Here, Li Kexin had already arrived at the prison where Qiao Jianhua was being held. The leader of the jailers saw her arrive and complained in a low voice, "Why are you coming so late? If you were any later, we'd all be off duty."
"Brother Jailer, I am truly sorry. I was delayed by something just now. I have a few taels of silver here for you all to drink and amuse yourselves tonight. Consider it compensation for disturbing your rest," Li Kexin said smoothly.
Having lived in the Zeng manor for three years, her environment had taught her to be tactful in her dealings.
When the jailers saw the silver, their eyes lit up. They chuckled and said, "It's alright, it's alright. You didn't delay us for too long. I'll take you in."
"Alright, thank you, brothers!" Li Kexin replied very politely. 138read.com
Subsequently, the jailers led Li Kexin to Qiao Jianhua's cell door, immediately unlocking it and letting Qiao Jianhua out.
As Qiao Jianhua stepped out of the cell, Li Kexin threw her arms around his waist, tears streaming down her face. Qiao Jianhua also held Li Kexin tightly, tears of sorrow flowing from him.
They had only hugged for a moment before the jailers urged them, "Hurry up and leave, don't dawdle any longer. If you're discovered, neither of you will escape, and you'll risk our lives too."
With that, Li Kexin and Qiao Jianhua immediately let go of each other, hand in hand, and followed the jailers towards the prison gate.
After they had only walked a few steps, they were blocked by a group of men brought by Zeng Yihong.
"Trying to leave, huh! None of you will get away."
Zeng Yihong looked at Li Kexin and Qiao Jianhua, husband and wife, holding hands, and said in a dark tone.
"You... you're not unconscious?" Li Kexin asked in terror after she clearly saw who it was.
"Li Kexin, do you think your little tricks could fool me so easily? I, Zeng Yihong, am a fourth-rank official of the court. Without certain abilities, could I have reached this position? Heh—" Zeng Yihong scoffed.
He looked at Li Kexin and Qiao Jianhua with sinister eyes, like sharp swords, wishing he could pierce them with bloody holes.
"Lord Zeng, this commoner implores you, please let us go." Li Kexin begged subserviently.
"Heh!"
Zeng Yihong let out a cold laugh.
"Li Kexin, you heartless woman. For these past three years, I've poured my heart out for you, yet you've betrayed me time and again. How could you expect me to let you go?"
At this moment, Zeng Yihong was greatly angered by Li Kexin.
"Lord Zeng, my husband and I were originally husband and wife. After you injured my husband outside the city, you abducted me into your backyard to be your concubine. How could I have betrayed you? It should be you, a corrupt official guilty of heinous crimes, who forcibly took me and occupied me." Li Kexin, mustering her courage, angrily retorted.
"So what? In this city of Linzhou, everything is decided by me. You, a mere woman, even if I occupied you on the street, who would dare to stand up for you?" Zeng Yihong said arrogantly.
"Lord Zeng, please spare my wife. You have money and power, and what kind of women do you not have? Why must you set your sights on my wife?"
Qiao Jianhua, helpless, pulled Li Kexin and knelt before Zeng Yihong, pleading.
Zeng Yihong looked down at the two kneeling before him, a slight smile curving his lips. He squatted down, pinched Li Kexin's chin with his finger, looked at her intently, and said unhurriedly, "Indeed, I have many women, but I am precisely attracted to the stubbornness in your wife, which ignites a strong desire for conquest in me."
"Hahaha..."
"You're sick!" Li Kexin spat in Zeng Yihong's face and shouted.
Then, Zeng Yihong looked at Li Kexin with a wicked smile, took out a clean handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped the saliva from his face, and ordered the soldiers behind him, "Re-imprison Qiao Jianhua in the jail, then cut off the hands and feet of these traitors and throw them onto the street, and then, guard the prison gate for me, allowing no one to enter."
"Yes, my lord!" The soldiers behind him respectfully cupped their fists and bowed.
The jailers who had intended to help Li Kexin release Qiao Jianhua were instantly terrified, their legs going soft. They knelt on the ground, begging incessantly, "My lord, please spare us this time. We agreed to release Qiao Jianhua because we were momentarily greedy."
"Drag them all out!"
Zeng Yihong, without even looking at them, ordered the soldiers to drag them out for punishment.
Li Kexin watched as Qiao Jianhua was once again locked in the jail by the soldiers, and the jailers who had helped them escape met a tragic end.
At this moment, her heart was filled not only with fear towards Zeng Yihong but also with resentment.
"Lord Zeng, these people only took a little money. Why are you treating them so cruelly? If you want to vent your anger, come at me, but don't hurt others."
Hearing this, Zeng Yihong looked at Li Kexin with his dark eyes filled with ominous rage, a sinister smile curling his lips.
"Good! Good! As expected of the woman I, Zeng Yihong, have taken a fancy to, she has courage. Don't worry, after I punish them, it will be your turn."
Zeng Yihong clapped his hands.
Then, with a wave of his hand, everyone behind him immediately retreated.
Next, in front of Qiao Jianhua, he cornered Li Kexin step by step.
"Lord Zeng, what do you want to do?"
Li Kexin's eyes widened, her face filled with terror and defensiveness as she looked at him.
"What do I want to do? Heh! Didn't you ask me to come at you?" Zeng Yihong scoffed.
"No, no, Lord Zeng, I beg you, let me go." Li Kexin cried.
At this moment, Qiao Jianhua understood Zeng Yihong's intentions and knelt down to beg Zeng Yihong.
He deeply regretted leaving his elderly parents and children behind to come south with his wife to make a living all those years ago. Otherwise, his wife would not have been targeted by this beast, Zeng Yihong.
"Lord Zeng, please spare my wife. We won't try to escape anymore. I'll do anything, work like an ox or a horse for you."
"I am not lacking in oxen or horses, but I am lacking in this woman, Li Kexin."
With that, Zeng Yihong quickly immobilized Li Kexin's body...
Regardless of how Li Kexin and Qiao Jianhua cursed him, Zeng Yihong still grabbed his belt, quickly took off his clothes, and then...
Qiao Jianhua, confined in the jail, witnessed his wife being insulted by Zeng Yihong with his own eyes and immediately vomited a mouthful of blood.
He recalled the happy moments the couple had shared in the past...
He, Qiao Jianhua, was eight feet tall with a dignified appearance. She, Li Kexin, was petite and lovely, gentle and considerate. The couple lived in harmony. But since encountering this evil spirit, Zeng Yihong, everything had changed.