The Holy Emperor left, taking four Yulin soldiers as guards, leaving the remaining four to watch over Yi Xiao in the dilapidated temple. Yi Xiao, her forehead resting on the ground with eyes half-closed, was quickly calculating her options. The Holy Emperor had detained her, clearly intending to use her as a bargaining chip. Both Xia Jingshi and Feng Suige would surely make concessions for her safety, but regardless of the terms, she didn’t believe the Holy Emperor would release her once he achieved his goal.
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the nausea rising in her throat, but inhaled a mouthful of dust from the ground instead. She began coughing loudly. The four Yulin soldiers sitting on the other side looked over at the sound. One of them hesitated, then picked up a water skin and walked towards Yi Xiao.
He was a young soldier. He stopped in front of Yi Xiao, helping her lean against a nearby pillar, then opened the water skin and brought it to her lips. Yi Xiao drank a few mouthfuls of clear water from his hand, immediately feeling better. She smiled faintly at him and whispered a thank you.
The soldier lowered his eyes, avoiding her gaze, and said softly, “Hold on a little longer. When the Emperor returns safely, he’ll let you go.”
“Is that so?” Yi Xiao sneered. “I’m quite doubtful of his sincerity!”
“It won’t be like that!” the soldier said earnestly. “As long as the Prince of Zhennan swears never to return to court, the Emperor will let you go!”
“Never return to court? What about Su Sha?” Yi Xiao scoffed. “He kidnapped me. Do you think Feng Suige will let it go? Even if he eventually releases me, the grudge will remain, won’t it? If you were the Holy Emperor, would you let me go back?” With each of her words, the soldier’s brow furrowed deeper. As he began to answer “I would,” a rebuke came from another Yulin soldier behind him. “What are you mumbling about over there? Come back! When we return, we’ll take you to the pleasure houses—you’re such a greenhorn, can’t even pull yourself away from a woman!”
His face immediately reddened. He mumbled a response, picked up the water skin, and hurried back.
Feng Suige sat dazedly by Feng Xi Yang’s bedside, watching her sleeping profile. Since waking up that day, Xi Yang had been sleeping less and less, and color had returned to her face. The physician said the Black Jade Marrow had taken effect, and with proper rest, she would recover her health soon. This eased half of Feng Suige’s worries, but where was Yi Xiao…
A sharp whistle suddenly pierced the silence. Feng Suige jumped up, knocking over his chair with a loud bang, startling Feng Xi Yang awake. “Royal Brother,” she opened her eyes in alarm, “What happened?” Feng Suige leaned over to tuck in her blanket. “You sleep. I’ll go check!”
Rushing out of the room, Feng Suige’s pupils constricted sharply. Guards from all directions had already formed a circle. At its center stood the Holy Emperor, composed as ever, with four Yulin soldiers standing protectively around him, swords drawn. The Holy Emperor, ignoring the gathering guards, walked slowly into the courtyard as if no one else was there.
Without time to think, Feng Suige rushed forward and demanded, “Where’s Yi Xiao?” The Holy Emperor didn’t answer, his eyes fixed on Xia Jingshi and Xiao Weiran, who were hurrying over from the other side. He smiled and said, “You’re quick. I thought you’d take longer to arrive.”
Xia Jingshi met his gaze for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “If you have something to say, let’s talk inside.”
“Don’t think about stalling for time,” the Holy Emperor’s smile turned sinister. “If I don’t return within an hour, who knows what will happen to Fu Yi Xiao…”
“You!” Feng Suige was furious but helpless, gritting his teeth in anger. Xia Jingshi’s smile faded as he said gravely, “What do you want?”
“What do I want?” The Holy Emperor casually plucked a loose thread from his sleeve. “I don’t know how you convinced those old stubborn fools in the Holy City, even getting the Guardian General on your side. That imperial edict—I highly doubt its authenticity. If you can write a confession admitting you forged that edict, I’ll release Fu Yi Xiao, and you can all leave safely. From then on, I won’t trouble you anymore…”
Xia Jingshi listened quietly, then uttered a single word from his thin lips: “No.”
Before the word faded, Feng Suige had lunged forward, grabbing Xia Jingshi’s collar and shaking him furiously. “You dare say no? If it weren’t for you, Yi Xiao wouldn’t have rushed back to Jinxiu, risking so much to rescue you… And now you say no?!” Xia Jingshi didn’t push him away, but coldly said, “Yi Xiao is his last lifeline—he should know very well that if Yi Xiao dies, even if I don’t kill him, you won’t let him off easily.”
“Indeed, I won’t kill her,” the Holy Emperor’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “I just told those soldiers guarding her that if I don’t return safely within an hour, Fu Yi Xiao will be at their disposal. Whether they keep her for themselves or sell her to a foreign brothel, well, I wouldn’t know…”
“You dare,” Feng Suige suddenly released his grip on Xia Jingshi’s collar, the anger gradually fading from his face. The Yulin soldiers guarding the Holy Emperor involuntarily shuddered. “If Yi Xiao loses even a single hair, I’ll make you regret being born,” Feng Suige’s words were still calm, his serene expression barely concealing the intense killing intent in his eyes. “I’m not Xia Jingshi. I don’t have as many concerns as he does. If you dare, just try it!”
In the dilapidated temple, the four Yulin soldiers sat chatting. One of them suddenly tossed aside the dry twig he had been playing with, stood up to stretch, and cursed, “Damn, this backwater place is so boring. Old Cui, isn’t your stomach growling?”
The soldier called Old Cui replied in a muffled voice, “Isn’t it obvious? We haven’t had a decent meal in days!”
The first soldier walked to the window and looked out. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as if he had an idea. He walked back to Old Cui. “Old Cui, I remember there’s a pond not far behind this temple. The Emperor won’t be back for a while, why don’t you go see if you can catch some fish for us to eat?”
“Well…” Old Cui hesitated, looking towards an older soldier. The older soldier caught his questioning glance, thought for a moment, and then nodded. He nudged the young soldier sitting beside him who seemed lost in thought. “Old Cui and I will go catch fish. You go gather some firewood. Let Brother Qi stay here to keep watch.” The young soldier was stunned for a moment before receiving a slap on his head. “Hurry up! If you dawdle any longer, the Emperor will be back!”
Yi Xiao was leaning drowsily against the pillar when she was suddenly awakened by a strong presence in front of her. Opening her eyes, she saw the older soldier who had earlier rebuked the young one crouching before her, his eyes brazenly looking her up and down. Seeing her awake, he grinned at her, “Princess, you’re awake!”
Yi Xiao was startled and instinctively glanced towards the corner. It was empty.
The soldier leisurely looked back at the tightly closed temple door, then turned to her. “They’ve gone to find food. They won’t be back for a while…”
Yi Xiao instinctively sensed danger and shrank back, shouting, “Stay away from me!” The soldier not only didn’t retreat but leered and moved closer. “I’ve heard in the Yulin camp that Princess Xingping was born with a bewitching nature. Not only the Prince of Su Sha but even our Prince of Zhennan is under your spell. He even neglected his new bride for you. Now, with the time and place just right, let’s get a little closer…”
Seeing him approach, Yi Xiao kicked out with all her might, yelling, “Get away!” But she was caught off guard as he grabbed her leg, leering as he reached for her chest. “You smell so good…” Yi Xiao was both shocked and furious. She struggled to sit up and pushed him away, her threat losing half its force due to her restraints. “If you dare touch me again, I’ll kill you!” “Go ahead and kill me!” the soldier laughed loudly and lunged at her again.
With a loud bang, the barred temple door was forcefully pushed open. A figure rushed in, startling the soldier who scrambled to his feet, shouting, “Who’s there!”
Yi Xiao fell to the side, struggling to look up. It was the young man who had given her water earlier. He had underestimated the situation inside and froze as soon as he burst in.
The temple was so quiet you could hear heartbeats.
In the tense silence, the young soldier broke into a smile. “I heard noises outside and thought something had happened. Big brother, it’s not nice to sneak a taste without calling your brothers!”