Chapter 37: The Harmless Princess of Beiyang vs. The Fratricidal Prince of Beiyang-Viagem Rápida da Vilã Sedutora: O Protagonista se Descontrola e se Apaixona(Um sonho longo entra no arco-íris)

The woman shivered in terror.

"Do you believe I could cut your tongue out right now?"

The man’s icy gaze fell upon her, making her shake her head frantically. He shoved her away and then kicked her, sending her body slamming heavily against the wall.

As the man turned to leave, the woman scrambled across the floor, clutching the hem of his garment before he could depart. Tears streamed down her face, her eyes swollen and red, and her voice was choked with sobs. "Please, don't torture me anymore. I beg you, stop the torment... As long as you let me live... I will do anything you ask..."

She lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.

Seeing this, the man’s expression hardened. He leaned down, gripped the woman’s shoulder, and tightened the iron chain around her neck. "Tell me."

The woman shook her head, weeping. She knelt on the ground, pleading bitterly, "I don't want to live in such agony. I am willing to do anything for you, just don't make things difficult for me. Please, just give me a way to survive, can you?"

The man frowned. Suddenly, he pried her mouth open, fumbled inside for a moment, and then produced a packet of powder, forcing her to swallow it. As the woman consumed the powder, her desperate cries echoed through the cell. She was bound to the wall, her limbs shackled with iron chains, her wrists and ankles raw and bleeding.

"Restore your strength; you are still of use."

***

When Liu Yangjiang awoke, he was already at the Marquis of Zhenxi’s estate. He bolted upright, ignoring the pain, and hurriedly donned the clothes beside the bed.

As he finished dressing, he saw the steward standing outside. His eyes were filled with malice. "You are in league with them!"

"The Marquis requests your presence."

The man curled his lips into a smile. He glanced at Liu Yangjiang and said coolly, "Eldest Young Master, I advise you to go. Otherwise, you will regret it."

Liu Yangjiang’s body stiffened. He looked down at the man, his hands gripping the wide sleeves of his robe, remaining silent. After a long pause, he asked softly, "Does Father know everything?"

Zhou Ziqing smiled. "Yes. But it depends on your own choice."

Liu Yangjiang took a deep breath, stood up, and smoothed his robes. "Let's go."

***

"Marquis, the Eldest Young Master is here."

The Marquis of Zhenxi was sitting in the courtyard reading a book. Hearing the report, he looked up and said, "Let him in."

Moments later, Liu Yangjiang entered. He wore a white robe, his face etched with sorrow and appearing gaunt. Compared to the high-spirited and handsome man he had been during Liu Wenyu’s wedding, he now looked frail and haggard.

Zhou Ziqing sat beside the Marquis and raised an eyebrow with a smile when he saw him. Neither spoke for a long time.

"Sit."

After a prolonged silence, the Marquis spoke first. Liu Yangjiang nodded and sat down on the opposite side. "Father..."

The Marquis looked up, his gaze profound and dark. "Did you truly love that girl?"

Liu Yangjiang was stunned, not expecting his father to be so blunt. He pressed his lips together. "Yes."

"Why love her?" The Marquis did not seem to approve. He frowned at the man beside him and asked sternly, "And so... you decided to murder your own brother?!"

Liu Yangjiang stared at his father, his eyes filled with shock and hurt.

"Speak!" the Marquis demanded, his face cold.

Liu Yangjiang frowned, taking a deep breath. "Have you never considered—"

"I did not ask for your reasons!" The Marquis’s tone turned fierce. He glared at him and barked, word for word, "Did you not hear me? Was it you who killed Wenyu?!"

Liu Yangjiang opened his mouth, then immediately clamped it shut. Looking at the Marquis, a streak of defiance surfaced in his eyes. He clenched his fists, and finally, he could not help but say, "Father, if I say yes... is that the answer you want?"

*Slap!*

A resounding strike echoed as the Marquis stood up and kicked Liu Yangjiang to the ground. "You degenerate! You unfilial son!"

Liu Yangjiang’s heart ached as blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. He looked at his infuriated father and began to laugh.

"Hahahaha..."

He looked coldly at the man before him. "Since you want me dead, Father, then do it!"

Zhou Ziqing stood to the side, watching the father and son tear each other apart, the coldness in his eyes deepening. He cast a glance beyond the courtyard.

At that moment, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Chang Jiu.

"Come out."

Chang Jiu strode over. He peered down at the disheveled Liu Yangjiang, his eyes narrowing. His voice was bone-chilling, like a thousand-year glacier. "The Crown Prince sent me to ask: how is the task progressing?"

Hearing this, the Marquis turned to look at the newcomer, his expression darkening.

Liu Yangjiang looked up, and upon seeing the man, his eyes blazed with fury. He lunged forward, grabbed the man’s collar, and growled, "Who exactly are you?"

"What?" Chang Jiu sneered. He ripped Liu Yangjiang’s hands away and said indifferently, "Eldest Young Master, I am the one here to help you."

"It was you!"

Chang Jiu looked down at him and chuckled. "I didn't expect it was you outside the door that night. Not bad, your mind is quite sharp."

The Marquis frowned and turned to Liu Yangjiang. "You know this person?"

"Father, he is the one who killed..."

Liu Yangjiang’s eyes widened, and he reached out to grab him again, but before he could finish his sentence, Chang Jiu kicked him aside.

"I will kill you!"

Lying on the ground, coughing up blood, Liu Yangjiang roared repeatedly.

Chang Jiu chuckled, touched the tip of his nose, and looked down with disdain. "His Highness said that he can overlook the matter of the Eldest Young Master’s assassination attempt. However, as for the Second Young Master’s case, it depends on the Marquis’s decision. If you are unwilling to hand over the Eldest Young Master and the military seal, then it will be deemed that the Marquis of Zhenxi’s estate plotted to assassinate the Prince and rebel—which will result in the execution of your entire clan!!!"

The Marquis frowned at Chang Jiu. "The Crown Prince... he wants to destroy my family!"

Was Wenyu really killed by Yangjiang?

No matter how he looked at it now, it was a trap—a trap to force him to become the Crown Prince’s pawn. After all these years, he still could not escape. It had to be this way.

"Indeed. Of course, that is only if the Marquis is unwilling," Chang Jiu said with a shrug.