Inside the Dali Temple prison, Feng Ruoyan huddled alone in a corner, with rats and cockroaches occasionally scurrying past her feet.
Feng Ruoyan’s face was pale with fear, she dared not even make a sound. At this moment, she only wished to leave this place as soon as possible; she wouldn't stay another second if she could help it.
"Third Prince, this way."
Chu Yanxi, being a prince, was visiting this filthy place for the first time. His face was filled with disgust. The moment he saw Feng Ruoyan, he just wanted to escape as quickly as possible.
Feng Ruoyan, scared out of her wits, heard the movement and quickly looked up. Upon seeing Chu Yanxi, sparks instantly ignited in her once dim and lifeless eyes.
Feng Ruoyan hurriedly stood up from the ground and rushed to Chu Yanxi's side, her voice filled with tears. "Third Prince, save me and get me out of here. This place is full of rats..."
Although Chu Yanxi harbored feelings for Feng Ruoyan, seeing her in such a dishevelled, unhuman state, the trace of pity in his heart also diminished a little.
His tone carried a hint of distance. "The Dali Temple has already passed its judgment, and I cannot interfere. You will have to bear with it here for a month. I have made arrangements, and they will not make things difficult for you."
Chu Yanxi's words were like a basin of cold water poured over Feng Ruoyan's head, extinguishing her last flicker of hope. Feng Ruoyan's hand gripping Chu Yanxi's sleeve slowly slid down, and she slumped to the ground helplessly, her dangling hand clenched into a tight fist.
Since she could not get out, she would fight for something else.
"Third Prince, for the sake of our past affections, could you give me some insect repellent medicine? There are too many rats and cockroaches here... Also, I need some clean clothes and some cosmetics."
She had always stood proudly on a branch throughout her life, and even if she fell into the dust, she would still hold her head high and be beautiful, refusing to become a laughingstock for others.
"Alright, I will have someone prepare them."
Preparing some items was something Chu Yanxi could manage. Besides, Feng Ruoyan had already been betrothed to him as a concubine, so he should show some care.
"Thank you, Third Prince."
Feng Ruoyan was polite and courteous, her tone neither servile nor overbearing. If not for the prison uniform she wore and her current surroundings, one might have mistaken her for the once imperious beauty of the capital.
"Be careful with everything here. The jailers here are my people, and they will definitely not make things too difficult for you. If you need anything, just ask them directly."
Feng Ruoyan nodded in agreement. Her attitude towards Chu Yanxi was no longer as concerned as before. Her mother was right; she could only rely on herself now.
"Third Prince, I am deeply apologetic that this matter has implicated you. Ruoyan is very sorry. Please, Third Prince, do not trouble yourself further for my affairs. I only wish you well."
"Yan'er... I..."
Chu Yanxi's heart rippled with these words from Feng Ruoyan.
He hadn't expected Feng Ruoyan to still care about him so much.
And he, in his desire to avoid suspicion, had worried that Feng Ruoyan's affairs would affect him. Thinking of this, Chu Yanxi felt utterly ashamed.
"Third Prince, there is no need to say more. I understand your feelings for me, and I also understand your concerns. But please remember, no matter what my situation, my heart will always be with you. As long as you have even a small space in your heart reserved for me, I will be content."
Feng Ruoyan's words deeply moved Chu Yanxi. If it weren't for the bars separating them, he would have already embraced Feng Ruoyan.
"Yan'er, do not worry, I will find a way to get you out soon. The day you leave the Dali Temple will be the day we get married."
"Third Prince..." Feng Ruoyan called out in a charming tone, lowering her head with a hint of shyness on her face, but a glint of successful calculation flashed in her eyes.
After Chu Yanxi left, Feng Ruoyan put away her affectionate demeanor, replacing it with a face full of schemes.
Her only trump card now was Chu Yanxi's affection for her. As long as she held onto the man's heart tightly, and when Chu Yanxi ascended the throne, she would have a chance to turn things around.
...
"Reporting to Young Madam, the Third Prince has gone to the Dali Temple."
Feng Jin’s hand, holding a pencil, paused slightly. A faint smile curved her lips. "The Third Prince truly cannot wait. But he does have some affection for Feng Ruoyan. Knowing that the current situation is unfavorable to him, he personally went to the Dali Temple to see Feng Ruoyan. What a touching scene!"
If this kind of affection were not written into a storybook for the world to know, it would truly be a waste of the devotion between these two lovebirds.
As soon as she had the idea, Feng Jin's mind was filled with conception. She began writing their story on paper.
Coincidentally, her restaurant was opening soon. Staging such a drama would definitely attract everyone's attention and become a huge hit.
"What are you writing?"
As soon as Ling Mohan entered the room, he saw Feng Jin hunched over the desk, writing diligently and occasionally smiling.
"Nothing... just writing a storybook."
Feng Jin didn't have time to look up at Ling Mohan; her pen continued to dance across the paper.
"Phew, work is done." Feng Jin held up the stack of papers, a satisfied smile on her lips. Effort is rewarded, she had finally finished.
Ling Mohan leaned over to Feng Jin's side and looked at the words written on the paper. What kind of dramatic romance was this?
"What is all this nonsense you're writing?"
"What's wrong with it? It's great! The male and female leads are in love and intertwined. When the female lead is imprisoned, the male lead remains devoted and, despite his wicked mother's obstruction, insists on marrying the female lead as his wife... In the end, their love is too shallow for fate, and they both commit suicide for love."
Feng Jin truly admired her own imagination. The story was incredibly moving.
Even she was touched. Look how well she had adapted the love story of Chu Yanxi and Feng Ruoyan, beautifying the two of them and portraying them as positive characters. She was too kind.
"If this storybook of yours were to be performed, it would be strange if anyone actually watched it. What's so interesting about these melodramatic stories?"
"What do you know? Do you know how popular these tragic love stories were in our era? Haven't you ever heard of the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai?"
Ling Mohan shook his head sincerely. "I truly haven't."
Feng Jin's eyes widened. Could it be that time was out of joint, or had it not been written yet?
In any case, it had nothing to do with her. On the contrary, her storybook would definitely be a huge hit. What should she name it?
After much thought, Feng Jin wrote a few characters on the paper: 'Twin Lotuses'.
She had to make some more changes. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai turned into butterflies, so hers would transform into flowers.
Feng Jin added a few more strokes to the paper and after checking it repeatedly, she finally put down her pen with satisfaction.
"Now you've turned it into something like a supernatural tale."