Dragged to the Tiger's Den

The basement of the princess's mansion was silent as Feng Yao's cold gaze cut through Lang Huan like a blade. She stepped closer, her crimson robe flowing behind her like a trail of blood. The princess's private guard kicked Lang Huan's legs, forcing her to kneel.

"Tell me what you know," Feng Yao said softly, her voice calm but heavy with threat. She picked up a wooden stick and tapped it against her palm, the sound slow and steady—like a promise of pain.

Lang Huan immediately raised both hands in surrender, her voice trembling. "Your Highness, please! Let's not be hasty—I'm wrong… I'm wrong!"

She took a deep breath, forcing a smile as she straightened up. "Well… please, I was just guessing, just take it as me talking nonsense... I won't say anything again..."

Feng Yao narrowed her eyes, but she didn't respond.

"How… how about this—I'll just keep your secret and pretend I don't exist." Lang Huan's face twisted in a mixture of anxiety and pleading.

Feng Yao lifted Lang Huan's chin with the tip of the wooden stick. "Who do you think you are to dare negotiate with me?"

At that moment, Lang Huan was no different from a piece of meat laid out on the chopping board, waiting for the knife to fall. Still, he managed to maintain his composure—or at least tried to.

Despite the situation, Lang Huan was still grinning foolishly in front of Feng Yao. A Li, standing behind them, almost choked. This guy is really asking for death.

Feng Yao raised the wooden stick, and Lang Huan immediately stopped grinning and shut her eyes. A Li held her breath, thinking the Eldest Princess might hit her.

After a few moments, nothing happened. Lang Huan hesitantly cracked one eye open, then the other—only to find Feng Yao's face dangerously close, her lips curling into a slow, mocking smile.

"Tell me, Ye Langhuan," Feng Yao said, her voice as sweet as honey laced with poison. "Do you truly understand the kind of person I am?"

Lang Huan's gaze unintentionally fell on Feng Yao's moist, red lips. She could faintly smell the delicate scent of peach from them. For a moment, she completely lost track of the threat Feng Yao was making, and an absurd desire flashed through her mind—to steal a quick kiss.

Just then, Feng Yao's eyes met hers. Neither looked away. Their gazes locked for a few seconds, the silence stretching between them. Lang Huan's heart pounded, and a deep red flush slowly spread across her cheeks. Feng Yao noticed her shyness and found it… interesting.

Lang Huan quickly shook her head innocently, trying to cover up her embarrassment. She knew that acting tough against a woman like the Eldest Princess was a lost cause. Instead, she decided to change tactics—playing dumb and helpless. After all, sometimes the best way to handle a strong-willed person was to let them feel in control.

Feng Yao's smile didn't reach her eyes as she tapped the wooden stick against her palm, her gaze cold and unfeeling. "Do you know? Everyone who becomes my prince consort dies a miserable death. Since you proposed to marry me, how about I kill you early?"

Lang Huan blinked, tilting her head as if she hadn't heard correctly. "No, Your Highness can't kill me," she replied matter-of-factly, her eyes flicking to the wooden stick. "My father is the Duke of Huguo. If I die, he won't sit still."

Feng Yao chuckled, her gaze laced with mockery. "Then let's see if the mighty Duke of Huguo can dig your corpse out of my mansion."

For a brief moment, Feng Yao seemed consider something. "Hmph, killing you would be too easy. How about… I keep you alive for now?"

Feng Yao tossed the wooden stick to the ground and smirked. "You might still be useful to me. But whether that's good or bad for you… well, you'll find out soon enough."

"Tie her up. I'll decide what to do with her later." Feng Yao gestured to Qiu Li before turning away, her steps light and graceful, like the delicate movement of a lotus bloom. She walked out of the room without a glance back.

"Wait… wait! Please, let me go!" Lang Huan shouted, struggling against the ropes as Qiu Li bound her without mercy.

Watching Feng Yao leave without the slightest care, Lang Huan's anxiety grew with every step the Eldest Princess took away. Her mind raced, the uncertainty of her fate making her stomach churn.

"Huff... What should I do now?!" Lang Huan felt completely helpless.

Lang Huan took the chance to look around at the furniture and decor in the basement. Even though this place was supposedly for punishment, the room was nothing short of luxurious and elegant. Having grown up surrounded by wealth, Lang Huan knew the quality when she saw it. The landscape painting on the wall was a rare masterpiece, full of the artist's ambition.

There was even a big bookshelf with intricately carved woodwork. "Who'd enjoy reading a book while torturing someone?" Lang Huan thought. "This person might be mentally ill."

Her eyes landed on a bench covered with a thick, beautiful fur blanket. But what really caught her attention was the rose carvings on the marble pillars. Each one was carved with such care and detail—it was clear the mansion's owner had a deep love for roses.

However, amidst the refined furnishings, there was a stark contrast—a wooden cabinet in the corner, its doors slightly ajar, revealing glimpses of iron cuffs, leather whips, and other instruments of torture. Hiss…

Lang Huan's gaze fell on one of the guards holding a sword. She was beautiful, like a wildflower, but carried herself with the bravery of a general.

The guard, Qiu Li, noticed Lang Huan staring and frowned with displeasure. "If you look at me again, I swear I'll gouge your eyes out," she snapped.

Beautiful girls are trouble, so Lang Huan decided to try her luck with the girl next to Qiu Li, whose looks were more modest.

"Ehemm… Sister, when will Her Highness let me go? My family will worry about me," Lang Huan asked with a hopeful smile.

The girl, clearly uninterested, ignored her completely and pretended to focus on something else.

The next morning, Luo City was abuzz with gossip. Everyone was talking about the disastrous imperial banquet—the sudden attack by assassins and the Emperor fleeing in a panic. But what truly captured everyone's attention wasn't the attack.

It was the Duke of Huguo's son.

A pretty boy, just coming of age and discovering love, had been so captivated by the beauty of the Eldest Princess that she'd dared to propose to her in front of everyone. This boy had stayed hidden for years, only to appear suddenly, like a dragon emerging from the deep.

"Is the little duke more handsome than Wei Yanzhou, the most handsome scholar?"

"She must be! You know the Princess invited her to her mansion right after the banquet," someone said, lowering their voice dramatically.

"Looks like the noble woman's heart was swayed by the young boy," another chimed in.

How come the Eldest Princess is twenty-eight years old, while the Little Duke is still in her teens—probably only seventeen or eighteen?

"Haha, who would've thought the graceful Eldest Princess would take in a young sprout?" they laughed, amused by the gossip.

Su Qing, who had been waiting for Lang Huan all night, was overcome with worry. This boy is so unreliable! If I had known this would happen, I never would have let her attend that banquet.

The rumors swirling through the city only added to Su Qing's unease. She couldn't understand why Lang Huan had suddenly thrown herself into the murky waters of palace intrigue.

Meanwhile, Zhou Ming, who had secretly followed the princess's carriage yesterday, reported back to Su Qing. "The young master was taken to Her Highness's mansion and hasn't left," he said, his tone uncertain. "I tried approaching the mansion, but the guards were too strict. I couldn't get close. I'm not sure if the young master was... kidnapped, or if he went willingly."

Hearing this, Su Qing squeezed the teacup in her hand so tightly that the rim dug into her skin, leaving a faint red mark.

What on earth was Lang Huan thinking? She had never seen much of the outside world, so perhaps she was bewitched by the Eldest Princess's beauty. But could it be that Lang Huan had offended the Eldest Princess in some way? Was that why she had been taken to princess's mansion, or was there something else going on?

---

The next day, in the study room of the Princess's Mansion, Feng Yao sat gracefully by the window, her slender fingers idly tracing the rim of a porcelain teacup. The sunlight filtered through the silk curtains, casting a warm glow on her delicate features.

A Li brought several scrolls and presented them to Feng Yao. "Your Highness, this is the report on the Jade Flower Kidnapping Case," she said respectfully.

After reading the scroll, Feng Yao's gaze darkened as she tapped her fingers against the table. "The emperor has been searching for an excuse to weaken my influence. This kidnapping case is just a convenient opportunity for him. If I interfere too much, he'll use it against me, claiming I'm overstepping my bounds or meddling in matters beyond my station. He might even strip me of my military power or restrict my movements under the guise of maintaining order."

Feng Yao let out a low chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "The emperor has long stopped seeing me as his daughter ever since my mother's incident. To him, I am nothing more than a pawn—one that needs to be controlled. If he sees me as a threat, he won't hesitate to tighten his grip on me."

Then, A Li hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does Your Highness intend to use the Little Duke?"

"I hope she won't let me down," Feng Yao's eyes glinting with unreadable emotion.

Feng Yao leaned back in her chair, her fingers fiddling with the scroll in front of her before finally giving her command. "Release her."

A Li and Qiu Li exchanged quick glances but did not question her decision. Qiu Li immediately went down to the basement and untied Lang Huan.

Rubbing her sore wrists and aching shoulders, she looked at Qiu Li with wary eyes, unsure whether to feel relieved or even more unsettled. "So easy to let me go... What kind of trap are you setting up?" she asked in disbelief.

"Stop talking. Do you want to leave or not?" Qiu Li glared fiercely at Lang Huan.

"The Eldest Princess wasn't someone known for showing mercy without reason. Not wanting to waste another moment, Lang Huan hurried to leave, afraid that Feng Yao might change her mind.

Lang Huan's heart eased as she spotted Zhou Ming just outside the gates of the Princess Mansion. She quickened her steps, feeling a sense of security wash over her. Seeing her trusted guard there made her feel grounded, as if she were no longer alone in this uncertain situation.

With quick steps, she entered the carriage, eager to reach home as soon as possible to rest. Her entire body felt stiff and sore, each movement a reminder of the tension and exhaustion she had endured. Her stomach growled, and Lang Huan only now realized how hungry and thirsty she was after being freed.