Chapter 2: Imprisonment

Chapter 2: Imprisonment

Li Zhiming returned to his room, draped over his shoulders the robe the guard handed him, and drank the hot tea the guard had poured. He actually kind of enjoyed it—no one had ever taken care of him like this before.

Even so, the fear of death and the unknown still hung over him, layer after layer, giving him no peace of mind.

Maybe the original owner had died at the assassin's hands, which was why he ended up here.

Damn, what bad luck.

Seeing how restless he looked and how he seemed to hesitate, the guard spoke up first.

"Rest easy, young master. That assassin was a death warrior. Just now, when he couldn't beat me, he took poison himself. Even if he escaped, he wouldn't live."

What!

Li Zhiming latched onto the key word, his heart jolting.

He was a law-abiding modern person—he had never even killed a duck, let alone a person. Now that his subordinate had killed someone, did that count as him killing someone indirectly?

To stay alive, he had no choice.

"Young master?"

The guard called out to him, puzzled, and asked with concern, "You look terrible. Are you feeling sick? Should I go get a doctor?"

"No."

Li Zhiming's brows furrowed so tightly they could squash a cockroach. Pretending to look dazed, he said, "Just now, I was lost in a haze of romantic feelings, only to find the beauty turned into a viper. I can hardly tell what's real and what's not. Am I awake or dreaming?"

"You are awake."

"Then let me ask you—who am I? What's my name? Who are you? What the hell is going on?"

He asked all his questions in one breath, looking like he'd been through a major shock.

The guard looked even more shocked than he did. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost. "Young master, you're too shaken up. I'll go get a doctor right away."

With that, he turned to run.

"Stop!"

Li Zhiming grabbed his only lifeline. "I'm fine. Just answer my questions."

The guard had no choice but to stand there, pressing his lips together. "Young master, you are the Prime Minister's legitimate son, named Li Zhiming. I am Feng Yin, your personal guard."

No wonder the clothes were so fancy—the fabric felt like top-quality silk at the touch.

The Prime Minister's legitimate son—not a bad status.

He continued, keeping his face neutral. "Why was that woman able to walk into my room so brazenly? Why did she want to kill me?"

Whether it was his imagination, a flicker of exasperation crossed the guard's face.

"Young master said you wished to spend the night with the top girl at Yichun Pavilion and told us not to disturb or stop anyone."

"..."

So the original body was quite the playboy.

Could this body be dirty?

Did it catch some disease?

"Young master, I suspect the assassin was from Nanxun, here to rescue their master. If the Prime Minister learns of your wild behavior, I fear you will be in trouble."

Li Zhiming's brow twitched abruptly. "Elaborate?"

"You lusted after their master's beauty and snatched him away—that was already improper... Even if his status is low, he is still a prince of a kingdom. With your reputation, young master, it is understandable that he would refuse you."

What?!

Li Zhiming's eyes bulged like copper bells.

Feng Yin muttered another jab: "You've kept him locked up in the dungeon for over half a month. It's no wonder they came to rescue him..."

He felt like this guard was a bit disdainful of him.

Li Zhiming twitched his mouth, nearly throwing his back out.

So he was actually the bad guy in this identity?

And what kind of pervert was the original owner, with such all-around tastes—keeping a man locked up on one hand while inviting prostitutes home to sleep on the other?

Damn!

He really lived it up.

"If he is a prince, why is his status low?"

Anyway, the original owner was the type who didn't care about worldly matters and only cared about pleasure, so it made sense he didn't know these details.

Feng Yin explained, "The Nanxun Kingdom lost the war. The King of Nanxun ceded territory and paid reparations, and handed Young Master Yu over to the general to bring back. He was said to be a hostage, but that prince has no status at all—in truth, he is just a prisoner."

Li Zhiming stroked his chin. "A defeated prisoner—what's there to snatch?"

"He is beautiful. Young Master Yu's looks are stunning, even more handsome than you, young master. You lost your mind the moment you saw him. How could you have changed your mind so quickly?"

"I think you're the one who's lusting after looks..."

A man—how good-looking could he possibly be?

That was not the point. The point was that he now faced assassination attempts at any time. He couldn't keep this person any longer. He should release him immediately. Anyway, he had no interest in men.

"Let's go, take me there."

Feng Yin was shocked. "Young master, it's so late. Are you going to the brothel?"

"Forget the brothel!" Li Zhiming rapped him on the head. "Take me to the dungeon to see that prince. They've already come after me—release him at once."

His life was more important.

If the guard ever came a moment too late, or failed to watch over him, he'd kick the bucket.

Even if he didn't die, it would still hurt!

He followed the guard into the dungeon.

A nauseating stench of sourness and blood hit him, making Li Zhiming cough violently before he could recover.

"Sir, use this to cover your nose and mouth."

Feng Yin handed over a handkerchief.

Li Zhiming took it before moving forward, descending to the lowest level, where he finally saw the scene inside the dungeon.

It was quite spacious, with several separate cells and a water dungeon, and in the middle were all sorts of horrifying torture instruments, the floor splattered with blood.

In the center, a frail youth was bound to a large cross, his hair disheveled and covered in blood and grime, strands tangled like withered grass falling before his face.

His hands and feet were tied to the frame, wearing heavy shackles and manacles.

His white clothes were tattered, dyed a dark red, covered in patches of bloodstains, with exposed skin showing wounds of varying depths and multiple puncture wounds left by torture devices.

New and old wounds overlapped, looking especially gruesome.

Dried blood stained the ground.

What was worse, a hook had been driven straight through his chest, pinning him firmly to the cross.

The hellish scene, like a battlefield of carnage, made his stomach churn violently.

Having grown up learning revolutionary ideals, he had never harmed or killed anyone, let alone encountered such an overpowering stench of blood. He retched on the spot and only felt better after sipping some water.

Several armored soldiers were in the prison, and upon seeing the two, they all knelt down.

"We greet the Prince."

Feng Yin, shocked by the appalling scene, looked at the prison guards with astonishment, but they only lowered their heads further, refusing to meet his eyes.

Li Zhiming paid them no mind, shifting his gaze to the figure in the center. Covered in a web of scars, disheveled and blood-streaked, he was barely human anymore, let alone a beauty.

Pity welled up in Li Zhiming's chest. After being tortured like this, could he even survive?

How could the original owner be so inhumanely cruel, inflicting such heavy harm? Just one glance made his whole body shudder.

No wonder the man's subordinates wanted him dead.

Li Zhiming took a deep breath, his expression complex as he stepped forward two paces.