READ NOVEL FREE Chapter 3: Bound by Secrets
Hua Yanrou slowly regained consciousness, her senses swimming as she tried to orient herself. She blinked against the dull light of the room, her vision blurry. It wasn't until her eyes adjusted that she recognized the surroundings.
The cold stone walls, the rusted chains, the faint smell of dampness in the air—it was a chamber she knew all too well.
The room felt familiar in a way that made her stomach twist. It was the very chamber where she and Lei Chen had interrogated those they captured, where they extracted secrets, breaking spirits with every method they employed. She never imagined that she would find herself on the other end of that cold, clinical scrutiny.
It was then that Hua Yanrou realized the truth, the cruel truth that sank deep into her gut. These shadow guards—they belong to Lei Chen.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Despite having stayed with Lei Chen for years, despite helping him with his schemes and plans, Hua Yanrou had never once known about these shadow guards. She had seen the men he used in the past, those who had always been in his service. But these men were different.
They were a new set of shadows—ones that Lei Chen had kept secret from her. The realization hit her like a cold wave.
He never truly trusted me, did he?
The thought sent a pang through her chest. Though her true purpose had always been to infiltrate the palace, she had been loyal, had given everything to Lei Chen's cause, hoping to earn his trust.
Yet now, bound and vulnerable, she found herself facing his secretive men in a room once used for the darkest of deeds.
The sting of betrayal was sharp, but Hua Yanrou forced herself to bury it. There was no time for weakness. She couldn't let herself be consumed by the truth, not now.
Her hands were bound tightly to the arms of a wooden chair, a cruel reminder of her current position. Unlike the prisoners she had once faced, she was not thrown on the floor to be beaten—no, they had seated her here, restrained her, and now waited to break her.
The thought of what was to come made Hua Yanrou's teeth grit together.
They won't get anything from me.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft groan.
She turned her head toward Jia Xin, who was still unconscious, just like her, her hands were tied to the chair. Hua Yanrou's heart clenched, but she forced herself to remain composed.
"Jia Xin," she whispered, her voice hoarse, her throat dry. She called the name again, a bit louder, but it took a moment for Jia Xin to stir.
With a groan, Jia Xin's eyes fluttered open, and she blinked in confusion before her gaze locked onto Hua Yanrou. A small, relieved breath escaped her lips.
"Yanrou... you're okay?" Jia Xin murmured, her voice shaky with relief and pain.
"Not for long," Hua Yanrou replied, her tone cold as her eyes scanned the room, calculating their chances. She clenched her fists, testing the ropes that bound her wrists, but they were tied too tightly.
Her voice dropped to a low growl, "Where's the gemstone?"
Jia Xin's face fell. She shook her head slowly. "I have it with me."
Hua Yanrou's expression darkened as she closed her eyes briefly, struggling to regain control over her rising frustration.
The gemstone was the primary objective of the mission, second only to eliminating the emperor.
She could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on her, but she wouldn't show it.
"Jia Xin," she continued, her tone sharp with anger, "I told you to leave. What were you thinking coming back?"
Jia Xin hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground as the weight of her words sank in. After a long silence, he spoke quietly, almost painfully, "I couldn't just leave you behind. Not like that."
Hua Yanrou's eyes narrowed, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. Her voice softened, but the reproach was unmistakable. "We were trained to leave each other behind if it meant survival. When did you become so... soft?" She shook her head, the confusion in her voice clear. "What happened to you, Jia Xin? We were meant to be stronger than this."
"If worst comes to worst, we'll have no choice but to end it ourselves," Hua Yanrou muttered, her voice heavy with finality.
She swallowed the rising bitterness in her throat and gave a quick, resigned glance at her waistband. "Just grab the small dagger I have hidden there," she instructed in a low voice.
Just as she was about to make her move, the sound of the door opening interrupted her thoughts.
The heavy creak of the wooden door sent a wave of dread through her. Several shadow guards entered, their expressions hard and unreadable, followed by two figures whose presence sent a chill down Hua Yanrou's spine.
It was the Second Prince and Sixth Prince.
The second prince, Lei Chen, and the sixth prince, Lei Feng, stepped into the chamber, their robes shimmering with luxury and authority. The stark contrast between the shadowy guards and the two princes highlighted the difference in their status.
Hua Yanrou felt her stomach twist.
As the concubines of these two princes, she knew their power was not something easily ignored—but their cruelty was a weight that had never felt heavier than it did now.