038. Daring to Steal My Husband
As she spoke, the bride suddenly snatched off her red veil and threw it over Yuan Tianci’s head. She clapped her hands, clearly very satisfied with him. Le Qianxue could hardly bear to watch any longer.
The crowd applauded, thoroughly entertained by this unusual wedding. Le Qianxue quickly pulled Zhan Lianjing outside, but he walked slowly and languidly. She whispered, “Hurry, or we won’t even know where the bridal chamber is.”
“Since I’m here, I naturally know where it is,” Zhan Lianjing replied.
Le Qianxue was surprised. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I couldn’t be bothered,” he said, leading her aside to hide so they wouldn’t be discovered, since guests weren’t allowed in the back courtyard.
Le Qianxue was frustrated. Zhan Lianjing had no sense of cooperation; he told her nothing. If they fell into danger, lacking any rapport to help each other, it could be disastrous.
Zhan Lianjing had no idea what she was thinking, but he said, “That hall master is formidable with both knife and sword, and don’t be fooled by his daughter’s plump figure—her whip is no less impressive.”
Le Qianxue nodded. “Let’s hurry and rescue him before the bride arrives.”
Zhan Lianjing’s gaze grew somber. “If it goes smoothly, that would be ideal.”
She smiled. “Don’t worry, I have a way.”
He narrowed his eyes at her smile.
In front of the bridal chamber, disciples stood guard, wary that Yuan Tianci might escape. Le Qianxue carried a tray and was stopped before she could approach.
“The young mistress ordered: no one is to go near the bridal chamber!” a disciple announced loudly.
Le Qianxue looked up, her face delicate and pitiful. “The young mistress told me to bring this soup—she feared the groom might be hungry and hard to serve tonight.”
The disciple gave her a knowing look. Though he was now a groom, his fate would not be enviable, and all the men pitied him. The disciple wanted to let her pass, but another noticed she wasn’t wearing the Black Tiger Hall maid’s uniform.
“Wait! You’re not one of our maids!”
Before he could finish, Le Qianxue swiftly scattered a powder. The disciples, upon contact, succumbed immediately to its potent effects and collapsed.
Le Qianxue dusted off her hands. “A trivial matter,” she remarked.
She entered the bridal chamber. It was festively decorated, and on the bed, a figure curled and struggled. Hearing the wooden door, Yuan Tianci spat out the gag in his mouth and shouted, “Let me go! I won’t marry you! Forcing me like this—heaven will surely punish you!”
Le Qianxue couldn’t help but smile.
Yuan Tianci continued, “I curse you! Stay back! I am pure and innocent!”
He couldn’t see Le Qianxue and was terrified—the young mistress’s whip was formidable, and he’d suffered much.
Seeing his tirade, Le Qianxue finally tapped his backside and said, “Enough, stop cursing, it’s me.”
Yuan Tianci froze, then looked up at her, using all his strength. The instant he saw Le Qianxue, he nearly burst into tears.
“Why did you come so late? Didn’t you know I was about to be ravished?” He squeezed out tears as he spoke.
Le Qianxue quickly untied him. “I came as fast as I could. At least you haven’t consummated with anyone—you’re still pure.”
Yuan Tianci tore off the ropes, took a deep breath, and said, “Let’s go quickly. This place is a nightmare!”
He reached to grab Le Qianxue’s hand, but she noticed his arm was covered in whip marks.
She paused, “What happened?”
She lifted his sleeve—his arm was a mass of cruel welts.
Le Qianxue’s eyes narrowed, recalling Zhan Lianjing’s warning. This must be the young mistress’s handiwork.
She sat on the edge of the bed, unhurried. “Sit down. Let’s wait for her.”
Yuan Tianci stared at her. “Are you mad? Your martial arts aren’t strong, you can’t beat her.”
Le Qianxue replied, “She bullied you—should I let it go? If you can swallow this humiliation, I cannot.”
She always treated friends like this: she could endure bullying herself, but not when her friends were wronged.
Though she only knew some medicine, that didn’t mean she was powerless.
Yuan Tianci lowered his gaze and sat beside her. “Qianxue, you must marry me! You make me feel so safe!”
He was so moved he nearly tumbled over himself.
Le Qianxue quickly pushed him away. “No! Let’s keep our boundaries.”
Yuan Tianci snorted. “It doesn’t matter, one day you’ll be touched by me.”
She treated it as a joke—Yuan Tianci was always like this.
Soon, someone outside sensed something was wrong.
“Why is everyone unconscious?! My husband!” the young mistress shouted, bursting in to check if Yuan Tianci was still in the room.
Thankfully, he was, but a woman sat beside him.
Seeing Le Qianxue, the young mistress’s eyes blazed—how dare anyone covet her groom?
“Who are you?! Trying to steal my husband?!”
Le Qianxue smiled, placing a dagger at Yuan Tianci’s throat. “Who’s stealing? I’m here for revenge.”
Yuan Tianci nearly cried—Le Qianxue was using him after all; he’d thought she truly wanted to stand up for him.
The young mistress glared at Le Qianxue. When had her possessions ever been determined by someone else?
“You wretched woman! Are you courting death—daring to touch my husband?!”
“So what if I do? Bite me?” Le Qianxue retorted.
The young mistress snorted, stepped forward, drew her whip from her waist. “You’re just a doctor. Without this man, I have thousands more. But today I find you displeasing—I’ll kill you!”
Le Qianxue’s beauty was striking; the young mistress, in contrast, was the epitome of earthly mediocrity—one was heaven, the other hell. Jealousy flared violently within her.
Le Qianxue curled her lips, beckoning. “Come then.”
The young mistress cursed again, “Courting death!”
She lashed her whip—but it was weak, lacking her usual strength.
Puzzled, she watched as Le Qianxue rose. “Using a whip to torment people? You are good at it.”
The young mistress couldn’t understand—why was her inner strength gone?
As Le Qianxue approached, she whipped again, but Le Qianxue easily caught it.
Le Qianxue’s smile was radiant, but cold.
“Your inner strength is useless, isn’t it?” Le Qianxue asked.
“What did you do to me?!” The young mistress’s face twisted; she tried to pull back her whip, but her limbs were weak and limp.
Le Qianxue spoke lazily, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll be gentle.”
She snatched the whip away.
The young mistress cried for help, but outside, it was as if everyone were dead—no one came.
She tried to flee, but Yuan Tianci blocked the door. “You forced me to bow, forced me to marry you? My wife has come to rescue me!”
Le Qianxue frowned, glaring at him. “Stop talking nonsense!”
Yuan Tianci loved to babble. As she spoke, Le Qianxue lashed the young mistress with the whip!
The young mistress shrieked and howled.
Unsatisfied with her cries, Le Qianxue struck her several more times.
Her movements were swift and she used soft force—each lash broke skin and drew blood.
“You…you…I won’t let this go!” the young mistress screamed, rolling on the floor.
“Thank you for reminding me,” Le Qianxue said, then drew out concealed weapons Zhan Lianjing had given her and shot several into the young mistress.
Yuan Tianci saw she had fainted completely, bewildered by what Le Qianxue had done.
“What did you do to her?”
“I destroyed her inner strength,” Le Qianxue replied. “People are coming—we must go.”
Yuan Tianci’s anger dissipated; sometimes Le Qianxue could be quite venomous!
They slipped out. A large crowd was approaching in the distance.
On the rooftop, Zhan Lianjing leaped down. “Your playful antics nearly ruined everything—hurry up!”
Yuan Tianci didn’t recognize him, but Le Qianxue pulled him along without time for introductions.
Zhan Lianjing led the way, taking hidden routes that avoided all the disciples of Black Tiger Hall.
The Hall was on high alert after recent upheavals; descending the mountain would not be easy.
But Zhan Lianjing led them to a dry well in the back courtyard. “There’s a secret passage below—go down.”
Le Qianxue peered in. “How do you know?”
Hearing the approaching voices, Zhan Lianjing had no time to explain—he grabbed Le Qianxue and jumped down together!
Le Qianxue shrieked, but Zhan Lianjing covered her mouth.
“Do you want the Black Tiger Hall to know we’re here?” he said irritably.
Le Qianxue snorted, “You dragged me down so suddenly—of course I was startled.”
With that, Zhan Lianjing used his lightness skill, landing easily with Le Qianxue, though his steps were unsteady, as if he had no strength to stand.
Le Qianxue immediately supported him. “Are you alright?”