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

Lu Jun's large hand wandered inside her collar, sliding down her neck.

"Let go!" Qin Shuangshuang's face turned red as she struggled desperately.

To Lu Jun, 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!

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

"What if I say no?" Lu Jun 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.

Qin Shuangshuang felt dizzy and opened her mouth.

"Hiss..." Lu Jun gasped, a clear ring of teeth marks appearing on his hand!

Qin Shuangshuang bit down hard and deeply, and taking advantage of Lu Jun's brief moment of pain, she quickly fled and shrank into the corner of the bed.

"Qin Shuangshuang, are you a dog?" Lu Jun 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 Qin Shuangshuang, but he found her rebellious nature quite refreshing.

Qin Shuangshuang 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?"

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

Qin Shuangshuang 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, Lu Jun could feel the smooth, milky skin, warm to the touch.

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

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

Lu Jun 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!"

Qin Shuang's eyes tightened as she looked at Lu Jun's expression, and she 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.

Qin Shuangshuang 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 thought that Dao Jun and Tang Ru Shi were a perfect match. If she hadn't suddenly intervened, how could the two sides have reached such a stalemate?

Lu Jun is already married, but Tang Ru refuses to marry another.

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

There had been rumors that even though Qin Shuangshuang 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 Lu Jun's hurried and flustered state today, there is some truth to this gossip.

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

Qin Shuangshuang 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.

Qin Shuangshuang 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……"

Qin Shuangshuang pounced on her.

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?"

Qin Shuangshuang held back her tears and personally served tea and water, attending to her needs by 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.

Qin Shuangshuang felt a tightness in her chest and a choked feeling in her 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.

Qin Shuangshuang 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.” Qin Shuangshuang 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," Qin Shuangshuang said solemnly.

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

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

Qin Shuangshuang 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.

Not wanting to delay, Qin Shuangshuang bowed and entered 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.

Qin Shuangshuang 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 Qin Shuangshuang 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,” Qin Shuangshuang 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.