An unknown amount of time passed.
The cramping in her abdomen and the urgent demands of her body finally overpowered her will.
In the darkness, Mu Xi lost control.
The foul stench immediately spread, mixing with the existing dust and mildew to create a nauseating concentration.
She kept her eyes closed, forcing herself to endure the physical and psychological discomfort.
This was supposed to be the most unbearable part of imprisonment, but at this moment, she incorporated it into her plan.
The cold metal door opened again.
This time, there was no warning, no probing beam of light from the observation window.
Footsteps were steady, carrying a mechanical regularity, stopping in front of Mu Xi.
It was an Imperial Guard, wearing that iconic purple armed uniform, holding cleaning tools and a simple bedpan.
She said nothing, silently beginning to clean up the mess on the floor.
Her movements were swift, clearly well-trained and accustomed to such scenes.
Just as she bent down, about to finish the task, Mu Xi moved.
Enduring the tearing pain in her wrists and ankles, she tilted her body forward in an extremely awkward posture.
Her bound foot precisely stepped into the mess.
Not only that, she deliberately rubbed it, spreading the filth onto her own clothes as much as possible within her limited range of movement, even splashing some onto the Imperial Guard’s pant leg and boots.
The movement was swift, carrying a determination like jade and stone burning together.
The air froze instantly.
The Imperial Guard straightened up abruptly, her movements stiff.
Her face showed no expression, but her breathing quickened noticeably.
She looked down at her pant leg, then at Mu Xi.
In those well-trained eyes, an emotion beyond the mission appeared for the first time.
Not anger, but a scrutiny mixed with shock and disbelief.
She probably never imagined that this princess, who looked as delicate and fragile as a glass doll, would do something so self-destructive, even self-degrading.
This wasn’t just about getting dirty.
It was placing herself in an extremely humiliating situation.
“I need to wash.” Mu Xi’s voice rang out, terrifyingly calm, without a trace of shame or embarrassment, only a cold command.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the earlier movement, silver strands of hair messily sticking to her sweaty forehead, but her eyes were as clear as a cold pool, staring straight into the Imperial Guard’s eyes.
The Imperial Guard remained silent, not responding immediately.
She knew very well how much Ye Lan cared about Mu Xi—that pathological possessiveness, that madness that wanted to crush her and swallow her whole, making every inch of her skin carry her own scent.
Ye Lan could tolerate Mu Xi’s resistance, her indifference, even her hatred, but she could never tolerate her becoming filthy.
Especially if the filth was self-inflicted.
This was a self-destructive attack.
The target was not the body, but Ye Lan’s perverted obsession with cleanliness and her possessiveness.
This seemingly delicate princess had a ruthless mind.
She wasn’t throwing a tantrum.
She was using the most extreme method to test Ye Lan’s bottom line, or rather, to exploit Ye Lan’s weakness to create an opportunity for herself.
The Imperial Guard’s expression changed, from initial shock to a cold understanding, even carrying a hint of barely noticeable wariness.
She finally understood why Ye Lan was so captivated by this girl who repeatedly resisted, who might even harbor murderous intent, and why she was so cautious around her.
The heavy metal restraints were undone one by one, making crisp “click” sounds.
The long period of restraint had left Mu Xi’s limbs numb and stiff.
The moment support was removed, she almost collapsed to the ground.
But she clenched her teeth, supporting herself against the wall, barely managing to stand.
Every step felt like stepping on needles, the soreness shooting from the soles of her feet straight to her brain.
“Follow me.” The Imperial Guard’s voice was flat.
She put away the cleaning tools, turned, and walked toward the door.
She didn’t touch Mu Xi, nor did she urge her.
Because she knew Mu Xi would follow.
Mu Xi had achieved the first step of her goal.
The Imperial Guard didn’t report upward.
She was very clear about Ye Lan’s orders: ensure Mu Xi’s safety and “basic comfort.”
“Cleanliness” clearly fell under the latter
She used her communicator to quietly notify her companion downstairs, preparing for the transfer.
The Imperial Guard walked ahead, her pace neither fast nor slow.
She didn’t look back at her, nor did she offer to support her.
They maintained just the right distance between them—close enough for effective surveillance, but not too close.
Mu Xi was barefoot.
The cold sensation spread from the soles of her feet, making her even more alert.
The metal stairs echoed the mixed sounds of their footsteps.
She could hear her own heavy breathing, as well as the footsteps of another Imperial Guard who had arrived upon hearing the news, following behind.
Now there were two of them.
The second floor of the Silent Language Building was completely different from the oppressive atmosphere of the third floor.
The style was simple and hard-edge, but at least there were signs of habitation.
The corridor had clean floors, the walls were painted, and although there was still a faint smell of disinfectant, the air was fresher.
Their destination was the bathroom attached to the master bedroom.
Pushing open the bedroom door, a large bed with clean, soft sheets came into view, with a small vanity table beside it.
Everything here was in stark contrast to the cold, rust-filled storage room upstairs, as if one was hell and the other a fake paradise.
The Imperial Guard gestured for her to enter the bathroom, while she herself stood guard at the door.
Another stood outside the bedroom door, forming inner and outer defensive lines.
The bathroom was small, but fully equipped.
White tiles, a metal showerhead, a sink with simple toiletries placed on it.
The most eye-catching thing was the mirror above the sink, wiped clean, clearly reflecting Mu Xi’s current disheveled state.
Her hair was messy, her face pale, her clothes stained with filth, but her eyes were cold as ice.
Hot water rushed down, the warm stream washing over her cold skin, bringing a brief moment of comfort.
But Mu Xi’s heart never relaxed for a moment.
She quickly cleaned her body, every sense alert, capturing the surrounding movements.
The Imperial Guard at the door stood like a statue, motionless, but Mu Xi could feel that gaze locked tightly on her.
Time was limited.
She had to seize this opportunity.
Her eyes quickly swept across the bathroom, searching for something usable.
‘Toiletries? Useless. The metal towel rack? Too sturdy. The showerhead? Couldn’t be removed.’
Finally, her eyes settled on that mirror.
The sink counter was made of solid stone, the mirror embedded into the wall.
Mu Xi turned off the water.
The moment the sound stopped, the bathroom was left with only her slightly rapid breathing and the faint noises from outside the door.
She didn’t dry herself, letting the water droplets slide down her skin.
Her naked body trembled slightly in the cool air, but the trembling wasn’t from the cold.
She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and suddenly raised her hand, smashing her elbow hard into the mirror!
A crisp, piercing shattering sound abruptly broke the silence of the Silent Language Building!
The center of the mirror cracked like a spiderweb, fragments falling with a rustle, bouncing and rolling on the tiled floor.
The Imperial Guard reacted instantly.
Almost the same moment the mirror shattered, she had already drawn the gun at her waist, the muzzle aimed inside the bathroom, shouting sharply, “Don’t move!”
The other guard outside the bedroom also rushed in immediately.
The two stood one in front of the other, both guns pointed at the naked Mu Xi.
Mu Xi ignored their warnings.
She quickly bent down and, among the broken glass all over the floor, precisely picked up a piece of mirror shard with a sharp edge and a suitable size.
The cold glass edge cut her finger.
Blood immediately gushed out, dripping onto the white tiles like blooming red plum blossoms.