The Cage - Chapter 2

Bai Yisi was assigned to sweep the fallen leaves in the courtyard. She wasn’t particularly pleased with this arrangement, as it kept her away from Liu Chunxi. Her only chance to encounter the Princess would be within the courtyard itself, but attempting anything there…

She wasn’t foolish enough to act in the courtyard. The moment she made a move, the Shadow Guards lurking nearby would swarm her. Even if she survived, she would be critically injured.

Though she didn’t fear death or pain, that didn’t mean she would actively seek them out.

As Bai Yisi swept the leaves, she thought, It seems I’ll have to sneak in at night after all.

Just then, she heard a commotion nearby. Bai Yisi craned her neck to look around when the girl beside her tugged on her sleeve.

The tug nearly made her stumble. The girl whispered in her ear, “Bow your head.”

Bai Yisi had a premonition. Glancing sideways, she confirmed her suspicion: the Princess had returned to the manor and was approaching their direction.

Their eyes met. A flicker of greed flashed in Bai Yisi’s eyes as she looked at Liu Chunxi’s face, her gaze was lingering.

Liu Chunxi had initially raised an eyebrow at Bai Yisi’s gaze, thinking, This new maid has quite the nerve, staring at me on her first day. But her brows soon furrowed.

She disliked the maid’s gaze; it made her feel uneasy.

Noticing Liu Chunxi’s frown, Bai Yisi quickly lowered her head and greeted her along with the others, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Liu Chunxi let out a dismissive hum through her nose. “Hmph.” Without pausing, she continued walking forward, but as she passed Bai Yisi, her gaze lingered on the maid for a moment.

Bai Yisi felt it, the woman’s gaze seemed to materialize, burning like fire and capable of searing holes through her.

Hmph, how amusing, just like her face.

Bai Yisi lightly licked her lips, her mind replaying Liu Chunxi’s face.

So beautiful, that face. Since she was going to kill her anyway, why not skin her afterward and take the face with her? She would mount the skin on painting paper and then paint an equally exquisite body to match that perfect face.

Bai Yisi had a premonition: such a painting would surpass all her previous works in beauty and allure.

Since she was going to peel off her face, she had to be meticulous, ensuring not a single flaw marred the perfect mask. This required ample time, making nighttime the ideal choice.

Tonight, she would peel off that face.

Liu Chunxi entered her chambers and dismissed the servants inside. “You may leave,” she instructed. “This Princess wishes to rest for a while. If Liu Yun returns later, tell her to come in directly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Cui Huan led the maids out of the room and closed the door behind them. The moment the door clicked shut, Liu Chunxi, who had been reclining on the couch with her eyes closed, snapped them open. Her gaze was strikingly different from before. The previous expression had been clear and icy, but now, though still cold, it carried a palpable edge of malice.

Yet this malice brought a newfound vitality to her usually serene face, making her beautiful eyes blaze with intensity. If the Liu Chunxi who appeared in public could be likened to the pristine, flawless ice of a snow-capped mountain, the Liu Chunxi now resembled a blooming rose—beautiful yet dangerous, drawing sinful hands only to inflict a heavy price.

In public, Liu Chunxi was like the bright moon in the sky, inspiring awe and preventing anyone from harboring improper thoughts. But the Liu Chunxi before her now made one want to fall with her, to sink into the abyss of sin.

After a moment, Liu Yun knocked on the door. “Your Highness, may I enter?”

Liu Chunxi instantly composed herself, reverting to her usual aloof demeanor. “Come in.”

Liu Yun entered, bowed respectfully, and reported her findings. “Master, Vice Minister of Revenue Li Changfeng met with someone at Hundred Flavors Pavilion yesterday. According to our informants, he appeared extremely flustered when he left, a stark contrast to his composure upon arrival.”

Vice Minister Li Changfeng had been assassinated last night, killed with a single, fatal strike. Under orders from her Imperial Father to investigate the matter, Liu Chunxi had dispatched Liu Yun to investigate the moment she attended court this morning.

Liu Yun was the Emperor’s appointed subordinate, serving as the deputy director of Spiderweb, while Liu Chunxi herself held the position of director. Spiderweb, true to its name, spanned the entire nation like a spider’s web, gathering intelligence for the Emperor and, when necessary, eliminating those deemed unfit to exist.

Li Changfeng had met with someone at noon yesterday and was assassinated that very night. Liu Chunxi refused to believe there was no connection.

Liu Chunxi asked, “Who did Li Changfeng meet with?”

Liu Yun’s face flushed with embarrassment. “This subordinate is incompetent. I couldn’t identify the person. They were skilled in martial arts, and I was unable to subdue them. They escaped.”

Liu Chunxi said nothing, merely fixed her gaze on Liu Yun for a moment. Even with her head bowed, Liu Yun could feel the weight of that scrutiny and lowered herself even further.

Just as Liu Yun was about to offer to accept punishment, Liu Chunxi spoke, “Enough. Withdraw and continue the investigation.”

“Yes,” Liu Yun replied, rising to leave. As she reached for the door, she heard Liu Chunxi say, “Fetch some wound medicine from Chief Steward Zhang. But I still advise you to see Doctor Ye at the estate about your leg injury. It’s best to be cautious.” Liu Chunxi had noticed Liu Yun pause when she crouched down and detected a faint metallic scent of blood. Familiar with such odors, she suspected Liu Yun had been injured.

Liu Yun’s heart warmed at the concern. These few words brought a radiant smile to her face. “Master, rest assured, my injuries are minor and have already been treated.”

After Liu Yun left, Liu Chunxi closed her eyes, replaying the earlier conversation in her mind. It seemed she would need to visit the Vice Minister of Personnel’s residence tonight. She wondered if Liu Yun would report this matter to her Imperial Father. Naturally, she hoped he wouldn’t find out. If she discovered anything tonight, she would hold the leverage, not her father.

But…

A sardonic smile curled at the corner of Liu Chunxi’s lips. At the end of the day, Liu Yun served the Spiderweb, which meant she ultimately served the Imperial Father. Liu Yun was merely a facade he had planted in the court, and there wasn’t a single person around her she could truly trust.

Not a single one was truly her own.

It was midday, and the scorching sun had forced the leaves to droop. The cicadas buzzed in relentless waves.

Tch, Bai Yisi thought impatiently. She had barely finished her lunch before being ordered to resume cleaning. And that lunch… words failed to describe it. Was it even fit for human consumption? She hadn’t eaten such food in three years. Though supposedly a meat dish, it contained only a few meager slices of meat, while the vegetarian dishes lacked even a trace of oil. For some reason, the meal reminded Bai Yisi of the food she had eaten five years ago, back when she was with the old beggar.

In truth, this was already the best food a servant girl could expect. Which noble household would feed their maids meat? But Bai Yisi, having grown accustomed to five years of extravagant living, could no longer stomach such meager fare. The girl who once devoured cold noodles and steamed buns now found this food utterly unpalatable.

Her dissatisfaction extended beyond the food to the oppressive heat and the unreasonable hour.

At this temperature, she should be indoors with a cooling machine humming beside her, not sweeping a ground utterly devoid of fallen leaves under the scorching sun!

Damn it! Were the Princess’s Manor’s standards really this strict? No wonder they had to buy so many new maids every month. The courtyard sweepers had to toil all day, never allowing a single leaf to linger. If she were a maid here, she’d want to leave too.

The Princess’s Manor purchased numerous maids each month under “living contracts.” If a maid wished to leave, she could do so by the end of the month, even if she had only been hired at the beginning, and still receive her full month’s wages. This policy was said to have been established by the Princess herself, earning her widespread praise for her benevolence.

Benevolence, my ass!

If she were truly benevolent, she wouldn’t force people to sweep under the blazing sun!

She desperately wanted to throw the broom to the ground, but she knew someone was watching her. Bai Yisi had just glanced over her shoulder and seen a maid she didn’t recognize, likely sent by Chief Steward Zhang to observe her behavior.

Having just arrived at the manor, it was natural for them to assign someone to monitor her, to ensure she behaved properly and wasn’t putting on an act. If not for the last shred of rationality reminding her to endure a little longer that she could peel off this facade and escape by nightfall. She might have already snapped.

Bai Yisi’s inner turmoil intensified, and her movements grew more forceful.

Swish, swish, swish. The broom swept across the ground with loud, rhythmic strokes. Qing Zhu couldn’t see Bai Yisi’s expression, only her vigorous actions. To Qing Zhu, Bai Yisi’s furious sweeping appeared as tireless diligence and inexhaustible energy.

After watching for a while longer, Qing Zhu happily departed to report back to Chief Steward Zhang. She had a feeling this “Hong Hua” would be a long-term fixture at the Princess’s Manor. Assigned to the Princess’s courtyard, she might even make a new friend.

As soon as the others left, Bai Yisi immediately stopped moving. She didn’t throw down the broom outright, knowing the Shadow Guards were watching, but the broom creaked under her tightening grip.

Clutching the broom in one hand and supporting her aching back with the other, she gasped for breath—not from exhaustion, but from fury.

Damn it, my back is killing me! Curse this Princess’s Manor, curse the Princess, and curse Chief Steward Zhang!

She resolved that after assassinating the Princess tonight, she would go after Chief Steward Zhang. She would tear her apart at the waist, making her taste the same agony.

With her plan settled, the usually carefree Bai Yisi found herself unusually melancholy. She glanced up at the blazing sun, its glare forcing her eyes shut. What should I do now? There are still two hours until dinner, when I can finally end this day’s labor.

Aaaah!

I can’t take it anymore! Someone knock me unconscious!

Wait… unconscious?

That’s it! I can pretend to faint! It’ll hurt a bit when I fall, but it’s better than being baked alive.

Without even changing her upward gaze, Bai Yisi released the broom and let her body collapse.

She braced herself for the pain of falling, but it never came. Instead, she landed in someone’s arms, a refreshing, heart-stirring fragrance rushing into Bai Yisi’s nostrils.

She recognized the scent. She had smelled it recently on Princess Lanyue.

Liu Chunxi had been cooped up indoors for too long, her eyes aching from reading. She decided to step outside for a stroll to relax her vision when she noticed a maid standing motionless in a corner.

She remembered this girl. A new maid who had just been brought into the manor that day.

Frowning, Liu Chunxi assumed the maid was slacking off. She approached slowly, intending to give her a mild reprimand. But when she was still six or seven steps away, the broom fell from the maid’s hand, followed by the girl herself collapsing.

Startled, Liu Chunxi rushed forward and caught the girl. Her pale complexion suggested heatstroke, which could be fatal if severe. Without hesitation, Liu Chunxi scooped the girl into her arms, carried her to her own bed, and summoned the maids. She ordered them to fetch Doctor Ye and have the girl drink cool water.

Liu Chunxi felt a growing anxiety. If news spread that a newly arrived maid had died on her first day at the Princess’s Manor, the rumors would be devastating. The Princess’s Manor would suffer, and her Imperial Father…

Bai Yisi, oblivious to Liu Chunxi’s distress, was preoccupied with a different question: Why hadn’t she sensed Liu Chunxi’s approach in the courtyard earlier? How had the Princess managed to get so close without her noticing until she was right behind her?

This shouldn’t be possible. Bai Yisi remembered the Princess had been inside the house. There was no way that the Princess could have seen her collapsing and rushed out so quickly even herself couldn’t move that fast. 

The Princess must have been standing nearby all along, yet Bai Yisi hadn’t detected her.

Could she really be suffering from heatstroke?

No, that couldn’t be it. Bai Yisi shut her eyes tightly, her expression was unwavering as she dismissed the thought. She was convinced that the Princess harbored a profound secret. The realization reignited her desire to uncover it, and she barely suppressed a smirk.

Liu Chunxi stared at Bai Yisi’s motionless form on the couch, thinking, This newcomer’s constitution is far too weak. Still, she wouldn’t dismiss her for such a minor offense.

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