"Chunhua, why haven't you greeted Lord Qi yet!" Yichuan said coldly from the side.
"Chunhua greets Lord Qi!" Chunhua bowed and ran towards Qi Yu with a silly smile.
Qi Yu frowned, glancing at Chu Xiyin, then at the chubby little bundle running towards him. He couldn't understand why "Nameless" would choose her when the two had nothing in common.
Chapter 28: Disguise (Part 2)
Chunhua followed behind Qi Yu, carefully examining the mansion before her, and the more she looked, the stranger it seemed.
There was always one building within the mansion. This building was shaped like an octagonal divination block, with three stories, a flat top, and decorated with various strange and unusual patterns around it. Upon entering, Chunhua felt as if she had been plunged into darkness. Although the windows were open, for some reason, not a single ray of light could penetrate. A cold wind blew everywhere, chilling her to the bone and making her shiver uncontrollably.
Chunhua quickened her pace, keeping up with Qi Yu. "Lord Qi, why does that young master live in such a dark and gloomy mansion?"
Qi Yu did not answer.
"Why is there no one in this mansion?" Seeing that Qi Yu didn't speak, Chunhua asked again tremblingly.
"You've come?" An eerie voice drifted from above Chunhua's head, lingering in her ears. Startled, she wished she could shrink her neck inside her clothes.
"I've brought the person to you!" Qi Yu looked up and said, then turned to leave.
"What? You're leaving already? Aren't you going to come and keep me company?" There seemed to be a hint of disappointment in that eerie voice.
"I'll come see you later!" Qi Yu's tone was unusually gentle in his short sentence.
A sigh, filled with endless sorrow and parting emotions.
Qi Yu paused for a moment, then resolutely turned and fled from that sigh.
"Lord Qi..." Chunhua was still in a daze when Qi Yu had already disappeared.
"Come up here!" The voice was calm, almost indifferent.
Wasn't the prince going to hand her over to that young man in white? Where is this? Why is Lord Qi bringing her here? Who was that person who just spoke? Could it be the young man in white?
She should have asked Lord Qi about it. But even if she had known, what difference would it have made? She was just a maid, the most insignificant life in the world; how could she possibly control her own destiny?
Chunhua shakily climbed the stairs. The second floor was brighter than the first, and Chunhua's steps became much steadyer. She glanced around, and what she saw nearly made her faint with fright. On the walls were many rectangular pits, each containing glass bottles of varying sizes, with human and animal organs submerged in an unknown liquid. Chunhua felt a chill run down her spine, and her legs trembled uncontrollably.
"Xiyin, where is this? Come quickly and save Chunhua! Chunhua is scared, Chunhua is really scared!" Chunhua burst into tears. She was only sixteen years old!
"Stop crying, it's so annoying! Come up here, I guarantee you won't die! If you stay down here, I'll just soak you in a bottle!" Wuming threatened her.
He was only fourteen years old that year. Yi Yang had just ascended the throne that year.
Having just ascended the throne, Yi Yang indulged in women and pleasures all day long, neglecting state affairs. Many loyal ministers could not stand by and watch, and risked their lives to remonstrate with him, including Wuming's father.
That day, Yi Yang was having sex with several naked beauties in his palace. In the midst of the excitement, Wuming's father ignored the guards' attempts to stop him and barged in. He warned him with his life that he should prioritize national affairs and not indulge in lust, thus neglecting state matters.
After hearing his words, Yi Yang lost all interest in flirting with the beautiful women. He dismissed the women around him and walked towards him fully clothed. The nameless father, believing his remonstrance had worked, was quite gratified.
Unexpectedly, a moment later, Yi Yang suddenly recalled the several beauties he had previously dismissed and forced Wuming's father to have sex with them in front of him.
He prides himself on being a loyal subject; how could he possibly do such a despicable thing!
Yi Yang sneered, his dark eyes unfathomable, a bloodthirsty desire lurking on his pale face. "You said you'd die for me? Is that it?" He poked his forehead with a pale finger. "You said you wanted me to stop indulging in lust, is that it? Fine! Guards, execute these vile women!"
The beauties collapsed to the ground in terror, begging for mercy. "Your pleas are useless! He finds you filthy and refuses to touch you. Since you are so useless, then I have no choice but to send you to the underworld to keep King Yama company!" Yi Yang laughed, but his smile was innocent.
No one knows how someone with such a pure smile could have such a dark heart.
"My lord, please, save me! I'm willing to serve you like a slave for the rest of my life!" "My lord, please, save me!"... The women tugged at his official robes, pleading with him for help.
Yi Yang turned his head and smiled, still looking innocent.
"I can't even save myself, how can I save you? With a tyrannical ruler in power, life is worse than death!" He saw his own death in Yi Yang's eyes, and he also saw the fate of a nation.
Several beauties were beheaded on the spot, while he was sentenced to be torn apart by five horses. The execution site was chosen in the most prosperous part of Ziling City. Yi Yang wanted to proclaim his supreme royal power to the people, and of course, he also proclaimed his debauchery and cruelty.
On the day of his father's execution, his mother took Wuming to the execution ground. During the execution, his mother covered his eyes in panic, but through the gaps between her trembling fingers, he saw his father being brutally torn apart by five horses.
Of course, that wasn't the end of it. Yi Yang then ordered his men to gouge out his eyes, cut off his ears, cut out his tongue, and slice off his nose. He then gave the remaining parts of his arms and legs to the hyenas he kept.
Wuming's mouth gaped open in terror; this was a scene he would never forget in his life!
So when his mother handed him over to Qi Gui, and he saw the organs in those bottles and jars, he showed none of the fear that a normal person would feel. This is probably one of the reasons why Qi Gui took him as his apprentice!
Chunhua wiped away her tears, passed through the terrifying organ display room, and went up to the third floor. This floor was completely different from the first and second floors. Here, the air was misty and ethereal, like a fairyland.
Suddenly immersed in this fairyland, Chunhua's eyes couldn't quite adjust. Squinting, she vaguely saw a figure standing ahead. The person was dressed in red, with long, ink-black hair that cascaded to the ground, exuding an extraordinary allure. Chunhua rubbed her eyes and walked towards the person, only to realize that it was just her imagination. The person was clearly dressed in black, and his hair was tucked into a large conical hat, making him appear quite slender.
Wuming turned around and said coldly, "You're so slow!" With that, he raised his hand.
Chunhua thought he was going to kill her, and she was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly and saying, "Young master, don't kill me, don't kill me!"
The nameless woman's eyes still held their allure, but now held a hint of a smile.
"I won't kill you, but you have to cooperate with me!" The nameless man's slender fingers lifted Chunhua's chin, and a cool tenderness emanated from the touch.
"I will cooperate with you, I will cooperate fully!" Chunhua no longer cared about where she was or where the white-robed young master was. Just keeping her life was enough for her! This shows how lowly lives are—always begging for handouts!
"Very good! Take this first!" A blue pill appeared in Wuming's palm without him noticing.
Chunhua stared into Wuming's alluring eyes, hesitated for a long time, and finally swallowed it. A moment later, a blue light shot out from Chunhua's body, illuminating her completely. Chunhua opened her mouth, unable to speak. The light lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and after it disappeared, Chunhua fell into a deep sleep.
After taking the pill, Chunhua's body became unusually light, so much so that even the frail Wuming could easily lift her up.
The nameless man gently placed the spring blossoms on the white jade ice bed and sighed softly. In truth, upon closer inspection, the spring blossoms possessed a unique charm.
Nameless traced the lines of Chunhua's face, and the usually ruthless man felt a pang of pity for the chubby girl. He had witnessed the tyrant's methods firsthand. He would never forget his arrogant and unrestrained laughter. The scene of his father's tragic death flashed vividly before his eyes. Nameless clenched his fists, his long nails digging into his flesh, drawing a few drops of blood.
Chunhua left, and Chu Xiyin sat in her room, utterly bored. She wondered how that girl was doing now? Was that young man in white treating her well? Was she eating enough? Was she being bullied…?
That brat, really, she's been gone for three days and hasn't even sent a single message!
Chu Xiyin was resting her head on her hand, lost in thought, when suddenly someone covered her eyes. She placed her hand on the back of the person's hand. "Is it Chunhua?"
"What Chunhua? It's only been a few days, and you've already forgotten about Tongtong!" Mo Tong let go of her hand in disappointment. She sat down angrily in front of Chu Xiyin.
"Tongtong!" Chu Xiyin exclaimed in surprise, not expecting Mo Tong to come see her. "Why are you here? Did you come alone?"
“I heard from my brother that you were injured, and I was so worried. Just then, Hua Shao came to see me, so I asked him to bring me to see you,” Mo Tong said, pointing to Hua Shao behind Chu Xiyin.
Chu Xiyin looked in the direction Tongtong was pointing. Hua Shao smoothed his hair and winked at her.
"On the way here, I heard from Hua Shao that you took a poisoned dart for the prince and were poisoned yourself. Is that true? Is it really that unsafe here?" As Tongtong spoke, large tears streamed down her face.
Chu Xiyin wiped away her tears and smiled, "Silly girl, my injury is nothing. I'm doing quite well here, and the Prince takes good care of me. It's just a little lonely. Why don't you stay here a few more days and keep me company?"
"Oh, no! I brought her out secretly. If her father finds out, how can I be his son-in-law?" Hua Shao hurriedly interrupted Chu Xiyin, pulling Mo Tong away.
Mo Tong flung Hua Shao away, glaring at him fiercely, and said, "Who wants to marry you! I'm staying here to keep Xi Yin company!"
"No way! Mo Tong, you promised me you'd come back with me obediently after seeing Xi Yin. Now, why are you going back on your word?"
"I won't go back!"
The two of them went back and forth in front of Chu Xiyin, pulling and tugging at each other, neither willing to give in.
Of course, in the end, Hua Shao compromised. Mo Tong stayed at the Prince's Mansion with Chu Xiyin for a few days, and he went back to explain things properly to Mo Yun.
That evening, Mo Tong and Chu Xiyin talked for a long time.
As they chatted, Tongtong fell into a deep sleep while holding Chu Xiyin.
Looking at Tongtong sleeping soundly beside her, Chu Xiyin couldn't help but think of Chunhua again.
At night, in the dimly lit mansion, all sorts of strange noises made people uneasy.
Chunhua suddenly opened her eyes, her body aching. She had been asleep on this white jade ice bed for three days and three nights, unaware of the tremendous changes that had occurred within her during those short three days!
"You're awake?" A strangely gentle voice sounded in her ear...
Chapter 29: Offering a Substitute
"Where am I?" Chunhua opened her eyes, feeling a sharp pain all over her face.
The nameless man from "Ghostly Abode" squinted as he gazed at the masterpiece before him.
"Ghost's Lair?" Chunhua repeated, emphasizing each word. She remembered that a few days ago, Lord Qi had taken her to a strangely decorated mansion. She also recalled that the young master before her had given her a blue pill, after which she had fallen into a deep sleep. After that, she remembered nothing else.
"Who are you?" Chunhua stared at the mysterious man in black before her, her eyes filled with confusion.
Wuming smiled without saying a word. He turned around, picked up a bronze mirror, and handed it to Chunhua.
“Xi…Xiyin,” Chunhua said tremulously, looking at the woman in the bronze mirror.
She reached out to touch the bronze mirror, and was suddenly startled to realize that the woman in the mirror was not Xi Yin, but herself. She touched her face, and as soon as she touched it, a sharp pain shot through her, and with a loud cry, she burst into tears.
"Annoying girl, why are you crying again?" Wuming gently wiped her cheek. "Does it hurt?"
Chunhua nodded. Suddenly, she asked, "Could you tell me where that white-robed young master is now?" She was still thinking about him. But if she knew that he was the notoriously debauched tyrant of the Ziling Dynasty, would she still be so fixated on him?
"The young master in white?" Wuming stared at her, smiling alluringly. This girl must be delirious with fright, spouting incoherent nonsense.
"Weren't you going to send me to that white-robed young master's mansion to be a maid?" Chunhua asked in a trembling voice, her neck hunched. Despite possessing Chu Xiyin's appearance, her inherent timidity was innate.
"A young master in white?" Wuming sneered. Yi Yang did indeed have a fondness for white clothes. But he wasn't a young master at all; he was a cold-blooded beast!
Wuming stroked his slender fingers and said calmly, "I don't know any young master in white! But perhaps you should ask me who they're going to give you to?"
Chunhua asked with a puzzled look, "Isn't it Young Master Ziyang?"
She remembered that when they first met, he said his name was Ziyang.
"Zi Yang?" The allure in Wuming's eyes transformed into a fierce killing intent. He approached Chunhua and said, "Listen carefully, the person you're going to serve isn't some white-robed young master, nor is he called Zi Yang. His name is—Yi Yang!"
"Wh...what do you mean?" Chunhua's voice trembled. The nameless gaze deepened her fear.
Wuming suppressed his murderous intent. "It means they're going to hand you over to Yi Yang! Remember, it's Yi Yang!" He was probably the only one in the entire Ziling City who dared to call him by his name so directly.
"No...it's impossible..." Chunhua trembled, her face filled with panic. Yi Yang! Even if she was just an insignificant maid, there was no way she wouldn't know the name Yi Yang.
Suddenly, Chunhua seemed to understand everything. That day, he said she wasn't worthy to call him by his name, because he was the supreme emperor of the Ziling Dynasty, and she was just a lowly maid! That day, the Fourth Prince asked her if she wanted to have Chu Xiyin's looks, because Yiyang had taken a liking to Chu Xiyin, and he was unwilling to offer her to him! That day, Chu Xiyin asked her if she would be willing to become a maid in the white-robed young master's mansion…
So, that young man in white was actually the current emperor! So, what he wanted was Chu Xiyin! So, all of this was premeditated!