I don’t know how long it took.
After Pei Zheng left, the two jailers went inside and saw Qi Changyi lying on the ground with empty and unfocused eyes.
The ground was a little messy.
The cell was cleaned in a hurry and the man was chained back to the rack. The little guy's lips were broken again, and new wounds were incurred before the old ones healed.
A jailer brought him some water. Qi Changyi moved, and drank several gulps as if he was extremely thirsty. He rolled the water in his throat twice and said softly, "Thank you."
Then there was no movement again.
The two jailers sighed, looked at each other and went out.
The cell suddenly became quiet again. The bound wrists had already bled and two of the nails on the fair little hands were broken.
Occasionally, groans of unbearable pain could be heard from other cells around.
"Your Highness... Are you... still awake?"
A faint, almost inaudible questioning voice came from the dark place opposite.
Qi Changyi lowered his head and did not move.
The people over there did not give up, and kept shouting, "Your Highness... Your Highness..."
The little man seemed to finally have some strength and raised his head slightly.
The dark figure moved outside, and his face appeared in the dim light of the corridor.
Yes, the little maid whose feet were chopped off.
Qi Changyi's gaze fell on her lower limbs which had begun to fester. He turned his head and retched silently a few times.
The little maid had been in a coma for the past few days. She only woke up today and saw Qi Changyi tied up opposite her.
She hid her legs in the darkness and said, "Your Highness, please hold on and don't fall asleep. If you fall asleep here, you may never wake up."
Qi Changyi was a little surprised, and said slowly, "You are like this now... It's all because of me... Yes, I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
He didn't know that the disappeared little maid was actually locked up in a secret cell and tortured into this state.
The little maid smiled, her face full of comfort, "It's okay, Your Highness, I don't blame you, it's my own fault. I came to the mansion when I was ten years old, and I learned all the rules and etiquette on the first day. I know that the master is always harsh on those who make mistakes. It's my fault, it's my fault that I didn't do my best for Your Highness and made the master angry..."
Several days of imprisonment and whipping had made the little maid lose her sense of autonomy. In her mind, this matter was all her fault and she deserved the situation she had today.
Qi Changyi shook his head, "No, you have done very well, better than those people in the palace..."
The little maid interrupted Qi Changyi and said, "Your Highness, why were you brought here? My Lord, did you allow them to beat you?"
Qi Changyi suddenly stopped talking and pursed his lips as if he was trying to hold back tears.
He hasn't cried in the past few days. He didn't cry even though he was in so much pain.
Why is it that I can hardly hold back my tears after hearing these words
The little maidservant did not continue to ask, but said, "Your Highness, my Lord, he is a little different from ordinary people. In life, there are always things that one should cherish and cherish, but my Lord has always been alone, as if he does not have those emotions. The Wind Guard has always been by your side, but he is just like a chess piece to you, who can come and go at will."
The little maid paused, "Your Highness, have you heard of the master's past?"
Qi Changyi was stunned.
Past? He seemed to know nothing about Brother Pei's past. When he first met him, he was already the Prime Minister who dominated the court.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard in the corridor. The little maid's face changed, and she quickly moved her body and hid back in the darkness.
The footsteps were getting closer and closer, the cell door was opened, and a swaying black robe first appeared in front of him, and above him was Pei Zheng's cold face as sharp as a knife.
The small cell seemed to become even more cramped, and the overwhelming atmosphere made Qi Changyi tremble involuntarily.
Pei Zheng walked over and lifted his face. He seemed to be in good spirits, and his lips were a little rosy.
The cell was dark and I couldn't see clearly. That didn't mean he looked healthy at all, it was clearly dried blood.
Without saying a word, Pei Zheng dismissed the jailer. The moment the cell door was closed, Pei Zheng held his head and kissed him.
Qi Changyi's eyes widened slightly and he could only be forced to hold his head up and endure it. After it was over, he was panting and almost couldn't catch his breath.
Pei Zheng had just passed some true energy through his mouth, but unfortunately the energy was instantly consumed, which showed how weak this body was.
Pei Zheng continued to cross the river regardless of anything, until he felt some surging power in the little man's body. Only then did he relax and he himself began to breathe a little.
Letting go of his hand, Pei Zheng stood there and looked at him carefully. He had delicate eyebrows and soft lips, but why was it so difficult to smooth over the hard temper inside
With a flick of her finger, she turned the little face to the side, lifted up the torn clothes on his body, and saw the horrible scars underneath.
Pei Zheng came closer, "Does it still hurt?"
Qi Changyi's nose felt sore and he bit his lips without saying anything.
Pei Zheng's hot breath sprayed on the scar, "Be good, I'll blow on it, and it won't hurt anymore."
The gentle heat had some calming effect, and the scars didn't seem to hurt so much anymore.
Qi Changyi's eyes became tearful.
Pei Zheng raised his head and found that the little guy's mouth was curled in grievance, with tears about to roll down the corners of his eyes, and his heart softened.
He wiped the tears away with his fingers, "Does it still hurt?"
I haven't seen such a gentle Pei Zheng for a long time.
Qi Changyi looked at him.
How should I call him? Should I still call him Brother Pei like before
"... I want to... see you again... Xiao Yuzi... is that okay..."
Pei Zheng spoke this short sentence very slowly, but his expression turned gloomy in an instant.
He pinched the thin white neck with his fingers and narrowed his eyes, "What did you call me?"
Qi Changyi had difficulty breathing and his face slowly turned red.
"You know how to make me angry. Want to see him? That depends on whether he has the luck to see you!" After saying that, he suddenly let go of her hand, turned around and left.
Cold, fresh air suddenly rushed in, and Qi Changyi opened his mouth and took a few quick breaths before he calmed down a little. He couldn't speak, and tears welled up in his eyes, falling into darkness.
You can't see outside from the cell, and you can't tell the difference between day and night.
When Qi Changyi was awakened by the noise, he saw the jailer outside dragging a figure and disappearing into the corridor.
The gong sounded in the hallway, and it was time for the daily caning.
This time, the two jailers guarding Qi Changyi just waved their whips twice symbolically and then stopped.
The two walked out while talking in low voices.
"Who was that person who was dragged out just now? I was scared to death when I saw him. His legs were gone..."
"Which servant has caused trouble? Stop asking questions..."
The door closed again.
Qi Changyi moved his lowered head, his little face hidden in his hair, his expression couldn't be seen clearly, but water kept dripping from his chin.
That little maidservant died after all.
I didn't know how long I had been in such a daze, so long that my consciousness was almost numb. But whenever I thought about it, my chest would twitch violently with pain.
"Your Highness... Your Highness... Your Highness?"
Someone was gently tugging at his sleeve. Qi Changyi's eyelids moved, and after seeing the person standing in front of him clearly, his gray eyes flashed slightly.
"Xiaoyuzi..."
"Your Highness, come, have a drink of water first."
Li Yu handed the water to Qi Changyi's mouth with trembling hands.
He opened his mouth and drank some. His dry lips became moistened a little and the tip of his tongue suddenly felt a little painful. There were some bite marks on it, which were left by Pei Zheng that day.
"Xiao Yuzi, these injuries on your body..."
"Your Highness, I am fine. I only have some flesh wounds. But your Highness has suffered a serious heart injury!"
Li Yu looked at the little man whose body was covered with scars and as weak as paper, and his fingertips trembled with heartache.
"Your Highness, I know everything. Your mother... How could Lord Pei have the heart to do that? How could he treat you like this? You were just docile to Lord Pei because you liked him. Does he want you to be his puppet forever and keep you tied to his side forever?"
Li Yu's eyes also turned red, "Your Highness, don't worry, there must be a way, there is a way!"
Looking outside the pitch-black darkness, Li Yu leaned over to whisper something into Qi Changyi's ear.
Finally, Li Yu looked into Qi Changyi's eyes and said firmly, "Your Highness, now that things have come to this, you must persevere, hold on, and you must believe in General Zhao!"
The jailer opened the door again and took Li Yu out.
After hearing what Li Yu had just said, Qi Changyi felt a little hopeful again.
When Pei Zheng brought his men in, Qi Changyi was conscious, which was rare for him.
After asking everyone to leave, Pei Zheng came over with a box in his hand.
He opened the box and smelled the medicinal fragrance. He took some with his fingers and applied it carefully on the wound on the little man's body.
"It won't look good if it leaves scars."
It should be very cold outside. Pei Zheng's fingers were very cold, but the little guy's body was warm, even hotter than a normal person.
Every time the slender fingers applied something, the little body trembled.
"Did you see anyone?"
Pei Zheng asked in a low voice.
Qi Changyi nodded.
"What did you say?"
Qi Changyi seemed to need to think seriously before he could remember, "Xiao Yuzi said... it was very cold outside... but it didn't snow..."
Pei Zheng smiled and said, "It is very cold. I'm afraid your body can't stand it now."
Qi Changyi's eyes were dull again.
He used to love watching snow the most, but this year, he doesn’t know when he can see snow again.
I really want to see snow.
"Hiss..."
When my fingers touched the area below the collarbone, I suddenly applied a little force, and the little guy gasped in pain.
"Distracted"
Pei Zheng retracted his fingers and threw the empty box at his feet.
I bent down and laid my head on his neck, taking a deep breath. The unique breath of this little man had a calming effect.
"Chang Yi means long-term remembrance. If love is exhausted, fill it with hatred. Whether it is love or hate, you must always remember me."