Chapter 005: How Do You Want to Die

She felt increasingly cold as she slept, the chill penetrating through her robe directly to her skin. She woke up shivering, yet somewhat dazed

Even though she exerted all her strength, she could not withstand the force of the two guards, who brought her to two wooden barrels. Fortunately, they did not immediately throw her in.

Uncertain how long the swaying lasted, Lan Qingxiao felt as if the world had turned upside down, with houses, flowering trees, and people all tilting in madness

Lan Qingxiao could not help but scream, feeling dizzy from being swung around, and it was even upside down, making it extremely uncomfortable

Yan Nanzheng practiced swordsmanship in the vibrant garden filled with blooming flowers and lush willows, each move flowing as smoothly as spring water, graceful like drifting clouds, yet concealing an unknown strength and enigmatic potential.

"I give you two choices, and you may consider them carefully." Yan Nanzheng did not look at her at all, instead taking a white cloth napkin from the gilded wooden table held by the maid to wipe his hands.

The two guards relaxed their grip, and Lan Qingxiao immediately broke free, quickly retreating a few steps, but then collapsed to the ground, trembling all over

Lan Qingxiao was just about to ask which two options there were when she saw four guards carrying two large wooden barrels over and placing them a yard away.

Your Highness, I am merely a lowly commoner; how could someone as noble as you take action against me? You may treat me as a mere nuisance and let me go, out of sight, out of mind, is that not so? She forced a smile, yet it was stiff and dry

However, how could she withstand the strength of two vigorous men

Flowing Wind angrily snorted: "Only now do you realize that it damages His Highness's reputation? Why couldn't you think of that yesterday? Throw her in!"

The two guards stood on either side, pushing her like a swing, making her sway back and forth.

Yan Nanzheng stood in the corridor, his elegant purple robe accentuating his exquisite and beautiful features, as well as his pure and noble demeanor, to perfection

One is reeking with a foul odor, and the other is terrifyingly sour and rotten, utterly disgusting

There is no room for negotiation, so you might as well choose quickly" he said with a smug smile

Liu Feng watched her being abused, and his heart, which was both angry and blocked, finally felt a little relieved.

After working until just before midnight, she lay down straight and immediately fell into a deep sleep, not even waking when someone entered the woodshed and carried her away in a sack

A wave of extremely unpleasant odor wafted in, not only sour and stinky, but also reminiscent of a latrine.

Ah... don't...

Continue to push and sway as the rocking gradually comes to a stop

Two guards lifted her entire body, and she exerted all her strength in an attempt to change her fate, crying out for help in a piercing voice

Hang it up

Yan Nanzheng accepted the tea cup handed to him by the maid, sipping it elegantly without uttering a word

She shouted until her throat was dry and her tongue parched, resignedly falling silent, her heart filled with sorrow

She looked weakly at Yan Nanzheng, her small face pale, breathing heavily with lingering fear, her body drenched in sweat, as if she had just gone through a harrowing life-and-death decision

The eastern sky is tinged with the pale light of dawn, this is neither a firewood room nor an inn, she lies on the bluestone floor, and her gaze falls upon the flower-laden courtyard and the intricately carved buildings.

If Lan Qingxiao's quick thinking falls into his hands this time, will he die

You are openly selling the prince's undergarments... That is not the prince's undergarment at all. How can you slander and insult the prince with such nonsense? Do you realize you have tarnished the prince's reputation? You truly deserve to be punished!" The furious Liu Feng, standing beside her, trembled with anger as he pointed at her, enumerating her offenses.

No one pays attention to her

Yan Nanzheng took the sword from Liu Feng and danced with it in the Qiong Hall

She pondered whether the two large wooden barrels contained slop and excrement. At that moment, two guards approached quickly, seized her without a word, and took her away.

Your Highness, is there a third option? As long as it is not one of these two, I can accept it... Lan Qingxiao, in a moment of inspiration, felt all the hairs on her body stand on end, "Your Highness, whatever you want me to do, whatever punishment you choose, as long as it is not one of these two, I can accept it..."

Yan Nanzheng's voice was cool and crisp, and his pair of long, fair hands, with distinct joints, resembled beautiful jade and exquisite porcelain in the transparent and brilliant morning light

At the very moment she was about to be thrown in, a voice, calm and cold like that of a celestial being, echoed: "Hold on."

"If you don't choose soon, I will choose for you." Liu Feng is very much looking forward to the upcoming punishment

I know I have gone too far, I deserve to die, I truly deserve to die. Lan Qingxiao heavily slapped her own cheeks twice, the current situation was too dire, how could she possibly contend with the prince of the current dynasty? In times of urgency, she had no choice but to yield and preserve her life. "Yesterday, I was also left with no choice, it was merely to save my own life, I truly did not intend to offend you. You, my lord, are magnanimous and would certainly not hold a grudge against a lowly commoner like me, would you? Furthermore, if the common people were to learn that I died unjustly, they might suspect it was related to you, which would further tarnish your reputation, wouldn't it?"

She cautiously got up and saw a man in black coming out of the bedroom; it was the Prince of Yan

With just a glance, she understood how exhilarating it felt to be completely overwhelmed by those terrifying things

She was just one small step away from being thrown into the large wooden barrel

Before she could regain her composure, the two guards swiftly bound her hands and feet with great skill, and then lifted her upside down. Ultimately, she was suspended from a tree, head down and feet up, "Hey, what are you doing?"

Her mind has turned into a mass of mush, the scenery before her has blurred into a phantom, and her internal organs are in a state of chaotic turmoil, making her feel as though her entire body no longer belongs to her

Lan Qingxiao sensed the impending danger and struggled in panic, shouting: "What are you doing? Let me go..."

Two guards received the order and seized Lan Qingxiao, intending to throw her inside

However, how could those two guards possibly stop

Just a glance was enough to send chills down her spine and make her scalp tingle

Although they exerted themselves to the utmost, she was like a loach, quite adept at wriggling free, managing to escape several times

In the rapid swaying, she saw the figure clad in purple dance faster and faster. Even with her eyes wide open, she could not discern his sword techniques; all she could see was a flash of silver light darting like a startled lightning bolt, and a purple phantom mysteriously and eerily flickering and darting about

Liufeng followed the past and said proudly: "Choose one of these two."

This minor punishment has actually been quite lenient towards her

Lan Qingxiao was swaying uncontrollably, her eyes filled with stars, feeling dizzy and disoriented, "Please stop! I feel so uncomfortable..."

The flowing wind pointed to the large wooden barrel filled to the brim with excrement, "This one, just throw her in."

Lan Qingxiao fought desperately against it, shouting hoarsely: "No... Your Highness, I know I was wrong... You can hit me or whip me, just please don't throw me in there... Your Highness, you are a noble prince, how can you do such a dirty and vile thing... If this gets out, it will tarnish your reputation..."

She thought that being hung upside down was the punishment of the Prince of Yan, little did she know that there was something even more severe. Just as she was savoring the sight of his impressive sword dance, her whole body suddenly swayed, causing her to scream in fright

"How do you want to die?" His voice was light and indifferent, sending chills down one's spine in the crisp air of the early morning

Lan Qingxiao sought out several tea houses, restaurants, and inns in succession. Finally, the owner of one inn, feeling pity for her, allowed her to wash dishes and work there, but she could only sleep in the woodshed