Rip.
The sound of fabric tearing rang out suddenly.
In the darkness, Shen Ying felt a chill spread across her chest. Looking down, she saw that her clothes had already been ripped to shreds and thrown onto the ground, leaving only a chest covering to shield her most private parts.
She instinctively raised her hands to cover her chest. What do you intend to do?
You tell me. Those who serve the Imperial Noble Consort are all raised with such soft skin and delicate flesh. Didn’t you once look down on me and think me unworthy?
Xiao Mingyang’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and his eyes grew darker and more intense. He ran his fingers lightly across Shen Ying’s cheek, then moved slowly downward, brushing gently against her collarbone.
You are not all that special, really. You are even less appealing than the courtesans working in the pleasure houses.
His tone was filled with contempt, yet his hands did not stop their movements.
The sound of tearing fabric continued to echo around them. In the blink of an eye, Shen Ying’s clothing had been ripped into rags, leaving only a few tattered scraps that barely covered her body.
Shen Ying forced herself to endure the deep sense of humiliation, preparing to strike back with all her strength, when her eyes suddenly widened. She glanced toward the figure that had just regained consciousness and shook her head almost imperceptibly.
Don’t act recklessly. Your goal is the young prince, and you promised me that you would let me go.
Did I really? I seem to have no memory of making such a promise. It is said that a gentleman’s word is his bond, but I have never claimed to be a gentleman.
Xiao Mingyang took out a tinderbox and lit it, casting light across their surroundings.
A smile played at the corners of his mouth as he admired the effect of his actions, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Shen Ying’s smooth and tender skin as he leaned in closer toward her.
The man’s tall, powerful frame loomed over her, so near that they were almost touching.
Shen Ying trembled from head to toe, her breath catching in her throat. You…
Did you truly think I would go so far as to take you as my own? You are dreaming of things that can never happen. You are no longer worthy of me. Everything I have done was simply to humiliate you. In the past, you looked down upon me and refused me. Now, I have decided that I do not want you at all.
As if he had done all this simply to mock and torment her, Xiao Mingyang laughed aloud as he watched the look of shame and distress spread across her face, before standing up straight once more. Come along, and keep leading the way.
You really are the most despicable man I have ever met.
Shen Ying held back her anger as long as she could, but eventually could not stop herself from speaking those harsh words.
And what of it? You have no other choice but to obey me now.
Xiao Mingyang turned and continued walking forward.
Shen Ying struggled to her feet, fumbling around on the ground to gather a few pieces of tattered cloth to cover her skin as best she could. She cast a deep glance toward the corner of the passage, then continued to follow him.
Time passed slowly.
After walking for some time, Xiao Mingyang began to sense that something was wrong, and was about to lose his temper.
Suddenly, voices could be heard coming from the distance.
Sister Ying, is that you? I have brought the child with me to find you.
It was Wei Jinhu’s voice.
Shen Ying’s face turned pale. She was just about to call out a warning when her mouth was pressed shut tightly.
Xiao Mingyang pressed his lips close to her ear, his laughter cold and sharp. Heaven is truly on my side. They have walked right into my hands of their own accord.
Shen Ying was overcome with anxiety, breaking out in a cold sweat and struggling with all her might to free herself. Yet the difference in strength between a man and a woman was far too great, and on top of that, Xiao Mingyang was highly skilled in martial arts. He held her firmly in his arms, preventing her from making even the slightest sound.
Not far away, the sound of footsteps drew closer and closer.
Wei Jinhu’s voice drifted through the air. Are you absolutely certain that we are heading the right way?
Immediately afterward, Tudou’s young and childish voice rang out. Of course I am. Look carefully, these are the marks my sister left behind. We agreed that if we were ever separated, we would draw shapes of potatoes to guide each other. As long as we follow these signs, we will definitely be able to find her.
And Sister also said that she has already found Sister Ying.
As he spoke, Wei Jinhu and the others came into view not far away.
Tudou was even holding a small lit torch in his hand.
When he caught sight of Shen Ying, his face turned ashen with fear, and the timid boy instantly hid himself behind Wei Jinhu.
Everything is over. It is all finished.
The moment they came face to face, Wei Jinhu had not yet had time to understand what was happening when he was sent flying backward with a powerful kick. The infant he had been carrying was also seized and held firmly in Xiao Mingyang’s grasp.
Waaah… Waaah…
The several‑month‑old baby, suddenly taken into the arms of a stranger, opened his mouth and began to cry loudly.
Xiao Mingyang’s expression turned dark and stern, and he raised his hand as if he were about to strike the child.
Shen Ying cried out in alarm. Have you lost your mind? This is the young prince. To act with such disrespect and violence toward a member of the imperial family is a crime punishable by death. Do you not care about your own life?
So what if he is the young prince? He is destined to die regardless of what happens. All I need to do is bring his body back with me.
Are you truly certain that bringing back only a corpse will be enough to satisfy everyone? Do not forget the deep love and affection the emperor holds for the Imperial Noble Consort. What if, at some point in the future, he comes to regret this decision? What if he learns that it was you who took the young prince’s life? Can you imagine what the consequences would be?
Xiao Mingyang’s expression grew more and more grim and unpleasant to look at, yet Shen Ying continued to speak. I know exactly what you are thinking. You believe that no one will ever discover that you were the one responsible for his death. But there is an old saying that walls have ears, and secrets cannot be kept hidden forever. What if there are those who know for certain that the young prince was still alive when he first encountered you?
Paper can never wrap up fire forever.
No matter what one does, traces and evidence of their actions will always remain.
Xiao Mingyang had risen from the lowly position of being the son of a concubine in a noble household to the powerful status he held today, and he had achieved all this through being careful, cautious, and thorough in everything he did.
He slowly lowered the hand he had raised. Then what do you suggest we do? We cannot let him keep crying like this forever.
The interior of the passage was empty and still, and the sound of the child’s crying echoed loudly and clearly, becoming increasingly irritating and difficult to bear.
Shen Ying stepped forward cautiously. You could hand the child over to me to look after for the time being. After all, we are all nothing more than fish trapped on your chopping block, are we not?
Xiao Mingyang let out a cold laugh. You speak the truth.
The moment the child was placed into Shen Ying’s arms, he stopped crying immediately, and even let out a few soft, happy giggles.
The young child was as beautiful and delicate as a figure carved from jade and polished stone, utterly adorable, his eyes shining brightly whenever he smiled.
Xiao Mingyang glanced at him briefly, his expression filled with disdain and contempt. Keep moving forward and lead me out of this passage as quickly as possible.
Shen Ying lowered her eyes, casting a deep and meaningful look toward Wei Jinhu and Tudou. You two must not act rashly or try anything foolish. You are no match for him in battle. It is far better for us to simply do as we are told and stay safe.
Having said this, she turned back and continued to lead the way.
Half an hour passed.
At last, Xiao Mingyang realized that something was seriously wrong. Are you trying to make a fool of me? Why has it taken us so long to travel this distance?
He drew his sharp sword and pressed the blade against Shen Ying’s neck.
With a slight movement of his wrist, a deep, bleeding cut appeared on her skin, looking terrifying and painful as fresh blood flowed freely from the wound.
Shen Ying was wearing the rough cotton garment that Wei Jinhu had given her, and it was soon soaked and stained red by the blood.
Wei Jinhu clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking with the force of his grip, speaking through gritted teeth. What kind of man are you, that you would dare to raise your hand against a defenseless woman? If you have any real courage and strength, why not come and fight me instead… Ah!
Before he could finish speaking, he let out a sharp cry of pain and was once again sent flying backward by a heavy kick.
Shen Ying’s eyes twitched in annoyance, and her expression grew dark with frustration. Stop killing people. I am trying my best to lead you out, but it seems that we have lost our way. You need not worry, I will definitely find the correct path eventually. After all, I have no desire to be trapped in this place forever either.
Lost our way.
Upon hearing those three words, Xiao Mingyang’s chest heaved with rising anger, and his cold, dark eyes seemed to be filled with freezing ice. Did you do this on purpose?
Of course she had.
But she could never admit it to him.
Shen Ying shook her head rapidly from side to side, holding the child in one hand and pressing the other against the wound on her neck. I am not some all‑knowing deity. I have only traveled this path once before. If you do not believe me, you are welcome to try and find your own way out by yourself.
When she had questioned the bandits earlier, she had learned that the network of passages in this area stretched out in all directions, branching off into countless different paths. If one took even a single wrong turn, finding their way out again would be as difficult as scaling the heavens themselves.
This was exactly her plan—to delay him for as long as possible, giving herself time to find a way to turn the situation to their advantage.
Against overwhelming strength, all clever tactics and skills may prove useless.
Given their current abilities and power, there was no way they could defeat Xiao Mingyang in combat. Having no other options available to them, she had chosen to rely on strategy and cunning.
Slap.
The clear sound of a heavy hand striking flesh rang out, echoing through the entire passage.