“Them?” Yi Xiao remained puzzled, her smile gradually fading.

“Yes, them. Those civil and military officials, even the King Father,” Feng Suige nodded firmly. “Because if I become King, I will declare you as Queen on the day of my coronation!”

Yi Xiao’s expression changed dramatically. She sneered, “Should I kneel and thank you in advance?”

“Let me finish,” Feng Suige seemed oblivious to her anger, speaking urgently. “I’ve thought over what you said that day. No matter what, I won’t let you return to Jinxiu. I want to keep you by my side. Although I can’t think of a better way to express it, I truly hope you can see my sincerity, even if just a little.”

“Stay by your side, and then play archery a few times each day, followed by some battles of wit?” Yi Xiao coldly pointed out. “This isn’t a consultation, but an announcement of your decision. If you’re just announcing your decision, why put on this facade of discussing it with me?”

Feng Suige grabbed her shoulders. “Yi Xiao, I know this will not only make you hate me but also put you in opposition to most people. But this is currently the only way I can win you over. I swear on my life, whether you’re that person’s lover or still love him, from today on, I will never let you go. We will be entangled until death in every lifetime, in every reincarnation, I swear!”

Fu Yi Xiao glared fiercely at Feng Suige. His hands gripping her shoulders were forceful, even trembling slightly. Suddenly, she swung at Feng Suige’s hands. He dodged back, looking at her with a slightly dimmed expression. But then he heard Yi Xiao say through gritted teeth, “Feng Suige, if one day I kill you with my own hands, don’t blame me. You forced me to it!”

“You’ve agreed,” Feng Suige’s face lit up as if he hadn’t heard her threat. “You’ve agreed, haven’t you?” The fierce anger in Yi Xiao’s eyes had long since turned to resolute indifference. Her gaze fell on the skin painting in the corner, and she replied irrelevantly, “Feng Suige, I don’t hate you. But if there is a next life, I only wish that we never meet again, in heaven or on earth…”

Power and status meant endless struggle and killing.

She had never told anyone that she detested killing, even though she never hesitated on the battlefield. Because then, her choice wasn’t whether to kill or not, but to kill or be killed. This choice would one day be lost, though she didn’t know when—she only had her self-respect left, so she wanted to hold her head high. Even if she died in battle one day, she wanted to die with dignity.

Feng Suige stood there, stunned. Her last words pained his heart deeply. After a long while, he managed a forced smile, “King You of Zhou lit beacon fires to tease the feudal lords, all to win a smile from Bao Si… I offer you the position of Queen and my true heart, yet I only receive your anger. Is it that I’ve used the wrong method, or are you too hard to please? Very well, all I have to accompany you is this life. If you want it, come and take it yourself!”

“If you die, then everything will be gone, and I will soon forget you. Don’t you think this is meaningless?” Yi Xiao coldly turned her head away. But Feng Suige showed a strange smile, “So I’ve made a bet.”

Yi Xiao still didn’t look at him, but couldn’t help asking, “Bet on what?” Her hands at her sides had already tightly clenched into fists as if she had already foreseen his answer.

“Bet. That. You. Can’t. Resist,” Feng Suige whispered each word distinctly in her ear.

Fu Yi Xiao furiously swept everything off the table, including the embroidered tablecloth. With a series of clanging sounds, a palace lamp adorned with crystal pearls and agate shattered on the floor—it was the most expensive and elegant lamp in the Prince’s manor. The maid who had already retreated to the outer room prayed with a wailing face, hands clasped, muttering to Buddha, hoping that the Junior Consort’s anger would subside soon, that she could go in to clean up the mess soon, that the guard who had gone to notify the Prince would bring him back soon…

Bet. That. You. Can’t. Resist. The four words crashed down like thunder, striking her heart. For a moment, even breathing became difficult.

After saying those four words, Feng Suige called to her softly, “Yi Xiao—”

She suppressed her ragged breathing, forcing herself to calm down. “What is it?” As she spoke, she turned to look at him. Feng Suige’s face grew larger in her vision as he lowered his head—she stood rigidly as if trapped by the frozen air around her until his hot breath blew on her lips. “Are you waiting for me to kiss you?”

Yi Xiao suddenly pushed him away and rushed out of the room, running wildly back to the Prince’s manor. Returning to her empty room, she almost vomited, unsure whether she was disgusted by Feng Suige’s manipulation or by her failure to resist.

Fu Yi Xiao, what were you expecting at that moment? Why did you return here after leaving that place? What were you thinking? Self-loathing continuously battered her taut nerves.

Fu Yi Xiao, like a cornered beast, kicked away the palace stool blocking her path, grabbed the Tan Lang bow and quiver from the table, and headed for the door. She couldn’t take it anymore. She no longer wanted to think about that nauseating scene. She wanted to leave the Prince’s manor, to leave Susha, even if the result of venturing out alone meant dying at the city gates. She didn’t want to see that person again.

“Junior Consort… Junior Consort, where are you going?” The night-duty maid called out, chasing after her. Yi Xiao turned back sharply, saying fiercely, “Shut up. If you follow me, I’ll kill you first.” The maid immediately fell silent and stopped in her tracks.

There was no time to waste. Yi Xiao quickened her pace. The maid’s earlier cries had already alerted the night patrol, and faint voices could be heard.

“Who goes there—” In the dim light, a shadow flashed. Yi Xiao, prepared, took advantage of the darkness and ducked past the approaching sentry. Her right hand raised the Tan Lang bow, and she struck the sentry’s neck hard with the bow arm. The sentry only let out a muffled groan before collapsing softly.

Lanterns were gradually being lit, near and far. Yi Xiao’s eyes shone unusually bright in the faint light. Her natural night vision had once made her a key force in several night raids on the Susha camp. Ironically, after fighting so many battles, enduring so much hardship, and killing so many Susha soldiers and generals, her current identity was now that of a Susha Prince’s consort.

Calls came from the back courtyard, and the front courtyard’s lamps were lighting up one by one. Yi Xiao slung the Tan Lang bow on her back, pulled out two arrows, and broke off their fletching, leaving two-foot-long arrow shafts as makeshift close-combat weapons. She gripped the broken arrows tightly and crouched in the shadow of the shrubs, avoiding a squad of the Prince’s manor guards rushing past. If she could safely cross the open space ahead, she was confident she could escape the manor.