But this time she actually spoke to beg him. Wanyan Jun felt his heart torn open.
Extreme anger and fear burned in his heart, but now it was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head – the flames suddenly extinguished. He hadn’t recovered yet and didn’t even know what he was doing. When he came to his senses, he had already untied Xu Kouyue’s ropes.
He knew he was taking a risk, but she had begged him! Wasn’t this the darkest desire he had always hidden in his heart all these years?
Even Xu Kouyue had forgotten this.
His heart had softened. Perhaps Xu Kouyue hadn’t lied to him – there was no succession edict. Though she was a captive, he had treated her well, and she only knew to cry when trouble came. This type of woman would submit after just a little suffering.
But these were only speculations – how could he dare trust Xu Kouyue! This woman had never felt anything for him. All her obedience was fake.
His heart struggled repeatedly. Though the ropes were loose, he still gripped Xu Kouyue’s shoulders tightly: “Don’t lie to me.”
He was clearly the absolute master of this power game, yet his tone faintly sounded like pleading.
The human heart was the most complex game in this world.
If you wanted to tower above everyone, you couldn’t feel emotion. If you felt emotion, don’t expect to remain invincible.
“I dare not lie to you.” Xu Kouyue was still sobbing.
“If you lie to me, I’ll have people torture your mother and your sister. Even if you die, I’ll have soldiers defile your corpse and throw you to the wilderness to feed dogs. You won’t find peace even as a ghost!”
“Fine,” Xu Kouyue looked at him hollowly and answered, “If I lie to you, we’ll go to hell together.”
Wanyan Jun released his grip and staggered back several steps.
He waved his hand, having the female servants attend to Xu Kouyue and return her to her room.
He temporarily spared her. He very much hoped Xu Kouyue hadn’t lied to him, but this matter was of great importance – he didn’t dare take risks. His surveillance and confinement of Xu Kouyue became even stricter. If there really was a succession edict, someone would definitely come to make contact. Wanyan Jun couldn’t completely abandon this possibility.
The plan to rescue Xu Kouyue was still being plotted when Nanyi suddenly received a temporary assignment.
There was a secret letter to be delivered to Bingzhu Division’s most mysterious spy, “Wild Goose.”
Because of Black Crow Camp’s overwhelming momentum, most of Bingzhu Division’s spies were in hiding, and Nanyi was a new face who wouldn’t arouse suspicion, so the message delivery fell to her.
This codename struck a chord in Nanyi’s heart. She had once assumed the identity of “Wild Goose” in front of Xie Xiaoliu, giving herself a safe situation, and because of taking that step, she had accidentally truly entered Bingzhu Division. She felt somewhat grateful to this person, yet also anxious, fearing exposure. She was even more curious about who “Wild Goose” actually was – someone who had seamlessly planned Prince Ling’an’s entry into the city and now lurked quietly in the shadows.
This string had been silent for so long it was nearly forgotten, when someone suddenly plucked it, causing quite an upheaval in her heart.
The Earth God shrine.
The Earth God statue that Gusha had once split in two had already been glued back together by nearby residents with clay. To hide the crack, they had wrapped vines around the statue, giving it a strange sense of vitality.
The incense burner had also been replaced with a new one, with scattered incense sticks inserted. It was strange to think that in chaotic times, the gods couldn’t even protect their own statues, let alone protect mortals. Yet every stick of incense burned represented the genuine helplessness and hope of those seeking divine aid.
Nanyi hid the secret letter’s bamboo tube in the incense ash. By rights she should leave immediately, but she couldn’t help pacing around a nearby street corner, wanting to see who would come for the rendezvous.
Nanyi nervously watched the people coming and going on the street – all unfamiliar faces.
As for who Wild Goose was, she had a vague suspicion deep in her heart… but that suspicion was too bold and absurd, and she denied it herself every time it surfaced.
Who would come?