"My lord, Xiao Cui has fainted."
"Drag this lowly servant to the woodshed and lock her up. Ensure that those searching for the unfilial daughter keep their mouths shut. Anyone who dares to spread a single word about today's events, beware for the lives of your entire family."
"Your servant would not dare."
Prime Minister Zhao cast a warning glance at Madam Song and left with a flick of his sleeve.
He dispatched all his guards to surround the Prime Minister's mansion. He was determined to discover what that unfilial daughter was plotting behind his back today.
Late at night, Zhao Haitang secretly crawled through the dog hole behind her courtyard and waved goodbye to Chu Chaojin on the wall.
Chu Chaojin watched her with a doting smile. He could have easily carried her in, but this girl insisted on crawling through the dog hole. It amused and annoyed him.
However, this lively, cheerful, and principled girl was the Zhao Haitang he deeply loved. She was still so young; he longed to marry her quickly.
Chu Chaojin, dressed in black, blended into the night. The guards couldn't make out his face. Jun Jiuli, mixed with the crowd, shot an arrow at him.
As if receiving a signal, the other guards attacked. Zhao Haitang cried out in alarm, "No, no, stop! I am the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion. All of you, stop immediately."
"It's the eldest daughter."
The guards fearfully lowered their bows and arrows, trembling. Guards from elsewhere, hearing the commotion, rushed over with torches, instantly surrounding the area tightly.
Zhao Haitang, panicked, crawled out of the dog hole again. This action left the guards looking at each other in bewilderment. However, to ensure Zhao Haitang's safety, several of them followed her out.
Seeing Chu Chaojin lying motionlessly on the ground, Zhao Haitang suddenly recalled the scene of him being pierced by countless arrows in her previous life.
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably, her limbs feeling like jelly. She knelt and crawled forward, carefully pulling Chu Chaojin into her embrace.
She cried out to the heavens with a broken heart, "Why, why must you leave me again? We promised to be together forever. Chu Chaojin, don't go. I haven't married you yet, and I still owe you so much. Waaah~"
The Prime Minister, who had just arrived, overheard this and was furious.
"Unfilial daughter, shut your mouth! Do you still care about your reputation? Guards, drag this unfilial daughter away and lock up that rogue."
"Without him, what is the point of me living? You are my father, why must you destroy my hope?"
"Hope? Ridiculous."
At the Prime Minister's command, the guards immediately stepped forward to separate the two.
Zhao Haitang screamed hysterically, "Don't touch him! You must not touch him. He is the Regent's son, Chu Chaojin. How many heads do you think you have to lose?"
The Prime Minister's heart jolted. He personally took a torch and went closer to examine. He gasped. The guards who had shot arrows were visibly intimidated by his reaction.
"Carry the young prince to the guest room in the front courtyard. Quickly summon the prince's physician."
"Yes."
Prime Minister Zhao gave Zhao Haitang a look of disdain. Two guards escorted Zhao Haitang, intending to take her back to her courtyard.
As Zhao Haitang watched Chu Chaojin being carried away, she feared her father might harm Chu Chaojin to show loyalty to the emperor.
"I want to go too."
"Nonsense! How can a woman like you see an outsider man?"
"My lord and I have pledged our lives to each other. If father does not agree, I will die before your eyes."
Slipping past the guards' attention, she resolutely drew a sharp sword and pointed it at her own throat.
"You threaten me with your life? Do you think this old man will fall for such a trick?" Prime Minister Zhao waved dismissively and turned to leave.
Zhao Haitang pressed the sword closer to her throat, drawing blood from her slender, fair neck.
The guards gasped, "My lady, no!"
"Hmph, you are rather strong-willed. You have some of your mother's backbone. Come with me."
Zhao Haitang tightly gripped the sword in her hand and followed closely behind Prime Minister Zhao.
Seeing Chu Chaojin lying on the bed, she rushed towards him excitedly. In the brighter surroundings, she could see the slight rise and fall of Chu Chaojin's chest.
Zhao Haitang's heart finally settled. "Imperial physician, how is Chaojin?"
"My lady, this... this..."
He looked back uncertainly at the Prime Minister. Seeing the Prime Minister nod, he took a moment to compose himself before speaking.
"This young gentleman's limbs, kidneys, and lower body have been injured. In the future... in the future, it may be difficult for him to have descendants."
Zhao Haitang cried and laughed, "It's alright as long as he's alive. Chaojin, wake up quickly. No matter what you become, I will not dislike you."
As she spoke, she held Chu Chaojin's hand and prayed devoutly to the heavens.
"This young gentleman's face was struck by an unknown object, causing it to collapse and become disfigured. He lost a lot of blood, and I have just bandaged it. My lady, please do not move him. Although his life is not in danger, in the future..."
"You don't need to say more, I understand. No matter what he becomes, he is the man I love, and I will never abandon him."
She spoke with resolute sincerity, her words ringing true. The imperial physician and Prime Minister Zhao's faces darkened.
Imperial Physician: "Can so many secrets be heard by an outsider like me? Show some mercy and spare my life. Don't you see the Prime Minister's glare, as if he wants to devour me? For goodness sake, I'm just stating the condition, why do you have to act like we're pledging eternal love?"
As he was internally complaining, he heard Prime Minister Zhao's voice, as melodious as heavenly music.
"Imperial physician, go down and prescribe the medicine. Jinsong, go and collect the reward money for the imperial physician."
"Thank you, my lord."
After bowing thankfully, the imperial physician quickly left the room.
Shui Wa: "Host, you were truly ruthless. With one brick to the head, Chu Chaojin's face is completely ruined."
Jun Jiuli: "He's the male lead of 'Young General'. In the future, he won't even be able to lift a great sword. This is a different kind of humor, hahaha."
"Tanger, you might have felt that your father favored your concubine sister over the years. But your father's heart was always with you. Prince Chu's current condition makes him an unsuitable match. I don't know when you developed such deep affection for him, but for your sake, your father will not agree to this marriage."
"You don't need to worry about my affairs. I can decide whom I want to marry. Chaojin is the man who treats me the best in this world, and I will never regret marrying him."
"He is now crippled. What kind of future can he give you? You must also plan for your future and for your future children."
"I think you are planning for yourself. You are treating me as a tool for an arranged marriage. But I am a human being, I have my own feelings. If you still have any fatherly affection for me, please grant us our wish."