Mu Yuchengs Abkommen

Kapitel 59

I looked at him, really looked at him. I really wanted to cry, especially when I saw his tears. I almost thought I would hug him like a child and cry my heart out, telling him all my grievances and everything. But I couldn't. The pain was so intense that I couldn't even shed a single tear.

The most painful spot should be bandaged in the most beautiful way, shouldn't it?

I took a deep breath, my lips trembling stiffly. Just when I thought I couldn't possibly speak, a voice, as if from another person, came from my throat: "Your Majesty, it's all my fault, the fault of this sinful concubine alone. It has nothing to do with my father, nor with the Xie family. They don't know. It was me, I decided and planned it all by myself. If my father knew, he would definitely stop it. He is a meritorious official of the previous dynasty, how could he rebel? Please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly. This sinful concubine is willing to bear the consequences alone."

"Do you think I would believe what you say?" he chuckled.

I remained silent. A self-deprecating, bitter smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Of course I know you won't believe me, but the truth will.

He chuckled coldly a few times, then suddenly said self-deprecatingly, "You said that what you want is something I can't give you, is this it?"

I turned my face away and chuckled, "What I want, the Emperor truly cannot give me."

“Power? Is it power?!” He gripped my chin tightly. “You want it too? You want it too? I thought you were different, but I never expected… Xie Weiying, you won…” He suddenly said, his voice trembling with despair, “You won…”

I looked at him with a smile, laughing so hard that my body trembled, laughing so hard that... my youthful face was truly heartbreaking.

The cuckoo cries blood in the middle of the night, but I refuse to believe that the spring breeze cannot bring it back.

A hazy, dreamlike face. All artifice washed away.

"You lied to me?" he stammered. She had lied to his feelings, lied to his true heart. She had lied to him about everything. He had been like a fool, foolishly falling in love with her. And now, she was telling him it was all true!

I lowered my eyes and said, "I'm sorry. This sinful concubine only asks for a swift death."

"Want to die? You want to die?...I won't let you die so easily!" He staggered back a few steps and stumbled away from the prison.

Hi everyone, I'm so sorry... The webpage wouldn't load all day, that darn internet speed... It made me update so late, and in the end I had to ask a friend to update it for me... Waaah... Please forgive me, I typed all this on QQ and had him copy and paste it...

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Volume 3, Chapter 122 Phoenix Blood (Part 1)

I spent a long time in the dark and gloomy prison, so long that I, who used to count the days while looking at that tiny patch of sky, became too lazy to remember those numbers. I began to calm my mind and meditate to cultivate myself. I started to seriously recall the methods of self-cultivation that the old man had taught me when I was young, and then earnestly followed them.

I absorbed the essence of the moonlight, then adjusted my breathing, allowing my entire being to settle down. I felt as if I were on a vast ocean, floating on the surface, letting my body merge with its rhythm and movement, moving and acting as it pleased.

Return to the true nature.

It can be restrained yet expansive, hidden yet luminous, weak yet strong, gentle yet resolute. Mountains are high because of it, abysses are deep because of it, beasts run on it, birds fly on it, the sun and moon shine on it, stars travel on it, the unicorn roams on it, and the phoenix soars on it.

Those who attain enlightenment are tranquil and carefree, detached from worldly concerns; they take the sky as their canopy, the earth as their carriage, the four seasons as their horses, and yin and yang as their drivers, riding the clouds to ascend into the high heavens, keeping company with the natural world. They indulge their minds, slow their pace, and roam freely across the heavens and earth.

Remaining innocent, wandering in all directions, and then returning to one's origin.

When I silently recite these words in my heart, I think the effect might be even better if no one disturbs me.

However, things did not go as planned.

In fact, I lived a pretty comfortable and carefree life in prison, because I didn't have to see him, didn't have to see his harem of three thousand beauties, and didn't have to worry about things that I shouldn't care about...

When love runs deep, where is the end?

Many days later, when I could no longer remember the date, my so-called trial finally arrived.

One night, I was resting with my eyes closed when, before I could react, I was pulled up from my hard, strangely smelly stone bed by a great force. Before I could even open my eyes, they quickly tied me to a strange wooden cross. I think if I was still sleepy, I was wide awake now. And these men even poured a bucket of cold water on me without any politeness. I couldn't help but shiver.

It was dark, and the cell lights were dim. I tried to open my eyes, but they were too bright. I could barely see anything. My mind was foggy; I couldn't even tell what I was supposed to do next.

They were all dressed in black, standing in the shadows, so I couldn't even see their faces. I had a bad feeling; they didn't seem like kind people, nor did they seem like the officials who should be interrogating me. Who—were they?

I struggled against my restraints, clearly understanding my current predicament. I was like a lamb to the slaughter. Realizing the crisis, I frowned. With my harmless appearance, I couldn't resist whatever they wanted to do. Was this what they meant by being powerless?

I find it somewhat amusing that I can still joke around at this moment.

I looked up and said coldly, "Who are you?"

One of the men in black laughed arrogantly, "Everyone says that Consort Lian is clever and quick-witted. It seems that the rumors are true."

"Grandma's fried dough twists!" I cursed under my breath. Being all wet didn't feel good at all. My body had been smelling bad for a long time since I had showered, and now that it was wet again, it would probably smell sour after it dried.

Moreover, my loose hair was now dripping wet and clinging to my chest, the sticky feeling was awful, like wriggling worms crawling on it. It was very uncomfortable. I wanted to reach out and remove it, but my hands were tied to the wooden stake.

Moreover, I keenly sensed several burning gazes cast upon me from the darkness. I looked down at myself; because I had been splashed with water, my usual thin white dress clung tightly to my curvaceous body, revealing my figure—slender shoulders, a slender waist, and my fair, delicate legs were faintly visible. These lecherous wolves, how dare they peep at my beautiful body!

Once I break free, I will make them pay the price!

I strained a little, and the rope was surprisingly strong. It seemed much thicker and stronger than I had expected. Breaking free wouldn't be so easy.

However, looking at these people who are eyeing me covetously, the most important thing right now is how to deal with these guys before I break free.

They are not easy to deal with. I cannot let my guard down.

One of the men in black, who seemed to be the leader, gave a wink, and then one of them handed me a piece of paper from behind. The man smiled at me from the shadows and said, "Consort Lian, as long as you sign your name on this paper, we will not make things difficult for you."

I sneered inwardly, but outwardly I smiled radiantly. My smile was somewhat alluring, and I gazed at them with seductive eyes. Sure enough, how could they resist the charm of a beauty like me?

I said in a coquettish voice, "Sir, you're holding the paper so far away, how can I see what's written on it? Sir, why don't you come closer so I can see it clearly and give you an answer?" By the end, I was internally vomiting several times.

Seeing the beautiful woman so delicately making such a small request, even a god would have to give in. The man in black stared at me blankly and smiled, then said obsequiously, "Alright. I'll bring it over for you to see right now."

He took it, and I glanced at it indifferently. My gaze deepened with the contents of the paper, growing colder and colder. The paper not only demanded that I confess to treason, but also that I conspired to frame Consort Huan and the Crown Prince. Because I had been close to them, they now portrayed every meeting as a conspiracy, embellishing many so-called plots I myself was unaware of. They wouldn't even spare a child, wanting to use me to eliminate the Crown Prince, thus creating an opportunity for someone with ulterior motives.

That's really ruthless!

Shao Shao, no wonder you know so much at such a young age. It turns out that living in this treacherous place, if you're not careful, you'll be eaten alive without even spitting out your bones.

I raised my lowered head, my eyes like glass, my gaze shifting, and softly said, "My lord, come here, and I will tell you my answer."

He chuckled a few times suggestively, then obediently leaned in to whisper my ear. I moved my head closer and breathed a warm, ticklish breath, making him momentarily stunned. Then, I suddenly grinned mischievously, opened my mouth, and, taking him by surprise, bit down hard on his ear. His body conveniently concealed me, so no one else saw what happened.

"Ah—" A bloodcurdling scream, as shrill and agonizing as a pig being slaughtered, rang in my ears.

Ignoring the metallic taste of blood in my mouth, I coldly replied, "My answer is, absolutely not. Forget about it."

"You bitch!" A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He covered his bleeding ear with one hand and slapped me across the face with the other. "Damn it!"

I had nowhere to hide; I felt the force of the palm strike rushing towards my face, and suddenly my vision blurred—

My cheeks burned with pain. I could imagine how terrible my fair face must look, but I still stubbornly raised my head, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. I licked the blood into my mouth with an extremely seductive air, looking at them arrogantly like a demon from hell, and smiled with unparalleled beauty.

His laughter was like that of the scarlet, alluring, and eerie mandalas on the banks of the River of Oblivion in Hell.

Beauty is like poison.

Those people were astonished, but their astonishment was quickly replaced by anger.

The man in black said coldly, "What a stubborn wretch! You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences. Guards, use torture!"

Volume 3, Chapter 123: Phoenix Blood (Part 2)

Is this my punishment in this life?

His indifference, his utter coldness, his neglect and forgetfulness, his...

The sky was still a dazzling blue. Time flowed on, and at the two ends of separation, the wild roses quietly bloomed and withered at the point where time met, leaving no trace. I hadn't seen the sunlight for a long time. After being imprisoned in a dark and sunless dungeon for so long, I was brought out for the first time. Because I wasn't used to it, I closed my eyes for a moment. After slowly getting used to it, I slowly opened my swollen eyes.

Looking at the unusually blue sky today, almost purple, an eerie blue, I seemed to see his gentle and warm smile from many years ago again amidst the changing clouds and light. Tears fell drop by drop against the light.

Hot tears dripped onto the almost ruined finger, leaving an indelible scar. It could never scab over, never heal.

Why is there a place in my heart that keeps sinking, cracking, bleeding, and aching? Why?

Entangled in mortal desires, all that remains is beauty turned to bones. I take a deep breath; yes, it's come to an end. The phoenix cries blood, reborn from the ashes. I am no longer myself, and you are no longer you.

I will never forget the hellish days in prison.

I will never forget the days when they drugged me, rendering me powerless, and leaving me at their mercy, subject to their humiliation.

I will never forget the pain they inflicted on me, my ten fingers, already mangled and bloody, with their joints cruelly broken off.

I will never forget the scar, shaped like a swallowtail butterfly, left on my chest and collarbone by the red-hot iron.

I will never forget the excruciating pain of each cruel lash striking my body, a pain that seemed to pierce my very bones. The agony of my flesh being torn apart time and again.

I will never forget the days and nights they made me wish I were dead several times in order to force a confession, during which I would faint and wake up again.

I will never forget those foul-smelling hands that roamed over my body, and their lewd laughter in the darkness.

I will never forget the radiance that Feng Fei emitted, the pain that caused those people to die, and the pleasure of turning them into a pool of blood, and the cruel smile on my lips.

I will never forget the anger and ruthlessness of that woman who was madly in love with me.

The hellish days seemed endless, and you didn't even glance at me. I even suspected that you knew all this, that it was your punishment for me. I was living a life worse than death inside, and you never knew.

Several times I thought about dying, that death would be a relief, but they wouldn't let me die so easily. Just like you said when you left, you wouldn't let me die so easily. So, a thick strip of cloth was tied around my mouth, so I didn't even have the right to die.

As they prepared to unleash their lust on my mutilated body, almost gang-raping me, my long-dormant body seemed to ignite with a flame. My anger, my bloodshot eyes, were like a demon, like a wicked devil waiting to devour blood. I killed them, and they all died.

When I finally lost consciousness from exhaustion, I thought it was all over.

But no, the nightmare didn't let me go.

My nearly crippled body was mocked viciously by her. I thought she was just a simple-minded woman who only knew how to compete for favor. But I was careless. She was a woman who was bewitched by love, completely losing her rationality and the ability to think. A woman who went mad for love.

My eyes, already swollen beyond recognition from the beating, still coldly stared at this madwoman. I said coldly, "Consort Wang, you'd better kill me in here. If I manage to get out alive, I'll repay you a thousandfold for all the pain I suffered today."

She sneered and slapped me across the face; I had nowhere to dodge. Killing those men in black had already expended too much of my strength, leaving me utterly powerless against her when I awoke. My body went limp. The physical pain paled in comparison to the ravaged pain in my heart.

"You think the Emperor will come to save you? You're wrong. These past few days, he's been summoning us, his most favored concubines, for days and nights of revelry and debauchery. He's already forgotten about you," she laughed maniacally.

From childhood, she fell in love with the young, handsome, god-like king. She tried every means to enter the palace and become his most favored concubine, hoping day and night that the emperor would one day fall in love with her. However, all of this was shattered by this woman.

The Emperor fell in love with her. She shouldn't have been born, she shouldn't have!

Although the emperor summoned several of them to his bedchamber every day, he would constantly call out the name of this woman when he was drunk, this woman who had always been silent and humble, Xie Weiying.

She deserves to die! She should go to hell!

Thinking of this, and looking at her disheveled and ugly state, Consort Wang smiled strangely. If he saw her like this, he would never love her again.

I don't know why she took me away from the prison, but I knew it wouldn't be anything good. My white clothes were now filthy and tattered, barely covering my body. Dark red bloodstains stained them, and my once fair cheeks were now covered in grime and swelling from being beaten. My lips were dry and cracked, my eyes were blurry, and my hair was disheveled. Without anyone pointing it out, I knew how hideous I looked.

I realize how pathetic I am right now.

She led me to a garden, and from afar, I could hear faint sounds of string and wind instruments.

The harp clappers sounded, the pipa began to play. I can imagine the magnificent and splendid scene of singing and dancing, the extravagant and decadent atmosphere inside.

Consort Wang smiled cruelly at her: "Did you hear that? The Emperor specially held a celebration banquet to commemorate the execution of all the rebels. I told him there would be special performances today for all the princes and nobles to enjoy. Tell me, how exciting would it be for a once high and mighty concubine to become a prostitute, performing for those men? Oh, right." As if remembering something, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she were troubled: "I forgot your hands are broken, how can you perform? I know you'll find a way, won't you?" A cold and wicked light flashed in her eyes. I knew she was going to utterly humiliate me in front of everyone, to cast me into the deepest abyss, so that I would never rise again.

I closed my eyes sadly, looking at this pathetic and laughable woman, and said with difficulty, "Do I have the right to choose?" It felt like there was a fire in my throat, burning my lips dry and making my voice hoarse and unpleasant.

It reminded me of the old priest's voice I heard at the foot of the cliff that day.

She leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Of course you do, if you want something to happen to your most beloved maid."

Cloud Shadow?! I was startled.