Chapter 2

"I am not a homeless person; I was just robbed, lost my money, and accidentally ate the poisonous porridge..." Zhuminglang hurriedly explained.

"What's the difference? She has already achieved her goal," the Empress said coldly.

"What goal?"

Zhuminglang realized how foolish his question was as soon as it left his mouth.

What other goal could there be?

If the Empress were overthrown, there would be many ways to humiliate her. One of them would be to make her, the supreme ruler, sleep with a homeless person from the lowest rung of society. This relationship would instantly turn her proud and sacred image into something "vile" and "dirty."

Even the most humble rats in the streets could entwine with the most sacred Valkyrie. What difference would there be between her and a prostitute? Oh, no, at least prostitutes choose their clients.

After understanding this, Zhuminglang couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

It turned out he was being used as the most insulting tool against a woman. Indeed, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

"By the way, there were many other refugees who were poisoned with me. Could they also be...?" Zhuminglang suddenly remembered this.

"Do you want to die? I'll grant your wish right now," the Valkyrie's teeth were grinding, and her eyes were filled with a murderous light.

If she weren't so weak and powerless, she would have torn Zhuminglang apart.

"Ahem." Zhuminglang's face was full of embarrassment. Why did he have to bring up the topic he shouldn't?

The Valkyrie looked lost, but soon her gaze refocused. She stared at the small window, clearly thinking of a way to escape.

Although she wanted to kill the man beside her, the Valkyrie also gleaned a crucial piece of information from Zhuminglang's words: there were other homeless people imprisoned outside, not just him.

If a different man were sent in every day, she would rather bite her tongue and die than suffer such humiliation.

They had to find a way to leave here. She didn't want last night's events to happen again, and this was just the beginning.

"We need to find a way to leave here," Zhuminglang said seriously.

The Empress didn't really hear Zhuminglang's words. She hadn't completely lost her mind over this, nor had she gone crazy, cried, or lost control. Perhaps she felt that way inside, but she would only show her despair and pain after calmly solving the current predicament and avenging herself.

Zhuminglang felt he should take some responsibility, even though it was she who moved her waist first last night...

In any case, they needed to find a way to leave here.

"Great, little guy, you're awake," Zhuminglang suddenly said excitedly.

Zhuminglang opened his right palm and, like a magic trick, revealed a small, milky-white ice worm.

The ice worm's plump body occasionally rippled with a layer of tender, white flesh, making it look both clumsy and adorable. Its large eyes fluttered, revealing a hint of nobility.

The Empress glanced at Zhuminglang and, upon seeing the small white worm in his hand, snorted coldly.

Ignorant optimism, actually having the mind to play with a worm.

"Go, go and unlock it. I know you can do it," Zhuminglang said to the ice worm.

The ice worm climbed up the stone wall and quickly found the iron bars.

"Clank~~~~~"

Soon, the sound of the chain falling off echoed.

Seeing this, the Empress's eyes brightened, and her face couldn't hide her joy.

"Hehe, my little ice worm can do anything," Zhuminglang smiled at the Empress.

"Help me up," the Empress, feeling weak, clearly under the influence of some lingering poison.

She stepped on Zhuminglang's shoulders with her bare feet.

They struggled to climb out of the dungeon, and the Empress hesitated, looking back at Zhuminglang.

Zhuminglang stood in the dungeon, his eyes fixed on her.

Sure enough, the Empress turned and left the dungeon alone, leaving Zhuminglang behind.

Heartless!

The dungeon's stone walls were smooth, and without help, it was impossible to climb out.

"Women, the prettier they are, the less you can trust them," Zhuminglang shook his head helplessly. He was about to have the ice worm spin some silk to help him climb when he suddenly heard light, cat-like footsteps above his head.

"Put this on, I'll pull you up," the Empress had found two large burlap sacks somewhere in the dungeon, tearing them to make makeshift clothes.

Zhuminglang's face immediately lit up. He quickly put on the burlap sack and grabbed the Empress's delicate hand.

After all, they had been entwined all night!

...

After pulling Zhuminglang up, the Empress was panting, her chest heaving. It was clear the poison was still in her body. Despite her powerful martial skills, she was now no different from a weak woman.

"Follow me, and don't make a sound," the Empress whispered.

"Do you know this dungeon well?" Zhuminglang asked in a low voice.

"I used to imprison myself here."

Zhuminglang was full of doubts.

Imprison yourself??

Are you crazy?

...

The Valkyrie was indeed very familiar with the dungeon. Even without guards, Zhuminglang wouldn't have been able to find his way out on his own. The dungeon was like a maze.

In the end, they successfully escaped the city through a secret passage.

Outside the city, Zhuminglang smeared himself with dirty mud and also smeared two streaks on the Valkyrie's pale cheeks.

"Let's hide at my place for a while," Zhuminglang said.

The Valkyrie didn't respond, but it was a tacit agreement.

They walked out of the city. Soon, they saw squads of soldiers racing down the road, clearly the news of the Valkyrie's escape had spread.

...

After three days and nights of travel, Zhuminglang and the Valkyrie finally escaped back to Xiaosang Town.

Xiaosang Town was a place where silkworm farmers gathered. Many merchants from outside the city would come here to buy silkworms and silk materials. The increasing population made it a mixed and chaotic place.

The more outsiders, the better for hiding. Zhuminglang and the Valkyrie had been traveling day and night, barely resting during the day, and were utterly exhausted.

As soon as they entered their small courtyard, Zhuminglang rolled onto his bed and fell asleep.

The Valkyrie found two chairs, put them together, and lay down without a word.

She was also very tired, and the events of the past few days had dealt a heavy blow to her heart. However, she didn't fall asleep immediately. Recalling the events of the past few days, her eyes involuntarily moistened.

Zhuminglang, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly stopped snoring. He opened his eyes and looked at the Valkyrie, who was lying on her side, slightly curled up. He saw the tears hanging from her eyelashes and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Although their relationship was purely physical, Zhuminglang still felt a bit sorry for her.

For him, it was just a matter of drinking poisonous porridge, spending a night in the dungeon, and a few days of travel.

But for her?

She was the ruler of Yongcheng, stripped of her power and her chastity, and now had to hide in a small, stinky house full of silkworm droppings. The calmness and occasional loss of spirit she had shown over the past few days suggested that she hadn't easily forgotten the humiliation but was instead turning all her anger and humiliation into the resolve for revenge.