Chapter 105
"Rise," the Holy Emperor casually waved his hand and summoned the attendant standing outside. "Find out who presented that zither to me and have them flogged forty times." The attendant acknowledged the order and quickly withdrew.
Seeing Yixiao frozen in shock, the Holy Emperor smiled and gestured for her to sit. "Earlier today, I heard you provoked the King Who Pacifies the South's consort into drowning herself—your enmity with her must run deep..." Yixiao steadied herself and cut straight to the point. "Forgive my bluntness, Your Majesty, but didn't you summon me to discuss matters concerning His Highness the King Who Pacifies the South?"
"You're always so impatient," the Holy Emperor said leisurely as he stood. "Very well. Sooner or later, you were bound to meet."
Upon hearing the announcement, the prison warden hurried out. "Greetings to His Majesty the Holy Emperor..." The Holy Emperor ignored him, instead watching Fu Yixiao's suddenly halted expression with interest under the dim oil lamps lining the corridor. "What's wrong? Don't you want to see him?"
Fu Yixiao stood rigidly in place. Her natural night vision allowed her to clearly see Xia Jingshi sitting against the wall behind two iron bars at the end of the passage. His once-white robes were now stained beyond recognition—whether from filth or blood—and his always meticulously tied black hair hung in disheveled strands, half-covering his gaunt cheeks and those eyes... He was awake!
When Yixiao didn't respond, the Holy Emperor curiously stepped closer to observe her expression. Almost simultaneously, Xia Jingshi's low voice echoed from the end of the corridor. "You're here." The Holy Emperor's attention immediately shifted to him, but before he could reply, Fu Yixiao had already sprinted forward. "Your Highness..."
In an instant, the only sound left in the pitch-black prison was the rapid scuffing of Yixiao's footsteps as she ran down the corridor.
"Yixiao?" The uncertain voice escaped Xia Jingshi's cracked lips. The next moment, he struggled to his feet, staggering toward the iron bars. The clang of his shackles against the metal reverberated sharply. "Yixiao, is that you?"
"Your Highness!" Yixiao threw herself against the chained iron door, shaking it desperately. "Your Highness, how are you—"
"Why are you here? Where's Weiran? What happened to Weiran—" Xia Jingshi glared furiously at the Holy Emperor standing nearby. "You vile coward! Is this the only filthy trick you know?"
"Tsk, reunited with an old flame, and instead of sweet nothings, you're lashing out at me again," the Holy Emperor chuckled softly from a distance. "Fu Yixiao, do you want to go inside?"
"Open the door!" Yixiao shouted.
"Get out!" Xia Jingshi roared. "What are you doing here?"
The Holy Emperor gestured to the hesitant warden trailing behind him. The warden hurried forward and unlocked the first gate. As Yixiao moved to follow him toward the second, a metallic crash rang out—Xia Jingshi's shackled hand had seized the bars. "Fu Yixiao, this is between him and me. Who asked you to meddle?"
The warden fumbled with the keys, glancing helplessly between Xia Jingshi, Yixiao, and the Holy Emperor, who stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed intently on Yixiao.
"Open it," Yixiao demanded, enunciating each word.
"No!" Xia Jingshi barked. The usually serene and untroubled depths of his eyes now burned with scattered flames as he stared deeply at Yixiao. His voice gradually softened. "I'm begging you... Go back. Return to his side..."From behind came the crisp sound of clapping. The Holy Emperor approached the prison bars, clapping his hands slowly, his features twisted with fury. "Xia Jingshi, this is the first time in your life you've begged someone—and it's a woman at that... Don't you feel ashamed!? What is this? Do you plan to compensate me with your pride or your life for hers!?"
"Yes," Xia Jingshi replied calmly and succinctly.
"You... Fine! I’d like to see if the woman you’re willing to protect with your life would make the same choice as you when faced with the same dilemma," the Holy Emperor said indignantly. He turned and summoned a nearby jailer. "Soak a Punishment Whip!"
After a long silence, Xia Jingshi spoke. "What do you want?"
"Simple," the Holy Emperor said coldly, curling his lips. "Fu Yixiao, between the two of you, only one can walk out of there alive. Either you whip him to death, or he whips you to death. If you can’t bear to do it, then you both die inside—Fu Yixiao, think carefully."
"Let me in," Fu Yixiao said calmly, speaking once more.
"Yixiao!" Xia Jingshi shouted in a mix of urgency and anger. "Have you lost your mind!? I don’t need your interference—leave!"
"Even if you don’t want my interference, I won’t abandon you," Yixiao’s eyes gleamed resolutely. "I’m not leaving!"
The iron door swiftly shut behind Yixiao and was locked. A soaked Punishment Whip was tossed in from outside, landing heavily on the dusty ground. The Holy Emperor sat down on a chair brought by the warden and sneered. "I’ll give you the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. Say your farewells before making your decision."
Xia Jingshi’s earlier struggles had reopened all his wounds. The skin stuck to the inside of the shackles had torn, and blood streamed down his arms, pooling on the ground like a clear spring. Now, weakened, he leaned against the iron bars, silently watching as Yixiao crouched before him.
He had never expected to see her here—though he had long ceased to fear death, the thought of never seeing her again still brought him sorrow.
"Has he treated you well?" he finally asked, his voice quiet.
"Very well," Yixiao nodded without hesitation. "Your Highness, can you still walk...?"
Xia Jingshi smiled faintly. "Then I can rest easy. Go, pick up the whip."
Yixiao hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to retrieve the Punishment Whip, then returned to Xia Jingshi’s side.
"You are a princess recorded in the imperial jade book, and the Imperial Son of Su Sha’s consort. He won’t make things difficult for you," Xia Jingshi said, casting a glance at the Holy Emperor outside the bars, who was listening intently with his fist propping his chin. "The only ones I worry about are the others."
"Your Highness..." Yixiao whispered.
Xia Jingshi continued as if he hadn’t heard her. "Once I’m dead, he’ll have no reason to target the others. The rest... I leave to you."
"Xia Jingshi!" The Holy Emperor abruptly stood up, roaring in fury. "Do you really think your death will solve everything!?""You've always wanted my life, haven't you? I'll give it to you," Xia Jingshi said softly to Yixiao without turning his head. "Don't hold back. The lighter your hand, the longer it takes, the more pain I'll endure—Promise me, from now on, whether you remember me or forget me, you must live happily."
For just a fleeting moment, Yixiao was bewildered. But when her gaze met Xia Jingshi's blazing eyes, she saw only unyielding resolve and confidence in their depths—no trace of despair!
Even imprisoned, even with enemies who could overturn heaven and earth, no matter what, he was Xia Jingshi. He wouldn't die, nor would he let her die!
Just like before!!
"I promise," Yixiao stood up, her voice clear and firm. "Your Highness, forgive me."
"Silly girl," Xia Jingshi smiled faintly, spreading his limbs as he leaned back against the iron bars behind him.
Fu Yixiao took a deep breath, the Punishment Whip in her hand cutting a perfect arc through the air. It tore through the wind and landed heavily on Xia Jingshi's body, slicing through his already tattered clothes and leaving a deep welt that stretched from his right shoulder to his left waist.
Xia Jingshi's face still wore a smile, but his fingers dug tightly into the ground, leaving streaks of blood.
"Have you gone mad?! Stop this at once!" the Holy Emperor rushed to the bars, shouting commands. Yixiao's eyes flashed, and she ignored him, delivering a second lash. The overlapping whip marks immediately drew blood.
"Open the door now!" the Holy Emperor bellowed. The frantic jailer fumbled with the keys and unlocked the iron bars. The Holy Emperor dashed into the cell, reaching to snatch the whip from Yixiao's hand.
In that split second, Xia Jingshi roared, "Now!"
Simultaneously, Yixiao spun around. Amidst the gasps of the onlookers, the Punishment Whip coiled and lashed out like a venomous serpent, wrapping around the Holy Emperor's neck.
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