Chapter 285: Nowhere to Run, She Can Only Resign to Fate

Chapter 285 She Had Nowhere to Escape and Could Only Accept Her Fate

Xiao Huaijin subconsciously stepped forward, firmly shielding Jiang Shuning behind him, his expression was ice-cold.

He took out a dragon-and-phoenix carved waist tablet from his belt, raised it high, and spoke in a low, commanding voice: “I am Prince Ning, of the Da Ye imperial bloodline! If you dare to harm me in the slightest, have you considered the consequences?”

The leading masked man, however, remained completely unmoved, a glint of disdain flashing in his eyes as he snorted coldly: “Prince Ning, so what? You can’t even protect a weak woman—you’ve utterly disgraced the imperial family!”

“You!” Xiao Huaijin’s face turned livid with rage, his chest heaving violently. He was about to speak again when Jiang Shuning, behind him, grabbed his sleeve tightly.

“Prince Ning, do not confront them head-on!” Jiang Shuning said in a low voice, her slender fingers turning white from the force.

Although Xiao Huaijin held royal status, out here in the wilderness, isolated and outnumbered, how could he stand against this band of murderous thugs?

“Miss Jiang, don’t be afraid! I will protect you!” Xiao Huaijin glared fiercely at the masked man, his eyes bloodshot, his brows furrowed like a cornered beast ready to fight to the death. “If you want to touch her, you'll have to step over my dead body first!”

Hearing this, the masked man sneered, his sword tip pointing straight at Xiao Huaijin’s chest, his tone dripping with contempt: “Quite the bold talk! Men, seize that woman, and spare me your nonsense!”

As his words fell, several masked men responded in unison, their blades glinting coldly as they closed in, charging aggressively at Xiao Huaijin.

Seeing this, Jiang Shuning’s heart clenched.

She suddenly stepped forward and shouted sternly: “Stop!”

Her gaze fixed on the leading masked man, her voice trembling: “Release Prince Ning, and I—I'll do whatever you want!”

“Miss Jiang, no!” Xiao Huaijin’s expression changed drastically, and he frantically tried to pull her back.

Jiang Shuning turned and gave him a reassuring look.

Then, taking a deep breath to steady herself, she walked step by step toward the masked man.

“That’s more like it!” the masked man sneered, a hint of smugness in his tone, a frivolous smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “This so-called Prince Ning can’t protect you at all! You might as well come with me and be my bandit bride—much more enjoyable and free!”

Listening to his arrogant words, anger burned in her heart, but she kept her face calm.

She lowered her gaze, hiding the coldness in her eyes. When she was close enough to the masked man, her fingers stealthily reached into her sleeve—where a delicate sleeve crossbow was hidden, a self-defense tool she had prepared.

Just as she silently triggered the mechanism and the arrow shot out with a “swish,” the masked man seemed to have anticipated it. He sidestepped, nimbly dodging the arrow.

Gritting her teeth, she fired three more arrows in quick succession, unwilling to give up. But he was agile, evading each one without a scratch!

“Madam, how could you try to trick me?” the masked man said in a teasing tone, though a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He suddenly reached out, seized her wrist, and pulled her into his embrace, whispering with a cold laugh, “It seems you still need some… discipline.”

Seeing this, Xiao Huaijin’s eyes blazed with fury, veins bulging on his forehead: “Let her go! I’ll kill you!”

He struggled with all his might, but the masked man’s subordinates pinned him down firmly, immobilizing his limbs. He could only watch helplessly as Jiang Shuning fell into the other’s grasp.

At that moment, the little white snake named Xiao Bai, coiled around Jiang Shuning’s wrist, shot out like lightning and bit the masked man’s arm hard.

Sharp pain hit him, but he only frowned slightly, seemingly unfazed. He casually forced Xiao Bai’s mouth open, tossed it aside, and stomped on it heavily.

Jiang Shuning’s pupils contracted sharply. She stared in shock, hardly believing her eyes.

Her heart sank. She forced down her panic, and spoke with a trembling, pleading tone: “I was reckless just now, overestimating myself. I beg the gallant sir not to be angry. If you would only release Prince Ning, I am willing… willing to go with you!”

“You shot arrows at me, then had a snake bite me, and now you think a simple ‘beg the gallant sir not to be angry’ will make it all go away? Who do you take me for?”

The masked man’s voice grew icy, a sinister glint in his eyes. He tightened his grip on her wrist so painfully that she almost winced.

“What exactly do you want?” Jiang Shuning gritted her teeth, enduring the sharp pain in her wrist.

The masked man gave a cold laugh, his gaze roaming over her with undisguised contempt. His tone carried a hint of mockery and malice: “How about this: there’s a cave ahead. If you can serve me to my satisfaction, I’ll let this Prince Ning go. What do you say?”

At these words, Xiao Huaijin felt as if struck by lightning.

His eyes turned crimson, and he roared in a hoarse voice: “Miss Jiang, absolutely not! Release her immediately, or I will make sure you all die a miserable death!”

His voice was almost hoarse, filled with heart-wrenching despair.

But the masked man paid no heed. He sneered, casting a contemptuous glance at Xiao Huaijin: “Prince Ning, you’d better worry about yourself first! You can’t even protect yourself, yet you still bluster and shout?”

Jiang Shuning bit her lower lip, a determined flash in her eyes: “Fine… I agree!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huaijin’s face turned pale. He struggled to rush forward, crying out desperately: “Miss Jiang, no! You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for me!”

The masked man chuckled lightly, a note of triumph in his laughter.

He leaned close to Jiang Shuning, then effortlessly lifted her horizontally in his arms. Right in front of Xiao Huaijin, he strode toward a cave nearby.

Inside the cave, it was pitch dark. The damp, cold air smelled of earth, and the thick darkness was almost impenetrable.

He carried her into the cave, and her heart felt as heavy as a stone, suffocating her.

He pressed her against the rough stone wall. The icy cold seeped through her clothes, making her shiver.

His hand slowly lifted the hem of her skirt. His cool, rough fingertips, like an icy snake, crept upward along her long leg with an invasive, probing touch.

Soon, his breathing became rapid and heavy, and the air thickened with a suffocating pressure.

He pulled off his mask, leaned close to her ear, and whispered in a low, husky, and malicious tone: “What do you think Prince Ning would think if he heard our lovemaking?”

Jiang Shuning felt a wave of nausea.

Suppressing her humiliation and anger, she spoke in a cold, restrained voice in the darkness, each word as sharp as a blade: “Your Highness, have you had enough fun? You've humiliated Prince Ning enough. Your goal is achieved. Can you stop now?”

The atmosphere in the cave froze instantly, as if the air itself grew heavier.

After a moment of silence, a low, scornful laugh broke the stalemate.

“Shuning is indeed clever.” The voice was no longer disguised, low and familiar, carrying a hint of coldness. “When did you discover my identity?”

Jiang Shuning took a deep breath, struggling to calm her chaotic mind, and said slowly, steadying herself: “I figured it out the moment Xiao Bai bit you. Your Highness, Xiao Bai is venomous—anyone bitten would be paralyzed. But you showed no such symptoms. Who else but you could be immune to Xiao Bai’s poison?”

Her voice carried a hint of self-mockery and helplessness. Though she could barely see in the darkness, she still looked straight in his direction: “I overestimated myself, foolishly trying to escape your control. Now that I'm in your hands, I deserve it. I will accept any punishment you wish to give me. But Prince Ning only acted on my request—he is innocent. As long as you let him go, I'll do whatever you want!”

Her tone carried a sense of deadened resignation.

Xiao Lingchuan was about to embark on his western campaign. On such an important day, he had managed to deceive everyone by disguising himself as a bandit and following her all the way here.

What lengths would this man go to just to keep her trapped in his grip?

She had no way to escape and could only accept her fate.

Xiao Lingchuan laughed coldly, devoid of warmth: “What, you think a mere ‘I'll do whatever you want’ will quell my anger? Even if I kill Xiao Huaijin, you still can't escape my control! Since that's the case, why not take the opportunity to disguise myself as a bandit and kill Xiao Huaijin? That way, I’ll no longer have to worry about someone coveting my wife! Only by cutting off all your escape routes can I feel at ease!”

Jiang Shuning’s heart jolted, her back stiffened instantly.

She knew Xiao Lingchuan's nature too well—he was not a man of mercy. If he said he would kill Xiao Huaijin, it was no empty threat.

She pleaded, "Your Highness, please don't hurt Prince Ning! It's all my fault. I forced Prince Ning to take me away. I overestimated myself. If you are angry, take it out on me. Please don't involve the innocent..."

"Enough!" Xiao Lingchuan abruptly interrupted her, his tone impatient and cold. "In that case, I will give you a chance. If you cooperate with me in putting on a show, I will spare Xiao Huaijin's life for now!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuning felt as if she had been given a reprieve and asked hastily, "What do you want me to do, Your Highness?"

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Lingchuan roughly tore open the sash at her waist. The cold air suddenly assaulted her skin, causing her to shiver.

Xiao Lingchuan leaned close to her ear, his voice low and suggestive with undeniable authority: "Naturally... turn the pretense into reality."