Chapter 16: What Are You Pretending to Be So Noble For?

Su Yao trembled all over but forced a smile, saying, “Sir, you must be joking. I... I have come, haven’t I?”

She watched the instruments of torture drawing nearer, her legs involuntarily shaking.

“Hmph, this is our turf,” said Eunuch Hai proudly, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

A surge of intense fear welled up inside Su Yao. She knew she had fallen into the hands of this devil and that escape would be nearly impossible.

“Sir, I beg you to let me go,” Su Yao’s voice quivered, her whole body shaking like a leaf.

But the old eunuch seemed deaf to her pleas. Step by step, he closed in on her, his smile growing ever more sinister.

He looked at the slender waist and tender hips before him, his fingers twitching impatiently.

“Beg for mercy? No way!” Suddenly, he grabbed Su Yao’s wrist roughly and dragged her toward the torture devices. “Tonight, I’m going to teach you a lesson!”

Su Yao struggled with all her might, but her strength was insignificant against the old eunuch.

In desperation, she grabbed a teapot and smashed it against his back.

“Ouch!” The eunuch’s clothes were soaked, but he was unharmed. Yet now his anger flared.

He pinned Su Yao against the wall. “What’s with the high and mighty act? A worn-out shoe discarded by the Prime Minister, and you think you’re some noble lady?”

His fat hand reached to tear at her collar. “Tonight, I’ll teach you some manners...”

The damp blue bricks reflected the flickering candlelight, and Su Yao’s back slammed against the torture rack, the chains clanking harshly.

Suddenly, a sharp call came from outside: “Urgent summons from the Palace of Heavenly Purity!”

The voice unmistakably belonged to Chief Eunuch Wang.

The old eunuch’s murky eyes darted around, spitting with displeasure, “You little wretch, I’ll deal with you when I come back.”

As the iron gate slammed shut, Su Yao slid down the wall to the floor, hearing the chattering of her teeth.

Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a pale, mournful streak on the ground.

Creak—

The sound of the door hinges turning startled Su Yao, who curled up in fear, thinking Eunuch Hai had returned.

She hid behind a screen, too afraid to step out.

Through the screen, she vaguely saw a tall figure standing behind it.

Tall and upright.

Completely unlike Eunuch Hai.

Could it be someone sent by the Empress Dowager to rescue her?

No—

Who would know she was brought here?

Her heart pounding with unease, Su Yao took an involuntary step back and called out, “Who’s there?”

A familiar male voice came from behind the screen.

“Come here.”

Su Yao recognized the voice and felt a wave of relief.

It was Lu Huaijin!

He had come!

Tears immediately welled and streamed down her face.

“Don’t recognize me anymore?” Lu Huaijin looked at her coldly, his tone tinged with impatience.

Su Yao wanted to rush out but feared that things might get more complicated if she did. Her steps faltered.

She stared at the hand reaching out, beckoning with a finger. His face darkened as he murmured, “How is it that after only a few days, you can’t even tell my voice?”

“Lu...” she started.

“Recognized me? I thought you were enjoying the good life in the palace and had forgotten me.”

In that moment, Su Yao felt deeply humiliated.

Despite her obvious dishevelment, the man before her maintained his aloof, otherworldly demeanor.

Biting her lip hard until it turned pale, Su Yao struggled internally.

Should she humble herself and let him rescue her? But then what? She would return to her former life.

It was like a thorn stuck in her throat, suffocating her.

“How does the Prime Minister know I’m here?”

The man sneered.

Lu Huaijin’s tone rose mockingly, “’Servant’? You say that so naturally.”

With that, he stepped into the room, his deep eyes scanning the surroundings before settling coldly on the cruel instruments.

Lu Huaijin sneered, his voice indifferent, “So you like these, huh?”

Suddenly, Su Yao felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks, her face turning scarlet, and even the corners of her eyes reddened.

But deep inside, a stubborn spirit grew like wild vines, entwining her, refusing to bow and submit to him again and again.

“I’m going back,” she said, seizing the moment and hurriedly trying to leave. Her mind was fixed on Eunuch Hai; she needed to escape before he returned.

But as she reached the door, a large hand clamped down on her arm like a vice.

Su Yao stumbled, nearly falling sideways, teetering dangerously.

This time, Lu Huaijin did not reach out to steady her.

With a dull thud, Su Yao fell heavily to the ground.

The rough floor scraped her arm, sharp pain shooting through her like electricity, making her eyes water instantly.

“Su Yao, do you like life in the palace?” Lu Huaijin’s voice was like ice from a tomb, utterly devoid of warmth, chilling to the bone.

He slowly crouched down, grasping her face with a grip neither too hard nor too gentle, forcing her to meet his cold, star-like gaze.

“Even the eunuchs like this face of yours.”

Su Yao glared at him fiercely, eyes full of defiance, like a small beast roused to anger. She bit her lip hard until it turned white, refusing to utter a single plea.

The candlelight cast deep shadows behind Lu Huaijin. His fingers, stained with Su Yao’s tears, examined her as if admiring a precious jade.

“What?” He pressed his thumb heavily against the reddened corner of her eye. “You use this spring water misty look to seduce those filthy eunuchs?”

Su Yao shuddered; a metallic taste rose in her throat.

The jaw he had just touched burned fiercely, but that pain couldn’t match the torment in her heart.

She never expected Lu Huaijin to humiliate her so cruelly. Summoning her strength, she pried his hand open.

Suddenly, Su Yao let out a light laugh, her nails dyed crimson digging deep into her palm.

“Prime Minister, you’re joking.”

Her voice trembled at the end. The wound on her knee still oozed blood, but she forced herself to stand, leaning against the wall.

“Thank you for rescuing me today, Prime Minister. There’s nothing else—I’ll be going back now. As for who I seduce, what does it have to do with you?”

The jade ring in Lu Huaijin’s hand shattered with a snap.

“Stop right there!”

He abruptly grabbed the silver bracelet on Su Yao’s wrist. The gilded entwined pattern bit into her skin painfully.

“Since you’re so devoted, I’ll grant your wish. How about I call Eunuch Hai back, and you two can continue?”

The black serpent-patterned sleeve swept across the wine cup on the table, amber light spilling over her moon-white skirt.

“Someone, fetch Eunuch Hai—”

Su Yao froze, regret flooding her. She shouldn't have provoked the living devil.

“Lu Huaijin!” Su Yao spun around suddenly, the silver butterfly hairpin jingling sharply.

The captain of the dark guards had already drawn his sword three inches from its sheath.

“What did you just call me?” The man leisurely loosened the belt at his waist, the clink of gold and jade striking eerily in the silence.

Su Yao’s fingers curled slightly, clutching her skirt. Shaking her head tremblingly, she stumbled backward until her back hit the cold antique shelf. Only then did she realize her face was soaked with tears.

“Sir...”

Lu Huaijin seized her hand—small, soft, seemingly boneless, easily enveloped by his palm.

When the gilded buckle brushed against her quivering lips, Lu Huaijin suddenly bent down and bit her earring.

“I’ll give you one more chance—”