Chapter 81

In the dim, damp dungeon.
Chu Yi woke up to find himself suspended by cold chains against a stone wall, his wrists slit, crimson blood trickling down his arms, his entire body covered in wounds.
Standing before him was Jiang Sheyu, immaculate and unsoiled.
Seeing Chu Yi regain consciousness, Jiang Sheyu’s refined and handsome face broke into an exceedingly benevolent smile.
“It seems Jiang Jiang was right. Brother Chu truly possesses an immortal body. Just moments ago, you had clearly stopped breathing, yet here you are, awake once more…”
Chu Yi shifted slightly, attempting to break free from the chains.
Jiang Sheyu curled his lips gently. “Brother Chu, there’s no need to waste your energy. Though you may be immortal, you are not immune to injury. While you were unconscious, I severed the tendons in your hands and crippled your martial arts. You are now nothing but a powerless cripple.”
Chu Yi’s face was as pale as paper. He lifted his sinister eyes, glaring furiously at Jiang Sheyu.
“Jiang Sheyu! What exactly do you want?!”
Jiang Sheyu smiled gently. “Naturally, I want to uncover the secret of your immortality and then kill you.”
“I have no grudge against you…”
“Who says there’s no grudge? I’ve already killed you once. That alone has forged enmity between us.”
“If you let me go, I can let bygones be bygones. From now on, we’ll go our separate ways!”
Jiang Sheyu chuckled softly, the sound echoing eerily in the damp, gloomy dungeon.
“Brother Chu, you are far too naive. Do you think I’m as easily deceived as Ye Suxin?”
Chu Yi’s pupils contracted abruptly, and he jerked his head up.
“What else do you know?!”
The smile in Jiang Sheyu’s eyes deepened. “After meeting you two years ago, I became quite curious about your story with Ye Suxin. So, I made a special trip to the old capital of Liang and went through the government archives, where I found a letter.”
Chu Yi’s face turned deathly pale. “That’s impossible. I burned that letter…”
Jiang Sheyu replied with a smile, “You did burn that letter, and you killed everyone who knew the truth. But justice has a long arm, and you overlooked one person, the assistant magistrate of the government office. He preserved the real letter. What you burned was merely a forgery.”
Chu Yi’s lips lost all color.
Jiang Sheyu’s smile grew even more pronounced. “So it turns out that the true mastermind behind the false accusations against Lord Ye was none other than you. To assist the Crown Prince in ascending the throne and eliminate dissidents, you framed Lord Ye. The entire Ye family was executed, and all their relatives were exiled to the harsh, cold borderlands. Ye Suxin was reduced to a prostitute in a brothel, Lord Ye died on the way to exile, and her parents and brothers all met tragic ends. And the one responsible for this entire tragedy… is you, Brother Chu.”
Chu Yi slowly closed his eyes.
Jiang Sheyu chuckled lightly, “How utterly ridiculous. You are clearly the man who murdered Ye Suxin’s father, yet she fell in love with you, willingly becoming a blade in your hands, submitting herself to so many men. With what kind of heart did you use her? Did you ever truly love this pitiful woman? You killed her father, yet you hid the truth from her, slept with her, does she know the man on top of her is her father’s killer?”
Chu Yi’s lips were bloodless as he said, “I didn’t know Xin’er back then. If I had known I would fall in love with her, I would never have framed Lord Ye.”
Jiang Sheyu gazed at his pale face with a look of pity, his voice cold and distant, “Tell me, if I were to reveal the truth about her family’s downfall to Ye Suxin, would she still love you so devotedly?”
“Don’t.”
The color drained completely from Chu Yi’s face. “Don’t tell her, I beg you.”
“How will you beg me?”
“I can serve you like an ox or a horse.”
“Then start by barking like a dog for me.”
Chu Yi suppressed the humiliation in his heart, slowly clenching his bloodstained fingers, and let out two undignified barks.
“Woof woof.”
“But what can I do?”
Jiang Sheyu slightly furrowed his brows, feigning innocence, and revealed a cruel smile. “I’ve already sent that letter to Ye Suxin.”
“You bastard!”
Jiang Sheyu curved his eyes, his lips stretching as if to split to his ears, his voice chillingly soft. “And there’s one more thing I forgot to tell you, Ye Suxin is in the next cell, listening to you confess your crimes.”
Jiang Sheyu suddenly let out a low laugh.
At that moment, it felt as if all the blood had been drained from Chu Yi’s body, plunging him into an icy abyss.
He lifted his head, his lips colorless.
The beauty in the crimson red dress emerged from the neighboring cell, her spirit broken. Her face was pale, her expression sorrowful, and she staggered unsteadily as she walked.
Ye Suxin slowly approached him, her gaze icy and filled with grief as she looked at Chu Yi with unfamiliar eyes.
“Was it you who framed my father?”
Chu Yi’s lips trembled, but he said nothing.
“Was it you who caused the entire Ye family to be executed?”
Chu Yi remained silent.
Two clear tears streamed down Ye Suxin’s cheeks, her cold gaze suddenly turning to hatred. “You beast! You heartless monster! After killing my father, you toyed with me in the palm of your hand! You stole my feelings and handed me over to other men again and again! In your eyes, was our Ye family nothing more than a dog you raised? To kill as you pleased, to use as you pleased!”
“It’s not like that.”
Chu Yi’s face was deathly pale as he tried to explain. “I didn’t know you were his daughter back then. If I had known I would fall in love with you, I would never have.”
“What won't you do? Not kill my father, or not sell me to a brothel to become a prostitute?”
Ye Suxin was weeping uncontrollably, her expression wild and frenzied. “I must have been blind to fall in love with a heartless beast like you! Today, I will avenge the fifty three members of the Ye family and make you pay with your life!”
Ye Suxin drew a dagger hidden in her sleeve and, with tears streaming down her face, viciously stabbed it toward Chu Yi.
“You scoundrel! Give me your life!”
Blood gushed from Chu Yi's chest as he looked at Ye Suxin with eyes full of regret and pain.
“Xin'er, I'm sorry.”
Ye Suxin pulled the dagger from his chest and stabbed him a second time, her tears mingling with her furious curses. “I don't want your apologies, I want your life! You don't deserve to live in this world! You beast! Go die! Die! Die!”
Chu Yi's heart was torn apart by Ye Suxin's blade.
He breathed his last once again.
Ye Suxin stood trembling, her hair disheveled and hairpins scattered on the floor. In her hand, she clutched the dagger that had killed Chu Yi, its crimson blood staining her delicate, pale fingers. Her face, ashen as frost, looked especially pitiable and striking.
Jiang Sheyu's lips curved into a faint smile as he watched the classic scene of betrayal unfold before him with great interest.
The ground was a mess, shattered and broken.
Jiang Sheyu's gaze was deep and subtle, a faint shadow of darkness swirling in his eyes. His gentle smile made his face appear even more refined and elegant, like polished jade.
Was there any sight more delightful in this world than the shattering of bonds and the collapse of trust?
No.
Shattered pieces were the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Jiang Sheyu had witnessed Ye Suxin's withering, crumbled into dust.
The process of her decay was truly something for him to savor.
He could hardly wait to destroy the next beautiful flower.
His favorite one, Yun Pianpian.
Jiang Sheyu left the dungeon. It was already dawn, the sky tinged with the pale light of early morning. Bright sunlight fell upon the locust tree in the courtyard, where white walls and dark tiles stood amidst lush greenery. No one knew that beneath this serene yard lay a dungeon.
Jiang Sheyu entered the west wing room, where Yun Pianpian lay unconscious on the bed. The maid keeping watch by her side hurried over as soon as she saw him enter. “Young master, I have changed the lady's clothes and treated the wounds on her wrists, but she still hasn't woken up.”
The maid, named Rui'er, had been rescued by Jiang Sheyu from the slave market two years ago. She was utterly loyal to him and followed his every command.
Jiang Sheyu spoke softly to Rui'er, “From now on, don't call her 'lady.'“
“What should I call her, then?”
“Call her 'madam.'“
Jiang Sheyu's gaze drifted toward Yun Pianpian, who lay unconscious on the soft couch, his interest piqued. “From this day forward, she is my wife, Jiang Sheyu's madam.”
Rui'er was slightly taken aback, but she quickly composed herself and bowed respectfully. “Yes, young master.”
Jiang Sheyu added, “Inform everyone that from now on, they must bow to the madam when they see her. But no one is allowed to speak to her. Anyone who disobeys will be beaten to death.”
“Yes, young master.”
After Rui'er withdrew,
Jiang Sheyu walked over to Yun Pianpian and sat on the edge of the bed, watching her for a long time, his expression filled with anticipation.
He could hardly wait to destroy her.
Jiang Sheyu did not want to turn Yun Pianpian into a puppet. Puppets had no thoughts of their own, which was no different from being dead. He had no desire to make Yun Pianpian a lifeless shell, as that would strip away much of the fun.
He loved watching vibrant flowers wither, he loved the process of decay.
He was a patient man.
So, he replaced the puppet, controlling gu with the Soul-Severing Gu, a parasite that eroded memories. Once this gu worm burrowed into Yun Pianpian’s mind, she would forget everyone including herself.
Jiang Sheyu wanted Yun Pianpian to fall in love with him only to cruelly abandon her later.
He intended to personally destroy this unyielding flower, to trample her into the mud beneath his feet.
Jiang Sheyu waited until the sun was high in the sky, but Yun Pianpian still hadn’t woken. He reached out and shook her gently, but she was deeply asleep and wouldn’t stir. Turning his gaze, he noticed the teacup on the table. He walked over, poured a cup of tea, and carried it to Yun Pianpian’s side, splashing the tea onto her face.
Yun Pianpian felt a chill on her face.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if she were about to wake.
Had Yun Pianpian been conscious and witnessed this scene, she would have been utterly astonished. It turned out that, aside from true love’s kiss, splashing tea on someone could also rouse an unconscious person, just as many films and TV dramas depicted. This logic was preserved in the world of fiction. Xiao Changyuan had been far too gentle with her, never daring to splash water on her face, which was why she had remained unconscious for so long. Ironically, it was Jiang Sheyu who had accidentally awakened her.
Yun Pianpian slowly opened her eyes, her clear, almond-shaped eyes were filled with confusion.
Her memories were still stuck in the 21st century.
The gu worm only eroded bodily memories, it did not touch the memories of the soul.
The night before, she had just finished reading the finale of ‘Song’s End’, weeping bitterly over its tragic and beautiful conclusion. Little did she expect that, upon waking, she would find herself in this ancient, elegantly furnished room.
Standing before her was a handsome young man in a blue robe, his ink-black hair cascading like a waterfall, his figure slender and graceful, gazing at her with deep affection.
Yun Pianpian had read at least two thousand novels.
Years of novel, reading experience told her…She had traveled through time.
As the saying goes, when the enemy remains still, so do I.
Yun Pianpian stared at him without speaking.
Jiang Sheyu said, “Madam, you’re awake.”
Yun Pianpian froze for a moment before uttering the classic line of every time, traveling heroine: “I’ve lost my memory.”
Jiang Sheyu replied, “Do not fear, Madam. Last night, bandits broke into the manor, and you were struck on the head, causing you to lose your memory. I’ve already had a physician examine you. You are perfectly fine, only your memories are gone.”
Yun Pianpian touched her cheek. “Why is my face a bit wet?”
“Your husband is helping you wipe your face.”
Yun Pianpian caught the scent of tea leaves and inwardly marveled that ancient people actually used tea to wash their faces.
She lowered her head and saw a white bandage wrapped around her wrist. She slightly furrowed her delicate brows.
“What happened to my hand?”
Jiang Sheyu said, “It was injured by bandits.”
Yun Pianpian felt that the other party seemed to trust her completely. He hadn't noticed at all that she wasn't actually his wife. The less suspicious he was, the more guilty she felt. It seemed as if she had stolen someone else's life.
“What's my name?”
Jiang Sheyu smiled gently. “Your name is Xiaohua.”
So his wife was called Xiaohua.
Yun Pianpian began to hesitate, should she tell this gentleman that she wasn't Xiaohua? But she worried that if she did, he might consider her a monster and have her burned. So, for now, she decided to stay quiet and observe.
“Who are you?”
“I am your husband.”
“What's your name?”
“Jiang Sheyu.”
Yun Pianpian was stunned.
Wasn't that the name of Chu Yi's younger brother?
Yun Pianpian found it strange but she didn't dare ask further.
She was afraid that asking too many questions would expose her.
Jiang Sheyu had someone bring the meal. Yun Pianpian sat on pins and needles as she ate with him. After the meal, Jiang Sheyu took her for a stroll in the garden, claiming it was to help jog her memory.
Yun Pianpian grew even more uneasy.
Because she knew she wasn't Xiaohua at all, there was no way he could awaken Xiaohua's memories.
The guiltier she felt, the colder she acted toward Jiang Sheyu.
Her coldness puzzled Jiang Sheyu. Why was this woman treating him even more distantly after losing her memory?
Jiang Sheyu slightly frowned.
Ye Suxin emerged from the dungeon, her hands stained with blood, looking utterly disheartened. She hadn't expected that Chu Yi truly couldn't be killed. No matter how many times she killed him, he would always wake up again after taking his last breath. Ye Suxin felt both hatred and exhaustion toward it all.
He was clearly her father's murderer.
Why couldn't he be killed?
Rui'er approached. “Miss Ye, the young lady that Young Master Chu brought back last night has lost her memory. The young master told her that he is her husband. Please, if you see her, don't let the truth slip.”
Ye Suxin's heart jolted in shock.
Had Jiang Sheyu gone mad?
Ye Suxin rushed off to find Jiang Sheyu.
Yun Pianpian was accompanying Jiang Sheyu in the garden when suddenly, a stunning beauty with disheveled hair burst through the moon gate. Upon seeing her, Jiang Sheyu turned to Yun Pianpian with refined elegance and said, “My lady, please excuse me for a moment.”
Yun Pianpian nodded obediently.
“Alright.”
Yun Pianpian watched as Jiang Sheyu stopped the beauty, pulling her behind the white walls and black, tiled roofs. She couldn't hear what they were saying behind her back, and she began to wonder, was this beauty Jiang Sheyu's concubine?
Whatever Jiang Sheyu said to the beauty, she eventually came over to greet Yun Pianpian.
“Little sister Xiaohua.”
Yun Pianpian nodded at her.
Just as the beauty was about to leave, she inexplicably turned back and looked at Yun Pianpian. “Tell me, if I have an enemy who simply cannot be killed, no matter what I do, how should I go about seeking revenge?”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback and replied, “Naturally, you should repay them in their own coin.”
Killing someone sounded far too brutal.
The beauty was momentarily stunned, then chuckled softly, “That's a brilliant idea. That man is my father's murderer. He caused my entire family to be executed or exiled, forced me into a brothel to become a courtesan, and deliberately seduced me, making me fall in love with him. He used me as a pawn, sending me time and again into the beds of other men. Since I seek revenge, I'll drag him into a brothel to become a male prostitute, letting him be ridden by thousands and slept with by tens of thousands.”
Yun Pianpian was dumbfounded.
The beauty smiled and said, “Thank you for the idea.”
“You're welcome.” Yun Pianpian wanted to get to know this beauty. “By the way, what's your name?”
The beauty replied, “I'm Ye Suxin.”
Yun Pianpian stood frozen, her voice trembling slightly.
“Then, then who is your enemy?”
The beauty said, “Chu Yi.”
Yun Pianpian was stunned.
Aren't those the names of the male and female leads?
How did they become enemies?
Why has the plot derailed to this extent?