It would be a lie to say that Shen Lingyun wasn't touched.
Everyone yearns to be the sole recipient of someone's affection, or to be the object of unwavering preference.
However...
What stood between them was not only Xiao Tianye, but also Xiao Jingcheng.
What was lost was lost. Now, how could she possibly have the right to stand by his side?
With her back turned to him, Shen Lingyun took a deep breath and said,
"Let me ask you this. Since you've seized the throne, if Cheng'er were still alive, what would you do? Everyone says that Cheng'er was born out of our illicit affair, but you should know very well that he is Xiao Tianye's flesh and blood."
"At that time, would you kill him or abdicate the throne to him and hand the world over to him?"
Xiao Tianchi saw her shoulders tense up. Her back, straight and unyielding, looked extremely vulnerable in his eyes.
He knew her so well and also knew that it would be extremely difficult to move her.
Xiao Tianye had spent over twenty years and still failed to do so. And he might need to put in even more effort.
"That would depend on how Xiao Jingcheng chooses," Xiao Tianchi said slowly. "Whether he chooses his beloved father or his mother."
Shen Lingyun was taken aback.
"Forget it," Xiao Tianchi suddenly said, not continuing the conversation with her. "Since you don't want me to accompany you, I won't go to the dungeon with you. But I'll arrange two martial - skilled maids to protect you closely. Be careful in everything."
He clapped his hands, and then two sedan chairs came towards them one after another.
He was about to step into one of the sedan chairs when his sleeve was grabbed. "Xiao Tianchi, finish what you have to say before you leave!"
Xiao Tianchi turned to look at her.
When it came to Xiao Jingcheng, she couldn't stay calm. It was a mother's nature.
"Lingji, how about making a bet with me?"
Shen Lingyun vaguely felt that this was a trap he had set for her. She didn't want to listen, but Xiao Tianchi continued on his own.
"Xiao Tianye won't be willing to let me seize the throne. Within a month, he will surely show up and send troops to the capital. If Xiao Jingcheng defected to his father and became the blade in his father's hand to fight me for the world, then I won't show him any mercy. At that time, Lingji, don't blame me for being cruel."
Shen Lingyun's fingers trembled violently.
"If Xiao Jingcheng chooses you and submits to me, the new emperor, I will spare his life and let him continue to be my crown prince. And you, you'll have to marry me willingly. How about it?"
A chill rose from the soles of her feet, making half of Shen Lingyun's body feel as if it was hidden in an ice coffin.
The palace had been occupied, and the throne had been seized. Xiao Tianye would surely not give up. After a period of rest, he would surely fight back to the capital. Xiao Tianye was Xiao Jingcheng's biological father. As the crown prince of the Great Sheng, he would surely follow in his father's footsteps to eliminate the threat of Xiao Tianchi.
But now, she was still in the capital, and Xiao Tianchi still intended to make her the queen. Wasn't this also a kind of restraint on Xiao Jingcheng?
If she hoped that Xiao Jingcheng would choose her, then Xiao Jingcheng would have to recognize the enemy as his father, and the rumors about his birth in the capital would be completely confirmed.
But if Xiao Jingcheng chose Xiao Tianye, then in his heart, power was obviously more important than his mother.
Whether he chose Xiao Tianye or her, it would be a kind of torture and test for Xiao Jingcheng!
Xiao Tianchi's bet was a bet on human nature!
He used this to force her to compromise. It was really despicable.
The touch that had welled up because of his words just now vanished instantly. Shen Lingyun's eyes turned slightly red. "Fine, I'll bet with you."
"I bet that Cheng'er still has his blood and spirit. He will never compromise with you. He will rely on himself to help his father take back everything. When the palace gates are breached, I will surely end my own life with a single knife and won't let him watch his mother be humiliated."
Xiao Tianchi laughed. "Then I'll bet that he will surely submit to me for your sake. By then, I hope Lingji will fulfill the bet and marry me in a grand manner."
Shen Lingyun said, "I'm Cheng'er's mother. I know him. I will surely not lose."
Xiao Tianchi smiled faintly. "Then let's just wait and see."
Shen Lingyun gradually let go of Xiao Tianchi's sleeve. Xiao Tianchi didn't linger any longer. He got into the sedan chair, waved his hand, and told the servants to take him away.
Shen Lingyun's fingers still couldn't stop trembling. Biwu stepped forward to support her and asked worriedly, "Miss, are you okay?"
Shen Lingyun steadied her emotions and shook her head. "I'm fine."
The servants had been standing far away and couldn't hear what the two were saying. But judging from Shen Lingyun's emotions, Biwu could guess that it wasn't a pleasant topic. Biwu asked, "Shall we go back to the Jiaofang Palace now?"
Shen Lingyun shook her head and fixed her gaze.
"No, go to the dungeon."
There were some things she had to do.
She had to go and ask in person why Bu Hua had betrayed Cheng'er.
She took a step forward with Biwu. The servants waiting there bowed and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered us to escort you there."
Shen Lingyun said coldly, "No need. You can go back."
She walked past everyone towards the dungeon. Biwu followed closely beside her.
There was complete silence behind them. It seemed that the servants carrying the sedan chairs didn't follow. But Biwu accidentally looked back and found that they were carrying the empty sedan chairs and following them from afar without making a single sound.
Biwu hesitated for a moment and said to Shen Lingyun, "Miss, they're following us."
Shen Lingyun said indifferently, "Ignore them."
Shen Lingyun had just recovered from a serious illness and was still very weak. The weather was also very stuffy. She had to stop and rest for a while after walking a short distance before she could continue. Every time she stopped to rest, the servants carrying the sedan chairs would send someone forward to ask Biwu if they needed to send Shen Lingyun in the sedan chair, but both the mistress and the maid refused.
Fortunately, the dungeon wasn't far from the Wenshou Hall. They arrived there in about half an hour.
The dungeon was heavily guarded. Two women in maid costumes were already waiting outside. When they saw Shen Lingyun, they stepped forward and bowed respectfully to her.
"Your servant is Zixi. Your servant is Ziyan. Greetings to Lady Shen."
They addressed her as "Lady Shen" instead of "Your Highness". Presumably, it was Xiao Tianchi's instruction.
"Don't be so formal," Shen Lingyun said indifferently.
After they stood up, Shen Lingyun asked, "Since both of you know martial arts, what are your specialties?"
Zixi said, "Your servant is good at using poisons and gu worms."
Ziyan said, "Your servant is good at using the long whip."
Shen Lingyun nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.
Zixi took out something from her body and presented it in front of Shen Lingyun. "This is the imperial token that His Majesty asked us to give to you, Lady. His Majesty said that you can go to any place with this token. However, His Majesty also said that he hopes you will remember the agreement and return to the palace to rest well when it gets dark."
Lying in Zixi's hand was a bright yellow waist - token with the character "Chi" engraved in small seal script.