Their cries echoed through the sealed chamber, sounding especially grating.
Zhu Zhuyun stood where she was, her expression as cold as frost, as though the three before her were nothing more than three lifeless stones.
She slowly walked up to them and looked down at them, her voice so calm that not a ripple disturbed it:
"You were forced? You had no choice?"
"When you hunted Zhu Zhuqing down and drove her into a corner back then, why didn't you think about being forced?"
"Now that the truth has come to light and you've ended up like this, you suddenly remember your families and how you had no choice?"
"Did you ever consider that Zhu Zhuqing is my only younger sister in this world?"
Zhu Zhuyun straightened and looked at the three before her, her tone decisive as a blade striking iron, carrying an authority that brooked no argument:
"By the Zhu Family's rules, guards who betray their master are to be executed without mercy!"
"No! Please, no!"
At her words, all three turned as white as paper and struggled even harder, heedless of the chains cutting their wrists into a bloody mess.
All three turned pleading eyes toward Zhu Zhuqing beside them, their voices hoarse:
"Second Miss! Second Miss! Please forgive us! We really know we were wrong!"
"From now on, we'll follow your lead without question! We'll brave boiling water and raging fire for you without hesitation!"
"Second Miss, please! For the sake of the fact that we were deceived too, please persuade the Eldest Miss for us!"
Zhu Zhuqing's clenched hands unconsciously tightened, her knuckles turning slightly white.
She looked toward Zhu Zhuyun beside her, her lips moving as though she wanted to say something.
But Zhu Zhuyun raised a hand first, gently holding it in front