The Girl in the Prison

The rain on a hot summer came unexpectedly and heavily. As soon as it came crashing and rattling down against the tiled roofs of many buildings, the merchants on the market and people on the streets started scrambling to shelter in their homes. 

On such a gloomy day, a woman sat numbly inside one of the cells in the government prison. The earthy and fresh aroma of the rain quickly entered the small window of her cell. With the rain and the depressing atmosphere, the guards in front of the prison couldn't stop themselves from feeling drowsy. 

As their eyes were about to drift to sleep, one guard smacked the other, saying, "Stay awake. What will we do if someone sees us procrastinating?"

With that reminder, the other guard straightened up. But before long, he drooped his back and leaned against the wall. "What are you worried about? It's been days since they brought that woman into this prison. Yet, nobody came to check on her. Besides, do you think she'll escape?" 

"It's not that, idiot." The first guard sighed. "I just feel a bit ominous. I dreamt of being pushed inside a cauldron of fire." Recognizing the absurdity of his words, he pressed on, "Anyway, let's just stay alert."

The other guard thought that his fellow guard was being too cautious. However, he didn't slack off any longer. 

However, unbeknownst to these vigilant guards, a haze had begun to form beneath them while they remained on high alert.

The haze was faint at first. But as time passed, it gradually thickened. 

The smell of something burning also appeared.

The guards, who had been chatting just now, sniffed and finally noticed the smell. 

Unfortunately, it was already too late for them to do anything.

"There's fire. Come out!" 

Some palace guards stationed outside the government prison fervently shouted at the two guards remaining inside. 

Hearing the sound of distress echoing from outside, the two guards quickly picked up their spears and rushed out. 

"Wait! What about the woman inside?" the first guard halted in his run and turned around. Yet, his arm was swiftly grasped by his companion, tugging him back into motion. 

"Who cares about her? She's a prisoner about to be quartered. Just get out!" his fellow guard shouted, dragging him out.

As everyone left the government prison, the flames intensified, raging fiercer and hotter with each passing moment. Against the persistent rain, the inferno painted the sky with a mesmerizing golden hue.

Inside the prison, the smoke billowed, thick and acrid. Flames licked hungrily at the crumbling, turning them into ash, and intense heat melted the steel bars stopping the prisoners from getting out. 

It was a scene of chaos and hell. 

However, the woman inside one of the cells remained calm, as if the burning prison was not where she was. Instead, it even looked like she was looking at something that didn't involve her death. 

Sadly, she wasn't looking at anything. With her empty socket, how could she possibly see a thing? As for screaming for help… where would she find the tongue that was once severed from her?

Instead of doing anything to save herself, the woman sat on the ground, humming a tune. 

"Hmm… mhm…mmhh" 

Even without words, the song sounded sad and miserable, as if mourning one's grievances to the Heavens. Yet, even with their hearts bleeding, no one came to comfort them.

But soon,

"Ha…hahahahaha!"

The hums stopped, turning into hysterical waves of laughter.

Drip

Drip

Tears as red as Ruby trickled down her empty eyes. 

It continued falling down her cheeks as the fire swallowed her entire body. 

After ten years of endless anguish and defeat, Ruan Yifei could finally close her eyes. She could finally let go of this worthless life that nobody wanted. When she thought of how she spent her life to please her family and her siblings, she could not help but laugh sorrowfully. 

She was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Ning, and once had been one of the most desirable women in the capital city. But now, she was reduced to a criminal locked in prison and scheduled to be quartered under the orders of the Crown Prince.

But how did she end up here? How did she become a criminal who offended the crown prince? And why did no one come to see her, even on this day?

Fourteen years ago, the Marquis Ruan Jing and Madam Liu were on a trip. Unexpectedly, Madam Liu's water broke and gave birth to a child. Coincidentally, another couple happened to be staying in the same rural village and gave birth to their first child. 

Unfortunately, they weren't rich and could hardly feed themselves. Worried that their first child would die and suffer the same life they had led, the poor couple devised a plan. They heard that a visiting couple had come, and the woman had given birth, too. 

The poor couple thought a miracle had happened to them. They quickly switched their child with the traveling couple.

As they wished, their child lived a noble and luxurious life, becoming the legitimate young miss of a Marquis family.

As for the other child, she became a wandering child on the street, begging for alms and working hard to bring food to her parents and siblings.

But vicious secrets can never stay hidden forever. 

The poor couple continued to live miserably. The father met a tragic end after working as a construction worker for a nobleman. Their son perished in a drowning accident. And their youngest caught a cold and was on the verge of dying. 

The mother wondered why they had been struck with such bad luck. Thinking about it again, it all started when they took the traveling couple's child. 

Guilty, but her desire to get rid of that bad luck, the poor mother quickly sent a letter to the Marquis family. At first, they didn't take it seriously. How can their young miss not be the real one? But the woman was desperate and used the only thing that could prove her words.

Thus, after a deep investigation, the truth was revealed. 

After fourteen years, Ruan Yifei was brought to the capital. 

However, life in the Marquis residence was never easy. Because of her past upbringing, Ruan Yifei often gets treated unfairly. Even her parents and siblings disliked her. They paid no attention to her. They only favor the daughter they watched grow up in the palms of their hands, ignoring Ruan Yifei.

For them, as long as they could get back their flesh and blood, that was enough to appease the souls of their ancestors and their guilt of abandoning their real daughter.

But because of their cold treatment, Ruan Yifei's fate was sealed to damnation.