Chapter 109: No

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“No. You do not want to go back. Do not force yourself because of me.”

At present, Sino Sang’s only goal was to return to the capital, to Sang Residence. She had never expected Qin Shuang to set her sights on her.

If she refused to hand over this so-called gemstone, she would be giving up her peaceful life. Yet she absolutely could not give it to Qin Shuang either.

“I am fine. I am old enough now to face certain things. I cannot go on like this. I have to face them.”

Looking at Sino Sang, Ye Xuan shook his head. None of this had anything to do with her; it concerned his own people. Although he put it that way, Sino Sang did not believe him. They had not known each other for long, but she already understood enough of his character.

“Ye Xuan, I will never give this to her. And she will not stop simply because I have gone to the Ye Estate. This trouble has become intertwined with my life. As long as I am alive, I cannot give it to her, because it is the only thing connecting me to my homeland.”

Sino Sang made herself perfectly clear, and Ye Xuan remained just as determined.

At that moment, however, the carriage suddenly came to a halt.

“Coachman, what happened?” Sino Sang asked.

“Miss Si, someone has blocked the road ahead,” the coachman replied.

“We are getting out.”

Sino Sang looked at Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan nodded. Through the carriage curtain, he saw a group of mounted men, each wearing a sword at his side. They clearly had no good intentions.

The two of them cautiously stepped down from the carriage and looked at the five or six men before them.

“What do you want?”

It was probably better to speak plainly. Beating around the bush was not her style.

Sino Sang spoke first.

“I planted this tree, and I opened this road. If you wish to pass, leave behind some money for the road.”

“Oh, so you want money! You should have said so sooner. How much?”

Sino Sang was generous. If a problem could be solved with money, it was no problem at all. Seeing her speak so readily, the men exchanged glances.

“One hundred taels.”

“That much? We do not have it.”

Ye Xuan answered before Sino Sang could. They could not appear too wealthy, or these men would keep raising the price. Still, he had no qualms about dealing with a few petty thugs. Anyone who went looking for trouble deserved no more courtesy than a warning.

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“Then leave the young lady behind. Hand over all your money, and I will let you pass.”

One of the men pointed a broad saber at him.

“What a joke. I will not give you even a single coin, and I will not leave anyone behind for you.”

These arrogant, senseless men were practically begging for death. Sino Sang had never intended to give them anything, especially after noticing the woman bound behind the man. She looked as though he had abducted her.

Her eyes were brimming with tears, and her helpless appearance was enough to stir anyone’s pity.

“Brothers, attack!”

The man with the saber raised his hand, and the others immediately charged.

The coachman hurried behind the carriage to hide. Ye Xuan leaped forward and struck them with a flurry of sword blows. One after another, they collapsed to the ground.

He had not taken their lives, but they would certainly suffer. Nor would they be able to commit violence again. Ye Xuan had severed the tendons in the hands with which they held their weapons.

“Fools courting death.”

In an instant, he had brought them all down. These men truly were worthless. With such pitiful skill, they had still dared to challenge him. They were indeed begging for death.

“Coachman, drive around them from the side. Do not let the carriage touch that disgusting blood.”

Ye Xuan and Sino Sang walked ahead.

“Yes, Young Master.”

The coachman was grateful beyond words, though he was also puzzled. There were rarely bandits on this road, so why had they encountered them today? He could not make sense of it.

Just then, the woman who had been tied behind one of the horses cried out.

“Sir, please save me! I beg you, please save me!”

Seeing that they were about to leave, she quickly fell to her knees and pleaded with them.

Sino Sang walked over, untied her ropes, and said, “Go home.”

“Thank you, Miss, but I have no home to return to. My parents and I were on our way to visit relatives when we were robbed by those bandits halfway there. They even killed my parents.”

As she spoke, the woman began to weep. Sino Sang hurried to comfort her.

“Take this money and return to your hometown. Live a good life.”

She took several silver pieces from her pocket and placed them in the woman’s hands, telling her to go somewhere safe and rest.

“Miss, I have nowhere to go! Please, take me in as your maid. I can endure any hardship. I only ask for a chance to live.”

The woman hurriedly knelt again.

“It is inconvenient for us to take you with us.”

Sino Sang shook her head and pressed the money into the woman’s hands before quickly leaving with Ye Xuan. There was nothing they could do. Staying with them would only place the woman in greater danger, and Sino Sang did not want to drag her into their troubles. With the money, she could at least find somewhere to live in peace.

Yet the woman continued following them from behind.

“What should we do?” Ye Xuan asked, looking at Sino Sang.

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“We are getting back in the carriage.”

The two of them climbed into the carriage and ordered the coachman to increase the speed. Before long, they had left the woman far behind.

“It is not that I am heartless. If she follows us, her fate will be even worse.”

Sino Sang shook her head. She did not want to express such cruelty, but their circumstances were truly dire.

“And she is a woman of unknown origins. To be honest, I am uneasy, especially at a time like this.”

Ye Xuan was naturally cautious as well. What if everything was merely a scheme arranged by Qin Shuang? If so, their troubles would only multiply. It was better to be a little cruel.

“That is another concern. Still, let us forget it, or I will only feel guilty.”

They had given her enough money to keep her from starving. Besides, the whole affair had been too contrived. The woman did not appear before them again.

Qin Shuang, however, was furious.

“Do you think you can escape? Hmph. I made arrangements in the capital long ago.”

Her plan had been prepared from the beginning. Qin Shuang immediately left Liang City and hurried toward the capital.

Xuanyuan Juesi suddenly learned that the Ming Tower had departed and found it extremely strange.

The person he had sent to investigate soon returned.

“My lord, the people from the Ming Tower seem to have set out in the direction of the capital.”

“The capital? What is she going there for?”

“I do not know. But the Princess Consort is also returning to the capital. Could it have something to do with her?”

The Princess Consort had left, and the Ming Tower had disappeared soon afterward. Was there some connection between the two?

Xuanyuan Juesi looked seriously at Yuan Qianlu and felt that his reasoning was not without merit. Yet he could not leave Liang City now.

“I cannot leave Liang City at present.”

Xuanyuan Juesi hated himself for being unable to go. Yuan Qianlu could only shake his head helplessly.

Then another wave of refugees launched an attack on Liang City.

“Hmph. Whether you are Yan Yun or some other Yun, I will capture you sooner or later.”

The situation in Liang City had reached the brink of eruption. Xuanyuan Juesi had no time to concern himself with Sino Sang. For now, he had to stabilize Liang City, so he could only send people to protect her.