phoenix eyes appear even more deep and unfathomable.
"Well done." He approached slowly, his voice deep and pleasant, yet carrying a deadly danger. "Panic, gratitude... all perfectly timed."
Fang instinctively stepped back, her back hitting the cold wall.
He suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, the force so great that she cried out in pain. The next second, the world spun around, and he slammed her violently onto the bed!
"Ugh!" Fangru curled up in pain as her back hit the hard wood.
Zhou Ling immediately stepped forward and used his long, powerful legs to restrain her struggles.
He rested one hand on her ear, and gently stroked her cheek with the other, his fingertips caressing her pale lips. The gesture was intimate, like that of a lover, but his eyes were icy cold.
“Tell me,” he leaned down, his thin lips almost touching her earlobe, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive skin, “when did you collude with that traitor? Hmm?”
"What is Your Majesty saying... I don't understand..." Fangru turned her head away, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Don't understand?" Zhou Ling chuckled, then suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look directly at him. "What explanation do you have for the Shen family's hidden markings on that dagger?"
Fangru's pupils contracted sharply. He even saw that?!
"I gave you a chance." His voice suddenly turned cold, and a fanatical madness surged in his eyes. "I granted you freedom and privileges, yet you used them to plot your escape from my side?"
The icy air sent a shiver down her spine. Then, the landscape, imbued with a sense of punishment, showed no mercy.
"Does it hurt?" he whispered, biting her earlobe. "It's nothing compared to what I feel!"
Fangru was in so much pain that her nails dug into her palms, and tears blurred her vision.
"Speak!" He gripped her breasts tightly, his grip so strong it felt like he was crushing her bones. "Whose child is this? Is it that traitor's?!"
"No, really no..." She shook her head in despair, her hair sticking messily to her sweaty cheeks.
The crimson in Zhou Ling's eyes intensified. He reached out and gently pressed his hand against the still unhealed knife wound on her abdomen.
"Ah!" The pain made her scream as the wound was torn open again, and warm liquid seemed to be seeping out from the bandage.
Zhou Ling's face was inches away from hers. He looked at her pale face, twisted with humiliation, and his voice was like a curse from hell: "If you dare to run again... I'll break your legs... so that you'll be confined to the cage I built for you for the rest of your life... and you'll never be able to go anywhere!"
"It hurts...please have mercy on me..."
The man's anger and possessiveness were not quelled when he saw her pale face from the excruciating pain; instead, they were replaced by a deeper, all-consuming madness.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear, in a low, cruel voice, enunciating each word clearly:
"No, I've changed my mind. If you dare to escape again... I'll turn you into a human pig, put you in a jar, and place you in my bedchamber, so that you can only look at me day and night."
The words "human pig" were like the sharpest ice pick, instantly piercing through all of Fangru's psychological defenses.
She began to tremble violently, not from physical pain, but from the fear deep within her soul.
She grabbed his ravaging arm, pleading with her last ounce of strength, "No... Your Majesty, please don't. I... I'm pregnant... You'll hurt the baby if you do this..."
She tried to use the child to evoke even the slightest bit of his pity; it was the only fragile shield she could think of at that moment.
However, these words only added fuel to the fire.
Zhou Ling's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, his gaze shifting even more sharply, filled with a masochistic pleasure as he growled, "Child? I'd rather he were gone! I don't want you carrying another man's bastard child, pleasuring me beneath you!"
His words were like poisoned blades, completely severing her last hope.
Amidst this extreme pain and humiliation, a tearing, throbbing pain came from her lower abdomen.
"Ah! Blood...so much blood...my stomach...it hurts so much..."
(Please read carefully, reviewer. This is a description of a woman having a miscarriage. What's wrong with it?)
Her piercing screams finally carried the real, death-defying fear; her body curled up, and her face instantly turned ashen.
Zhou Ling froze!
He looked down and was horrified to see bright red blood gushing out, quickly staining the brocade quilt beneath him. The glaring red instantly snapped his crazed gaze back to reality, replacing it with a profound panic.
He retreated in a disheveled state, surrounded by crimson as far as the eye could see.
Fangru was in so much pain that she almost fainted, and her breathing was weak.
For the first time, Zhou Ling's voice shattered its usual composure and authority, filled with undisguised panic and trembling. When he saw the glaring red rapidly spreading across the brocade quilt, his mind went blank; his previous violence and rage were instantly swallowed by a chilling fear. He frantically pulled the quilt over himself, trying to cover the spreading blood, only to find his once-proud control utterly laughable; even his fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
The imperial physician practically tumbled in, and upon seeing the scene on the bed, his legs buckled and he knelt on the ground. When taking her pulse, his fingers trembled so much he could barely press the wrist. A moment later, his face ashen, he kowtowed heavily, his voice trembling with sobs: "Your Majesty… Miss Shen… this is… a sudden surge of anger has triggered a miscarriage, causing a severe hemorrhage! She is depleted of both qi and blood, her pulse… her pulse is barely a thread! Her condition is extremely critical, I fear… I fear…"
"Save her!" Zhou Ling abruptly interrupted him, his voice hoarse, like the wail of a trapped beast. "I command you, you must save her! Use the best medicine, do everything possible!" He pushed aside the imperial physician, staggered to the bedside, and tightly grasped Fangru's terrifyingly cold hand, pressing it against his violently heaving chest, as if trying to awaken her with his own heartbeat. "Fangru... listen, I won't allow anything to happen to you! Open your eyes and look at me!"
Fangru's consciousness swirled in endless darkness and excruciating pain. In a daze, she heard his anxious voice, a voice that had once terrified her, but now made her only want to escape.
With her last ounce of strength, she weakly traced lines on his palm with her fingertips, trying to break free. Her pale lips parted, uttering broken but clear words: "Get out...please...get out..."
Every word was like a poisoned dagger, piercing Zhou Ling's heart.
“Your Majesty,” Li Zuo, the commander of the Imperial Guards, stepped forward at the right moment, his voice low and restrained, “Miss Shen is currently emotionally agitated, which is extremely detrimental to her treatment… Please move to the outer room and wait for the time being.”
Zhou Ling's gaze was fixed on Fang Ru's bloodless face, her tightly closed eyes, and her aloof indifference that kept people at arm's length. These sights pierced his heart more than any sword or blade.
His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and finally, as if all his strength had been drained, he retreated to the outer room with difficulty, step by step.
The air outside was so stagnant it was suffocating.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly, each breath accompanied by the anxious whispers of the imperial physician in the inner room, the hurried footsteps of the maids, and those suppressed, ominous sounds, tormenting his nerves.
Like a caged beast that had lost its soul, he paced back and forth, his eyes fixed on the door that separated him and her by life and death, as if trying to see through it.
After an unknown amount of time, a more chaotic commotion suddenly erupted from inside, and the imperial physician's voice was tinged with desperate sobs. Zhou Ling's heart sank into an icy abyss.
Just then, a maid rushed out with red eyes and tears streaming down her face, choking back sobs, "Your Majesty! The young lady... the young lady woke up for a moment, she said... she said she wanted to see you one last time..."
The words "last time" struck like a thunderbolt.
Zhou Ling's heart clenched, and he stumbled inside, all his imperial majesty vanishing in the face of life and death.
Fangru lay on the bed, her breath as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, her face pale and translucent, as if she would vanish at any moment.
However, those once bright eyes, now filled with weariness and emptiness, were struggling to slowly turn towards him. Seeing him enter, she moved her almost numb fingers with tremendous difficulty.
Zhou Ling immediately knelt down beside the bed, using his own large hands—which had once inflicted harm and were now trembling—to tightly envelop her cold hands, as if trying to transfer the warmth of life to her.
“Fangru…” he called her, his voice choked with emotion, filled with an unprecedented humility and pleading.
Fangru looked at him, her eyes devoid of hatred and resentment, only a serene, almost nihilistic calm that seemed to have seen through everything. Her voice was weak and intermittent, yet each word was clear:
"I'm sorry... I just... sent you away..." she gasped for breath, gathering her last strength, "I... I'm afraid I can't make it... Your Majesty... I... I beg you for two things..."
"Tell me! Tell me! I'll grant you anything! As long as you get better, I'll give you anything!" Zhou Ling responded eagerly, tears finally streaming down her face uncontrollably, dripping onto the back of her pale hand.
"First..." Her eyes pleaded, "Don't... make things difficult for the imperial physicians...they did their best...and please...please don't take your anger out on my father..."
“Alright! I promise you! I will not pursue this matter! I swear!” Zhou Ling nodded emphatically without hesitation.
Fangru seemed to have a weight lifted from her shoulders. Her eyes began to glaze over slightly, but she still managed to muster her last bit of consciousness and utter her final wish: "Second... after I die... let me... be laid to rest... not in a crystal coffin... don't... don't put me in the palace... I don't want... to stay there... promise me..."
Looking at the last glimmer of light in her eyes, which was almost pleading, Zhou Ling felt as if his heart was being torn apart, and he was in so much pain that he couldn't breathe.
He gripped her hand tightly, tears blurring his vision. He nodded heavily, his voice broken and strained: "I promise you! I will let you return to the Shen family ancestral graves, to be laid to rest in peace. I will not use a crystal coffin, and I will not imprison you in the palace... I promise you..."
Upon receiving his solemn promise, the last vestige of obsession in Fangru's eyes seemed to vanish.
She held Zhou Ling's hand, the weak grip gradually loosening until it finally fell limply to the ground. Those eyes, which had once reflected the stars and held unwavering resolve, slowly and forever closed.
"Fangru? Fangru!" Zhou Ling cried out in terror, tightly grasping her slipping hand and pressing it against his tear-streaked face. "Wake up! Look at me! I command you to wake up! Imperial physician! Quickly, save her! Save her!"
The imperial physician scrambled forward, using acupuncture and medicine in vain to try and salvage the already lost life.
However, the person on the bed had a peaceful expression as if asleep, but made no sound.
Finally, the imperial physician collapsed to his knees, banging his head on the ground, and uttered a suppressed sob: "Your Majesty... please accept my condolences... Miss Shen... she... has passed away..."
“No…it’s impossible…” Zhou Ling shook his head violently, refusing to believe this cruel reality.
He shoved the imperial physician aside and carefully held Fangru's gradually cooling, frail body tightly in his arms. His cheek pressed against her cold forehead, his voice choked and broken, filled with an unprecedented humility and desperate plea, "Please... Fangru... don't leave me... please look at me... look at me again..."
He kissed her cold, stiff fingers again and again, pressing her hand tightly against his heart, as if this would allow her to feel his heart-wrenching regret and love.
He lowered his head again and kissed her pale lips and cold cheeks gently and desperately, tears dripping onto her lifeless face, trying to awaken her with this insignificant warmth.
"It was my fault... Fangru... I know I was wrong..." he sobbed, like a lost child, "Come back... please come back..."
Just then, Shen's father, who had received the devastating news, staggered in. When he saw his daughter's peaceful but lifeless face on the bed, and the young monarch holding his daughter's body, crying his heart out and showing no dignity as an emperor, the old man was instantly overwhelmed with grief and tears.
"Your Majesty..." Father Shen knelt on the ground, his voice hoarse and aged, "Please...please allow this old minister...to arrange my daughter's funeral..."
Seeing this, Li Zuo felt a pang of sorrow, knowing that the emperor's emotions had completely collapsed. He forced himself to step forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, Miss Shen... has passed away. This place... is filled with yin energy. Please take care of your health and accept my condolences..."
Zhou Ling seemed to shut out all external sounds, still holding Fangru tightly, burying his face in her neck, his shoulders trembling violently, immersed in boundless regret and despair, refusing to let go, as if letting go would mean losing her forever.
Finally, Li Zuo gestured to those around him, and with their combined efforts, they managed to pull the emperor, who seemed to have lost his soul, away from Fang Ru. He stopped struggling and allowed them to half-carry, half-lift him away from the room filled with death, sorrow, and his eternal regret.
The empty room was filled only with the father holding his daughter's gradually cooling body, letting out suppressed, desperate cries.
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Author's Note: The child has been reborn for the ninth time.
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