Yun Xi spoke with such sincerity that even Zhan Feng was stunned, yet he always felt something was amiss.
He thought this woman was quite honest. Now it was up to the prince to decide what to do.
Two pairs of expectant eyes simultaneously turned towards Qi Rong, who had a cold look on his face and tightened his grip on Yun Xi's hand.
"Let's go," he said indifferently and headed straight for the dungeon.
Yun Xi was dragged along roughly by Qi Rong. Speechless and choked with grief, she couldn't utter a word. In her heart, she couldn't help but resentfully think:
Qi Rong, just you wait!
If one day the emperor decides to raid the Prince Xian's Mansion, she would be the first to lead people in and see if he would regret abducting her today!
As soon as they entered the dungeon's entrance, a damp, cold, and bloody smell assailed them. Yun Xi felt a chill run through her body, as if this was the gateway to hell.
Oil lamps illuminated the dim passageway. On both sides of the passageway were various kinds of mechanisms. One could even see the cold glint reflected from the hidden swords and daggers. A single misstep could lead to decapitation.
Just as Yun Xi was thinking about this, a rat suddenly scurried across her instep.
She let out a scream and jumped back quickly. Qi Rong hugged her tightly and leaped to the side. Dozens of arrows were shot simultaneously, and even the rat didn't survive.
Yun Xi's face turned deathly pale. She swallowed hard and hooked her arms tightly around Qi Rong's neck, being more obedient than ever.
Qi Rong, however, looked completely calm. Holding her in his arms, he walked through the passageway as casually as if he were taking a stroll in a garden. Finally, he brought her to one of the cells.
Looking at the torture instruments in the cell and the man tied to the wooden stake, Yun Xi suddenly felt her legs go weak. She tugged at Qi Rong's sleeve and pleaded:
"Can I wait for you outside the door?"
After seeing Qi Rong kill someone, she really didn't want to relive that bloody nightmare!
Qi Rong looked down at her pale little face. His expression twitched slightly, but soon he shook his head and firmly placed her on a chair in the corner of the cell.
The darkness and ugliness in the world were far more than she could imagine. A delicate flower like her couldn't survive in this cruel world without being exposed to the darkness.
In the future, she would never be able to get used to his world.
Therefore, even though he felt reluctant to do so at the moment, he had to show her the darkest side of the world!
"My lord, I'm from the Luo family. I've come here to deliver a message to you! Those guards in the mansion didn't even listen to me and tied me up here. You've got to stand up for me!"
As soon as the man tied to the wooden stake had the gag in his mouth removed by Zhan Feng, he excitedly explained to Qi Rong.
He had thought his plan would go smoothly, but unexpectedly, right from the start, he had encountered such a setback, which made him feel extremely panicked.
"I ordered them to tie you up," Qi Rong said as he sat on the chair. His cold and fierce gaze fixed on the man, making the man's heart tremble.
The man was stunned for a moment. A flattering smile forced its way onto his face:
"Why, my lord? I'm the deputy general of General Luo Yuan, your uncle. I've traveled day and night for eight hundred miles just to discuss important matters with you."
"If you don't believe me, I have a token to prove it. We can't let the flood wash away the Dragon King's temple and fight among ourselves!"
As the man was speaking, Zhan Feng respectfully presented a letter and a dark green jade plaque to Qi Rong.
Qi Rong's cold and deep eyes quickly scanned the content of the letter, then turned the jade plaque in his hand.
Regardless of whether the letter was genuine or not, he had seen this jade plaque before. It was the one that his grandfather, the late Duke Luo, used to hang on his waist.
If one asked him how he was so sure, it was because this jade plaque was carved by the former crown prince, his most respected elder brother, for his grandfather, and he had been watching from the side.
Qi Rong rubbed the jade plaque with his fingers and tightly held it in his hand. His burning gaze fixed on the man, his expression half - smiling.
"Do you think you can instigate me to rebel just with a letter and a jade plaque?"
Qi Rong's voice was extremely cold, like a huge boulder suddenly crashing into a calm lake.
Not only Yun Xi but also Zhan Feng looked at the man in surprise.
Not to mention that the Luo family's power had declined sharply since the late Duke Luo's passing and they were constantly restricted everywhere. It was even a question whether they could get out of the border area.
Although Qi Rong was the Prince Xian and seemed to be in the emperor's good graces, he had only just emerged from a difficult situation in recent years and his foundation was still unstable.
A single mistake could lead to eternal damnation!
Starting a rebellion was no child's play. Without the strength to ensure victory, long - term planning, and a well - thought - out strategy, it would surely be like smashing an egg against a rock and seeking self - destruction!
The man had been eagerly expecting that after Qi Rong saw the token, he would quickly untie him or at least be amiable.
However, at this moment, Qi Rong's expression was so cold that the man felt as if he had been sliced open by a cold blade.
"My lord, this letter was written by General Luo Yuan. It hasn't been opened yet. I don't know what's going on either!"
"Why don't you write a letter to the general right away? I'll set off immediately to persuade the general not to act impulsively!"
The man spoke earnestly, and even Zhan Feng couldn't help but kneel down and advised from the side:
"My lord, I dare to suggest that you send a message to General Luo by carrier pigeon right away. Don't let the general act rashly!"
Qi Rong's uncle, Luo Yuan, had been fighting on the battlefield for many years. Although he was brave and skilled in battle, he was not as steady as the late Duke Luo in handling matters. He had a fiery temper and was easily angered.
Moreover, with the late Duke Luo's recent passing, in a fit of anger, it was hard to say whether he would make a hasty move!
As soon as Zhan Feng finished speaking, Qi Rong kicked him hard in the chest. The force was so great that Zhan Feng was sent flying seven or eight meters away until he hit the dungeon wall and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood!
Yun Xi trembled and looked at Qi Rong's action in surprise. A trace of fear welled up in the bottom of her eyes.
"Nonsense!" Qi Rong sneered. He stepped on Zhan Feng's chest with one foot, smiling coldly in a way that sent shivers down one's spine.
"Zhan Feng, even though you come from the Luo family, don't forget who your current master is! If you can't figure this out, get out of the mansion for me!"
With a cold glance, Qi Rong looked at the panicked man and slowly paced up to him.
"Not to mention that this letter wasn't written by my uncle in person. Even if it was, I would tell him not to have such wild fantasies."
"The world is the emperor's. Since I've chosen to be loyal to the emperor, I'll be the first to eliminate traitors like you!"
Qi Rong's voice was cold and resolute. Hearing this, the man's face suddenly changed.
He couldn't believe that these words had come from Qi Rong's mouth. He said excitedly:
"My lord, don't you forget how the current emperor ascended the throne, how the crown prince was assassinated, and how the late emperor and the late empress died a tragic death in the palace!"
Even without looking at Qi Rong's expression, Yun Xi could feel the sudden chill in the air. She looked at the man worriedly and shook her head desperately to signal him.
However, the man seemed to be making a last - ditch effort:
"Even the late Duke Luo was forced to death! Are you going to just watch all your trusted people die under his feet before you come to your senses?"
Yun Xi's face turned pale. She suddenly remembered the way Qi Rong had shed tears just now. The late Duke Luo was actually dead?
In her previous life, although she didn't know Qi Rong very well, she knew what a great and respected man the late Duke Luo was. His passing must have been a heavy blow to Qi Rong!
However, the man's words were like pouring salt on Qi Rong's wound. He was clearly courting disaster!