Rong Ci nearly failed to control her expression. Did he even know what kind of outrageous words he was saying?
The Chu army would soon catch up—how dare he!
As Chu Xiao drew closer, his words grew increasingly unrestrained: “Since Madam keeps insisting on repaying a debt of gratitude, why not repay it with yourself? Gu does not like being owed.”
Rong Ci gritted her teeth in secret. She knew all too well how terrifying it was to be entangled with this madman.
The moment they reunited, he had set his sights on her.
Pressing her lips together, Rong Ci mustered her courage and said, “Since you know my husband is the new King of Chu, you must also know that I am a princess of the Qi Kingdom. Turning gratitude into enmity—are you truly willing to provoke two great powers for the sake of a mere woman like me?”
Zhao Chu smiled with amusement, his hand tightening around her waist, firmly restraining her. Unhurriedly, amidst her tension, he replied, “If he has the ability, let your husband raise an army and come fight Gu.”
Rong Ci was instantly furious. Madman!
Zhao Chu pressed her waist forward, leaning down close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her neck.
“When I held Madam, your waist was astonishingly slender. Has the King of Chu not been taking good care of you?”
“Madam, Gu is no worse than the King of Chu.”
“Shao You likes you very much, and so do I. Madam, would you consider changing your husband?”
Rong Ci trembled, suppressing the urge to slap him. This scoundrel!
Even after fifteen years, he was still just as domineering and unreasonable.
She was now the wife of the King of Chu, yet he still wanted to take her!
He had no sense of propriety or shame. And the System wanted her to stop someone like him? She didn’t believe she had that kind of ability.
Taking a deep breath, Rong Ci struggled and pushed him away with all her might. Fortunately, Zhao Chu yielded to her, releasing his grip loosely, gazing at her flushed face from the struggle with utter audacity—the crimson hue looked exceptionally beautiful.
He lowered the veiled hat for her, concealing her radiant beauty.
Then, his gaze turned cold and sharp toward the King of Chu, who was relentlessly pursuing them from behind the carriage.
Outside the city gates lay the surging Wei River. The gates of the small border town of An Yi stood beneath swirling yellow sand as thousands of Chu soldiers, radiating killing intent, chased after them.
With the city gates within reach, Zhao Shaoyou drew a long spear forged from cold iron from a Qin Army subordinate. Gripping it with the back of his palm, he lightly tapped the spear tip on the ground, producing a faint glimmer. Mounted on a fine steed, he rode to the front of the formation to face the enemy.
A dashing young man, he swung his spear with boldness, pointing it directly at the King of Chu amidst the enemy ranks. With arrogant and imposing demeanor, he declared, “If you want to stop us, you’ll have to see if you have what it takes!”
Hearing his voice, Rong Ci instantly forgot about the unruly Zhao Chu. Her hands groped for the carriage window, gripping it tightly as she leaned out, her breathing slightly hurried. The name “Shao You” was clenched tightly between her lips.
Chu Xiao would surely recognize Shao You!
Behind her, Zhao Chu’s expression was inscrutable. Her tension and concern for Shao You were far from ordinary.
Chu Xiao’s cold, stern gaze slowly fell upon the young man blocking the carriage. In that instant, the murderous intent in his eyes grew terrifyingly dense.
“Execute all who resist.” Chu Xiao raised his index and middle fingers, curling them together.
Far from being afraid, Zhao Shaoyou grew excited, his hands itching for action. He had long wanted to go to battle, but his father, the king, always found him troublesome and never took him on campaigns. Every time, he had to sneak into the army disguised as a cook to get a taste of the action.
But today, he, Zhao Shaoyou, could serve as his father’s vanguard.
Let his father see that he was no longer a child who wet his pants.
Zhao Shaoyou twirled the spear in his hand, lowering his head and sweeping it toward the charging Chu soldiers.
As weapons clashed, Rong Ci wore a grave expression, yet dared not reveal the emotions in her heart. Zhao Chu was too difficult to deceive, so she could only say, "You cannot win this fight. Why cause unnecessary casualties?"
"Better to cease hostilities. Just let me go, and your entire army can retreat unharmed."
A scoff came from behind her: "Does Madam truly have so much faith in the King of Chu?"
And none in him.
At such a time, he still insisted on comparing himself to Chu Xiao? What was there to compare?
The enemy outnumbered them; of course, retreat was the best strategy.
Rong Ci felt stifled and deeply worried about Shao You.
Zhao Chu followed her gaze indifferently toward the young man in bright attire atop a spirited horse amidst the yellow sand, brandishing his spear with fierce vigor.
He did seem somewhat capable. Zhao Chu curled his lips calmly, fully aware that Zhao Shaoyou was trying to show off in front of his father.
As for his wife, though she could not see, she did not move an inch from the window, her entire body tense.
Chu Xiao swept his sharp gaze around, drew his bronze sword, and said coolly, "End this quickly."
It would not do to frighten his delicate wife.
With the King of Chu personally joining the fray, Zhao Shaoyou could barely hold his own for a few moves.
Zhao Chu, intending to probe, spoke slowly behind her, "The King of Chu and Shao You have engaged."
He could sense that as soon as he said this, she grew noticeably more tense.
Zhao Chu smiled. If only Rong Ci could see, she would only need to turn her head to witness how twisted his smile was.
"He is your son. If you are not worried, why should I be?" Rong Ci tried her best to deceive him with the calmest tone.
"Is that so?"
The next moment, Zhao Shaoyou grunted in pain as Chu Xiao's long sword grazed his arm.
Rong Ci's heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she groped for Zhao Chu's arm, her fingertips digging into his skin as if to embed themselves. "Zhao Chu! He is no match for Chu Xiao."
Zhao Chu hummed in acknowledgment, implying, "You actually fear Chu Xiao might harm him."
Rong Ci was left speechless.
Fortunately, Zhao Chu did not press further with his suspicions. He retrieved the Qin crossbow from the carriage, enveloping Rong Ci in his embrace as he operated the crossbow single-handedly, firing a shot through the air toward Chu Xiao.
Rong Ci could feel the cold, sharp whistle of the wind by her ear. For a moment, she sensed the arrow Zhao Chu had released, tinged with a chilling intent to kill.
A shiver ran through her heart.
Chu Xiao narrowed his eyes, forced to withdraw the sword aimed at Zhao Shaoyou's abdomen to block beside his face, dodging sideways to avoid the arrow that threatened to pierce his brow.
The arrow scraped against the long sword, sparking a cold gleam before shooting forward and embedding itself in the forehead of a Chu soldier behind Chu Xiao.
Chu Xiao abruptly raised his eyes, fierce and ruthless, locking gazes with the King of Qin who held a woman in a veiled hat, provocatively looking at him.
Almost instantly, his eyes filled with blood, glaring crimson at his opponent.
King of Qin, Zhao Chu!
He raised his long sword, spurred his horse into a gallop, swept up to the carriage, and swung his sword horizontally at Zhao Chu's head, while reaching out to her: "A'Ci!"
Rong Ci immediately leaned forward, extending her hand outward.
"Husband, save me."
Without hesitation, Rong Ci prepared to leap from the carriage, firmly believing that if she jumped, Chu Xiao would catch her.
Just as she eagerly sought to break free from his embrace, Zhao Chu's entire face darkened, his gaze terrifying.
Rong Ci stepped onto the carriage window, ready to throw herself out without regard for her safety.
Chu Xiao had already abandoned his long sword, reaching out to catch her.
And at that very moment, the man inside the carriage shattered the window, bursting through it, clutching an arrow tightly in his hand as he lunged straight for Chu Xiao’s face.
Chu Xiao had no choice but to dodge the King of Qin’s fierce killing blow, and in that brief instant—
Zhao Chu twisted his wrist, and the arrow plunged directly into the neck of Chu Xiao’s horse. Hot blood sprayed out instantly, splattering onto Zhao Chu’s hand.
Without a change in expression, Zhao Chu turned back, arms wide open, catching the soft figure in his embrace without a moment’s delay.
“Lord! The horse!”
At Pu Xi’s loud shout, a red horse galloped over, its hooves bending as it charged forward in a swift descent.
With one arm wrapped around Rong Ci’s waist, Zhao Chu swung himself onto the horse.
“Husband!” Rong Ci cried out in panic, able to feel the overwhelming fury radiating from the man holding her.
Hearing her sorrowful cry of “husband,” Zhao Chu could no longer conceal the cold ferocity in his eyes. Riding with one hand, he roughly pulled her against his chest with the other. The force was not gentle—she collided abruptly with his chest, her nose instantly aching and tears welling in her eyes.
With a dark expression, Zhao Chu took out the silk handkerchief he had used to wipe her face earlier, crumpled it mercilessly into a ball, and stuffed it into her mouth without any tenderness, silencing all her vexing cries.
That cry of “husband,” when not meant for him, was unbearably grating.