Chapter 33: Promise

“You Won’t Believe Me Even If I Tell You”

Zhenbei Royal Mansion

Just as Lu Zhan finished reading the letter sent by Bai Yao’er, a thunderclap exploded across the sky, with lightning illuminating the night and revealing his shadowed, unreadable expression.

These past days, his advisors had unanimously warned him that the little princess’s identity was questionable—she might not be his biological daughter.

But he had never truly cared about such doubts.

The young girl he had silently protected for years, whose portrait he gazed upon daily, witnessing her growth bit by bit—how could he easily withdraw the affection he had invested?

Moreover, the advisors only had suspicions without any concrete evidence.

In his heart, the little princess was his own flesh and blood.

After reading Bai Yao’er’s letter, he first struggled to contain his overwhelming joy, but soon fell into anxiety. How could his precious, delicate daughter have fallen into the hands of that mad wolf Xuan Rui?

This adopted son from his younger years had grown steadily over time, gradually slipping beyond his control.

He had tried placing people around Xuan Rui to keep a close watch, but the latter always found excuses to dismiss them.

Only the useless Hua Ping remained in the General’s Mansion, but she had hardly relayed any useful information—undoubtedly a worthless pawn.

Yet that wretched creature, ignoring all other women, had to provoke his little princess.

His own well-bred daughter was actually treated as a concubine by that lowborn scum who only knew how to charge into battle.

The mere thought of such scenes made Lu Zhan’s heart ache unbearably. With a sweep of his hand, he overturned the decorations on the table and summoned his trusted aide to demand, “Didn’t I send word for Xuan Rui to return and see me? Where is he now?”

The aide, having just received intelligence, replied, “General Xuan is currently in Ming City providing disaster relief. He can’t return immediately. Should I send someone to urge him again?”

Lu Zhan stood up angrily. “Who told him to go to Ming City?! Choosing this moment to go—does he intend to rebel?!”

“Your Highness, Ming City is suffering from a plague. General Xuan might be there for relief efforts!” the aide attempted to placate him.

Lu Zhan took a deep breath and sneered, “Disaster relief? With the Red Feather Army stationed there, he could at most send reinforcements. There’s no need for him to go personally. He’s clearly seizing this opportunity to play a double-cross.”

The subordinate remained kneeling uneasily, not daring to rise, as Zhenbei Wang continued, “I want to see exactly how powerful he thinks he is, and whether he can escape my grasp.”

“Your Highness means—”

Zhenbei Wang, not yet ready to lose this blade, decided to issue a warning. “Ming City is not his to take over. Relay my order: send Meng Yi with thirty thousand Red Feather Army troops to Ming City.”

After the trusted aide left, a maid entered to clean up the mess. Catching sight of the letter on the floor, she casually glanced at it, secretly memorizing its contents.

Lu Zhan stood with his hands behind his back, the faces of Sima Shu and her daughter surfacing in his mind one after another.

The little princess had inherited her mother’s beauty, but their temperaments were entirely different.

He remembered her as a stubborn yet clever child, who knew how to endear herself but would never yield on matters of principle, even at the risk of mutual destruction.

He was growing old, gradually forgetting his past with Sima Shu, and had poured all his heart into his daughter.

His only wish was for the day they could reunite, allowing him to enjoy the happiness of family.

This incident must be heaven’s will, deliberately delivering his daughter to the northwest so they could be together.

Lost in melancholy, his subordinate delivered another message from the capital.

Reading the secret report, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply, lamenting how everything was dictated by timing and fate.

Emperor Jian’s illness had actually begun to improve, and he had simultaneously grown displeased with both the Crown Prince and the Sima Family, placing his trust solely in the faction of upright officials.

Particularly Grand Tutor Jin, whose entire family was renowned for integrity, visited the palace almost daily to receive imperial instructions at the sickbed, review memorials, and handle state affairs of all sizes.

Lu Zhan bore no ill will toward the emperor; in fact, he remained grateful for the emperor’s recognition of his talents.

But just as a moved chess piece cannot be taken back, he had advanced too far on this path to retreat.

~

In the interrogation room, Li Youqing had been unconscious for a full day and night.

The light filtering through the skylight fell upon her, devoid of any warmth, illuminating her frail, almost weightless form curled quietly beneath the blankets.

During this time, someone had brought meals, calling out to her several times without response, and could only silently leave the food on the table before departing.

When dinner was delivered in the evening, they noticed the chopsticks remained untouched. Recalling Xiao Ziqi’s instructions, the guard kindly advised, “Miss, you should eat something. Otherwise, you won’t last.”

Li Youqing paid no heed, merely frowning slightly as she shifted her body half an inch closer to the light.

But what use was it? The faint light would soon vanish with the setting sun.

She gazed at the skylight for a long while—not even a single bird passed by. Time seemed to have frozen.

The bone-deep loneliness had tormented her for nearly a day and night, pushing her toward breaking point.

Seeing the figure on the bed still unmoving, the guard shook his head and left.

After a while, her stomach began to growl.

She turned over and looked at the food on the table. Though she had no appetite, her body’s instinct reminded her she needed to eat.

As she tried to push herself up from the bed, her arms gave way, and she collapsed weakly back down.

Having consumed neither food nor water all day, her already feeble body was completely drained of strength.

Li Youqing licked her parched lips, her fingernails habitually picking at the hard bedboards beneath her.

With a snap, one of her nails broke.

A flicker of confusion appeared in her eyes—she had already forgotten what she meant to do.

Tonight, not even stars were visible. The skylight brought in nothing but drafts of wind, offering no trace of light.

If she couldn’t see, perhaps she wouldn’t feel hungry.

She lay there for an unknown length of time before footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Xiao Ziqi entered holding a candle. Seeing the untouched food on the table, he thought to himself how stubborn this young woman was.

He had specifically instructed the guards to bring her decent meals, yet she hadn’t taken a single bite.

Noticing the person behind him enter, he set the candlestick on the table and quietly withdrew.

Xuan Rui stood in the center of the interrogation room. By the faint candlelight, he saw a small, thin figure curled up on the wooden bed, sleeping without any covers.

Judging by her breathing, she was awake.

Her disheveled black hair clung to her lifeless face. Xuan Rui stared for a long moment, his expression unreadably stern. “Since you’re awake, get up and answer this General’s questions.”

He had detained her for a full day—surely she understood fear by now.

It was time she learned the consequences of deceiving him.

He waited for her to beg for mercy.

If she confessed honestly, he might even consider her youth and inexperience and let her off for now.

The figure on the bed shifted her legs slightly—clearly awake—yet her eyes remained tightly shut, as if she were extremely reluctant to open them.

Xuan Rui’s tone deepened. “Open your eyes.”

The girl’s delicate eyebrows furrowed. Her originally deliberately dirtied face had been washed clean by tears, now pale as paper.

Her eyelashes fluttered like the wings of a dying butterfly, clearly afraid of something.

Her hair clung stickily to her cheeks, yet it didn’t look dirty—just like a mischievous child, making one want to pick her up and soak her in a bathtub for a proper wash.

Seeing her still pretending to sleep, Xuan Rui took a deep breath, moved closer to the bed, and said coldly, “Still not opening your eyes? Are you forcing this General to do it himself?”

Li Youqing clutched the thin quilt tightly, feeling the cold, ruthless aura emanating from him. She couldn’t help but sob softly with her eyes closed.

He had once said tears were useless. Crying now would likely anger him further.

Li Youqing tried to hold back her tears, but unknowingly, she cried even harder.

He had so many methods of torture—she wondered which one he would use on her.

“If you keep crying—” Xuan Rui stared at the tearful figure on the bed, gritting his teeth, “If you keep crying, I’ll throw you into the desert.”

Li Youqing had initially only dared to weep silently, but upon hearing this, she couldn’t control her sobs.

Xuan Rui’s tone shifted, carrying a hint of coaxing. “As long as you confess, this General won’t do anything to you.”

Hearing this clearly, Li Youqing seemed unable to believe it. She opened her tear-filled eyes and cautiously looked at him.

Xuan Rui’s throat tightened, and he remained silent for a long time.

What kind of look was that in her eyes?

This appearance of having been abused made it seem as though he were the unforgivable one.

Li Youqing stopped crying, weakly propping herself up, her voice hoarse. “If I tell you, will you let me go?”

“This General will decide based on the circumstances.” Xuan Rui heard her raspy voice and looked at the untouched water on the table. His breath grew dry and tight.

Decide based on the circumstances—how should she be punished?

A cold glint flashed in Li Youqing’s eyes, as if she had expected such a response.

She lay back down, turning to face the wall, and said slowly, “Since you can’t promise, why say anything at all?”

“You still want a promise? Fine, I’ll give you one.” Xuan Rui knew this person had always been thick-skinned. After being imprisoned for a day and a night, she still had the energy to bargain. Suppressing his anger, he said, “As long as you reveal who is behind this, this General guarantees your safety.”

Li Youqing closed her eyes, tears streaming out uncontrollably. She lifted the back of her hand to wipe them gently, as if filled with endless grievances. “No one sent me. I was captured by those people from Lu Ming Mountain and then brought to the General’s Mansion.”

She wanted to ask him if this promise included defying his adoptive father for her sake.

But just as she was about to speak, she shrank back, frightened by the disgust in his eyes.

“You still refuse to tell the truth.” Xuan Rui’s gaze grew colder, his fists clenching tightly as he restrained his anger.

Bai Cha had already confessed their conversation in the carriage last night. Since she could confidently promise the other party various benefits, it meant there must be some faction supporting her. How could she have been simply abducted?

If it were truly as she claimed, why wouldn’t she show her true face? Why assume someone else’s identity?

“I told you but you wouldn’t believe me, ha… You’re the real deceivers, all of you!” The taste of hope being ruthlessly crushed turned out to be this bitter, enough to drive one utterly mad.

Throughout this day and night, she had been living like a walking corpse.

Seeing him reach out as if to approach, Li Youqing suddenly became agitated, sitting up and desperately shrinking into the corner of the wall.