Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2790: Chapter 2791: Midnight Hour

”Shut up!” King Rui roared in fury and struck a palm toward Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu used lightness skill to dodge, but the cave was narrow; she was still grazed by the palm wind, and her cheek stung with pain.

Chiyou was still that strong. Back then he had forced her into a desperate corner and almost killed her.

Xiaohei had almost died to save her, and Sangta’s face had been slashed once, leaving a hideous scar.

Now she had grown much stronger, long since no longer the person she used to be, but Chiyou was still very strong—perhaps even stronger.

Bai Ruozhu really wanted to just chop him down. She had a blood feud with him—the kind where one of them had to die. It was impossible for her to easily forgive him just because he was infatuated with Meng Jinse. She, Bai Ruozhu, was no saint!

Besides, Meng Jinse’s situation today was all thanks to King Rui. That so‑called devotion was nothing but a joke.

She had held back until now and not made a move only because she wasn’t sure what trump cards he’d kept in reserve, and even less sure whether she could get out unscathed.

She couldn’t gamble, and she couldn’t afford to.

Fortunately, after King Rui’s outburst, he calmed down again and didn’t strike again.

”I’ll give you one day. Bring someone to exchange, or I’ll do exactly as I said.” A cruel smile appeared on his face. ”And don’t talk to me about blood ties and family. In my eyes, that’s all bullshit!”

Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath and turned to leave. If she rejected him now, she wouldn’t even have the chance to walk away.

When she returned to the vicinity of Jingxin Temple, Jiang Yichun led people out to meet her.

”How did it go?”

Bai Ruozhu briefly described the situation, but there were many people around, so she didn’t mention King Rui’s demands. She only said with a set face, ”We’ll talk when we get back.”

”All right.” Jiang Yichun immediately understood there was something inconvenient to discuss in public.

Very soon the group all returned to the Bai Residence. Ning Yu rushed over to ask, ”How is it? Who took Diao Bin?”

Bai Ruozhu dismissed everyone, then recounted how King Rui had lured her over and laid out his conditions.

”This...” Ning Yu fell silent at once. He wanted to save Diao Bin, but he understood Bai Ruozhu couldn’t bear to use Meng Jinse in exchange.

Jiang Yichun couldn’t bear to see his wife so troubled and said, ”We’ll think of a way. Maybe we can fake the exchange, then rescue them and leave. This area isn’t far from the Capital City; if the Hidden Guard helps, it shouldn’t be hard to bring them back.”

At that, Ning Yu immediately frowned. ”We can’t let the emperor’s people get involved, and I suspect there are spies among the Hidden Guard. I’m afraid the moment we mobilize horsemen we’ll provoke King Rui.”

Bai Ruozhu’s heart sank a few degrees deeper. ”We have to be cautious in everything. It’s not about numbers—it’s about elite, reliable people.”

”I’ll pick the men,” Jiang Yichun said.

Bai Ruozhu started worrying again. How was she supposed to bring this up with Meng Jinse?

Just then Jianqi’s voice sounded from outside. ”Miss Meng, my master isn’t receiving visitors right now.”

”I have something urgent to discuss with her.” Meng Jinse’s voice was nasal and thick, as if she had just been crying.

Bai Ruozhu went out and said, ”Jinse, what’s wrong?”

Meng Jinse entered the room; before the door was even closed she anxiously asked, ”Ruozhu, tell me the truth. Princess Diao Bin being captured—does it have something to do with King Rui?”

”How did you...” She hadn’t left the Bai Residence—how did she know?

Meng Jinse’s smile was desolate. ”I guess I know him too well. That method made me think of him right away.”

Bai Ruozhu didn’t know how to respond; she only felt that what Meng Jinse said was unbearably bleak.

”He wants to use me to trade for her?” Meng Jinse asked again.

Bai Ruozhu gave a bitter smile. ”You’ve guessed it all.”

”Fine, I’ll go. When do we leave?” Meng Jinse put away all that desolation, her expression unusually resolute.

Ning Yu couldn’t bear it. ”Miss Meng, don’t worry. We won’t hand you over to him. At that time we’ll just pretend to exchange, and we’ll definitely rescue both you and Diao Bin.”

But Meng Jinse shook her head. ”You have to promise me first: if things get critical, you must save the princess first and ignore me. I don’t want anything to happen to you. As for me, he won’t kill me yet.”

”All right, I promise you.” Bai Ruozhu said through gritted teeth.

Meng Jinse was still as considerate as before, always thinking of others.

”He gave me a day. We have to keep our composure; replying too quickly will only make him suspicious. Also, King Rui is devious. I’m afraid he’ll play some dirty trick and not release Diao Bin.” Bai Ruozhu said.

”He’ll very likely wait until he leaves the region around the Capital City before letting her go. He won’t keep holding on to Diao Bin—he hates trouble,” Meng Jinse said.

Bai Ruozhu’s heart trembled. To know a person this well, you either hate him to the bone, or you’ve fallen in love with him...

Once the matter was basically settled, Ning Yu and Jiang Yichun went off to make preparations, while Bai Ruozhu stayed with Meng Jinse and talked.

”Ruozhu, if I can’t return to Beiyu City, you mustn’t mention any of this to Grandma. Better to let them think I died.” Meng Jinse’s bitten lip was faintly oozing blood.

Bai Ruozhu took her hand. ”Jinse, don’t worry. I absolutely won’t let him take you away.”

Meng Jinse shook her head. ”That man is paranoid and insane. I’m really scared...”

”He’s already lost the great momentum. How much longer can he strut around?” Bai Ruozhu narrowed her eyes. She had wanted to kill King Rui for a long time.

By evening, their party was ready, and Bai Ruozhu sent someone with the letter.

She remembered the route clearly, but the messenger got lost halfway there and only then did the other side send someone out to take the letter.

”There’s an Array there,” said Astrologer, dressed in a guard’s uniform.

King Rui knew their people very well, but he didn’t know of Astrologer’s existence, so Astrologer was their trump card.

The person who brought back word from the other side told Bai Ruozhu they were to bring the hostage for exchange at midnight, at the stroke of Zi hour.

They had really picked a fine time.

Bai Ruozhu and the others left the City in batches, for fear of attracting the emperor’s attention.

Meng Jinse wore a human‑skin mask and, along with Bai Ruozhu, pretended to be sisters going out of the City to visit relatives, leaving through the City Gate before it closed.

Everything went smoothly, and everyone regrouped near Jingxin Temple.

Bai Ruozhu led the way, and the group headed for the Cave where King Rui was hiding.

This time following the markings led them true, which meant the other side had reset the Array to the way it had been when she came before.

Yuan Licheng’s eyes gleamed; he said quietly, ”The person who set up this formation isn’t simple. I’ll have a proper contest with him.”

All along the way he secretly tossed out bits of array materials, scattered here and there so they wouldn’t attract attention.

At last, they finally reached King Rui’s Cave, with a quarter of an hour still left before the appointed time.

This time King Rui didn’t come out. He sent a little underling who shouted, ”My Patriarch says, until the time comes you can wait there.”

”He’s not planning some trick, is he?” Bai Ruozhu sneered. ”What, is your Patriarch going to have his strength soar at midnight?”

The messenger underling’s eyes flickered slightly, then he shouted, ”Wait or don’t wait—up to you. If you won’t, then get ready to collect the princess’s corpse!”

Ning Yu cast out a Magic Technique. ”Insolence! How dare you slander the princess?”

The little underling was knocked head over heels. Realizing Ning Yu hadn’t struck to kill, he scrambled up and ran back inside in a panic.