33. Imprisonment (Revised Second Half)

A deathly silence permeated the palace hall.

After a long moment, Zhu Houzhao finally spoke: "You are married?"

His voice was soft, yet it seemed to carry an immense weight. Shi Nian felt a tremor in her heart, almost regretting her words. But in her desperation, this was the only solution she could conjure. In a feudal society ruled by imperial power, how else could one reject an emperor other than by claiming one’s heart was already taken?

Should she have just told him, "Your Majesty, I have no interest in you"? She was terrified he would fly into a rage.

She kept her head bowed, refusing to look at him, but her chin was abruptly and forcefully lifted by his hand. The monarch, expressionless, asked, "Who did you marry?"

"I..."

He stared at her for a long time, then suddenly curled his lips. "It doesn't matter. No matter who you married, leave him."

"Your Majesty!"

"I am the Emperor. There is no woman I desire whom I cannot possess!"

This was the first time he had referred to himself as "Zhen" in her presence.

The palace attendants throughout the hall knelt in succession, trembling in fearful silence. The man seemed to have been stirred by an aggressive impulse; his face displayed an overt sense of invasion and conquest, a determination not to stop until his goal was achieved.

Shi Nian’s entire mind was in chaos.

What was going on? Shouldn't he have backed off upon hearing she was married? Even if he didn't fear the gossip of his courtiers, weren't ancient men supposed to favor maidenhood?

A flash of realization struck her: damn it, in history, Zhu Houzhao was known for forcibly taking married women! He had even brought pregnant women into his palace!

Damn it, she had miscalculated the nature of this little ancestor!

Zhu Houzhao, thinking she was frightened, softened his voice again. "Do not be afraid. Whether you married a high official, a nobleman, or a wealthy merchant, I can handle it for you. If you become my woman, you will enjoy boundless glory and wealth, and no one will dare to whisper behind your back..."

He reached out to hold her again, but Shi Nian dodged away. The monarch’s hand hung in mid-air. She whispered, "But I love my husband very much; I do not wish to betray him..."

Zhu Houzhao’s fists clenched, and he turned to glare at her. His expression was almost vicious. It was not the first time he had taken a fancy to a married woman, and usually, he was indifferent—even amused—by their situations. But hearing her speak of her husband, and thinking that another man had once possessed her and still held a place in her heart, he felt a surge of rage burning in his chest.

He suddenly scooped her up into his arms and headed toward the inner chambers. Shi Nian was horrified. Seeing the massive bed in the distance, her scalp went numb, and she struggled violently. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

Zhu Houzhao, who had once led a band of bandits, was unmoved; despite her kicking and punching, his arms remained as firm as iron bands. Shi Nian finally panicked. "Your Majesty, I saved your life! Is this how you treat your savior?!"

"Yes, you saved my life, so I must show my gratitude. The favor of my attention is something the women in this palace can only dream of. It is your supreme blessing..."

As the inner chamber drew closer, Shi Nian steeled herself and reached for an object to strike him with, but he caught her wrist instantly. Taking the opportunity, she jumped to the ground. Zhu Houzhao looked down and saw the familiar black baton.

His eyes flickered.

When they were trapped in the prison, she had used it against their enemies; back then, they had fought side by side. But now, she had turned it against him.

Shi Nian’s eyes turned red. She suppressed her emotions and said, "Your Majesty, I am a married woman. Please, show some self-respect!"

His heart softened suddenly, and he sighed. "Little beauty, why must you do this? You don't want to betray your husband, but what about him? Does he know your heart? If he truly cared for you, he wouldn't let you fall into danger time and time again!"

Shi Nian did not know how to answer. Why did he let her fall into danger? Because she didn't have a husband at all, only a disastrous team leader!

As they stood in a stalemate, Qian Ning suddenly entered and leaned over to whisper, "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Houzhao did not want to pay him any mind, but Qian Ning was not one to lack tact; if he was reporting something at such a moment, it had to be important.

He suppressed his annoyance. "What is it?"

"General Li sent word that they have captured an assassin near the West Gate..."

An assassin? Zhu Houzhao paused, suddenly coming to a realization. "Was it someone with her?"

"Yes..."

Shi Nian was stunned. What was going on? Hadn't Zhu Houzhao said they had surely escaped? Had he lied to her?

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Was it that Embroidered Uniform Guard named Lu, or someone else?"

"Not Lu Zhiyao, but an older man. And according to General Li, he wasn't discovered; rather, it was as if... he turned himself in."

Shi Nian’s mind was a mess. It sounded like Lu Zhiyao had escaped, but Nie Cheng had not left; he had deliberately delivered himself to the Imperial Guards. What was he trying to do? Could it be that he stayed behind to save her?

The girl frowned, looking deeply worried. Seeing her expression, a guess suddenly surfaced in Zhu Houzhao’s mind. She said she had a husband; could it be...

He said slowly, "That man, and you..."

Shi Nian caught the look in his eyes and was confused, but in Zhu Houzhao’s eyes, it was an admission. He clenched his fists, nodded with a cold sneer, and said, "Good, very good. It seems I misjudged him. He still cares for you, his wife, so he chose to abandon his life and return to die!"

Shi Nian was alarmed. "Your Majesty, it's not like that..."

"Take her away and watch her closely!" Zhu Houzhao interrupted, his voice cold. "Serve her well. If a single hair is missing from her head, I will hold you all accountable!"

Shi Nian was under house arrest once again.

To be precise, this was her first time being under house arrest. Although Zhu Houzhao had locked her up on Canglong Mountain, that had been a true prison. This time, however, she was in a magnificent sleeping chamber with high beds and soft pillows, and her daily meals were exquisite delicacies—nothing was uncomfortable. He even sent four palace maids to attend to her. When Shi Nian had been the Emperor’s wife in the Han Dynasty, she hadn't had so many people serving her!

However, Shi Nian was in no mood to enjoy it. Thinking of Nie Cheng’s situation, she couldn't sit still. What on earth was happening? Even if he wanted to save her, he could have hidden in the Leopard Quarter and waited for a chance; why did he let himself be discovered?

Their future was already uncertain, and now she had added to the trouble. Zhu Houzhao mistakenly thought he was her husband; what if he killed him in a fit of rage...

Ahhh! Was he still alive?!

Thinking of this, Shi Nian grabbed her hair in a breakdown and said to the yellow-clad palace maid nearby, "Sister, are you really unable to let me see the Emperor?"

The palace maid had already given up on correcting her form of address and said respectfully, "Forgive me, Madam. We serve you under the orders of Eunuch Liu; beyond that, we cannot do anything else."

Serve her? She saw it as surveillance. In the past few days, she had asked to see the Emperor over ten times, only to be brushed off. Every attempt to sneak out had been discovered. These palace maids seemed to have eyes in the back of their heads; she couldn't even take an extra step!

She made a desperate final effort. "But... I really have something very important."

The palace maid was silent for a moment. "Madam, when the Emperor wishes to see you, he will come naturally. If he does not come, it is useless to tell us."

Shi Nian was so angry she laughed. Fine, Zhu Houzhao! She had risked her life to save him on Canglong Mountain, and now he was returning evil for good! She should have just let him die there!

Zhu Houzhao stood outside the window, watching the girl from a distance. She seemed to have said something to the palace maid and, upon being refused, was so angry she threw something she was holding onto the ground.

Was she angry at him?

Zhu Houzhao clicked his tongue. Qian Ning said, "If you wish to see the Madam, just go in. Beauties need to be coaxed; if you keep ignoring her like this, she will surely start to resent you."

"I cannot see her right now," Zhu Houzhao said lightly. She had cried that night, and his heart had softened. He wasn't sure if he would yield again if she pleaded with him in tears.

Zhu Houzhao walked away. Only after leaving the palace did he ask, "What about that man?"

"He is still in the dungeon. He has been interrogated several times, but he refuses to say anything, insisting only on seeing you..."

Zhu Houzhao sneered. "A tough nut to crack, then."

"The brothers say the same. So, sir, should you consider..."

Before Qian Ning could finish, Liu Jin interrupted, "Commandant Qian’s words are wrong. That thief’s origins are unknown; who knows what he is plotting? Your Majesty’s golden body must not be easily put at risk. In my opinion, we should just handle him as a rebel and be done with it. Why waste words on him!"

The two men held different views. Zhu Houzhao was long accustomed to such scenes; in the past, he had even enjoyed watching them fight, but at this moment, he only felt irritable.

He snorted coldly. "My golden body is made for taking risks. Let’s go. Since he asked to see me, I’d like to see him as well."

It was the same dungeon, but this time, they did not stop at the entrance but ventured deep inside. The further they went, the more damp and humid it became, and the smell of blood grew stronger. Finally, they reached the innermost room.

Directly opposite them stood a torture rack, on which a tall man was hanging. Both his feet were off the ground, his wrists locked into iron rings above his head. His hair was disheveled and his body was covered in blood, likely from the recent interrogation, with fresh blood still dripping onto the floor.

He had seemed to be sleeping, but upon hearing the noise, he slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was unfocused, but it gradually settled on Zhu Houzhao. The man in the imperial robes, surrounded by a crowd, possessed a nobility that did not belong in this dungeon.

He stared at him for a long while, as if finally seeing him clearly, and smiled faintly. "Your Majesty."

Nie Cheng was sizing up Zhu Houzhao, and Zhu Houzhao was sizing up him. His face was stained with blood, making it hard to see his features clearly, but he was likely handsome. According to Qian Ning, his combat skills were excellent. No wonder the little beauty had taken a fancy to him...

His eyes darkened. Qian Ning brought over a chair; Zhu Houzhao sat down, adjusted his robes, took a sip of tea, and said, "You recognize me?"

"This commoner has had the fortune to see the Holy Countenance a few times."

Zhu Houzhao said "Oh." "You look like a smart man. Why act so foolishly? Is the Leopard Quarter a place you can just barge into?"

Nie Cheng coughed lightly. "Trespassing into the palace is indeed... a crime without excuse. However, Brother Lu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is my sworn brother. When a brother is in trouble, as the elder brother, I cannot sit idly by. Therefore, whether it is the forbidden palace or a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, I could barge in... I had to."

These words were quite to Zhu Houzhao’s liking, and he revealed a faint smile. "The righteousness of the Water Margin—those Confucian scholars all disdain it, yet you admire it."

"Your Majesty is too kind..."

Zhu Houzhao suddenly turned cold, slamming his teacup onto the small table. "When did I praise you?!"

His anger was inexplicable, and no one dared to advise him. Zhu Houzhao stood up and, after a long while, said, "You said you did it for your brother, and your brother has been saved. I even specifically opened the gates to let you live, yet you insisted on returning to your own death. Why?" He paused. "They said you wanted to see me. What for?"

In the dark dungeon, Nie Cheng did not speak. Behind the blood-stained face were his dark, calm eyes.

Zhu Houzhao had let them go, but escaping was actually useless. Lu Zhiyao’s identity was known to everyone in the palace. With a little investigation, they could even trace how the Zhang brothers had helped them enter the palace. To avoid being caught, they would have to leave the capital immediately and fly far away.

But they couldn't. Their mission was not yet complete.

To eliminate Liu Jin, they could not avoid the capital, the palace, or... Zhu Houzhao.

Glancing at Liu Jin, who was standing to the side, Nie Cheng said slowly, "I did not leave because my heart is not at peace. My sworn brother, as an Embroidered Uniform Guard, was dutiful, yet he was locked in the Leopard Quarter by Eunuch Liu to fight against wild beasts. I wish to know what crime he committed to deserve such punishment?"

Liu Jin gritted his teeth. He knew it! Since this man was an accomplice of Lu Zhiyao, he would certainly say nothing good about him in front of the Emperor! He had wanted to kill him during the interrogation, but Qian Ning had also thought of this and had interfered, preventing his men from acting. Now, he had actually managed to complain to the Emperor!

He looked at Zhu Houzhao nervously. Strictly speaking, his arrest of Lu Zhiyao had been arbitrary; if the Emperor didn't pursue it, there would be no problem, but if he investigated, there would be trouble. Although this little ancestor had an eccentric personality and didn't even value his own life, let alone others', it was precisely because of his eccentric temperament that one couldn't be sure he wouldn't suddenly get a sense of justice and decide to uphold fairness for them!

Zhu Houzhao heard this, his expression remaining indifferent. "Oh, so you are here to seek justice for your brother?"

Nie Cheng replied bluntly, "Exactly."

Zhu Houzhao did not speak. It had to be said that this man really suited his temperament. If it had been any other time, he might have granted him an official title on the spot. However, the image of Shi Nian’s resolute face from that night flashed before his eyes. She had said she had a husband, and she did not want to betray him...

He said slowly, "It is not impossible for me to seek justice for you. In fact, I would like to ask you for a favor."

"What is it?"

Zhu Houzhao did not speak, but Qian Ning understood his intent—he had done this many times before and was quite adept at it. "It is like this: Miss Shi once saved the Emperor’s life on Canglong Mountain and did him a great kindness. Therefore, the Emperor wishes to reward her by keeping her by his side to enjoy a lifetime of glory and wealth. I wonder what you think of this?"

Nie Cheng raised an eyebrow. He was not surprised that Zhu Houzhao wanted to keep Shi Nian, but he was surprised they were actually respecting him enough to ask for his consent. "Whether she stays or not is not for me to decide; it depends on her own wishes."

"So, if she agrees, you will agree too?"

"Of course, but I believe she would not agree."

These words fell on Zhu Houzhao’s ears like a boast. He said coldly, "You are quite confident in her. Since that is the case, why did you bring her into the Leopard Quarter in the first place? Is this how a husband protects his wife?"

Wh-what?

Nie Cheng’s eyes finally revealed shock. What did he just say... wife? What wife?

Zhu Houzhao had originally intended to goad him, but noticing his reaction, he felt suspicious. "What is it?"

Nie Cheng asked, "Did she tell you that?"

Zhu Houzhao was puzzled, a sudden hope surging in his heart. "Could it be... she was lying? You are not her husband..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Nie Cheng’s laughter. He shook his head with a low chuckle, as if helpless yet proud. "Yes, she is my wife. I am very confident in my wife, so no matter where she goes, I believe she will not betray me."

Zhu Houzhao clenched his jaw.

He looked at Nie Cheng, feeling that his face was more of an eyesore than ever, and he almost wanted to finish him off right there. But he couldn't. Reason told him that if he really did that, Shi Nian would never stay.

Nie Cheng waited for a long while before finally hearing Zhu Houzhao’s voice, which was faint but held a peculiar meaning, as if he had just made a decision. "Fine. Since you won't agree to that request, let’s try another. I only like to owe others; I don't like others owing me. If you want me to help you, first pay back what you owe me."

Nie Cheng: "What does this commoner owe Your Majesty?"

Zhu Houzhao stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sunlight through the small window. After a long while, he turned his head and smiled. "You ruined a wonderful performance of mine, and you also caused A-Hua to lose a rare opponent. Don't you think you should pay for that?"