PMM - 52

After Liang Zhen left, Lian Sheng was alone in the Hundred Charms Palace. She was starving, and at this rate, she wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer. Fearing that Liang Zhen might drug her food, she hadn’t touched the meals he sent. By now, there wasn’t even any fruit left in the palace.

Lian Sheng was on the verge of tears, experiencing for the first time the truth behind the saying “Food is the paramount necessity of the people.” With another mouth to feed inside her belly, she bit her lip and sighed deeply.

Several pairs of eyes in the palace were watching her, so Lian Sheng dared not show any signs of distress. She pulled the pearl curtain in front of the jade bed closed, choosing to avoid looking at anything unsettling.

Perhaps it was a hallucination brought on by hunger, but she kept hearing faint creaking sounds from beneath the floor, which sent shivers down her spine. Yet, when she concentrated to listen more closely, the sound disappeared. Clutching the dagger hidden in her sleeve, she glanced outside the bead curtain—no one seemed out of the ordinary. She wondered: had she imagined it?

Before she could figure out whether it was a trick of her starving mind, a hand suddenly clamped over her mouth from behind, and a warm, broad chest pressed against her back. Lian Sheng’s eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively tried to struggle.

The dagger in her sleeve swung out, and the person behind her flinched, clearly afraid that her movements might harm her. He endured the blow, and a gash appeared on his arm. He let out a soft sigh and placed a gentle kiss on the nape of her neck.

Lian Sheng trembled involuntarily, but her fear instantly subsided—

It was Yi Qian Cheng. Her husband had finally come for her. She blinked rapidly, forcing herself not to cry.

Seeing her calm demeanor, Yi Qian Cheng knew she recognized who was behind her. He exchanged a glance with someone below the secret passage, and the man nodded in understanding.

In an instant, Lian Sheng felt herself being lowered into darkness. Yi Qian Cheng held her tightly, and trusting him completely, she remained silent as shadows flickered past her vision. In the blink of an eye, the person on the jade bed had been replaced.

Yi Qian Cheng carefully set her down and closed the hatch above them. Then he took her hand and led her silently forward. The passageway was narrow and dimly lit. Having spent so much time in the opulent Hundred Charms Palace, Lian Sheng’s vision was now overwhelmed by darkness, but the warmth of his hand made her feel no fear at all.

Gradually, light began to appear ahead. Lian Sheng blinked, adjusting to the brightness. The man walking in front of her suddenly turned around and pulled her into his arms.

“You’re safe,” he murmured, his body tense, his voice hoarse.

Lian Sheng felt a fleeting dampness against her neck. Forgetting her fear and her situation, she asked in astonishment: “Are you crying?”

The man holding her didn’t respond, refusing to let her raise her head. After a while, Lian Sheng couldn’t help but mutter: “Husband, loosen your grip a little—you’re pressing on my belly.”

Startled, he immediately released her, his brows furrowed with concern. Seeing how nervous he was, Lian Sheng forgot all unpleasant thoughts and softly reassured him: “I’m fine.” _Now that you’re here, nothing bad will happen._

She couldn’t tell if Yi Qian Cheng had been crying, but his eyes were slightly red, his face haggard, yet his gaze was unexpectedly tender. After she reminded him, he glanced several times at her protruding belly, seeming to want to touch it but hesitating for fear of causing harm.

When had the mighty General Yi ever been so cautious? Lian Sheng’s heart melted, and she gently guided his hand to rest on her belly. “Husband, this is our child.”

His fingers moved lightly, tenderly gliding over her stomach, and an involuntary smile spread across his face.

A loud growl interrupted the moment, and Lian Sheng blushed. Yi Qian Cheng looked at her, and she bit her lip, a hint of委屈 in her tone: “I haven’t had a proper meal in days. I was afraid Liang Zhen would drug my food.”

Yi Qian Cheng’s heart ached. He bent down and lifted her into his arms. “Let’s get you something to eat.”

No further words were needed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and quietly curved her lips upward. “Mm.”

He walked steadily, and as they moved, Lian Sheng took the opportunity to observe the tunnel. When she noticed the stone pillars, she realized this wasn’t just a tunnel—it was an underground palace. Beneath the imperial palace of Great Liang lay such an enormous underground complex! The palace twisted and turned, growing brighter as they proceeded. In the brightest area stood a jade bed, several times larger than the one in the Hundred Charms Palace, surrounded by chests adorned with gemstones, clearly containing treasures.

Yi Qian Cheng kept glancing at her, noticing her curiosity. He explained: “The previous emperor lacked a sense of security, always fearing his ministers would rebel. Over fifteen years, he secretly constructed this underground palace, filling it with enough resources to ensure he and his descendants would never lack for anything.”

“Husband, don’t you want to see what’s inside those chests?” she asked.

Without stopping, he entered another passage, and the light gradually dimmed until the jade bed and treasure chests were no longer visible.

In the darkness, his voice reached her ears: “Your meal is more important.”

Lian Sheng couldn’t quite describe the emotions swelling within her, but at his words, her eyes instantly filled with tears. She buried her face in his chest, hiding her tears from him. Just over a year ago, when she had first come to him, she had been so afraid and alone. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that one day, she would truly reside in his heart—that he would care so deeply when she stumbled, when she cried, and even when she went hungry.

All the luck in her life had been used up to meet him; he had brought her every miracle. For the rest of her life, she would never again be without someone to rely on or a place to belong.

The light in the tunnel flickered intermittently as he walked for what felt like ages, finally reaching the door leading outside the imperial city.

He intended to put her down to open the door, but she suddenly tightened her arms around him and whispered shyly into his ear.

He froze, holding her motionless for a long moment before his eyes softened into a smile, tinged with pride. “Mm, I know.”

With him loving her like this, how could she possibly resist?

The door opened, and outside, Ling Chu, who had been leaning against it, jumped in surprise and quickly stepped aside. Seeing Yi Qian Cheng leading Lian Sheng out, he grinned mischievously and approached them. “Sister, brother-in-law, you’ve finally come out! If you hadn’t, I was about to go in and find you.”

Lian Sheng gave him a strange look. Who was he calling sister and brother-in-law?

Yi Qian Cheng didn’t look kindly at Ling Chu either, but considering Lian Sheng’s connection to the Ling family, he refrained from making any remarks. Instead, he turned to Ling Feng and asked: “Young Master Ling, is there any food here?”

Before Ling Feng could nod, Ling Chu eagerly chimed in: “I have some! It’s in the carriage. Let’s leave this place first.”

Ling Chu, being a glutton, always carried snacks with him. Yi Qian Cheng patted Lian Sheng’s head gently: “Eat.” Lian Sheng smiled faintly and took a piece of pastry to nibble on.

The carriage was spacious, and both of the Ling brothers were inside, but they remained silent, their eyes fixed on Lian Sheng. Ling Feng was more restrained, his gaze controlled, while Ling Chu’s eyes burned with curiosity, as if trying to see through her. Feeling uneasy under their stares, Yi Qian Cheng stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body, and shot a warning glance at the two brothers.

Ling Chu, feeling guilty, didn’t dare say a word. Seeing how protective Yi Qian Cheng was of her, he knew he wouldn’t be able to speak until she finished eating. Ling Feng, who rarely spoke, shifted his gaze after receiving a look from his brother-in-law.

After enduring for quite some time, Lian Sheng finally ate her fill at a slow pace. Ling Chu cleared his throat: “Sister, don’t blame your second brother. It’s all my fault—I’ll make it up to you.”

This time, Yi Qian Cheng didn’t stop him. Instead, he poured her a cup of tea.

Lian Sheng gave Ling Chu a look as if he were insane: “Stop calling me that!”

“I’m your real brother! Look at my features—don’t we look alike? Don’t we resemble each other?” Ling Chu raised his eyebrows, eagerly waiting for her to call him “Second Brother.”

Lian Sheng had a bad feeling about this, but Ling Chu’s antics made it less intense. She glanced at Yi Qian Cheng uncertainly, and his gaze softened, filled with encouragement, indulgence, and acceptance.

With newfound confidence, she coldly replied to Ling Chu: “No.”

Ling Chu nearly jumped up in frustration. Ling Feng finally spoke: “Sister, Ah Chu isn’t lying. You’re not the daughter of the Lian family—you’re the daughter of the Ling family. Lord Ling is your biological father, and we are your real brothers.”

Lian Sheng had already suspected something, but she instinctively refused to believe it. She shook her head: “You’re lying!”

Her panicked eyes turned to Yi Qian Cheng, hoping he would deny it. Yi Qian Cheng remained silent, his expression tinged with helplessness—but even that was enough to confirm Ling Chu’s words.

Ling Chu hurriedly recounted the story of Fei Yu’e fleeing to the Lian family’s residence years ago. Lian Sheng listened in a daze, lost in thought.

It was the first time anyone had spoken to her about her mother. When she was little, she once asked the city lord: “Father, why do Tian’er and my younger brother have mothers, but my older brother and I don’t? They say my mother is Lady Yu, so why doesn’t Lady Yu ever come to see me?”

The city lord’s face had turned pale at her question. He punished her by forbidding her from eating for a day and strictly ordered her never to mention the name “Lady Yu” again.

That night, her older brother came to visit her, secretly bringing her some delicious treats. But she refused to eat, sobbing as she asked: “Brother, why doesn’t Father want me to talk about Mother?”

The young man wiped away her tears and whispered softly: “A-Sheng, be good. Never bring this up again—it will make Father angry.”

From that day on, Lian Sheng never asked about it again, and no one in the city lord’s residence dared to gossip about it. She had grown up without any memories or understanding of her mother, and now she was being told she wasn’t even a member of the Lian family.

What did the father and brother she had called her own for sixteen years mean to her now?

Seeing her pale face, Ling Chu’s voice grew quieter, his confidence wavering. He didn’t tell her about their father’s past with Fei Yu’e—none of them fully understood that chapter of history. Both Ling Chu and Ling Feng knew their father’s heart hadn’t belonged to their mother but to Fei Yu’e. For most of his life, their father had been consumed by thoughts of her, often retreating to the pleasure boat to play chess alone. Across the board, there was no one—only empty space, where he clung to fragments of his past and emotions.

It wasn’t until late at night that Ling Jiuyao returned, his body cold.

At first, Ling Feng and Ling Chu harbored resentment. Their mother had just passed away, yet their father spent his days on the pleasure boat, lost in thoughts of a woman whose whereabouts were unknown.

As the years went by—one year, five years, ten years—Ling Jiuyao remained fixated on the past. They found him pitiful and tragic. Though he hadn’t loved their mother, he had been kind to them and fulfilled his duties as a city lord.

An obsession, at first, could become a lifelong burden.

On their way back to Huanshui, they deliberately took a detour to avoid Liang Zhen’s pursuing forces. Ling Chu, an expert at evading danger, ensured their journey was smooth and uneventful.

During these days, Yi Qian Cheng told Lian Sheng about the situation in Yingdong. After capturing the city, he hadn’t harmed any of its citizens. Everyone in the city lord’s residence had been imprisoned. After Lian Sheng’s abduction, he hadn’t had time to return to Shaji and had rushed directly to Huanshui.

He had kept his promise—he hadn’t harmed her family.

As for the underground palace, it had been revealed to them by the former empress dowager. Liang Zhen had killed her son and imprisoned her in the cold palace. After decades of conflict, how could she remain silent? The empress dowager, a clever woman, had kept quiet and secretly obtained a map of the underground palace. Consort Mi, though less intelligent than the empress dowager, had been deeply loved by the emperor—but even she had never been told the secret of the underground palace.

To this day, neither Consort Mi nor Liang Zhen likely knew that beneath the imperial city lay a hidden palace that could threaten their lives at any moment.

The underground palace connected almost half of the imperial city, including the Hundred Charms Palace. Yi Qian Cheng had led his men into the palace first, using the map to locate the underground area beneath the Hundred Charms Palace. Ling Chu waited outside as backup, while Lord Ling lured Liang Zhen away with false news of Yi Qian Cheng’s death.

Ironically, the royal family’s secrets were layered. The old emperor, fearing death, thought he had discreetly built himself a lifeline—but the empress dowager had known all along. Though clever, she had stayed silent, quietly obtaining the map of the underground palace. Consort Mi, despite being favored, had never been entrusted with the secret of the palace.

On the road, Ling Chu tried every way to win Lian Sheng over, no longer referring to himself as “Young Master.” Every day, he called her “sister,” hoping she would call him “brother.” The thought alone made him giddy—he finally had a sister!

Lian Sheng ignored him, but he didn’t get upset. Instead, he tirelessly bought her delicious treats every day.

The day before they reached Huanshui, Ling Chu secretly pulled Yi Qian Cheng aside and whispered: “What happened to the eldest son of the Lian family?”

He hadn’t dared to ask this question during the journey, fearing it might upset Lian Sheng. Lian Qi had gone with them to the imperial city but had disappeared without a trace. Though Ling Chu was impulsive, he was also perceptive. He could tell that Lian Qi truly cared for Lian Sheng—but why had he vanished after her rescue?

If he wasn’t mistaken, even the young master was still injured, right?

Yi Qiancheng’s gaze turned somewhat cold, a stark contrast to how he acted in front of Lian Sheng. “Ling second young master, don’t ask about things that don’t concern you. Trouble comes from careless words. If Ah Sheng were to find out...”

“Hey, hey, I won’t ask if you don’t want me to, no need to be so fierce,” Ling Chu said, feeling a chill run down his neck as Yi Qiancheng looked like he could cut him down at any moment.