Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Xue Fuguang looked at Du Ru'an's rigid expression, finding it amusing.

What is Du Ru'an repenting for now?

Is it because he has fallen into Xue Fuguang's hands that he has such an expression?

Xue Fuguang propped his chin, slowly unraveling memories in front of Du Ru'an that had become his nightmare. His voice was slow and imbued with a chilling undertone, like the dense, suffocating mist that envelops one just before a torrential downpour.

"You know everything about Li Zefeng's matter, more than anyone else. You knew of his vile character, and you were well aware of his entanglement with Zuo Taohan. Yet, it was his vileness and those entanglements that you relied upon when you sent my elder sister to him."

"You hoped my sister would fall for him because of his 'heroic rescue'."

"Even if she didn't fall in love, it didn't matter. As long as he saved my sister, their relationship would be bound inextricably. With Zuo Taohan adding fuel to the fire, my sister's fate would be tied to the Li family, to the point of being forced into marriage with them."

His smile curved, his beautiful eyes utterly fetching, but to Du Ru'an and Xiu Jin who were looking up at him, he appeared ghostly: "Do you know the consequences of marrying Li Zefeng? My sister would be subjected to the old pious woman of the Li family, taught the rules of womanhood, from a noble princess to being humbled. She would endure the insults and infidelity of that maggot Li Zefeng, along with a slew of women he'd bring home. She would live in fear while pregnant, terrified of bearing a daughter who might suffer the same humiliations or worse, may not even survive childbirth, lying in a pool of cold blood, beyond salvation... Do you understand?!"

Threads of red uncontrollably climbed into Xue Fuguang's eyes, his tone gentle yet starkly grim, talking of a mere possibility that seemed like a reality in his vision, hence his teeth-gritted hatred for Du Ru'an, wishing to devour his flesh and blood.

Even Du Ru'an couldn't suppress the chill creeping up from within.

Xue Fuguang's hatred was not sudden but had long-standing roots.

Yet, all this time, during their meetings, he always appeared jovial and unthreatening, making it difficult to perceive the depth of hatred he harbored, ready from the start to lead one to doom.

The image of the Sixth Prince pinned to the ground, screaming hysterically, flashed through Du Ru'an's mind.

He began to feel a twinge of empathy for the Sixth Prince, that quiet horror of being calculated and trapped from the first encounter with Xue Fuguang.

At that moment, Mu Jian Shu suddenly spoke, "Master."

Xue Fuguang abruptly closed his eyes, exhaling a breath of murky air, expelling the bloody images from his mind, and coldly commanded, "Open the cage."

Xiu Jin, with her head upturned and huddled in Du Ru'an's embrace, sobbed softly, pleading, "My lord, what have I done wrong? I've done as you said, told Young Master Qin not to send troops to meddle in palace affairs, I've followed your instructions."

Xue Fuguang nodded, "Hmm, that's why you won't die, rest assured."

The crisp click sounded like the gate of an iron cage being opened.

The faint friction and a hissing "sizzle" echoed within the cavern.

Du Ru'an's complexion turned pale abruptly.

Xue Fuguang, for a clearer view for him and Xiu Jin, turned to instruct Zhou Minshan, "Have some bring a few large lanterns to light up the place, to show them exactly what lies beneath."

"Xiu Jin, this place should look familiar to you. This is the cellar that the Crown Prince had dug out for you. In order not to let down the Crown Prince's favor, I have utilized it, transforming it into this dungeon."

Upon hearing this, Du Ru'an's expression grew even uglier.

He knew the connection between Xiu Jin and the Crown Prince was one thing, but hearing it from someone else made it something entirely different.

Xiu Jin, hearing this, cried even harder, clutching Du Ru'an, not daring to let go, terrified that he would abandon her in anger at this moment.

Zhou Minshan had people bring over a few large lanterns, which were hung with bamboo poles on three sides of the cave, leaving one side for Xue Fuguang to stand and observe the bottom of the pit.

A massive cluster of snakes revealed themselves from the darkness, their cold scales reflecting a blinding chill under the dim yellow light, their lifeless, cold eyes staring quietly at the two living humans in the center of the pit, emanating warm breaths.

Du Ru'an's face turned extremely unsightly, while Xiu Jin, unable to control herself, let out a sharp scream of terror, her tears flowing like fountains: "Snakes, so many snakes! Big brother Du, save me, I don't want to die, I'm so scared!"

Du Ru'an, with a cold face, looked up in an attempt to negotiate with Xue Fuguang, "If you kill me, are you not afraid of the Prime Minister's mansion seeking revenge? Although you have ascended to the throne and hold the imperial army in your hand, the Prime Minister's words still carry weight with many, and your ascent to the throne will not be smooth. You wouldn't want to bear the infamy of usurpation, would you? Things may not go as you wish."

Xue Fuguang, holding a lantern in his hand, swayed it lightly and said, "Ah, as for that, I just need to discuss it with the Prime Minister. What does it have to do with whether you live or die?"

He tilted his head, and the light from the lantern cast a huge, slanted shadow behind him on the wall: "The Prime Minister is different from you, after all. He has a wife and daughter to protect. He's a wise man and knows what's right to do. Mister Du, you're of no use anymore, haven't you realized the situation at hand?"

"The situation now is that no one can save you, nor does anyone wish to. If I decide you must die, then death is inevitable for you."

The snakes were inching closer and closer to the two of them.

Xue Fuguang, feeling a bit stiff from squatting, stretched out a hand for Mu Jianshu to help him up, walked around the edge of the pit, and said in a low voice, "Next, before you die, please enjoy a good show."

After saying this, he no longer cared how Du Ru'an's complexion changed or how Xiu Jin cried.

He found a chair and sat down.

From time to time, imperial guards reported to Zhou Minshan about the cleanup results within the palace.

It was necessary to clean up the remnants left by the Empress Dowager and the Sixth Prince. The Empress had to be released from the cold palace. Although the late emperor had misunderstood him, Xue Fuguang, the new emperor, would still have to give the late Empress her due justice when the truth came to light.

Soon, a message came from outside the palace: "General Qin is waiting outside, asking to see the master about taking someone with him."

Hearing this, Xiujin in the pit immediately started shouting, "I'm here! Save me!"

Xue Fuguang, reclined in his chair, said: "Tell him the person will be sent to his residence at dawn; just wait."

Xiujin at the bottom of the pit heard Xue Fuguang's words loud and clear and immediately felt a sense of despair.

Even Young Master Qin could not save him.

Here, Xue Fuguang's word was law.

And the snakes were getting closer and closer to him.

They had nothing on their persons; in this confined space, their only fate seemed to be a snakebite.

Du Ruan was unwilling to give up, so he took off his outer robe and used it to drive away the approaching snakes by whipping it on the ground.

The effect was minimal, and soon a sharp pain came from his calf; looking down, he saw a deep red snake biting through the fabric onto his flesh.

Gritting his teeth, Du Ruan pulled off the snake and threw it aside, continuing to fend off the encroaching snakes, he then asked Xiujin, "Have you been bitten?"

Xiujin shook her head, huddling by his side, trembling all over.

As the snakes completely surrounded them, Du Ruan finally understood what kind of 'spectacle' Xue Fuguang had been talking about.

The snakes, as if on command, all avoided Xiujin. Even if they glided past his feet, they did not bite him, showing no rage even when accidentally stepped on, instead silently slithering away.

It was as if Xiujin did not exist to them; only Du Ruan was perceivable to the snakes.

Du Ruan's pupils contracted, his movements turning rigid.

He was bitten by another snake.

More and more bites, and now thrashing with the cloth was futile.

Xiujin, clinging to his neck, seemed completely unaware of her own strangeness.

Du Ruan patted her back, letting go of the cloth in his hand, no longer paying attention to the snakes tearing at his flesh.

Holding Xiujin tightly against his chest, he called out hoarsely, "Xue Fuguang!"

Xue Fuguang's indolent voice drifted from the mouth of the cave, "What wisdom does Master Du seek to impart?"

Du Ruan asked, "Did you sprinkle some medicine on Xiaojin?"

Xue Fuguang chuckled, replying, "Perhaps Master Du would like to strip his clothes and wrap them around himself to test the theory?"

Du Ruan's heart sank.

He knew very well that no snake-repellent medicine was so potent that Xiujin could tread on them repeatedly without being attacked.

Nor was it possible for the snakes to selectively target him alone while sparing Xiujin.

The two were tightly embraced; if it were due to the medicine, Du Ruan should have been affected by it as well.

But clearly, he was not.

The issue lay with Xiujin himself.

Hearing Du Ruan's silence, Xue Fuguang sensed the climax of his entertainment was at hand, so he approached the pit's edge and peered down, "Is Master Du surprised? I was astoundingly so when I first discovered it. I thought, how can there be such a miraculous person in the world, as if the heavens themselves favor him."

Xue Fuguang squinted, reminiscing, "Later, I found something even more astonishing. The person in Master Du's arms is not only impervious to weapons and unharmed by water or fire but also has a peculiar charm that wins over everyone's favor, regardless of who they are or their status. Even I couldn't resist at first. I pondered deeply, why did I feel pity for him? Clearly, there are many more pitiable people in this world."

"Then, I realized the enigma that is Master Xiujin here."

Upon hearing this, Du Ruan looked down at the person in his arms.

Xiujin seemed completely oblivious to what Xue Fuguang was saying, still clinging tightly to him, fearful of the snakes' bites.

Du Ruan loosened his grip around Xiujin's waist and whispered, "You needn't fear, no snake will bite you."

Xiujin's eyes widened in naive alarm, "How can that be? They will bite me, the moment you let go they'll surely bite."

Du Ruan closed his eyes, then reopened them, the emotion settling deep within them as he forcibly extracted Xiujin from his embrace.

Indeed, the snakes did not touch Xiujin.

There was hardly half a palm's width between the two, yet the snakes' target was unmistakably Du Ruan alone.

Witnessing this, Xiujin screamed, tumbling backwards in a panic to flee from Du Ruan's side.

The author has a message for you: Goodnight, peace be with you!

A heartfelt thanks to the angels who showered me with their King's tickets and nutrient solutions during the time from December 20, 2021, at 23:51:41 to December 21, 2021, at 23:56:21~

Thanks to the angel who nourished me with nutrient solution: Chi Miaomiao, for 10 bottles;

I am profoundly grateful for everyone's support, and I will continue to work hard!