16 - Trap

Chapter 16 – Trap

The masked leader entered the room and straightaway sat on the main seat. Due to the darkness in the room, his body was shrouded in the shadows and Bai Yuxiao could not even see his eyes clearly.

Although he sat there without speaking, he signaled to the man beside him with his eyes. After the man received his leader’s silent order, the man started to question her.

“The last time when we sent people to assassinate Ling Wang , you sabotaged our mission. Who are you?”

Bai Yuxiao had guessed correctly……..they are really those assassins!

But how did they know she saved Ling Wang ? She had obviously done it in secret and now she dares not treat them lightly.

When she did not respond, the subordinate threatened. “If you don’t answer, I’ll kill your maid!”

Without any choice, Bai Yuxiao was forced to reply. “I’m Ling Wang’s concubine. Of course, I’m on the same path as him……..do you still need to ask?”

When she said those words, she did not notice that a sparkle flashed across the eyes of the man sitting on the main seat. He deliberately sat in the shadows and deliberately prevented her from having a clear view of him but from his seat, he could see the changes in her expressions.

The masked man who was questioning her turned his head around to look at the leader sitting on the main seat. Then he bent down to listen as the leader gave orders in his ear.

Then the masked man turned around to ask her. “Since you’re a concubine of Ling Wang and you also can’t leave the mansion without permission, then how did you learn about our plot and saved Ling Wang ?”

As a constable, Bai Yuxiao naturally had interrogated other people before. She wondered why his question sounded a bit weird. Besides, if she wants to leave the mansion, she will just do it……..what has this to do with these people? How can she tell them that she incidentally chanced upon them whilst she was out investigating a case? If these people knew, it would be surprising if she is not killed by them!

“I was worried about the Wangye ’s safety, so I secretly followed him, and ruining your plan was just a coincidence.” She casually made up a reason but the eyes of the masked leader in the main seat flashed once more.

The man who was questioning her leaned towards the leader again with his head lowered as he listened to the orders.

In her heart, Bai Yuxiao was thinking why is this man pretending to be mysterious?

If you want to ask questions, why can’t you ask them yourself?

Usually, the people who do not speak are those who do not want others to hear their voices as they are afraid that others will recognize their voices and their identities will be exposed………

Thinking up to here, Bai Yuxiao suddenly felt something flashed through her heart.

The masked man asked again. “From which school did you learn your martial arts? With your martial skills, you don’t have to remain in the royal mansion’s inner courtyards. Are you plotting something else? Hurry up and answer!”

Upon hearing this, no matter how stupid Bai Yuxiao is, she could already guess what is happening. Astonishment flashed in her eyes and with great effort, she managed to keep her emotions under wraps without revealing anything on her face.

At the same time, she sighed. It looks like she had fallen into a trap.

These people were obviously trying to pry information from her and they were not assassins at all.

From what she can see, these people are Si Liujing’s subordinates and the masked leader sitting on the main seat is Si Liujing himself!

The moment she thought Si Liujing is the leader, she suddenly remembered something and her heart instantly jumped.

Damn! If he is Si Liujing…….isn’t it disastrous that she had kicked his family jewels? Will he take revenge on her?

Bai Yuxiao’s mind quickly turned. Suddenly she had a flash of inspiration and decided to take a risk.

“ Wangye is straightforward and upright, diligent in government affairs, and cares for the people. He fought in the Northwest Mountain Pass and resisted the barbarians for our Daxing Dynasty. He is the pillar of our great prosperity and the rock of the empire. If you think that just a few of you can deal with the Wangye , then you’re oblivious of your strength! Even if you threaten to take my life, I won’t betray the Wangye ! You can kill or slash, do as you wish!”

After speaking coldly, she closed her eyes and did not look at any of them. Her awe-inspiring determination to die and great righteousness without the fear of being forced by strong forces showed she possessed the undefeated spirit of a woman.

Kill or slash? All the masked men looked at their masked leader sitting on the main seat. They received orders from their master to attack the carriage and kidnap the people and were also warned not to hurt the people. Because of that, they had to be mindful when they attacked. However, not only did both the mistress and servant rewarded them with punches and kicks, even their master was not spared.

This is indeed a serious crime that can result in being beheaded!

Now the woman says that she would rather die than surrender but without any command from their master, even if the men had shining big swords in their hands, who would dare to hurt her even a little?

After all, she is still the Wangye ’s Bai Liangdi and only the Wangye can touch her.

Si Liujing was silent as his pair of sharp eyes stared at Bai Yuxiao from behind the mask.

His suspicion is correct, she is Shui’er!

He deliberately withdrew the surveillance team and ignored her to allow her to let down her guard. After waiting for several days, he received a report that she was going out of the mansion to Ning’an Temple to offer incense. Therefore, he set up this trap, and unexpectedly, he was able to draw her out.

This girl has been hiding from him these past few months and he had suffered miserably. He has been searching for her for several months and no matter how he tested her, she always put up a pretense and refused to admit it.

He was even unaware that there is such a woman hidden in the inner courtyards of his mansion. Not only is she skilled in martial arts, but she is also smart and courageous.

His lower abdomen was still throbbing with pain and he should teach her a lesson for kicking him. However, when he heard her say that she would protect him regardless of her own life, his gaze softened.

That’s true……..she sacrificed her life to save him and took care of him for a whole month. She said she was willing to die for him and he believed her.

Taking this point into consideration, he should not dispute with her over the throbbing pain in his lower abdomen. Moreover, even if he did not dispute with her, he can still seek compensation from other places to make up for it………..

The corners of Si Liujing’s mouth slowly hooked up into a handsome curve.

Si Liujing stood up and walked out of the shadows. Then he suddenly pulled off the piece of cloth that masked his face.

“Everyone retreat.”

All subordinates immediately retreated including Shuang’er who was being held captive and she was dumbstruck when she saw the Wangye ’s face.

After everyone had retreated, there was only the two of them left in the room. Although Bai Yuxiao had guessed that the masked leader is Si Liujing, she still felt shocked when he tore off the cloth mask from his face in front of her.

“ Wangye ?”

Si Liujing was very satisfied when he saw her dazed expression and he instantly snorted coldly.

“If Benwang didn’t make this move, I wonder how long you’ll keep me in the dark. You can really good in pretending.”

Bai Yuxiao knelt immediately.

“ Wangye is brilliant! This concubine is no match for Wangye and is found out by Wangye . This concubine should be punished.”

Although she admitted her mistakes straight away, she must still be punished. As to what punishment she would receive, he would mete out punishment as per his wish since she is his woman.

He walked towards her slowly and bent down to speak into her ears with his threatening and magnetic voice as his breath sprayed on her.

“Tell me, how should Benwang punish you?”

Bai Yuxiao lowered her head and answered in a low voice. “This concubine doesn’t know.”

“Don’t know……..what about killing your maid?”

Bai Yuxiao looked up anxiously.

“This has nothing to do with Shuang’er. It’s this concubine’s fault. The person who did the deed must shoulder the responsibility. If Wangye wants to mete out punishment, then punish this concubine. Don’t punish others who didn’t commit any wrong.”

“Huh, who said she didn’t commit any wrong? Her mistress sneaked out of the royal mansion and as a servant, she helped to hide the fact, so she should be beheaded!”

If he really wanted to behead Shuang’er, he would not have told her in this place. Bai Yuxiao knew Si Liujing only wanted to complain and since he tore off his mask in front of her, it meant there was still room for negotiation. Probably, the words she spoke just now to show her loyalty were effective, but those words of hers were true and sincere.

Bai Yuxiao is a person who knows how to adapt to the situation. Since there is room for negotiation, she will adopt a low stance to show her weakness to dispel his anger.

Thus, she knelt and moved forward on her knees to hug his thigh.

“ Wangye , this concubine pleads! Servants also have their sufferings as servants. The maidservant of this concubine is unable to make decisions because she is also forced by this concubine. Wangye should only punish this concubine and this concubine won’t have any complaints. Consider this concubine had once saved Wangye and please spare the servant’s life. This concubine will be at the disposal of Wangye .”

“Oh? Really at my disposal?”

“As long as Wangye ’s anger can be dispelled, this concubine is willing even if Wangye wants to cut off this concubine’s pair of hands or legs.”

Cut off her hands and legs?

She can really say those words but how can he bear it?

After much difficulty, he finally found her and he could not wait to hold her in her arms and love her. However, the words he wanted to listen to were not these.

He had searched for her for several months and all this while she was in his royal mansion. When he tested her, she did not immediately admit nor did she seize the opportunity to please him. On the contrary, she had retreated.

Does that mean she does not care for him?

At first, it was agreed she would follow him but in the end, she left without saying goodbye.

Can it be that all those sweet words she spoke to him were perfunctory?

When he thought of himself searching everywhere for her like a headless fly while she resided peacefully in the rear courtyard of the royal mansion supported by him, eating well and sleeping well…….how could his fury be suppressed?

It seems like he has to let her know who the master is……….and also let her know he is her husband!

“Men!”

Two subordinates walked in immediately with their masks pulled off.

Sure enough, they were indeed the guards from the royal mansion!

“Subordinates are here!”

“Escort them back to the mansion!”

“Yes!”

Bai Yuxiao did not dare to speak anymore as she could see that Si Liujing was truly angry.

When the guards stretched out their hands to pull Bai Yuxiao up from the ground, Si Liujing’s sharp eyes looked piercingly at them which made the two guards stiffened and unable to understand what was happening.

Bai Yuxiao kindly reminded them. “I am the Wangye ’s woman. How can you touch me?”

The two guards immediately released her and cried bitterly in their hearts.

The Wangye told them to escort them back to the royal mansion……..but doesn’t the word ‘escorting’ means ‘arresting and escorting’ them back?