The carriage kept going down until it finally stopped. The Imperial guards were there waiting as Feng Zhi Wei got off the carriage. In a polite but aloof tone, a guard said “Sir, this is the rule of the Ministry of Punishment, please bear with me.” as he shook a black cloth strip in his hand. 

Feng Zhi Wei let him cover her eyes without any objection but Gu Nan Yi refused to allow anyone to approach him and grabbed the black cloth strip to tie over his eyes himself. 

Feeling like she was led down and down until she was led into a prison cell, Feng Zhi Wei suddenly stopped and asked, “Where is Brother Gu?”

“Sir, you should know the rules, the accomplices must be detained separately.” Someone answered her stiffly. 

“What accomplice?” A sudden reversal from her easy-going manner this whole time, Feng Zhi Wei sneered, “The three courts have yet to start the trial, I have not been dismissed from office, so what case? What crime?” 

There was silence all around for a bit, then some sort of muffled movement followed by the same voice that had answered her previously, “Forgive me sir, I had misspoken but Official Gu is a superb fighter, and His Majesty had personally mentioned to not lock him in the same room as you. Please don’t make things hard for us.”

“Fine.” Feng Zhi Wei said, “Lock him up in the cell opposite from me, I want to be able to see him at all times.”

Gu Nan Yi suddenly said, “If don’t agree, kill immediately.”

The person was startled. He took one look at Gu Nan Yi’s expression and could tell right away that he was not the sort to lie nor to make concessions. Seemingly hesitant, the man turned to seek permission and answered after a bit, “Then we need to ask Official Gu to put on heavy shackles, otherwise, we cannot agree to it.” 

Feng Zhi Wei frowned, she worry that the guards would try to put some sort of trap on the shackles to harm Gu Nan Yi. She was about to tell them to forget it but Gu Nan Yi immediately replied, “Bring it over.” 

After a while, several guards came with the sounds of shackles dragging on the ground. One would easily tell by the heavy panting sounds from the guards to know that the shackles must be the heaviest iron shackles belonging to the Ministry of Punishment. Thousand-year iron shackle that can’t be lifted by several people. An ordinary person would die of exhaustion after just wearing it for one night. It might not kill a highly skilled martial artist but it would render the person helpless. 

Not willing to let these ruffians bully Gu Nan Yi at will, Feng Zhi Wei immediately said, “Forget it, you can put Official Gu wherever.” 

She figured as long as Gu Nan Yi didn’t have to wear this shackle, then with his fighting skills, nothing bad could happen to him even if he wasn’t within her sight. 

Yet, Gu Nan Yi immediately said, “No, across from you.” 

Then Feng Zhi Wei promptly felt warmth as Gu Nan Yi grabbed her hand. Heaven knows how among so many people and with so many black cloths on him that he was able to find her hand with such precision. Gu Nan Yi held onto her tightly, transferred some energy into her, and Feng Zhi Wei could hear a low voice being sent straight into her ear. 

“Last time I wasn’t there, I want to be with you this time.” 

Feng Zhi Wei was taken aback and then realized he was referring to the time she was interrogated in the dungeon in Pucheng city. He must have blamed himself greatly for not being with her at that time. Listening to the tone of his voice now, there actually seems to be a hint of relief and joy in it. 

Joy that he is around this time when she is in danger and that he can accompany her in the dungeon. 

Feng Zhi Wei pursed her lips, a slight warmth permeating in her heart. Squeezing his fingers, she said quietly, “Be careful….’

Gu Nan Yi didn’t answer, let go of her hand, his lips under the black cloths curved up slightly. 

Feng Zhi Wei’s heart sunk at the heavy sounds of the shackles, but Gu Nan Yi remained silent. The Imperial Guard captain who had escorted them over untied the black cloth over Feng Zhi Wei’s eyes and pushed her into the prison cell. Closing the cell gate, he then wrapped a heavy chain lock on it. Judging by the way he was wrapping that thing around the gate, he obviously wished he could wrap a chain around every iron bar of the cell. 

Feng Zhi Wei opened her eyes and looked in Gu Nan Yi’s direction right away. The place was poorly lit with darkness at all sides. Feng Zhi Wei could vaguely see the person in the prison cell across from her had a heavy iron shackle wrapped around his neck, down to bind around his hand. The long iron shackle was as thick as a person’s arm, but the person still sat upright, facing her, with an unblinking gaze. As if as long as no one would disturb them, then he could keep guarding over her for the rest of his life. 

It obviously must be very tiring to sit in such an upright position while wearing that heavy iron shackle. Feng Zhi Wei knew Gu Nan Yi is doing it so as not to cause her worry therefore she quickly said, “Brother Gu, you sitting so tall like that is blocking my light, you should lie down a bit.” 

She knew it was useless to attempt to persuade him. Gu Nan Yi would only listen if she talked as she just did. He has always put her interest as the most important thing, never wavering. 

Sure enough, Gu Nan Yi blinked and looked around with some confusion, wondering where the light is coming from that he supposedly blocked but he still obediently lay down on the ground. 

Feng Zhi Wei watched him with a smile, thinking inwardly that my Silly Gu is so obedient. 

Then she watched as Gu Nan Yi abruptly got up and hung the long chains of the shackle on the cell gate in front of him. This way, some of the weight would be distributed to the gate. Of course, only he could accomplish something like this since anyone else would’ve been unable to move at all with that iron shackle on. 

Feng Zhi Wei smiled, thinking my Silly Gu is sure smart then she heard Gu Nan Yi say, “You see, not tired anymore.” 

Feng Zhi Wei answered with a “Yes,” and then said tenderly, “Yes, not tired anymore, I am not worried anymore.” 

Gu Nan Yi nodded, seemingly very satisfied. Feng Zhi Wei looked at the shackle that is hanging none too steadily on the bars of the prison cell and how Gu Nan Yi had to secretly supported it with a hand, she thought inwardly how are you not tired? You are probably even more tired. The weight of the iron shackle rested completely on his neck and hand, so not much weight is distributed to the chain part. By hanging the chain up you now have to worry about the chain falling down. Not daring to close your eyes, not daring to rest, and still have to use your body to support that chain. 

Didn’t he do all this just because he was afraid she would worry?

Feng Zhi Wei closed her eyes and sighed softly, the thought of the young man who is slowly emerging out of his own world, his progress brings delight to her but also heartache. 

When has he thought so much before? When has he tried to pretend or cover up because of someone? He had no worries and was just focused on being himself. Free in his own world, without worry. 

But now, he has broken his own world and forcibly walked out of the world he had lived in for over 10 years. To become a butterfly, any caterpillar would have to break out of its chrysalis and go through a broken, bloody transition. Feng Zhi Wei refuses to believe he has never gone through a period of confusion or pain, yet that young man, without any complaint, stayed by her side and silently forced himself to use the dagger of reality to cut open his world, one slash after another. 

She refuses to believe the dagger did not fall without blood, but that blood only flowed in his heart. 

The heavy shackles across from her, they seem to be pressing down right on her heart— she knew that for a person like him, he would be even more sensitive than ordinary people when it comes to being confined but she can’t say it out loud– he has endured all for her. Those things he endured might seem simple to ordinary people, but they were all as difficult as ascending to heaven for him.

The kindness others give to her, is one kindness. The sacrifices others do for her, is one sacrifice. But Gu Nan Yi, when he gives, then it is immeasurable. 

Feng Zhi Wei withdrew her gaze, not daring to let her gaze linger on Gu Nan Yi any longer. She was afraid that there would be too much pity and heartache in her eyes. That would cause that person to become sensitive and blame himself. Gu Nan Yi, is no longer the indifferent and aloof self he once was. 

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