CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: HOW DID YOU KNOW THERE WAS A SURPRISE?

Su Changyuan was taken aback when he saw Su’s beloved daughter as well.

He quickly reacted, a smile appearing on his face, and his hunched back straightened again.

He smiled and asked, "Qianqian, are you okay?"

Looking at her father’s appearance, her eyes reddened and she choked as she nodded, "I am fine, Father."

Su Changyuan’s gaze moved past her, seeing the furnishings in the cell behind her, he smiled gently and nodded, "That’s good."

She looked at her father’s demeanor and finally couldn’t hold it in, tears began to stream down from her eyes.

Looking at Su Changyuan, she asked again, "Father, who exactly harmed you all?"

After speaking, her expression changed, "Was it Zhao Yi’s doing? He wants to take revenge on me, why involve you all?"

Hearing this, Su Changyuan patiently advised her, "Qianqian, don’t act like a child. As long as you have a clear conscience, life or death is nothing to worry about!"

She hesitated: "Father..."

She wanted to say something more, but Su suddenly rushed out from behind Su Changyuan.

She glared at her, an unmistakable look of disappointment in her eyes: "Qianqian, even now, don’t you realize your mistakes?"

She was taken aback again and then angrily said, "Mother, what does this have to do with me? Zhao Yi is blatantly disregarding the laws, killing wantonly! I only wanted to uphold justice, but he falsely accused me, and now I’m trapped in prison! You don’t seek justice for me but stand on the side of the villain accusing me, what sense does that make?"

Su, unlike her, wasn’t quick-tongued, and with that rebuke, her face turned livid, she trembled with anger, unable to say a word!

Seeing she had won the argument, she felt a sense of triumph, suddenly thinking of something, "Father, wait, I have a surprise for you!"

With that, she hurriedly turned back to the desk, took out the article she just wrote, and held it up to Su Changyuan.

She eagerly said, "Father, this is an article I just wrote!"

She proudly said, "This is the best piece I’ve ever written, please take a look!"

Su Changyuan was momentarily taken aback.

He obviously hadn’t expected that she, in this death prison, could still cultivate herself and produce such a fine article.

He looked gratified, "Qianqian, you have grown, and I am very pleased as your father."

He bent slightly, lowering the wooden collar, trying not to let it obstruct his view.

Seeing this, she quickly lifted the manuscript up.

Su Changyuan then sighed with relief and started reading earnestly.

Upon the first glance, his gaze froze.

Prince breaking the law and being treated the same as a commoner?

A surprise?

This really is delightful!

Su Changyuan’s eyes were fixed on the manuscript, his body trembling uncontrollably.

When the City Guard Army came and said she had committed a grave crime, that the Su Family would be sent to the death prison, he didn’t feel as terrified and desperate as he did now.

Since the day she said she wanted to dissolve the engagement, Su Changyuan foresaw that the end would come sooner or later.

He had already made arrangements at home.

When the City Guard Army came to arrest people, he felt relieved, no longer having to live in constant fear.

However, Su Changyuan hadn’t expected that she would drag the entire family into this and even attempt to implicate all nine generations of the Su family!

How did it come to this?

Su Changyuan suppressed his overwhelming shock and anger, managing to squeeze out a faint, ugly smile, patiently asking, "Qianqian, have you shown this article to anyone else?"

She shook her head: "No, Father, you are the first to see it!"

After speaking, she glanced at the Prison Guard nearby: "I originally intended to send the manuscript to the Spring Tide Poetry Gathering, but these lowly servants refused to send it, how outrageous!"

Hearing this, Su Changyuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned around, clasped his fists, and performed a difficult bow to the Prison Guard.

"Thank you for saving my entire family!"

The Prison Guard waved his hand dismissively, "Lord Su, I’ve heard of you and know you are a good official, no need for pleasantries. Since you’re here, advise the Imperial Consort well, the rule that nothing can be sent out from the death prison isn’t just about making life harder for prisoners; oftentimes, it’s a lifesaver! Just now, if I hadn’t stopped it, your whole Su family would have lost their heads!"

The Prison Guard saw she still hadn’t understood, so he grinned: "Miss Su, being the noble Imperial Consort, it’s natural that you look down on us lowly servants. But there’s an old saying I do hope you’ll take to heart: under the eaves, one must bow their head! I hope you understand this, so you might suffer less in the future."

She ignored him, still caught in the scene of Su Changyuan thanking the Prison Guard.

She puzzledly asked, "Father, do you think my article isn’t good?"

Su Changyuan shook his head: "Your article is of course excellent, far surpassing your father in skill!"

She became even more confused: "If the article is well written, then why are you acting like this?"

Su Changyuan replied, "There’s nothing wrong with the article! There’s nothing wrong with saying a prince breaking the law should be punished the same as a commoner!"

After finishing, Su Changyuan let out a deep sigh.

"But, Qianqian, such words shouldn’t come from your mouth!"

"Turn around and take a look behind you!"

"You enjoy the royal heritage and wealth, yet you turn the arrows back at the royalty and imperial power!"

"Do you even know what you’re doing?"

"You’re putting the entire Su Family into a hopeless situation!"

Upon hearing these words, the heroine was visibly defiant.

"I’ve already demanded to break off the engagement! Also, this prison is not what I wanted; they forced it on me, and I don’t care for it!"

Su Changyuan was utterly despondent.

The Prison Guard, on the side, listening to the heroine’s words, wore a complex expression.

The heroine’s mental state seemed even crazier than the emperor’s!

The mad old emperor, hearing her words, would probably wake up in the middle of the night, furious, and shout:

"No, really, which one of us is the lunatic?"

Su Changyuan looked pleadingly at the Prison Guard, who sighed, then suddenly snatched the manuscript from the heroine’s hands.

The heroine’s face changed instantly: "What are you doing? Give it back to me!"

The Prison Guard ignored her, and under Su Changyuan’s pleading gaze, placed the manuscript directly over the nearby candle flame, burning it.

"Father, no!" the heroine screamed desperately.

But no one paid her any attention!

The heroine watched the burning manuscript, as if her soul had been extracted, collapsing to the ground.

The Prison Guard glanced at the heroine and then said to Su Changyuan, "Master Su, I can help you this once, but I can’t always keep an eye on the Imperial Consort. You’d better find some connections and work towards an execution as soon as possible."

Su Changyuan looked at the burnt manuscript and let out a sigh of relief.

He gratefully said, "Thank you, Officer! I have a few close friends at the Imperial Censorate. I’ll send a message to them right away and ask them to expedite the execution of my entire family in public!"

The Prison Guard nodded and then gave a push on the wooden block.

"Master Su, your cell is up ahead. For the sake of the Imperial Consort, I won’t separate you from your wife. Take the time to say your goodbyes."

Su Changyuan immediately bowed deeply: "Thank you, Officer! I have no way to repay your great kindness! Under the osmanthus tree in the back courtyard of the Su Family, I hid some special products two years ago. Please accept it as a gift!"

Upon hearing this, the Prison Guard’s smile became even brighter.

He said with a smile, "Master Su, you are considerate! In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony! Master Su, you and your wife probably haven’t eaten after such a tiring journey, have you? Please go to your cell and rest, and I’ll prepare some food for you."

Su Changyuan hurriedly thanked him again.

When passing by the heroine, Su Changyuan paused for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

The heroine seemed to feel nothing.

Her gaze was fixated on the few remaining scraps of the burnt manuscript; her face was ashen, obviously deeply affected.

The Prison Guard glanced at her, eyes full of mockery.

He finally confirmed.

This woman wasn’t pretending, she was truly stupid!

Is this the time for this?

Instead of thinking about how to save her life, she’s still writing such nonsense!

Does she really believe no one dares to kill her?

Shaking his head, the Prison Guard exchanged a nod with the others and quickly left.

There was a path from the Death Prison to the Su Family.

The Prison Guard, worried that delays might lead to problems, didn’t waste time and headed straight for the Su Family after leaving.

Just as he turned out of Vermilion Bird Avenue, the Prison Guard bumped into a little girl with dry yellow hair.

The Prison Guard, with sharp eyes honed in the Death Prison, swept a glance over the girl. Seeing her dry yellow hair and thin frame, he knew there was nothing valuable, cursed his luck, and hurried on his way.

The little troublemaker got up from the ground, glanced at the departing Prison Guard, was not angry, patted the dust off, and continued running towards the Prince’s Manor.

Entering the door, the little troublemaker saw Huang Ying strolling near the entrance.

Huang Ying was cracking sunflower seeds while looking around, as if waiting for someone.

"Sister Huang Ying, is the master at home?" the little troublemaker asked hurriedly.

Huang Ying blinked.

"How did you know I threw the ring into the toilet?"

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