Chapter 308: Better to Die
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The two of them remained silent for a prolonged period. Su Bin whispered, didn’t intend for that to happen, and I couldn’t control it…”
Qin Zhenzhen quickly interrupted him. “Stop talking. I understand!”
Her earlier frustration had dissipated, and she now comprehended Su Bin’s predicament. In reality, having such a reaction was perfectly normal; it would be abnormal if he didn’t.
As Qin Zhenzhen prepared to leave the bed, Su Bin halted her. “Stay here. I’ll go to the study.”
With that, he swiftly donned his attire and departed.
Once Su Bin had left, Qin Zhenzhen let out a long sigh.
She realized that she needed to reassess her relationship with Su Bin.
She could sense that Su Bin had struggled to prevent any further actions during their earlier encounter. Perhaps he hadn’t anticipated such a situation arising.
Yet, he hadn’t taken advantage of the moment and had even offered an apology.
His respect for her might stem from his feelings for her, starting long before this scenario unfolded.
Otherwise, since she was his wife in name, he had no need to exercise restraint in the first place.
Su Bin, the rogue, appeared to be growing more honorable with each passing day.
Perhaps it was worth her while to attempt to reciprocate his feelings.
Su Bin reclined on the small study bed, gently touching his flushed face. He couldn’t help but wear a foolish grin.
Though it was a fabricated performance, it had evoked a unique sensation within him.
Just now, he had made an important decision.
In this life, he was going to stick to Qin Zhenzhen forever!
The two black-clad men returned to the palace and delivered their report to the Emperor.
They provided a detailed account of Su Bin and Qin Zhenzhen’s conversations and actions.
Upon hearing their report, the Emperor’s expression soured.
It appeared that the rumors were baseless!
The two of them had already engaged in activities befitting a married couple long ago. He found it unbelievable that they had not consummated their marriage yet.
Only a fool would choose separate rooms when sharing a space with such a beautiful and alluring woman.
Meanwhile, Su Bin had devised a method to relay the information to someone who would inform the Empress Dowager about Grandma Qin’s eldest sister being alive.
He also made sure that the news of the Emperor’s visit to the prison to interrogate the elderly woman, along with his promise to spare her life, reached the Empress Dowager’s ears.
In fact, the Empress Dowager had her own network of spies within the Heaven Prison.
She connected the information she had gathered with what Su Bin had provided, forming a narrative that differed slightly from the truth.
In her version of events, Grandma Qin’s eldest sister had ulterior motives. She claimed to have revealed the secret due to her resentment toward the Emperor for annihilating the entire Jiang family and toward the Empress Dowager for attempting to silence her. Supposedly, she aimed to exact revenge on the Imperial Family and the Empress Dowager.
While the legend of the Jiang family’s woman with a special constitution was widely known, she asserted that it was a fact. She also insisted that Qin Zhenzhen, despite her close relationship with Su Bin, had not yet consummated her marriage.
Her objective was to incite the Emperor to separate the couple and coerce Qin Zhenzhen into becoming a concubine within the palace.
Such an occurrence would not only subject the Emperor to criticism from both civil and military officials but also stoke the flames of Qin Zhenzhen’s hatred.
Given Qin Zhenzhen’s temperament, she might seek revenge, resort to poisoning, or even opt for a joint demise.
The Empress Dowager, consumed by anger, immediately dispatched someone to the Heaven Prison to sever the old woman’s tongue to prevent further utterances of falsehoods.
Since the Emperor had agreed to spare her life, her life would indeed be spared. However, her future existence promised to be a fate worse than death.
As anticipated, upon awakening with her tongue severed, she pounded her head against the cell wall.
In her eyes, falling into the clutches of the Empress Dowager would be tantamount to choosing death..