CHAPTER 541: 540

"What is Father planning to do now?" Concubine Mei felt a thin layer of cold sweat form on her back, shocked at the situation.

The enemy was hidden; they were exposed.

Furthermore, they were now facing enemies on both fronts, and the Emperor had already begun to distance himself from their Mei Family.

"The key to this problem still lies with Su Bai." He paused, "Su Bai has had an impeccable reputation during the three years she spent in Chu Kingdom. It seems she is not the kind to hold petty grudges. Listen to me, check your temper, go to the dungeon personally to apologize to her, and perhaps you can help our family through this crisis."

While speaking, Mei Changfeng tightly grasped Concubine Mei’s hand: "My daughter, I did not attain my current position easily. You have grown up pampered and used to luxury, unaware of how the common people live. If I were to fall, you could still continue as a concubine in the palace, but the future of your brothers and sisters would be uncertain. How would they survive in this age of constant warfare?"

How times have changed.

Without a safe home, one could even face bandits breaking in and murdering for loot while sleeping in one’s own bed.

Seeing her father speak so gravely, Concubine Mei’s complexion also turned several shades paler.

Fortunately, at that moment, the palace maids brought in tea and, holding the warm tea, Concubine Mei finally felt warmth return to her body.

"Your father knows you have always been proud and haughty since childhood, unwilling to bow easily. But now, as our house faces such peril, we need you..." Mei Changfeng, unable to finish his sentence, just shook his head helplessly: "If you truly are unwilling, I’ll have no choice but to swallow my pride and beg Su Bai for mercy once more."

But whether Su Bai would be willing to give them the time of day was another matter.

After all, Concubine Mei was the Emperor’s woman, so it was normal for her to find it hard to lower her stature. Mei Changfeng did not hold much hope.

Unexpectedly, Concubine Mei grabbed him: "Father, I am willing to go to Su Bai."

"Really?" Mei Changfeng was overjoyed.

Concubine Mei nodded, but her expression was not so pleasant.

"As this situation stemmed from me, I naturally cannot shirk my responsibility. To apologize to Su Bai and to plead with the Emperor on behalf of Father is what I should do."

"Good, good, good, truly my daughter, Mei Changfeng’s daughter, can bend and stretch!"

...

That very night, father and daughter made their way to the dungeon once more.

This time was even more excessive.

The cell could not accommodate all the gifts they brought; they had taken up more than half of the neighboring cell, and the entrance was blocked, barely allowing a single person to pass through.

At the far end of the passageway, Su Bai, dressed in white, was leisurely sipping tea and playing chess by candlelight, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Seeing her like this only soured Concubine Mei’s feelings further.

Though she lived in the palace, her heart was in turmoil; these past days were nothing short of agonizing.

Yet Su Bai seemed to be living quite comfortably in her cell.

"General Su, to be in such leisurely spirits so late at night," Mei Changfeng laughed heartily, shattering the rare tranquility of the cell.

At the sound, Su Bai placed a chess piece on the board, her expression showing slight impatience.

Clearly, she was not pleased with tonight’s unexpected guests.

Seeing this, Mei Changfeng could only suppress his displeasure and continued to smile ingratiatingly as he stepped forward, "We’ve come tonight because someone wishes to see General Su."

Su Bai perked up in interest, "Who?"

Mei Changfeng stepped aside, revealing the person behind him dressed in a black cloak.

She removed her hood, revealing her striking face; who else could it be but Concubine Mei?

Su Bai’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, not at all surprised, and even casually propped up one of her legs for all to see.

"The dungeon is a grim place, and for Concubine Mei to dignify it with her presence, what brings you here?"

Concubine Mei’s lips trembled, and her hands clenched tightly under her cloak, "Su Bai, I’ve come here to apologize."

"I was misled by a scoundrel that day and acted against General Su. Today, I’ve specifically come to ask for your forgiveness, hoping you can overlook my folly and speak kindly of my father before the Emperor."

Su Bai looked at the father and daughter.

She clicked her tongue twice.

"You sent me to this dungeon, and now you want me to go up and speak well of you. I never realized before how thick-faced the Mei Family could be." Having enjoyed a few days of tranquility, she began to talk more freely, with a hint of rogueishness.

Mei Changfeng and Concubine Mei struggled to suppress their anger, reminding themselves this was a situation they deserved.

They had anticipated Su Bai’s reaction.

Therefore, Concubine Mei stepped forward, "General Su, I truly realize my mistake. If you don’t believe me, I can kneel down right here, and I won’t get up until you’ve calmed down."

She made as if to kneel.

Su Bai, seated nearby, not only did not rise to stop her but even shook her leg casually twice.

She looked on at Concubine Mei calmly, clearly signaling for her to proceed.

Concubine Mei glanced at her father, clenched her teeth, and indeed knelt down on both knees.

"General Su Bai, please forgive this concubine’s previous disrespectful behavior!"

Su Bai raised an eyebrow.

"What great event has occurred outside that would make Concubine Mei personally kneel to seek forgiveness," Su Bai drew in a breath of cool air. "Indeed, fortune comes and goes. Once upon a time, outside the Imperial Study, Concubine Mei knelt down just like this to speak to me."

This retribution had come so swiftly.

Delightful indeed.

Su Bai hooked her crimson lips.

She had no intention of helping Concubine Mei up.

She had conceded again and again to give her face, but now, for the karma Concubine Mei created, Su Bai did not have such saintly compassion.

"I am unable to leave this dungeon, so the favor you are begging for, I cannot oblige. Please, both of you, return," Su Bai curled a finger around her ear, a wicked tone in her voice.

Mei Changfeng was now desperate.

How could Su Bai be so unyielding!

"General Su, you are magnanimous, indeed we have gone too far," Mei Changfeng was on the verge of madness. "His Majesty has already avenged you fiercely. An old man like me cannot bear such back-and-forth torment."

This back-and-forth was going to scatter his old bones.

Met with brick walls everywhere, subjected to disdain on all sides.

He had never felt so humiliated.

Su Bai simply did not listen, closing her eyes outright.

The prison guard stood outside the door, tapping it with a key, ringing out a clear sound, "It’s time, both of you. General Su needs to rest now. Please leave."

Concubine Mei shook her head, "This concubine won’t leave. If Su Bai doesn’t forgive me today, I promise not to rise."

"Is Concubine Mei threatening me?" Su Bai did not bother to lift her eyelids, continuing to close her eyes in repose.

Concubine Mei bit her lip, "I apologize for my wrongdoings, this is what I deserve."

Su Bai couldn’t be bothered, "Fine, if Concubine Mei enjoys kneeling, then kneel. I am tired; I’m going to sleep."

She got up, lifted the bed curtain, and lied down directly on the bed. Concubine Mei knelt outside the curtain, looking helplessly at her father.

Mei Changfeng gritted his teeth, signaling her to keep kneeling.

Perhaps this extreme self-sacrifice would truly be useful.

Su Bai indulged softness but not hardness, yet it depended on whose softness it was.

Since Concubine Mei refused to leave, the prison guard couldn’t close the door.

In the latter part of the night, the door simply remained open.

Concubine Mei’s legs were numb from kneeling, yet Su Bai never once lifted the curtain to glance at her.

Truly heartless.

When night fell, she couldn’t endure any longer and fell asleep leaning on the gifts.

Feeling she had just dozed off, her body suddenly lurched, toppling onto the floor.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the prison guard moving things.

"My apologies, Concubine Mei," the prison guard immediately said.

Concubine Mei didn’t even have time to rub her eyes, finding the cell dismantled to bareness, with last night’s bed curtain nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Su Bai?" she exclaimed in shock.

She had kept vigil all night, only to close her eyes for a moment, and now the person was gone?!

"The Emperor decreed that General Su need not repent in the dungeon anymore and asked her to return to the palace," the prison guard stated matter-of-factly, "so General Su must have returned to the palace by now."

"That Su Bai!" Concubine Mei, teeth itching with rage, attempted to stand, her knees going numb; she quickly gripped the prison guard’s arm to prevent herself from collapsing onto the floor.

Returning to the palace without calling for her!

It was utterly infuriating.

Limping, Concubine Mei hurried out of the dungeon. On the carriage, her maid massaged her for a long time, but her knees did not recover.

"How long did you kneel?" The maid looked at her once pale flesh, now turning purple and black.

Concubine Mei clenched her teeth, "The entire night!"

This was unbearable!

When she found the opportunity, she would kill all those wretches in the palace! Kill them!