Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 181 Taking a Hostage

“Your young master is asleep and snoring. I can’t sleep, so I thought I’d go for a walk. I’ll be back in a bit.”

The maid knew that she would be tied up and taken to the front lines the next day, so she immediately sneered, thinking that she was too scared to sleep, and let her walk away.

In order to avoid giving the impression that she had a specific destination, Song Yi was truly wandering around aimlessly and without any particular pattern, going wherever she happened to go.

After a while, the gaze that had been fixed on Song Yi finally disappeared.

She then tried going to the place where the prey was kept. The cattle and sheep were all asleep at night, huddled together, and it was exceptionally quiet.

Song Yi squinted and walked quickly to the gate. He looked around and saw that there was no one guarding the area for the time being. It made sense. These animals were extremely sensitive to firelight. If someone was holding a torch and guarding the area at night, the cattle and sheep would become extremely restless.

She took the key out of her sleeve. Because she was nervous, her hands were shaking. She tried twice before she could insert the key into the lock. Then she turned it and the lock opened.

It really is the key to this place.
Song Yi memorized the key's appearance, locked it again, hid the key in her sleeve, and slowly walked back.

When the maid saw her return, she didn't even look at her properly.

That's good; the more contemptuous they are of her, the easier it is for them to lower their guard.

As she thought about it, Song Yi lifted the curtain and slipped inside.

Wolf Owl stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the door, gazing at her intently.

Song Yi was caught off guard when she met his deep, wolf-like eyes. Her whole body stiffened, and her fingertips went numb.

Why isn't he asleep?

Song Yi forced herself to remain calm and asked, "Why did you get up?"

Wolf Owl didn't answer her, but squinted at Song Yi and asked in a deep voice, "Where did you go?"

Song Yi looked at him and said, feigning helplessness, "I can't sleep."

"Why?"

"I'm just a palace maid. I've never seen any fighting or killing in my life, let alone what it's like when you fight. If I'm taken hostage tomorrow, will I be shot to death by the enemy's arrows?"

Wolf Owl was taken aback and asked suspiciously, "Is this why you can't sleep?"

Song Yi looked at him and said seriously, "Actually, there's another reason."

".What?"

"You snore."

Wolf Owl immediately retorted angrily, "Nonsense! I never snore when I sleep!"

He wasn't snoring, but Song Yi's deliberate interruption made him so eager to defend himself that he followed behind her, asking, "Did I snore? Did you hear me?"

Song Yi said, "Isn't that obvious? If I hadn't heard you, why would I have said that?"

Wolf Owl rubbed his face uncomfortably, still finding it unbelievable.

"That's impossible, I don't snore."

Song Yi glanced at him and said, "A sleeping person can't hear their own snoring. You still haven't told me why you woke up again?"

The wolf owl fell silent.

He couldn't possibly tell Song Yi that he had dreamt of the daytime scene and was woken up by Song Yi's anger.

His archery skills were so accurate, yet Song Yi didn't react at all.
She must have never witnessed archery or horseback riding, so she thought his appearance was just average.

Each lost in their own thoughts, they went to sleep again.

Song Yi got up again midway and put the key back on his waist.

The next morning, before dawn, Wolf Owl opened his eyes, looked at Song Yi, and said directly:

"Get up, you are a hostage today."

Song Yi opened her eyes, knowing she wouldn't see Jiang Lanye today. She reluctantly relaxed and sat up without a word. Lang Xiao hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "Don't worry, if you really aren't the Emperor's woman, I can just bring you back to be my maid. The Khan won't object."

Song Yi lifted his eyelids and deliberately asked, "Then will I be shot to death by the arrows of the people on the other side?"

He scoffed, "Aren't you underestimating us?"

"Get up quickly, I need to tie you up and take you there."

"Your Majesty, do you really have to go?"

Xie Ling saw that Jiang Lanye had already gotten up. He looked a little thin, and the wound on his waist had healed. The army doctor had examined him and said that it would not easily reopen. However, Xie Ling was still a little worried because he had ridden a horse all the way there.

Jiang Lanye had changed into a lighter suit of armor, the dark silver plates fitting his body perfectly. He ran his fingertips over a scratch on the armor and said calmly, "It's nothing."

Helpless, Xie Ling handed the sword to him.

Jiang Lanye glanced at it, didn't take it, and suddenly said, "Give me a bow and arrow."

Xie Ling was startled and asked in surprise, "Your Majesty, you want a bow and arrow? You wouldn't happen to want..."

He lowered his eyes and said softly, "I'll give it a try."

Then, someone else handed the bow and arrow to Jiang Lanye. Jiang Lanye casually held the bow and arrow, pursed his lips, and a cold, bone-chilling dark light flashed in his eyes.

"General, everything is ready."

The people outside lifted the curtain, and many strong horses were waiting at the door.

Jiang Lanye walked out, suddenly nocked an arrow to the bowstring, easily pulled it back, and aimed at a slender branch in the distance. Xie Ling was about to speak when the sound of wind breaking came, and the arrow accurately pierced the branch, making a crisp sound of tree breaking.

Xie Ling was startled.

Jiang Lanye lowered his arm and said in a low voice, "We've become rusty."

His illness, which has lasted for so many days, must have had a significant impact on his physical flexibility.

Xie Ling was somewhat surprised and said, "Your Majesty's archery skills are already very..."

However, you could tell from his bow-drawing motion that he was indeed a bit rusty.

Jiang Lanye's clothes were no different from those of the generals, which was one of the important reasons why Xie Ling dared to let Jiang Lanye go with them. The Northern Qiang people had never seen Jiang Lanye before and did not know what he looked like.

Seeing Jiang Lanye nimbly mount his horse, Xie Ling felt a little relieved, but still couldn't help but give him a word of advice:
"Your Majesty, whether we see the Imperial Concubine today or not, you must remain calm."

Jiang Lanye nodded slightly: "Let's go."

The group, with Jiang Lanye in the center, set off.

Song Yi watched as the wolf owl circled back and forth in front of her several times, and couldn't help but say:

“I said, this rope is already thick enough. You’ve tied my upper body up, and my arms are completely immobile. Are you going to wrap it a few more times?”

Wolf Owl glanced at her and warned, "You'd better behave yourself. I tied you up like this for the Khan's benefit."

After saying that, he tied a knot tightly behind Song Yi's back, looked at her current state, and said jokingly, "You should thank me for not tying your legs up too. Let's go."

Song Yi followed Lang Xiao out.

The grass on the ground was still covered with white frost. The temperature difference between day and night was quite large here, and it was especially cold before the sun rose. She had only been out for a short while when her face turned blue from the cold.

"Father."

The Khan merely glanced in their direction and said in a deep voice:
"Xiao'er, you must not act rashly, and return safely."

"Yes."

Song Yi was grabbed by the wolf owl and mounted on a horse.

(End of this chapter)