Volume One, Chapter 13: The Struggle of the Cornered Beast

The night had deepened, and the appointed time was the following early morning.

But plans seldom keep pace with change. Song Yun stared at the row of men before her, each bearing a different expression, yet all sharing some resemblance to Ning Dehai in their features, and her hands and feet grew icy cold.

Over the years, Ning Dehai had seized women from all over. Whenever one bore him a son, Ning Dehai would inevitably find the child and bring him back to be raised as an heir by his side.

As for daughters, the fortunate ones followed their mothers to live in poverty; the less fortunate were trapped in grand mansions; the most unfortunate sank into the world of pleasure houses. The very worst had long since drifted away with the currents to another life.

At present, there were eleven such illegitimate sons, their ages ranging from under twenty to as old as thirty.

Tonight, Ning Dehai had apparently gone mad, suddenly conceiving the idea of forcing all his sons to mature overnight.

His chosen method of education was to share the women from his own backyard among these sons.

As Madam Ning, Song Yun was designated to oversee this matter, sparing herself from the disaster. But the other women in the inner quarters were not so lucky—eleven women, exactly enough for eleven men.

"Big Sister Song, I... I don't want to go," a girl with long, curly hair clutched at the hem of Song Yun's robe. She was Liu’s secret kept child—beautiful and skilled at playing the pipa, but frail and often ill, having been on medication until now.

Both Liu and Ning Dehai found the medicine distasteful but could not bear to part with the girl’s pretty face, so they had no choice but to nurture and care for her in the courtyard, awaiting her recovery.

Song Yun gently moved the girl’s small hand aside, took two steps forward, then stopped.

"Little Pipa, go back to your room, but do not sleep."

The girl blinked wide, innocent eyes full of confusion. “Big Sister Song, why can’t I sleep?”

The original plan would not be delayed for a moment despite the changes—if the girl slept too deeply, they might not be able to take care of her during the escape.

Undoubtedly, if everything was discovered at dawn, those left behind would be executed as accomplices, their deaths cruel and bitter.

"Just don’t sleep. If you get bored, watch the moon and wait for the sun."

Why wait for the sun? It was probably because a few days ago, Zhu Xiaozhi had told her so.

“We’ll leave from the East City Gate. I heard that if we walk a few more miles beyond, there’s a vast wilderness. If all goes well, we can greet the first sunrise of freedom on the plain.”

She tried to imagine the sunrise but found she had already forgotten.

“A sunrise is just a red round disc rising over the horizon, its light inching across the golden land. It’s nothing special, really; you just need to see it a few times to remember.”

What was once an ordinary sight had become unattainable and beyond reach for women confined by walls on all sides.

Within those walls, there was no rising or setting sun, only the eternal, unchanging square sky.

Little Pipa obediently nodded, slipped a small candy into Song Yun’s hand, and winked, breaking the latter’s boundless thoughts.

Song Yun touched her rosy ears, then ordered a maid to take her back to her quarters before leading the other women forward.

Each man quickly found his target, and with a glance, they reached silent agreement. After the burliest man set his eyes on Song Yun, the others deliberately averted their gaze.

She stepped forward, only to have her delicate wrist tightly grasped. The men and women tumbled into the room entwined; Song Yun’s soft chin was pressed against a rough, bearded face, the candy in her mouth dissolved, leaving only fleeting traces of sweetness.

In the end, she endured everything silently, accepting it without riskily using the soporific Zhu Xiaozhi had given her.

After the one-sided intimacy, the more pleased party quickly fell into a deep sleep, and it was then that Zhu Xiaozhi’s message arrived.

“I’m ready. How are things on your end?”

Song Yun stared wide-eyed at the wall, clutching the packet of soporific tightly, the man’s warm breath close behind her.

“There’s been a complication. Ning Dehai has ordered us to serve his illegitimate sons. Tonight, each of us sleeps beside a man.”

Zhu Xiaozhi had been quietly trying to rise, fearing to wake her sisters. Upon hearing this, she startled, bumping her elbow against a nearby wooden cabinet, causing a loud thud.

Zhu Shiyue muttered in her sleep, turning over. Zhu Xiaozhi held her breath, pressing against the wall, sincerely asking,

“Is there anything I can do to help? Or should I find the unused firewood and oil and set his courtyard ablaze, so you can escape amidst the chaos?”

Song Yun was silent for a long moment before replying,

“To ensure no one leaks information, none of the women know of this. If a fire breaks out, everyone will panic, and it will be hard to gather all. Besides, a fire is hard to control. This time, we are saving lives, not dying with them. Please let me think it through.”

Now she had hope, calmer and steadier than before, no longer consumed by thoughts of destroying everything in a funeral blaze. After all, she wished to live just long enough to glimpse the longed-for sunrise.

The door creaked open.

Song Yun held her breath, forcing herself to look like she was fast asleep. The man behind her, growing impatient, swung his arm heavily, striking her nose. She bit back the pain and tears, not uttering a sound.

Suddenly, warm liquid splashed onto the back of her neck, trickling thickly through her long hair. At the same time, a strong metallic scent of blood filled the room.

Startled, Song Yun slowly turned around. A plump drop of blood fell onto her cheek.

At the same moment, Zhu Xiaozhi, just stepping out her door, had a drop of water fall onto her nose.

Such bad luck—of all moments, it began to rain.

She sighed helplessly, about to shield her face with her sleeve and dash out into the rain, when suddenly, a paper oil umbrella appeared beside her.

“Departure is imminent. Princess, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”

Zhu Xiaozhi anxiously twisted her sleeve, eyes darting around.

“Lord Pei, I... I just remembered I forgot to buy donkey rolls from the street yesterday. After returning to Chang’an, I’m sure I’ll crave them. I must get some before I leave.”

“Chang’an’s cuisine is abundant. If the princess, after tasting the city’s delights, still longs for the flavors of Fanyang, we can have them sent here then.”

Zhu Xiaozhi suddenly crept close, her round eyes blinking against his chest. Pei Zai was so startled that he nearly fell backward.

“That would trouble you too much. Thank you for the umbrella, Lord Pei. I’ll be right back!”

With that, she snatched the umbrella from his hand while he was distracted and disappeared hastily into the rain.

Pei Zai’s gaze silently followed the slight figure fading into the downpour—though the early morning drum had sounded for only three quarters of an hour, where could anyone be selling donkey rolls outside at this hour?

But Zhu Xiaozhi had no time left to maintain her ruse.

Behind Song Yun’s name, a death notice marked “One Moment Later” stood out vividly, the crimson letters seemingly dripping with blood.