Chapter 54 (1/2)

Chapter 54: Nan Jihan's Desires

Those men didn't look or sound like people from Northern Qi. They were too organized to be regular bandits. And they weren't a.s.sa.s.sins as they tried their best to subdue her without hurting her.

Jun Huang only asked the leader to a duel to get a good look at his techniques. She recognized them to be from Southern Mu. If she was right about that, the person who was behind her kidnap must be Nan Jihan.

She huffed. Didn't take Prince Nan Jihan to be someone so caddish. She wondered why Nan Jihan would want her here.

Did he want to use her to threaten Qi Chen? No, that couldn't be true. Qi Chen was his brother-in-law after all, and Nan Guyue was clearly infatuated with Qi Chen. Nan Jihan wouldn't want to make his sister unhappy. If he really saw Qi Chen as his enemy, he wouldn't have let Qi Chen marry her.

Why me? Jun Huang thought with her head held low. She couldn't think of a reason.

Jun Huang heard people coming this way. She focused on listening to their conversation.

”I told you not to hurt him,” Nan Jihan snarled, his gaze so cold it was as if he was faced with his archenemy. ”Did you not hear what I said?”

The general cupped his hands and dropped down to his knees, but his back was straight. ”This servant deserves to suffer for what I did. I ask for Your Highness to punish me.”

Nan Jihan scoffed and kicked the man in the chest. The man winced, but remained as still as a statue.

”Listen carefully, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're my confidante. If Feng Baiyu doesn't recover, I will turn your bone into ashes.” Nan Jihan left with a flourish of his sleeves and entered the room Jun Huang was kept in.

None of his men understood why Nan Jihan valued Jun Huang so much. In their eyes, Jun Huang was but a fragile scholar who couldn't achieve anything great. They believed Nan Jihan to be the only person who would lash out at his own confidantes for her.

Nan Jihan pushed the door open. Jun Huang watched him with cold eyes. There was no trace of surprise on her face.

Nan Jihan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He didn't expect a fair-skinned scholar like Feng Baiyu to be so bold. He was even more convinced that he had discovered someone special.

Jun Huang gave Nan Jihan a once-over. This was the first time they had seen one another in person. Jun Huang rarely left Prince Chen Manor, while Nan Jihan was the most respected prince in Southern Mu. Many were saying that he would be the next emperor.

”I didn't expect us to meet so soon, Your Highness.” Jun Huang smiled like she didn't care how high a status he held. Her eyes looked especially bright in this rundown room.

”You know me?” Nan Jihan frowned. They had never met in person. He didn't even show his face when Qi Chen was introducing her to the courtiers.

Jun Huang let out a quiet laugh that was free of mockery. When she met his gaze, Nan Jihan couldn't help but be captivated by her. How could someone remained so calm and collected in face of great danger and put up a proper smile like this?

Jun Huang didn't respond. Nan Jihan broke the silence. ”You know who I am. Aren't you afraid that I might have you killed?”

Jun Huang looked him straight in the eyes. ”Your Highness went through all the troubles to take this gentleman here. Clearly you don't intend to hurt me.”

Nan Jihan narrowed his eyes. This man surpa.s.sed all his expectations. It's as if he isn't afraid of dying. Men like him are the most formidable of foes. He is capable of instilling fear in others with nothing but his own presence.

Jun Huang was all tied up and her face was pale, but there was nothing pitiful about her. Nan Jihan was reminded of how she had looked earlier in Prince Chen Manor. Her cheeks had been flushed from the alcohol. It made his heart pound.

He waved a hand at the men who were standing guard outside. ”Go fetch me a good jug of wine.”

There was the sound of fist hitting palm. Then a strong voice said, ”Understood.” Footsteps could be heard getting quieter and quieter before fading into silence.

Nan Jihan gave Jun Huang a good look before coming to her side. He untied the ropes restraining her. This is too tight. He frowned. His eyebrows drew even closer when he saw the marks left on her wrists.

He wanted to soothed her skin for her, but she pulled away immediately and got to her feet. Her eyes were as calm as ever, but it was clear that she was cautious of him.

Nan Jihan's hands grasped nothing but air. The corners of his mouth quirked up. Through the window, moonlight shone on his face and made his complexion even paler. His hair fell to his chest as he moved. He placed the strands of hair to behind his back.