Chapter 41

In one of the most secret and humid dungeons in the North Town Division, the squeaking of rats could be heard.

A window, as small as a fist, was opened at the highest point of the wall, and a beam of sunlight shone through it.

The prison guard who delivered the food entered one of the cells, and when the door opened, he saw Cui Mu Lin, who was chained by his ankles.

He wasn’t handcuffed because the front part of his two torn sleeves was already empty.

The prison guard prepared to force-feed Cui Mu Lin with the gruel, but Cui Mu Lin, who was determined to die from the torture, tightly closed his lips and refused to drink, intending to starve himself to death.

He had wanted to bite his tongue to kill himself, but the Jin YiWei Guards, skilled in torture, had anticipated this and had already removed his tongue, applying the finest hemostatic medicine to prevent bleeding.

For days, Cui Mu Lin had been in agony, as his cousin the Emperor had decreed that he must remain alive to endure daily torture.

Clearly, this was the Emperor’s way of avenging Consort Kang, who had suffered for seven years.

Seven years ago, Cui Mu Lin had many concubines and numerous lovers, but he was infatuated with Consort Kang, a mere servant girl.

He was so consumed by his lust that he thought that even if she was a lowly slave, as long as he broke her body, the Emperor would have to give up.

To control her long-term, he spent a fortune to obtain the Jade Lady Pill, which had a prolonged effect.

After all, she was just a slave girl; if the pill ruined her body and she could no longer conceive, or even if she died from the drug’s effects, it would not matter.

Seeing Cui Mu Lin’s lack of cooperation, the jailer lost all patience and kicked his mutilated, pus-dripping groin twice.

Overwhelmed by intense pain, Cui Mu Lin threw his head back and screamed.

Taking advantage of his open mouth, the jailer forced the gruel into it.

Although he spat out most of the food, he swallowed a few mouthfuls, so he wouldn’t die of hunger.

The prison guard finished his task and left with a leisurely step.

Cui Mu Lin’s eyes were bloodshot, filled with anger and pain, and in just half a month, his body had become skeletal.

He wished he could escape this torment through death but also hoped that the people from the Marquis of Boling would discover his imprisonment soon so his aunt, the Empress Dowager, could rescue him.

However, the people from the Marquis of Boling were still enjoying themselves in the Palace’s summer residence.

Since the Emperor had learned that Mrs. had helped Consort Kang after she fell into the water, he had issued an edict to visit the room where the Marquis of Boling resided the following day.

The Emperor had personally appointed Cui Mu Lin as a fifth-rank Jin Yi Wei commander and explained that he had already been sent to the Orient for work, so the family need not worry about him.

The people of the Marquis of Boling were overjoyed and bowed deeply to thank His Majesty for his favor.

They were surprised that the usually reckless and idle Fifth Young Master Cui Mu Lin had received such an important position.

But Mrs. was secretly anxious.

She recalled the tranquilizer powder her husband had given her when he was in the capital.

Her husband had instructed her to sprinkle the powder on her dress when she was able to get close to Consort Kang.

From then on, Consort Kang would summon Mrs. repeatedly, becoming addicted and unable to control herself.

Mrs. was fearful, hoping the scheme would succeed for her eldest son’s future but also terrified that the entire family might be implicated if anything went wrong.

Fortunately, Mrs. soon received news that the Emperor and Consort Kang had returned to the capital.

Relieved that she wouldn’t need to be near Consort Kang for now, she felt a secret sigh of relief.

Inside the dormitory of Luhua Palace in the capital’s imperial palace

The Emperor, having heard that Kang Yu Yi had woken up, came to see her.

Although both had endured a bumpy and tiring journey the previous day, the Emperor seemed unaffected but wore a tight frown.

“How is your body?” he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Kang Yu Yi, dressed in a light apricot-colored undergarment with her thick black hair loosely draped, looked pale and pitiful.

Seeing her with her head bowed and silent, the Emperor reached down to unfasten her wrinkled satin pants.

“Ah…” Kang Yu Yi exclaimed in shock, misunderstanding that he wanted to engage in sexual activity at such a moment.

The Emperor patiently explained, “I am applying medicine.”

The previous night, after Kang Yu Yi had fallen unconscious, the Emperor noticed that the skin at the base of her leg was worn and damaged when he cleaned her.

Taking off her trousers, the Emperor revealed Consort Kang’s long, slender, and white legs. The delicate and smooth skin at the roots of her legs and between her thighs had been chafed raw by the constant jolting of the saddle, and her tender and pink pussy was red and swollen, which was pitiably distressing.

Her skin, already delicate and fragile, was so badly damaged and swollen that it looked horrifying, causing the Emperor to slow his breathing.

He took out the ointment he always kept at the bedside and applied it to her wounds very gently with his fingers.

However, Kang Yu Yi was embarrassed and annoyed by his direct gaze on her pussy, and her body trembled with nervousness.

The rough touch of his fingertips caused her intense pain, making her break out in cold sweat. Her delicate face crumpled, tears welled up in her eyes, and flowed down like a spring.

After a while, the Emperor said, “The Crown Prince has recovered from his fever. Would you like to go see him?”

Kang Yu Yi remained silent for a long time, overwhelmed by a huge and surging sense of guilt.

Last night, after falling unconscious, she remembered why the original Consort Kang had distanced herself from the Crown Prince.

The fragile baby, just born, had suffered a high fever for several days after she had roughly thrown him away, almost not surviving.

The Empress Dowager had been furious upon learning the reason and had repeatedly scolded Kang Yu Yi for her carelessness and recklessness.

She had taken the Crown Prince to the Renshou Palace to be raised.

The Crown Prince had managed to survive until his first month, his body gradually becoming sturdy, and eventually developing into the chubby, cute figure he later became.

Perhaps because blood is thicker than water, he was always particularly excited to see Kang Yu Yi, his big round eyes fixed on her.

But the more the Crown Prince reacted this way, the more guilty Kang Yu Yi felt and found it impossible to face him.

Kang Yu Yi also tried to remember the times she had played with the little one recently and then thought of seeing the weak and sickly child last night.

“Your Majesty, let’s go to the Renshou Palace to see Little Highness,” she suddenly mustered the courage to say, her almond eyes filled with tears now showing a trace of determination.

The Emperor nodded slightly and called for the palace staff to help her get up, wash, and change clothes.

Thinking about the secret report delivered by the Jinyiwei Commander early this morning, a trace of ruthlessness flashed quickly in the Emperor’s deep eyes.

Since the Emperor and Consort had rushed back to the capital, the Jinyiwei who had originally traveled with them had also returned to the capital overnight as instructed.

Upon receiving the Emperor’s order, the Jinyiwei immediately set out to investigate why the Prince had developed a rash without any apparent cause.

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