Lin Feng knew it was true. Knew that showing up to court covered in visible injuries from a prison ring fight would prejudice everyone against him. Knew that his lawyers, if they even showed up, would have no explanation for his condition that wouldn’t make things worse.

And he knew, with crushing certainty, that this was exactly what Shuyin had planned. Every piece of his destruction had been carefully orchestrated to ensure not just punishment but total, inescapable ruin.

The eight o’clock bell rang through the cell blocks, signaling the start of the official prison day. Guards began their rounds, cell doors clanged open for those heading to work details, and the machinery of incarceration ground forward with indifferent efficiency.

For Lin Feng and Madam Chen, separated by walls and gender divisions but united in their suffering, the morning brought no hope, no relief, no prospect of anything except more of the same. They’d wanted power, had used it ruthlessly against others, and now they’d learned what it felt like to be on the receiving end.

The lesson was brutal, thorough, and far from over. They had years ahead of them in this place, years of being reminded daily that they were no longer the ones who controlled others’ fates. They were the controlled, the powerless, the broken.

And somewhere outside these walls, Shuyin was living in the mansion they’d stolen from her, raising the family they’d tried to destroy, wielding the power they’d once thought was permanently theirs.

Justice, it turned out, was far more terrible than either of them had ever imagined.

— — — — — —

Back at the penthouse

They finished breakfast in comfortable silence, Lu Yuze feeding her bites interspersed with sips of ginger tea that soothed her hangover and settled her stomach. The berries were sweet and tart, bursting with flavor that cleared the remaining cotton from her mouth.

When the meal was finished, reality began to intrude on their intimate cocoon. Lu Yuze glanced at the clock on the nightstand, just past eight in the morning. They’d been at the penthouse for almost ten hours, and the world they’d left behind was waiting.

"The children," Shuyin said, following his gaze. "We need to get back. Yu Shou is capable, but two hundred traumatized children is too much for one person to handle alone, even with his abilities. We should leave soon."

Lu Yuze nodded, though reluctance showed in the tightening around his eyes. "Can you manage getting dressed? I can help, but we need to move slowly. You’re in no condition for rushing."

"I can manage with help," Shuyin admitted, accepting his hand as he carefully assisted her out of bed. Standing sent fresh waves of soreness through her lower body, making her grip his arm for stability. "Though you’re right about the waddling. This is going to be obvious to anyone who sees me."

"Let them draw their own conclusions," Lu Yuze said with a hint of possessive satisfaction. "You’re my wife. There’s nothing inappropriate about what happened between us."

He retrieved her clothes from where they’d been hastily discarded the night before, helping her dress with patient care. The fabric of her underwear felt rough against sensitive skin, making her wince, but she pushed through the discomfort. Lu Yuze had to help her with her pants, kneeling before her to guide her feet through the leg holes and gently pulling the fabric up her legs while she braced herself on his shoulders for balance.

"This is humiliating," she muttered, though without real heat. Even though she wanted to heal her body, this was against the rule of nature, she was human and she ought to feel the human ways, and if she used her magic on her for such sacred situations, she might end up in a more painful and dire situation.

"This is caring for someone I love," he corrected quietly, the words slipping out naturally before he seemed to register what he’d said. He paused, looking up at her from his kneeling position. "I do, you know. Love you. I didn’t plan for it to happen, but somewhere between agreeing to marry you for healing and last night, it became the truth."

Shuyin’s breath caught in her throat. The jasmine scent flickered briefly, responding to the surge of emotion, before she consciously suppressed it. "I love you too," she whispered. "I think I have for a while now. I just didn’t have a name for it until this morning."

He finished dressing her, then quickly pulled on his own clothes, a fresh shirt from the penthouse closet since his from last night was torn beyond repair, pants, shoes. They took their time despite the need to return, moving at a pace that accommodated Shuyin’s soreness. By the time they were ready to leave, it was nearly nine o’clock.

Lu Yuze called for Ting Fei, who arrived within fifteen minutes, looking notably more rested than when he’d left them the previous night. His professional mask was firmly in place, though his eyes did flicker briefly over Shuyin’s careful movements and the visible marks on Lu Yuze’s neck where his collar didn’t quite cover them.

"Back to the mansion, Master?" Ting Fei asked neutrally.

"Yes," Lu Yuze confirmed, helping Shuyin into the car with careful hands. "We should arrive around nine-thirty."

The drive back will take about thirty minutes through morning traffic. Shuyin sat close to Lu Yuze, his arm around her shoulders, both of them processing the magnitude of what had changed between them while simultaneously preparing to face the responsibilities waiting at home. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

— — — — — — —

Yuyan woke early that morning, around seven o’clock, her internal clock still adjusted to the schedule she’d maintained even during her long recovery from poisoning. The mansion was quiet in that particular way early mornings had, when most people were still sleeping but the day was beginning to stir with possibility.

She dressed carefully in comfortable clothes, soft pants and a loose shirt that wouldn’t restrict movement, and pulled her distinctive silver hair back into a practical braid. Then she made her way toward the guest wings where the rescued children had been housed overnight.