After reading my mind, Daddy, why don't you smile?

Shangguan Shu's hair was disheveled, and his official uniform had been stripped off, leaving only a white undershirt, with black and red blood stains on his back.

The jailer carried him out of the cell and tied him to a cross.

The cell was dim, with a bit of moonlight like snow and hail leaking in through the window on the top. Various torture instruments were placed on both sides of the wooden frame, with the blades glowing coldly, hidden in the darkness. Candles were placed in the four corners.

Opposite was a table and chairs, with a tea set on the table, and steam rising above the tea bowls.

The man had his head down until he heard the sound of footsteps.

He looked up at the person who came, and the next second, his pupils froze.

"Ying'er..."

Zhao Ying, who was supposed to be imprisoned like him, appeared in front of him with her head and face straightened.

He seemed to have thought of something, and the color of his eyes changed instantly, confusion, thought, vigilance, enlightenment... and finally, there was an indissoluble darkness.

Perhaps, he understood when he was locked up and no one brought him medicine to treat his injuries and no one asked him questions.

Zhao Ying sat opposite him.

Her clear eyes stared at him without saying a word.

The two seemed to be competing with each other, and neither of them was willing to speak first.

In the end, Shangguan Shu couldn't bear the pain and coughed.

Hearing the voice, Zhao Ying raised her eyebrows and curled the corners of her lips slightly.

Looks like he's in a good mood.

Shangguan Shu laughed hoarsely, then said, "Your Highness, what a good plan! Your Highness's move today... ahem... is not aimed at Princess Huai'an, but at... me, the humble minister, right?"

Shangguan Shu seemed to understand that the woman in front of him was no longer his wife, but the princess of Da Chu, the princess who wanted to break up with him in a fair and impartial manner.

I simply stopped calling Zhao Ying by her maiden name.

"I don't know why Your Highness is so determined to send me to the Imperial Clan Court... I hope Your Highness can tell me."

The man's tone was lukewarm, just as usual, without any trace of the desolation and fear of being a prisoner.

"It doesn't hurt to tell you!"

Zhao Ying stood up and slowly walked towards Shangguan Shu.

"Remember the last time you asked me what Yue'er said to me..."

Shangguan Shu's body stiffened, and he slowly raised his head and looked at her.

There was a thick and unresolvable hatred and...resentment in Zhao Ying's calm eyes.

"I lied to you..."

"Yue'er told me a lot."

"She said that you have always been thinking about Zhao Yao, and your affection towards me was all false. She also said... hehe." Zhao Ying seemed to find it funny and chuckled twice, "She said that you were deliberately plotting to usurp the throne!"

As soon as Zhao Ying finished speaking, Shangguan Shu's pupils trembled, he held his breath, and his Adam's apple rolled uncomfortably.

Zhao Ying put her hands behind her back and walked around in front of Shangguan Shu. "She also said that all the members of my Zhao family died in your hands, and that you would make Zhao Yao the queen, Zhao Ziyin the crown prince, and Zhao Zihua the princess... hehe..."

Zhao Ying leaned over to Shangguan Shu, staring at him with red eyes, "Shangguan Shu? Why did you want to confer the title of Lord Zhao Ziyin?"

"Because he's your son, right?"

Shangguan Shu was visibly panicked. He opened his eyes wide, looked at Zhao Ying, and said in a trembling voice: "Ying'er, listen to my explanation..."

Zhao Ying was not willing to listen to even a word he said.

She accused in a deep voice, each word tearing her heart out, "So! My Qi You was harmed to this extent by the bastard you gave birth to?"

"How could I be so foolish as to sympathize with you, tolerate Zhao Yao, and even take care of her daughter for her?!"

She grabbed his collar and yelled, "Shangguan Shu! How can you be so unworthy of me!!"

"Ying'er..." He looked at her with heartache.

Zhao Ying slapped the man with her backhand, using all her strength, and soon a mark appeared on the man's face.

She said angrily: "You deserve to die!"

"If you want to vent your anger, then go ahead!"

Zhao Ying sat back panting, took a sip of tea and calmed his temper.

"Ever since I found out your true colors, I've been thinking all day and all night about how proud you and Zhao Yao must be in private, playing me, my brother, my father, and our entire Zhao family around, thinking that you were my brother's right-hand man and Zhao Yao was a true saint who was above worldly matters!"

"Every time I think about it, it's like I took a poison that penetrates my intestines. There's no part of my body that doesn't hurt."

"Ying'er, you've wronged me. I have no intention of being disloyal. How can you convict me based on Yue'er's one-sided words?"

"You still want to quibble?"

Shangguan Shu stared at her with indulgence.

Zhao Ying was so angry that she was at her wit's end!

But she soon calmed down, "Do you think I dare to send you in without evidence?"

She sneered and said leisurely, "There is a secret room hidden in your study, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Ying noticed that Shangguan Shu's expression turned grim.

"You're in?"

Zhao Ying did not answer directly, but continued, "You have another item hidden in your secret room..."

Zhao Ying hesitated to speak.

She thought Shangguan Shu understood.

"My brother has taken people to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to search for stolen goods. Soon, the charge of treason will be confirmed. I know you hold the tiger talisman and the millions of troops in the border areas, but I am afraid you will not be able to wait for them to rescue you."

Shangguan Shu spoke in a deep voice, his eyes dark, "Ying'er, do you have to be so ruthless?"

Zhao Ying walked in front of him again, her sharp armor lifted the man's chin, and her eyebrows revealed a seductive look.

"Is this considered absolute?"

"Shangguan Shu, have you forgotten that I grew up in the inner court of the imperial palace? My methods are far more numerous and cruel than you can imagine!"

"But I recently discovered a new way to torture people..."

"This still depends on our precious daughter Yue'er. She said... if you imprison me after you ascend the throne, I will live a life worse than death for the rest of my life!"

"Today we have swapped identities. Don't worry, I won't kill you. I will destroy all your martial arts, lock you up, and make you beg me for food and clothing..."

After Zhao Ying finished speaking, she looked at Shangguan Shu provocatively, waiting for him to lose his composure and curse at her, but unexpectedly, this man was very emotionally stable and remained unmoved despite such humiliation.

On the contrary...why are his eyes getting brighter and brighter?

Why did she feel that he was excited?

Zhao Ying turned around irritably, "Don't you love Zhao Yao?"

"I want you to watch her being executed. Not only her, but also your two children, your brothers, and all those who participated in the rebellion. I want you to watch their entire clan being wiped out because of your ridiculous love. You will never be able to turn over a new leaf, and you will live in pain and guilt for the rest of your life!"

“Hahahaha…” Shangguan Shu’s chest trembled and he couldn’t stop laughing.

"It really is murderous and heart-breaking!"

"Zhao Ying...it turns out to be the Zhao Ying like you..."

"You've had a hard time pretending for the past thirty years, right?"

"If your brother had even a third of your ruthlessness, how could he have been deceived to this extent?"

Zhao Ying narrowed her eyes, "You admit it?"

Shangguan Shu smiled wickedly, staring at her with eyes full of interest and madness.

"But after you say this today, you must make sure you find evidence of my treason, otherwise..."

He raised his head and closed his eyes, murmuring, "Imprisonment... imprisonment... what a good word!"

Zhao Ying felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.

Even though she knew he was at the end of his rope, she was just trying to scare her.

She said calmly: "You wait..."