Volume Three, Chapter Twenty-Five

"At least a hunting dog wouldn't have improper thoughts about me."

"How are they improper? When you like someone, of course you want to touch them and be close to them."

It should have been a funny memory, but recalling it now left only a sour ache. She scratched her head and pushed at the male hairbun that was about to fall off. There was no point pretending anymore. She pulled out her hairpin and let her long hair fall. Without caring whether anyone would heed her request, she stood straight at the cell door, head lowered and hair hanging down like a long-haired ghost steeped in resentment.

A line of footsteps rasped through the dark, endless passage of the Heavenly Prison, as though Underworld Guards were approaching. She had no idea how long she had stood there. Only the sound of the cell lock opening pulled her from her memories. Hearing the heavy lock hit the ground, she turned to look. She had expected one of two people to come question her first: His Majesty, who would roll his eyes at her for failing to finish her task, or Lord Prime Minister, who would come to demand an explanation and deal with her as soon as possible.

The visitor was far worse than she had imagined. It was Noble Consort Pan, who only days ago had knelt and begged for mercy when Lord Pan received a court beating.

"Guards! Drag this criminal out and strap her up!"

Two eunuchs dragged her from the cell without a word. The wooden rack used to interrogate prisoners stood upright, leaving Zhu Bafu half suspended from it. If His Majesty had come, she could have asked what was happening outside and discussed how to save herself. If it had been Lord Prime Minister,