Chapter 1949: Husband and Wife Are Birds of the Same Forest

The subordinate, chosen to serve him, was one of his trusted confidants. Seeing this, he gritted his teeth and said, "My Lord, forgive me, but the Regent King is simply too powerful. No one dares to risk offending him to help us now. If we don't find a solution, we're doomed."

Prince Dai was furious. "Regent King? That fellow Zu is just an upstart with slightly higher cultivation... a mere commoner..." As he spoke, his voice involuntarily dwindled. He even glanced cautiously outside, terrified that someone might overhear and report it to Zu An.

"Ouch... Ouch... Be gentler..." Perhaps his recent outburst had aggravated his injuries, and he couldn't help but cry out. The subordinate was startled and quickly began to gently rub him.

"Rub what?! My kneecap is shattered! The more you rub, the more it hurts! Quickly, apply more medicine, and get more juice out of it!" Prince Dai commanded, cursing as he spoke. Though it had hurt when first applied, the cool, refreshing liquid felt quite comfortable.

"Yes, yes, yes!" The subordinate nodded repeatedly. He quickly picked up the pestle and began grinding vigorously in the pot. To fully release the medicine's properties, it needed to be thoroughly crushed. The imperial prison had provided a copper pestle much heavier and thicker than a normal one for this purpose. The subordinate added more herbs to the pot and continued to grind relentlessly. Soon, a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Seeing his flustered state, Prince Dai said irritably, "Why are you using such a small medicine pot? This copper pestle barely fits!"

The subordinate was also exasperated. "There's nothing I can do, My Lord. We're in the imperial prison now; it's a miracle we even found a pot."

Watching him slowly lift and then plunge the pestle, Prince Dai felt a surge of irritation. "Hurry up!"

"Alright, alright, alright." The subordinate sped up his movements. Soon, he announced with surprise, "My Lord, it's juicing!"

"Pound it a few dozen more times. That way, the medicinal properties will be fully released." Prince Dai craned his neck, watching as if to make sure he wasn't slacking off.

"Yes!" The subordinate grumbled inwardly. *He's fallen so low, yet he still puts on princely airs.* Given the current situation, only the Princess Consort could help them escape. Naturally, he dared not offend Prince Dai.

After a while, the herbs were pounded into a gooey paste. The subordinate carefully took it out and applied it to Prince Dai's injured knee.

"Hiss!" Prince Dai gasped, drawing in a sharp breath. There was a feeling of satisfaction, a painful pleasure.

"My Lord, what do you think of my suggestion just now?" Eager for a breakthrough, the subordinate couldn't help but press him.

"You!" Prince Dai wanted to get angry, but his tone softened in the end. "Even if I agreed, there's nothing I can do. Chan'er has always been strong-willed, and that fellow Zu killed her father..."

"The Princess Consort is a clever woman; she'll understand the implications. The living are more important. And I, your humble servant, will find an opportunity to persuade her." The subordinate secretly scorned him. Prince Dai usually bossed him around, yet in this situation, he was worse than an ordinary person. To think he was willing to sacrifice his wife to save his own life. And to have someone else use his wife to save his own life—that must feel really good. Thinking of the elegant and beautiful Princess Consort, the subordinate's breathing quickened slightly. *That fellow Zu was really getting off easy.*

At this, Prince Dai said impatiently, "Even if she's willing, it's useless. We're both locked up; I can't even see that guy."

"My Lord, you don't need to worry. Leave this to your humble servant. There's always a way to send a message." The subordinate smiled, finally seeing a way to save his own life.

Prince Dai still couldn't bring himself to say it explicitly. He could only give an ambiguous grunt. Then he added, "Now, pound out some more juice for me. Apply more medicine."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The next day, while Prince Dai was sleeping, a jailer's knock sounded from outside. "Wake up, someone's here to see you." Prince Dai opened his eyes in confusion. He wondered who would visit him at a time like this.

He saw a figure entirely wrapped in a cloak standing nearby. The figure handed the jailer a silver ingot. The jailer smiled, contentedly tucking it into his pocket. "Don't take too long." After speaking, he left, leaving the two alone.

"Who are you?" Prince Dai looked at the cloaked figure hesitantly. He wondered if someone had sent an assassin to silence him. The thought made him jump.

At that moment, the cloaked figure removed their hood, revealing a beautiful, flushed face.

"Chan'er, it's you!" Prince Dai was both surprised and delighted. He never expected to see her here.

"Shh!" Meng Chan placed a finger to her lips. She looked at the man before her with a complex expression. Though he was a good-for-nothing wastrel, he was still her husband.

"How can you be here?" After his initial surprise, Prince Dai couldn't help but wonder.

"The Meng family has a thousand-year legacy; we have our resources." Meng Chan offered no further explanation.

"Then get me out!" Prince Dai quickly urged. For some reason, he felt that Chan'er looked even more radiant than usual today.

Meng Chan seemed distracted, lost in thought. "Not yet. Even if you got out, you'd be a wanted criminal. We need to wait for the court procedures."

"If we wait for the procedures, I'll be dead!" Prince Dai was both angry and anxious.

"I rushed here today, without delay, just to put your mind at ease." Meng Chan hesitated, unsure how to tell him about it.

"How can I be at ease?" Prince Dai's heart was filled with impatience. Suddenly, he remembered something and urgently asked, "Have you seen Qiu San?"

"Qiu San? Your attendant? No, I haven't." Meng Chan shook her head. She had long known that he was ill-intentioned, but he was good at currying favor with Prince Dai, always finding him various novelties, which led to Prince Dai trusting him greatly. Since he was the Prince, she found it difficult to control him too strictly. She simply let him have his way with his personal attendants.

Prince Dai thought, *Just as I expected.* That fellow didn't leave until almost dawn yesterday; how could he have contacted her so quickly? Concerned that Qiu San might not be able to contact her after she left the imperial prison, Prince Dai hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth and said, "Chan'er, you must save me!"

"Aren't I already saving you?" Meng Chan gave a bitter smile.

Seeing that she didn't seem to understand what he meant, Prince Dai could only steel himself and say, "That Qiu San gave me an idea. He said there's a way for us both to be safe."

"Oh, what idea?" Meng Chan was surprised. *Could there be a solution I hadn't thought of? Did I pay too high a price last night...?*

Prince Dai's face alternated between green and red. But ultimately, the desire to live gained the upper hand. "Chan'er, intelligence indicates that fellow Zu has many beautiful women around him; he's clearly a lecherous philanderer. And you are so beautiful, if you go... go plead with him, he will surely let us go."

Meng Chan's face had already darkened by the time she heard half of it. After what happened yesterday, she had felt a slight pang of guilt for him. But she never expected him to actually propose such a thing.

"What do you suggest I use to plead with him?" Meng Chan's voice was icy.

"Use..." Prince Dai found it difficult to articulate. In the end, he said, "Chan'er, you're so smart, why do I need to spell it out?"

"Are you even a man?!" Meng Chan trembled with rage. What kind of man would ask his wife to do such a thing just to save his own life?! She now somewhat regretted having pleaded for such a person yesterday!

Prince Dai had always been somewhat afraid of her. Seeing her anger, he quickly said, "Chan'er, don't be angry. This was all Qiu San's idea; it has nothing to do with me."

Meng Chan gave a desolate laugh. "Even at a time like this, you still try to push all the blame onto others. If you had truly admitted it, I might have even respected you as a ruthless hero. But as it is, you're just a good-for-nothing coward!"

Scolded mercilessly by her, Prince Dai also grew agitated. "Then what am I supposed to do? It's come to this; this is the only path left to us! I was perfectly fine being a prince. It was you and your father who told me I had a chance to become emperor. I listened to you on every major and minor issue. And you always acted like you had everything under control. What happened?!"

"I had already given up hope! Who was it that said even your idiotic brother could be Crown Prince, but if it were you, you'd be a thousand times better? Otherwise, would I have dragged the Meng family into supporting you for no reason?!" Meng Chan's fair face was flushed crimson. "Listen to me on every major and minor issue? Did I tell you to go bully Princess Jin?" Meng Chan was furious, thinking of how this fellow, usually so meek, had done such a thing.

"You... how did you know?" Prince Dai's confidence immediately faltered by a third. He felt incredibly depressed. If he had at least succeeded in his illicit affair, it would have been one thing, but now he hadn't succeeded and had instead gotten into a heap of trouble.

"And if you hadn't gotten carried away after gaining the upper hand, going after the Qin and Murong families, would we have forged such a deadly feud with Zu An?!" The more Meng Chan thought about it, the angrier she became.

Prince Dai was somewhat vexed. "Didn't you say we should provoke that fellow Zu a bit more? Besides, your father was in charge of this matter."

Meng Chan: "..."

Seeing her face turn from pale to flushed and back again, Prince Dai grew worried that if he provoked her further, he would have no hope left. He quickly said, "That's all in the past. Arguing about it won't help now. Let's think about how to save the rest of us. Tell that person I won't be emperor. I won't contend for anything. I just want to be an idle prince. No, I don't even need to be a prince. You're so beautiful and resourceful; you can definitely make him relent."

Seeing him look at her with such expectation, Meng Chan felt a wave of nausea. She opened her mouth: "What you imagined doing to Princess Jin has already been done to me many times over, and by others first. The key is, I initiated it all myself."

In the end, she didn't utter those words. She turned and walked away, leaving behind a few cold words. "Don't worry, you won't die."

Those affected by the Forget-Sorrow Rosemary would lose their memories of the event after one night. However, the drug wasn't so miraculous; if one woke up and saw the circumstances, it would be easy to recall what happened. It was only suitable for evildoers who wished to leave no trace and keep women completely in the dark. But if one was prepared beforehand, it was different. She had written all her plans in a small booklet in advance. After waking up that morning, she had reviewed it, and correlating it with her body's reactions, she naturally recalled all the details from last night.

"How can you be so confident?" Prince Dai wanted to ask further, but he noticed her legs seemed unnatural as she ascended the stairs. A normal person would alternate legs, stepping up one by one, but she slowly shuffled upward, step by step, needing to grasp the railing to steady herself, as if her legs couldn't quite close. Although he had been strictly supervised over the years, he was still a prince. That Qiu San had procured women for him on several occasions, so he was familiar with carnal matters.

Seeing this, how could he not understand? He instantly flew into a rage. "You bitch! You cursed me so harshly just now, I thought you were so pure and chaste! Turns out you've already thrown yourself at him! No wonder you regained your freedom!" Countless images flashed through his mind. *What kind of storm had she endured to become like this? His prized, untouchable steed was now being ridden roughly, kicked and whipped by another.*

Meng Chan whirled around. She stared at him coldly. "Do you want to live or not?"