Translator: Exodus Tales
Editor: Exodus Tales
Translated by Mianbao
Edited by RED
“I’m not a vagrant. It’s just that I was robbed and lost my belongings, then ate some poisonous congee by mistake…” Zhu Minglang hurriedly explained.
“Is there a difference? She has already achieved her objective,” the Empress stated coldly.
“What’s her objective?”
Zhu Minglang immediately how dumb his question was after asking it. What other objective could there be?
If the Empress was overthrown, then there’d be many ways to humiliate her. One of which would be like now, allowing her royal body to become one with a vagrant, who belonged to the lowest rung of the society. This relationship would instantly plunge the proud, holy status she had built into ‘cheap’ and ‘dirty’.
If even the lowest rat on the streets could roll in the bed with the most holy Valkyrie as they wished, then what difference was there between her and a prostitute? Oh, no, at least a prostitute would still do her business selectively…
After realizing this, Zhu Minglang was immediately at a loss, not sure whether to laugh or cry.
It turned out that he was regarded and used as a tool that was most humiliating to a woman. Indeed, there was no free lunch in this world!
“Oh, right, there were many other vagrants who were poisoned together with me. Could it be that they, too…” Zhu Minglang suddenly remembered.
“If you’re wishing for death, I can grant your wish right now!” the Valkyrie said, gnashing her teeth. Her eyes were emitting a murderous light.
If it wasn’t for her not feeling any strength inside right now, she would have torn Zhu Minglang apart for real!
“Uh hrm,” Zhu Minglang coughed, filled with awkwardness. Why did he have to bring that up, of all things?
The Valkyrie seemed dispirited, but focus returned to her gaze shortly. She narrowed her eyes, looking at the tiny window above, obviously thinking of a way to escape.
Although she would very much like to kill this man beside her, she had obtained an important piece of information from Zhu Minglang’s words. That was, aside from them, there were many vagrants locked up here as well!
If a different man was sent to her every day, she’d rather kill herself by biting on her own tongue now, than to suffer such humiliation!
She had to think of a way to escape. She didn’t want the events from last night to repeat, and this was only the beginning!
“Let’s think of a way to escape this place,” Zhu Minglang said seriously.
The Empress didn’t take in any of what Zhu Minglang was saying. However, she hadn’t lost her rationale over this matter, her mind, gone manic, or cried in pain. Perhaps she was indeed feeling like that inside, but she would only express her pain and desperation thoroughly after overcoming her current predicament calmly and exacting revenge.
Zhu Minglang felt he had to take certain responsibilities as well, even though she was the one who moved her hips first last night…
All in all, he had to find a way to escape!
“Great! You’re awake, little fellow,” Zhu Minglang suddenly said excitedly.
He opened up his right palm, and a little milky white ice worm appeared like magic.
Clear and tender tiny circles of fat rippled from the little ice worm’s round body from time to time, looking rather adorable as it moved. Its large, round eyes blinked, showing its extraordinariness.
The Empress shot a side glance at Zhu Minglang and noticed a little white worm in his palm, letting out a cold humph.
-What ignorant optimism. He actually still had the mood to play with a worm!-
“Go, open the lock. I know you can do it,” Zhu Minglang told the little ice worm.
The little ice worm crawled up along the stone wall, and soon arrived at the metal window.
Clang!…
They soon heard the sound of chains loosening.
Seeing this, the Empress’ eyes immediately brightened, the joy on her face unable to hide.
“Hehe, there’s nothing my little ice worm can’t do,” Zhu Minglang smiled at the Empress.
“Help me up,” the Empress said. She felt weak all over, obviously under the effects of some poison.
Barefooted, she climbed on Zhu Minglang’s shoulders.
After climbing out of the cell with much difficulty, the Empress looked back at Zhu Minglang hesitantly.
Zhu Minglang stood inside the cell, his gaze focused on her.
As expected, the Empress turned around and left the dungeon alone, abandoning Zhu Minglang.
The stone walls inside the cell were very slippery. It was impossible for a person to scale them without anyone giving a hand.
“Ah, women. The prettier they are, the more I shouldn’t trust them!” Zhu Minglang shook his head helplessly. Just as he was about to command the little ice worm to spit out silk to allow him to climb his way out, footsteps as quiet and nimble as a cat’s could be heard from above.
“Put this on. I’ll pull you up.” The Empress had found two large hemp sacks from gods knew where in the dungeon, and forcibly tore them apart, turning them into makeshift clothing.
Zhu Minglang immediately smiled, and quickly put on the hemp sack clothing, then grabbed onto the slim white hand extended by the Empress.
—
After pulling Zhu Minglang up, the Empress was panting heavily, her chest rising and falling violently. It seemed the poison was still inside her body, leaving her, who normally possessed great martial might, no different from an ordinary frail girl.
“Follow me. Don’t make any sound,” the Empress whispered.
“Are you familiar with this dungeon?” Zhu Minglang asked, also in a whisper.
“I have imprisoned myself here in the past.”
Zhu Minglang was baffled.
-Imprison yourself?
-Are you sick in the head?-
—
The Valkyrie was indeed very familiar with this dungeon. If Zhu Minglang tried escaping on his own, he wouldn’t be able to find his way out, even if there were no guards around. The dungeon was huge, like a labyrinth.
In the end, they successfully escaped the city through a secret tunnel.
After leaving the city, Zhu Minglang rubbed the dirty soil on the ground on himself, and even helped disguise the Valkyrie’s white cheeks.
“Come hide at my place first,” Zhu Minglang suggested.
The Valkyrie didn’t reply, but basically gave her silent approval.
As they began to travel further away from the city, they soon saw squads of guards running down the path, one after another. News of the Valkyrie’s escape had obviously spread.
—–
After walking for three days and nights, Zhu Minglang and the Valkyrie finally escaped to Little Mulberry Town.
Little Mulberry Town was a gathering of silkworm farmers. Many outside merchants came here to buy silk moths and silk. The floating population was growing higher and higher, gradually turning into a place mixed with both honest folks and crooks.
The more outsiders were around, the better it was for hiding. Zhu Minglang and the Valkyrie had been journeying during the nights, and didn’t dare to rest much during the days. They were truly spent.
The moment Zhu Minglang entered his house, located in a little courtyard, he immediately rolled onto his bed to sleep.
The Valkyrie found two chairs and put them together, lying on them silently.
She was similarly exhausted, not to mention what had happened previously. Her heart had received an extremely heavy blow. However, she didn’t sleep immediately. Thinking back on everything that had happened these last few days, the corners of her eyes turned wet uncontrollably.
The soundly sleeping Zhu Minglang suddenly stopped his snoring not long after. He opened his eyes and looked at the Valkyrie, who was sleeping at the side with her body slightly curled up. He noticed the glitter of tears hanging on her eyelashes… and let out a sigh inside.
Although the two had only had a physical relationship, and didn’t have any real feelings for each other, Zhu Minglang felt rather sorry.
To him, he had only consumed some poisonous congee and spent a night in a dungeon, then gone on the run for a few days.
But what about her?
She was the city lord of Ever City, whose powers had been usurped, and had her chastity taken. She fell so low that she had to hide in a tiny house filled with the odor of silkworms’ excrement. Judging from the calm and the occasional desolation she had shown over the past few days, it wasn’t easy for her to forget about this humiliation. It was just that she had converted all the anger and humiliation she felt into fuel for revenge, hiding her feelings.