Ninth Chapter
Feng Suige lazily leaned back in his chair. "Captain Fu, if you change your mind, don’t forget to speak up."
Another woman’s eyes flickered as she stepped forward with a smile. "Imperial Son, such a beauty—if she’s beaten into disfigurement, wouldn’t that be a waste?"
Feng Suige’s lips twitched slightly, his eyes narrowing sharply. "What do you suggest, Mei Yi?"
A shadow of malice flashed in Mei Yi’s eyes. "Why not assign her to the red tents of the Su Sha Army—" Before she could finish, a heavy slap sent her stumbling backward.
Feng Suige watched coldly as Mei Yi fell to the floor. "How rare for you to be so thoughtful. Perhaps I should grant your wish and send you to comfort the soldiers instead?"
Terrified and in pain, Mei Yi scrambled to cling to his leg, pleading, "Mei Yi was wrong! Spare me, Imperial Son!" Ignoring her cries, Feng Suige gestured to the guards nearby. "Take her where she belongs."
As Mei Yi’s wails faded into the distance, Feng Suige turned to meet Yixiao’s amused gaze. He frowned. "What? Find this entertaining?"
Yixiao nodded with a smile. "Treating a former lover like this—doesn’t it bother you?"
Feng Suige strode over and roughly gripped her chin, his voice low and threatening. "Perhaps I should consider her suggestion. What do you think?"
Yixiao winced but forced out each word clearly. "In your hands, do I have any room to bargain?"
With a cold laugh, Feng Suige released her. "Seems you still don’t believe I can easily make you talk."
Yixiao smiled. "Then how will you deal with me? Flogging? Ah, I know all one hundred and eight interrogation methods of the Embroidered Army. Need some reference? Or would you prefer having your guards violate me—would that please you more?"
Feng Suige shuddered and roared, "You—how dare a woman speak such words?!" Yixiao only returned his anger with a defiant smirk.
Their gazes clashed like sparks in the air, brimming with hostility. After a long moment, Feng Suige looked away, his tone still stiff. "I’ll return tomorrow. By then, Captain Fu, I expect a satisfactory answer." With that, he strode out of the cell.
Xia Jingshi flipped through the documents while Xiao Weiran stood solemnly beside him. After a long silence, Xia Jingshi looked up with a frown. "How is this possible? No inn stays, no hired carriages, no record of leaving the city—did Yixiao just vanish into thin air?"
Xiao Weiran hesitated. "Your Highness, should we investigate the recent merchant caravans that left the city?"
Xia Jingshi pondered briefly. "You mean…"
Xiao Weiran nodded. "If Yixiao intended to leave, she would have done so openly. Disappearing like this—I fear it bodes ill."
"Very well, handle this matter. And remind Ning Fei to keep a close watch on Ling Xueying—no more mishaps." Exhausted, Xia Jingshi leaned back and rubbed his temples.
Xueying sat restlessly by the table, plucking absently at the zither strings.
Yixiao’s attire didn’t resemble that of a runaway maid, ruling out abduction by traffickers. But beyond that, there seemed no other explanation. Yet, given her temperament, even if someone kidnapped her, who would dare buy her?
Could she have left in despair after their argument…?She turned the matter over in her mind, growing increasingly fearful. Distraught, she plucked the zither string forcefully and stood up abruptly.
Ning Fei, who had been dozing against the wall, was startled awake by the sudden sound. He leapt to his feet, still half-asleep, only to see Xueying walk right past him without so much as a glance.
"Hey, where are you going?" Rubbing his eyes, Ning Fei strode after her.
Xueying paused mid-step. "To find Yixiao, of course. Unlike you—always the first to promise help, then spending all day hiding in corners to sleep!"
Ning Fei was so angry he nearly howled at the sky. "That's unfair! I've gone days without sleep searching for Yixiao, practically turning over every stone in Lucheng. I finally had a moment to rest just now, and you're already criticizing me."
"But I'm worried Yixiao might be in danger," Xueying said, her eyes reddening. "What if she... tries to take her own life again?"
"Bah!" Ning Fei spat hastily. "Don't say such things! Yixiao's tough—she'll be fine."
Xueying nearly jumped. "What do you mean 'don't say such things'? I saved Yixiao's life—why would I wish her harm? If I'd known this would happen, I'd never have let her come to Lucheng. It's all the King Who Pacifies the South's fault, and you're all his accomplices! Are you happy now? No trace of her, alive or dead—"
Before she could finish, Ning Fei clapped a hand over her mouth. "See? You can't go three words without mentioning death." Suddenly, he stiffened and yanked his hand away, staring at the wetness on his palm. "You're crying?"
Xueying wiped her eyes roughly with her sleeve and turned away without a word.
Ning Fei frantically wiped the tears on his chest as he stepped in front of her. "Hey, don't cry. If I hurt you accidentally, you can hit me back. Why cry?"
When Xueying remained silent, he clumsily grabbed her hand and thumped it against his own chest. "Here, hit me back. Just stop crying."
Humiliated and furious, Xueying struggled but couldn't break free. "Let go, or I'll scream for help!" Ning Fei released her instantly. Caught off-balance, Xueying yelped and fell backward.
Seeing her tumble, Ning Fei suppressed a laugh as he helped her up. "Not my fault—you told me to let go." Xueying dusted off her hands coldly, then suddenly kicked him hard in the shin. Unprepared, Ning Fei yowled and hopped away, crouching with a grimace. "What kind of wild woman are you? Even Yixiao is more refined! And here I thought you were supposed to be a proper lady— Hey, don't run!"
As Xueying sprinted off, he gritted his teeth, stood up, and limped after her.
Each drop from the water clock seemed to strike Yixiao's heart.
Time crawled by. The light from the window stretched longer, and her limbs, bound by iron shackles, had long gone numb. Cursing Feng Suige silently, Yixiao tried desperately to distract herself from the numbness in her hands and feet.Night finally fell. The frigid air seemed to penetrate her bones, chilling her to the core. Though it was already spring, she had left in such haste that day wearing only the thin clothes from her residence. After being captured by Feng Suige like this, she assumed all her belongings must have been lost.
Thinking of this, Yixiao couldn't help but shake her head with a wry smile. Even if her things were still here, who would care about the comfort of a prisoner?
That Feng Suige had asked her those two questions surely meant he suspected the Brocade Dynasty had designs on Vermilion Sand Country.
Indeed, anyone who wasn't present that day would never believe a woman would risk her life to stop the man she loved from marrying another. Moreover, given their vastly different social statuses, not to mention how Xia Jingshi had actually turned back—she couldn't really blame Feng Suige for not believing her story. Even now, looking back, it seemed unbelievable.
Your Highness, was Yixiao being presumptuous, or were you...
"Seems you're enjoying yourself," Feng Suige's mocking voice sounded at the doorway, his gem-like dark eyes fixed on the faint smile that had just appeared on Yixiao's lips.
Yixiao immediately wiped the smile from her face and lowered her lashes. "Has morning come so quickly?"
Feng Suige gritted his teeth silently. "This is my place. I come and go as I please—must I report to you? Enjoy the cold night in my mountain villa, Captain Fu!" With that, he threw the felt blanket in his hand onto the ground and stormed off angrily.
Yixiao's gaze shifted from the floor to the open cell door. Suddenly she shouted, "Feng Suige, you idiot! Even if you won't give me a blanket, at least remember to close the damn door!"
The seven-treasure brocade curtains hung low as the ice-musk and ambergris incense from the pixiu burner wafted through the air in intoxicating fragrance. Feng Suige reclined against comfortable soft pillows, listening to his secret agent's report.
The gatekeeper of Fu Yixiao's family home said that due to military duties, Yixiao rarely returned home. After her mother's death, she went years without visiting. Were it not for the King Who Pacifies the South's continuous gifts still being sent to the Fu household, the family might have forgotten this daughter who had been unloved since childhood.
After dismissing the spy, Feng Suige unconsciously cracked his knuckles, producing sharp pops.
During the war between the two countries, Vermilion Sand Country had possessed superior military strength, yet several certain victories had been thwarted by the King Who Pacifies the South's clever strategies. He harbored deep wariness toward this Brocade nobleman renowned as the God of War.
Though the two nations had now signed a peace treaty, the marriage agreement between the King Who Pacifies the South and Xiyang remained unfulfilled. They certainly couldn't directly send a state letter questioning the Holy Emperor of Brocade Dynasty about why the King Who Pacifies the South continued to delay the marriage by claiming illness despite being in good health. Moreover, Xiyang was unusually stubborn. Therefore, the only approach was through Xia Jingshi.
Xia Jingshi had always been indifferent, with neither wife nor concubine, and few women could get close to him. Fu Yixiao was clearly an exception—if Xia Jingshi learned that he had kidnapped Fu Yixiao, he wondered how the man would react.
The door opened as Yunyi entered. Seeing Feng Suige still deep in thought, she lazily climbed onto the brocade couch. "Imperial Son, it's so cold outside. You should rest early."
Feng Suige glanced at her. "Is it very cold?" Yunyi chuckled. "If the Imperial Son comes up here, Yunyi won't feel cold anymore."
Feng Suige said thoughtfully, "Let her suffer a bit—it'll do her good." Yunyi looked puzzled. "Who is the Imperial Son talking about?"
Feng Suige smiled faintly. "Nothing."
OpenNovel