Hua Manman noticed the man’s gaze suddenly turn vicious. She knew he was a cornered animal, about to lash out.
Her mind raced as she searched for a way to save herself.
Liu Shizhong walked up to her.
He gripped the dagger tightly, his eyes bloodshot, his expression savage and determined.
"I didn’t want to kill you, but I have no way out now. Since I’m going to die anyway, I might as well take you down with ."
Hua Manman struggled to force a sound from her throat. "Mmph! Mmph!"
Liu Shizhong could see she had sothing to say.
After a mont’s hesitation, he yanked the gag from her mouth, pressing the dagger to her throat in a clear threat.
"Anything else you want to say? Better say it all now."
Hua Manman said urgently, "Don’t kill ! I have a way for you to get out of here alive."
Liu Shizhong froze.
He tightened his grip on the dagger. He was tempted, but his expression only grew more nacing.
"Don’t try any tricks. I won’t fall for them."
Hua Manman said, "You can use to threaten Prince Zhao. He won’t dare to act rashly for fear of harming his hostage. You’ll definitely find a chance to escape then."
Liu Shizhong frowned, skeptical.
"Didn’t you just say Prince Zhao doesn’t even like you? Even if I take you hostage, he probably won’t care whether you live or die, will he?"
Hua Manman gave a bitter laugh. "He might not care if I live or die, but he can’t possibly be indifferent to the fate of his child."
Liu Shizhong’s brow furrowed. "What do you an?"
"It’s simple. I’m carrying Prince Zhao’s child. That’s the only reason he allowed to co to Yuqing Mountain."
Liu Shizhong’s expression finally changed.
He glanced uncertainly at her stomach.
But since she was wrapped in the blanket, he couldn’t tell if her stomach was flat or rounded.
Hua Manman spoke quickly. "You must know that Prince Zhao still has no children."
"Once this child is born, it will be of imnse importance to him, regardless of whether it’s a boy or a girl."
"He will surely agree to let you go to protect this child."
The footsteps outside grew closer.
It sounded like they were about to reach this room.
Liu Shizhong was not ready to be caught just like that.
Gritting his teeth, he hauled Hua Manman from the bed.
"You’d better not be lying to ."
Hua Manman quickly promised, "Don’t worry, I never lie."
A knock sounded at the door, and Si Yun’s voice ca from outside.
"Lady, are you awake?"
Liu Shizhong clamped an arm around Hua Manman from behind, pressing the blade of his dagger tightly against her neck with his other hand.
He warned in a low voice, "If you dare try anything funny, I’ll kill you instantly."
Terrified he might accidentally slit her throat, Hua Manman kept her neck rigid and dared not move. She called out to Si Yun.
"I just woke up. Is sothing wrong?"
Outside, Si Yun glanced back at Prince Zhao and General Wang.
General Wang was tall and imposing, with a powerful, stocky build. He wore light silver armor, one hand resting on the hilt of his blade, exuding the fierce aura of a military general.
Yet when facing Prince Zhao, he completely reined in that aura, appearing remarkably submissive.
Li Ji gestured for Si Yun to continue speaking with Lady Hua, while he pointed up at the roof.
Chen Wangbei understood at once. He imdiately picked several trusted aides skilled in Qinggong and had them leap onto the roof.
The trusted aides crouched on the roof, carefully lifted two glazed tiles, and peered down into the room.
They imdiately spotted Lady Hua being held hostage by Liu Shizhong.
One of the trusted aides silently dropped from the roof to report the situation to Prince Zhao.
Si Yun spoke cautiously.
"General Wang just brought so n over. He said a prisoner escaped and might have run over here."
"They need to search the area. Would you mind opening the door to let them in?"
Hua Manman glanced at the man behind her out of the corner of her eye.
Liu Shizhong whispered, "Tell them to leave."
Hua Manman replied, "Are you kidding? I’ve been sleeping. I’m the only one in the room."
"How could there possibly be anyone else here?"
"Tell them to leave. Don’t let them disturb my sleep."
Si Yun sounded troubled. "But they’re right outside the door. I don’t think it would be right to just send them away."
"They are the Saint’s Flying Dragon Cavalry, after all. We should show them so respect."
Hua Manman deliberately feigned anger. "I said, tell them to leave!"
"Don’t you understand ?"
"Are you trying to make have a miscarriage?!"
She thought only Si Yun and the Flying Dragon Cavalry were outside; she didn’t know Prince Zhao was there too.
Hearing this, everyone outside was stunned.
All eyes snapped to Prince Zhao.
’They never imagined Lady Hua was already pregnant!’
’So had even suspected that Prince Zhao’s leg disability had affected... his other functions, which was why he still had no children.’
’It seed they had misunderstood.’
’Prince Zhao had gotten Lady Hua pregnant, which ant there was nothing wrong with his abilities in that departnt.’
Li Ji’s expression didn’t change at all; he looked completely unfazed.
Seeing his reaction, the others had an epiphany. ’It seems Prince Zhao already knew Lady Hua was pregnant.’
’Of course. With such wonderful news, Lady Hua would have certainly told Prince Zhao first.’
Si Yun didn’t know that Lady Hua had not yet truly consummated her relationship with Prince Zhao. Taking her words as truth, she was both shocked and overjoyed, and quickly tried to placate her.
"Please, My Lady, don’t get upset! A pregnant woman must remain calm. I’ll make them leave right away."
With that, she turned to Prince Zhao, her eyes pleading with him not to let the Flying Dragon Cavalry frighten the pregnant Lady Hua.
Li Ji gestured for General Wang to withdraw.
General Wang hesitated for a mont, but ultimately obeyed the prince’s command, leading the Flying Dragon Cavalry away.
Inside, Liu Shizhong heard the footsteps outside fading into the distance. He knew the Flying Dragon Cavalry was gone.
He hadn’t expected the Flying Dragon Cavalry to leave so promptly.
’It seems Lady Hua wasn’t lying. She really is pregnant.’
A fla of opportunity ignited in Liu Shizhong’s heart.
’Since Lady Hua is so important to Prince Zhao, I can use her to lure him here, then ambush and kill him.’
’That way, I can complete my mission and escape with my life.’
’It’s the best of both worlds—a foolproof plan!’
Liu Shizhong whispered, "Call Prince Zhao in here. And only him."
Hua Manman asked warily, "What are you planning to do?"
Liu Shizhong threatened her with a ferocious glare.
"Cut the crap and do as I say! Or I’ll kill you and the child in your belly!"
But Hua Manman adopted a defiant stance, ready to die with honor rather than live in sha.
"If you kill Prince Zhao, my child and I won’t survive anyway."
"That being the case, you might as well kill us both right now."
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