Chapter 529: Schemes Within Schemes at the Hongmen Banquet (31)

Chapter 529: Plots Within Plots at the Hongmen Feast (31)

"Uncle..."

Compared to the momentary panic of Yun Ji and the others, Su Rao froze for an instant before reacting. Then, she strained to turn her head despite the grip on her neck, to look at the uncle who held her, staring intently at him.

Her luminous peach blossom eyes, framed by enchanting brows, were suffused with a deep, rich hue, a crimson as vivid as the blood droplet that had just fallen from Su Da's spear onto the palace floor, shockingly bright.

"Un... cle..."

She called again, her breathing grew labored, yet her face bore an icy composure, lonely and desolate.

Especially as she stared at the Qin King, her own uncle, who had doted on her like a child not long ago but now held her hostage. His expression had finally shifted—impenetrably dark, a change so profound it felt utterly unfamiliar to her.

"Huff..."

Such a gaze from Su Rao was impossible to ignore. The Qin King let out a rough exhale, particularly as she wrenched her head to face him despite the risk to her neck.

Her stare, so direct and unwavering, burned with far more turmoil than when she had first seen him earlier. Though her face was calm, the Qin King easily sensed the emotions she hid beneath that stillness.

He understood clearly.

Su Rao was reeling with disbelief and confusion—disbelief at his actions, confusion over why he had changed so abruptly, offering no defense, no explanation, simply launching into action without explanation, as if confessing through deeds.

Uncle and niece locked eyes, the moment stretched, thick with tension, before the Qin King finally spoke, explaining why he had seized her.

"Rao Rao, you are far too clever. Having grown up in the Su family of warriors, if I hadn’t acted first, you would never have given me this chance—never left yourself so vulnerable against me."

Even as he held her, his tone remained gentle, even affectionate.

"Rao Rao, if you had spent over a decade in prison, enduring day and night, waiting for this moment, this scheme... you would understand me..."

"I don’t understand."

Su Rao cut him off sharply, her voice laced with a cold, bitter emptiness.

Understand what, exactly?

Understand how painstaking his plans were? How long he had schemed for this day? Or that his meticulous plans were on the verge of success, only to be ruined by Su Da’s sudden appearance?

So, he had no choice but to seize her like this.

If that was all, she could accept—his motives, his methods, even his years of endurance, his inability to trust anyone, not even his own niece.

But was that truly all?

Had he seized her without hesitation solely for those reasons?

Or was it because of Su Da’s arrival—not just his capture of the Imperial Guard, but his accusations that felt like a dark hand pushing her into darkness? A hand belonging to her own uncle.

If so, she would never understand.

"If you won't understand now, let it be. Perhaps you refuse to. I won’t force you. When I restore Great Qin’s dynasty, and you stand before the Imperial ancestral hall, seeing our hundreds of wronged ancestors and countless heroes of our house... then you will understand."

With that, he deigned no further words of explanation for Su Da’s accusations—accusations of treasonous collusion with the vassal states, opening Great Qin’s gates to invaders, leading to its downfall.

Those who understood would understand. If not, no explanation would suffice.

The affectionate gaze finally transformed, completely turning into a deep intensity, no longer concerned with how Su Rao felt. His eyes swept past to Su Da in the hall, who carried the legacy of old General Su encircling the Yunlang Tiger Tally.

He then glanced at his subordinates outside the hall. No matter how much effort he had spent training them, when faced with truly battle-hardened, valiant soldiers, they proved utterly outmatched—overpowered in mere moments.

The current situation was far worse than when he had meticulously plotted to gain control of Rong Palace. Those Yunlang army soldiers had effortlessly took control of the palace and ruined his plans, undoing a decade of careful planning he had meticulously laid out—all in an instant, so abruptly, so devastatingly...

His breathing turned ragged again.

Qin King held Su Rao, using her as a human shield in front of him, before shifting his gaze to Yun Ji and Xianyi Chishaou, both of whom were locked onto the hand clamped around Su Rao’s throat. Their breathing was uneven.

It was precisely because these two cared deeply that they feared even the slightest misstep might harm the one they cherished.

Such devotion, such profound affection for Rao Rao...

What did it matter if they were the Yunlang army or the valiant Su family?

As long as Rao Rao was by his side, both Yun Ji and Prince Yi would have to obey his words. However formidable the Yunlang army might be, they would have to lay down their weapons and surrender.

For Rao Rao’s sake, they would all yield.

"Both of you are outstanding talents, rare geniuses among the three kingdoms. Where could you not win a woman’s favor? Yet you choose to devote yourselves so deeply to my niece. Such profound affection warms my heart. Rao Rao is fortunate to have your care. Since it is her fortune, release Wu Yang first. Otherwise, wouldn’t it put Rao Rao in a difficult position?"

His heavy breathing gradually calmed as he spoke, becoming gentle and subdued.

Yet the depth in his eyes, the fathomless scheming, did not fade—instead, it grew thicker. The hand gripping Su Rao’s neck tightened slightly.

By choking her throat, he ensured she could not speak another word, could not utter even a whisper to Yun Ji or Xianyi Chishaou. It was also a warning to them: release Wu Yang, or else her uncle might harm Rao Rao.

*Crack...*

The sound of jade-like fingers tightening echoed, veins standing out on his pale hand. Even the silver-black mask could not conceal the turmoil in Yun Ji’s heart.

Xianyi Chishaou reacted similarly, glancing at Yun Ji.

Yun Ji, usually so composed—even when he had once yielded Su Rao to him—had never shown such anger before. But now, his fury was palpable.

"Yun Ji has said it before: from birth, he has never chased fame or fortune. In this life, he only wishes for one person’s peace and happiness. If she suffers even the slightest harm, no matter who the perpetrator is, Yun Ji will stop at nothing to ruin what they hold dear, to obliterate their hopes—relentlessly, unto death."

In the calmest tone, he spoke the most resolute words.

Without hesitation, Yun Ji freed Wu Yang from his restraints. Throughout, he did not spare Wu Yang a single glance, only making his stance clear to Qin King.

Then, his gaze settled on Su Rao.

Yun Ji remained Yun Ji, not reverting to Han Mochen, unaffected by Qin King’s threats involving Su Rao. Even if anger stirred within him, he was still Yun Ji.

Facing Su Rao, the corners of his lips curled into a faint, tender smile—one that could melt mountain snows and thaw frozen glaciers, willingly dissolving for her.

*Rao Rao, do not grieve. Yun Ji is here for all things.*

Su Rao, who had been so composed, now had tears welling in her eyes, blurring her vision but unable to obscure the warmth lingering in her gaze.

Her peach blossom eyes met Yun Ji’s. In that shared glance, Su Rao suddenly curved her lips and smiled back at him—a smile that spoke volumes.

She was not in pain, not at all. She had only felt cold earlier, so cold she had nearly trembled. But now, she was no longer cold.