pillow bird spring

The pool below Room 1 is where the most venomous snakes are kept.

If a person goes down there, they will surely die.

As the cells descend, often without even reaching the very bottom, the sheer terror can drive a person to their death.

Many burly men have been so frightened by this place that they lost control of their bladders.

Xiao Yin didn't say anything and hurriedly walked towards the dungeon.

The uneasy premonition that had been weighing on my heart grew stronger and stronger.

Upon arriving at the dungeon, Nangong Zhao emerged with a grim expression.

"Xiao Yin, I've given instructions to the people inside. We've temporarily placed a remarkably similar corpse in room number one to avoid arousing suspicion. I've had Shen Yinshuang moved to a secret room. But this isn't a long-term solution; the Empress Dowager will definitely inquire. You need to think everything through before that happens."

Without hesitation, Nangong Zhao reminded Xiao Yin.

"Either let her fake her death and leave this place, or let her really die," Nangong Zhao said.

Xiao Yin remained silent. He looked at Nangong Zhao and relayed Cui Lingyi's words to her verbatim.

Nangong Zhao was stunned after hearing this.

"Cui Lingyi is truly devoted to you. Regardless of what kind of person Prime Minister Cui is, at least she followed you all the way to the frontier back then. Ordinary young ladies wouldn't do such a thing," Nangong Zhao replied after a long while.

He paused for a moment: "But..."

Given the complexity of the Cui family, could Cui Lingyi be so naive?

Xiao Yin did not answer.

The previous suspicions about Cui Lingyi were suppressed at this moment.

"Let's wait and see," Xiao Yin said calmly.

Nangong Zhao nodded, understanding Xiao Yin's meaning.

If Cui Lingyi truly wanted to help, then Shen Yinshuang would have left before the incident occurred.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yin hurriedly walked towards the location of the secret chamber beneath the dungeon.

Nangong Zhao stood still, hands behind his back.

In the end, he sighed silently.

This matter seems to be becoming increasingly complicated.

……

Xiao Yin quickly disappeared into the secret room.

Shen Yinshuang's clothes were still wet and clung to her body, and she was shivering all over.

It's clear they've only been here a short time.

The horrifying scene from before still terrifies her.

In such a narrow place, there wasn't even a place to hide.

And all around were iron pillars.

Looking down, you see venomous snakes unleashing their fury.

They would roll up as soon as they touched the iron pillar.

Your skin will be bitten raw by a venomous snake.

Soaked in salt water, they eventually died in excruciating pain.

Shen Yinshuang closed her eyes and immediately pictured this scene.

She curled up in the corner.

She waited until Xiao Yin walked up to her and half-squatted down.

"No, no..." Shen Yinshuang was still struggling.

"It's me," Xiao Yin's deep, magnetic voice came through.

Shen Yinshuang still didn't relax.

She screamed when Xiao Yin touched her.

Then--

Shen Yinshuang was astonished.

She stared wide-eyed at Xiao Yin in front of her.

All sounds were swallowed up by the kiss that came rushing towards us.

His strong hands wrapped around Shen Yinshuang's slender waist.

She has probably lost some weight recently.

Xiao Yin's hand gripped Shen Yinshuang's waist, holding her firmly with one hand.

And then that warm touch came through.

A strong, powerful heartbeat resonated against Shen Yinshuang.

Their lips and teeth intertwined.

The chill that had seeped into my clothes gradually dissipated.

Whether out of fear or something else, Shen Yinshuang hooked her arm around Xiao Yin's neck.

Her breathing gradually became labored.

But she couldn't let go of Xiao Yin no matter what she did.

It was as if all the pent-up emotions of the past few days had finally erupted at this moment.

The two kissed passionately.

The narrow, enclosed room contained only a stone bed.

When it can fit two people, it feels much more crowded.

In order to prevent Shen Yinshuang from leaning against the hard stone bed.

Xiao Yin held Shen Yinshuang in his arms.

For a long time, so long that Shen Yinshuang could no longer breathe, and her face began to flush slightly.

Xiao Yin then released her.

During that kiss, Shen Yinshuang seemed to completely wake up.

She looked up and passively glanced at Xiao Yin.

Almost reflexively, she pushed Xiao Yin away.

Xiao Yin remained motionless, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Yingshuang.

All the previous tenderness and affection vanished at this moment.

His well-defined knuckles gripped Shen Yinshuang's chin, forcing her to look at him.

Shen Yinshuang had no strength and couldn't break free.

"You weren't moved just now, so why are you pretending now?" Xiao Yin asked calmly.

Feeling embarrassed by Xiao Yin's words, Shen Yinshuang simply lowered her head and remained silent.

Xiao Yin had no intention of letting Shen Yinshuang off the hook; his deep voice carried a hint of questioning.

"Why did you throw the cloak off the cliff earlier?" Xiao Yin looked sharply at Shen Yinshuang.

"My hands are shaking." Shen Yinshuang forced herself to calm down.

"How could you break through the guards' restraints with trembling hands?" Xiao Yin continued to press.

"Fear," Shen Yinshuang answered directly, "so running away was instinctive. As for the cloak, it was just an accident."

Shen Yinshuang did not acknowledge it.

But she knew very well.

Her goal was simply to throw the cloak down.

She knows Pei Shou'an too well.

To Pei Shou'an, she was just a pawn; Xiao Yin was his true target.

If Pei Shou'an confirms that the cloak belongs to Xiao Yin, then Xiao Yin will be able to escape this time.

The emperor will likely cause trouble for Xiao Yin again because of this.

Shen Yinshuang refused.

She would rather die than lose Xiao Yin.

That way, she won't feel guilty even after she dies.

If there is an afterlife, then let's not meet again.

There was no need for her to explain these things to Xiao Yin.

Shen Yinshuang thought that Xiao Yin would believe this explanation.

As a result, Xiao Yin looked at him with deep eyes, his voice growing even lower.

Even within this somber mood, there was a hint of helplessness: "Liar!"

Shen Yinshuang did not respond.

"Because Pei Shou'an testified that the cloak was mine. And it did indeed have the Xiao family's totem on it. So you rushed out regardless of everything, risking your life to throw the cloak off the cliff, so that there would be no one to testify against you, right?" Xiao Yin recounted Shen Yinshuang's thoughts to her verbatim.

Shen Yinshuang became increasingly anxious.

She clutched the hem of her dress.

But she found herself with nowhere to retreat.

"Answer me, isn't that right?" Xiao Yin pressed.

Shen Yinshuang passively watched Xiao Yin, feeling embarrassed that he had seen through her.

But soon, the embarrassment in her eyes turned into calmness.

"Yes." Surprisingly, Shen Yinshuang admitted it.

Then Xiao Yin saw Shen Yinshuang laugh out very faintly.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked in a low voice, but his tone was much more relaxed.

"Xiao Yin." Shen Yinshuang looked up and called out to Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin hummed in agreement.

"I wronged you back then, so I don't want to get entangled with you anymore, nor do I want to feel any guilt towards you. I did this for two reasons: first, Princess Chengping didn't intend to let me live; second, I threw down the cloak to let you escape. It's a life for a life, and that's how we settle things."

Shen Yinshuang spoke slowly and deliberately, her tone calm and composed.

This is not false.

Shen Yinshuang wasn't stupid; she could tell that Xiao Yin was waiting for her to make peace.

But she didn't give him any chance at all, pushing Xiao Yin out step by step.