Volume One, Chapter Fourteen: Imprisoned in the "Snake Den"

Ruan Liuzheng was momentarily stunned. "Could it be that the Buddha manifested to help me get rid of that beast?"

Ruyan replied, "Young Madam, today you just quarreled with Young Master, and everyone knows about it. If the Matriarch blames you for this..."

Ruan Liuzheng had already guessed. Suddenly, she looked toward Qingye, who lowered her eyes to avoid her gaze. As expected, Nurse Liu approached.

"Young Madam, the Matriarch summons you."

No sooner had she spoken than several elderly maids roughly dragged Ruan Liuzheng away.

"What are you doing? How can you treat the Young Madam like this? Let her go!"

The maids pushed Ruyan aside harshly.

"If you don’t want to suffer, you'd better behave."

Ruan Liuzheng was dragged to the "Jingying Pavilion," where the maids forced her to kneel by Lu Chengze’s bedside.

The Matriarch said coldly, "You had a fierce argument with Chengze today? How did he fall so ill? Did you poison him?"

Ruan Liuzheng replied, "He snatched my zither and threw me into the water today. I barely escaped. How could I harm him?"

"Then are the bite marks on Chengze’s neck yours?"

"Yes, but I only bit him. If he were poisoned, I should be poisoned too."

"Stop making excuses! The doctor said the bite was poisoned, and the poison spread throughout his body, causing him to fall unconscious. You actually poisoned your husband!"

"I didn’t. Where would I get poison? Matriarch, feel free to investigate."

"I don’t believe a word you say. Guards, lock her in the dark chamber. She can come out when she confesses."

The maids answered, "Yes, Matriarch."

Ruan Liuzheng’s mouth was covered as she was dragged away.

She had no idea the Lu household had a secret door until then. Upon reaching it, she understood why it was named so.

The environment was extremely harsh, almost pitch black. The maids pushed her inside, and the heavy door slammed shut.

Ruan Liuzheng was terrified of the dark. Nervously, she curled up, when suddenly she heard a hissing sound like a snake flicking its tongue. A chill ran down her spine.

In the next moment, her throat nearly caught in her voice—it was a snake!

She stepped back cautiously, but then something slithered up her leg—cold, wet, and slippery—more than one.

It was a nest of snakes!

She nearly fainted, sweat beading on her forehead, her face as pale as paper. This place was hell. Her scalp tingled painfully, her heart pounded like a drum.

When the snakes tightly coiled around her neck, a scream burst from her throat. Invisible hands of terror gripped her as she trembled and shouted,

"Let me out! Let me out!"

She pounded on the door, but there was no response.

She clearly felt the terrifying creatures crawling all over her, cold sweat soaking her back. Fear peaked, and she fainted.

Outside, the maids heard nothing, so they opened the door.

Qingye had intended to follow and check but never expected this scene.

Ruan Liuzheng had passed out, entangled by several snakes. The sight could frighten anyone to death.

---

Unexpectedly, the Lu Matriarch was capable of such malicious cruelty. It seemed she needed to be cautious.

Ruan Liuzheng remained trapped in nightmares, her nerves tense and fragile. Suddenly, she opened her eyes to find herself confined in another place.

This place had no secret door but was just as terrifying—a dungeon, filthy and dreadful.

"You’re awake."

"Doctor Zhao? Why are you here?"

Fear still lingered in her eyes; she trembled.

"I’m here to treat your wounds. Your hands..."

She had multiple snake bites, and Zhao Wanzhou could hardly imagine what she had endured.

Ruan Liuzheng’s voice was hoarse. Staring at her hands absentmindedly, she interrupted him, "Thank you."

Zhao Wanzhou felt a deep ache for her, his eyes reddening. He took out a cloth stained with Lu Chengze’s wound from his sleeve.

"The poison Lu Chengze contracted is called ‘Three Days’ Sorrow.’ When boiled, it becomes medicine, but applying it directly to a wound causes unbearable pain and plunges one into nightmares for three days. Currently, only the imperial palace possesses this poison."

Ruan Liuzheng immediately thought of Qingye—she had set her up.

Why would she do such a thing?

She had already said she would step down.

"How do we cure it?"

"After three days, it will naturally heal."

"And the medicinal residue you asked me to investigate last time—it indeed contained an abortifacient."

So it was true.

Ruan Liuzheng said, "Thank you, Doctor Zhao."

"No need. It’s a small matter. If you need help in the future, I won’t refuse."

"Why are you so kind to me?"

"No, I’m not kind at all. If I were, I would have saved you already. But I don’t have that ability."

Zhao Wanzhou’s face held guilt.

Ruan Liuzheng said, "You’ve already helped me so much. I’ll find a way myself from now on."

After Zhao Wanzhou left, she looked at the candle flickering in the dark corner and knocked it to the ground.

This was the only way she could escape.

The fire snakes devoured the entire cell; flames flickered larger and larger in her eyes.

"Water! Quick, put out the fire!"

"The fire’s growing! Run!"

Everyone in the Lu residence struggled greatly to extinguish the blaze.

Ruan Liuzheng was rescued.

The first thing she did upon escaping was to tell the Matriarch, "I have a way to wake Young Master."

---

The Matriarch asked, "You really have such a skill?"

"If you don’t believe me, then just watch him sleep endlessly."

Seeing her so determined, the Matriarch said, "Fine. If you fail to wake him, your life won’t be spared."

Ruan Liuzheng was sent into Lu Chengze’s room.

Lu Chengze frowned in pain—it seemed his dreams were tormenting him. The more agony he showed, the more satisfaction she felt.

On the third day, Lu Chengze finally awoke.

Upon waking, Ruan Liuzheng immediately called Qingye forward and slapped her hard.

She threw the cloth stained with ‘Three Days’ Sorrow’ in Qingye’s face.

"You really went too far. I told you, I don’t care about being Young Master’s wife."

Qingye covered her face. "I don’t trust anyone, and only a fool would give up the position of main wife. I can climb to the top myself."

"But you shouldn’t have used me as a stepping stone. This time I won’t expose you, but you must obey me. Otherwise, you’ll be kicked out of the Lu family immediately."

Clutching the cloth, Qingye reluctantly said, "Yes. I will listen to you."

Ruan Liuzheng was utterly exhausted but hadn’t rested when Lu Chengze kicked open her door.

She thought he was about to cause trouble again and shrank into a corner in fear.

Unaware that she had been sent to the secret chamber, Lu Chengze dragged her out.

"I heard you stayed by my side for those three days I was unconscious?"

Ruan Liuzheng didn’t know what game he was playing and pushed him away.

"What madness are you up to now?"

Lu Chengze’s excitement was hard to hide. Upon waking, he heard from the servants that she saved him and felt touched.

She truly cared for him.

"Are you out of your mind? Or possessed by evil spirits?"

Seeing her ungrateful attitude, Lu Chengze said, "Don’t deliberately make me angry again."

She pushed him away, clearly wanting no contact, utterly resistant.

He grew furious. "Come here!"

He reached to grab her but accidentally tore her sleeve, revealing bite marks on her hand.

They looked like snake bites.

A bad feeling rose in him.

"Did your mother send you to the snake pit?"