Chapter 880: Mechanism

Zhao Min’s face instantly paled with alarm. She hurriedly raised her hands to defend herself, but her martial arts had never been a match for Wanyan Chongjie’s to begin with—and this time, she had been caught completely off guard.

Before her hands could even fully lift, Wanyan Chongjie’s fingers were already clamped around her throat.

A chill ran through Zhao Min’s heart:

‘Could it be that Minmin Temur is destined to die here today, without a sound?’

The moment Wanyan Chongjie seized Zhao Min’s neck, her wrist was abruptly caught by Song Qingshu. She shot him an annoyed glare. “Why are you grabbing me?”

Song Qingshu wiped away a cold sweat internally.

‘Thankfully, I was prepared. If I had been even slightly careless and let Zhao Min’s neck get snapped, I’d be crying in regret later.’

“There’s no rush to kill her. If we can’t find a way out later, we can still use her as a hostage.”

“Fair point.” Wanyan Chongjie nodded, then swiftly sealed Zhao Min’s acupoints.

“You know martial arts?!” Zhao Min’s shock lingered. The entire capital believed her to be nothing more than a delicate, defenseless young woman—who could have guessed she concealed such formidable skills? A sudden, irrepressible thought surged in Zhao Min’s heart:

‘The next time I see Song Qingshu, I’m going to demand he teach me martial arts! First, I was bullied by Zhou Zhiruo, and now some little girl is overpowering me—this is infuriating!’

“Didn’t expect that, did you?” Wanyan Chongjie smirked, tilting her chin up proudly, her eyes curving into crescents.

“I underestimated you. But as for you…” Zhao Min’s gaze shifted suspiciously to Song Qingshu. “My subordinates sealed your acupoints and shackled you. How…?”

“That’s because his martial arts are far superior to mine. Your flimsy restraints couldn’t possibly hold him.”

Hearing Chongjie’s reply, Zhao Min’s expression flickered. “’Tang Kuo Bian’ is also a master?”

“Enough nonsense. Who exactly are you? I’ve lived in the capital for years, yet I’ve never heard of any ‘Miss Zhao.’” Wanyan Chongjie pinched Zhao Min’s chin, forcing her to face her.

A flash of anger crossed Zhao Min’s face, but she quickly masked it with a smile. “Little sister Chongjie, didn’t I treat you quite well earlier? Is this how you repay me?”

Wanyan Chongjie scoffed. “Only because you were foolish.”

Zhao Min’s smile stiffened, momentarily speechless.

“Stop changing the subject. Who are you?” Wanyan Chongjie pressed impatiently.

Zhao Min, irritated, turned her head away.

“Was it you behind the incident at the Laundry Courtyard?”

Zhao Min remained silent. Wanyan Chongjie’s patience wore thin. “Still not talking? Do you believe I won’t carve up that pretty little face of yours?”

“You wouldn’t dare. Harm even a single hair on my head, and none of you will leave here alive,” Zhao Min replied coldly, meeting her gaze.

“You’re bluffing?” Wanyan Chongjie frowned, scanning their surroundings. Her expression shifted slightly—earlier, she had only noticed they were in a secret chamber, but now, upon closer inspection, there wasn’t even a door.

‘How are we supposed to get out?’

Seeing her reaction, Zhao Min smirked. “Well?”

Wanyan Chongjie’s eyes darted mischievously, her tone suddenly sweet again. “Dear sister, how about this? Lead us out, and we’ll let you go. After that, we go our separate ways. Deal?”

Zhao Min snorted disdainfully. “Are you stupid, or do you think ‘I’ am? You’ve gone to such lengths to hide your martial arts from everyone. Now that I know, why would you ever let me go?”

Song Qingshu shot her an admiring glance.

‘Truly Zhao Min—even in this situation, she can analyze the stakes with perfect clarity.’

Realizing she couldn’t deceive Zhao Min, Wanyan Chongjie dropped the act, her voice turning icy. “Let us out, and you might live. Refuse, and I’ll ruin that pretty face of yours right now. Tsk tsk, I’m sure many men adore it—like that Song Qingshu you mentioned earlier, hm?”

At the mention of Song Qingshu, Zhao Min’s expression shifted subtly, her gaze growing complex. “Lay a single finger on me, and you’ll never leave this place alive. Even if you somehow escape, ‘he’ will avenge me. Isn’t that right… ‘Royal Son-in-Law’?” She then turned a half-smiling, half-mocking look toward Song Qingshu.

“How would I know?” Song Qingshu’s heart skipped a beat.

‘Has she figured out my identity? Impossible—at most, she’s suspicious. This must be a probing tactic.’

Studying his expression and finding no tells, Zhao Min’s face flickered with confusion.

Wanyan Chongjie, growing impatient, traced a fingernail along Zhao Min’s cheek. “I’m not a patient person. I’ll count to three. If you still refuse to tell us how to leave, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Zhao Min pressed her lips together, silent.

“One!”

“Two!”

“Three—”

Song Qingshu hastily grabbed Wanyan Chongjie’s wrist.

‘Are you kidding me? Zhao Min is one of my future wives—I can’t let her face get ruined!’

Noticing his intervention, Zhao Min exhaled in quiet relief, a faint smile touching her lips.

“Why do you keep saving this woman?” Wanyan Chongjie demanded, scowling.

“Such a beauty—ruining her face would be a waste,” Song Qingshu replied gruffly.

“You already have a wife as stunning as my aunt, yet you still eye other women?” Wanyan Chongjie snapped. “Fine, I’m done. ‘You’ figure out how to get us out.”

Song Qingshu chuckled. “Actually, there’s no need for that. I know how to leave.”

“You do?” Wanyan Chongjie blinked in surprise.

Even Zhao Min turned her gaze to him.

Song Qingshu nodded, then began examining the chamber’s walls. Before long, he found a protrusion, pulled it aside, and revealed a hidden compartment containing a bronze door ring.

“Huh?” Wanyan Chongjie rushed over excitedly, tugging at the ring—but no matter how hard she pulled, nothing happened. Her enthusiasm deflated. “What’s the point of a door ring if there’s no door?”

Zhao Min, who had been tense, finally relaxed with a disdainful huff.

‘Blind luck.’

But her eyes soon widened in shock. Without hesitation, Song Qingshu lifted the ring and rapped it against the wall—sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes long, sometimes short—seven or eight times in a precise rhythm. The moment the knocking stopped, a ‘click’ echoed through the chamber. Moonlight spilled in as a hidden door slid open.

“How did you know the signal?!” Zhao Min’s mind reeled. For the first time, a cold dread crept up her spine.

“Yeah, how did you know that would work?” Wanyan Chongjie echoed, equally baffled.

“We’ll talk after we’re out,” Song Qingshu replied grimly.