Chapter 1425 - 1101: The Unpredictable Human Heart

Upon hearing the last sentence, Xiao Yuansui’s face froze slightly.

Shang Ruyi’s words were naturally praising Yu Wenye. Whether it was when she was first captured by Xiao Yuansui and taken into Xingluo Warehouse City, or when she was taken by Chu Yang to Jiangdu, it was always him who ultimately rescued her from danger. Especially when she was abducted by Ashina Zhuxie, it was he who risked the loss of the Crown Prince position, even taking the chance of himself falling into danger, or being buried in the grassland forever, that he forcibly rescued her from the Western Turkic Yatai.

Watching Xiao Yuansui’s lips twitch slightly but unable to utter a single word for a long time, Shang Ruyi slightly raised her chin and said, "If you want to demand a woman’s chastity, then first demand the ability of the man."

"..."

"If a man cannot protect a woman’s chastity, he cannot require the woman to maintain it."

"..."

"After all, chastity, apart from being demanded by men, is needed by no one else."

"..."

"Nor does it have any meaning."

Xiao Yuansui widened his eyes, listening with astonishment to what Shang Ruyi was saying. Only after hearing the last word did his expression slowly return to calm, yet it still held an unspeakable heaviness and confusion. After a long silence, he looked at Shang Ruyi, with a gaze filled with some admiration, but also an indescribable conflict, finally sighing, "You’re right."

After speaking, he suddenly smiled, "I really didn’t misjudge you."

Shang Ruyi frowned, "Oh?"

Xiao Yuansui replied, "Being able to protect yourself in such a chaotic world and in several life-and-death situations, you say it’s because of your good luck and because those who protect you are strong enough. But actually, it’s also because you have brains, have the dignity, and you yourself are strong enough."

Shang Ruyi said, "At least, I wouldn’t end my life for those two lines of poetry."

"..."

"Without a lover, I still have family, have friends. Each of them has once exerted every effort to protect me, care for me. If I really died, any of them shedding a tear for me would be enough to make me regret crawling back from the Yellow Springs, from hell."

After saying this, she looked at Xiao Yuansui, "You shouldn’t bully someone who has nothing."

Xiao Yuansui said nothing.

He might not feel much guilt, but looking down on a woman is one thing, "bullying" a helpless woman is another.

Having the power to control a woman’s life and death is something many men take pride in, but not for him. He possesses the ability to control the life and death of many, so he doesn’t weigh her life too heavily, nor her pain in death. Towards Lu Xiao, he harbors too many complex emotions, but he also knows, without love, a drifter like her, he cannot truly love, at most, just a bit of affection.

He just did not expect to receive such a rebuke from Shang Ruyi.

He looked at Shang Ruyi for a while and suddenly said, "Do you know that saying these things to me does you absolutely no good."

Shang Ruyi said, "Oh?"

"If you agreed to me, even if you pretended to agree, at least I would protect you, not let you suffer any grievances or harm; but now, you have let me know your mind, then to me, you are just a tool for exchange, or a means to threaten Yu Wenye."

Shang Ruyi slightly curled her lips, but it wasn’t a smile, rather an expression of helplessness yet calmness.

Of course, she knew, when she realized Xiao Yuansui had intentions towards her, she thoroughly understood why in the worst of times at Xingluo Warehouse City, with both sides fighting so fiercely, she could escape unscathed from his hands. The best choice for her at this time would be to feign civility, maybe find a chance to escape —though this chance was slim.

But she still expressed her true feelings, spoke her mind to Xiao Yuansui, completely severing that path.

It was just that she couldn’t take it.

Couldn’t take Lu Xiao’s years of wasted affection, and more so, couldn’t take her being a woman, being manipulated and bullied by a man like that.

Those words just now, at least served as a relief.

Now that she’s vented, it’s time to face the harsh reality. Shang Ruyi firmly clutched the golden earrings in her palm, calmly saying, "If you really want to use me to barter something, then it’s best to keep me intact."

"..."

"This, you don’t need me to remind you, right."

Xiao Yuansui watched her for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "The Princess needn’t worry. In fact, whether or not I use you for exchange, or regardless of how you respond to me tonight, I will do nothing to you."

"..."

"I am not exactly a paragon of virtue, not even a good person."

"..."

"But I do understand gratitude."

"..."

"At least, in my presence, I will not let anyone harm you."

Shang Ruyi said, "Thank you."

After saying these two words, she pressed her lips together. Although it was just a brief, almost fleeting moment of silence, it made her feel unbearable, so she immediately said, "Then, I’ll take my leave."

Xiao Yuansui nodded calmly without obstructing her, and with no more words to say, Shang Ruyi turned and walked out of the tent.

Once outside, she immediately exhaled a long sigh of relief.

In truth, she could somewhat foresee that Xiao Yuansui wouldn’t harm her, but human hearts are unpredictable. Until the last word was said, no one could be sure if Xiao Yuansui would be shamed and enraged, and hence take her life, or—without taking her life, merely cutting off a hand to send to Hulao Pass would be enough to disturb Yu Wenye.

Fortunately, this person is still something of a gentleman.

As she let out that breath, Shang Ruyi only then felt the coldness seeping through her body, realizing she had just broken out in a cold sweat, and as she walked out into the wind, her entire body was chilled to the bone. She shivered slightly and quickly made her way back to Lu Xiao’s tent.

Inside, it was as quiet as before.

She walked to the bedside and looked down. Lu Xiao was evidently still unconscious, just lying there quietly with a pale face, while the candlelight beside her flickered slightly, the wick nearly bowing into the wax, causing the entire tent’s lighting to grow dim.

Shang Ruyi hurried over, carefully pulled out a hairpin from her head, and gently adjusted the candle wick.

The flame reignited.

It was then she noticed that the golden earring she had been holding had disappeared. Frantically searching around, she turned her head and found the earring fallen by the bedside. She went over and crouched down to pick it up. At that moment, a hand, pale to the point of lacking any color, suddenly reached over and picked up the earring.

"...!"

Shang Ruyi was startled. Looking up, she saw it was Lu Xiao.

At some point, she had woken up. Her face had no trace of blood, but her eyes were strikingly red, as she quietly looked at the earring she had picked up.

"So, that’s how it is..."

Hearing her murmur to herself, Shang Ruyi was somewhat puzzled and surprised. Just as she was about to ask something, Lu Xiao suddenly swung her hand, using the sharp end of the earring to slash deeply across Shang Ruyi’s face!