Chapter 43: The Watch, I Have Already Ordered Its Destruction

Prison

Jiang Yu led about a hundred soldiers, hiding in the shadows of a wall.

For some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“Is the gunpowder in place?”

Jiang Yu frowned and reminded the soldier beside him, “If it’s ready, set it off quickly.”

Several patrol teams had already passed by the prison’s perimeter.

Now was the perfect moment—they were in the middle of a shift change.

The soldier nodded, took a firestarter, and ran to the fuse.

“Boom—!”

A deafening explosion echoed through the air as the stone wall of the prison was blasted open, sending debris flying.

“Go!”

Jiang Yu took the lead, rushing down the steps.

The dim interior was thick with the stench of blood. The prison was in complete ruin.

More than twenty prison cells stretched out in a single row. The straw mats on the floor had long been soaked black with blood, and even fragmented human remains could be seen.

“Help me! Please, save us!”

The criminals in the outermost cells, seeing the arrival of soldiers, hurriedly pressed against the bars, pleading for rescue.

Thin, frail arms reached desperately through the iron bars, trying to grab Jiang Yu’s clothes.

Jiang Yu turned his head away, unable to bear the sight inside the cells.

He couldn’t help but think about his father and uncle—what kind of inhumane torture had they endured over the past half month?

His steps quickened as he headed toward the innermost cells.

Strangely, there were no guards stationed inside.

“Father!”

A deep sense of unease gripped Jiang Yu’s heart. He lit a firestarter and called into the darkness.

But there was no response.

His shout echoed within the cramped, oppressive prison, empty and sorrowful.

Only the unfamiliar prisoners—perhaps truly guilty—knelt and begged him for salvation.

Before Jiang Yu and his men could investigate further, another explosion erupted.

This one was even more powerful than the one they had set off.

The entire underground space shook violently. The stone walls cracked, on the verge of collapse.

Fierce fighting could be heard from outside.

“Young Marshal! What should we do?”

“Retreat, Young Marshal!”

The soldiers, all seasoned fighters, quickly raised their shields, forming a protective barrier over their heads, keeping Jiang Yu in the center.

Chunks of rock continued to fall from the ceiling. They had little time to decide.

Jiang Yu’s eyes burned red with anger, and he made a snap decision.

He shoved the soldiers aside.

“You go! Leave now!”

Grabbing an iron shield from one of the soldiers, he rushed alone into the depths of the dark, unlit prison.

Even if this was a trap, he had to go.

If his family was inside and he left them behind today, he would never forgive himself for the rest of his life.

“Young Marshal!”

The soldiers tried to follow, but a massive rock fell from above, blocking the already narrow passage completely.

They attempted to move the stones, but it was useless.

The collapse continued.

“Move! Go now!”

“We’ll set off more gunpowder on the other side to open another way!”

The soldiers at the exit shouted anxiously into the prison.

---

At the Governor’s Manor

Liu Mei led a group of guards, battling their way into the inner courtyard.

Following Laifu’s deliberate guidance, they arrived at the small courtyard where Jiang Qingqing and Liu Xubai were.

A warm light glowed from inside the room.

A woman’s faint murmuring could be heard.

Liu Mei hesitated, then stepped forward and pushed the door open.

“Brother.”

She stood frozen, stunned by the scene before her, her heart pounding in her chest.

She had never imagined that Liu Xubai had come to Weizhou—

Or that he was entangled with Jiang Qingqing.

Liu Xubai, who had been nestled against Jiang Qingqing’s neck, lifted his head.

His dark gaze locked onto Liu Mei standing in the doorway.

Jiang Qingqing lay in his arms, only her face visible.

“Take your people and leave.”

His usually gentle voice was now hoarse, as if disturbed at an inconvenient moment.

The people from the Prime Minister’s manor, who had followed Liu Mei, were utterly shaken by what they were witnessing.

Weren’t they here to capture someone?

Why did it feel like they had just walked in on an affair?

Liu Mei stepped forward, about to pull the covers off them—

But Laifu quickly blocked her.

“Third Miss, don’t make this difficult for us.”

Liu Mei struggled against him.

She refused to believe it.

She refused to believe that Liu Xubai had truly fallen for Jiang Qingqing.

A woman like her—so cunning and deceitful—could never be allowed into the Liu family!

Jiang Qingqing must have seduced him first.

“Jiang Qingqing! You’re just as shameless as your mother, seducing men everywhere!”

Jiang Qingqing’s drug hadn’t fully taken effect yet.

The chaotic noise and the weight pressing down on her made her uncomfortable, prompting her to open her eyes.

In a daze, she saw Liu Xubai right in front of her.

Before Jiang Qingqing could even process what was happening, she instinctively reached out to push him away.

“Hiss—”

Her hand accidentally pressed against the wound on Liu Xubai’s chest.

His already pale face turned even whiter as he reached out to restrain her restless hand.

“Don’t move.”

His voice wasn’t stern. Instead, it carried a hint of indulgence.

Liu Mei, as if she had seen a ghost, immediately bit Laifu’s arm, attempting to break free.

“Jiang Qingqing, get off that bed right now!”

Laifu, wincing in pain, simply knocked Liu Mei unconscious and had her taken away.

Then, turning to the Prime Minister’s guards still standing at the door, he commanded, “Spread the word about what happened today.”

The guards were visibly shocked.

“But this…”

Laifu shot them a sharp look, his tone heavy with pressure. “This is the Young Master’s order.”

With that, he shut the door.

Once again, only Liu Xubai and Jiang Qingqing remained in the room.

Jiang Qingqing’s mind was still foggy.

Because of her earlier agitation, the effects of the drug surged back, leaving her unbearably hot and weak-limbed.

After everyone had left, Liu Xubai no longer pressed down on her. Instead, he lifted the blanket slightly to make her more comfortable.

“What did you give me?”

Jiang Qingqing held her head, trying to sit up.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t.

Liu Xubai gently pulled her into his arms, scooped up a bowl of fresh water, and brought it to her lips.

“Drink some. It’ll make you feel better.”

Jiang Qingqing angrily slapped the bowl away, her tone sharp.

“Liu Xubai, you’re absolutely insane!”

Did he enjoy coming here just to torment her?

Could he not just leave her alone?

She had already made herself clear enough.

The porcelain bowl shattered into pieces on the floor, yet Liu Xubai’s expression remained unchanged. He simply poured another bowl.

“Qingqing, everyone has seen us together. You have no choice but to be my wife.”

“Only by marrying me will Liu Yi and the Empress Dowager agree to let you go.”

Jiang Qingqing was on the verge of exploding with rage.

She tried summoning Fu Zhengnan, only to realize she had lost her connection with him.

Instinctively, she looked at her wrist—it was empty.

“My watch… Where is it?”

“Watch?”

Liu Xubai glanced at the timepiece resting on the bedside table but had no intention of returning it to her.

So, he lied.

“I have already ordered it to be destroyed.”

Jiang Qingqing stared at him in disbelief.

“That was the only thing my mother left me, and you just had it destroyed?”

For the first time, she hated herself—hated that she had interfered all those years ago.

If she had never risked saving Liu Xubai as a child, none of this would be happening now.

The unbearable heat surged through her body again.

Jiang Qingqing trembled slightly, her long lashes fluttering as she gritted her teeth, determined not to make a sound.