Where prosperity ends, flowers never end

In the Imperial Prison—

Liu Xun, dressed in a light blue brocade robe with wide sleeves, looked out of place standing in this smoky and foul place.

His black hair flowed down behind him, his eyebrows were cold, and his behavior was gentle, as if he was drawing a line between himself and this place.

"Miss Zuoqiu, I don't want to torture you. A girl can't stand the pain. It's better to admit it directly."

It sounded like gentle and considerate words, but when he said it in such a cold voice, it was no less than a threat.

In front of Ran Qianxi, he is as gentle, elegant, cold and silent as Tan Qianhuan, but in front of others, they are like yakshas.

"I didn't do it!"

Liu Xun raised his eyes, waved his hand and ordered people to bring the torture instruments, then calmly sat down at the desk to read.

"No matter what method you use, this officer must tell the truth."

"Yes."

The tongs were put up, and Zuoqiu Ruan'er screamed heartbreakingly, but Liu Xun still had the mind to read.

After the clamps were applied, Zuoqiu Ruan'er sat down on the ground, his whole body limp.

“When to admit it, when to stop.”

"Yes."

"I said I didn't do it!"

Liu Xun gently put the book down and walked over with his hands behind his back.

"I only believe that pain can make people tell the truth. Continue."

The executioner bowed again.

"Yes."

Zuoqiu Ruan'er's cries filled the imperial prison. Facing his daughter being tortured, Zuoqiu He could not hold back and came to find Ran Qianxi.

"Old minister, please see the Queen."

Ran Qianxi was hugging Li Nu and kissing him madly. When she looked up, there were still a few cat hairs on her face.

"Zuoqiu Zaicheng, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Zuo Qiuhe looked at her with sadness. The story that had been sealed for more than twenty years must come to light today.

"I, your Majesty, want to tell you a story..."

Ran Qianxi looked at him in confusion, with a strange tone and expression, just like the scene in a picture book where a father and daughter recognize each other.

"Oh, go ahead."

Zuo Qiuhe clenched his hands nervously, and still felt guilty when he thought about it now.

"Twenty-four years ago, I had a woman I loved deeply. She acted absurdly but had a kind heart. Every time I met her, I was deeply moved. Fortunately, God blessed me and she also loved me."

Ran Qianxi raised her eyebrows, wondering if he was here to tell her about his love history.

"There is nothing I can do about the changes in the world. In the end, I betrayed her and married another woman. She came to bless me with tears that day. I was so distressed. Although I have always abided by my own rules, that night was still absurd and out of control."

Ran Qianxi looked at him with sympathy, as if she had guessed who this woman was.

"and after?"

Zuo Qiuhe's eyes were wet and red, as if he was about to cry.

"Later... she married Ran Yuelian, who loved her so much. It was then that I learned that they already had a son. But after that night, she also became pregnant with my child. I couldn't change anything, so I could only make a longevity bracelet for our daughter..."

When she heard the three words "Ran Yuelian", Ran Qianxi's hair stood on end. She looked at the longevity bracelet on her left hand, but couldn't take it off no matter what she put on it.

"What did you say?!"

"Two years after I got married, my wife gave birth to a daughter for me. She knew I had another daughter and foolishly harmed her. She was young and ignorant. Madam, do you think my eldest daughter will forgive her..."

Ran Qianxi frowned. Putting aside other things, he chose to tell the secret today, obviously using family affection to hold herself hostage.

"Does my father know?"

Zuo Qiuhe's eyes were red with tears.

"I don't know, but I know he loves his daughter very much."

Ran Qianxi stood up and paced back and forth. How should she recognize her biological father who suddenly appeared? If others knew about it, both families would be guilty of deceiving the king.

After a moment she stopped.

"Your daughter is ugly but thinks she is beautiful. Who is her sister? She even harmed the queen. If she doesn't treat her brain, she will get into trouble again. What do you think... Zuoqiu Zaicheng..."

Zuo Qiu He was stunned. She actually agreed to let Zuo Qiu Ruan'er go.

"Madam, are you willing to help her?"

Ran Qianxi sat back down with an indifferent look.

"Who wants to help her? She has gone insane and attempted to murder the queen, so she should be sent away to recover. Then let her mother go with her and come back after she is cured."

A tear appeared in Zuo Qiuhe's right eye and he bowed to the sky, feeling mixed emotions of sadness and joy.

"Old minister, I will obey your order."

Ran Qianxi waved her hand and Zuo Qiuhe stood up.

"Zuoqiu Zaicheng, you have to testify for me that this longevity bracelet was given to me by my biological father, Ran Yuelian, the president of the Hanlin Academy."

"Old minister understands."

Zuo Qiuhe turned around and was suddenly stopped by Ran Qianxi. She hesitated for a moment and said.

"Zuoqiu Zaicheng, I have lived a good life these years..."

Zuo Qiuhe raised his hand to wipe away his tears, but his nose and heart still felt sore.

"Old minister knows."

In the evening, Zuo Qiuhe sent an imperial decree to the imperial prison, and no one dared to use torture to investigate.

At dusk, Liu came looking for me.

"Xi'er, was it you who issued the imperial decree?"

Ran Qianxi is tying pigtails for her cat. She can play with a cat for a whole day...

"Oh no, that woman is sick. Send her to the countryside for treatment. There is a shaman dance at the east end of the village."

Last time she said that all the shamans were in the west.

"She clearly hired someone to murder you, why did you spare her life?"

Ran Qianxi looked at him.

"Yeah, he's gone mad."

"I really don't understand why you would issue such an order."

Ran Qianxi handed him an orange.

"Hey~ sit down and eat an orange first."

Liu Xun took the orange and sat down.

"Xier..."

"Ah, stop nagging me, it's like you're in class... I'm fine, right? Besides, don't you always say Zuo Qiuhe is a rare loyal minister? What... ah, iron-hearted loyalty... uh... outspoken and courageous... what else?"

"But his daughter's bad behavior almost got you into trouble."

"Tsk~ What ability do you have as a little girl?"

"What if you were not rescued by His Highness Nanyue? What if you were really kidnapped? What if you...what would you do to me? What would you do to your parents?"

Ran Qianxi touched his head, as if coaxing his wife.

"Don't worry, I'll find a way to escape if I'm captured, don't worry~"

Liu Xun still felt scared and wanted to give her a lesson earnestly, but she predicted it and kissed him on the lips in an instant, and he completely forgot what he wanted to say.

"Stop nagging me, come sit over here and let me touch you."

Liu Xun glanced at her and sat down impatiently.