Upon hearing Qin Wan's words, Gu Baizhi's beautiful eyes narrowed sharply, then widened slightly in shock. She pressed her lips tightly together, her hands clenched into fists, her fingertips turning white from the force.
But Gu Baizhi knew she couldn't show her vulnerable side to these people. She forced herself to remain calm.
"What is your relationship with the Southern Barbarian King?!"
"What relationship? Just a partnership of interests. We have nothing to do with the Southern Barbarian King. Sister Baizhi, aren't you curious about what you mean to us?"
Gu Baizhi didn't speak, but stared fiercely at Qin Wan.
Qin Wan saw Gu Baizhi's fierce expression and pretended to be scared.
"Little Baizhi, stop staring at me like that! I'm just telling you!"
"You have always been our most important bargaining chip, the only bargaining chip that can bring down Qin Muxue, the only bargaining chip that can seize the imperial power."
"You betrayed your country and cooperated with the Southern Barbarian Kingdom for the sake of imperial power? I'm sure the Southern Barbarian Kingdom's recent actions on the border of the Western Qin Kingdom were your doing! All this was to lure Qin Muxue away from Qinzhong City so that you could carry out your own schemes!" Gu Baizhi said angrily.
"Bai Zhi is indeed clever! Now, guess what we'll do next!"
Gu Baizhi was clearly disgusted by Qin Wan's manipulative behavior.
"......"
A silence fell over the cage.
"Sister Baizhi is really boring. How will she win the favor of the Southern Barbarian King when we arrive in the Southern Barbarian Kingdom?"
Gu Baizhi knew that Qin Wan was deliberately insulting her, and she tried her best to calm herself down and not let herself break down.
Qin Wan also noticed Gu Baizhi's trembling body. Although she had no need to break Gu Baizhi's spirits, she still inexplicably gave her another push on the other's already crumbling mental defenses.
"Sister Baizhi, you're not worried about not serving the Southern Barbarian King well, are you? But I believe that with your beauty, as long as you behave well, the Southern Barbarian King will definitely not mistreat you, haha~"
A mocking laugh escaped Qin Wan's lips, relentlessly eroding Gu Baizhi's mental defenses. Tears began to stream uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes. Gu Baizhi lowered her head, not wanting Qin Wan to see her crying, and tightly pursed her lips to suppress any sobs.
Qin Wan, seeing Gu Baizhi's already crumbled psychological defenses, intended to continue humiliating and trampling on Gu Baizhi's dignity, to utterly destroy her spirit. Suddenly, a maid rushed in.
"My lord!"
"What's wrong?"
"The poison intended for Prince Qin has been smuggled from the Southern Barbarian Kingdom to outside Qinzhong City. Your Majesty needs to personally intervene."
"I understand, I'll go right away."
After saying that, he ordered the man to leave.
She stepped out of the cage and locked the cage door herself.
"Be a good girl in there, okay, Bai Zhi? The Southern Barbarian King will take you back in a few days." With that, he left the cell. Gu Bai Zhi was left alone, sitting on the cold floor of the cell. The cold chains clanged against each other with a "tap-tap" sound.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, dripping onto the ground.
She buried her head in her knees and sobbed alone in the dark, gloomy cage.
The next morning, at the border of the Western Qin Kingdom.
"Chi Jing, what are your thoughts?"
A cold and ruthless voice came from the main camp of the Western Qin army.
"The Southern Barbarian Kingdom has indeed deployed its main force on the border, but it hasn't launched an attack, as if it's deliberately luring our main force here. But why? Doing so would be of no benefit to them. The area where the Western Qin Kingdom borders the Southern Barbarian Kingdom is only this one side. What's the point of attracting our main force with a feigned attack?"
Just then, a soldier entered the barracks.
"General, someone outside the camp requests an audience!"
"who?"
"The other party claimed to be the eldest prince of the Western Qin Kingdom, saying that he wanted to negotiate something with the Qin general."
"What does Qin Yu want here? Okay, I understand. Tell him to wait a moment, you can leave now."
"Yes," the soldier said, and walked out of the tent.
"Commander Qin, what brings Prince Qin to see you? It seems a bit strange that he came all the way from Qinzhong to the border to find you." Chi Jing knew about Qin Muxue's relationship with her brother and sister. Although they weren't exactly enemies, they were close enough to be considered bitter enemies.
"I don't know, but they definitely have ill intentions."
After saying that, Qin Muxue picked up her sword and walked out of the tent, with Chi Jing following closely behind.
Upon arriving outside the camp, Qin Yu leaned against the door, his eyes filled with arrogance and a mocking smile playing on his lips.
What are you doing here?
Qin Muxue got straight to the point.
"Qin Muxue, now that you're in a higher position, why don't you even call me 'brother' anymore?"
"Get to the point quickly, I don't have time to waste with you."
"Don't say that, I think you'll talk to me~" Qin Yu said, taking out a ring from his pocket and waving it in front of Qin Muxue. It was Gu Baizhi's storage ring.
"you!"
"Shh-"
"General Chi Jing, please excuse me for a moment. I have something to discuss with my third sister."
"Chi Jing, you go back to the military camp first," Qin Muxue said, turning to Chi Jing.
"Yes!" After saying that, Chi Jing turned around and returned to the military camp.
Qin Muxue drew her sword from her waist and held it to Qin Yu's neck, glaring at him angrily.
What did you do to Gu Baizhi?
"If Third Sister wants to protect her safety, you'd better put down your sword, otherwise I can't guarantee her safety."
"you!"
Although Qin Muxue desperately wanted to swing her sword at Qin Yu, she put the sword back into its sheath for Gu Baizhi's safety.
"That's more like it~ I know you're very worried about her, but don't worry, we won't hurt her. But you need to promise me you'll go somewhere, and remember, you can only go alone. You're not allowed to bring your dragon with you, otherwise..."
Where is it located?
"It seems Third Sister is truly anxious to save his wife. Here's the location. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now. Remember, to ensure her safety, you must come alone, otherwise... you know what will happen."
After saying that, Qin Yu tossed the ring to Qin Muxue and turned to leave.
"......"
Qin Muxue gripped the ring tightly and turned to walk towards the military camp.
"Commander Qin!"
Qin Chijing stood at the entrance of the military camp, having overheard the entire conversation between Qin Muxue and Qin Yu.
"Commander Qin, this is a trap! You can't..."
"She is my wife, I must go find her."
"but..."
"Alright, Chi Jing, there's no need to try to persuade me anymore. Even if they've set a trap for me, I don't believe they can do anything to me!"
Qin Muxue's words were true; across the entire Nine Provinces, there were few who could rival her. Qin Chijing didn't try to persuade Qin Muxue any further, because once Qin Muxue made up her mind, no one could stop her.
"Tomorrow, I'll need your help with the mundane tasks at the military camp."
"Commander Qin, you flatter me. This is simply my job."