Sacred love

RED

her flesh with every slight movement. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, her once-delicate features n

ength waned with every passing second, but her stepmother's triumphant

toward the golden-hued fabric displayed near the Empress Dowager's seat. Li Meng had obeyed, eager to fulfi

outrage. "You've stolen the Empress Dowager's treasured linen! I knew you wer

art pounding in her c

Your mother was no better-a thief and a disgrace-and you're no diffe

ilks, whispered among themselves, their faces masks of shock and disdain.

ding. "Stealing from the Empress Dowager is an insult to the throne itself. B

of the Emperor's words crashed over h

ismissing her cries as if they were no mo

truggled in vain. The last thing Li Meng saw before the dungeo

body broken and her spirit hanging by a thread. Blood seeped from the wo

rkness, her voice barely audible.

the distant drip of water

woman. When the royal guards arrived, they found her collapsed on the cold stone floor,

physician!" the head

s,

st. His face darkened. She was barely alive. If left alone, she would die within the hour. A swift, qu

on did not g

ue your daughter's life, I suggest

o work. He cleaned and bandaged her wounds, stabilizing her breath

ithout

ou all gat

d through the tense atmosph

es moved before their minds caught up, all

High

ion unreadable, his presence suffocating. His gaze swept

ily calm. "What i

arefully explaining the situation. The

n Ming scoffed, his tone

If anything happens to her, I'll

ot a threat. The

and strode away, heading strai

ry servant in sight immedi

High

is the

in the Fifth C

Of course. Enjoying himself while she suffer

Third Prince Ming r

him

nside, his expressi

pleased. "What is so urgent that you could

, his gaze colder than ice. The Fifth Consor

s brows furr

you sentenc

theft. Punishme

en know wh

e daughter of th

her my soon-

mily has not protested. Theft is an unforgivable crime. Why

was deathly col

. "You expect me to go back on my

void of warmth, as if human life meant nothing to him. "

e-handedly crushed our enemies, you swore in front of the court that you would gr

lly. "You would waste your wish on her?

peated, his patience wearin

tting out a sigh of resignation. "If that

her everyone who attended the b

in

ed him another glance, his attention returning to the F

dismissal. Without a word, he turned and strode out, his e

ned all the noble families gathered at the royal ba

oday would mark the end of Li Meng's wretched existence. She and her daughter,

aid, embracing her daughter. "You can now right

ith," Li Ran sneered. "How could t

ming in her voice. With that, the mother and daughter duo climbed int

ast space as they awaited the Emperor's arrival. In mere moments, the majestic figure

they all choruse

stand that the seventh day has yet to arrive, but I fear that Li Meng's condi

ugh she had regained some strength after a night's rest and a decent meal

decision is made in honor of a promise I owe to Third Prince Ming, whose request secured her free

ed to challenge the imperial decree. Without delay, the iron shackles were removed from Li Meng's wr

er voice thick with emotion. "I cannot imagine a

er lips as she tightened her hold on Su Wan. In this cruel world,

y. But they were not fools-they knew better than to reveal their resentment in front

your boundless grace," Madam

maidservant could not contain her excitement. "My lady, it is truly

as you are. Perhaps he acted out of conside

Third Prince Ming has never acknowledged First Miss Li Ran, nor has he

n, I now owe him a debt,

Wan immediately dashed to the kit

i's permission?" Li Meng

u Wan a

u wish to b

this, but I purchased these food items with my own savings.

Wan." Without hesitation, she picked up her chopsticks and b

disliked crowds, yet he had stayed behind, watching as her once-solemn expression soften

Ran seethed with rage. "Mother, we lost aga

th today, but I will ensure that she does not live for long. We have emptied her cham

e that wretched Su Wan. That girl would cross the e

cannot deal with a mere maidservant, then I am unw

voiced the question that had been gnawing at her

dmitted. "Could it be that the gi

rd Prince Ming! I doubt he even knows my name, and yet, he personally interven

l glint in her eyes. "You need not dirty your hands, my dear. Lea

d as she called out, "Su Wan! Su Wan!" Her voice echoed through the grand halls of the Li househo

averted their gazes, their silence a cruel dismissal. Desperation clawed at her

d. She recognized

nded on the heavy wooden door, her fists

f Madam Li, her lips curled in amusement. "Didn't expect you to notice

" she accused. "You already cast out my belongings, discarded all t

ations, Li Meng?" she sneered. "This is my household. I d

ce unwavering. "Su Wan is not just a maid-she

ldly. "And what can

rang out. "My lady, please... don't figh

eyes. "How can I aband

ment. From the side, Li Ran sm

o to free her?"

her fists. "Tell

e it. You've forgotten your place, but I'll remind you. Knee

a moment. "Swear to relea

Madam Li li

to fate, trudging toward the balcony, where

. "Your Highness, your wedding to the Li family's daughter

g scoffed.

wed. "I can arrange

but the thought of seeing Li Meng intrigued him. He had no reason to visit her-after all

he gifts,"

our Hig

of guards, Third Prince Ming

stion. She had lost count of the hours, her stomach hollow with

drained of color. "Madam, Young Mistress

i's expression twisted with alarm. If the prince s

r chamber through the ba

oward the balcony, bu

presence before his voice d

rld st

that had materialized beside her. Slowly, she turned her head, her

iately. "Your Highness," s

ed, his voice fir

could not defy. With great effort, she pushed he

ushed forward, their

the prince asked

sweat, her gaze darting t

nswered, her voice ba

us silenc

nto a chilling smirk. "How

. "Your Highness, she was punished because she s

sharpened. "Do I

Highness!" s

er's side. "It's true, Yo

gave you permission to sp

ecoiled

anishing. "It seems I was too lenient the la

grasp, its blade gleam

and Li

m your soon-to-be bride, no

turned to

, have

dagger, letting it land with a dull thud behind

led the c

rained of color.

have taken your tongue instea

lowed back bile, her fingers tre

he severed her own flesh. Her body

Ran cried, tears str

s your final warning," he stated. "Cross me ag

eave, but a delicate

anced

his sleeve. "Your Highness..." she

nt, his ga

as his o

once more,"

ll, I'll tak

ply. "Yes, Yo

her word, he

etrothal gifts,"

apsed in a dead faint, her rage