On hearing Bai Aoxueâs requirement, Jun Yeyan nodded without any consideration. He walked up to Bai Aoxue, picked up her and left the room.
Zhao followed behind, and Liushuang followed, too, out of interest.
It was noon, and the four came to the palace quietly.
Bai Aoxue observed around, and found it was an abandoned hall. A man in black appeared in silence.
âMaster.â
Jun Yeyan nodded, âLead the way.â
They followed the man in black and took turns right and left, and finally they arrived at the dungeon. The guards of the dungeon had already been killed by Jun Yeyanâs men.
All of this was done quietly, just like the man in black who came and went silently. Bai Aoxue looked at the scene, her eye sight turned dark.
Jun Yeyanâs men were all mysterious.
The man in black killed the guards and led the four to deeper part of the dungeon.
There was echo of their footsteps in this quiet dungeon. Bai Aoxue heard sound of whipping extremely loud before they got closer.
âTalk! Who incited you to poison the Emperor! Otherwise, you will be beaten to death! Look at you, with a girly delicate skin and soft flesh. It is a pity just beat you to death. Let me enjoy you first!â Whipping sound mixed with filthy words sounded very harsh in the quiet dungeon.
The look in Bai Aoxueâs eyes turned cold when she heard the whipping and the filthy words. Jun Yeyan speeded up his steps.
They walked to the most inside part of the dungeon, and Jun Yeyan was just about to enter the cell, a sword flashed towards Jun Yeyan.
Jun Yeyan inclined his body and stepped back quickly. Zhaoâs double knives had already been drawn!
The sharp sword was pointed straight to Jun Yeyan! When they figured out who it was, Zhao had already got him under control.
âEunuch Zhao?!â Bai Aoxue blurted out the words looking at the man attacking them.
Nobody would expect the old man, who had been stooped for half of his life, had such an explosive force.
Eunuch Zhao didnât expect it was Bai Aoxue that came. He looked at Bai Aoxue and Jun Yeyan in surprise, something was on his mind.
âFifth Prince?â Eunuch Zhaoâs voice was a little bit husky instead of high-pitched as usual.
Jun Yeyan squinted at Eunuch Zhao, nodded to admit his identity without any hiding.
Eunuch Zhao knew Jun Yeyanâs real identity, but Jun Yeyan didnât care about that. Because in his heart, Eunuch Zhao was already dead!
âWell...I would have known...would have known. How can Fifth Prince be just like what others talk about? Our passed Emperor didnât expect it!â Eunuch Zhao smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Their talk had been heard by the guards in the cell.
âWho is there?â A rude voice came from inside. Bai Aoxue could not help to frown.
âFifth Prince and Princess, I beg you to save the boy. He doesnât deserve this misery!â Eunuch Zhao knelt down suddenly when he heard the voice from inside the cell.
Bai Aoxue didnât expect Eunuch Zhao would act like this, and said, âEunuch Zhao, what are you doing? Why do you come to save Cangsheng at Jun Wuhenâs back?â
Eunuch Zhao was about to answer Bai Aoxue when the sound of footsteps came from inside the cell. It must be the guard who came and checked out on condition since no one answered him.
Jun Yeyan gave Zhao a look and Zhao moved to the entrance quietly. His double knives gave out demonic blue light in the dark dungeon.
And Liushuang was staring at the double knives. Both of them had something on mind.
âLiushuang, protect your master.â Bai Aoxueâs whisper brought Liushuang back to reality from thinking.
Liushuang didnât expect that Bai Aoxue could call herself as his master and his lips jerked a little, but he also knew that it was not time to joke around.
Liushuang looked at frightened Eunuch Zhao with an evil smile, and said, âI am not an easy person, so do not piss me off.â
Zhao had killed the man who came out to check with his double knives.
This was the first time that Bai Aoxue had seen Zhao kill someone. It was really surprising.
The killing was quick and certain without any untidiness.
âEunuch Zhao, I just want to know why do you want to save Cangsheng?â Bai Aoxue gave a cold glimpse at Eunuch Zhao and asked in whisper.
On hearing Bai Aoxueâs question, Eunuch Zhao was lost in thought for a moment, and then said sadly, âIt is all because I owe to the Helian family!â
Bai Aoxue didnât require more and nodded to Jun Yeyan, so Jun Yeyan continued to walk to the cell.
Liushuang lifted his eyebrows and patted Eunuch Zhaoâs face lightly, âDonât try to play us, otherwise my iron fan will destroy you.â
After finishing his talking, Liushuang kept up with Jun Yeyan, with Zhao and the man in black leading the way.
Eunuch Zhao got up in a hurry and stumbled to follow the group.
Bai Aoxue entered the dungeon cell and looked around, and she caught sight of Cangsheng bound to a wood stamp, with ragged clothes and wounds all over his body, bleeding.
The man interrogating Cangsheng heard the sound of the group the moment he was about to tear Cangshengâs last piece of clothes off which covered the private parts, and roared, âHow dare you spoil my fun! You bastard!â
Then he turned around and was to lash the people coming with a whip.
Bai Aoxue didnât care about the attack of the whip, and her eyes were staring at Cangsheng without a blink, her eyes were full of tears all of a sudden.
Now Cangsheng was not like the person that Bai Aoxue used to know. His eyes were full of despair, and his face was pale without vigor.
But Bai Aoxue figured out some kind of relief in his eyes.
Zhao broke the whip. The moment the man in black was about to kill the interrogator, Bai Aoxue said lightly, âStop!â
The man in black was a little bit surprised when he heard Bai Aoxueâs words, but he still stopped, looking at Bai Aoxue in confusion.
Bai Aoxue patted lightly on Jun Yeyanâs hand, and Jun Yeyan put down Bai Aoxue carefully.
Bai Aoxue stood still and took over the knife from Zhao, and walked to Cangsheng step by step.
âCangsheng.â Bai Aoxue whispered.
On hearing Bai Aoxueâs voice, Cangshengâs unfocused pupils became clear.
âAoxue...what...what are you doing here? It must be Fifth Prince who told you. I have already asked him not to tell you...sorry, Aoxue, I shouldnât have cheated you.â Cangsheng said to Bai Aoxue, looking at her and smiling.
His smile was just like before, bright as breeze.
Bai Aoxue tried hard to hold her tears and curled her lips to smile. Her eyes were just like stars.
âWe are friends. I will help you if you are in trouble.â
Saying this, Bai Aoxue cut all the ropes binding on Cangshengâs body.
As Cangsheng fell to the ground, Zhao held Cangsheng just in time, and seated him against the wall.
Seeing that Cangsheng had almost been tortured to death, Eunuch Zhaoâs tears ran down his face, and he quickly took off his own robe to cover Cangshengâs body.
âAoxue, thank you.â Cangshengâs smile was just like before.
Bai Aoxue choked with sobs instantly, seeing that Cangsheng regained his smile as before.
âDonât say that. You can appreciate me after we get out of here.â Bai Aoxue turned her head away and said lightly.
Bai Aoxueâs behavior caused Cangshengâs eyes to lose focus. But he still tried his best to open his eyes, and stared at Bai Aoxue, âIâm really sorry I didnât tell you my real name. I believe Fifth Prince has already told you my real name. But I want to tell you again in person. I am from Yangzhou, my surname is Helian, given name is Cangzhu. Right now my name is Cangsheng. I feel very lucky to know you.â
âActully...I really want to live. I want to live until I find my elder sister. Then I will revenge for 41 lives of Helian family. But I donât expect that my elder sister would die before me. I feel so tired...and I think my parents also miss me. So I decided to kill Jun Wuhen. I didnât expect to leave the palace alive. I know members of Helian family are waiting for me and itâs time to unite with them.â
Cangsheng paused a little and his eyes showed that he was relieved.
âLord Helian wanted you to live!â Eunuch Zhao had kept silent all the time but now said loudly.
Cangsheng turned to look at the sad Eunuch Zhao, said with difficulty, âMaster...thank you for your care in so many years. You donât owe the Helian family anything and I donât blame you.â
Eunuch Zhao opened his eyes widely, and asked, âYou have known everything?â
Cangsheng nodded, âAlthough I was young back then, I still remember the man who arrested 41 members of Helian family and the man who secretly saved me and let me go. The first time I met you, I recognized you. At first, my hatred was so strong that I would like to eat your flesh and drink you blood. But after so many years of care, I donât blame you.â
On hearing this, Bai Aoxue finally figured out why Eunuch Zhao said that he owed the Helian family.
It turned out to be karma.
âI owe Lord Helian! And I owe the Helian family!â Eunuch Zhao cried his heart out.
Cangsheng was just about to comfort Eunuch Zhao when he threw up a mouthful of blood.
Bai Aoxue grabbed Cangshengâs hand to measure pulse for him.
âCangsheng, you are poisoned?â Bai Aoxue asked.
Cangsheng nodded, and smiled, âI hid poison between my teeth, and I didnât intend to leave the palace alive.â
Bai Aoxue took the porcelain bottle out of her sleeves anxiously, âDonât worry, I will save you. I can save you.â
No one expected Bai Aoxue to be in such a panic, and right now she had lost her pride and calmness. She was just like a child that would lose someone so important to her.
âAoxue...donât worry about me. I...donât want to be alive from long ago. I didnât expect to live such a long time when I chose this path years ago. Now I am satisfied that I have lived so long, come to know you, and become an intimate friend with you. I am really satisfied. And I miss my parents and my elder sister. I have kept them waiting for me for such a long time.â Cangsheng smiled sadly, there was hope and relief in his eyes.
Bai Aoxue didnât care about Cangshengâs words and looked through her porcelain bottle, aiming to find an antidote to relieve the poison in Cangshengâs body.
âAoxue, if you have time, please go to a place in Nanyue, which is at the foot of the Beiyang Mountain and on the bank of Ziyue Lake. It is the place where my elder sister and I agreed to meet. Now I cannot go there in person. Would you please go there for me?â Cangsheng tried hard to open his eyes wide, but he could only see a blur figure of Bai Aoxue.
Bai Aoxue didnât answer, and she stopped finding the antidote.