Chapter 232: "You've finally come to see me?"...
With one shichen remaining until dawn, Wen Yu rested briefly on her bed in her day clothes before Tong Que entered holding court robes to assist her in dressing for the morning assembly.
Although order had been restored in the royal court, the disturbances that had erupted across various regions during the siege still needed to be quelled one by one, and the accumulated government affairs required prompt handling.
Additionally, with envoys from neighboring tribes present, it was necessary to sign alliance treaties with them to ensure they wouldn't defect to Western Mausoleum and betray Chen Kingdom during the war.
During the court assembly, beyond these tedious matters, an urgent report arrived from the western frontier.
Western Mausoleum's offensive was extremely fierce - they had suddenly dispatched thirty thousand additional troops to the frontlines. Several oases originally belonging to Chen Kingdom had already been lost, and Mu Youliang and his son, defending the western pass, could only retreat with their troops to Gole City.
Gole City served as Chen Kingdom's western gateway. In earlier years, to defend against various tribes from the desert, Chen Kingdom had erected the Great Wall using yellow earth with Gole City as the boundary, creating a barrier against cavalry invasions.
This urgent report and the previous intelligence investigating Western Mausoleum Army's impersonation of Chen troops to raid various tribes were sent only two days apart.
It seemed that when Mu Youliang wrote this letter, he was still unaware of the royal court's siege, hence his request for reinforcements in the letter, pleading with Wen Yu that if reinforcements from Liang Territory couldn't be deployed in time, he hoped some border troops from other regions of Chen Kingdom could be temporarily transferred to support Gole City.
With the frontline in critical condition, the court naturally descended into chaos.
The border troops that had previously come to aid the royal court were still stationed outside the city. The vanguard cavalry of the twenty thousand Liang troops led by Gu Xiyun had already reached the royal court, while the infantry carrying supplies would arrive in three to five days.
Thus, after Gu Xiyun entered the royal court, he was immediately summoned to the imperial study to discuss reinforcement routes to Gole City with Chen Kingdom's ministers.
The battlefield situation changed rapidly, and military urgent reports experienced delays in delivery. They didn't know Gole City's current situation, but they needed to prepare for all possibilities.
Fortunately, Wen Yu's earlier arrangement for Gu Xiyun to bring large forces to the royal court to deal with those aristocratic family ministers was known only to a few trusted officials like Qi Simiao, while other ministers remained unaware.
Now that Gu Xiyun had arrived at the royal court, the Yan father-son and aristocratic family ministers were all imprisoned in the imperial prison, and the Pei family's Hawk Hounds who knew about Gu Xiyun's arrival had all been captured. Pei Song and Western Mausoleum likely remained unaware that Liang Territory's reinforcements had arrived.
After brief discussions with the ministers, Wen Yu decided to follow Mu Youliang's request in the letter - first dispatch border guards from other regions of Chen Kingdom to reinforce Gole City, while Gu Xiyun would temporarily remain at the royal court. Once the Liang infantry with supplies arrived, they would take a detour for a surprise attack to catch Western Mausoleum off guard.
However, the specific detour routes and how to strike Western Mausoleum's weak points still required further discussion with the Ministry of War.
Having stayed awake all night and rested only about half a shichen this morning, Wen Yu endured exhaustion while handling government affairs until now, her head throbbing with pain.
After instructing Gu Xiyun to continue discussions with the Ministry of War over the next few days, she dismissed the small court meeting in the imperial study. Following Tong Que's advice, she hastily consumed half a bowl of cordyceps and snow frog soup before returning to her bedchamber, where she slept for three shichen until awakened by A Li's crying.
"What's wrong with A Li?"
Freshly awakened, Wen Yu's head still felt somewhat dull and painful, though fortunately her body no longer felt as exhausted.The palace maid caring for A Li hurriedly knelt and said, "This servant deserves death. The young princess has been crying incessantly for some reason tonight. Thinking of her usual habits, I brought her to see you, and she stopped crying. But unexpectedly, even after bringing her to your chamber, she continued crying fiercely, disturbing Your Highness's rest."
Wen Yu's long hair cascaded loosely, devoid of any ornaments. The lack of proper rest lent her a weary demeanor that accentuated her aloof presence. She rubbed her temples and said, "Give A Li to me."
After the maid handed A Li over, Wen Yu held and comforted her for a while until the child's cries gradually subsided. A Li merely gazed at her mother with a particularly aggrieved expression, continuing to babble between hiccups.
Wen Yu wiped the tears from her daughter's eyes and asked softly, "Is it because Mother was too busy today and forgot to set aside time for A Li?"
A Li continued her pitiful babbling. Wen Yu gently patted her back and soothed her further until A Li finally nestled drowsily in her arms and closed her eyes.
After A Li fell completely asleep, Wen Yu rose and carefully placed the child in the cradle.
The maid responsible for A Li's care bowed her head in shame. "This servant has failed in her duty to properly care for the young princess."
Wen Yu replied, "It's not your fault. I was occupied with court affairs today and couldn't spare time for her."
Even after being placed back in the cradle, A Li remained somewhat restless. Wen Yu continued gently patting her back while softly rocking the cradle until the child finally sank into deep sleep.
This interruption completely dispelled any remaining drowsiness from Wen Yu. Remembering the mountain of unresolved memorials from daytime, she ordered the maid to light the candlesticks in the outer chamber. Just as she was about to go out and work by candlelight, Tong Que hurried in from outside.
Seeing Wen Yu awake, she immediately reported, "Your Highness, there's been an incident at the imperial prison."
Wen Yu looked up in confusion. Tong Que pressed her lips together and said, "Since his capture, he has refused all food and drink, insisting on seeing you. When the guards delivered dinner and came to collect the dishes, they found he hadn't touched anything and wouldn't respond to calls. Concerned about his condition, they entered the Water Prison and discovered he's developed a high fever..."
Wen Yu frowned. "Water Prison?"
Tong Que dropped to one knee. "This servant failed in her duty. When we brought him back to the palace this morning, I forgot to give instructions to the subordinates."
Wen Yu understood immediately. Her excessive display of anger earlier, combined with Xiao Li's earlier siege of the royal court and repeated disrespect toward her, had led the Azure Guard to treat him as some heinous criminal and confine him in the Water Prison.
Her brow remained furrowed as she stood. "Take me to see him. Secretly summon Physician Fang to the palace."
As Wen Yu swept through the imperial prison corridor in her long brocade gown, Tong Que had already cleared all the guards from the area.
The Water Prison in King Chen's royal palace was no ordinary detention facility. During the palace's initial construction, an underground river had been excavated, and the Water Prison beneath the imperial prison utilized this flowing water. The water was exceptionally cold and constantly circulated through the underground river - prisoners with weaker constitutions could freeze to death after just a few days confined there.
Wen Yu's steps quickened as she turned a corner and descended the stone steps toward the lower Water Prison. The oppressive chill and dampness made her frown deepen.
When she reached the prison cell entrance, even in the sweltering summer heat, she could feel an invasive cold emanating from the depths below.The Water Prison consisted of ten cells, all carved directly into the stone walls. The floor was dug three feet deep to hold water, with black iron bars dividing the center to allow the flow of the underground river, while the outer perimeter was similarly enclosed by black iron bars.
To facilitate delivering meals to the prisoners inside, the black iron bars were set one foot outward, leaving a one-foot-wide stone ledge on the inner side for placing bowls during meal times.
Prisoners confined in the Water Prison had their hands shackled and suspended by chains, preventing them from closing their arms. During meals, guards would lengthen the chains, allowing prisoners to walk to the edge of the cell to eat. Once finished, the chains would be readjusted to their original length.
Xiao Li was currently held in the innermost cell of the Water Prison. Half his body was submerged in the icy underground river water, his hands shackled by thick black iron chains. His head hung low, disheveled hair obscuring his face.
The limited light from the torch in the wall niche made it difficult for Wen Yu to discern his condition. Frowning tightly, she called out to the figure inside, "Xiao Li?"
He remained motionless, head still bowed, as if completely unconscious from high fever.
Wen Yu felt as if her heart had been violently wrenched. She retrieved the keys that Tong Que had obtained from the guards before entering the imperial prison. Unlocking the iron door, she instructed Tong Que, "Tong Que, go find a warm blanket."
Tong Que acknowledged and hurried off.
As the lock hit the ground, Wen Yu pushed open the black iron prison door and waded through the water along the stone steps toward Xiao Li. Her soaked clothes clung instantly to her skin, the chill of the flowing underground river seeping through her pores into her bones. The cold made her teeth chatter audibly.
Whether it was the sound of the falling lock or the heavy creak of the iron door, something roused Xiao Li from his stupor. His eyes, previously closed in delirium, slowly opened. But the gaze that met hers held not just ruthlessness and ferocity—it also carried a hint of reckless, bloodthirsty madness.
Meeting his gaze, Wen Yu paused only for a moment before continuing toward him. Her voice trembled from the cold as she said, "It was my oversight. I didn't know my subordinates had imprisoned you here. If you resent me, hate me as you will."
A dull, grating sound followed by the clatter of chains echoed—Xiao Li had begun violently yanking at the chains fastened to the iron beam above.
His jaw was clenched tight, his eyes burning crimson as they fixed on Wen Yu.
Drawing closer, Wen Yu saw that his wrists, already raw from abrasions, were now bleeding more deeply from his frantic struggles against the shackles. He seemed utterly oblivious to the pain, straining with such brute force that it appeared he wouldn't care if he tore his hands off. It was impossible to tell if he was even in his right mind.
"Have you gone mad?" Wen Yu cried out in desperation.
Setting aside the intimidation and threat his demeanor evoked, she fumbled through the keys and waded closer to unlock his shackles. But before she could insert the key into the lock, a sharp crack sounded, followed by splashes as the broken chain fell into the water.
He had actually snapped the thumb-thick iron chain with sheer force!
Before Wen Yu could utter another word, an arm with a mangled, bloody wrist wrapped around her waist and yanked her forcefully. She was pinned against the stone ledge of the Water Prison.
The scent of blood filled her nostrils.He pinned her down with his scorching body, then used his free hand—drenched in blood—to cup half of her face, as if caressing her cheek yet also gripping her neck.
His face was flushed, his eyes crimson. His cold, handsome features appeared both detached and ferocious, his breaths searing like fire from the high fever.
His thumb stroked Wen Yu’s smooth, delicate cheek, his expression laced with mockery and madness as he uttered through gritted teeth, "You’ve finally come to see me?"
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