Xiao Muchen was a little surprised, but quickly nodded. “Then I’ll go in with you.”
The couple entered the room. Qiao Wan was already seated inside, waiting. When she saw them come in, she didn’t even lift her eyes.
Seeing her like this, Mingxi’s face was expressionless. Her tone was calm as she said, “The Crown Prince tried to smuggle Qiao Yu out of the capital today, but he failed.”
Qiao Wan’s eyelid twitched slightly, but she forced herself not to look at Duan Mingxi and kept her head bowed as if indifferent.
Mingxi knew that someone selected by the Crown Prince wouldn’t be ordinary.
Since Qiao Wan was captured, Xiao Muchen’s men had used torture, but she never revealed anything.
She had a tight mouth.
“Qiao Yu is in my hands now.”
Qiao Wan’s breathing grew slightly heavier, but she still didn’t raise her head.
Mingxi gave a small laugh. “I know—you must be telling yourself that I’m lying. Unfortunately, I, Duan Mingxi, have never done such things.”
Qiao Wan finally looked up. She was much thinner than when Mingxi first met her—her face was all bones, her former charm replaced with pure malice.
Those vicious eyes stared hard at Mingxi. “You think just saying that will make me believe you? People like you never value others’ lives. To you, we’re all just ants in your hands.”
“You’re wrong,” Mingxi replied calmly. “If you hadn’t tried to harm Yang Yiniang and Marquis Dingyuan’s family, why would I have arrested you? Don’t shift the blame for your evil actions onto others.”
Qiao Wan’s expression froze. Her fierce gaze quickly returned to calm, and she said coolly, “I won’t fall for your tricks.”
Xiao Muchen pulled a chair over and placed it behind Mingxi. She glanced at him and sat down.
Xiao Muchen brought over another chair and sat beside her, still saying nothing.
Qiao Wan’s eyes flicked between them, then slowly returned to blankness.
“Do you know how I caught your brother?” Mingxi asked.
Qiao Wan remained silent.
Mingxi didn’t care if she answered. She continued, “The Eastern Palace used him as bait, hiding him under a carriage. If I had struck a little harder with my blade, cutting all the way through, your brother would’ve been sliced to pieces on the spot.”
Qiao Wan’s emotions visibly stirred. She glared at Duan Mingxi. “What a load of nonsense. Do you think that’ll scare me?”
“I knew you wouldn’t believe me. So I didn’t plan on wasting words.” Mingxi clapped her hands.
Soon there were sounds at the window. The wooden planks sealing it were removed, and the shutters opened. Qi He stood outside holding Qiao Yu.
Qiao Wan stared at her brother in disbelief. Her eyes bulged, and her body trembled. Then she lunged forward.
Mingxi kicked a stool over, blocking her.
Unable to stop, Qiao Wan crashed to the ground with the stool.
But she didn’t even look at Mingxi—her eyes were fixed outside the window. “Let him speak! Let him talk!”
She didn’t believe it was really her brother!
He should’ve been protected by the Crown Prince. How could he be here?
It was fake!
Someone must’ve disguised themselves!
Qi He pulled the cloth from Qiao Yu’s mouth and patted his shoulder. “Say hello to your sister.”
Before Qiao Yu could speak, his tears fell. “Sis, how did you end up like this?”
In his memory, his sister was healthy, beautiful, and full of life. The injured, skeletal figure before him—how could that be his sister?
Qi He said coolly from the side, “Qiao Yu, your sister got this thin not because we starved her on purpose, but because she refused to eat and tried to starve herself to death. Unfortunately for her, she underestimated things—if she dies, what use does the Crown Prince have for keeping you? The two of you siblings can only reunite in the afterlife.”
Although Qiao Yu was tied up with ropes, he still struggled fiercely and threw himself toward the window. “Sister, please don’t die. They said if you confess properly, both of us will be fine. Sister, I don’t want you to die. If you die, I won’t want to live either!”
“Qiao Yu…” Qiao Wan struggled to stand, wanting to touch her younger brother’s face.
But Qi He grabbed Qiao Yu and dragged him away again. The window was slammed shut.
Tears still glistened on Qiao Wan’s face as she turned to look at Wangye and Wangfei of Duan. “You really have skills, being able to snatch my brother out of the Crown Prince’s hands.”
“Well, thank you,” Mingxi smiled faintly. “With such a good younger brother, if it were me, I’d want to protect him too.”
Looking at Duan Mingxi who could still smile at a time like this, Qiao Wan suddenly felt a sense of helplessness in her heart.
She was ruthless, capable, and calm—but Mingxi was even more so.
Qiao Wan slowly walked back, sat down on her chair again, and lowered her head, remaining silent.
Neither Mingxi nor Xiao Muchen rushed her. They simply sat quietly, watching her.
Time passed, minute by minute. Mingxi began to feel slightly tired, but she didn’t move.
Xiao Muchen didn’t move either. He just quietly held Mingxi’s hand in his palm.
When even their breathing grew shallow, Qiao Wan finally raised her head. She didn’t look at Wangye but fixed her gaze on Mingxi. “I know… I won’t survive this.”
Mingxi looked at her silently.
“How ridiculous. That day when you came to the residence, you were normal about Madam Jiang’s illness. But what really made you nervous was Yiniang. If I’d known I’d lose everything because of her, I wouldn’t have gone so hard back then.”
Mingxi’s face darkened. “Qiao Wan, you held another person’s life in the palm of your hand—just like now, your lives are in someone else’s hands. Does it feel good?”
“My brother is innocent.”
“And Yang Yiniang wasn’t?”
Qiao Wan let out a cold laugh. “What would you know?”
“All I know is that karma never misses.”
Qiao Wan’s expression instantly turned ugly. “So what?”
“If you really think it doesn’t matter, then I have no reason to keep sitting here.” Mingxi stood up and walked toward the door.
Xiao Muchen glanced at Qiao Wan, then followed Mingxi out.
Seeing them leave, Qiao Wan immediately shouted, “Wait!”
But Mingxi didn’t pause at all and slammed the door shut behind her with a loud bang.
Qiao Wan started banging against the door forcefully, but Mingxi ignored her.
Xiao Muchen took her to the side hall. Qi He, seeing them approach, quickly said, “Wangye, Wangfei, I had the kitchen make a little food. Please eat something to fill your stomachs.”
“Bring it in,” Xiao Muchen said, leading Mingxi into the flower hall. “Let’s take a break. Qiao Wan is clearly testing your limits. She still hasn’t learned—thinking she can threaten us.”
Mingxi sat beside him, collected herself, and said slowly, “You’re right. She is indeed impressive. The Crown Prince’s eye for people is something else, choosing her. Even now, she’s trying to bargain with us.”
“She’s delusional,” Xiao Muchen’s voice turned cold. “Someone like her will never truly repent, not even at death’s door.”
