TFWYH – Chapter 608 The Second Prince Arrives

Dealing with a defenseless woman was all too easy.

Tang Wan casually grabbed a sack and followed Qiuwen. When she made sure no one was around, she dashed forward like lightning, threw the sack over Qiuwen’s head, and struck the back of her neck with her elbow, knocking her unconscious.

Tang Wan caught her, glanced around like a thief, then hoisted her over her shoulder and climbed over the wall to leave.

By the time a maid found the string of red agate beads, Tang Wan had already carried Qiuwen back to the residence.

Gu Yanshuang was either careless or simply never imagined that anyone would dare abduct her servant in broad daylight, right before everyone’s eyes.

When Qiuwen didn’t return, she even assumed Qiuwen was still searching elsewhere for the bracelet.

So she left only a small maid waiting at the temple gate, while she herself returned home in grand procession with her daughter and a large group of servants.

…

At home, Jiang Zhi was restless, deeply worried about Tang Wan.

Just as she was about to send Su Xi to look for her, Tang Wan came back carrying someone.

Seeing the person slung over Tang Wan’s shoulder, Madam Jiang’s eyelids twitched wildly. “Wan’er, this is…?”

“It’s Qiuwen!” Tang Wan said as she put her down, pulling off the sack from her head. “Mother, see if I got the right person.”

Madam Jiang took a closer look and quickly said, “Yes, it’s her. I wouldn’t mistake her.”

“Good.” Tang Wan lifted her up like a chicken. “I’ll take her to the cellar. Just wait, Mother—soon we’ll know whether Huangfu Ronglan is really my elder sister.”

Without waiting for a reply, she carried the woman away.

Seeing the way she handled Qiuwen like a dead dog, Madam Jiang’s eyes twitched again. She quickly called out to Su Xi, “Go follow her. Don’t let Wan’er cause a death.”

“…As if that would happen.” Su Xi silently complained but still nodded and followed Tang Wan.

Tang Wan glanced at her but didn’t stop her.

When they reached the cellar, Tang Wan tossed a rope to Su Xi. “Tie her up.”

“Yes!” Su Xi quickly bound Qiuwen with practiced ease—like tying up a pig in the countryside.

Once that was done, Tang Wan finally sat down to catch her breath and said, “Wake her up.”

“Yes!” Su Xi inwardly lit a candle for Qiuwen but didn’t hesitate. She grabbed a bucket of filthy, stagnant water and splashed it straight onto Qiuwen’s face.

The smell was… overwhelming.

Qiuwen, though a servant, was a high-ranking one and had never endured something like this. She woke almost instantly—and immediately gagged at the stench.

Su Xi stepped back in disgust and stood behind Tang Wan.

Tang Wan didn’t speak right away, giving Qiuwen time to process.

After all, she wasn’t going anywhere.

After a moment, Qiuwen finally came to her senses. Confusion flashed in her eyes as she looked around—then she realized she was tied up.

She struggled, then fixed her gaze on Tang Wan, fear flickering in her eyes. “Who are you? Why have you captured me?”

Tang Wan crossed her legs, resting her chin on one hand, and looked at her calmly. “Who I am isn’t important. What matters is—do you want to live, or do you want to die?”

“Impudent!” Qiuwen snapped, immediately invoking her status. “I am the chief maid of the Second Prince’s consort. If you dare treat me like this, the consort will never let you go!”

Tang Wan raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? Still trying to scare me?”

“Su Xi, prick her fingers.”

As she spoke, Tang Wan leisurely took out a needle pouch and handed it over.

Su Xi froze for a moment, stunned.

Seriously? Starting with finger torture?

You’d be better suited working in the torture bureau!

But after a brief pause, she took the needles and walked toward Qiuwen.

Qiuwen’s face turned pale with terror as Su Xi approached. She nearly lost control of herself.

Prick her?

Heavens—she might be a servant, but no one had ever dared torture her like this before!

Before anything even began, she broke down, crying out in panic, “Madam, whatever you want to know, just ask! I’ll cooperate—I swear I will!”

Su Xi stopped and looked at Tang Wan.

Tang Wan waved her hand, then asked, “I only want to know one thing. Whose child is Huangfu Ronglan?”

“What?” Qiuwen was stunned. She hadn’t expected such a question.

After a moment, guilt flickered in her eyes, but she forced a smile. “What are you saying? The eldest young lady is, of course, the Second Prince’s consort’s child. Everyone knows that!”

Tang Wan stared at her silently for a moment, making Qiuwen’s scalp tingle.

Then she said calmly, “Go on. Don’t hold back.”

“Yes!” Su Xi stepped forward, grabbed Qiuwen’s hand, and drove the needle into her finger.

“Aaaah—!” Qiuwen screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

Only now did she understand how excruciating it was. She had watched others being punished like this before—had even done it herself—but feeling it firsthand was entirely different.

Before she could beg for mercy, Tang Wan spoke again in a light tone:

“I’ll ask one more time. Whose child is Huangfu Ronglan? If you don’t tell the truth, I’ll cut off one of your fingers. Let’s see—what’s tougher, your mouth or your fingers?”

Cut… off a finger?!

Just one prick already hurt this much—how unbearable would that be?

Qiuwen completely broke down.

“It’s not hers! She’s not the consort’s child—she’s the Second Miss’s child!” she cried.

Tang Wan had already guessed as much, but her expression remained calm. “Second Miss? Who is that? At this point, you still dare lie?”

As she spoke, Su Xi raised the needle again.

Terrified, Qiuwen blurted everything out in a rush.

The truth soon became clear:

Gu Yanran—Madam Jiang—had been pregnant with twins, though no one knew, not even herself.

Imprisoned and starved, she was severely malnourished and barely conscious during childbirth.

After giving birth to Huangfu Ronglan, Gu Yanshuang had her thrown into a mass grave.

But Jiang, clinging to life for her child, regained consciousness and gave birth to Ling Yu there.

The twins were separated—one raised in the prince’s mansion under torment, the other wandering with their mother before settling down.

…

Hearing all this, Tang Wan slowly stood, looking at Qiuwen as if she were already dead.

Qiuwen trembled violently, begging for mercy.

Just as Tang Wan was about to kill her, Madam Jiang’s choked voice rang out:

“Qiuwen… what did I ever do to you, that you would harm me like this?”

…

Later, after everything came to light, Qiuwen revealed something shocking:

She had secretly helped Jiang all along—leaving her food, hiding the twin pregnancy, even giving her money and a map to escape.

If that was true, she wasn’t an accomplice—she was a savior.

After confirming the truth, Tang Wan forced Qiuwen to swallow a slow-acting poison to control her, then released her.

Qiuwen left, shaken but alive—grateful that her past kindness had saved her life.

…

Meanwhile, in the prince’s residence, Huangfu Ronglan—unaware of everything—was finally being treated with care and kindness.

But danger was already on its way…