Chapter 145: The Wheel of Destiny Turns Again

Chapter 145: The Wheel of Destiny Turns Again

Xie Peiyu spoke coolly, "Do you think this prince would release a tiger back into the mountains for two unrelated people?"

The sneer on the other's face vanished, replaced by a fierce expression.

"Fine then. My life is worthless anyway, but it'll be worth it if these two noble ladies accompany me in death."

With her heart pounding, Zheng Jinyu, guarded by two covert agents, watched the tense scene unfold.

They were planning to kill the hostages.

This was how it unfolded in the original story.

No, Xie Peiyu wasn't Zheng Hongyan from the original text who didn't know Xiao Xuan. No matter what, Xie Peiyu wouldn't let Xiao Xuan die along with their child.

Zheng Hongyan had gone to the border for him, and he had promised Zheng Hongyan to protect his entire family.

He definitely wouldn't stand idly by and watch his wife die, leaving behind two lives.

Zheng Jinyu struggled to maintain her composure.

At that moment, Zheng Jinxiu, her face ashen with fear, cried out, "Ah, no… Brother Yu, save me! For the sake of our childhood friendship, please make them let me go."

Xie Peiyu's lips twitched in disdain. This fool.

He glanced at Xiao Xuan, whose belly was slightly rounded with pregnancy. She had been so frightened that she couldn't speak, her complexion deathly pale, with beads of sweat trickling down her face.

In reality, he was also incredibly tense. Zheng Hongyan had gone to the Southern Frontier for him. If his wife and child were to die here, how could he face him?

These captives could be caught again if they fled, but if Xiao Xuan were to perish, he would never be able to hold his head up high in front of Zheng Hongyan for the rest of his life.

But he couldn't show concern for Xiao Xuan. Instead, he anxiously stared at Zheng Jinxiu and said, "Release her, and I'll ensure you have a complete burial."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jinxiu immediately burst into tears of gratitude.

"Brother Yu, I knew you cared about me."

Xie Peiyu: "…"

Zheng Jinyu clenched her fists soundlessly, only to release them moments later, secretly stashing a dagger in her sleeve.

Upon hearing Zheng Jinxiu's words, the bandit leader regarded her with greater respect.

The prisoner, gesturing to a subordinate by his side, signaled for him to approach Zheng Jinxiu.

Now, two pairs of eyes were fixed intently on Zheng Jinxiu.

This fool.

Well, it would be for the best if she died.

"So you two know each other, Miss Zheng? Care to enlighten us on your relationship?"

"Why... why should I tell you?"

"Not telling me? Hah, Third Brother, scar her face."

A cold dagger brushed against Zheng Jinxiu's face, causing her to burst into tears from fear.

"Ahh, don't scratch my face. Speak, I'll tell you."

At the leader's signal, the dagger moved slightly away from her face.

Looking at Xie Peiyu, Zheng Jinxiu said pitifully, "We're... we're childhood sweethearts..."

As she gazed at Xie Peiyu's stoic expression, her intelligence seemed to have returned, and she refrained from uttering any more absurdities. Instead, she continued, "My elder brother is Zheng Hongyan. You know him, right? He's friends with Prince Chen, Xie Peiyu. They grew up as martial arts brothers. I'm the sister of these close friends, so... that's how it is..."

The bandit leader chuckled wickedly.

"Oh, so you're the sister of his good friend, huh? You two also grew up together, didn't you? No wonder you're so concerned about Miss Zheng, Xie Peiyu. I wonder if Miss Zheng's life is enough to exchange for our brothers' lives."

He tightened his grip on Zheng Jinxiu's hand, causing her tears to well up from the pain.

Xie Peiyu's gaze turned icy cold. He took a powerful crossbow from his attendant and aimed it at the man holding the knife to Zheng Jinxiu's throat.

The bandit felt a chill down his spine and immediately pulled Zheng Jinxiu in front of him as a shield.

Zheng Jinxiu trembled with fear, her lips quivering.

"Brother Yu..."

"I'll say it again. Release her, and I'll spare your corpses."

The bandit leader scoffed coldly, "I don't believe you dare to..."

Before he could finish his sentence, an arrow was shot.

It didn't hit the one holding Zheng Jinxiu but the person standing next to her.

A bloody hole pierced through the man's neck, and blood spurted three feet high.

How could a lady like Zheng Jinxiu, who had been sheltered in the depths of her home, witness such a gruesome sight?

She let out a terrified scream before fainting on the spot.

The bandits on the scene were thrown into chaos.

The bandit leader flew into a rage, "Xie Peiyu, do you think I won't dare to kill her?"

Xie Peiyu calmly took the arrow from his attendant and aimed at another person.

The bandit with the knife held it to Zheng Jinxiu's neck while supporting her unconscious body, clearly struggling with the effort and drenched in sweat.

With a swish, the arrow was shot.

This time, everyone was prepared, and the arrow missed its target, glancing off the man's backward dodge.

The bandit leader flew into a rage, tightening his grip on Xiao Xuan's throat.

The scar above his brow looked menacing and terrifying. "Fine, you don't care about Miss Zheng's younger sister's life. How about her then? Haha, Miss Zheng calls her Elder Sister-in-law, so she is Zheng Hongyan's wife, isn't she? Huh, she's even pregnant – do two lives mean nothing to you?"

Tears and sweat mingled together, sliding down the corners of Xiao Xuan's eyes. Her lips were pale, devoid of any blood color.

Due to her intense fear and tension, she felt a persistent ache in her abdomen, and her body began to weaken uncontrollably.

The iron chain around her neck tightened, and the sensation of suffocation made her momentarily believe that death was imminent.

Xie Peiyu also noticed her distress, and if they delayed any longer, the rescue might prove futile.

In that fleeting moment of emotional vulnerability, the bandit leader seized his opportunity – he had guessed correctly.

The ruthless bandit chief declared, "If she loses both her life and that of her child, how will you account for it to Zheng Hongxu?"

Xie Peiyu took a deep breath and set down his crossbow.

"Let them go."

"Your Highness..."

"You must not, Your Highness! If we let them escape, it'd be like setting a tiger loose; how would we face the Emperor then?"

"Let them go," Xie Peiyu commanded sternly.

The bandit leader was ecstatic. "Brothers, let's go."

"Yes, Big Brother."

"Prince Chen, rest assured. Once we're all safe, I promise to release this young lady unharmed."

"You'd better keep your word. Otherwise, this Prince will personally dismantle your den of thieves, no matter the cost."

"Of course."

The bandit leader loosened the iron chains around Xiao Xuan's neck and slowly retreated with her in tow.

However, Xiao Xuan had reached her limit and collapsed to the ground, weak and exhausted.

Both Xie Peiyu and the bandit leader were taken aback.

It was clear she could not endure much more with her condition.

Xie Peiyu pleaded urgently, "Release her now. She's with child and can't withstand any more of this."

"Impossible." The bandit leader was also worried; what if she were to lose her life?

As the two sides remained at loggerheads, tensions escalated once more.

Xiao Xuan was on the verge of collapse. She felt liquid seeping from between her legs, and soon, blood stained her skirt for all to see.

"Prince Chen, I... I can't hold on much longer," Xiao Xuan weakly spoke.

She had fantasized countless times about the look on her husband's face when he returned and she surprised him with their child in her arms. But now, she realized that chance had slipped away from her grasp.

Zheng Jinyu stood not far away, shielded by two shadow guards.

She clutched the dagger hidden in her sleeve, her heart pounding wildly.

Her sister-in-law's child was lost, and if this dragged on, she too would die.

She was still destined to perish at the hands of these bandits, no matter how much she struggled against fate. How could this be?