When Xue Zhiyi regained consciousness, he felt that his hands and feet were tied up, and there seemed to be something blocking his view.
I don't know how long it was before I heard a very familiar voice: "Have you brought the person?"
The other man replied, "According to your wishes, General Shen's daughter has been abducted."
The man nodded, and then Xue Zhiyi heard footsteps slowly approaching.
Until the footsteps stopped in front of her, the man lifted the cloth bag covering her head, and her vision became bright again. She squinted her eyes, finding it difficult to adapt.
"Why is it you!?" The man's voice sounded in great shock.
Xue Zhiyi's heart sank after seeing the other person's face clearly.
The person in front of her was stunned. That familiar face was filled with murderous intent. He grabbed her neck and said, "Xue Zhiyi, why is it you?"
Xue Zhiyi struggled, but his hands and feet were already tied tightly. No matter how hard he struggled, it was in vain. He could only force out a sound from his throat: "Xue Tingliu, you... you tied me up yourself, how would I know!"
Xue Tingliu threw Xue Zhiyi away, stood up, and kicked the leading assassin: "Useless! Don't you have eyes? If His Highness blames you, then wash your necks and wait for death!"
Xue Tingliu no longer has the ease he once had. His decline in status makes him eager to return to his original position, so he spares no effort to assist Prince Cheng in his bid for the throne, hoping to regain his status as a superior man by following the emperor.
Now, such an opportunity to make a contribution seems to be ruined because of the appearance of Xue Zhiyi.
Thinking of this, he grabbed Xue Zhiyi's clothes and pressed the dagger to her throat: "Alright! Since you are willing to die, I will grant your wish! I have been looking forward to killing you for a long time!"
The sharp blade cut Xue Zhiyi's neck, and trickles of blood flowed out.
At this moment, Xue Zhiyi admitted that he was really panicked. The current Xue Tingliu was no longer the Xue Tingliu of the past. People would become desperate criminals when they were in desperate situations.
Saving your life is the most important thing right now.
“…Xue Tingliu, you want to kidnap Shen Chiyan’s daughter.”
Xue Tingliu roared, "Nonsense! You're the one who should say that? Didn't I already say that?"
Xue Zhiyi tried his best to calm himself down and faced Xue Tingliu in a calm tone: "I mean, you really want to kidnap Shen Chiyan's daughter."
As expected, Xue Tingliu stopped moving: "What do you mean?"
"I mean, your behavior is exactly as I guessed."
Hearing this, Xue Tingliu's eyes finally regained some rationality: "You knew my plan long ago, so you took the initiative to get robbed in place of Shen Qingtang?"
Xue Zhiyi raised his chin slightly: "Yes, that's right."
At this moment, Xue Zhiyi finally had time to take a clear look at her surroundings. This seemed to be a dilapidated temple. At dusk, only the dim afterglow remained in the temple. The setting sun slanted in, making her heart feel uneasy.
It was estimated that two hours had passed since she was robbed in the street.
She was not sure whether Huo Wuyou would come to find her in time. She didn't even know where she was now, or even whether she was still in Jiangzhou.
But one thing is clear: Xue Tingliu has calmed down temporarily, but she cannot completely guarantee that he will not kill her.
Her expression was calm, she smiled slightly, and glanced at the dagger at her throat.
Xue Tingliu understood, half believing and half doubting, so he put down the dagger for the time being and loosened her clothes.
Xue Zhiyi said slowly, "Let me guess. You went to great lengths to kidnap Shen Qingtang just to threaten Shen Chiyan. After all, although officials in Jiangzhou, led by Chai Fuyin, are loyal to Prince Cheng, there is another group of officials, led by Governor Tang, who have chosen Prince Gong. Both Prince Gong and Prince Cheng want Jiangzhou, a strategic pass."
Although Xue Zhiyi was tied up, he did not look the least bit dejected. He said calmly, "So the Chai family used a large sum of money to lure the Fu and Tang families into making mistakes, just to drive Prince Gong's people out of the power center of Jiangzhou. As for General Shen Chiyan, who holds military power, his position is particularly crucial - this is the reason why you kidnapped Shen Qingtang."
After she finished speaking, she sighed softly, "In fact, if you succeed in kidnapping Shen Qingtang today, perhaps Shen Chiyan will surrender and be willing to serve King Cheng. If we don't join the game ourselves, I'm afraid we won't be able to see through your plan."
Xue Tingliu's pupils trembled, but then, as his eyelashes opened and closed, the fear was replaced by a shrewd and fierce look.
He mentioned Xue Zhiyi again, gritting his teeth, as if he wanted to eat her alive.
"You lied to me! You're clearly afraid that you'll be useless, that I'll kill you, so you're trying to confuse me with these words, so I can panic and lose my composure, giving you a chance to escape, right?"
He grabbed Xue Zhiyi's loose hair at the back of her head, making it impossible for her to move her head. "You cunning thing, I won't believe a single word you say!"
Xue Zhiyi was pulled so hard that it hurt. With her head twisted like this, she had to look at Xue Tingliu's face so close to her in a weird posture.
"But have you ever thought about this? If what I say is true, why would I come here alone? Since they have cast the bait, they will not let a big fish like you get away. Behind the bait, the fisherman's line will not be easily released."
"I said, I don't believe it!" He raised the hand holding the dagger and was about to take Xue Zhiyi's life.
"If you kill me, you will never be able to leave Jiangzhou!"
Xue Tingliu's hand paused for a moment, and Xue Zhiyi looked at him: "Xue Tingliu, no one cares about your life or death. Their goal is to find out the mastermind behind the scenes. Their goal has been achieved. They will not recklessly kill you. Why don't you not kill me? Wouldn't it be better to use me as a hostage to escape? I want to live, but you want to live too, don't you? Although you may not be able to survive by holding me hostage, and I may not be able to find a chance to escape from you, but why not give each other a chance?"
She continued to coax him patiently, "You've been gifted since childhood, and you've risen through the ranks. If it weren't for Xue Zhentong, you could have lived a life of luxury. Although you're a slave now, you still have a way out. As a man of honor, why worry about not having a wise master appreciate you? Can you really bear to let your life end like this? Don't you want to leave yourself any chance of survival?"
Seeing Xue Tingliu's hesitation and reluctance, she suddenly smiled: "We have been talking for so long, they should be here by now."
"You mean, you brought people with you?" He tightened his grip on Xue Zhiyi's hair, his breath falling on Xue Zhiyi's ear, growling like a beast with fangs bared: "I told you, I won't believe it."
Xue Zhiyi was pulled so hard that tears came out of her eyes, but her voice remained calm. She tilted her head back, tears welling in her eyes as she smiled, "Second brother, it's windy outside."
Xue Tingliu was stunned.
At this moment, the dusk gradually dissipated, and the dark blue sky broke into the dim and dilapidated temple. The night wind blew outside, swaying the grass and trees, making a rustling sound. In the late summer night, the cicadas and frogs chirped one after another.
Xue Tingliu slowed down his breathing. Perhaps it was too quiet, so any movement seemed particularly suspicious.
His breathing gradually became heavier and more erratic...
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