Chapter 19: Watching Her Suffer a Fate Worse Than Death.

The sky was a dull gray, heavy and oppressive, as if it might collapse at any moment. Even the air carried a biting chill.

In the corridor pavilion of the Second Princess’s residence—

“You promised me you wouldn’t touch her again, at least not for now,” he accused her, his eyes filled with the raw anger of betrayal. How could she deceive him? How could she?

The woman was tall and striking, a dagger tucked at her waist. Her long hair was pinned up with a golden hairpin, and she wore a pale yellow blouse. There was a resolute strength in her brows and gaze. “Yu’er, today I spared her. Someday she will know it was I who framed her, I who put her in that prison cell. You must understand, I did all this for us.”

Mo Hao Yu jolted, his face tense as he stared at her. “But she’s changed. She’s kind, wise, and reasonable. If we told her everything… maybe we could…”

For some reason, the thought of her dying felt like a piece of his heart was missing. Panic swelled within him, unfamiliar and overwhelming.

Yun Xiyan’s brows knit tightly, her eyes scrutinizing him. “Yu’er, have you… fallen for her?”

He turned his face away. “I… I haven’t. I just can’t bear it.” Chaos churned inside Mo Hao Yu’s heart, and suddenly he could not meet Xiyan’s gaze. What was happening to him?

“Yu’er, rest assured,” Yun Xiyan sighed softly, “once I settle these matters, I will welcome you with a grand bridal procession.” She reached to take his shoulder, but he sidestepped, and then hurriedly said, “Let’s talk about this later. I have business to attend to. I must go.”

He strode away quickly, as if fleeing from some unseen pursuer. Yun Xiyan clenched her hand so tightly that her fingertips pierced the flesh and bled, yet she never noticed. Her gaze was fixed coldly on his retreating figure.

Hao Yu, you say Yun Qian Ge has changed, yet you don’t realize—you yourself have changed.

The thick stench of blood was sickening. Dampness and darkness made the entire prison department feel ominous and terrifying. If one looked up, dirty droplets clung to the corners of the walls; if one looked down, cockroaches and rats scurried in every direction. Cold winds howled, accompanied by endless wails.

Huo Yue tightened his grip on the food box, suddenly sneezing. He shivered and protested, “Young master, why do we still need so much silver to visit the princess? The princess has done many evil deeds, often humiliating you and even harming you…”

Halfway through his words, Huo Yue realized his mistake and quickly slapped his own mouth. Sure enough, his master’s expression darkened abruptly, his narrow eyes brimming with deep sorrow.

Indeed, he had recalled something…

But it was only for a moment. Shangguan Ning stopped in her tracks and looked toward Yun Qian Ge’s direction. Just a few more levels down, and she would arrive.

The enigmatic man smiled, lips curling. The cold wind inside the cell lifted his crimson sleeves and silver-white hair. His smile was as bewitching and seductive as a blood-red shore, mesmerizing the prisoners whose cries filled the cell. They were entranced by his smile, unaware of the apocalyptic hatred burning in his eyes.

Though he was so handsome, his thin lips parted to utter cruel words: “I just want to see her crawling on the ground like a dog, begging for mercy, before I help her… die sooner.”

Yes, thinking of this, he was growing impatient. That ruthless, cowardly woman who killed the princess—this time, even the Empress couldn’t save her.

This was the territory controlled by the Second Princess’s forces. She and the Second Princess never clashed. Even someone who once lived in luxury and splendor could only eat scraps and foul food here, sitting on the floor as a seat. Once locked in this prison, she was nothing. She was probably already crying and begging for release by now.

The sky remained gray and oppressive, the air cold as ever. In the corridor pavilion of the Second Princess’s residence—

“You promised me you wouldn’t touch her again, at least not for now,” he asked again, eyes full of betrayed fury. How could she deceive him? How could she?

The tall, striking woman with the golden hairpin and pale yellow blouse looked at him with a determined gaze. “Yu’er, today I spared her. Someday she will know it was I who framed her, I who put her in that cell. You must understand, I did all this for us.”

Mo Hao Yu shuddered, his face anxious as he looked at her. “But she’s changed—she’s kind, intelligent, and reasonable. If we told her everything, maybe we could…”

The thought of her dying made his heart feel hollow, panic rising in a way he’d never known before.

Yun Xiyan’s eyebrows furrowed as she studied him. “Yu’er, have you fallen for her?”

He turned his face away. “I… I haven’t. I just can’t bear it.” His heart was in turmoil, and suddenly he couldn’t meet Xiyan’s eyes. What was wrong with him?

“Yu’er, don’t worry. Once I’ve dealt with this, I will welcome you with a grand bridal procession.” Yun Xiyan sighed, reaching to embrace him, but he dodged her and hurriedly said, “We’ll talk later. I have matters to attend to. I must go.”

He walked away swiftly, as if chased by shadows. Yun Xiyan clenched her hand so hard that her fingertips bled, but she didn’t notice. Her gaze was icy as she stared at his back.

Hao Yu, you say Yun Qian Ge has changed, yet you don’t see—you yourself have changed.

The thick stench of blood was nauseating. Dampness and darkness made the entire prison department terrifying and sinister. If you looked up, you’d see dirty water droplets falling from the corners; if you looked down, cockroaches and rats scattered in all directions. Cold winds blew, accompanied by wails echoing everywhere.

Huo Yue tightened his hold on the food box, sneezing unexpectedly. He shivered and argued, “Young master, why do we still need so much silver to visit the princess? She has committed many evil acts, often humiliating you and even harming you…”

Halfway through, Huo Yue realized his mistake and quickly slapped himself. Sure enough, his master’s expression darkened suddenly, his narrow eyes heavy with pain.

He had remembered something…

But it was only a fleeting moment. Shangguan Ning stopped and glanced toward Yun Qian Ge’s direction. Just a few more levels down, and she would arrive.

The enigmatic man smiled, lips curling. The cold wind inside the cell lifted his crimson sleeves and silver-white hair. His smile was as mesmerizing and seductive as a blood-red shore, captivating the prisoners whose wails filled the cell. They were lost in his smile, unaware of the world-destroying hatred burning in his eyes.

Though handsome, he parted his thin lips and spoke cruelly: “I just want to see her crawling on the ground like a dog, begging for mercy, before I help her… die sooner.”

Yes, thinking of that made him impatient. That cruel, cowardly woman who killed the princess—this time, even the Empress couldn’t save her.

This was the territory under the Second Princess’s command. She and the Second Princess never clashed. Even someone who once lived in splendor could only eat scraps here, sitting on the floor. Inside this prison, she was nothing. She was probably already crying out, begging to be released.