Meng Nanyi jerked her head up to see Meng Xizhou already accepting the brocade blindfold!
Two burly matrons stepped forward, seizing Meng Nanyi’s arms from both sides!
“Second Young Lady Meng, it’s your turn now.” The matron’s voice sounded like a life-snatching charm.
No! Please no!
Meng Nanyi turned ice-cold all over, her blood seeming to freeze instantly!
She stared at the distant figure of Meng Xizhou being blindfolded, then at the wooden stake and the apple placed atop it… A wave of overwhelming terror, like icy tidal water, instantly submerged her!
The matrons wore respectful smiles, but their hands gripping Meng Nanyi’s arms were so forceful she couldn’t struggle even slightly, practically dragging her to be tied to the wooden stake.
The apple was placed steadily within the hairstyle atop her head.
In the distance, the blindfolded Meng Xizhou stood calmly, holding the bow with her fingertips resting casually on the arrow fletching, her posture as relaxed as if strolling in her own backyard.
The entire target field fell so silent you could hear a pin drop, all eyes focused on Meng Xizhou and Meng Nanyi.
Whoosh—
The sound of splitting air suddenly rang out!
Meng Nanyi didn’t even have time to scream!
A powerful gust brushed fiercely past her left cheek! Thudding into the target behind her!
Meng Nanyi’s heart seemed clenched by an invisible hand, abruptly stopping!
Whoosh—
A second arrow followed without warning! This time, to the right!
The same wind swept closely past her right cheek, positioned exactly symmetrical to the left.
“Ah—” Meng Nanyi could no longer control herself, emitting a somewhat distorted shriek! Her legs went weak, and had the ropes not bound her tightly, she would have collapsed into a puddle of mud!
Cold sweat instantly drenched her back like a waterfall, her forehead strands clinging wetly to her deathly pale face.
Meng Xizhou seemed not to hear the piercing scream, tilting her head slightly as if sensing the wind direction. Then, she calmly nocked another arrow and drew the bow.
With the third arrow’s splitting sound came a crisp, light crack!
The weight atop Meng Nanyi’s head suddenly lightened!
The apple was pierced through by the arrow, exploding! Fragments and juice splattered all over her head and face!
Simultaneously, cheers swept through the entire target field! Jiang Jiyue and the others nearly jumped with excitement!
Only then did Meng Xizhou leisurely remove her blindfold, casually tossing it to an attendant nearby. She looked toward Meng Nanyi trembling uncontrollably on the stake, the corners of her lips curling in a faint, mocking smile.
Meng Nanyi gasped for breath in great heaves, the exhaustion of surviving a near-death experience nearly making her faint.
It’s over… Finally over…
This thought alone filled her mind.
However, the expected unbinding didn’t come.
The matrons brought another, larger and redder apple, steadily placing it once more atop her head!
Meng Nanyi’s mind went completely blank!
“What are you doing! What do you think you’re doing…”Her lips trembled as she struggled to raise her voice in questioning.”
But no one responded.
“Next round, Sister Jiang’s turn!” Lei Rui announced with a smile.
Jiang Jiyue gracefully walked to the shooting line, accepting another bow from an attendant and elegantly nocking an arrow.
“No! Let me go! Help!”
Meng Nanyi completely broke down! She twisted frantically like a live shrimp thrown into boiling water! Her screams achieved the effect of an entire chicken coop invaded by a weasel!
Meng Xizhou idly picked his ear as he ambled near the wooden stake. “Little sister, quiet down. Sister Jiang’s archery skills are no less than mine. If your screaming distracts her judgment, perhaps… you might never make another sound again.”
Meng Nanyi’s struggles and wails ceased abruptly!
She bit her lower lip fiercely, not daring to utter another sound, her entire body as still as a platter of spicy chicken.
Seeing Meng Nanyi like this, Meng Xizhou couldn’t help but recall her previous life—after she escaped back to Hou Manor, Meng Nanyi had suggested an outing to lift her spirits. When the carriage made its routine stop, a heavily made-up old woman lifted the curtain and climbed inside. An inexplicable unease gripped her, and she instinctively clung to Meng Nanyi’s arm, who by then was already veiled.
The old woman scrutinized her from head to toe, muttering under her breath, “Look at that complexion—fresh from childbirth. Good. Some clients prefer married women.” Then, with a sly glance, she turned to Meng Nanyi beside her and stated, “Girl, final offer: twenty taels of silver.”
“Sister… what does this mean?” Meng Xizhou’s heart jolted violently, fear driving her backward.
Meng Nanyi shook off her grip, soothingly explaining, “Your abduction has already ruined your reputation. In Jingcheng, a woman without virtue is no different from a brothel worker. This hidden brothel is a place I specifically found for you to settle and make a living—I’ve already shown utmost benevolence.”
Meng Xizhou felt as if thunder had struck her, cold sweat instantly drenching her back. In that moment, she plummeted from heaven to hell!
She looked into Meng Nanyi’s eyes—those identical to her own—and found not a trace of guilt or remorse. As if selling her own twin sister, who had been kidnapped while saving her, into a hidden brothel was truly an act of righteousness!
…Now, letting Meng Nanyi taste the brink of death was but a small repayment.
Meng Xizhou wrestled free from her rage and hatred, crossed her arms, and calmly awaited Jiang Jiyue’s performance.
Jiang Jiyue paid no heed to any of this. Her delicate brows slightly furrowed as if concentrating on her aim, her arm swaying while she mimed drawing and releasing the bowstring.
Each twang of the taut bowstring made Meng Nanyi on the stake stiffen in terror!
As Jiang Jiyue prepared to release the arrow, Meng Nanyi hurriedly squeezed her eyes shut, only to open them again when no sound came after what felt like an eternity.
Under Jiang Jiyue’s teasing, Meng Nanyi alternated between closing and opening her eyes, her suspended heart unable to find rest.
Just as Meng Nanyi was about to be driven mad by this silent torture—
Whoosh—
Jiang Jiyue finally released the arrow!
The arrow sliced through the air!
Meng Nanyi’s dead-fish-like eyes widened to their limit, reflecting the approaching arrowhead!
Then the arrow grazed the top of her hair bun and embedded itself in the stake half a foot above her head.
“Hah…” Jiang Jiyue lowered her bow, sighing lightly in frustration. “I intended to place this arrow in your hair as a unique hairpin, but my skills are lacking, and I didn’t dare attempt it. If my aim had been off and it pierced your scalp… that would have been far too unsightly.”
Hearing this, Meng Nanyi swallowed a mouthful of saliva tinged with the taste of blood.
The matrons finally stepped forward to untie the ropes.
The moment the bonds loosened, Meng Nanyi collapsed limply to the ground.
Her posture was as wretched as leftovers fished from a slop bucket and tossed carelessly to stray dogs.
Jiang Jiyue cheerfully linked arms with Meng Xizhou, her voice light and lively: “Xizhou, are you enjoying the game? What would you like to play next round?”
Meng Xizhou pretended to ponder, tapping her chin lightly with a fingertip before parting her crimson lips: “How about… boating?”
The moment the words fell, the puddle of “leftovers” on the ground convulsed violently! Meng Nanyi snapped back to reality as if she had heard the most terrifying thing in the world!
Boating made falling into water almost inevitable!
What she feared most… was water!