What happened to the supposedly snobbish but kind person? Why the sudden change of heart?
Xia Yuandao stood at the doorway, backlit, his expression hidden in the shadows, his smile low and enigmatic: "Don't be afraid, Miss Su. I won't do anything to you, after all, you are still of great use."
"As long as you're here, the Prince of Zhenbei will obediently submit to threats!"
Su An's eyes widened in surprise. What was going on? As the Prefect of Jinzhou, was he also going to deal with Zhun Buli?
Why?
"Didn't we already reach an agreement? Or... are you also one of the emperor's men, wanting to help deal with Fu Zhun!"
That was the only reason she could think of.
However, Xia Yuandao turned around abruptly, his face showing deep disdain: "Who cares about that lousy cooperation? As for the Emperor of Great Chu, he's nothing but a useless piece of trash, even a prince can ride roughshod over him!"
Emperor of Great Chu? What kind of talk is that—
"Hmph, Su An, do you really think I'm the governor of Jinzhou in the Great Chu? That's just an identity I'm using."
Xia Yuandao's voice was deep and gloomy, yet it carried an undeniable arrogance: "I am a subject of the Northern Hu. We, the Northern Hu, are the true powerhouses!"
Upon hearing this, Su An's mind went completely blank.
The court officials were actually spies from the Northern Barbarians!
How shocking and absurd!
Su An felt goosebumps all over his body and stared at Xia Yuan in shock, saying, "So it was you who was behind this? Could it be that the riots in Jizhou are also related to you Northern Hu?!"
Xia Yuandao burst into laughter, his sinister laugh echoing through the cramped room, sending chills down everyone's spines.
“That’s right. Jizhou is just part of our plan. As long as we can disrupt the situation in the Great Chu, it will benefit us, the Northern Hu. And you, Miss Su, are a key piece in our game.”
He clicked his tongue twice: "Even I didn't expect that your existence would be so important to the Prince of Zhenbei. I suppose he won't easily give up your weakness."
Upon hearing this, Su An's heart trembled violently.
I understand now, I understand everything.
No wonder Xia Yuandao came here last time when Fu Zhun was critically ill. His purpose was to take action against Fu Zhun. After failing to do so, he arranged for people to capture him outside the city!
Those assassins posing as members of the Blood Lotus Cult were ordered by him!
"Northern Hu? And strongmen? They seem to be nothing but a bunch of despicable and shameless scoundrels who only know how to use underhanded methods." Su An's chest heaved rapidly as he glared at Xia Yuan with angry sarcasm.
"Using conspiracies and intrigues as swords, and the blood and tears of the people as shields, this method is so 'clever' it's disgusting!"
Xia Yuandao's expression changed instantly, turning ugly: "Stop talking nonsense! This world belongs to the strong. We Northern Hu are merely following the trend. What do you, a woman, know about family and country!"
Su An felt like she had heard the biggest joke in the world, and she laughed in anger.
"Going with the flow means harming innocent civilians? Is your entire Northern Hu kingdom built up using these despicable methods?"
"Unable to confront them directly, they can only resort to these despicable tactics to stir up trouble! Bah! A bunch of rats hiding in the gutter, they only dare to do evil in the shadows!"
"You bitch, if you dare to disrespect me again, I'll kill you right now!" Xia Yuandao's eyes widened in anger, and he took a step forward, as if he was about to make a move.
Su An, however, snorted coldly without any fear, "You dare to kill me, such an important pawn?"
If we can't kill her, then we can only let her curse us every time we see her!
Xia Yuandao was so angry that he trembled all over and glared coldly at Su An.
"Fine, very well! I'd like to see if you can still be so quick-witted after starving you for a few days!"
After saying that, he turned and left with a flick of his sleeve, slamming the door shut with a bang, instantly engulfing the small, cold room in darkness.
Su An had experienced the feeling of being so hungry that her stomach acid was produced while she was in prison last time. This time, her expression didn't change. After taking a deep breath to calm herself down, she found a corner to rest.
The doors and windows inside the house had been sealed in advance, so she couldn't escape. Since that was the case, she decided to conserve her energy.
Anyway, Xia Yuandao won't let her die!
Thinking this to himself, Su An then discovered that he didn't even have any saliva left.
I could bear it on the first day, but as time went on to the second day, my stomach and throat felt like they were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, twisted and wrung, with a burning pain.
By the third day, her lips were cracked, her face was pale and bloodless, her eyes had become dull and lifeless, and her body was too weak to move.
She lay in the corner, surrounded by darkness, with only occasional slivers of light filtering through the cracks.
She breathed hoarsely and weakly, feeling her life slipping away bit by bit, and her consciousness gradually fading.
A slight wavering even arose in my heart.
Is she really going to die...?
Just as Su An reluctantly closed her eyes and was about to lose consciousness, the door creaked open.
Xia Yuandao walked in with an air of superiority, and looking at Su An, who was lying on the verge of death in the corner, a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"How are you, Miss Su? Can you still move your lips now?"
Su An slightly opened her eyes, glared at him with all her might, filled with anger, but had no strength left to speak.
Xia Yuandao chuckled smugly, strode forward, grabbed Su An's arm, and pulled her up from the ground like a rag doll.
Su An felt a sudden, sharp pain in his internal organs, and could only grit his teeth to suppress any groans of pain.
"Take her away!" he commanded the maid waiting outside the door.
Several maids immediately stepped forward. Seeing Su An's miserable appearance, a trace of pity flashed in their eyes, but they dared not disobey Xia Yuandao's words. They lifted Su An up on either side and walked out of the house.
Su An tried to struggle, but her meager strength seemed particularly laughable with the help of the maids.
"You...you want to take me...cough cough..."
"Please don't struggle, young lady. After you've eaten and drunk your fill, we'll help you wash up. We won't do anything," the maid explained kindly.
Upon hearing this, a look of disbelief flashed in Su An's eyes.
How could that be? Xia Yuandao would be so kind?
Is it a case of slapping someone and then giving them a sweet treat?
Su An was too weak to think much. When she was taken to another room and a table in front of her was full of food, the overwhelming hunger made her pounce on it and eat like crazy.
The maids stood quietly to the side, and only after Su An had finished eating did they forcefully pull her away to the next room to wash up.
After she was cleansed, they dressed her up and applied makeup. With their skillful hands, they quickly concealed her pale and haggard face, revealing a pretty and bright little face.
"What exactly do you want to do with me?"
Su An's voice was soft and hoarse as she tried to ask questions, but the maids remained silent as if they hadn't heard her, and just led her out to a carriage.
Xia Yuandao had been waiting inside for a long time. He glanced at Su An and was quite satisfied, then immediately ordered the train to depart.
Su An gradually discovered that the carriage had actually entered Jinzhou City and finally stopped in front of a brothel!
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