Chu Huanyi wrung the clothes dry with all his might, then flattened them on the bamboo pole to dry. He panted for a while, then picked up another basin of clothes and squatted down beside the ancient well to wash them.
She had been in the laundry bureau for nearly two months. In the past two months, she had been washing and brushing non-stop. After washing pile after pile, after washing basin after basin, there were always endless laundry waiting for her. Her hands were red and swollen, peeling, and bleeding. She could barely stand up straight, and her legs were trembling, but she still had to wash them because it was her job, wasn't it?
Chu Huanyi lowered his head and continued to wash his clothes.
Suddenly, a pile of smelly, dirty, and bloody clothes was thrown at Chu Huanyi.
"Hey, what are you daydreaming about? Do you think that this is still the Crown Prince's palace, where you can be in a daze and seduce men?”
One of the eunuchs shouted in a croaky voice and whipped Chu Huanyi's head." I'll beat you up, you lazy bitch! I haven't seen anyone for half an hour, and you're already slacking off? Why aren't you washing up?"
Chu Huanyi bit her lip and didn't say a word. She silently endured the humiliation and scolding of the supervising eunuch while her hands continued to scrub.
This was a common occurrence. Every two or three days, he would be scolded and beaten. It was not because of anything else, but because of Xuanyuan Ting's words," Beautiful women bring disaster to the country and the people."
That was why all the eunuchs here vented their anger on Chu Huanyi. They told her to wash more clothes than others but eat less than others. She had been scolded more than others, and she had also been whipped more than others. Chu Huanyi was tortured to death, and she wanted to just bang her head on the ground and die a few times!
But could she die? She couldn't die. Xuanyuan Rui was demoted to a commoner and imprisoned for life because of her. How could she die? At least she had to think of a way to save him before she died, right? Who asked her to owe him and let him down?
Chu Huanyi revealed a bitter smile. He grabbed the clothes that the eunuch threw down and took a look.
Strange! Not only were the clothes stained with blood, but there were also several holes on them. How could such clothes be washed? It was more like burning it.
She raised her head." Eunuch, this is…"
"Whose clothes are these? Can't you recognize them?" The supervising eunuch said coldly.”
Chu Huanyi shook his head and focused his attention on the clothes. He looked at the patterns on the clothes, calculated the size of the clothes, and thought about how there were a few holes on the top of the clothes for some reason. An inexplicable pain arose from the bottom of his heart.
"Is this…is this the Han King's clothes?" she asked in a trembling voice.”
"Your Highness King Han? Where was the King of Han now? You can just wash it, wash the good people and send them to the Yamato Palace!”
Chu Huanyi was so shocked that he hugged the tattered clothes and couldn't move for a long time. After a long time, tears silently flowed down from the corner of her eyes and dripped onto a large wooden basin of wet clothes.
He had actually fallen to such a state? To the point where he didn't even have a piece of clothing to wear?
She had harmed him! If she hadn't told Xuanyuan Qi that he had molested her, he wouldn't have ended up like this today.
But she had no choice! As the Nine Phoenix of Dunhuang, how could she go back on her word? From the moment her eldest sister betrothed her to Xuanyuan Qi and asked her to assist Xuanyuan Qi in ascending the throne with the Nine Phoenix Ring, she, Chu Huanyi, was destined to be Xuanyuan Qi's woman for the rest of her life. Her person and her heart could only belong to Xuanyuan Qi. She was not allowed, and could not accommodate anyone else's shadow.
Therefore, when Xuanyuan Qi sent someone to wait for her at the palace gate, she did not even deny it and directly told him that Xuanyuan Rui had teased her.
But why did her tears keep falling when she saw him fall to the ground with serious injuries? Why did her heart twist when she heard him say that he wanted to give up everything and take her away? And why did she feel like her insides were burning when she saw this tattered and blood-stained dress, so much so that she couldn't even breathe?
Could it be that she…could it be that she had fallen in love with him?
No, it was impossible! He was a man she had only met twice. How could she fall in love with him? Even though he had kissed her and hugged her, he was still a stranger to her! How could she like him? The reason why she missed him was because she wanted to save him out of his affection for her! Yes, she just wanted to save him and repay him. There was nothing else, absolutely nothing else!
Chu Huanyi hurriedly shook off the thoughts that filled his mind. He deliberately set the clothes aside and lowered his head to focus on one piece of clothing after another, trying his best to scrub them.
However, when it was late at night and Chu Huanyi could finally rest, her gaze unconsciously returned to the dress.
She picked up her clothes and leaned closer to herself. She gently sniffed the remaining scent of Xuanyuan Rui on her clothes. Xuanyuan Rui's handsome and domineering face appeared in front of her. She asked herself, is he real? Does he really like me, really love me, and really want to take me far away?
Chu Huanyi would never know because the moment she told Xuanyuan Qi everything…No, to be precise, the moment her eldest sister personally promised her to Xuanyuan Qi, she was destined to let him down, and they were destined to be fated in this life.
Chu Huanyi's tears burst out at the thought of this.
She sobbed silently, and her tears fell on Xuanyuan Rui's clothes, wetting them.
After a long time, she got up and brought the clothes to the side of the ancient well. She bent down to get a bucket full of water and squatted down. She used her already red and swollen hands to desperately wash them. Then, she wrung them dry and quietly hung them on the bamboo pole. She planned to mend the holes when the clothes were dry. This was the only thing she could do for him now...
The next day, Chu Huanyi began her endless life of washing clothes again. From the beginning of the morning, she washed until the sun set and the moon rose. She washed until her slender fingers were frostbitten and bleeding from the cold water. She continued to wash, as if she was atoning for her betrayal.
At night, Chu Huanyi took advantage of the fact that there was no one around to pick up a needle, thread, and scissors. She cut small pieces of cloth from her dress and sewed them onto the holes in Xuanyuan Rui's clothes. Then, she took out a jade pendant with a green color and placed it together with the clothes. It was as if she and Xuanyuan Rui were together.
That jade pendant was the Nine Phoenix Ring. Ever since she was born, it had been following her.
It was strange that Xuanyuan Qi had mentioned the Nine Phoenix Ring to her more than once, but no matter how much he tried to persuade her, she refused to give it to him. She did not even want to show it to him. But now, she had placed the Nine Phoenix Ring and Xuanyuan Rui's clothes together. Could it be that the person she had decided on in her heart was Xuanyuan Rui and not Xuanyuan Qi? Otherwise, why would he…
Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from afar, followed by screams.
Chu Huanyi was stunned. Before he could figure out what had happened, the door was kicked open. A man who looked like a guard stood at the door with a bloody knife.
Chu Huanyi turned pale with fright. She instinctively hugged the clothes and jade pendant to her chest and retreated." Who…Who are you? What do you want to do?"
The man knelt on the ground and said respectfully,""His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for the Empress at Chuxiu Palace.”
Chu Huanyi shook his head as if he couldn't understand why Xuanyuan Qi would suddenly send someone to pick him up. Didn't he ask the emperor to shut himself in for three months? Since he had shut himself in to reflect on his mistakes, how could he send someone here to pick him up?
"You…What evidence do you have to prove that you were sent by the Crown Prince?" she asked. The Crown Prince had already ordered the Emperor to confine him in Chuxiu Palace, so how could he send you here to find me?”
The guard laughed." His Highness the Crown Prince is about to ascend the throne as the new Emperor. His Highness the Crown Prince can go wherever he wants. His orders are the imperial edict, and no one is allowed to disobey him.”
Chu Huanyi's eyes widened. Xuanyuan Qi will ascend the throne? This meant that Xuanyuan Ting had already passed away. Otherwise, how could he ascend the throne? However, although Xuanyuan Ting was old, his body was still strong. There was no reason for him to suddenly die. Could it be…
Seeing Chu Huanyi hesitating, the guard immediately stood up while holding the hilt of his saber." Please, Your Majesty! Don't delay the Crown Prince's important matter for the Empress alone.”
Seeing this, Chu Huanyi could only shove the clothes and the Nine Phoenix Ring under the bed. He followed the guard and left the laundry bureau, heading towards Chuxiu Palace.
The huge Imperial City was frighteningly quiet. Although it was late at night, there were guards patrolling everywhere in the Imperial City. But why were there no one there, not even a single light? Did something happen?
Just as he was thinking, Chu Huanyi had already arrived at Chuxiu Palace.
Xuanyuan Qi rushed out impatiently and hugged Chu Huanyi." Huan 'er, I finally see you! I've been worried that I wouldn't be able to pick you up. Now that you're here, I can continue with my next move in peace.”
Chu Huanyi frowned when she heard that." What's our next step? Crown Prince, what next step? Isn't it the emperor's decree that you called me here?”
Xuanyuan Qi snorted coldly." Decree? My words are the decree now. Men!”
A group of armed guards immediately replied,""Yes!"
"Surround the Great Harmony Palace immediately and dismember Xuanyuan Rui, the traitor who killed his master and betrayed his master, and execute him on the spot!”
" Yes!" The guards responded and immediately dispersed.
Chu Huanyi felt all the blood in her body rush to her head. She was so shocked that she could not say a word.
She quickly grabbed Xuanyuan Qi's hand." Crown Prince, what did you say? Why did you ask them to go?"
A sinister smile appeared on Xuanyuan Qi's face." What are you doing? Of course, it was to kill Xuanyuan Rui, a bastard who had no monarch or father, looked down on human relations, and killed his master!”
"What do you mean by having no king or father? He…he had been imprisoned in the Yamato Palace, hadn't he? Since he was imprisoned in the Great Harmony Palace, how could he kill his master and betray his master?”The shock and anxiety caused Chu Huanyi to unknowingly reveal the truth that even she herself did not realize.
However, Xuanyuan Qi noticed it.
His eyes narrowed and his large hand held her tightly. His expression was gloomy." Are you speaking up for him? You can't bear to part with it, can you?"
Chu Huanyi shook his head repeatedly." I didn't. I just find it strange. How could a person who is imprisoned in the palace all day without food or clothes kill his master and betray his master?”
Xuanyuan Qi glared at her, his eyes extremely dark." How do you know he doesn't have food or clothes? You work in the laundry bureau, but you know everything about him?”
"I…"
"Let me ask you, are you in love with him?”
"Don't talk nonsense! I've only met him twice. How can I fall in love with him?”
"Nonsense? In my opinion, you should be the one talking nonsense, right?”
"What…what did you say?"
"Do you think I don't know anything? Do you think I'm really a fool? Do you think I'll let you coax me and let you lie to me? Do you think I don't even know that I'm wearing a green scarf?”
" I didn't lie to you. I really didn't lie to you. I really only met him twice…"
Then what about the matter with Deer Mourning Palace?"
Chu Huanyi's face turned pale." I…"
"Do you think I didn't see you flirting with him? Do you think I didn't see how he kissed you and took the earring from you?”
" I…" Chu Huanyi didn't know what to say because everything Xuanyuan Qi said was true. She couldn't refute him.
"Do you know why the old man promised me to create such a fake conferment? Because of your and Eighth Brother's shameless behavior, even the old man couldn't stand it anymore. That's why he agreed to put on such a fake coronation to lure out Eighth Brother, this slut!”He reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to face him." But I never thought that after such a palace scandal, the old man's heart would still be on Eighth Brother's side. He even wanted to give me the position of Crown Prince to him, so I had to strike first.”
"Strike first? You mean…"
Xuanyuan Qi sneered." That's right. Looking at the time, the old man should be almost done by now. As long as Li Yong and the others bring over Eighth Brother's head, everything will be done! As for you…"
Chu Huanyi struggled out of his grasp and retreated continuously, looking at him in horror.
"As for you, my Huan 'er, you're the rightful wife that I spent so much effort to find. How dare you betray me?”
" I didn't. I didn't betray you…"
Xuanyuan Qi grabbed her hair and pulled her towards him." No? No Eighth Brother would want to elope with you. He doesn't even want to be the emperor that he has coveted for many years? Tell me, how did you seduce and serve him? How did you manage to make him fall in love with you?”
Chu Huanyi was in so much pain that tears were about to fall." Crown Prince, I really don't have it. If you don't believe me, you can look at my arm. The Chastity Sand on my arm is still there…"
Xuanyuan Qi rolled his eyes and pushed Chu Huanyi onto the bed. He pressed his body against hers." What's the use of the Chastity Sand? That only proves that you're still a virgin, but it doesn't prove that you haven't let him kiss you, hug you, or play with you, right? Besides, before entering the main scene, there were a lot of foreplay that could be played, right?”
Chu Huanyi struggled." I didn't. I didn't betray you. I…Ah!”
However, Chu Huanyi let out a scream. Xuanyuan Qi was actually searching Chu Huanyi's body as if he was looking for something.
Xuanyuan Qi glared at her." Where is the Nine Phoenix Ring? I want the Nine Phoenix Ring!"
"I don't have the Nine Phoenix Ring, the Nine Phoenix Ring isn't with me!”
"It's not with you? Everyone in the Phoenix Palace regards the Nine Phoenix Ring as a treasure, something more important than their own lives. You actually don't have it with you? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child that you can coax?”
"If I say no, then no, believe it or not!”
"Is that so? You forced me to do this, so don't blame me!”As soon as he finished speaking, Xuanyuan Qi pulled Chu Huanyi's clothes and stripped her naked in a few moves.
Chu Huanyi was shocked and panicked." What are you doing?”
"What are you doing? At this point, do you still need to ask me what I'm doing?”
"You…Don't do anything rash. You should know that before I turn eighteen, you can't touch me. Otherwise, even if you get the Nine Phoenix Ring, it's still…Ah!”
Xuanyuan Qi tugged at Chu Huanyi's hair forcefully." Of course I know, but I also know that if I don't get you now, not only will I not be able to get the Nine Phoenix Ring, I will also regret it for the rest of my life! So I decided to ignore the Legendary Curse. I want you to become my woman now, so that you will forever belong to me alone, and never be able to escape my grasp. I want to let you know that you are mine, the Nine Phoenix Ring is mine, even the South Qin Country is mine alone, no one can dream of snatching it away!”
As he spoke, Xuanyuan Qi wanted to possess her.
With a swoosh, an arrow flew in from nowhere and landed on the blanket an inch in front of Xuanyuan Qi.
Xuanyuan Qi was shocked and quickly let go of Chu Huanyi."Who?”
There was silence in the air. There was not a single person, and no one answered him. However, there were shouts of " The Emperor has arrived " The voice was like thunder in Xuanyuan Qi's ears, causing his head to buzz and go blank.
The Emperor? Could it be…Could it be that the old man was not dead? How was this possible? He had clearly seen him take the poison with his own eyes, which was why he was relieved to come out and mobilize his troops. How could an Emperor appear now?
However, what surprised Xuanyuan Qi wasn't just that. It was the figure who stepped in with the sound of " The emperor has arrived."
The figure was tall and handsome, with an air of nobility that could not be looked at. It was Xuanyuan Rui.
Xuanyuan Rui was dressed in mourning clothes and had a white silk tie on his head. He slowly stepped in from the palace gate with something in his hand. Dozens of guards were neatly arranged at the foot of the steps.
"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, long time no see!”Xuanyuan Rui came to the bed and looked at Chu Huanyi, who was completely naked and still in shock, with his cold eyes. He threw the thing he had been holding in his hand at Xuanyuan Qi.
Xuanyuan Qi stared at Li Yong, who was originally sent to kill Xuanyuan Rui but now only had a head left. His face turned pale." You... you're not... not..."
"I'm not supposed to be dead, am I?”Xuanyuan Rui smiled coldly." I should be dead. If my father hadn't sent someone to release me from the Great Harmony Palace earlier and ordered me to inherit the throne, I'm afraid that the head rolling on the ground now would be me instead of Li Yong!”
Xuanyuan Qi was taken aback." Father? Are you saying that Imperial Father sent someone to release you from the Great Harmony Palace? Impossible! I clearly heard with my own ears that he ordered you to be imprisoned for life. How could he let you out and even let you inherit the throne?”
"Why not? Do you think that Imperial Father is really blind and doesn't know anything?”
"Eighth Brother, you!"
Xuanyuan Rui bent down and glared at Xuanyuan Qi." Big Brother, if you still don't understand what Imperial Father is thinking, then what right do you have to inherit the throne? Moreover, how could a person who poisoned his own father and harmed his brothers be qualified to inherit the throne?”
Xuanyuan Qi's face was ashen as he stammered,""You, you're talking nonsense, how could I…how could I poison Imperial Father to death…you, do you have any evidence?”
Xuanyuan Rui snorted and took out something from his pocket and threw it to Xuanyuan Qi." Evidence? The evidence is right here. Take a look for yourself!”
Xuanyuan Qi's hands trembled as he took the item. He fainted after reading the first sentence.
It turned out that it was a secret edict personally written by Xuanyuan Ting!!
The Crown Prince was perverse and cruel. For the sake of a woman, he brought disaster to his father's brothers and sisters. He was removed from the throne and exiled to southern Guizhou.
Xuanyuan Rui's handsome face was expressionless when he saw the Crown Prince faint. He coldly looked at Chu Huanyi, who was curled up in a ball on the bed, and said emotionlessly,""If you don't want others to see your lewd and filthy appearance, you'd better put on your clothes.”
Chu Huanyi's face was frighteningly pale. She turned her back and silently put on her clothes. Then, she silently wanted to retreat and leave this place that did not belong to her.
"Where do you want to go?" Xuanyuan Rui asked.”
Chu Huanyi's back was facing him, and her voice was trembling." I…"
"Did I ask you to leave? Did I allow you to leave?"
She turned around to face Xuanyuan Rui, her beautiful face full of sadness and apology." Your Majesty, I…"
Xuanyuan Rui frowned and looked at her."You owe me an explanation."”
"Explain?"
"That's right, I want to know why you betrayed me.”
" I…" She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but eventually shook her head and swallowed her words." I don't need a reason or an explanation. Because I am the Crown Prince's man in life and his ghost in death. I only believe in him in this life, so how can I leave with you?”
Anger suddenly reflected in Xuanyuan Rui's beautiful eyes." If that's the case, why did you come to see me at Tianyin Lake that night? If you really like him and want to be with him, why did you come to see me? Why don't you just stand me up and let me give up?”
"That's because…"
"Because of what? Tell me!"
"Because…"
"Because of what? Tell me! Why didn't you say anything?"
"I…"
"You what? Since you won't say it, I'll say it for you! Because if you didn't come, you wouldn't have been able to set up a false conferment with the Crown Prince, and you wouldn't have been able to successfully get rid of me, a thorn in his side, right?”
When Chu Huanyi heard this, she shook her head desperately." No, I didn't. Although I'm his wife, it doesn't mean that I agree with everything he does. In fact, I didn't know that he would do that, and I didn't know that he wanted to kill you…"
Xuanyuan Rui interrupted her and roared angrily,""You don't know? Do you think I'll believe you? Do you think I'll still believe you after being betrayed in front of so many people?”
Chu Huanyi grabbed his hand and pleaded earnestly,""Emperor, listen to me, I really don't know! If I had known that the so-called conferment was just a trap, a scheme by the Crown Prince to kill you, then I would never have agreed to it even if I died. I…"
Xuanyuan Rui shook her off." I don't want to hear it, and I don't want to know!" I just want to ask you, have you ever loved me? Do you like me a little?"
Chu Huanyi was stunned. Love him? Liked him? She…she really didn't know! She only knew that she was worried and troubled for him, that he could not eat or sleep well, and that he was imprisoned in the palace because of her. Her heart ached even more, but she really did not know if she loved him.
However, Xuanyuan Rui took Chu Huanyi's struggle and silence as a denial.
His face was pale, and his chest was heaving up and down.
After a long time, he laughed hysterically." I understand! So from the beginning to the end, I was the one who was thinking too much and forced a chaste woman like you to elope with a wanderer like me. I finally understand! Hahaha!"
Chu Huanyi's eyes widened." No, it's not like that. Your Majesty, listen to me, listen to me…"
Xuanyuan Rui suddenly stopped laughing, and his handsome face instantly became as ferocious and terrifying as a ghost." What did you say? How much you love my big brother, how much you are willing to pay for him, and how you are willing to keep your chastity for him, right?”
He nodded fiercely." Alright, since you love him so much and your heart is on his side, then I'd like to see how you'll keep your chastity and chastity for him. Men!"
The two eunuchs quickly came forward." Your Majesty!”
"Pass down the decree to confer Chu Huanyi the title of Consort Zhen. She will be given twenty palace maids and ten eunuchs to stay in Dawn Palace.”
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
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