Bright Sunshine Monastery
Gauzy veils sway in graceful dance, candlelight flickers, casting shadows on the entwined and melancholic figures of men and women indoors.
The interior is filled with alluring spring colors, gentle and tender, it is a scene that deserves to be heartbroken.
The small eunuch hurried to the bright sunshine pavilion. He heard the fierce noise coming from inside the house and thought it was just like this. He turned red again.
"This... This prince really..."
He dared not think too much, lest he should disturb the good thing inside. However, his duty as a servant forced him to step forward bravely.
In the courtyard, the busy maids and servants were nowhere to be seen, and it was unknown where they had gone.
Only Master Li Fu stood alone, holding a whisk, his eyes fixed on his nose and his mind elsewhere, as if he had long become accustomed to such things.
The maids and servants who served in the courtyard were naturally all driven away by him.
Listening to such sounds too often inevitably leads to a spring heart fluttering, it's better to listen less.
"Master Li, what shall we do? The prince..."
The small eunuch hurriedly approached Master Li Fu and sought his help.
Master Li Fu's gaze fell on the small eunuch. He knew the eunuch's intention. He had already known about the event of assassins breaking into the prince's mansion.
He thought that with the four bodyguards present, nothing serious could happen, so he paid no attention.
"The prince's temperament, you are well aware of. Interrupting him at this time might only make things worse."
The small eunuch also knew the reasoning behind it, but he could not help but report it.
He hesitated for a moment, then mustered his courage and stepped forward, calling out through the carved windows and doors: "Prince, there's trouble! Some black-cloaked men have forcibly entered the palace. They have been stopped by Dong Feng and Nan Feng!"
Although the voice was loud, it could not hide the tension and trembling.
The joy in the house did not stop, but became more enthusiastic.
Seeing this, the young eunuch grew anxious, raising his voice and calling out repeatedly.
Master Li Fu looked at him with admiration in his eyes, silently praising: "The young man is truly courageous."
"Get out! You have no eyes! How dare you disturb me with something so trivial?"
The roar of Xuan Yuan City came from inside the room.
The small eunuch was frightened, his face went white, and his legs weakened so much that he almost knelt down.
He stole a glance at Master Li, who also looked helpless.
"The prince is already aware, you may as well go down."
Master Li Fu came over and patted his shoulder, his voice full of sympathy.
The small eunuch nodded slightly, how dare he stand here any longer, he hurriedly retreated.
Inside.
"Prince, my lady is tired, let's go check it out."
Yu Yao was so tired that he couldn't even lift his eyelids. She gently pushed the firm chest of the man with her jade hand, and her voice was very hoarse.
Heard her extremely hoarse voice, the man laughed out loud, his brows arching with a mischievous grin, "Hahaha, already tired? It was who who wouldn't leave me last night?"
The one with such a big appetite, it would almost dry him up.
Before coming to the Bright Sunshine Pavilion tonight, he had eaten two more bowls of rice on purpose, just in case his strength failed.
"Prince..."
Yu Yao's face turned red from head to toe. She pouted at him with a coy glare, burying herself in his arms. She refused to answer him.
Satisfied and tired, he soon fell into a deep sleep.
Xuan Yuan City gazed at her sleeping face with tenderness, and it seemed to be very suitable to his heart. He gently kissed the flushed cheek, and bathed her cleanly.
He gently placed her on the bed and covered her with blankets.
Hastily throwing on his robe, he walked out of the inner chamber with a steady gait, his face having regained its usual sternness.
The night is deep, the wind carries a faint coolness, as if it forebodes the impending tranquility.
The front yard is brightly lit with lamps. The guards are in a state of high alert, and the atmosphere is tense and solemn.
Dong Feng saw the prince and hurried forward to report, "My lord, the assassins have been captured and are now being held in the dungeon."
Xuan Yuan City's face was cold and stern, his eyes staring at Dong Feng, and he said in a low voice, "Treat the interrogations strictly and find out the mastermind behind it!"
Thinking that he might as well stay awake, he turned to Dong Feng and Nan Feng and said, "Let's go. Follow me to the dungeon."
"Yes, my lord."
Dong Feng and Nan Feng answered respectfully, and followed Xuan Yuan City to the dungeon.
The dungeon is located in the most secretive place of the prince's mansion. It is dark and damp, and the air is filled with the smell of mold and blood.
The flickering torches cast eerie and terrifying shadows of the surrounding torture devices.
Xuan Yuan City led Dong Feng and Nan Feng into the dungeon.
"Greeting your highness."
The jailers in the dungeon, seeing Xuan Yuan City appear, all knelt down and kowtowed.
Xuan Yuan City did not pay attention and walked forward with his feet.
Finally, he stopped in front of a cell door.
"Open the door," Dong Feng gave a brief command to the jailer guarding the door.
The gate creaked open, and the cold air rushed in.
In the cell, the black-cloaked man was shackled by iron chains, his clothes tattered and his body covered in wounds. He looked fierce and terrifying, obviously subjected to torture.
The black cloth that had been covering his face was torn away, revealing an ordinary-looking face. But his eyes were unusually resolute, filled with an unyielding spirit.
He clenched his teeth, even under severe torture, he still wouldn't reveal anything.
"Hmph, quite a tough guy."
Xuan Yuan City let out a cold laugh, took a leisurely step forward, and stared into the eyes of the black-cloaked man, "Speak up, who sent you here? What is your purpose?"
The black-cloaked man closed his eyes without answering, as if he had made up his mind to resist to the death.
He was about to bite his tongue and kill himself when Dong Feng grabbed his chin and dislocated it with great force.
With a "crack," the black-cloaked man's jaw was dislocated, and the pain twisted his face, but he could no longer make any noise.
"He is indeed loyal."
Xuan Yuan City's lips curled in mockery, turning to the guards and ordering, "Continue with the torture until he speaks."
As he gave the command, the screams of agony in the dungeon echoed once again, making people's hearts quiver and their expressions filled with fear.
Xuan Yuan City did not leave either. He just sat on the side watching, his expression indifferent.
Dong Feng and Nan Feng stood behind him, also watching with a cold gaze.
The black-cloaked man was indeed stubborn. Even though every kind of torture was repeated, he still clenched his teeth tightly and refused to say a word.
Only when the pain became unbearable would he let out a few whimpers, his eyes filled with determination.
Xuan Yuan City's lips curled into a cold smile. He personally stepped forward and took over a delicate golden hammer from Dong Feng. The hammer shone with a cold light under the weak candlelight, making people feel chilled to the bone.
He gently touched the hammer face, a glint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes: "Speak up, who sent you here? What is your purpose?"
The black-cloaked man's eyes were filled with fear. Under the intense pain, he let out a series of screams, which echoed in the empty dungeon and sounded especially piercing.
"The prince has plenty of patience. Let's see how hard your bones are."
Xuan Yuan City spoke in a calm and indifferent manner.
The golden hammer in his hand was slowly raised, and with each fall, it was accompanied by the black-cloaked man's heart-wrenching screams and the echoing resound in the dungeon.
The black-cloaked man finally broke down, unable to make a sound due to the intense pain, and his eyes were filled with despair.
On the verge of death, he weakly nodded his head to indicate that he was willing to speak.
Xuan Yuan City curled his lips slightly and ordered Dong Feng beside him, "Reattach his jaw."
"Yes."
Dong Feng followed the command and skillfully restored the black-cloaked man's jaw.
After taking a few breaths, the black-cloaked man looked at Xuan Yuan City and, in a hoarse voice, revealed the truth: "It was... it was the Empress. She is envious of Consort Yu's seduction of the emperor. She found out that there is a grudge between Lady Wu and Consort Yu, so she gave me an anesthetic pill and a copy of the ancient manual 'Zhang Shang Wu', ordering me to give it to Lady Wu, hoping to use Lady Wu's hand to get rid of Consort Yu so that she would lose favor."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan City furrowed his brow, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
He had anticipated that the Empress would target Yao'er, but he didn't expect her to act so quickly.
"What was Lady Wu's reaction?"
Xuan Yuan City turned his gaze towards the black-cloaked man and suddenly asked in a low voice.
"The Lady Wu was somewhat hesitant, but she was clearly tempted. When I left, she had already started using the anesthetic pill."
The black-cloaked man and Lady Wu Lingyan had no friendship, so naturally, he would not hide for her.
Xuan Yuan City curved his lips in a mocking manner and coldly issued orders: "Immediately send Lady Wu Lingyan to the military camp, make her a prostitute for the soldiers, and order people to supervise her well in learning Shao Feiyan's hand dance. Whenever holidays come, she will perform for the soldiers as a special gift for them from me."
Dong Feng and Nan Feng exchanged glances, and their expressions were somewhat odd.
Don't think that the prince is good to Consort Yu because he also likes her.
For those women he doesn't like or who have stepped on a mine, he has no mercy or tenderness at all.
Dong Feng chuckled, "The prince is wise. The soldiers are truly fortunate. However, it's unknown how much of Shao Feiyan's essence Wu Servant can learn."
Nan Feng also nodded in agreement, "Shao Feiyan's hand dance was able to make Emperor Chengxiang completely infatuated, it must be extraordinary. The soldiers are fortunate, but we must make sure Wu Servant learns it well and doesn't bring shame to the title of 'hand dance.'"
Xuan Yuan City smiled and added, "Select some stunning beauties to send into the palace. My brother should like them very much."
"Yes, my lord."
Dong Feng and Nan Feng respectfully accepted the orders.
"His martial arts can be crippled, and he can be banished from the capital."
Xuan Yuan City's gaze shifted back to the black-cloaked man, left that sentence, and then turned around to leave the dungeon.
