Chapter 744: Force

Ye Tang composed herself and sat on the edge of the bed, awaiting the final moment.

She subconsciously reached into her clothes, wanting to confirm the location of her dagger once more.

But... she suddenly discovered that the dagger was gone!

Ye Tang’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

Impossible! I carefully hid it in my inner clothes and kept it on me at all times. How could it suddenly disappear? No, it’s absolutely impossible!

Ye Tang was extremely agitated.

She immediately stripped off her heavy bridal gown, untied her undergarments, and searched over and over again with great care, leaving no nook or cranny unchecked.

But after the time it took for an incense stick to burn, she once again plunged into endless despair!

Nothing! The dagger had vanished into thin air!

Ye Tang was utterly dumbfounded.

Just then, a thought flashed through her mind.

Right! It must have been those two maids who hid it. Perhaps it’s hidden somewhere in this room! If I search, I might find it! Yes!

No sooner said than done, Ye Tang began to search the room, not even bothering to get dressed again.

Her clothes were in disarray, and her hairpin had fallen out, but she couldn’t care less.

Panic first filled her eyes, then tears.

I have to find it! I just have to! If I can’t find it, then tonight... No!

Ye Tang’s mind went blank.

For a moment, she thought about dying immediately.

Even death is a hundred times better than being defiled! But... how should I die?

This small room had nothing: no teacups, porcelain plates, or sharp instruments. Only a bed and a dressing table.

Right, the dressing table... the hairpins!

Ye Tang’s eyes lit up, and she immediately went to search.

Alas... she was met with disappointment once again.

There was nothing useful on the dressing table. The tiara she wore was made of Thoroughwort Flowers, and its few structural pieces were just thinly lacquered iron.

They simply couldn’t kill anyone! What can I do?

Ye Tang suddenly began to feel a surge of hatred. She hated those two maids.

It was their own choice to stay with the enemy. Why on earth did they have to drag me into this?

She even regretted treating them so well.

People like that should be killed, all of them!

Ye Tang slumped onto the edge of the bed, full of hate and sorrow, her eyes bloodshot.

"Princess Consort!"

Someone called her from outside, accompanied by the sound of a door being unlocked.

Ye Tang sneered coldly.

They’ve come? These past few days, they were the ones attending me. Who else could have taken my dagger?! If I threaten them with death, they’ll tell me where the dagger is to save their own lives, right? Humph! A good idea.

"Come in!" Ye Tang’s voice was neutral.

The two maids entered, smiling, carrying a red tray.

"Princess Consort, we apologize for the delay. You haven’t eaten since noon. The Monarch has sent us to bring you some food!"

"The Monarch also said that according to the old customs of the Great Chu Dynasty, the bride isn’t allowed to eat all day. That’s too harsh!"

"Our Monarch said you don’t need to be so formal. We won’t follow the rules of the Great Chu Dynasty; we’ll follow the rules of the Southern Ocean Kingdom!"

Ye Tang felt even more scornful.

Wow, this old scoundrel really has some tricks up his sleeve, sending such blindly loyal Maids to be his mouthpieces. Calling him ’Monarch’ with every other breath! He really went to great lengths. Too bad...

Ye Tang showed no outward reaction, merely nodding indifferently.

"I understand. Set it down; I’ll eat later."

Eat my foot! Who would dare eat that? Who knows what’s really in it? What if I eat it and lose consciousness or something? Wouldn’t I be completely at their mercy then? No, no! I absolutely can’t eat this, no matter how hungry I am!

So, that day, Ye Tang secretly dumped the food and didn’t eat a single bite.

Afterward, no matter how she tied up those two Maids and threatened them with death, they adamantly denied touching her things.

Time was running out. No matter how Ye Tang resisted, it was all in vain.

The wedding feast took place as scheduled.

There weren’t many guests, nor was there much of a banquet.

Ye Tang was held down by several women and forced to perform a series of bizarre rituals.

Then, she was sent into the bridal chamber.

Watching the beauty enter the bridal chamber, Arubasi was so elated his heart almost leaped from his chest.

Beauty! Oh, beauty! You are so unique, so different from the others. If you devote yourself to me, I swear I’ll treat you well!

Arubasi vowed in a drunken haze.

Then, thoroughly drunk, he staggered into the bridal chamber.

「In the bridal chamber.」

The reek of alcohol hit her, and Ye Tang quickly got to her feet.

She stared at him, her expression clearly saying,

Don’t come any closer, or I’ll die right here in front of you!

Arubasi didn’t care in the slightest.

He sized her up in the dim light and smiled, thoroughly pleased.

"Madam?"

"That’s what you call it in your Great Chu Dynasty, right?"

Ye Tang felt nauseated.

"Get lost! Get the hell out of here!"

Arubasi, his eyes blurry with drink, saw the beautiful woman’s anger. He thought it was like before, that she needed to be coaxed with hugs, kisses, and a romp in bed.

So, Arubasi, his ’Golden Spear’ already indefatigable, prepared to charge into battle!

Ye Tang’s face turned green with fright.

"What do you think you’re doing?!"

"Consummate the marriage, of course, Madam!"

I specially learned this phrase to make a better impression, to seem less crude,

he thought.

Ye Tang didn’t care whether he was crude or not.

I just want to die right now!

"If you take one more step, I’ll kill myself right in front of you!"

Arubasi, somewhat dazed, stepped forward and embraced Ye Tang.

"Little beauty! Why talk of death?"

"What’s so bad about marrying me? Whatever they have, I have too!"

"AH!" Ye Tang completely lost her temper.

She clenched her teeth and desperately kicked at Arubasi’s groin.

Unfortunately, her kick was weak and missed its mark.

To Arubasi, the kick was merely a tickle. Far from being painful, it actually roused the desire long suppressed within him.

His cheeks flushed, his eyes grew hazy, and his breath carried the heavy stench of alcohol.

Seeing the panic-stricken beauty in his arms, he felt a surge of excitement.

Like a beast inflamed by lust, he furiously threw Ye Tang down.

He pinned her beneath him and began to gnaw wildly at her neck.

Ye Tang, though possessing more strength than an average woman, was still a woman. Against a burly man like Arubasi, she was powerless to resist.

Ye Tang was filled with regret.

I hate myself for not keeping my dagger safe! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have ended up in this plight!

She was in a desperate state, unable to live as she wished, nor able to die. Utter desperation enveloped her.

"Get off me, you beast! You’re worse than an animal!"

Facing a man as old as my father, and the Monarch of an enemy nation at that! This is an utter and disgraceful humiliation!

Ye Tang resisted fiercely.

Perhaps because she was pushed to the brink, she managed to tear at Arubasi’s clothes.

With no dagger, no hidden weapons, she used the hairpin from her hair and stabbed wildly at his back.

The pain made Arubasi HOWL and roll off her.

Ye Tang quickly scrambled to her feet, backing away as far from Arubasi as possible.

Her hair was disheveled, her complexion ashen, and her chest heaved from the violent struggle.

She was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.

She glared at him fiercely.

"Take one more step, and I’ll kill myself!"