Chapter 85: Jailbreak

Chapter 85: The Dungeon

The wooden crate was opened, and Qiu Shuiyi jerked upright.

The black cloth covering her mouth was removed, and fresh air rushed in. She drew in deep, ragged breaths.

Qiu Lianying removed the cloth covering her eyes, gently stroking her back, and whispered, "Yi'er, how are you?"

The suffocating sensation receded like a tide. Qiu Shuiyi gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm fine now."

With Qiu Lianying helping her, she stepped out of the crate and looked around.

What she saw filled her with confusion.

In the spacious prison cell, a layer of straw covered the floor, some blades stained with long-dried blood. Iron chains lay buried in the straw, gleaming with a cold, sinister light.

It was dark and damp, with the occasional squeaking of mice echoing around her.

The only window was sealed, leaving only a small opening. Occasionally, moonlight slipped through the narrow gap.

That was the only source of light.

Had Han Zicheng locked them in a dungeon?

Qiu Shuiyi was puzzled.

Why? He loved her the most, didn't he?

How could he bear to let her stay in such a place?

A mouse, the size of a man's hand, scurried past Qiu Lianying's feet. She let out a terrified scream, her face pale with fright.

"Ah!"

"What's wrong?"

Her eyes had just followed the mouse as it fled. Qiu Shuiyi pulled the trembling Qiu Lianying close, gently holding her. "It's alright, it's just a mouse. It doesn't bite."

Qiu Lianying's face was deathly pale. "It bites people too?"

Qiu Shuiyi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "No, no, if it dares to bite, I'll kill it."

Under Qiu Shuiyi's reassurance, Qiu Lianying gradually calmed down.

"What do we do now?"

Surprised that she could think straight again so quickly, Qiu Shuiyi was taken aback.

Gazing at the narrow slit in the window, she sighed. "Han Zicheng's whereabouts are unknown, and we don't know where this place is. For now, we can only wait and see."

Qiu Lianying pressed her lips tightly together, then walked dejectedly to the corner and plopped down.

In their current situation, she couldn't afford to be picky.

Qiu Shuiyi sat down beside her. The two sisters leaned against each other, looking up at the sky.

The cell was dim, making it impossible to tell what day it was.

Judging by the light seeping through the crack, another night had passed.

Her stomach growled in rebellion. Qiu Shuiyi placed a hand over her abdomen, feeling so hungry her chest seemed to stick to her back.

Qiu Lianying was also hungry, leaning weakly against Qiu Shuiyi's shoulder.

She heard a faint sigh by her ear. She tilted her head slightly, only to hear Qiu Shuiyi say self-mockingly, "It's true what they say: 'Man is iron, rice is steel; skip a meal and you'll feel it keenly.' Looking back now, the past few days weren't so bad, at least we had food to eat."

Qiu Lianying chuckled, amused.

After laughing, she suddenly stood up.

"Hey," Qiu Shuiyi exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing?"

Qiu Lianying strode forward, her small hands gripping the iron door and shaking it vigorously.

The iron door clanged loudly under her force. She shook it while shouting, "Someone, come here! Where's Han Zicheng? Tell him to get out here!"

"Han Zicheng, if you have the guts to lock me up here, why don't you have the guts to come out and face me?"

"Han Zicheng, you murderer, you bastard."

"Come out if you dare!"

Qiu Shuiyi was stunned.

Where did Qiu Lianying, a pampered noble daughter, learn such curse words?

While she was still in shock, a rough voice sounded from the distance, approaching.

"What's all this racket so early in the morning?"

After heavy footsteps, a figure stood before the two sisters.

Qiu Lianying frowned slightly. "Why is it you? Where's Han Zicheng?"

Bage's brow furrowed, and he said gruffly, "The young master is busy with important matters. How could he have time to see you?"

Something was off.

Qiu Shuiyi frowned.

Previously, whether Han Zicheng was present or not, this man's attitude towards them had been fairly polite. How could it change so drastically overnight?

Qiu Lianying, however, didn't notice these details. Seizing on Bage's words, she sneered coldly. "Busy with important matters? Does he think he's the emperor? What, are you planning a rebellion?"

Bage's expression changed. He threw the earthenware bowl in his hand heavily to the ground, a cold sneer spreading across his face. "Eat."

Qiu Lianying looked down.

Inside the earthenware bowl were two steamed buns. Due to Bage's rough handling, one bun had half fallen out, coated in dust.

She was furious. "Are you treating us like beggars?"

"This is all there is. Take it or leave it." Bage rolled his eyes, turned, and left, his burly figure quickly disappearing from their sight.

"What an asshole." Qiu Lianying was livid.

Her stomach growled. Biting her lip, she picked up the earthenware bowl, brushed the dust off the buns, and handed the cleaner one to Qiu Shuiyi.

In the poor light, Qiu Shuiyi hadn't seen Qiu Lianying's series of actions. She took the bun and took a bite.

Qiu Lianying sat back down beside her, seething with anger. She bit into the steamed bun as if it were Eighth Brother, taking a fierce bite.

Eating just steamed buns was too dry to get down. Qiu Shuiyi could only finish half before she couldn’t eat anymore.

Holding the remaining half in her hand, she murmured, “Could it be because of her?”

“What?”

Qiu Lianying didn’t hear her clearly.

“Nothing.” Qiu Shuiyi shook her head.

She had just suddenly remembered that in the original story, Han Zicheng seemed to be backed by a Lady Yun.

Han Zicheng was raised by Lady Yun, so he held her in the highest regard. Could the woman’s voice she heard yesterday be hers?

Also, if she remembered correctly, back in Guo Village, Fu Ling, who served Han Zicheng, had mentioned that the Lady was extremely displeased with him squabbling over a woman.

Was Lady Yun unhappy with Han Zicheng’s infatuation with Qiu Lianying, the reason for all this?

Qiu Shuiyi shook her head, her head was spinning.

She turned to look at the sealed window, suddenly found herself missing Shen Yuchao.

What was he doing at this moment?

...

“Your Highness, we’re almost at Yuecheng.”

Zuo Yi’s voice sounded softly.

Shen Yuchao hummed in acknowledgment, then rode his horse to the side of a carriage and knocked on the window.

After a light “tap-tap,” the window opened from the inside, revealing a handsome, if pale, face.

“You’re injured. Are you sure you want to come with me?”

Mu Yuanxi nodded, his voice hoarse as he replied, “A’ying is still in their hands. I have to save her.”

“That’s right, save Auntie!”

Mu Sichuan, sitting obediently beside Mu Yuanxi, exclaimed loudly.

With his uncle back, he seemed livelier than before, as if as long as the man beside him was there, they could get through anything.

Mu Yuanxi gently patted his little head.

His movements were tender, and the coldness in his eyes melted away the moment they met that adorable little face.

Mu Sichuan responded with a sweet smile.

“Your Highness, there's no need to worry. Over the past few days, my injuries have improved quite a bit.”

Shen Yuchao’s brow lifted almost imperceptibly, his tone gentle. “You misunderstand. I’m only concerned that you might become a burden.”

With that, he urged Wind Chaser away.

Mu Sichuan secretly made a face at him.

Mu Yuanxi, sitting close by, caught the gesture. He gently pinched Mu Sichuan’s cheek, his brow furrowed. “Xiao Chuan, His Highness is our savior. You mustn’t be so rude.”

“Hmph.”

Mu Sichuan turned his head away sharply, saying angrily, “I heard from Sister Xin Tao that he used to be Auntie’s fiancé.”

“What?”

Mu Yuanxi was taken aback.

“If you don’t believe me, ask Sister Xin Tao.”

Mu Sichuan pointed his little finger at Xin Tao, who was shrinking in the corner.

Feeling the man’s gaze on her, Xin Tao trembled. Xin Liu pinched her arm. “Why did you tell Young Master Mu about such things?”

Xin Tao said, her voice pitiful, “He was burning up at the time. I just wanted to distract him from the pain. Who knew he’d remember what was said in that state?”

Sensing Mu Yuanxi’s unwavering gaze, Xin Tao forced a dry laugh. “That… that was all in the past. His Highness and our Second Young Lady are deeply in love now.”

Mu Yuanxi shot her a look. “To have been engaged to a prince of the court, A’ying’s background must be quite noble.”

“Of course.” Xin Tao puffed out her chest, looking proud. “Our Young Lady is from the Marquis of Yun’an’s residence, of the highest status.”

The Marquis of Yun’an’s residence.

Mu Yuanxi’s eyes darkened slightly.

No wonder she said she could help him.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Yuanxi looked out the window.

Green mountains stretched into the distance, shrouded in mist.

Dark clouds spread across the sky, as if lightning might strike at any moment.

A storm was brewing.

Mu Yuanxi’s expression grew colder and more somber.

He slowly closed his eyes.

A’ying, wait for me.

...

“Clang—”

A sudden noise startled Qiu Shuiyi awake.

She frowned and opened her eyes.

Han Zicheng hurried in from outside, purposefully grabbing Qiu Shuiyi’s wrist and pulling her out.

“What are you doing? Where are you taking her?”

Qiu Lianying, also awakened, anxiously tried to stop him.

“If you want her to live,” Han Zicheng paused, “Lian Ying, you’d better not make a sound.”

The icy glint in his eyes stopped Qiu Lianying in her tracks.

While she was still stunned, Han Zicheng had already led Qiu Shuiyi away.

"Where are you taking me?"

Han Zicheng's strides were so long that Qiu Shuiyi couldn't keep up, causing her to stumble.

"Shut up."

Han Zicheng shot her a cold glare.

After who knows how long, he opened a cell door, tapped a point on Qiu Shuiyi's neck, and then locked her inside.

What are you...

Qiu Shuiyi's eyes widened.

What are you doing.

The words left her mouth, but she heard nothing.

She rattled the cell door at Han Zicheng's retreating back.

"If you make any more noise, I won't bother with the mute point—I'll just knock you out directly."

Han Zicheng spoke coldly, his back still turned.

So he had sealed her mute point.

Qiu Shuiyi felt relieved.

She almost thought she had gone mute.

After Han Zicheng left, she was alone in the empty space.

Qiu Shuiyi scanned her surroundings.

This cell was located at the deepest part of the dungeon, and from its decrepit state, it clearly hadn't been used in ages.

She lowered her head to look at the chains before her.

Eroded by time, the chains' surfaces were covered in mottled rust.

She took off her bracelet, pressed a mechanism, and a slender wire sprang out.

Not only could it cut ropes, but it could also be used to pick locks. Qiu Shuiyi thanked the designer of this hidden weapon for the umpteenth time.

She also thanked Xu Xi for buying it for her.

Unfortunately, her skills weren't great. She worked at the lock for a long time, until sweat beaded on her forehead, before finally unlocking it.

She wiped her brow. With a loud creak, the iron door swung open.

Qiu Shuiyi tiptoed out.

She remembered that on their way in, there seemed to be a window, probably for ventilation.

Qiu Shuiyi had a good memory and soon arrived before that window.

Luckily, the window wasn't large—only big enough for a child.

Probably deemed useless, it was embedded with wooden bars.

Qiu Shuiyi repeated the process, cutting with her small knife.

After cutting through several wooden bars, she found a broken pottery jar, stepped on it, and squeezed through.

Thankfully, she had a slender figure; otherwise, she would have gotten stuck in the middle. Even so, she was sweating all over.

Just as she landed, voices drifted into her ears.

Qiu Shuiyi was terrified, instinctively dropping to the ground and hiding in the grass to conceal herself.

She heard a somewhat familiar voice.

"Kill them."