She staggered to the table’s edge, suddenly grabbing a long knife and pressing it against the Rong State Lord’s neck. With only two concubines in the tent and soldiers outside, the unexpected move silenced the concubines and froze the soldiers.
“You want to kill me? With your weak physique?” the Rong State Lord taunted, maintaining his composure.
As Weilin opened her mouth to respond, a powerful grip snatched the knife from her hand, and Wang Ling stepped protectively in front of her. “What about me?” he asked calmly.
Wang Ling’s strikingly delicate features contrasted with his tall, thin frame, which made the Rong State Lord feel secure allowing their entry.
“I’ve practiced both literature and martial arts since childhood. You can test whether your soldiers or my skills are faster,” he continued with a smile before turning to Weilin. “State Prince’s wife, how shall we handle this?”
“Kill him!” Weilin replied firmly. “Rong people always go back on their word. Even if I hand over the map, my husband and I will surely die.”
Since that’s the case, having the State Lord accompany us is not dying in vain.”
“Understood,” Wang Ling said.
“Wait…” The tent curtain was suddenly lifted, and standing at the door was Tuo Jing Shen, wearing armor and supporting a bloodied and disheveled person. “I’m here. Spare my royal father, and I guarantee your safety.”
“Your Highness!” Weilin ran over and embraced Xi Linxuan, who wore only an inner garment stained with blood, making Weilin’s eyes turn red.
“Shen Bi, no…” Xi Linxuan’s voice was barely audible. “As subjects, we cannot be disrespectful.”
“No, I won’t listen to you,” Weilin responded.
Tuo Jing Shen exchanged words in the Rong language with the State Lord, which Weilin couldn’t understand. She focused on wrapping her cloak around Xi Linxuan.
The narrative continues with political negotiations, personal sacrifices, and emotional interactions, highlighting themes of loyalty, survival, and strategic maneuvering in a tense political landscape.
“Bastard, didn’t we say we’d die together? How could you act on your own? If there’s a next time, I won’t let you off!” Wei Linxia hammered his chest, hearing him grunt and then stopping, looking at him with teary eyes. “Does it hurt?”
“Yes, it hurts to death, all from the rope marks,” Xi Linxuan replied bitterly.
