The tension in the hall was palpable. Yi Xiao turned to the maid standing rigidly nearby, her voice deceptively casual. "Where's the boiling water I requested?"
The maid trembled, still shaken by the screams that had echoed from the back hall moments before. "The water is boiling, Concubine. Should we bring it over now?"
"Of course." Yi Xiao's tone was languid, almost bored. "First, have someone bring in the empty vat. Pour everything into it."
A horrified silence fell over the room as servants carried out her instructions. Under the watchful eyes of ministers, guards, and prisoners alike, writhing ants and scorpions were emptied from porcelain jars into the massive vat, followed by squealing rats from cloth bags. Three cauldrons of steaming water were positioned nearby, steam rising in ominous wisps.
The sound of dragging footsteps broke the stillness. Two jailers hauled a bloodied man back into the hall, his body already broken from previous torments. They deposited him unceremoniously on the floor, then bowed to Yi Xiao and Feng Suige before retreating to their positions.
Yi Xiao's smile was beautiful and terrifying. "Pour honey on his wounds and put him in the vat for the ants to feast on. I've heard scorpions will kill each other when disturbed. Let's see if that's true. As for the rats, well, they're said to be good at burrowing into holes. I wonder if that's true…"
The eldest of the four senior ministers could no longer remain silent. His voice cracked with urgency. "Concubine, using such cruel methods for interrogation – aren't you afraid of the consequences, even if you don't fear it becoming known?"
Yi Xiao's scoff was sharp as a blade. "Consequences? If there were truly cause and effect in this world, I wouldn't need to resort to such methods. If the minister objects, would you like to take over the interrogation?"
The old minister's mouth opened and closed wordlessly. He glanced at Feng Suige's impassive expression, searching for intervention that never came, before sinking back onto his seat in defeat.
The maids moved forward with trembling hands, honey dripping onto the man's torn flesh. A jailer approached the vat, peering at the mass of writhing creatures inside. His cruel smile widened as he called out loudly, "The Concubine is truly innovative. Please continue to enlighten us in the future."
His words shattered the last vestiges of hope among the thirteen prisoners kneeling in rows. Several began to tremble violently, the sound of their chains rattling through the hall. The bloodied man on the ground tried desperately to crawl away from the vat, his voice barely a whisper. "Just kill me, give me a quick death…"
"You can't take it, and we haven't even truly begun?" Yi Xiao's laugh was cold as winter frost. Her gaze swept over the pale-faced thirteen. "You'd better think carefully now – whether to speak or not. Don't think about dying easily. Anyone who dares to resist will see their entire family executed!"
The jailers surged forward with practiced brutality, seizing the man and hurling him into the vat. The screams that followed were inhuman, wrenching something primal from the souls of all who heard. The jailers used their batons to force him down whenever he tried to climb free. Soon, the rim of the vat was painted with desperate, bloody handprints.
The maids began weeping openly. The hall, once silent as a tomb, now resonated with agonized screams and frightened sobs, creating an atmosphere that seemed to seep into the very walls.
After what felt like an eternity but was only a quarter of an hour, the screams from the vat began to weaken. Yi Xiao gestured to the chief jailer. "Fish him out. We're not done yet. Don't let him die."
The man collapsed onto the ground with a sickening thud, barely clinging to life. Black ants swarmed over his ravaged body, which twitched with the last remnants of consciousness. Scorpions and rats scattered across the floor, sending guards stumbling backward and maids fleeing in terror.
Yi Xiao felt her stomach churning, but when her eyes fell upon the thirteen kneeling prisoners, she gritted her teeth and forced steel into her voice. "What are you panicking for? There's water right there!"
The jailer, momentarily stunned, broke into a broad grin. He seized a wooden bucket and upended it over the man's body, drenching him in scalding water.
The howl that followed was barely human. Steam rose in a thick cloud, carrying with it countless black spots. The scattered creatures and the man himself writhed together in a grotesque dance of agony.
Feng Suige felt perspiration beading on his brow. He turned to look at Yi Xiao, noting the dazed expression that had crept across her features. He sighed softly and leaned closer to whisper, "Let me take over."
"No." Yi Xiao snapped back to full awareness, rising to her feet with sudden resolution. Her gold-embroidered robe swept across the damp floor as she moved forward. "Have you made up your minds? If you still refuse to speak, I have no choice left. I'll have to break your spines, piece by piece. I'm sure the Prince won't mind supporting you for life."
The sound of chattering teeth rose from the kneeling prisoners like a chorus of crickets. Yi Xiao's cold gaze swept over them methodically before settling on the one trembling most violently. She pointed, her smile cruel. "You're next."
"Mercy, Concubine!" The man's scream was immediate, desperate. "We were just following orders, we had no choice!"
"Whose orders?" Yi Xiao's eyes flashed dangerously. Her intense gaze silenced the others who had begun to protest, forcing their heads down in submission.
"It was… it was Lord Yu!" The man's voice cracked as he wept. "It wasn't our fault!"
Chaos erupted. The four senior ministers burst into simultaneous outcry. Feng Suige rose to his feet, his face darkening with fury. Catching Yi Xiao's questioning look, he ground out three words. "It was Concubine Zhuang!"
The phoenix carriage came to a graceful stop, and Feng Xi Yang descended with the help of a servant. Yesterday had unfolded unexpectedly—after conversing with the Empress Dowager for what she'd thought was a brief while, she had prepared to take her leave, only to have the Empress Dowager insist she stay for a meal. During dinner, the Empress Dowager had shared countless stories about Xia Jingshi's childhood, each anecdote more captivating than the last. Time had slipped away unnoticed until she realized with a start that the palace gates had long since closed. There had been no choice but to spend the night.
Now, walking toward Ming De Palace, Feng Xi Yang's heart was heavy with unease. Part of it stemmed from having stayed out without notice, but more troubling were the Empress Dowager's words, which continued to echo through her mind: "Can you persevere forever, understanding him, caring for him…"
Was it truly possible to love someone so completely, so unconditionally?
In her daze, she had heard her own voice answer as if from far away: "I can. For him, I can. As long as I can win his heart, I'll do anything."
The Empress Dowager had smiled then, gently stroking her hair. "I wasn't wrong about you. You truly are a good child. Marrying you is truly his blessing."
Despite the gentle tone, a chill had run down Feng Xi Yang's spine.
She found Xia Jingshi standing by Ning Bi Pool. He wore a sky-blue robe embroidered with gold thread, his figure still and contemplative as he gazed at the lotus-filled pond. Feng Xi Yang slowed her approach, her voice soft when she called out, "Husband…"
Almost simultaneously, Xia Jingshi turned his head.
In countless dreams, she had imagined this moment—him turning toward her, not for any particular reason, but with a faint smile and eyes gentle and clear.
And now, like the thousands of times he had turned in her thousands of night dreams, without the usual cold edge but filled with boundless loneliness and grace, Xia Jingshi slowly turned his head. He glanced at her with a smile. "You're back?"
"I'm back." Feng Xi Yang returned his smile, fighting to keep her heartbeat steady. "The Empress Dowager sent me back in her phoenix carriage."
Xia Jingshi raised an eyebrow. "What did you think of the Empress Dowager?"
Feng Xi Yang's face filled with admiration. "The Empress Dowager is very much like my late mother. Although I never met her, I feel that's how a mother should be – beautiful and kind."
"Is that so?" Xia Jingshi chuckled softly. "It seems you and the Empress Dowager got along well."
"Yes." Feng Xi Yang, entirely absorbed in the joy of his initiative in conversation, failed to notice the coldness lurking in his eyes. "The Empress Dowager is also very concerned about you…"
"Of course." Xia Jingshi's interruption was smooth, almost practiced. "If she doesn't care about me, no one in this world would."
"That's not true." Xi Yang lowered her head, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Even if no one else in the world cares for you, you still have Xi Yang."
Xia Jingshi stared at her for a long moment, something unreadable passing across his features. Then, suddenly, he burst into laughter and turned away without another word, leaving her standing alone by the lotus pond.
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