Chapter 354

Chapter 354: The Man Beneath the Skirt "It can't be Madam Lou. Prince Rong sent people to the Lou family. Based on what Lou Wanxian told me, the Lou family wouldn't dare offend Prince Rong. They could only follow his orders and lock Madam Lou in a pitch-black room, sending her only one meal a day. If Madam Lou isn't dead yet, she's about to break." Cui Lingrong analyzed. As for Mama Zhou by Madam Lou's side, her tendons were directly severed, and she was thrown onto an anthill, bitten to death alive. Prince Rong's hatred for Madam Bai and her servant could not be described in words. "If it's not Madam Lou, then it's Prince Rong or Lou Wanxian. They both hate Zhao Susu. Is it them?" Cui Lingrong asked. After investigating the truth of the switching back then, Prince Rong had wanted to acknowledge Lou Wanxian as his daughter, but no one knew what Lou Wanxian said to Prince Rong. In the end, the matter was never reported to the Emperor. Prince Rong only adopted Lou Wanxian as a righteous daughter and gave her some money. "Sister is clever. It was Prince Rong's people who took Zhao Susu away." Xie Yunting said. Nanny Qiu frowned. "Surely, upon learning that Zhao Susu isn't his biological daughter, Prince Rong wouldn't still want to save her?" Cui Lingrong shook her head. "No. The Rong Commandery Prince Mansion's current downfall is all Zhao Susu's doing. If Zhao Susu falls into Prince Rong's hands, she'll likely suffer even more than Madam Lou." "I'm curious what methods Prince Rong will use against Zhao Susu." Nanny Qiu genuinely wanted to know Zhao Susu's ending. At the same time, at one of Prince Rong's estates. When Zhao Susu woke up, she first felt a sharp pain. When she opened her eyes, her body was numb with pain. "This... where is this?" Outside was noisy and chaotic. Zhao Susu heard crying, and men's... unbearable sounds. "Oh, you're awake." An old woman came in carrying hot water. "Look at you. Only those stinking men wouldn't mind. Hurry up and wash yourself. More people are coming soon." Zhao Susu was completely bewildered. "Where am I?" "The place where camp prostitutes stay. Didn't you know?" The old woman said thoughtfully. "Well, you were unconscious when you were brought here. Men came and went, and you never woke up. How much knockout drug did they give you?" Zhao Susu's mind exploded with a "boom," and her voice grew shrill. "What did you say? How could I end up in a place like this?" "You're asking me? I don't know what you did. Since you were sent here, there must be a reason." Seeing that Zhao Susu still didn't understand, the old woman took a needle and jabbed it into Zhao Susu's arm. "Let me tell you, once you're in this place, except for death, you'll never leave for the rest of your life!" She didn't dare hit the face—if she disfigured it, the military officers would complain. Using a needle was best—it hurt but left no scars. As she spoke, someone outside urged, "Old Woman Rong, are you done talking? Let the master in for some fun!" "Stop rushing. This one was just delivered yesterday and hasn't figured things out yet." Old Woman Rong grabbed Zhao Susu's ear. "Did you hear everything I said? Let me warn you—if you don't comply, those men have plenty of ways to torment you!" Old Woman Rong snorted, walked out of the room, and told the men outside to line up. "This new one costs eight coppers per session. Everyone, line up." The first man, eight feet tall, paid the money and entered the tent. Before long, Zhao Susu's screams came from inside. Meanwhile, on a carriage in the distance, Zhao Zhongren's emotions were complicated. "Father, now that we've sent... sent Zhao Susu here, do we really have to let her go through this?" "What, do you still feel sorry for her as your sister?" "It's not that. I just think—after all, we watched her grow up." Zhao Zhongren still recalled some things from childhood. There was only one sister in the family, and the rest were younger brothers, so Zhao Zhongren had always doted on this sister more. "Yes, we watched her grow up and spoiled her dearly. But have you ever thought—if your real sister hadn't been switched away, why would she have suffered hardship in the Lou family?" When Prince Rong spoke, there was only hatred in his voice. "In the Du family, wasn't it because she couldn't bear loneliness that she poisoned Du Shibei, triggering all the problems that followed? Then later, at the Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion, she actually had an affair with Du Cheng? Hah." Zhao Zhongren sighed. The more Prince Rong spoke, the more speechless he became. "Since she loves men so much, let her lie in a pile of men day and night!" "This... alas..." Zhao Zhongren had nothing more to say. "Zhongren, do you think we're in a good position now?" Prince Rong shook his head as he spoke. "Ever since the Crown Prince was born, the Emperor has been suppressing the imperial clan and the great families, afraid that if the Crown Prince ascends the throne at a young age, he won't be able to control those massive clans. If we continue to oppose Xie Yunting and his people, we're bound to suffer. If Xie Yunting and Cui Zeyu ask about Zhao Susu's whereabouts, just tell them the truth." Now, they had to keep their heads down and behave. Zhao Zhongren's brows were tightly furrowed. The more glorious they were before, the more pathetic they were now. No wonder the Emperor had hidden Consort De's pregnancy. "Father, can I keep the title of Commandery Prince?" Zhao Zhongren was somewhat regretful. "If I'd known this would happen, why did we bother protecting Zhao Susu?" "It's too late to say all this now. As for whether the prince's title can be preserved, that's up to heaven. You and I drugged Lady Cui—do you really think Cui Zeyu will let this go?" Prince Rong said that after returning, he would send gifts to Cui Zeyu. But in truth, Cui Zeyu had no idea his sister had been drugged. When he received the gifts from Prince Rong, Cui Zeyu assumed it was about Zhao Susu—thinking that now that her identity had been revealed, Prince Rong wanted to mend relations with them. Later, when Cui Zeyu visited the Cui residence and mentioned the gifts from Prince Rong, Xie Yunting happened to be there as well. Upon hearing this, Xie Yunting let out a soft chuckle. "What's the matter, Brother Xie?" "Nothing." Xie Yunting's eyes flickered briefly toward Cui Lingrong. In truth, Xie Yunting had thought about this matter afterward. How should he put it? He truly was not a gentleman of virtue. His reaction was—whether Prince Rong had drugged her or not, it was fine by him. Otherwise, who knew how much longer it would have taken for him and Sister Cui to reach that point. Cui Zeyu, however, found it strange. His sister remained silent, and Xie Yunting had started drinking tea. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were keeping secrets from him. After dinner, Cui Zeyu still had some matters to discuss with Xie Yunting, but Xie Yunting said he had no time. Cui Zeyu assumed Xie Yunting had official business to attend to. What he didn't know was that before long, Xie Yunting appeared in Cui Lingrong's chambers. Cui Lingrong had just sent Nanny Qiu and the others away. She wore no makeup, with only a thin gauze robe draped over her. "Gen—General Xie, what are you doing in my chambers in the dead of night?" Cui Lingrong clutched at her collar, which only drew more attention to her. "Sister is so cruel-hearted. After that day, you simply pretend it never happened?" Xie Yunting stepped closer step by step. "I can't sleep day or night—whether my eyes are open or closed, all I see is you. How can you sleep so soundly?" "I..." "Sister Cui, touch me. Feel how hot my body is, how much it yearns for you." Xie Yunting took Cui Lingrong's hand. She tried to pull it back, but her strength was no match for his. "I beg you, sister, won't you take pity on me?" Xie Yunting coaxed in a honeyed voice. "If only you'll show me mercy, I'll be your beast of burden, your dog to command—I'll be your most devoted servant at your feet."