Shen Qingqing and her group were taken to the dungeons.
This cell looked old. The moment they stepped inside, they were hit by dampness, chill, and a sickening smell of blood.
She and Fu Jingshu were in one cell, while King and the old man were sent to another.
As for Zhao Qian, he was taken away separately.
Shen Qingqing looked at Su Ge through the cell door, "Where are you taking him?"
"That's none of your business," Su Ge glanced at her. "In short, as the planner, his punishment will be several times yours."
He raised his hand and pushed Zhao Qian. Zhao Qian stumbled. As he reached the doorway, he turned back to look at Shen Qingqing.
Sunlight streamed in from behind him, casting a shadow on his face. Only his exceptionally calm, warm voice could be heard.
"Miss Shen, I'm sorry I couldn't see you off."
Shen Qingqing frowned. "Su Ge, this has nothing to do with him. Don't lay a hand on innocent people."
Su Ge sneered, "You can barely save yourself, and you still have the energy to worry about others?"
With that, he pushed Zhao Qian away.
This was the last time Shen Qingqing saw Zhao Qian. The door closed, blocking out the sunlight, and the dungeon plunged into darkness.
In the gloom, her wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled into a corner. Dry grass was spread on the floor.
She sat down on the grass, then reached back, clasped his warm wrist, and pulled him down to sit with her. She tilted her head and leaned against his solid shoulder.
"Don't worry."
A deep voice sounded in her ear.
She pursed her lips. "I wonder what kind of punishment Zhao Qian will receive."
Fu Jingshu held her hand, giving her strength in the darkness. "He probably won't lose his life."
Shen Qingqing was silent for a long time, then whispered, "Do you think we guessed wrong? If it wasn't him... then this time, he might be in an inescapable predicament."
"Don't overthink it. You were just doing what you could."
In that situation, if they had had a better option, they wouldn't have refused it.
Shen Qingqing sighed. After struggling half the night, she was truly exhausted. "We'll see in the morning..." she yawned.
"Get some sleep."
He placed his large hand on her shoulder and gently patted it.
Her sleepiness grew more intense. "You too... rest... we have a tough battle to fight tomorrow..."
"...Alright."
Lulled by his deep, magnetic voice, she slowly fell asleep.
Despite the poor environment, she slept soundly that night without dreams. When she woke, someone even brought them to wash up and gave them food.
It seemed quite humane.
After breakfast, Shen Qingqing called out to the jailer. "I want to see Su Ge."
The jailer glared at her. "What kind of person is our Lord Su Ge, that you can just demand to see him? What are you? Just a prisoner!"
"We gave you some food, and you think you're a guest?"
Shen Qingqing said coldly, "Go ask Su Ge if he really dares to treat me as a soon-to-die criminal."
Her words carried no trace of the defeat and weakness of a prisoner. The jailer, having worked there for many years, had seen all sorts of people and naturally knew that some people were not to be trifled with.
His tone became much more polite. "I'll go ask Lord Su Ge. Whether you get to see him or not, it's not up to me."
"Just ask."
Regardless of the jailer's attitude, Shen Qingqing remained indifferent.
This made the jailer uncertain of her background. In her place, most people, no matter how defiant they were initially, would show him some respect.
After all, he was their "provider" in here.
Less than half an hour later, Su Ge arrived.
"What do you want?"
Seeing his impatient expression, Shen Qingqing leaned against the cell door and said slowly, "What can I possibly want? I just want to chat with Lord Su Ge."
Su Ge turned to leave impatiently.
"Su Ge," Shen Qingqing's voice suddenly turned cold, "you'd best stop."
Su Ge spun around, his face contorted with anger. "You're just a prisoner, where do you get the nerve to talk to me like that?"
"Because Pei Ji is still lying there."
This was the reason for Shen Qingqing's fearlessness.
Su Ge's face darkened. "Do you think that even in your current situation, you get to decide whether he's treated or not? The King wants you to treat him, so you must obey, or you'll die a gruesome death."
"Threatening me? But I'm the kind of person who doesn't fall for that."
Shen Qingqing's lips curved into a bright smile.
Su Ge's eyes turned icy. "If you're not afraid, aren't you worried about the two people in that cell?"
Shen Qingqing tapped the bars, making a crisp *bang bang* sound. "Su Ge, I'm kindly reminding you, the people in the cell opposite are not someone you can afford to offend."
"I can't afford to offend them?"
Su Ge laughed. He had been a commander in the royal family for years, with countless achievements. Apart from the princes, the King, and his own elder brother, there was no one who could make him feel fear!
"I won't even mention King. You should know him." This name was thunderous in country H. Although the King had imprisoned him, the pressure he was facing must be immense.
As for the old man...
Shen Qingqing scratched the iron bars with her fingernail, making a maddening *shrieking* sound. "Dare you place a bet?"
"Bet on what?"
"Bet that your King wouldn't dare to lay a single hair on the old man's head."
Su Ge was enraged. He stepped forward, drew his gun, and aimed it at her. "If you dare to spout more nonsense, I'll shoot you dead!"
In an instant, the person under the gun changed.
Fu Jingshu, who had been silent, stepped forward. His eyes were cold and dark, and he stared at Su Ge, exuding an immense pressure that felt like mountains crushing down on him.
He couldn't help but take a step back, then said furiously, "Who are you?!"
Shen Qingqing poked her head out from behind him. "You dare to make a move without even finding out who he is? Your courage is truly touching."
Su Ge stared at her for a moment, then turned to leave.
Shen Qingqing raised her voice. "Su Ge, don't touch Zhao Qian, or you won't be able to bear the consequences."
Su Ge paused, let out a cold, inscrutable laugh, and strode away.
The jailer looked at the couple with changed eyes. To enter this dungeon and speak to Lord Su Ge like that, and not be shot dead...
This couple was truly the first of their kind!
Shen Qingqing frowned, contemplating. "Zhao Qian won't be in trouble, will he?"
Fu Jingshu remained silent. Su Ge's reaction just now didn't seem like he was entirely fine.
No one came for the rest of the morning, and Shen Qingqing didn't say anything further. But at noon, her question was answered by someone who came to visit.
"Master Fu, Miss Shen, why are you in such a sorry state?"
Z stood outside the cell door, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his complexion rosy and his demeanor refined, as if even his cough had been cured.
The couple ignored him.
Z placed his hands behind his back and said slowly, "I'm here to bring you good news. Or rather, good news for me, but for you..."
He paused, deliberately building suspense.
Seeing that the couple showed no reaction, as if they hadn't heard him, he sighed in disappointment.
"It's bad news."
"Zhao Qian... is dead."