Everyone heard the loud crack of the bronze handle of the secret door being shattered and turned back in alarm.
A man in a red brocade robe walked in, silhouetted against the moonlight, his features deep and well-defined.
The dim lamplight instantly illuminated the newcomer, startling everyone into retreating.
Li Cheng, terrified, immediately released his hold, stepping back with the torture instruments.
"You—how did you get in?"
Li Yan was also stunned.
She quickly cast her gaze towards the eaves outside the door. Fresh blood spread along the stone steps, and under the moonlight, the scene of bodies strewn everywhere could vaguely be seen.
This sight instantly pained her eyes; she was both shocked and furious.
"Li Qiongyu, how dare you commit murder in the palace?"
He had dared to slaughter all the guards of her Fuyang Palace without anyone noticing.
Presumptuous!
Utterly presumptuous!
Li Qiongyu ignored them, his gaze falling directly on Wei Qingge, who had stumbled and fallen into a corner near the wall.
She was clad in fine robes, her body covered in whip marks and blood.
His eyes gradually turned sinister.
"Li Qiongyu."
Wei Qingge could no longer hold on. Seeing him arrive, she fainted.
Li Qiongyu flashed forward and caught her. Watching her collapse into his arms, barely breathing, her face deathly pale, his usually smiling eyes were terrifyingly indifferent.
He tightened his grip, lifted her horizontally, and walked out.
No one dared to stop him, watching helplessly as he took her away.
Li Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Li Qiongyu wouldn't dare lay hands on him. Just as he was about to leave, the secret room door was slammed shut. A guard holding a whip walked in.
With a crack, it landed on the ground, a sharp, loud sound.
"Li Qiongyu, Li Qiongyu, how dare you! A mere Marquis's son dares to attack this Prince in the palace, you are mad—"
He roared in anger and despair.
Li Yan was even more terrified. It was too audacious; he showed no regard for the royal family.
"Ah—get away, get away—"
Piercing screams and the sound of whipping instantly filled the secret room.
Li Qiongyu carried Wei Qingge into the main hall.
Xue Ren was already waiting outside with imperial physicians.
Seeing Wei Qingge in such a state, the imperial physicians immediately surrounded her, ready to treat her.
"Imperial Physician Fang, go and prepare the medicine first."
"Yes."
Li Qiongyu placed her on the couch in the inner chamber and casually took the medicine box from the imperial physician.
Imperial Physician Du was about to step forward to examine her when he felt a chilling, terrifying gaze on his back.
He paused and quickly withdrew his hand, turning back.
"There are no internal injuries, only superficial ones. Young Master can apply the medicine to the wounds, and they will heal in a few days."
Li Qiongyu nodded. "Check carefully to see if any other parts are injured?"
Imperial Physician Du dared not touch her and could only say, "Perhaps Young Master would like to do it?"
Li Qiongyu hummed and walked over, lifting her. He conducted a thorough examination under Imperial Physician Du's direction.
Seeing that there were indeed no internal injuries, everyone withdrew.
After they had all left, Li Qiongyu removed the young woman's clothes and looked at the whip marks all over her body, his gaze deepening.
He said nothing, slowly applied the medicine, cleaned her, and changed her clothes.
Wei Qingge lay quietly on the couch, her lips pale and bloodless.
"Young Master, the medicine is here."
Li Qiongyu came back to his senses, took the medicine handed over by Xue Ren, and slowly fed it to her.
"Go and treat their wounds."
"Yes."
After feeding her the medicine, Li Qiongyu put down the bowl, looked at the sleeping woman for a moment, tucked her in, and then got up to head towards the secret room.
In the secret room, both individuals were covered in wounds from the whipping.
However, the injuries on their bodies had stopped bleeding and they had regained their strength, as if some medicine had been applied.
Li Cheng's face contorted with rage. He dragged his heavy body to his feet.
When Li Qiongyu entered, he glanced at the scene in the room and then closed the door behind him.
In an instant, darkness enveloped the surroundings. Only the faint moonlight filtered through the small iron window, casting a blood-colored glow on the floor.
"Li Qiongyu, you are utterly brazen, daring to lay hands on this Prince, do you have no regard for your life?!"
Li Yan, hearing the Third Prince's angry curses, did not speak rashly, leaning against the wall and warily watching the newcomer.
Li Qiongyu ignored him and walked to the four corners of the dark room, lighting all the lamps.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating the surroundings.
His face, like a peach blossom, was flushed red by the firelight, yet parts of him remained hidden in the darkness, radiating an inexplicable madness.
"This is too rampant!"
As soon as Li Cheng spoke, a red figure flashed and appeared before him.
He was forced to retreat repeatedly.
"You—"
Li Qiongyu played with a white sash in his hand and chuckled.
"Your Highness, I trust you are well."
Li Cheng was so terrified by his smile that his limbs turned cold, and his legs went weak.
'I'm telling you, Li Qiongyu, don't think—'
Before he could finish speaking, his neck was suddenly choked, his body convulsed, and his face turned ashen.
Li Yan watched in shock as the Third Prince, unable to utter a sound, felt a chill run through his entire body.
He dared to lay hands on a true royal prince.
Then what about her—
At that moment, she felt despair.
She retreated in terror, looking fearfully at the man in red.
He was exceptionally handsome, with rosy lips, fair teeth, and beautiful eyebrows.
Though his peach blossom eyes held a smile, illuminated by the firelight, they were inexplicably frightening.
Is he mad?
That was the Third Prince.
Li Qiongyu tightened his grip on the white sash, his fingers constricting. He watched the struggling man on the verge of death and smiled faintly, then released his hand.
"Tsk, Your Highness can't take it already?"
Li Cheng could no longer speak, trembling violently.
The moment he was released, he coughed desperately, gasping for fresh air, his pupils contracting sharply, his fists clenched so tightly they made cracking sounds.
He glared furiously at the tall man before him, his gaze filled with unconcealable fear.
"You—you dare kill me?!"
He could clearly sense that Li Qiongyu had harbored murderous intent just moments ago.
‘Hahaha, kill you?!’
Li Qiongyu let out a laugh and threw away the soiled white silk ribbon.
He grabbed Li Cheng's head and forced his mouth open, pouring the black medicinal liquid in.
"I'll make you wish you were dead."
A strong,腥臭味 (fishy and foul smell) flooded his abdomen, and Li Cheng screamed in despair.
"What did you feed me?"
Li Qiongyu licked his lips. "Something that will make Your Highness feel as if you are both in heaven and hell."
"Come, bring it in."
The secret passage was opened, and a red wooden box was carried in. The man leading the procession held a flute.
"Young Master."
Li Qiongyu tilted his chin.
The man understood and directed his men to open the box. Instantly, over a dozen snakes slithered out.
They were all rigorously trained. Upon hearing the sound of the flute, they all moved towards Li Cheng, who had collapsed on the ground in terror.
"Ah, get away, get away—"
Li Yan was driven mad by the sight.
Li Cheng was afraid of snakes, a fact very few people knew. Li Qiongyu knew it and deliberately used snakes against him.
She watched the dense mass of snakes crawl onto Li Cheng's body, biting and gnawing inch by inch, a suffocating sensation overwhelming her.
She looked fearfully in the direction of the man and happened to meet those bewitching peach blossom eyes.
"You—what do you want?"