The Consequences Of Accidentally Flirting With A Paranoid Empress (Transmigration Into A Book) - Chapter 1

The world was vast and open. Wind and sand swept wildly across the land, staining even the oasis a dull grayish yellow. Her vision blurred, and in the distance, she could faintly make out banners fluttering above the gray earthen city walls and towers.

Rows upon rows of people were bound together with ropes. Their faces were covered in dust, their spirits lifeless, without the slightest trace of vitality.

“Cough, cough cough!”

Among the crowd, the figure of a slim young girl did not stand out. Yet her bright black eyes shone with an unusual light as she craned her neck and looked around.

At this moment, He Xiu felt as if she could cough sand right out of her throat. Her clear young voice had turned dry and hoarse as she asked, “Where are we?”

“We have already been escorted into a border town of the enemy kingdom. I’m afraid we will soon be separated and imprisoned to suffer humiliation. You must endure it and wait for an opportunity,” a retainer replied in a grave, hushed voice.

“Don’t be so pessimistic. Being a hostage shouldn’t be worse than eating wind and sand the whole way here.” He Xiu did not understand how she had transmigrated into a hostage being escorted to an enemy kingdom, but she understood very clearly that her sex was female.

So wasn’t staying in the enemy kingdom obviously safer than returning to the dynasty?

However, He Xiu had not expected that she had underestimated just how low the bottom line for “miserable” could be in different eras.

“Enemy captives and livestock can both be sold! Dispose of them however you like! Highest bidder wins!”

“Good!”

Before long, someone shouted that they wanted to hold a hunting test to see the condition of the captives. Clearly, they did not want to buy sickly weaklings.

And so, a pack of fierce, terrifying wolves was released all at once, their momentum instantly horrifying.

He Xiu looked at this simple, crude marketplace and fell silent. Suddenly, she felt that eating wind and sand all the way here had actually been rather humane!

Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world. The first batch of captives chosen was sent into the field, and among them was He Xiu’s guard.

Wind and sand rose. After such a long journey, the captives were already exhausted. Their wrists were shackled with iron rings, leaving them unable to fight back, so they could only run and dodge as the wolves chased them down.

Sure enough, it did not take long before one of the weaker captives had their leg seized by a wolf. Amid a scream, they rolled and scrambled across the ground, blood splattering everywhere in a particularly eye-catching sight.

He Xiu could not bear to keep watching and turned her gaze away, thinking that she might become the unluckiest transmigrator to go offline the fastest.

When the contest ended, aside from the two weaklings who had been bitten to death, everyone else was sold for a high price.

Those guards were all tied up like livestock and taken away from the grounds one after another.

Soon, He Xiu was shoved and dragged into the arena. She no longer had the energy to worry about anyone else’s life or death. Her heart pounded like thunder, and her legs felt a little weak.

At this moment, however, the scene atop the high platform was completely different. Curtains blocked out the wind and sand. Within them, banquet tables, wine, and dishes were laid out in rich variety.

The general in the main seat ordered people to count the accounts. Holding a knife in his hand, he sliced into his meat, eating and drinking in great mouthfuls. His gaze swept over the beautiful woman before him, and he smiled shrewdly. “Miss Zhuo, this business deal was not easy. This general wants seventy percent!”

As soon as he said this, the surrounding soldiers all watched her expression. Their looks were full of coercion and contempt, like a pack of vicious wolves circling around her, making no effort to hide their ambition.

Zhuo Mingke, seated at the other side of the table, looked calm. She did not care at all about the cruel hunt taking place beneath the platform. Meeting the general’s greedy gaze directly, she said, “Fine. Seventy percent.”

Hearing this, Feng Sanniang frowned. This general was clearly bullying them with his power. How could Miss Zhuo agree?

The general and his deputy commanders revealed smug expressions, secretly thinking that even a merchant wealthy enough to rival a nation was nothing more than a piece of fat meat.

Before long, a soldier outside hurried in to report, “General, that young boy is a prince sent by Da Liang as a hostage. If he is bitten to death today, I’m afraid it will be hard to explain.”

“What bullshit prince? He’s just a captive. As long as he isn’t bitten to death, losing an arm or a leg is perfectly normal,” the general said arrogantly, not taking it seriously at all.

After he spoke, no one inside the banquet dared say another word. They raised their cups and offered congratulations.

Below the platform, however, a deadly, dangerous situation was unfolding. The wolf pack came on fiercely, forming an encirclement around the captives, pushing them to the edge of crisis.

At this moment, He Xiu, who had only managed to be a salted fish for three seconds, was running for her life in exhaustion. All the blood in her body seemed to boil, and her heart felt as if it was about to leap out of her chest. Her gaze landed on the people outside the fence. All they had was the eager anticipation of watching a spectacle; there was not the slightest trace of pity. Her feet abruptly changed direction as an idea suddenly came to her.

On the high platform, Zhuo Mingke was drinking wine. Her gaze swept casually over the movements in the arena, then paused slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes.

The generals who had originally been drinking in high spirits suddenly heard a burst of noisy cries of alarm. They all leaned forward to look, and their expressions changed.

Because the wolves giving chase had smashed through the fence, the people who had been clapping and watching from the sidelines had also become targets of the hunt. The situation instantly descended into chaos.

He Xiu, who was small and slender to begin with, used her advantage to tumble and squeeze through the crowd. Then she suddenly plunged into a haystack and hid herself. Listening to the chaos outside, she thought to herself that surely no one would discover her now.

Thinking this, He Xiu felt that she was practically a little genius!

On the high platform, the general anxiously ordered men to control the scene. His expression was ugly as he barked, “We absolutely cannot let those Da Liang captives escape!”

“Yes!” The soldiers answered and immediately moved, not daring to delay.

“I have embarrassed myself before Miss Zhuo.”

“No matter. I need to return and report to my mother, and the journey is long. We will need some grain and fodder. May I buy some haystacks?”

How could the general not know the Zhuo family’s wealth? For the sake of that seventy percent, he waved his hand and said, “They are only haystacks. Miss Zhuo may choose whatever she likes. There is no need to be polite.”

Little genius He Xiu had no idea that her fate had quietly changed. Her mind was full of thoughts of waiting until the grounds were empty, then finding a way to sneak away and run.

Who would have thought the entire haystack would suddenly start moving? He Xiu nearly thought there was an earthquake, and had just managed to poke her head out of the haystack with great effort.

Then she saw the hem of a beautiful skirt embroidered with lotus patterns brush past her face, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood. He Xiu was so frightened she immediately shrank back into the haystack. That was close!

Although He Xiu could not see clearly what was happening outside, she heard a woman’s clear and pleasant voice. It was gentle and soft, like a trickling stream flowing lightly, enough to bring peace to anyone who heard it.

“The weather is unpredictable, and there are often sandstorms. Cover the haystacks with cloth so they don’t get covered in filth.”

“Yes, Miss Zhuo.”

Immediately after, He Xiu clearly felt the light inside the haystack grow even dimmer. Amid the swaying, she felt a little like throwing up!

The ethereal sound of camel bells rang quietly through heaven and earth. A merchant caravan traveled across the sandy land. The sun was setting in the west, and a chill gradually crept into the air.

Zhuo Mingke flipped through the account book and said, “Have someone spread the news that the Da Liang hostage prince has disappeared in the border city.”

Feng Sanniang immediately understood and answered, “Yes.”

Among all the kingdoms, there was no one who did not know the Zhuo family’s reputation. That general was so greedy; he deserved to suffer the consequences of his own actions!

At night, bonfires leapt and flickered. Tents were set up in several places. Horses and camels lowered their heads to eat grain and fodder. Haystacks were not only fodder, but also supplies for keeping warm.

Because of that, He Xiu could feel people occasionally walking over and carrying some away. It felt a little like she was being fleeced.

Only after the rustling gradually quieted down did He Xiu, whose stomach was already growling with hunger, finally fail to keep hiding.

When He Xiu poked her head out of the haystack, what entered her sight was a vast desert. Because the wind had stopped, it seemed especially quiet.

The bonfires were still lit. Most people had returned to their tents to rest, leaving only some people patrolling and keeping watch. Occasionally, voices drifted over in conversation.

Since the bonfires were used for preparing food and hot water, He Xiu sniffed lightly, locked onto the direction, and reached out to feel around until she found a piece of naan. She hurriedly stuffed it into her mouth and mumbled unclearly, “This is food no one was eating. I’m cherishing food, so this shouldn’t count as stealing, right?”

However, the naan was too dry. He Xiu choked and drank two bowls of water, but then her stomach felt terribly bloated, and she kept hiccuping.

“Hic, hic!”

He Xiu immediately wanted to return to the haystack. She did not dare wander around outside in case she exposed herself.

Unexpectedly, before He Xiu could move, someone suddenly grabbed her by the back of the neck and lifted her up. Her feet left the ground, scaring a shadow right into her heart.

“Well, well. So it really is a little thief!” Feng Sanniang said, sizing her up in disdain.

“No, hic, this is a misunderstanding. I can compensate you, hic!” He Xiu looked at this broad-minded and plump auntie. The woman’s entire body was like a mountain, as if she could pinch He Xiu to death at any moment.

After she spoke, Feng Sanniang’s face filled with contempt and disgust. She obviously did not believe her. Lifting the little thief in one hand, she entered the main tent.

Although Feng Sanniang did not understand why Miss Zhuo had instructed her to bring any suspicious person into the tent tonight if one was found, Miss Zhuo always had her own arrangements, and Feng Sanniang never doubted her.

Inside the tent, the faint candlelight flickered, and sandalwood incense curled through the air. He Xiu, however, lowered her head and hiccuped as if all hope had turned to ash, suspecting that what she had eaten just now had been her last meal.

After all, in this era, the emperor was far away and heaven was high. Most things were dealt with by private punishment.

“Miss Zhuo, how should we deal with the little thief I just caught?”

“Lock them up for now.”

He Xiu heard that pleasant voice and curiously lifted her head to look at the woman seated at the desk. Hazy candlelight fell over her lovely face as if coating it in a faint, gentle glow. She looked like a beautiful older sister who was especially easy to talk to.

“I was just too hungry, so I ate one piece of naan. I can repay you with labor, hic!” He Xiu tried to act obedient and ingratiating, but unfortunately, her hiccups ruined the atmosphere.

“Compensate me? What can you offer?” Zhuo Mingke, seated before the desk, lifted her eyes slightly. Her gaze fell on the small, dust-covered figure whose cheeks were gray with dirt. Her tone was careless, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Even if something was to be appraised and sold, one still had to see what material it was made of.

Feng Sanniang, however, only felt that this little thief was a glib-tongued scoundrel. She hurriedly said, “Miss Zhuo, don’t believe him. This stinking brat has hands and feet, yet still thinks of stealing. Clearly, his heart has gone rotten.”

He Xiu discovered with difficulty that the auntie’s grip on her was growing even rougher, making it a little hard to breathe. She hurriedly said, “Hic, I’m wronged! Help!”

In the silence, He Xiu kicked her legs in place like a little rabbit, feeling that she was not far from death.

Just as He Xiu thought she was about to leave this world on the spot, she never expected the woman to suddenly soften her tone and say, “Sanniang, I have something to ask alone.”

“Yes.” Feng Sanniang loosened her grip and gave the little thief a warning look before leaving the tent.

Still shaken, He Xiu raised a hand to rub her neck. She had almost been unable to breathe. What kind of battle royale script had she been given? Not a single moment was peaceful!

“Why did you think of using the wolves to knock open the fence and escape?”

“Because I couldn’t beat the wolves. I could only run outward. That was the only way to survive.”

Zhuo Mingke responded thoughtfully, “But you were still the first captive to think of jumping outside the restrictions. As expected of the hostage prince sent by Da Liang.”

Most people would blindly remain trapped within unfair rules, and in the end, they could only have everything plundered and slaughtered from them amid terror.

Hearing this, He Xiu’s eyes widened in shock, and even her hiccups stopped. She had not expected her identity to be exposed so easily by this beautiful older sister. Only then did she belatedly react.

This beautiful older sister had most likely witnessed the entire escape back at the hunting grounds!

“However, the hostage prince sent by the Da Liang emperor has suddenly disappeared. Notices are being posted everywhere to arrest you, with a reward of one hundred taels of gold. That would be a very nice compensation, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

He Xiu gazed at the beautiful older sister before her, whose features were softened by the candlelight. Only then did she notice the sapphire earrings she was wearing. As they swayed gently, they shone brilliantly, glittering like stars. They drew the eye, yet did nothing to diminish her beauty.

Oh no. At a time like this, He Xiu was actually not afraid of being captured. Instead, she felt that this beautiful older sister made a lot of sense.

After all, that was gold!