Chapter 768: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 768: Du Shi Seeks Help After Being Released (1)
In the dark, damp, and cold dungeon of the Ministry of Justice, the air was thick with the stench of decay. Almost every cell housed one or two prisoners, dressed in tattered clothes. These prisoners cowered in the corners of their cells, their disheveled hair covering their faces. At the slightest sound or movement, they reacted like startled birds, their heads nearly shrinking into their chests in fear.
Compared to the cell Mo Qingze had previously occupied, the conditions here were undoubtedly much worse.
The dungeon of the Ministry of Justice was divided into different sections, depending on the severity of the crime. Those who hadn’t been sentenced or had committed minor offenses were placed in cells with slightly better conditions, while those who had committed heinous crimes and whose offenses were unforgivable found themselves in the worst cells. Once placed in these cells, the only way out was through death.
In the deepest part of the dungeon, in a cell facing away from the sun, four high walls blocked out the light year-round. There was only one iron door, which was always locked, with a small window about a foot square through which the food was passed each day.
At that moment, the Chen family of three was housed in this very cell.
Suddenly, the door to the cell was thrown open, and two prison guards dragged Chen Ji, who had just endured another round of brutal punishment. They threw him in as if he were a discarded item. With a loud clang, the iron door slammed shut again, plunging the cell into darkness once more.
"Brother Ji, how are you, Brother Ji?" Du Shi, who had already grown accustomed to the darkness, crawled over to Chen Ji, who lay motionless on the floor. She shouted his name as tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes.
Having been on the run for over ten days, eating and sleeping outdoors, and then dragged back to this dark and dreary prison, where she was only given a cold, hard bun to eat each day, Du Shi had aged years in just a short period. The once-smooth skin of hers had now become rough and weathered, transforming her into an old, dirty woman.
In the corner of the cell, Chen Shanshan coldly watched the scene, showing no intention of comforting her father. She seemed irritated by Du Shi’s constant crying and impatiently scolded, "He's not dead yet, you filthy woman, what are you crying for?"
Du Shi had long learned the harshness and cruelty of her stepdaughter. Pretending not to hear her insults, she continued calling out to Chen Ji, fearing that he might not survive this ordeal and die before her eyes. Though they would soon be sentenced to death, she couldn’t bear the thought of the man who had once treated her with such care dying before her.
The Chen family’s death sentence had not yet been passed, as bloodshed was considered unlucky close to the new year. However, Chen Ji knew full well that neither he nor his family could escape death. Every day, he was dragged to the torture chamber to undergo various forms of punishment, only to be thrown back into his cell. As the days went by, the time he spent unconscious after each beating grew longer.
Perhaps Du Shi’s calling had an effect, or perhaps Chen Ji’s will to live was strong. After some time, he finally regained consciousness. Hearing Du Shi’s anguished cries, he struggled to lift his right hand and weakly stroked her head, whispering, "Lan... Lan’er, don’t... don’t cry!"
"Brother Ji, you’re awake! You’re really awake!" Du Shi cried out in excitement as she rushed into his arms, sobbing.
Chen Shanshan looked on with disgust as the two comforted each other. Her heart was filled with revulsion and disappointment.
If neither of them survived, or if one of them died and the other committed suicide, she might have a chance to escape. She wouldn’t have to wait anxiously for her own death.
She was still young, with a bright future ahead of her. She hadn’t committed any crimes like murder or arson—why should she have to die with these two? She had done nothing wrong! She couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t accept dying like this!
(End of Chapter)
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