Chapter 86 Buying her 3 is coercion
Fangru collapsed onto the cold carpet, listening to Hadan's horrific accusations, each word piercing her heart and capable of triggering a war between the two countries. Looking at the hateful and murderous gazes of the guards around her, she felt as if the blood in her body had frozen.
The prince's corpse was right before her eyes, and Hadan's accusations trapped her like an iron cage.
Overwhelmed by immense fear and injustice, she was instantly engulfed by a monstrous wave.
Could it be that... the fragile peace between the Northern Barbarians and the Great Xia, which has been maintained for several years, is really going to be completely shattered and plunged into a war of devastation because of her, because of this meticulously planned conspiracy that she has no idea about?
Before the chilling despair could solidify in her limbs, Fangru was roughly dragged up by Hadan, her wrists tightly bound by rough hemp rope and tied behind her back. The pain instantly brought her to her senses.
She was half-dragged and half-carried out of the tent by two guards, as if they were escorting a serious criminal.
The campfire flickered and distorted in her empty eyes, while she heard the heavy-voiced shouts of the Northern Di soldiers and Hadan's accusations that could have sealed her fate and ignited a war.
The thought that everything was over gripped her heart like a poisonous ivy.
Just as they were about to merge into the ranks of more soldiers on the periphery, finding themselves trapped with no way to escape!
From the darkness on the flank, a series of piercing hoofbeats suddenly rang out! It was no ordinary galloping horse; it carried an unwavering, resolute determination that tore through the silence!
A rider suddenly leaped out like a cheetah that had been lying in wait. The masked knight lay on the horse's back, man and horse almost becoming one. With an almost savage manner, he ruthlessly smashed through the guards at the edge of the camp who were caught off guard!
The firelight danced in a cold arc on the unsheathed cleaver. He didn't linger in the fight; the blade precisely parried the thrusting spears, and with the powerful impact of the horse, he instantly sent the escorting team sprawling!
In the chaos, Fangru felt a tremendous force grip her waist. In a dizzying moment, she was forcibly taken from the hands of the two guards and placed heavily in front of a solid and hot saddle!
Her stomach ached from the pressure, and her nostrils were instantly filled with a mixture of sweat, blood, and a unique, strong scent belonging to the man behind her.
"Come into my arms!"
A low, short command exploded above her head, carrying an undeniable force.
It was Ah Qi! He didn't even look down at her; all his muscles were tense as he controlled his warhorse, which was neighing with excitement.
He yanked the reins sharply, and the horse reared up, pawing the air, forcing back the soldiers who were closing in from the side with a very intimidating posture. Then, it pushed off with its hind legs, and instead of fleeing to the seemingly safe darkness outside the camp, it charged into the camp, into the area where the tents were more densely packed and the lights were dim!
"Stop him! Fire!" Hadan's furious roar was quickly carried away into the distance.
The wind whistled past my ears, and arrows occasionally whizzed past, making a sickening whistling sound.
Fangru was forced to press herself against Aqi's chest, and could clearly feel the powerful and rapid beating of his heart in his chest cavity, as well as the expansion and contraction of his muscles every time he controlled the horse to turn and accelerate.
This absolute control, coupled with the danger of dancing on the edge of a knife, created a strange feeling that, amidst extreme fear, gave rise to a bizarre sense of dependence.
Ah Qi knew the complex terrain of the camp like the back of his hand. Like a ghost in the dark, he rode his horse through the narrow gaps between the tents, using shadows and obstacles to cleverly evade his pursuers.
Finally, he rushed to the area that had been filled with a decadent atmosphere, now plunged into an eerie silence and chaos due to the news of the prince's death.
He abruptly reined in his horse, scooped Fangru up, and landed gracefully with fluid movements.
He didn't even glance at the panting horse, but instead drew his dagger with a backhand motion. With a flash of cold light, he deftly slashed a shallow gash on the horse's rump.
The horse let out a mournful whinny and reared up on its front hooves.
"Go, lure them away." Ah Qi's deep voice carried a hint of barely perceptible apology as he slapped his horse hard.
The wounded horse immediately galloped towards the edge of the camp, leaving clear trails of blood on the soil.
After doing all this, Ah Qi's gaze, like that of a sharp eagle, quickly swept across the densely packed, maze-like low tents around him.
He grabbed Fangru's wrist, which was still bound by rough ropes, and without saying a word, slipped into a small, dark tent with a low-hanging curtain.
The tent was cramped and dimly lit, with only a sliver of light filtering through the gaps, vaguely illuminating the simple furnishings and a low bed covered with old but thick fur.
Ah Qi brought Fang Ru to the bedside. His movements were not gentle; in fact, they carried a hint of brutality, as he pressed her down onto the fur.
The soft fur sank in, supporting her almost exhausted body.
Fangru was breathing heavily, the feeling of being bound on her wrists constantly reminding her of her dangerous situation.
She raised her bound hands and reached out to Ah Qi, who stood before the bed, his figure almost completely obscuring her vision. Her voice was hoarse and urgent, as if she had just survived a calamity: "Untie me! Quickly untie me!"
However, Ah Qi did not move.
He stood there quietly in the dim light, his tall figure exuding an invisible sense of oppression.
The tent was quiet, with only the faint, intermittent breathing of the two people.
A moment later, he slowly and almost silently bent down.
A large hand with distinct knuckles and calloused skin, typical of someone who practices martial arts, rested on the fur on Fangru's side, causing the bed to sink slightly.
Instead of touching the rope, he used the index finger of his other hand to gently brush across her face, which was covered in dust, tears, and fine sweat, with an extremely slow, almost torturous motion.
The touch was rough yet warm, carrying an undeniable masculine power that sent a shiver down the spine wherever it went.
"Oh……"
He let out a very low whisper, like a soft laugh or a sigh.
His warm breath, carrying his unique scent, brushed lightly against her forehead and sensitive earlobe.
"I never expected..." His voice was low, magnetic and hoarse, as if hooked in this small, private space, "The one I casually abducted wasn't an ordinary official's daughter, but a canary that flew out of the golden cage of the palace?"
His fingertips slid down to her delicate chin, applying slight pressure—not frivolous, but with an irresistible force—forcing her to lift her face and meet his gaze, which shone brilliantly even in the dim light. "Served by the Emperor of Xia…hmm? My…little imperial consort?"
He uttered the last three words almost touching her lips, their breaths mingling, creating an ambiguous atmosphere that was almost suffocating.
Fangru's heart was pounding wildly, almost bursting out of her chest.
She jerked her head away, trying to avoid his overly aggressive touch and gaze, her voice strained with tension: "You...you misheard! I'm just an insignificant servant! Worthless! You...you should find a chance to sell me and get the money out of here!"
She hurriedly denied it, trying to lower her "value" in his eyes, but her heart was ice-cold.
Hadan's betrayal and accusations made it impossible for her to turn back.
Falling into the hands of the Northern Barbarians would mean certain death, and could even become the trigger for war.
Right now, this dangerous kidnapper has become her only possible escape tool.
Being sold by him seemed to be the only way for her to survive temporarily and plan for the future.
"Sell you?"
Ah Qi repeated these three words, his tone rising slightly, with a playful, teasing quality, like a cat playing with a mouse.
Instead of backing away, he used this extremely close distance to lightly brush his warm, moist lips against the most vulnerable edge of her sensitive earlobe.
Fangru froze, a shiver running up her spine.
He didn't stop.
The kiss, burning hot, moved slowly and steadily down her delicate neck like a falling spark.
Each touch carried an almost savoring quality, raising tiny goosebumps on her delicate skin.
One of his hands remained braced against her side, while the other slowly caressed her bound wrist, his fingertips gently stroking the skin reddened by the rough ropes.
This action, somewhere between pity and confinement, carried a strong erotic implication, causing Fangru to tremble with humiliation and helplessness.
“My…fallen empress…” His lips pressed against the spot where her carotid artery was throbbing violently, his voice low and indistinct, carrying hot breath, “Right now, outside, there are soldiers searching for us everywhere, they want to turn the camp upside down… How am I supposed to find a buyer? Hmm?”
His words were cold, hard reality, but his actions were filled with burning desire and a desire for control.
He raised his head slightly, his nose almost touching hers, and in the extremely dim light, he gazed into her eyes at the undisguised fear, humiliation, and feigned composure that she couldn't hide.
“Moreover…” he drawled, his fingers gently squeezing her bound wrists, his tone carrying an almost cruel, yet tender, concern for her, “Since you might be an ‘Imperial Consort’… such a noble status! How can you be sold to those vulgar merchants and allowed to be treated so cruelly?”
His thumb caressed the softest skin on the inside of her wrist with an ambiguous touch, his voice like a seductive spell:
"Even if we're going to sell you, at least... we should find you a buyer worthy of your status. For example... a prince from a powerful tribe, that wouldn't be beneath you, right?"
Before Ah Qi could finish uttering those cruel and mocking words about the "tribal prince," a sudden, chaotic and heavy sound of footsteps and the rude shouts of the Northern Di soldiers rang out outside the tent, growing louder and louder like a tightening noose.
"Search! Search thoroughly! Don't miss a single tent! Find that Xia Kingdom female assassin and her accomplices!"
Firelight filtered through the gaps in the tent fabric, casting flickering shadows inside, like menacing phantoms. Footsteps were nearby, as if they would lift the fragile curtain at any moment.
Fangru's heart leaped into her throat. Fear overwhelmed the previous humiliation. She instinctively grabbed Aqi's arm, her nails digging almost into his strong muscles, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "They're here! We have to go!"
Ah Qi, however, remained as steady as a mountain.
He didn't even glance at the doorway; his deep gaze remained fixed on her in the dim light, as if all the noise outside had nothing to do with him.
He took her trembling hand in his own, his palm burning hot, his grip firm, strangely soothing her near-collapse fear, yet carrying an undeniable control.
"Leave?" He lowered his voice, his hot breath mixed with a faint scent of blood and vegetation, brushing against her lips. "There's a trap outside. Going out now would be suicide."
He tilted his head slightly, precisely capturing every movement outside the tent.
At the same time, his other hand, with its distinct knuckles, gently caressed her slender waist with an irresistible force. His burning palm, through the thin, already disheveled clothes, pressed against her cold, trembling skin, sending a shiver of tingling numbness through her.
"To evade the search..." His voice lowered even further, almost a whisper, penetrating her eardrums with a chilling implication, "There is only one way."
Fangru instantly understood his intention. Her cheeks suddenly burned with intense heat, but the extreme fear drained all color from her face, leaving her deathly pale.
“We have to make them think…” Ah Qi’s lips almost covered her sensitive earlobe, his hot, moist breath lingering on her, carrying a powerful, irresistible meaning, “Inside, there is just a pair of… wild lovers who can’t stand being alone and are having sex.”
He stepped back slightly, and in the dim light, gazed into her eyes at the intense struggle, shame, and despair.
His gaze was sharp as a knife, as if it could cut through all her pretenses. However, deep within those eyes, there was not only cold calculation, but also a complex and difficult emotion, almost probing.
“That time at the brewery,” he said, his long fingers lightly tracing the faint old marks that might remain below her collarbone, the touch carrying a lingering, almost imperceptible lingering quality that stirred the fine granules on her skin, “was it coercion.”
His gaze was fixed on her eyes, not allowing her to look away. His voice was low and slow, carrying a strange, almost seductive patience.
“Forcing her again… how boring.” He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, or perhaps waiting for her reaction. “This time, are you… willing?”
The word "willing" was like a red-hot branding iron, making Fangru's soul tremble.
A profound sense of humiliation overwhelmed her instantly.
How could she possibly agree to this?! To this man who stole her innocence and treated her like merchandise!
However, Hadan's accusation that "a spy from the Xia Kingdom poisoned the prince" hung like a sword of Damocles over his head.
If she were caught, her personal life would be a small matter, but if it ignited a war between the two countries, the sins of that day... she couldn't bear them.
The instinct for survival, coupled with the fear of an even greater catastrophe, ultimately crushed her last shred of resolve.
She closed her eyes in despair, and squeezed out two words, barely a whisper, yet crystal clear, from between her teeth:
"……willing."
In Ah Qi's deep eyes, it seemed as if an undercurrent was surging, too fast to catch.
Without another word, he swiftly and silently circled behind her, the cold blade of his dagger brushing against the rope binding her wrist. With a light "snap," the restraints snapped.
My hands, still numb and stinging with clear marks from the restraints, were freed when his deep, magnetic command rang in my ears again, tinged with a deliberately suppressed hoarseness:
"Then... prove it to me."
Fangru's body stiffened abruptly, and she stared at him in disbelief. In the dim light, his sharply defined face was inches away, and she could hear his breath. His deep eyes shone brightly in the shadows, as if burning with a dark flame, threatening to devour her.
Tears of humiliation instantly welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back with all her might.
With trembling hands, she reached out her newly freed, still cold and numb hands as if touching a red-hot iron, very slowly and with great difficulty, toward the leather belt around his waist.
The rough texture of the leather sent a tingling, electric shock-like sensation through her fingertips.
She clumsily fumbled for the intricate metal buckle. The cold metal against the firm, burning muscles of his waist felt like a slow, agonizing torture of her already dwindling dignity, yet strangely evoked a strange, unsettling shiver.
Just as her fingertips were trembling and she was about to give up on this torture-like "proof"!
"Swish!" The tent flap was suddenly flung open from the outside!
A fierce-looking Northern Di soldier peered in. In the dim light, he could just make out the woman's slender and graceful back, who was leaning against the man's waist in an extremely ambiguous posture. Her clothes were disheveled, and her black hair was hanging down. The man's strong arms were possessively wrapped around her waist, and their posture was intimate and affectionate, as if they were indulging in the ultimate pleasure.
The soldier was clearly taken aback, obviously not expecting such a steamy scene.
Inside the tent, Fangru's heart stopped, her blood seemed to freeze instantly, and she even forgot to breathe.
At the critical moment, the soldiers behind shouted, "Over here! There's blood over here! It's heading out of the camp! They must be escaping!"
Upon hearing this, the soldier at the door glanced suspiciously at the "wild lovers" inside the tent who seemed completely absorbed in each other and unresponsive to the search. Finally, he spat out a curse and muttered annoyed Di Yu, reluctantly lowered the curtain, and hurriedly followed his companions away, chasing after the deliberately guided "bloodstains."
The chaotic footsteps and shouts faded into the distance, and an eerie silence descended upon the tent, leaving only the heavy, uneven breathing of the two people and their heartbeats that seemed about to burst from their chests.
The overwhelming sense of relief made Fangru weak all over. She almost immediately wanted to break free from his burning embrace and suffocating posture, and end this terrible and humiliating ordeal.
However, the moment she moved, Ah Qi's arms around her waist suddenly tightened! The force was domineering and powerful, not allowing her to escape even a little, pressing her even closer to him.
He lowered his head, and his warm lips once again precisely captured her sensitive and delicate earlobe, sucking and nibbling it gently, bringing waves of shivers that made her scalp tingle.
His deep, husky voice was filled with undeniable dominance and a hint of aroused, genuine desire.
"Everyone's gone..." His hot breath brushed against her neck, "...Why should we stop?"
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