Chapter 515: This is the Imperial Prison, Not the Dungeon

"Chapter 515: This Is the Imperial Prison, Not the Dungeon"

"Your maternal family has always been extremely powerful, controlling the court for three generations as prime ministers. Especially by your father’s generation, the prime minister used marriage as an excuse to force your father to wed his mediocre-looking daughter. I've heard that over thirty years ago, your father’s favorite was the young mistress of a vice minister, but that young lady later died under mysterious circumstances."

Ruo Xi Baby's little mouth ran nonstop, truly astonishing everyone. Even Yi Rou had forgotten that the little girl was only two years old—her words flowed more skillfully than an adult’s.

Only her childlike voice reminded listeners that she was still just a baby.

"How could you know all this in such detail?" Yi Rou fixed her gaze on Ruo Xi Baby and asked.

Ruo Xi Baby hoisted herself onto a stool, lay on the table, and ate some fruit.

Though the pear wasn’t particularly tasty—an unpleasantly gritty texture, not as sweet as the honey pears she’d had in Great Wei and West Mountain—it was still fruit. And in East Ming, such fruit was likely only available in the palace, and even then, only Yi Rou had access to it. The other princes and princesses probably didn’t even get any.

"Of course I know. I'm amazing!" Ruo Xi Baby said between bites.

Yi Rou stood coldly by the table, studying Ruo Xi Baby’s face hungrily.

She wanted that face so badly—its skin so tender and smooth, like a hard-boiled egg, flawless and pure.

Meanwhile, she was not just ugly but covered in black spots.

Even the most famous face-changing expert on the continent, upon seeing her face over a decade ago, had grimaced in dismay before walking away.

Naturally, that expert was now dead. Almost everyone who had seen her true face had died, including her Empress Dowager mother.

Now, only her father remained.

"Because of your maternal family’s influence, the emperor grew wary and didn’t want your mother to bear children," Ruo Xi Baby continued.

Yi Rou could guess what the little girl would say next.

The emperor of East Ming had never wanted the empress to have children, but despite his efforts, she had accidentally gotten pregnant. After that, he tried everything to ensure the child wouldn’t survive.

So, the emperor arranged for poison to be given to the empress—but not openly, for fear the prime minister’s family would find out and rebel.

In desperation, the emperor collaborated with the Palace of Seven Colors from West Mountain, having them create a poison that would slowly kill the fetus in the womb.

But the poison wasn't strong enough, and to avoid suspicion, the empress narrowly survived the ordeal of childbirth.

After giving birth, the empress was left weak and unable to conceive again, which finally put the emperor at ease.

As for the child born to the empress—it was said that the midwives and palace maids present at the birth died of fright right then and there.

"Most likely, those maids and midwives who died during the empress’s childbirth were all connected to your father," Ruo Xi Baby slid down from the table, clasped her hands behind her back as she stared at that hideous face. Her stomach turned in disgust.

Disgustingly ugly. Truly, unbearably ugly.

"You’re lying!" Yi Rou screeched, reaching out to grab her.

"Bang!"

With just a single raised hand, Ruo Xi sent the woman sprawling with one slap.

"You're no match for me!" Ruo Xi strode forward, then plopped down on the floor.

Yi Rou lay on the ground, recalling all her years of suffering. Her spirit sank like a stone.

Since childhood, she had always worn a veil—earning her the moniker "the Veiled Princess."

Everyone in East Ming knew their princess was ugly, but no one spoke of it. She rarely socialized, focusing solely on martial arts and studying on her own—though not very well. She grew up amidst violence and constant slaughter.

The victims, of course, were countless maids and eunuchs she’d murdered.

In other countries, entering the palace as a servant might be seen as a lucrative opportunity—as long as one was clever enough, survival and earnings were possible. Even places like the laundry bureau were far better than washing clothes for common households outside.

But not in East Ming.

People went out of their way to avoid entering the palace. Even the poorest commoners would rather skip meals to scrape by than send their children into the palace.

Because entering the palace meant a death sentence.

That princess took out her anger by killing people every day. The smallest annoyance could make her kill on the spot.

As a result, even the empress and the prime minister’s residence became notorious.

"Thanks to you, the empress enabled this, so she was despised by the public. Thanks to you, the prime minister’s residence was loathed by the people!" Ruo Xi Baby shook her head. "Your father’s really something, huh!"

"Impossible! He has always doted on me—he wouldn’t do this to me!" Yi Rou suddenly shouted at Ruo Xi Baby.

"Well, if you won’t give up, let’s make a deal then," Ruo Xi Baby said, digging through her little pouch.

Meanwhile, in the imperial prison, Hongmei came to.

"What’s going on? Your Highness, Little Lord, you…" Hongmei looked around in panic and rushed to pound on the cell door. "Someone! Come quickly!"

Hongmei was usually composed, but now she was frantic and impulsive.

Nearby, Bai Qi also woke up and immediately rose to survey his surroundings.

"This is the imperial prison, not the dungeon?" he said.

The difference between the two was vast.

Dungeons typically held low-level suspects—dark, damp, and suffocating, with no sunlight.

But the imperial prison was different.

It usually detained high-status individuals, especially those in the heaven-tier cells. For royal prisoners, it meant meals, drinks, and even baths—just no freedom.

They, however, were held in the earth-tier cell—neat and well-ventilated, with even a small window to see the sun outside.

"Why are we here? Xier never said anything about this!" Xiaoyu Heng frowned.

"How could their poison be so potent? Even I didn’t detect it!" Xiao Yuze was displeased.

Despite his young age, he was already a poison expert. He and his mother had spent years brewing poisons in *Ten Thousand Flowers City* in the Western Regions.