Chapter 12: Rising Again Is the Mark of a True Hero

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In the dungeon, Lin Yue quickly found the drowsy Xiao Mei. Her cheeks were swollen and flushed, and she was running a high fever.

“Xiao Mei, Xiao Mei, wake up.”

“Who did this to you?”

Xiao Mei gradually came to, and upon seeing her mistress, she choked up and said, “Princess Consort, you’ve finally returned.”

“Wuwuwu, Xiao Mei almost thought she wouldn’t see you again.”

Lin Yue hurriedly comforted her, “Don’t cry. Who beat you like this? Tell me, and I’ll help you get justice!”

Xiao Mei sobbed, “It was Aunt Liu from the Crown Prince’s consort’s entourage. She said that since you’re not at the residence and the Crown Prince dislikes me, no one would know even if I died.”

“Wuwuwu…”

Lin Yue abruptly turned her head. Xiao Huaiqing, who had been brought in under guard, immediately denied, “You’re lying. Aunt Liu is gentle by nature; how could she have beaten you?”

“Besides, I only ordered them to lock you up, not to punish you unlawfully.”

Xiao Mei shivered in fright, quickly responding, “Xiao Mei dares not lie. I can confront Aunt Liu, and the guards saw it too. If the Crown Prince doesn’t believe me, he can ask them.”

A trace of guilt flickered across Xiao Huaiqing’s face—could it really have been Aunt Liu?

Seeing this, Lin Yue sneered coldly. “Bring the guards in to testify!”

Soon, the guards entered.

Lin Yue asked sharply, “Who beat my maidservant? If you don’t make it clear, I’ll gouge out your eyes.”

The guards hurriedly said, “Princess Consort, please calm down. It was Aunt Liu from the Crown Prince’s consort’s side who did it.”

Lin Yue pressed further, “Then why did you not stop it?”

The guards glanced at Xiao Huaiqing and whispered, “Aunt Liu said the Crown Prince detests the Princess Consort and even Xiao Mei. Since the Princess Consort isn’t home, we had to discipline Xiao Mei to vent the Crown Prince’s anger.”

Lin Yue sneered, “Xiao Huaiqing, anything else to say?”

Xiao Huaiqing swallowed awkwardly, coughing, “It’s because of your improper conduct that Xiao Mei got involved. What does that have to do with me?”

“Improper conduct on my part? Or was it you who mistook someone else for me?”

“Xiao Huaiqing, you truly are a master at accusing the innocent first!”

Xiao Huaiqing’s eyes widened in shock, unable to believe it. “You… you…”

“How would I know, right?” Lin Yue sneered.

Ignoring Xiao Huaiqing’s stunned expression, she turned to Aunt Qin. “Take Xiao Mei back to recover and make sure the doctor examines her.”

Aunt Qin nodded and quickly took Xiao Mei away.

Lin Yue no longer concealed her anger. She ordered the guards to tie up Xiao Huaiqing.

After arranging everything, she took out a special rattan whip soaked in medicinal herbs—flexible yet sturdy. Each lash drew blood, the pain searing through skin and flesh.

If only she added some salt…

Yet, Lin Yue only imagined it, a vengeful smile curling on her lips.

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Xiao Huaiqing’s heart trembled as he nervously asked, “What do you intend to do?”

Lin Yue suddenly whipped the whip hard against the ground, splitting the weeds in two. Seeing such power, Xiao Huaiqing straightened and warned, “Lin Yue, don’t act rashly, I am…”

“Ah…”

Before he could finish, Lin Yue lashed him fiercely.

While whipping, she scolded, “Lin Yue, you called me? Ungrateful wretch!”

System: [Ahem, that’s enough. Xiao Huaiqing is the male lead; beating him might backfire!]

Lin Yue: [Damn. Why didn’t you say this earlier?]

System: [He’s so despicable, even I can’t bear to watch.]

Lin Yue: [...]

She abruptly retracted the whip; the recoil made her hand tingle.

Glaring at Xiao Huaiqing with disgust, she said, “This is a mild punishment. Next time you dare call me by name shamelessly and accuse me of coveting you, I’ll break your legs!”

Xiao Huaiqing gritted his teeth in pain—his own father had never struck him, yet Lin Yue dared!

He retorted angrily, “Am I wrong? Aren’t you the shameless one clinging to me and hurting Ying Yue? I would have completely severed ties with you otherwise.”

“What you’re doing now is only to make Ying Yue worry and stop me from consummating with Ying Yue. I won’t let you succeed.”

With a loud “smack!” Lin Yue lashed Xiao Huaiqing again.

She was utterly exasperated and shouted, “How many times must I say it for you to understand? I don’t like you, don’t like you, don’t like you!”

“It was because you took my embroidery from the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion, mistaking it for Su Yingyue’s casual clothes and pocketed it, just as I saw it. I thought you liked me, so…”

“Anyway, that’s all in the past. Since I learned the truth, I know I was deceived. So I’m telling you clearly now: I’m no longer the Lin Yue I used to be. I am now the Princess Consort of Ding, the woman who will spend her life with your father.”

After speaking, Lin Yue couldn’t help but vent to the system in her heart: [If it weren’t for fear of the Empress Dowager’s blame, I’d stuff him full of aphrodisiacs so he could consummate properly with his Yingyue.]

System: [Take it easy, one step at a time.]

Lin Yue sighed and stepped back, suddenly twisting her ankle on flat ground.

A sharp “crack” made her think her foot was broken. Pain surged through her ankle as she staggered against the wall and sat down slowly, dropping her whip.

Indeed, hitting the male lead brought backlash; Lin Yue already regretted it.

Seeing her suddenly in pain, Xiao Huaiqing thought she was faking. His previously stunned expression turned back to disdain as he sneered, “Serves you right!”

Lin Yue gasped in pain, quickly removing her shoe to rub her ankle.

Xiao Huaiqing immediately closed his eyes angrily, “Lin Yue, shameless woman, put your shoe back on at once!”

Lin Yue cursed, “Screw you, shut up!”

Outside the dungeon, Captain Luo Qingyu had already dismissed the guards and was watching closely alone.

When Master Bai sent him, he’d said the Princess Consort would never truly harm the Crown Prince but shouldn’t act excessively.

The Princess Consort had been in the Prince’s residence for three years, and they long suspected her unique relationship with the Crown Prince, but no one dared expose it.

Until yesterday…

The Crown Prince, unable to endure any longer, went to the palace.

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Luo Qingyu peeked inside and saw only the Princess Consort sitting by the wall rubbing her foot, while the Crown Prince was tied up, unable to move.

That strange noise he’d just heard... Could it be some kind of demon?

Just as Luo Qingyu was puzzled, the sound came again.

[“Damn, it hurts so much. Luckily it’s not broken, or I’d beat Xiao Huaiqing to pieces.”]

[“The male lead has fate protecting him. If you injure his flesh, his bones will ache. Better to endure for now.”]

[“Hmph, I can’t hurt him, but my husband can. Once I rescue Xiao Jingyun, we’ll see how arrogant he remains.”]

…

“Who’s there?!” Lin Yue vaguely saw a figure at the door.

Luo Qingyu was startled but soon realized he had overheard the Princess Consort’s thoughts—or rather, not entirely.

There seemed to be another strange voice.

Worried for the Crown Prince, Luo Qingyu hurried in without hiding. “Princess Consort, forgive me. I was sent by Master Bai to care for the Crown Prince in the dungeon. I did not mean to eavesdrop.”

Lin Yue saw Luo Qingyu dressed in the captain’s uniform, tall and dignified with the bearing of a great general. It was hard to imagine he was the son of Aunt Wang.

“Captain Luo!”

Luo Qingyu respectfully replied, “Present.”

Lin Yue thought to herself: [So it’s him. He could have earned Best Supporting Male through his own strength, but alas, his life was short because he died saving a scoundrel like Xiao Huaiqing.]

System: [Forget him. You just earned 200 merit points for saving Xiao Mei. Now, as long as you don’t torture the male lead, you’re still a hero when you stand up.]

Lin Yue covered her ankle. [Are you sure I can stand now?]

System: [Try it. Merit points have dispelled bad luck; it shouldn’t be serious.]

Hearing this, Lin Yue was skeptical but tried to stand—and found the pain had vanished!

“Wow, it really got better!” How miraculous!

Xiao Huaiqing sneered coldly, disgusted, “I knew you were faking, trying to gain my sympathy!”

Lin Yue was speechless, no longer bothered by this scoundrel.

She stood and left, but as she passed by Luo Qingyu, she ordered coldly, “Watch the Crown Prince here. Don’t release him until dawn.”

“If you fail, I’ll write to the Prince to have you dismissed!”

[And maybe send you to the battlefield to fulfill your loyal patriot dream. You might even thank me in the end.]

“Hmph!”

Lin Yue snorted and walked away.

Luo Qingyu watched her retreating figure, now fully aware he was not dreaming. He truly… really heard the Princess Consort’s inner voice.

Heaven help him…