Chapter 6: A Good Chess Piece

He spoke lightly, but Xie Yuming's expression had already changed.

He quickly lowered his head and apologized, "Your Highness, there's been a misunderstanding. I was just worried... worried that they might beat this woman to death, and when the Emperor blames us, I won't be able to bear the responsibility."

Suyutian turned his head slightly, looking at Xie Yuming thoughtfully. From Qingyuan's perspective, there was a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"Oh?" He drawled, casually smiling, "I ordered my men to do it. Even if the Emperor blames us, I will take full responsibility. What does it have to do with General Xie?"

Xie Yuming's handsome face stiffened, looking particularly unsightly.

Suyutian's lips curved, and he said with a smirk, "Or is it that General Xie thinks I can't handle what the Emperor ordered, and you want to share the burden for me?"

The last sentence was cutting. Xie Yuming was shocked and turned pale, stammering, "No, no... I dare not! I absolutely dare not!"

He knelt down, trembling. Qingyuan watched, her expression numb.

Kneeling, fawning, and lacking in integrity... not even a shred of a man's dignity. She didn't recognize the man before her.

Suyutian glanced at her, his eyes flashing. He suddenly smiled softly at her, "Princess Qingyuan, why be so stubborn? As the saying goes, when the skin is gone, where can the hair attach? Tang has fallen, what are you holding onto this ridiculous pride for?"

He then turned to Xie Yuming and said, "General Xie, you and the princess have some history. Why not persuade her? Even if the affection between husband and wife is gone, there's still the affection of old friends."

Xie Yuming's face turned ashen. After hesitating for a while, he looked at Qingyuan and said, "Qingyuan... being the Empress of Liang is your good fortune..."

Good fortune? Qingyuan felt her vision blur. There was something twisting in her chest, not painful, but gradually emptying.

She was his betrothed, the proud daughter of the Tang, a noble and dignified woman. She had loved him for nearly ten years.

For those thousands of days and nights, her heart held only this one man. But now, this man not only killed her relatives but also urged her to marry someone else with his own lips?

She wanted to laugh, but no sound came out. The pain was more excruciating than the lashes on her own body.

Suyutian smiled and said softly, "Princess, His Majesty has long admired you. Just give in. Otherwise, this journey of thousands of miles will be the death of you."

"Beauty, once it fades, is not even worth a dog."

He humiliated her to the extreme with that smile.

Finally, Qingyuan couldn't hold back and screamed at Xie Yuming, "Xie Yuming, you are worse than a beast, worse than an animal! Even if I turn into a vengeful ghost, I will haunt you! Just wait!"

After speaking, she collapsed to the ground, laughing hysterically. Blood gushed from her mouth, as if she wanted to expel every last drop from her body. Xie Yuming's face alternated between pale and green, and he eventually left in a huff.

Suyutian wiped the blood from his lips and looked at her disheveled appearance.

Tsk tsk... such a stubborn woman.

He smiled gently at her, "Do you want to die?"

Qingyuan trembled all over but remained silent. The whole scene was just a deliberate torment by him. The characters of a play, the hero, the heroine, the villain, and the clown, and she couldn't resist following his lead.

This man could even manipulate people's hearts. Was there anything in the world he couldn't do?

"Kill me..." she trembled and said these three words.

"Death is too easy, living is the challenge," Suyutian smiled and suddenly picked her up, "It's I who saved you. Whether you live or die is not up to you!"

After speaking, he carried her away in large strides...

Qingyuan felt dizzy, and a mixture of horse leather and a strange fragrance enveloped her. She wanted to struggle but had no strength. His embrace was too unfamiliar and too vast, locking her in without escape.

The soldiers who had been watching earlier all knelt down like the wind had blown them over.

She was in excruciating pain all over, as if ants were gnawing at her consciousness. In extreme confusion, she saw the soldiers who had mocked her before now showing reverence. It was a stark contrast to how they treated Xie Yuming.

She wanted to say something but passed out again.

...

This time, Qingyuan didn't remain unconscious for long, as cool water flowed past her lips.

She quickly opened her mouth to drink, but before she could, a pair of thin lips covered hers, and the cool water slid down her dry lips into her throat.

An unfamiliar breath invaded her, bringing an indescribable sensation. Qingyuan opened her eyes abruptly, and before her was a magnified handsome face.

She was stunned for a moment, and almost simultaneously pushed him away, her phoenix eyes narrowed in anger, "Dentuzi!"

Suyutian lazily wiped his lips and smiled, "You wanted to die, didn't you? Why care about your chastity now?"

Qingyuan's face turned pale, and she looked at him firmly, "What do you want from me?"

Her voice was hoarse, the earlier screaming had completely hurt her throat. The once earth-shattering voice was probably never going to be the same. But it didn't matter anymore. The homeland was destroyed, and her loved ones were already reunited in the afterlife. Who did she have left to sing for?

Suyutian's eyes sparkled, "Princess is so clever, can you guess?"

Qingyuan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled coldly. Her eyes grew even colder, "Your Highness, stop dreaming. I won't cooperate with you."

"Oh?" Suyutian raised an eyebrow, his eyes showing interest, "I haven't even said what I want the princess to do, and you've already guessed?"