She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

Before dawn, Shen Jingshu was awakened by a nightmare. She sat up abruptly, her chest heaving violently, and a fine layer of cold sweat had seeped onto her forehead.

She gasped for breath, as if trying to expel all the stale air from her lungs to relieve the feeling of suffocation.

"Are you having another nightmare, young lady?"

Jinse's voice came at just the right time, carrying a hint of concern, pulling Shen Jingshu back to reality from that terrible nightmare abyss.

Shen Jingshu didn't answer, but just gripped the brocade quilt tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. Her heart pounded like a drum, each beat louder than the last, as if it would leap out of her chest.

The bloody scene in her dream clung to her like a leech, no matter how much she struggled, it clung to her relentlessly and could not be shaken off.

She dreamt that the Shen mansion was engulfed in flames, with fire shooting into the sky. She stood by, watching helplessly as her loved ones fell one by one into pools of blood, their faces filled with terror and despair.

The piercing screams, like the wailing of ghosts from the deepest hell, echoed in her ears, each sound like a lament, making her eardrums ache.

Fu Zijin, dressed in a crimson official robe, slowly walked up to her, looking down at her with a gaze as cold as frost, devoid of any warmth. He said to her with a tone of pity, "Jing Shu, I told you long ago, you should believe me."

"Don't be afraid, young lady. It's just a nightmare. You'll be fine when you wake up." Jinse saw that Shen Jingshu's face was pale, so she quickly stepped forward and gently patted her back, comforting her softly.

Yaoqin brought over a cup of calming tea, its steam rising gently. "Miss, have some tea and calm your mind."

Shen Jingshu took the teacup, her fingertips trembling slightly, causing the tea to ripple. She lowered her eyes and remained silent, concealing the fear and sorrow in them, but her heart was filled with turbulent thoughts.

Since her rebirth, she has been cautious and meticulous in protecting the Shen family. However, this dream is like a resounding slap in the face, constantly reminding her that the road ahead is still full of thorns and dangers. If she is not careful, the Shen family will fall into the same irredeemable situation as in her previous life.

"Is the young lady worried about her marriage to the Commandant?" Yaoqin asked, noticing her serious expression.

Shen Jingshu shook her head, set the teacup aside, and gently stroked the rim of the cup with her fingertips.

Although Jiang Jin'an's decision to move the wedding date forward was a momentary impulse, she secretly felt that it might not be a bad thing.

Fu Zijin, this unpredictable cancer, must eventually be eradicated completely.

Only in this way can we eliminate future troubles and ensure the Shen family's peace for life.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her fear and anxiety. She couldn't lose her composure; she had to calm down and think carefully about what to do next.

"Go, prepare water, I want to take a bath."

“Miss, it’s still early…” Yaoqin hesitated before speaking.

"It's alright, I need to clear my head."

Shen Jingshu put on her robe and got off the bed. Her bare feet touched the cold ground, and the chill spread from her feet to her whole body, but it gradually cleared her confused thoughts.

She must make Fu Zijin play his proper role as soon as possible.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The atmosphere in the interrogation room of the Commandery was grim. The walls were made of grayish-blue bricks, and the dim candlelight flickered in the cramped space, making the various instruments of torture hanging on the walls appear even more grotesque and terrifying.

A faint, pungent smell of blood permeated the air, mingling with the damp, musty odor and making one want to vomit.

Countless prisoners have been interrogated here, and countless souls have perished here.

Jiang Jin'an sat upright at the head of the table, dressed in a black robe, exuding an imposing aura. He lowered his eyes and played with a jade thumb ring in his hand, his knuckles lightly tapping the table. The rhythmic sound was like a death knell, sending a chill down one's spine.

This was a return gift from Shen Jingshu, which he liked very much and couldn't help but take it out to look at.

Fu Zijin stood opposite him, his figure slightly thin, yet he still maintained his gentle and refined demeanor, completely out of place in this gloomy and terrifying interrogation room.

"Have you really thought this through?" Jiang Jin'an asked, breaking the silence.

Fu Zijin raised his head, his face as gentle and humble as ever. He nodded slightly, "Yes, I hope you will grant my request, Commandant."

"what do you want?"

Jiang Jin'an put the jade thumb ring back into his pocket. He couldn't let someone like Fu Zijin see it.

"Why ask a question you already know the answer to?" Fu Zijin retorted.

"You're quite greedy." Jiang Jin'an curled his lips and let out a light sneer. "I can agree to your request, but you need to show sincerity."

"It's natural."

As Fu Zijin spoke, he calmly took out a letter from his pocket and presented it with both hands. "This is one of the secret letters between Wen Huaiqing and his cronies. Please take a look, sir."

Jiang Jin'an took the letter, unfolded it, and read it carefully. The contents of the letter were shocking. Between the lines, it was clear that Wen Huaiqing had wolfish ambitions and vicious schemes.

He put the letter down, looked up at Fu Zijin, his eyes sharp as knives, "Is this your pledge of allegiance?"

"Exactly."

"Do you know what the consequences are for betraying Wen Huaiqing?"

“I am aware of that. But rather than waiting to die, it is better to take a gamble.” Fu Zijin nodded again, his tone calm.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Jin'an asked with great interest.

“Wen Huaiqing is suspicious by nature. Now that I have developed a grudge against him, he will deal with me sooner or later. Rather than waiting for him to make a move, I might as well strike first.”

Fu Zijin was telling the truth; he knew Wen Huaiqing all too well.

"Well said, 'Strike first,'" Jiang Jin'an stood up, walked up to Fu Zijin, looked down at him with a smile, "Do you know, what I admire most about you is your ruthlessness."

Upon hearing this, Fu Zijin felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that his risky move had paid off.

He looked at Jiang Jin'an, only to see him standing with his hands behind his back, his posture as upright as a pine tree, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, its edge fully exposed, making people dare not look directly at him.

At this moment, he truly felt the powerful pressure emanating from Jiang Jin'an, a pressure that came from his long-standing position of power, pressing down heavily on him.

The flickering candlelight cast long, slender shadows of the two figures, which intertwined and twisted on the wall like two wild beasts testing and wary of each other.

"Since you have this determination, I will give you this opportunity."

Jiang Jin'an's voice rang out again, "However, you must remember, you only have one chance."

"Thank you for your kindness, sir." Fu Zijin bowed.

"Go down," Jiang Jin'an waved his hand. "Remember, your time is running out."

Fu Zijin bowed again, then turned and left the interrogation room.

Jiang Jin'an watched his departing figure for a long time before turning back to the table, picking up the secret letter, and reading it again.

The handwriting in the letter, unlike Wen Huaiqing's, was wild and unrestrained, revealing a strong ambition and murderous intent.

"Young Master, is this Fu Zijin trustworthy?" Lin Yu appeared in the interrogation room at some point, looking in the direction Fu Zijin had left with some worry.

"One should not completely disbelieve it, nor should one believe it entirely."

Jiang Jin'an's gaze gradually turned cold. He placed the letter on the candle flame and watched it burn slowly until it turned to ashes.