Chapter 7: He only lost his life, but I lost my status as the young master!

"Bitch! What are you doing here!"

The moment Zhang Chi saw Song Lan, a surge of intense hatred erupted within him.

It was all this woman’s fault!

The palace had always been indulgent toward this Eldest Princess who had returned from being a hostage bride.

And since it was in full view of everyone, with both human and material evidence present, if he didn't want to be branded with the crime of attempting to harm a member of the imperial family and implicate the entire Zhang family, he had to admit that it was he who harbored malicious intent and wanted to harm Song Lan.

But regardless of the reason, his life had been ruined by this bitch, Song Lan!

His grandfather had just said that he would step in to pull strings and save his life.

He would let that "illegitimate" child who had been "wandering" outside take the fall and die in his place.

But this also meant that he could never return to the capital in his lifetime, nor could he pursue a career in the imperial court. He would be forced to wander outside, living as a wealthy country squire without the protection of his family!

His bright future had been destroyed just because of Song Lan’s selfishness!

If only this bitch could have been more sensible...

Ah!

Zhang Chi was filled with resentment, looking at Song Lan with eyes that wished to tear her apart alive.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his scalp.

Before he could even see clearly how Song Lan had moved like a ghost, she had instantly appeared before him, grabbing his hair and dragging him out through the gap in the prison bars, even though he had been some distance away.

His neck was wedged between two wooden pillars; he couldn't push forward, nor could he pull back. Forced to look up, yet still slightly lower than Song Lan’s gaze, he was hunched over with his rear end sticking out—a posture of utter cowardice and humiliation.

"Song..."

*Slap! Slap!*

Song Lan used both hands, backhanding him twice across the face with heavy force.

"I didn't like what you just said. Say it again."

Song Lan’s expression was indifferent.

"Ah! You bitch! How dare you hit me!"

Whether it was the slap or the humiliating position he was in, Zhang Chi was burning with rage.

His eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched tightly, and his overflowing hatred surged forward, wishing only to smash the skull of the woman before him.

*Slap!*

Another crisp, loud slap landed on his face.

Zhang Chi’s gaze went blank for a few seconds, as if even his original hatred had been scattered by the blows.

"Say it again."

"You bit—ah!"

After receiving two more slaps, Zhang Chi felt his teeth loosening.

"Say it again."

Zhang Chi’s teeth itched with hatred, but his gaze was much clearer now.

"Song Lan..." he changed his words with a hint of humiliation.

*Slap!*

Having been slapped once more, Zhang Chi’s eyes widened, his heart full of suppressed fire: "I didn't even insult you with foul language!"

"Oh~"

Song Lan took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped her hands.

"I got into the rhythm of hitting you."

"I thought you had a tough backbone and wouldn't yield for a while."

She looked him up and down with a contemptuous gaze and clicked her tongue: "I didn't expect you to be such a coward."

"I'm so sorry!"

"I overestimated you."

Zhang Chi instantly flew into a rage: "You..."

He hated her to the core, but fearing the pain in his face, he didn't dare to voice any complaints or dissatisfaction.

"What exactly did you come here for!"

Zhang Chi just wanted her to leave immediately; otherwise, every glance at her made his face and teeth ache.

"Here to see me make a fool of myself, right?"

"Well, you've seen it now! I've been ruined by you!"

"Are you satisfied now?"

"Are you feeling triumphant?"

Can you get lost now!

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but his gaze involuntarily fell on the hand Song Lan had just used to slap him, and the sound that came out instead was: "Can you leave now?"

If one listened closely, one could even detect a hint of humble pleading.

How could Song Lan be satisfied?

This was merely an appetizer; it was far too early to talk about satisfaction.

She looked at Zhang Chi with disdain.

The more Zhang Chi thought about it, the angrier he became. Feeling that his neck, wedged in the middle, had become slightly more mobile, he took a deep breath and yanked backward violently.

Breaking free from the humiliating position and pulling his head back into the cell, he put a great distance between himself and Song Lan. Zhang Chi then burst into malicious laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"Song Lan!"

"Do you think that just because you ruined me, you’ll have a good life?"

"Let me tell you, it won't be long before I leave this hellhole, change my identity, and go to a place where no one knows me to continue living my wealthy, carefree life."

"But what about you?"

"You framed and backstabbed your fiancé, made an enemy of the Zhang family, offended your maternal relatives, and now you have no father, no mother, and no one to rely on. What decent family would dare to marry you?"

"Just wait to marry a beggar or a widower and live a life of poverty!"

"For the rest of your life, you will only be the lowest of the low, living the most wretched life, you..."