Cang Lian looked down at us from high above, with no intention of letting us rise. He just stood up and came down from the steps, approaching me and looking down at me.
“How does it feel to be a slave?”
His lazy voice reached my ears, sharp and sarcastic. I wasn’t angry; life as a slave would probably be more comfortable than staying in the palace.
I bowed my head and replied respectfully: “Yes, Your Majesty! This slave is doing very well. This is the reward from the King!” Hearing my own dull voice was somewhat laughable. I had never been this respectful to Cang Lian before; this was probably the first time, and also the last.
Though I couldn’t see my own expression, I could still feel the coldness emanating from him.
His cold voice sounded above my head: “Raise your head and look at me when speaking. I don’t like people talking with their heads down!” Before he finished speaking, his hand gripped my chin, forcing my face to look at him.
Even if I was furious, I could only restrain myself because my freedom tomorrow depended on today.
I obediently raised my head to look at him, a smile hanging on my face.
“Yes!” I said again.
He seemed extremely dissatisfied with my attitude; his expression became increasingly malicious, the anger in his eyes no longer concealed, and his words more sarcastic.
“It seems you’ve had a pretty good time these past six months, quite comfortably!
” He said through gritted teeth, the anger in his eyes about to burst forth the next moment.
I responded as if reciting lines: “This is the King’s reward to this slave. This slave should live well!” I said without fluctuation. In fact, my appearance didn’t look like I was living well at all. The marks from being whipped by the slave official had not yet faded from my body and face, and the clothing covering my body was covered in whip marks. More ridiculously, my originally red dress was now so dirty that its color was unrecognizable, now looking gray.
“It seems you’re willing to endure any hardship as long as you’re not by my side!” His hand gripped my chin more forcefully, his eyes blazing even more because of my calmness.
