Outside the Champion King’s Mansion, the Defense Bureau prepared to break down the door, exchanging blows with the Xuanyi Guard. Wu’s side concubine lay dead, eyes wide open. Su Lin screamed, “Stop! You can’t kill me; the Emperor will not let you off!”
“By the Emperor’s order, take down the Champion King’s Mansion at all costs, and kill anyone who resists,” the Defense Bureau leader said, softening his voice, “Your Highness, prepare yourself.”
“No, no, I’m not the Princess! I’m the Emperor’s person, and he likes me very much. If you dare kill me, the Emperor will definitely kill you!” Su Lin screamed incoherently, “I was sent by the Emperor! He’s going to make me a concubine!”
Chu Liang smiled mockingly and whispered to his colleague, “Protect her; don’t let her die too quickly. Let her spread the word about the Emperor’s affairs.”
Su Lin, originally placed against the wall to block several crossbows, was moved by the Xuanyi Guard. They said loudly, “Tell us everything you know, and we’ll let you down.”
Su Lin, disregarding everything else, spoke loudly: “The Emperor sent me to the Champion King’s Mansion to monitor the Prince. I’m the Emperor’s person! He said if I tell him everything about the Prince, he’ll make me a noble concubine! He likes me very much. When I left the palace, he even kissed me and said he was reluctant to let me go.”
Xie Rong looked at him and said softly, “You too.”
The underground passage opened, and Xie Rong hurriedly left. Chu Liang followed and reported, “Your Highness, last night we attacked thirty-nine people, killed twenty-one, wounded eleven, and lost eight of our own. An insider in the palace just triggered an explosion, and the Defense Bureau rushed back to rescue. This is your chance to escape.”
According to the original plan, those thirty-nine would have been unable to escape death.
Shang Mingsi would be left without usable personnel, allowing the Champion King’s Mansion to take control of most military power in the capital. However, he needed to rescue Ruan Ning, which limited the effectiveness of his actions.
This matter would be settled by making Shang Mingsi accountable on the battlefield.
Shang Mian nodded, and the Xuanyi Guards carried him into the underground passage, which led to an exit in a dense forest over ten miles outside the city, enabling their escape from the capital unnoticed.
Ruan Ning’s carriage took small paths, and as dusk approached, rain began to fall, turning the roads muddy and slowing their progress. A female guard reassured her, “Madam, we have about five or six miles to the resting point. Please bear with us a little longer.”
Then, the guard noticed the road was blocked by stones that had rolled down from a hill. Several guards hurried to clear the obstruction while others protected the carriage. Suddenly, several donkey carts appeared from a side road, their donkeys running too fast to stop and crashing into the carriage. Grain and miscellaneous items scattered, creating chaos.
The female guard quickly called into the carriage, “Madam, please stay seated. We will handle this soon.”
In the confusion, Ruan Ning responded with a “Mm.” The guard felt relieved and focused on guarding the front of the carriage. When she turned back to check on Ruan Ning, there was no response. Her instincts told her something was wrong. She lifted the curtain and saw the carriage bottom had been dug out, with no trace of Ruan Ning.
“Not good, the madam has been kidnapped!” the female guard shouted, her face pale.
Chapter 43: The Tyrant’s Heart’s Blood
Ruan Ning had a black cloth over her head, coated with a strange-smelling drug. She felt groggy, mechanically being carried along, barely aware of her direction.
When those people emerged from under the carriage to grab her and Qingyu, she was still holding Shang Mian’s clothes. The soft fabric brought slight clarity to her muddled mind, but she couldn’t fully understand the situation.
After some time, she felt herself being placed in a container. Previously, she sensed some light through the cloth, but now it was dark. The container was bumpy, and soon she lost consciousness completely.
On the open road, several water carts traveled together, passing a group of merchants.
The merchants surrounded several horse-drawn carriages and turned into a mountain path at the next intersection. As they traveled, a woman dismounted from a galloping horse and knelt before the merchants, reporting, “My lord, Madam Ruan has been kidnapped!”
From the middle carriage, Shang Mian laughed in anger, saying, “You followed with over ten people and still lost her?”
The female guard gritted her teeth. “This subordinate deserves to die. We fell for their trick. The bottom of the madam’s carriage was dug out. I pursued for a day and only found Qingyu, but she was drugged and knows nothing.”
Shang Mian coldly replied, “You indeed deserve to die.”
He closed his eyes, stood up, and told Chu Liang, “You go to Dengzhou on business. I’m returning to the capital.”
Chu Liang anxiously objected, “Your Highness, what Third Young Master Xie instructed – this is too dangerous!”
Shang Mian dismissed him, saying, “My life, I know best.”
He mounted his horse, but Chu Liang grabbed the reins, insisting, “Your Highness, let me go to the capital to find Madam Ruan. You go to Dengzhou!”
“Move,” Shang Mian ordered, glancing at him. “Set out immediately. In two days, regardless of whether there’s news from me, proceed with the original plan.”
When Ruan Ning awoke from her coma, she found the black cloth removed.
She was no longer in the bumpy container but gagged and tied in a small sedan chair, unsure of her destination.
Ruan Ning felt her patience nearly exhausted. Since her arrival in this world, she had faced constant troubles and frustrations, with the broken system compounding her anger. At that moment, she wanted to curse loudly and be banished to a remote corner.
The sedan chair jolted and then stopped. A distinct, bony hand lifted the curtain, and a deep voice said, “Ning Ning.”
Song Bofu.
What an unexpected surprise.
He removed the cloth from her mouth and smiled, saying, “I’ve finally found you.”
Ruan Ning, still angry, asked, “How did you find me?”
Her impatience intrigued him. While untying her, he said with pride, “I knew you wouldn’t abandon Qingyu, so I sprinkled some tracking powder on her and followed.”
Just then, he noticed a man’s clothing thrown near Ruan Ning’s feet. As he was about to kick it, Ruan Ning shouted, “Don’t move!”
Song Bofu didn’t move, gazing intently at her tense face.
The servants carried away the sedan chair.
Ruan Ning held the dirty clothing and glared at Song Bofu. “Bring some water. I want to wash these clothes.”
If she didn’t find something to do, she might lose control and hit someone.
This time, Song Bofu didn’t obey. He said softly, “Ning Ning, I took a big risk to bring you back. How will you repay me?”
Ruan Ning thought she had misheard. “Repay?” she retorted coldly. “I never asked you to do this.”
“Shang Mian is dangerous and a rebel wanted by the court. You won’t end up well with him,” Song Bofu explained patiently.
“So you tied me up to bring me back?” Ruan Ning laughed coldly. Everyone was controlling her life without asking for her opinion.
Song Bofu loved her rebelliousness. He grasped her hand and spoke softly, “Don’t worry. The entire capital is hunting Shang Mian. As long as you submit to me, I’ll give you anything you want.”
Ruan Ning pulled her hand back, sneering, “Would you tell the Song family that you’re marrying me? Do you dare?”
She knew he wouldn’t dare; his future was promising, and he cared about his reputation.
How could he marry a woman who was once his brother’s wife?
