cold clothes

"Why can't I suddenly exert any strength..." Liang Shuyun groaned as he collapsed to the ground, unable to move as if he were paralyzed.

Leng Yi took the cloth out of her mouth, breathed heavily as if she had survived a disaster, and sat up with the strength of her legs, her blank mind trying to think about the current situation.

Liang Shuyun looked like she was being poisoned. Poison? Leng Yi suddenly thought of Yin Jiu's poison. Wasn't it some kind of laxative, but a poison that made people weak in the limbs?

Yin Jiu, you little rascal... you can still be useful in a pinch.

Leng Yi's joy was evident on her face.

After regaining her senses, Leng Yi cautiously observed Liang Shuyun. He was lying on the ground writhing like a soft-bodied animal, his limbs weak and limp, making it very difficult for him to move. It seemed that Yin Jiu's medicine was quite potent. Leng Yi felt a little relieved and picked up the dagger that had been thrown on the ground to cut the ropes binding his hands.

After freeing herself from all restraints and standing up to tidy herself up, Leng Yi looked down at Liang Shuyun from her high position. Who would have thought that the once smug Vice Minister of Works was now crawling on the ground like an old dog, while the weak and lowly maid was bowing down?

"What have you done...you lowly whore, I'll make you wish you were dead!" Liang Shuyun's refined old face was twisted with resentment and terror.

"Here you go, you can use this dagger however you like." Yun Qiu's bewitching voice rang in his ears, and Leng Yi suddenly fell silent as if possessed by a demon, his eyes dark blue and sinister.

Leng Yi tilted her head, innocently remarking, "Oh, so this is what it looks like when people are scared."

"You...you dare! Guards—" Liang Shuyun cried out in panic, but Leng Yi quickly shoved a piece of cotton cloth into his mouth, leaving him only able to whimper helplessly.

"When you were abusing others, did you ever think you would end up like that yourself?" Leng Yi said quietly, then without blinking, she stabbed Liang Shuyun in the shoulder.

Liang Shuyun convulsed in pain, his limbs flailing wildly. Leng Yi quickly retreated, and Liang Shuyun tried to get up several times by bracing himself on his hands and feet, but he fell back down each time. The effects of the drug made his limbs completely weak and powerless, like a gecko with broken arms and legs.

Dark worms, frail old dogs, crippled geckos... this is what scum deserves!

"Has Sister Yunmei ever experienced this pain?" Leng Yi pulled out the dagger, then stabbed it back in hard. She felt immense pleasure at seeing Liang Shuyun trembling and contorting in pain as if she were having an epileptic seizure.

"How is it? Does it hurt? Does it feel good? Is this what torture feels like? I understand you, Lord Liang, I understand you." Leng Yi gripped the hilt of the knife and slowly rotated it to reopen the wound. Dark red blood flowed out, and the metallic smell assaulted his nose and mouth.

Torture is never enjoyable. Leng Yi felt guilty towards Yun Mei because even when faced with Liang Shuyun, who had tormented her life, she couldn't feel it was all justified. Liang Shuyun deserved to die, and all the sins he had caused to those he had harmed should be avenged on him. But after personally carrying out the punishment, she deeply felt his sinfulness. Hurting others, making them bleed and suffer... what's so good about that? What's so good about such a cruel act?

Leng Yi abruptly let go and fled as if escaping, retching as she desperately tried to get away from the stench of blood, only to find her hands stained with blood.

A slight dizziness washed over her, and Leng Yi couldn't help but close her eyes. The dried tear tracks made her eyes exceptionally dry, causing tears to well up and spill out continuously.

She wasn't crying because of her emotions; it was just that her eyes were too sensitive.

Suddenly, Liang Shuyun stirred as if she was about to sit up. Leng Yi's nerves tightened again, worried that the effects of the medicine were wearing off. Just then, a loud knocking on the door almost caused her heart to stop.

"Open the door, Imperial Guards!" The powerful voice boomed like thunder.

Leng Yi's legs went weak and she collapsed, her mind racing as she tried to figure out what to do... She had to pretend to be the victim no matter what. Meanwhile, Liang Shuyun's eyes shone brightly, and she began to sob loudly.

The knocking on the door started again.

Someone suggested, "Why don't we just break down the door and go in?"

"Tsk, it's been so long since it's opened, there must be..."

Yun Qiu's voice came at just the right moment: "Esteemed Imperial Guards, is there any important business for you at Fengxiang Pavilion? At this moment, Lord Liang Shuyun is in the Juyi Elegant Room."

"It is Yunqiu, the most beautiful courtesan. I am Hu Guangsheng, the commander of the Imperial Guard. I have come here for Liang Shuyun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works."

Yun Qiu arrived. With Yun Qiu outside dealing with the Jinwu Guards, it was unlikely that they would immediately break down the door. Leng Yi decisively tore her clothes and then tried to crawl under Liang Shuyun to create a false impression. However, before she could turn Liang Shuyun over, her neck was grabbed.

Liang Shuyun's eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets, as if all the strength in his body was concentrated in the hand gripping Leng Yi's neck, trying to strangle Leng Yi to death.

Leng Yi suddenly felt suffocated, but this also gave her the satisfaction. She forcefully removed the cotton cloth from Liang Shuyun's mouth.

"Ah—you little bitch, your death is near!" Liang Shuyun roared angrily, his hand tightening even more, as if the strength had returned to him. Liang Shuyun felt a surge of smug joy.

He then planned to grab Leng Yi by the neck with both hands and kill this little prostitute who had ambushed and humiliated him. How dare a prostitute climb over him!

Leng Yi's face turned purple. If he didn't struggle, he would suffocate and die. So he started punching and kicking, and his hand touched Liang Shuyun's shoulder. He gripped the hilt of the knife and moved it slightly.

"Ah—!" In just one moment, Liang Shuyun remembered the taste of pain.

Liang Shuyun's screams clearly alerted the people outside the door. The Imperial Guards immediately burst in and were all shocked by the scene inside the room. Yun Qiu also screamed.

Seeing the Jinwu Guards' faces light up with joy, Liang Shuyun immediately ordered, "Why aren't you here and arresting this little slut? She's incredibly audacious to harm an official of the imperial court!"

Upon hearing this, the commander of the Imperial Guards snapped out of his shock and solemnly ordered, "Quickly separate them and arrest Liang Shuyun!"

Liang Shuyun's smile froze instantly. He was still dazed when the tall Jinwu Guards grabbed him, and at the same time, his wounds were pulled, causing him to grimace. He shouted in panic, "What's going on? The one you should be arresting is that lowly servant! Why are you arresting me!"

"Cough cough." Leng Yi was rescued from Liang Shuyun's clutches, and Yun Qiu quickly came over to help her up.

"Are you OK?"

"Sister Yunqiu!" Lengyi grabbed Yunqiu's arm and began to cry, "Sister Yunqiu, Lord Liang wants to kill me! He, he's a beast! He killed Sister Yunmei, and he plans to kill me the same way he killed Sister Yunmei!"