Qian Xingzhi entered the cell and, facing Bai Sen's hopeful eyes, said softly, "His Highness specifically instructed me to come and kill you."
Bai Sen, who had just let go of the frayed hem of his robe, froze for a few seconds, stunned by the twist. "No… impossible!"
"Why impossible?" Qian Xingzhi raised an eyebrow. "These are His Highness's orders."
"You're lying! His Highness would kill anyone, but not me! Who are you? I want to see His Highness!"
His previous calm was shattered. The despair that had been piling up for days surged from the depths of his heart. Bai Sen thought in despair that he was completely finished.
Why had he bothered to dream such an illusory dream? But they had been so close, he knew so much—
Bai Sen's expression shifted several times. That's right, he knew too much. If the Third Prince abandoned him, why not kill him outright to protect himself?
Watching his pain, regret, and anger, just as he was about to give up struggling, Qian Xingzhi continued, "However, I secretly saved you."
This news was no easier to accept than the previous one.
"Wh… why?" He let tears blur his vision. "No, I don't believe you."
"Whether you believe it or not, it's the truth," Qian Xingzhi spread her hands. "Why would I go through all the trouble to deceive a male performer?"
Bai Sen fell silent. He couldn't figure out why Qian Xingzhi would go to such lengths to trick him. After a long moment, he said, "You saved me. What do you want?"
Nothing in this world is free.
"Of course, it's not out of kindness," Qian Xingzhi smiled dangerously. "The other performers said His Highness treated you unusually. That piqued my curiosity."
Bai Sen's unease grew stronger. He had a premonition that Qian Xingzhi could send him into an abyss.
"Since I saved you, how do you think you'll repay me?"
Bai Sen still struggled. "We haven't even confirmed the truth yet, and you want repayment?"
Qian Xingzhi nodded. "Yes, they all said you must have some special skill. Let me see how you won the Third Prince's favor."
What did she mean? Bai Sen's face turned white and red. What had he done to deserve this humiliation? True, he came from a brothel, but did that mean he had to endure this? In the end, after all his efforts to become the Third Prince's man, he still couldn't escape this fate. He didn't even know this person's name or identity.
"You… what do you want me to do?" He trembled all over.
Qian Xingzhi watched coldly as the male performer suffered. By stoking others' jealousy, she had easily gotten the other performers to spill everything. This Bai Sen claimed to be the apple of the Third Prince's eye, and it was essentially true. When the Third Prince visited Full Moon Tower, aside from his trusted men, only Bai Sen was allowed to be present as a performer.
Because of the Third Prince's favor, Bai Sen often bullied others. He had used the Third Prince's name to cheat and deceive many people, from high-ranking officials to commoners. Behind the Third Prince's back, he had also made many small moves, and some even accused him of murder and arson.
Of course, these bitter words couldn't be fully trusted. But it was easy enough to exploit Bai Sen.
"Treat me the way you treated the Third Prince."
Qian Xingzhi's words left no room for mercy. Bai Sen trembled like a leaf, his heart falling into the abyss. His limbs were frozen, as if unable to move.
"I don't have much patience," Qian Xingzhi still smiled kindly, but her words grew harsher. "What's wrong? Isn't this your old trade? Too embarrassed?"
What difference does it make, cooperating with anyone? His life was the most precious. Bai Sen prayed that the person before him was powerful enough; otherwise, even if he followed her, if the Third Prince found out, it would still mean death.
Finally, Bai Sen forced an ugly smile. He reached out to slowly pull down his collar, looking pitiful. "So, sir, you like this kind of setting…"
Qian Xingzhi resisted the urge to step back and quickly said, "I can give you another choice."
Bai Sen immediately stopped. He was more than willing to continue enduring verbal abuse than to prostitute himself in this dilapidated prison.
If you want someone to agree to your request, first give them two choices; they'll always pick the one that's easier to accept.
Qian Xingzhi was getting addicted to playing the villain. "Just a few jokes. Why are you crying so sadly?"
Bai Sen gritted his teeth. He didn't want to cry so miserably, as if that could preserve some dignity. "What exactly do you want from me? Why won't you let me go? I'd rather die!"
Qian Xingzhi smiled. "No, no, no, you don't want to die. If you wanted to die, you wouldn't have compromised."
Bai Sen now glared at her with hatred, as if he wanted to tear her apart. But his life was in her hands; he truly had no choice.
Her voice was like a ghost's. "Or, you could choose to go back to the Third Prince's side."
Bai Sen was stunned. "What…?"
He had imagined all sorts of humiliating demands, but it turned out she wanted to send him back to His Highness.
Bai Sen hesitated. "Why? Didn't you say he ordered you to kill me?"
Qian Xingzhi gave him no time to think. "Choose. Stay here, or go back to the Third Prince's side?"
Author's Note:
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