Passing through two courtyards, they saw that by the side door of the rear compound, a horse-drawn cart for collecting swill was already prepared, with a large vat placed on it. Several men dressed as servants stood by the cart, each tall and robust.

Andrew Thompson led them to the vat and said, “There are people watching outside, so I must ask you to bear with this for now. This vat is clean, it’s the kitchen’s main water vat.”

Charles Reed was reluctant to get in and said, “We have evidence to prove the Du family’s innocence.”

“Yes.” Andrew Thompson said anxiously, “But where did this evidence come from? It can’t be the Crown Prince’s men who fetch it; it must be someone else to clear the Du family’s name. You must be well hidden for the evidence to be useful.”

“What about the Du siblings?”

“They should be sent over too, but how can we manage that right now?”

“There are people watching outside. If we’re caught, it’ll be even harder to explain.” Charles Reed said, “Could the other side be deliberately forcing us to make a mistake?”

Andrew Thompson stomped his foot in anxiety and said, “Don’t worry, everything is arranged... Hurry, the Crown Prince is in grave danger.”

He was truly anxious, reaching out to help Ethan Green into the vat, then came to assist Charles Reed.

As soon as Charles Reed got in, Ethan Green, seeing him so close, quickly shut her eyes and covered her chest.

“Squat down.” Andrew Thompson urged repeatedly, personally picking up a round wooden lid and pressing it down.

Thus, the two of them squatting inside the vat felt rather cramped.

Darkness fell, with only a sliver of light coming through the cracks in the wooden lid.

Outside, Andrew Thompson instructed, “Quick, load the swill buckets on top, tie down the lid, don’t let it fall off... How’s it outside?”

“We can go.”

The vat shook a few times, then the sound of wheels started.

The ride was rough, and Charles Reed and Ethan Green were constantly jostled together. At first, Ethan Green was very nervous, but gradually got used to it.

After a very long time, the cart finally stopped.

The vat was lifted by someone, shaking violently. Ethan Green cried out “Ah!” and fell completely into Charles Reed’s arms.

Charles Reed paid her no mind, reaching up to push the lid, but it was already tied down with hemp rope.

Through the cracks, he saw that they were in a desolate wilderness.

“Let us out!”

There was no response from outside. After a few more shakes, the vat was set down, and a faint rustling sound could be heard.

It was like rain hitting the eaves.

In an instant, Charles Reed recalled many details from before and realized they were about to be buried alive with Ethan Green.

He rammed the lid above, managing to open it a little, but immediately a burly man stepped on it.

Seeing he couldn’t push it open, he shouted, “Killing us will do your master no good, it will only bring him disaster!”

“Shhhhhh...”

“Whatever you want, I can give it to you! Trust me, I am different from anyone else in this world, I can give you many things! Do you want money? Name your price, as much as you want.”

Ethan Green now understood what was happening too. She pressed her hands against the lid, crying and pleading, “Please... let us go... I beg you...”

In the chaos, she suddenly felt Charles Reed’s hands touching her feet, which frightened her even more, and she screamed.

“Ah! Don’t do that...”

Yet the rustling sound never stopped, only growing fainter.

At last, no more light shone through the cracks between the lid and the vat, and no sound could be heard from outside.

Only complete darkness remained.

Chapter 6: Ants

The darkness before her eyes suddenly faded, and the torchlight was blinding.

Olivia Brooks looked up to see a vicious-faced jailer entering the torture chamber with a torch, yanking the rag from her mouth.

“Innocent!” Olivia Brooks shouted, “The Du family is innocent!”

“Stop shouting, Lady Du.” Suddenly, someone outside the torture chamber said lazily, “This is the Jingzhao Prefecture. If you are wise, you should know that shouting is useless here.”

A servant beside this man held a lantern, illuminating his blue official robe, his slightly upturned mustache, and the mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.

It was none other than the Jingzhao Prefecture judicial officer, Matthew Grant.

Seeing him, Olivia Brooks spat and cursed, “Lackey! Lackey of Suo Douji!”

“Curse me, if you wish.” Matthew Grant shook his head. “But cursing the Right Chancellor is not allowed.”

“Smack!”

The jailer in the cell immediately stepped forward and slapped Olivia Brooks hard.

Only then did Matthew Grant continue, “Recently, I’ve earned a nickname—no, half a nickname: ‘Luo Qian Ji Wang.’ The ‘Ji Wang’ refers to my net of law.”

“Pah, a cruel official, shameless and proud of it.”

“You are a great beauty. I advise you not to test my net of law.” Matthew Grant rubbed the bloodstain on the doorpost, gently rubbing his fingers, speaking to himself, then asked, “Was it the Crown Prince who sent someone to burn the evidence of Liu Ji’s dealings with ministers?”

Olivia Brooks gritted her teeth and said, “Don’t even think about making me confess...”

The jailer grabbed Olivia Brooks’s hair and shouted, “Was it the Crown Prince who sent someone to destroy the evidence?!”

“Easy, easy.” Matthew Grant reproached, “You don’t know how to cherish a beauty. Lady Du must be kept as a witness; how can you torture her?”

Then, he changed his tone and shouted, “Bring them in!”

The torture chamber door was opened, and the sounds of cursing and crying erupted outside.

A jailer dragged in a woman, barely clothed and covered in blood and wounds.

Olivia Brooks looked closely and was utterly horrified.

“River Song!”