Chapter 304 Transaction
Qi Yuxuan made several turns and wandered into alleys away from the palace. Although she didn't know the layout of the capital of Yue Kingdom, she remembered the direction she came from. She figured she could just follow one direction and walk out of the city.
As for how Nangong Nian will be targeted after she leaves... she can barely protect herself, so she can only pray that the Nangong family is indeed in control and can protect Nangong Nian.
Qi Yuxuan felt somewhat guilty, but not much.
She is not as hostile to the Yue people as before, but after all, the Qi and Yue countries have been in constant conflict and their confrontation has been going on for a long time. If she wants to escape, she must trick Nangong Nian once.
Qi Yuxuan tripped over her skirt because it was a bit long today. She picked up a sharp pebble and slashed it forcefully across the hem.
The hem of her skirt below the knee was suddenly torn open, and she struggled to tear off a long piece of fabric. This was not unusual; she had seen many women in the Yue Kingdom dressed like this, with long trousers under their knee-length petticoats, probably for convenience in daily life.
She didn't dare to throw away the torn fabric carelessly; she crumpled it up and stuffed it into her belt.
This dress looks expensive. If someone with ulterior motives notices it, it could make it easier for Xuan Yuanze to find it, which would be terrible.
She walked briskly for nearly half an hour, panting heavily, and finally saw the bustling city gate at the end of the long street!
"Smack—"
She felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, her vision went black, and she fainted.
Ren Shun looked at the unconscious girl in his arms with complicated eyes, casually pulled the cloth from her waist, and carried her towards the city gate without hesitation.
As for the piece of cloth, he casually tossed it in the opposite direction from where he left.
When Qi Yuxuan woke up again, she was dizzy and her vision was blurry. It took her a while to adjust before she could see where she was.
In the dark and cold forest at night, a warm fire burned in front of her, and two roasted pheasants, glistening with oil, sat on the fire. Behind the roasted chickens, however, was a sinister and indifferent face.
Qi Yuxuan's pupils contracted slightly, as if she had seen a ghost.
What's Ren Shun doing here?
Didn't she run away from the capital? ...Oh right, someone ambushed her and knocked her unconscious.
But that shouldn't be the case. Judging from the surroundings, this definitely isn't the city. Did Ren Shun secretly take her away?! Is he going to send her back to Qi? Could he be that kind...?
Thinking this, she realized that although she was sitting against a tree, her hands and feet were bound by thick hemp ropes. Her posture was not very dignified, and with each struggle, the ropes were bound tighter. She didn't know what kind of sinister method they were using.
I knew Ren Shun wasn't that kind-hearted. He had worked hard for her for over a year under the pressure of the Mother-Child Gu, and now that the Mother-Child Gu was gone, he probably wanted to vent his anger.
Qi Yuxuan didn't speak, and Ren Shun only glanced at her before continuing to turn the chicken on the branch.
For a moment, all she could hear was the hooting of owls in the forest and the hissing sound of chicken fat dripping into the fire.
"Coo coo—"
A clear rumbling sound came from her stomach. Qi Yuxuan closed her eyes, trying to deceive herself, and stopped looking at the sizzling, oily chicken.
Even if Ren Shun dared to offer her food while she was tied up like this, she wouldn't dare to eat it.
Qi Yuxuan kept her eyes closed, reciting Buddhist scriptures to calm her mind, but the scorching aroma seemed to be getting closer and closer, almost within reach. Unable to bear it any longer, she opened her eyes.
But Ren Shun was still sitting opposite him, having eaten the two roasted chickens without leaving a single piece, leaving only a pile of small bones at his feet.
She knew it!
She closed her eyes again, pretending not to see.
Ren Shun casually wiped his hands with a handkerchief, then stood up and walked towards Qi Yuxuan:
"Stop pretending. Now that you've regained your memories, why don't you tell Xuanyuanze?"
Qi Yuxuan kept her eyes closed without moving, but she was thinking about something else.
Now that the Gu worms have been removed and the poison neutralized, she wanted to return to Qi. However, she hadn't even left the capital of Yue on her own before being captured by Ren Shun. And now, Ren Shun hadn't taken her back to the Yue palace; it was hard to say whether there was some discord between the brothers. If she could persuade Ren Shun to take her back to Qi…
The tall shadow in front of her slowly lowered, and Qi Yuxuan could feel a strong gaze falling on her face. She had no choice but to open her eyes and stare at the boy who was so close to her.
Without a doubt, Ren Shunsheng is very good-looking.
Unlike Xuan Yuanze's appearance, which blends features of both Qi and Yue, his face was handsome, clean, and sharp. His expressionless demeanor resembled that of a small beast poised to pounce, and his slightly lowered eyebrows exuded a menacing aura. When one met his gaze, one had to be on high alert, making him someone not to be underestimated.
Qi Yuxuan: "So what if I regain my memories? If I tell Xuan Yuanze, will he let me leave?"
“You know perfectly well that the war between Qi and Yue is not over yet, and that I am irreconcilable with him.”
The boy's long, dark eyebrows furrowed slowly: "No, tell him the truth, and he will let you go."
Based on his understanding of Xuan Yuanze, he was not such a possessive person. On the contrary, he was very patient and good at disguising himself. As long as he wanted something, people would willingly offer it to him.
This time was no different, so Ren Shun brought the person out by chance, not really hoping for anything. He only needed Qi Yuxuan to say one word, and if she wanted to return to Xuan Yuanze's side, he would immediately send her back to the Yue Kingdom's palace.
But she actually said that the war between the two countries of Qi was not over yet, and that she and Xuanyuan Ze were irreconcilable enemies.
What does the war between the two countries have to do with Qi Yuxuan? Even if Qi is defeated, it won't affect her life as Princess Chang Le, where she lives a life of luxury and ease. Why should she worry about wars that are thousands of miles away?
The young girl in front of him curled her lips into a cold smile, her voice clear yet distant: "Since I have the opportunity to escape on my own, why should I entrust my life entirely to others? It seems you weren't sent by Xuan Yuanze to capture me. What do you want?"
Ren Shun didn't speak, his gaze fixed on her, his lips pursed repeatedly.
She continued, “Your parents are from the State of Qi, and I am the daughter of the Princess of Qi, the Princess of Chang Le with a fief. Now I am giving you a new choice. Your life can be completely free from the shadow of Xuan Yuanze.”
"Take me back to Qi, and I'll let bygones be bygones. Whatever you want, I'll do everything in my power to give it to you. How about it?"
The silvery moonlight fell on the dark forest, and the night wind rustled the shadows of the trees.
Qi Yuxuan looked at the boy who was half-squatting in front of her. Her face was calm, but her heart was filled with anxiety, and her palms were sweaty.
She dared not urge him, nor dared to show weakness; she could only wait quietly for him to give his answer.
After a long silence, Ren Shuncai asked softly:
"Can I have anything I want?"
Qi Yuxuan's eyes brightened slightly. Could it be that she had made the right bet? Ren Shun really didn't want to live under Xuan Yuanze's oppression and wanted to return to the Qi Kingdom?
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