Chapter 361

Chapter 361: Heaven Is Unfair

Jiang Yu Wei barely paused to think before using the Martial Alliance’s highest level of punishment: “Men, throw her into the Water Dungeon to reflect.”

The Water Dungeon was where the Martial Alliance held wrongdoers and spies. Normally, only very serious offenses landed you there. Even if no other torture was applied, long-term soaking alone ruined the body. If punishments were added, a person might not die-but they would shed a layer of skin.

The heir apparent said coldly: “For my lord’s sake, I’ll hand her to Alliance Leader Jiang to deal with. But I hope Alliance Leader Jiang will not show favoritism. The Prefect is touring on His Majesty’s behalf, representing the Son of Heaven’s face. If Alliance Leader Jiang tries to shelter her in secret… don’t blame me for returning to court and impeaching you for defying imperial might!”

Jiang Yu Wei shivered and said quickly: “Please be assured, Heir Apparent-absolutely not!”

The heir apparent nodded without much expression: “Then interrogate her well. I suspect she learned my lord’s identity and targeted us on purpose. She may even be a spy from an enemy state.”

Under the duet of Yu Zhi Yi and the heir apparent, Chen Ruo Lan went from simply being locked in the Water Dungeon to being punished in it.

That place was harsh. Even a healthy person would be worn down after a while-never mind if the body carried injuries. Wounds would worsen severalfold on their own.

This “Aunt Chen” was in for real suffering.

Yu Zhi Yi didn’t think the method was cruel. Compared to what Chen Ruo Lan had done to her mother, letting her suffer while clear-minded and healthy was already merciful. Her mother had nearly died with the baby back then, and before her month of confinement was up, she had faced the pain of being separated from her child. There was no proof yet, but Yu Zhi Yi had a strong feeling Chen Ruo Lan was involved.

It was just a pity Ji Guang Dai died too quickly. She had no time to question him, no time to search his soul. But that was fine-if she couldn’t question Ji Guang Dai, she would question Chen Ruo Lan. No matter how much that woman hid, once a Truth-Telling Talisman was applied, she would only be able to obey.

Even so, Yu Zhi Yi didn’t plan to use the Truth-Telling Talisman now. She thought: [Let her sit in the Water Dungeon for a few days first. We should at least collect some interest, right?]

Of the six guards the heir apparent had sent to search Juxian Manor, three were injured. The rest, though unhurt, had been hungry for three or four days and were badly weakened. The two carriages Yu Zhi Yi had requested before setting out now came in handy. She said: “Let’s go back.”

…

At the Martial Alliance, night had fallen. The sky that had been clear moments ago suddenly filled with heavy clouds. On Mount Ming, a chill wind rose; the gale howled and moaned. The strange sound made everyone’s skin crawl.

People muttered in the dining hall prepared by the Alliance: “Why is the wind so noisy today?”

“Yeah, it’s creepy.”

They had seen bad weather before, and many had come to the Alliance more than once. Odd weather happened now and then, but none of them had ever met anything this scary. The sky felt like it might drop at any moment. The roaring wind stung their faces, as if it would blow them away the next second. The roadside trees thrashed so hard it seemed they’d be ripped from the earth.

Someone asked in a low voice: “Do you think this might be a bad omen?”

The dining hall went still for a beat.

Another person asked: “What bad omen?”

A pleasant female voice replied: “The Martial Alliance has held so many grand gatherings and never once slipped up. Only this time the weather is this strange. Could it be a sign from Heaven?”

People couldn’t help following that line of thought. One whispered to a neighbor: “It does seem that way. The Alliance has held hundreds, maybe a thousand meets, and nothing like this has ever happened.”

“If something really is going to happen, why was it fine before and only this time goes wrong?”

They thought it through and someone said: “If we must point to a difference, this Earthly Ranking Tournament has one thing the others didn’t-Second Miss Jiang.”

“Think about it: Second Miss Jiang was missing for over ten years. During those years, the Martial Alliance never had trouble. Then as soon as she came back, Heaven started sending ominous signs.”

Another person exclaimed: “And at the last Grand Horse Racing Meet, Second Miss Jiang also took part. After that, a sinkhole opened at Juxian Manor, and more than a dozen from the Mystic Heaven Sect died!”

At those words, the hall slid into panic.

You Bing Yue listened with satisfaction, the corners of her red lips curving as she slipped out, hiding her part in it.

When the Jiang Liu Yi brothers rushed in after hearing the uproar, the hall fell silent for a heartbeat-then voices erupted:

One person called out: “Second Young Master Jiang, Heaven has sent a warning. It means it’s not right to keep the Earthly Ranking Tournament going. Shouldn’t we suspend it?”

Others chimed in: “Yes! Heaven’s objection is so obvious. I fear something will happen in the ring tomorrow. If people of the Martial World are hurt or die in proper matches, that’s normal-we can accept that. But if we get hurt or even die because of some strange person, I can’t accept it.”

Jiang Liu Yi frowned at the speaker and said coldly: “Be clear. Who is this ‘strange person’ you mean?”

Under Jiang Liu Yi’s icy gaze, the man felt as if a mighty lion had fixed on him. Cold sweat broke out, and he stammered without getting anything out.

You Bing Yue watched with a frown, then gave Jiang Liu Yi a deep, measuring look, thinking: [I didn’t expect that woman’s brother to be so capable.]

Her heart felt sore and unbalanced. She thought: [Heaven is unfair.]

She was a transmigrator-once the Night Queen. She should have been the darling of this world. Yet the life she crossed into started in a farm family. Her original parents were true bumpkins: no education, no skills, rough and crude. The whole family ate bran and chaff.

No-calling it bran was giving it too much credit. It was pig feed! Just the smell was enough to make a person gag.

But that hateful woman Yu Zhi Yi? First she had parents who were ministers; with Minister’s Manor behind her, she could marry someone like Du Zi Heng, a heaven’s chosen. Then she “just happened” to learn Mystic Arts and used them to catch the eyes of the powerful. Even the current emperor looked on her more favorably because of those skills. When she finally lost the “minister’s daughter” halo, she turned around and became the Martial Alliance’s Second Miss, with the Second Master Jiang-called the Overlord Tiger of Mount Ming-as her father, and a Young Overlord for a brother. Even her mother had once been a famed heroine.

She raged inside: [Why?!]