Небо над реками и озерами очень чистое

Глава 18

Daring to act so brazenly within the palace walls, he seemed completely disregarded by the consequences. Knowing it was futile, he still grabbed the eunuch lying nearby and pressed him for answers. "Where's the mechanism?!"

The eunuch trembled violently, his face ashen, and his teeth chattered loudly.

"explain!"

A gleaming longsword was placed against his neck, cutting through a layer of skin, and the eunuch managed to squeeze out a sound.

"Reply...Reply...Your Excellency...This...This humble one was unaware..."

Explain yourself!

"This...this place...this place can only be opened from the outside...I...I really..."

"Where is this place?" After confirming there was no way out, Jia Ye approached and asked coldly.

"...This...this place...I'm afraid...I'm afraid it's the...Kunlong Pavilion where the previous...King captured the villain and quelled the rebellion...I...I don't know either, I was just ordered...to bring the two esteemed envoys here...to wait..." Feeling the pressure in his throat growing heavier and heavier, and the chilling air penetrating him, the eunuch trembled like a leaf, tears streaming down his face. If he hadn't been being held up, he would have collapsed to the ground.

Over a century ago, in the ancient kingdom of Kucha, there once lived a high-ranking military general who committed numerous atrocities, including the arbitrary killing of court officials. Because of his military power and extraordinary strength, even the king was powerless against him. Finally, following the advice of his strategist, the king secretly built a formidable chamber while the general was away with his troops, luring him inside, capturing him, and executing him. Afterwards, because the chamber remained empty and useless, it was rumored over the years to have been abandoned and dismantled, becoming a repository of royal secrets, frequented by countless eunuchs and guards. No one would have imagined that such a seemingly ordinary flower hall held such a hidden secret.

After listening to the eunuch's incoherent account, the two exchanged a glance, both seeing despair in their eyes.

In the silent room, only the sobbing of the eunuch could be heard.

His palms were covered in cold sweat. Jia Ye forced himself to calm down and thought for a long time before suddenly raising his voice.

"Red Art".

I know you're listening.

"If you want revenge, then draw a line right now. I'll take whatever you want, kill me or torture me."

"A prince of a nation, doesn't even have the courage to show his face?"

"Don't let me underestimate you Kucha people."

The voice echoed in the enclosed space, where everything was eerily quiet.

Not long after, a hissing sound suddenly came from within, like an invisible stream meandering, and a strange, sweet fragrance reached the nose. Holding his breath for a long time without any movement, the tortoise breathing technique had its limitations, and his eyes gradually became unfocused, uncontrollably falling into deep darkness.

When I woke up again, it was already like this.

After a brief pause, Jia Ye also woke up and took some time to assess her situation.

Heavy iron chains bound her arms from her waist, suspending her in mid-air. The restraints restricted her blood and qi circulation, causing her pale face to flush red, making her appear at first glance like a shy young woman.

This position is much more uncomfortable for him than for her.

Jia Ye remained silent for an unknown amount of time before finally hearing footsteps outside the door.

She looked up and quickly gave him a wink.

As expected, it was Chishu who walked in.

A smile still lingered on his face, indicating he was in a very good mood. The servants behind him automatically dispersed and turned on the lamps on the wall, making them shine brightly.

"This secret room was specially prepared for Your Excellency. Do you find it satisfactory?"

Jia Ye did not answer, but Chi Shu walked up to her and asked her solicitously.

"Do you have a headache? The Qingjia Powder is a bit too strong. Our country is not good at military force, otherwise I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to keep your esteemed envoy here."

“Qingjia Powder…” Jia Ye’s voice was slightly hoarse, unusually cold. “Your Highness really thinks highly of you, using such a precious medicine.”

“We can’t be stingy with the special envoy of the Demonic Sect.” Chi Shu looked at her face with considerable pleasure. “Although Qingjia Powder is enough to weaken someone’s power, I’d better be careful with you…”

“His heart is like a demon, his laughter kills… Among the four envoys, the Snow Envoy, Jia Ye, is in charge of the thirty-six kingdoms.”

He laid bare his words, raising an eyebrow and asking coldly, "Do you still remember this person?"

Jia Ye looked up at the guard he was pointing to, and her eyelids twitched suddenly.

"Savari?"

“I never imagined that the Snow Envoy would remember the people I once killed.” Chishu clapped lightly. “I heard that you were promoted to one of the Four Envoys because of the Battle of Shache, yet your appearance has not changed at all, you really look like a demon. It is truly an honor for Chishu to trouble the Snow Envoy to come down the mountain.

Her face turned slightly pale, but she didn't ask any questions.

A man filled with hatred stepped forward, his words laced with venom, as if he wanted to tear her apart and devour her whole.

"You beheaded him with a single sword stroke right in front of me back then, never imagining you'd end up like this." The man cursed fiercely, "How could a demon like you be captured without the Dragon Prison?"

"You... are his brother?"

“I am Savana, and he is my twin brother. We were sent as envoys to Shache together, but…” The man gritted his teeth in hatred, making a grinding sound. The scene in front of the palace was like a nightmare, one he had not forgotten for years.

"It's rare to have such a high-ranking demon envoy. How should we entertain him?" Chi Shu asked with no small amount of malice. "Present your head to Tian Shan? You'd die before you even get started. The Pope would surely be surprised."

"Does Your Highness truly not consider the future?" The belt was too tight around her waist, making it difficult for her to breathe, and her lips turned slightly purple.

"The future? I thought Your Excellency had already taken care of everything for me."

"I have only cut off my path temporarily. Does Your Highness intend to ruin your entire future?"

“Forgive my ignorance,” he asked patiently. “With what you’ve done, do you think I have any future?”

She took a few soft breaths.

"If you kill me, the Demonic Sect will find someone more powerful to take over. How can the grudge of losing an envoy be settled peacefully? Your Highness, you don't care about yourself, but don't you think about His Majesty?"

"The current stigma and public condemnation are merely fleeting; Your Highness's status and influence will certainly not lead to death. Endure this for now, and later seek an opportunity to befriend Shule and borrow troops. Within a few years, you can annex Gumo, then force Langgan Dao to set a trap within the sect, clear your name, and the throne of Kucha will be yours for the taking..."

The chamber was as silent as a tomb, a faint voice whispering, its breath ragged from the prolonged silence, occasionally punctuated by soft gasps. She spoke of the dramatic upheaval of royal power with the ease of turning her hand. "I have only intervened for a few years. If Your Highness, in your righteous indignation, acts improperly, you will surely incur lifelong regret."

After a long silence, Chishu seemed to be deep in thought, and the way he looked at her changed.

"As expected, you are full of clever schemes. It's no wonder I lost to you."

“If Your Highness only wants to vent your anger, then it is fine to severely whip Jiaye. Jiaye knows that she has wronged Your Highness and will accept it without complaint. However, if she is to be disfigured, injured, or killed in Kucha... I am afraid that even the bronze soldiers and iron formations will not be able to stop the King’s decree.”

"A clever scheme, a sharp tongue." He nodded in approval, his brows slightly furrowed. "Just a moment ago I wanted to grind you to dust, but now I feel a pang of sympathy. I've never seen a woman with such abilities before."

Hearing the praise, her heart sank.

Chi Shu was a man of profound wisdom; he would surely understand these principles once he calmed down. However, the fact that the Inner Garden Envoy of the Dragon-Trapping Pavilion had arbitrarily arrested the Demonic Cult's envoy was tantamount to adding boiling oil to the King of Kucha's wrath, and his fate afterward would be uncertain. It would be more worthwhile to go all the way and destroy the evidence. Words could only sway him to so much.

revenge

“It would be a shame to kill someone like you.” He lifted Xiu Xiao’s chin, observing her face, his rough fingertips lightly brushing her pink cheeks and stopping at her soft lips.

"I've changed my mind. I won't kill you. How about keeping you by my side as a female slave?"

She struggled to suppress the urge to turn her face away. "I'm afraid Your Highness cannot accept such an honor."

“That’s true.” He didn’t get angry, but nodded in agreement. “Even if the thorns are removed, it’s still too dangerous. They might kill me at any time.”

“Killing him would be unlucky. But you have harmed me so much, you must be punished.” He took a few steps back, picked up the short sword that had been lying to the side. The sword still gleamed in the dark room, its chilling aura penetrating.

With a flick of his finger, a soft, clear dragon's roar echoed in the secret chamber, lingering for a long time.

"How about you carve a mark on my face with your sword?" A cold glint approached his eyelashes, the blade slowly slicing across his forehead.

"If it can appease Your Highness, what harm is there in carving it as you please?" Jia Ye remained calm and unconcerned about the threat posed so close at hand.

"Is Xue Shi truly unmoved? I find it a great pity that such a beautiful face has been ruined." It wasn't a joke; there was genuine regret in Chi Shu's eyes, yet his sword slashed straight down.

A chill ran down his cheek, but Jia Ye didn't even blink.

"Your Highness!"

Unable to restrain himself any longer, and disregarding Jia Ye's prohibition, the boy, who was bound to the corner of the wall, raised his voice and stopped Chi Shu's hand.

“I drafted the secret letter, I copied the handwriting, and I even forged and engraved the seal. If Your Highness wishes to punish me, I will be the first to bear the consequences and am willing to accept it. Please do not punish a mere woman.”

"Shuying!" Although it was a sharp shout, the power was weakened due to the exhaustion of his breath, and Jiaye couldn't help but cough.

Chishu walked up to him, the tip of his sword lifting his chin, pointing straight at his throat.

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have truly forgotten the grudge from yesterday's sword strike." A cold smile appeared on his lips as he stomped hard on his right wrist, almost making the bones crack.

Cold sweat instantly beaded on the boy's forehead, and he remained silent, his face pale.

"So you were the one who forged that secret letter. How should I reward you?"

Before he could finish speaking, the sword tip rang out, and the clear blade pierced deep into the ground through his palm, pinning his right hand to the ground.

After a bout of coughing, Jia Ye was finally able to speak.

"Your Highness is truly...inappropriate. He is my shadow guard, obeying my every command, merely a puppet...Is it Your Highness's way of handling things to blame the servant instead of the master?"

Chishu was slightly surprised. "You're quite protective of this servant. Is his life more important than your face?" Seeing the boy struggling to speak despite the pain, Chishu kicked him in the numbness and speech acupoints.

Shuying was speechless, but she felt slightly relieved.

“Jia Ye… lives a life of constant danger, disregarding life, death, honor, and disgrace. If he can quell Your Highness’s anger, his mere appearance is nothing to worry about.”

"Your words are generous, but allow me to test whether it is truly so." He smiled wickedly, took the long whip from the servant's hand, and casually flicked it. The whip flashed past her, tearing out a strand of her black hair.

Jia Ye remained unmoved. "I have long heard that the people of Kucha are skilled in horsemanship; Your Highness is indeed adept at whipping."

“I also know what kind of whipping is enough to make someone only want a quick death.” He took the black hair that had been brought back from the whip tip, played with it between his fingers, and gently smelled its fragrance. “If you would sing, I can do without that method.”

A song bewitched him, leading him down a path of mistakes and causing him to inadvertently miss the chance to change his fate. Despite his intense hatred, he couldn't help but repeatedly recall the heavenly melody, an unforgettable memory.

"Jia Ye only knows how to kill, why force her to do something she doesn't want to do?"

"I want to hear the song from the ruins that day again."

"Your Highness is joking. That is a song for the dead; how can it be sung for the living?"

“I want to hear it.” He raised an eyebrow, speaking each word clearly.

"I'm sorry, I can't comply." She didn't even bother with a perfunctory reply and simply lowered her eyes.

Chishu was enraged and began to lash out with the whip without holding back.

After more than ten lashes, the white robe was torn to shreds and gradually seeped with blood.

Jia Ye remained silent, and lashed out with even greater ferocity.

Everyone watched as the whip whistled through the air, and she trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat pouring down her clothes from the pain.

“…Your Highness…” she called softly during a break in the whip’s movement.

Chishu stopped, his expression cold and ruthless. "Trying to beg for mercy?"