During my escape from famine, I survived by eavesdropping on the whispers of food.

Madam Ning was so thin she was almost unrecognizable, her eyes were dull and lifeless, and her brows were furrowed with worry.

Upon seeing Ning Zhaoyi, she both cried and laughed: "Ah Zhao, who sent you? If I had gone earlier, I would have told you not to interfere..."

When the merchant girl saw Ning Zhaoyi, she tugged at her sleeve, saying, "Oh! Is this the Crown Princess? Are you here to repay the debt?"

Ning Zhaoyi took a deep breath, shook off the merchant girl, and said sternly, "How dare you! You dare to be so disrespectful to my mother..."

The merchant girl was shocked and knelt down to pay her respects, but she kept her mouth shut: "Your Highness, why don't you give me ten thousand strings of cash so I can leave?"

Ning Zhaoyi whispered instructions to Bicai.

"Yes." Bi Cai responded and led the merchant girl away to settle her in.

Ning Zhaoyi took a deep breath. Just now, she could only have Bicai calm the merchant girl down.

Fortunately, she brought some treasured calligraphy and paintings with her when she left the palace, which she could use as collateral to get by.

Those paintings and calligraphy were sold out in the market. One painting of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums quietly entered the East Palace. The eunuch held the painting and calligraphy and said ingratiatingly, "Your Highness, this painting is the work of Mr. Kongchen. It is usually priceless and hard to find. It was bought by Minister Xu of the Court of Judicial Review, who knew that you had a refined taste, as a special gift for you."

Song Nanzhou put down his brush, his brows furrowed. "Someone who is so passionate about painting... has actually been forced to sell his paintings?"

"Who are you talking about?" the eunuch asked, puzzled.

"Where is the Crown Princess Ning?" he asked instead of answering.

The eunuch replied, "Her Majesty should have arrived at the Ning residence by now."

Song Nanzhou threw the wolf-hair brush on the table and said coldly, "Prepare the carriage for Ning Mansion."

Ning Mansion, Flower Hall.

Ning Zhaoyi looked at the things Lu Zhijing had brought and said with a troubled expression, "Lu Zhijing, I'm so grateful for your help today, and I haven't even thanked you yet, and now you've brought so many things..."

Lu Zhijing, tall and elegant, interrupted Ning Zhaoyi and took out a bamboo flute.

"Zhaoyi, we grew up together, so don't be so formal. I came here without telling our parents. If you ever need my help in the future, just play the flute in the backyard, and I'll have someone keep an eye out for you. You can always find me."

Ning Zhaoyi's eyes softened slightly. When she and her brother were young, they always made appointments by communicating with each other through bamboo flutes because their aunt was always strict.

Suddenly, a cold shout rang out.

"I can call you anytime? I had no idea that the position of General of the Central Army was such a leisurely one!"

Chapter Four

A young man dressed in a robe with four claws and a python design strode in.

His voice was indifferent, his eyes sharp, as if he were a born ruler, exuding endless pressure.

Ning Zhaoyi was taken aback, biting her lower lip slightly. Why was he here...?

Lu Zhijing was also taken aback for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Highness, that was not what I meant just now..."

"Is that so? Then what do you mean?" Song Nanzhou stood tall and elegant, his hands behind his back.

"Your Majesty, I only..." Lu Zhijing began to speak, but was interrupted.

Song Nanzhou gave a cold smile.

"You just want to have your way with my women?"

“Brother Lu is not that kind of person, Your Highness, please be careful with your words!” Ning Zhaoyi said in surprise, her red lips slightly parted.

Song Nanzhou's face was even worse, its expression terrifyingly grim.

His eyes were practically spitting fire as he grabbed Ning Zhaoyi's wrist and dragged her outside.

Ning Zhaoyi staggered, her face slightly bitter.

He was incredibly strong, and in the blink of an eye, he had pinched her wrist until it was covered in bruises.

"Your Highness...it hurts..." she protested.

Song Nanzhou took a deep breath, the nameless fire in his heart burning endlessly.

He pushed Ning Zhaoyi into the house and began to coerce her step by step.

"Weren't you and your childhood sweetheart just a moment ago getting all lovey-dovey? Now you know what pain is? Pain will make you remember whose woman you are!"

Ning Zhaoyi's heart pounded.

He took another half step forward, and her calf was pressed against the edge of the couch.

One wrong move and you'll fall backward.

Ning Zhaoyi knew something was wrong and tried to get up, but her shoulders were pressed down by a pair of large hands.

"Rip..." The sound of tearing cloth rang out.

Song Nanzhou's large hand wandered inside her collar, sliding down her neck.

"Let go!" Ning Zhaoyi's face turned red as she struggled desperately.

In Song Nanzhou's eyes, her strength was no different from that of an ant struggling. He easily pinned down her hands and pressed his legs down on hers.

She glared at him angrily, like a lamb about to burst into flames.

What exactly does he want to do? What does he really think of her?

He was the one who neglected and humiliated her.

He was the one who stood by and watched her die.

He was the one who agreed to the divorce, and now he's the one who wants to have a daytime argument with her.

Could it be that in his eyes she was just a puppet that could be summoned and dismissed at will?

Even a dog should have its own temperament!

Ning Zhaoyi gritted her teeth and said, word by word, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect! We are already divorcing!"

"What if I say no?" Song Nanzhou even had some leeway, propping himself up on his arms and looking at her with a mocking expression.

The corners of his eyes were tinged with crimson, clearly indicating that he had no intention of letting her go.

Ning Zhaoyi felt dizzy and opened her mouth.

"Hiss..." Song Nanzhou gasped, a clear ring of teeth marks appearing on his tiger's mouth!

Ning Zhaoyi bit down hard and deeply, and taking advantage of Song Nanzhou's brief moment of pain, she quickly fled and shrank into the corner of the bed.

"Ning Zhaoyi, are you a dog?" Song Nanzhou said coldly.

There wasn't much anger in his tone.

Instead, there was a hint of mockery.

He was used to the docile and humble Ning Zhaoyi, but he found her rebellious nature quite refreshing.

Ning Zhaoyi glared at her, returning her fierce gaze.

Like a fighting beast.

He slowly stepped forward, grasped her rounded, fragrant shoulders, and said calmly, "I forgot to mention, I brought the imperial physician with me, and I also specially requested a divine medicine from my father... Do you... still intend to defy me now?"

Song Nanzhou's eyes were deep, making it clear that if she didn't want him, he would turn around and leave.

Ning Zhaoyi suddenly opened her mouth wide. Shameless! Pathetic!

This is a naked threat!

“You…” Her red lips trembled slightly.

"Listen to me, don't move." Even through the fabric, Song Nanzhou could feel the smooth, milky skin, warm to the touch.

He swallowed lightly, revealing more of his exposed skin through the torn fabric.

Ning Zhaoyi's eyes were filled with mist, her resentment and grievances churning back and forth, but she dared not move again.

Song Nanzhou pressed her under the brocade quilt and leaned over her.

Half an hour later, he rose, satisfied, staring at the trembling woman in his arms. His heart softened, and he said in a hoarse voice, "If you were..."

Suddenly, a eunuch's shout came from outside.

"Your Highness! Urgent report! Urgent report... The Princess has suddenly fallen ill, please come and see her!"

chapter Five

Seeing Song Nanzhou's expression tighten, Ning Zhaoyi almost immediately pushed her away.

She threw on her clothes and got up, hurrying outside while saying, "She's ill, why did it take so long to send someone to fetch me? Lasso the horse!"

The building was empty.

Ning Zhaoyi lay half-reclined on the couch, the warmth around her gradually fading.

She couldn't tell whether she was happy or sad; she only felt mocked.

Everyone used to say that Song Nanzhou and Tang Ru were a match made in heaven. If she hadn't suddenly interfered, how could the two sides have been so deadlocked?

Song Nanzhou is already married, and Tang Ru refuses to remarry.

Naturally, Tang Ru's noble status prevented her from becoming a concubine.

There had been rumors that even though Ning Zhaoyi was the Crown Princess and seemed to have a glamorous life, she would only become a concubine once the Crown Prince successfully ascended the throne.

The empress's position was reserved for Tang Ru.

Judging from Song Nanzhou's hurried and flustered state today, there is some truth to these rumors.

Fortunately, she was already prepared for a divorce, so she didn't have to suffer this humiliation.

Ning Zhaoyi took a deep breath, suppressing all her inappropriate emotions, and washed and changed with Bicai's help before stepping into the front courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, one is immediately greeted by a strong smell of medicine.

Ning Zhaoyi took two quick steps, pushed open the door, and saw Madam Ning sitting on the edge of the bed, secretly shedding tears.

When she looked at the bed again, her eyes immediately turned red.

My once majestic and handsome father is seriously ill, bedridden, his face as pale as paper.

"Father……"

Ning Zhaoyi lunged forward.

Upon seeing her arrive, Ning Fu struggled to his feet, but after a moment's effort, he gave up, panting as he looked at her and said, "Good child, why are you back?"

Ning Zhaoyi held back her tears and personally served tea and water, attending to her at the bedside.

She said softly, "Father, I'm worried about home."

"No need, don't worry about home... Your father and mother are worried about you. Your Highness, have you treated you badly because of what happened at home?" Ning Fuji reached out tremblingly and touched the top of her head, just like when she was a child.

Ning Zhaoyi felt a tightness in her chest and a taut throat.

"No, His Highness the Crown Prince just left, and he even gave me some money to help him. I'll take that money to the prison to make arrangements in a little while. Even if my brother is to be exiled, I will make sure everything is settled so that he suffers less." She wiped the moisture from the corner of her eyes.

Looking at his daughter's expression, Ning Fuji understood perfectly.

She is not doing well.

Unfortunately, he was already seriously ill and had no choice but to support his daughter.

“Fine, fine… In the end, it’s been unfair to you… Your brother, he…” Ning Fuji’s beard trembled, and he hesitated to speak.

Ning Zhaoyi shook her head and forced a smile, saying, "We're family, let's not talk about feeling wronged."

After helping her father finish his medicine, she and her mother walked out hand in hand.

“Bi Cai.” Ning Zhaoyi nodded.

Bi Cai understood, took out a silver ingot from her sleeve, and handed it to Madam Ning with both hands.

"This..." Madam Ning was taken aback.

“Our family has fallen on hard times, and Mother has dismissed the servants and maids. There must still be some things that need to be covered. There’s not much I can do, but please accept this small token of my appreciation,” Ning Zhaoyi said solemnly.

Madam Ning covered her mouth and choked up, almost bursting into tears.

"Okay, okay... Zhaoyi, thank goodness for you..."

Ning Zhaoyi comforted her mother, and she and Bicai hitched up a carriage and headed to the prison.

The prison was a heavily guarded military location and not easy to enter. She pleaded until her lips were sore and offered the money she had left over from selling the paintings to try and get in, but she only managed to get an hour's time.

"Go in quickly, I'll keep an eye on things for you," the jailer waved impatiently.

Ning Zhaoyi didn't want to delay, so she bowed and went into the prison.

The prison was dimly lit, filled with the pungent smell of blood, and occasionally punctuated by screams of torture.

She walked with trepidation and fear, afraid that when she saw her brother, he would no longer be a human being.

Fortunately, when she found Ning Muchuan's cell, she found that Ning Muchuan had lost some weight and was wearing prison clothes, but there were no wounds on his body.

Ning Zhaoyi breathed a sigh of relief and choked out, "Brother!"

Ning Muchuan had his eyes closed when he heard the familiar voice. He shuddered and then opened his eyes and stood up.

"Zhaoyi! What are you doing in a place like this? Go back immediately!"

His tone was harsh, but Ning Zhaoyi could hear the concern in it.

"Brother...you haven't suffered, have you?" Her throat tightened.

Ning Muchuan softened his tone: "I haven't suffered, but I feel sorry for you. I spoke carelessly before the Emperor, angering the Heavenly Eye, which will inevitably implicate you. I deeply regret it..."

“No,” Ning Zhaoyi cried, shaking her head desperately, “Brother, I’m fine, I’m perfectly fine.”

The brother and sister held hands tightly, separated by iron bars.

Suddenly, a cold snort rang out.

"You two seem to have a very close sibling relationship."

“Your Highness the Crown Prince…” Ning Muchuan’s gaze sharpened.

Ning Zhaoyi felt a chill run down her spine. "What are you doing here again?"

"Where can't I go if I want to?" Song Nanzhou walked over slowly, his face icy cold.

His gaze was fixed on their clasped hands, and his expression gradually became increasingly hostile.

Ning Zhaoyi knew something was wrong, fearing he might say something unpleasant, so she quickly grabbed Song Nanzhou and pulled him away with all her might.

As soon as she stepped out of the prison gate, Song Nanzhou grabbed her wrist, leaned in close, and said coldly, "Ning Zhaoyi, you and your brother really have a good relationship... You hold hands even in broad daylight, who knows what you'll do at night. Hmm?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ning Zhaoyi was incredulous.

Song Nanzhou increased the pressure on his hand, and Ning Zhaoyi could almost hear the bones in her hand cracking.

Her face was pale.

Song Nanzhou coldly replied, "Am I wrong? If I remember correctly, your brother was adopted and has no blood relation with you, is that right?"