The damp, dark dungeons.

When Xiao Tianque saw Zijin hurry towards him, his eyes widened in disbelief. “Lass, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to get you out, Grandpa!” said Zijin excitedly.

When she saw how bony and haggard he looked, her heart ached. She hurried to his side to help him up.

“You’ve come to get me out of here?” Xiao Tianque was stunned. “Is Xiao Zhongying really so kindhearted?”

Zijin took a deep breath, then laughed, “Grandpa, Xiao Zhongying is already dead.”

“What!?” Xiao Tianque’s eyes widened. “What exactly happened?”

“Grandpa, let’s get out of here first, then talk.” With that, she supported him, and the two of them walked out of the Xiao Family dungeons together. 

….

Shortly after, Xiao Hengqiu and his allies were all freed from their confinement, and they saw the light of day once more.

When they arrived at Windchant Tower, they saw the family higher-ups who’d supported Xiao Zhongying’s takeover kneeling on the ground. 

A young man in blue sat by a table, drinking tea and gazing at the windswept ripples and reflected light of the lake’s surface. He seemed perfectly at ease.

Pei Yundu stood beside him, serving...