The sound of carriage wheels outside was getting closer and closer. Ivy Shen held her breath, her whole body aching so much she couldn't help but knit her brows. After all the injuries she’d taken in the secret passage, plus the oil burns, and now this brutal whipping, there wasn’t a single patch of unbroken skin left on her.
“No, please, stop hitting me... I promise, I promise I won’t like the Crown Prince anymore, I won’t... like him...” Ivy Shen’s tears streamed down as she wailed, her voice raw and desperate.
Instantly, the women froze, stunned by Ivy’s sudden outburst. None of them could make heads or tails of what she meant by that.
“Empress Cao, Empress Cao, I promise you—I swear I won’t ever see the Crown Prince again... Just let my sister Lana go, please, I’m begging you...” Her voice grew more and more pitiful.
With a soft ‘swish,’ Song Zhijue’s robe slipped silently to the floor from his hand.
“Crown Prince...” Silver Consort, who’d followed behind, paused in surprise, then shot a worried glance inside. She’d just heard something about not liking the Crown Prince—who on earth was that woman inside?!
“Demon girl, what nonsense are you spouting?” Cao Wan’er hadn’t even noticed Song Zhijue’s arrival. Right now, she was convinced this demon girl was up to her old tricks again, and she was determined to beat her until she learned her lesson.
“Empress Cao... I won’t like the Crown Prince anymore... I promise you, I’ll never reach above my station, please... just spare my sister...” This time, Ivy’s words were clearer than before.
Anyone who didn’t know the truth would definitely think it was the Empress threatening her, and Ivy was just begging for her sister’s sake.
“You can’t even protect yourself, and you still want to save your sister? Ridiculous! Don’t worry—once you’re dead, I’ll send your precious sister to join you!” Not realizing Ivy’s words were part of her scheme, Cao Wan’er went right along with her act.
“Hit her! Harder—don’t hold back!”
“Yes!” With that, Luna and Julia Shang started beating Ivy Shen even more fiercely.
“Ah... Please... Spare me...”
“Luna, hit her harder, don’t you dare hold back!” Cao Wan’er still wasn’t satisfied, barking out more orders. No matter what tricks this demon girl was playing, she was determined to beat her to death—there was no place for a woman like this in the palace!
“Stop!” A sudden shout made everyone inside freeze. Silver Consort then wheeled Song Zhijue slowly into the room.
“Zhijue?” Cao Wan’er blinked in surprise when she saw Song Zhijue arrive. “Why are you here?”
“Mother, what are you doing?” Song Zhijue’s voice turned cold without him even noticing.
At that, Cao Wan’er glared fiercely at Ivy Shen and snapped, “Mother is teaching this reckless demon girl a lesson today!”
Seeing this, Ivy Shen lay on the ground, covered in blood, turning her head to glance at Song Zhijue. Tears kept streaming down her face. “C... Crown Prince...”
Seeing this, Song Zhijue hurriedly rolled his wheelchair over to Ivy’s side, bent down, and reached out to help her up, letting her lean against his leg. “Sherry, Sherry...”
"You came..." Blood kept dripping from the corner of Ivy's mouth, and she looked as fragile as shattered glass.
The sight made Song Zhijue clench his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His heart ached so much he could barely breathe. This was the first time he’d ever truly cared for a woman, and yet he couldn’t even protect her.
“Zhijue, what are you doing? This demon girl is a spy—let Mother beat her to death today!” Cao Wan’er snapped, furious at Song Zhijue for showing compassion to the demon girl.
After all, this demon girl had just cursed her out moments ago—there was no way Empress Cao was letting her off!
“That’s right, Crown Prince, don’t let her fool you! She was just insulting the Empress!” Luna quickly chimed in.
“Yeah, Crown Prince, she’s lying!” Julia Shang added, thinking this woman was just putting on a sob story. Hmph, so sly.
“Shut up!” Suddenly, Song Zhijue glared at them and barked out a command.
“Crown Prince...” Luna and Julia Shang whimpered, feeling wronged.
“If you say one more word, I’ll cut out your tongues myself!” Song Zhijue threatened coldly.
The two of them shuddered and immediately dropped to their knees. “Spare us, Crown Prince! Please spare us!” they cried, bowing their heads and not daring to speak another word.
“Zhijue, what are you doing?” Cao Wan’er was clearly displeased by Song Zhijue’s attitude. “You don’t believe your own mother?”
At her words, Song Zhijue looked up at Cao Wan’er. “Mother, Sherry is the woman I love. She’s kind-hearted...”
“Kind-hearted? You call that kind-hearted? Zhijue, don’t let her fool you—she just disrespected your mother a moment ago!” Cao Wan’er glared furiously at Ivy Shen lying on the floor. Years of experience told her this woman was anything but simple; she’d be trouble in the future, so she had to be eliminated.
“C... Crown Prince...” Ivy Shen reached out a trembling hand, and Song Zhijue quickly grasped it in return.
“Don’t... don’t argue with the Empress because of me... It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t... shouldn’t have talked back. But... but I couldn’t just watch my sister Lana Qiu be... be falsely accused.” As she finished, tears once more fell onto Song Zhijue’s hand.
“Sherry, that’s enough, don’t say anymore.” Earlier, Little Die and Luna had already told him everything that happened at the Lotus Pond. Now, seeing Julia Shang here only confirmed that she’d come to complain.
After spending so much time with Sherry, Song Zhijue knew how much she cared about her sisters—she’d do anything to protect Lana Qiu. What a silly girl!
“Zhijue, what are you doing? Are you really going to shield this woman?” Cao Wan’er stood up and demanded.
Sensing the tension, Silver Consort quickly went to Cao Wan’er’s side to calm her down. “Please, Your Majesty, don’t be angry.”
“Mother, I...”