Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 148: I can save you if you marry me

Han Xin knelt without hesitation, his face devoid of fear or anxiety. He had made his bed and was fully prepared to lie in it. The emperor’s voice dripped with disdain as he said, "We are disappointed in you. You have disgraced your entire ancestry. Not only did you let the enemy slip through the borders under your watch, but you also saved an imposter and let them escape from prison. Your tail has surely grown."

Some of the prime ministers knelt, pleading for mercy on Han Xin’s behalf. Others urged the emperor to consider his health, their voices a chorus of concern. The emperor, however, was not truly enraged with Han Xin. Han Xin had been the only one to warn them of Zhen country’s growth in strength and improved strategies, but his warnings

had gone unheeded.

He had protected the borders with no additional support, a fact the emperor knew well. This display was more about appeasing his estranged daughter, Peng Xiu, who had agreed to hand over her grandfather’s elite guards in exchange for marrying Han Xin.

The emperor was about to demand his detention when a eunuch rushed in, whispering urgently to the head eunuch. The head eunuch bowed and relayed the message to the emperor. "Your Majesty, a group of delegates from the Zhen army seeks an audience." The emperor’s eyes narrowed.

He turned back to Han Xin, who was still kneeling, and his voice grew colder. "We are not pleased. Leave this emperor’s sight. Detain him for us until we can figure out his punishment." Han Xin rose to his feet. The palace guards moved to detain him, but he shrugged them off and walked out, his back straight and his demeanour unyielding.

As he exited the hall, he heard the Emperor command, "Send them in."

He noticed a group of delegates dressed in the distinctive attire of Zhen country being led towards the palace. His heart clenched as he scanned their faces, desperately searching for a familiar one, but the person he longed to see was not among them.

Han Xin couldn’t understand what he was expecting. How could he suddenly believe the words of an enemy he had fought for years? Granted, they never fought face to face, but they were aware of each other’s existence. Xiang Yu probably looked at him like he was an idiot as he pranced around him disguised as a woman. He was the butt of the joke.

Expecting to be taken to the prison within the palace grounds, Han Xin was surprised when he was led to a small, highly guarded palace instead. The eunuch accompanying him bowed respectfully. "Please let me know if you need anything, General." Han Xin nodded, his expression impassive, not even considering putting up a fight. He entered the small palace, the heavy doors closing behind him. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Meanwhile, back in the grand reception hall, the delegates from Zhen country stood before the emperor and his court. One of the delegates stepped forward and read aloud a message from Xiang Yu: "The Crown Prince of Zhen requests an audience with the Emperor of Yige in three days. We hope you can accommodate us. In addition, it is absolutely necessary for General Han to be present; otherwise, there will be no discussion."

The hall erupted into chaos, with grown men arguing and some sneering at the delegates. The emperor clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing in anger. The nerve of this Crown Prince, he thought, but he knew he had no choice but to agree.

"Silence!" the emperor commanded, his voice cutting through the racket. The room fell quiet, all eyes on him. "We will grant the audience in three days and ensure that General Han is present." The delegates bowed and left the hall, their expressions unreadable.

***

Han Xin sat outside in the small pagoda overlooking the serene pond, the moonlight casting a silver glow on the water’s surface. He drank from a jar of wine, the warmth spreading through his chest as he stared at the moon’s reflection. It had been two days since he was detained in this palace, and his thoughts were heavy.

His mother had visited him earlier, her anger barely contained. She was furious with the emperor but had held her tongue. Seeing her made him feel a bit better. For a moment, however short it was, he stopped being in his head, but after she left, the heavy cloud over his head returned.

As he lifted the cup to his lips, his hand froze. He sensed someone in the shadows. "I don’t like it when people sneak up on me," he said, before taking a sip.

Peng Xiu emerged from the shadows, her ethereal beauty accentuated by the moonlight. For a moment, Han Xin thought he was looking at his Yu Yu. She stood her figure, poised and ethereal. She was wearing a deep navy blue outfit, the fabric flowing like a midnight river around her.

The golden embroidery, delicate and intricate, weaved across the robe, depicting vines and blossoms that seemed almost alive in the soft light. The wide sleeves, sheer from the elbow down,fluttered with her every movement, offering glimpses of her graceful arms.

A golden belt cinched her waist, adding a touch of structure to the otherwise fluid garment. The lush greenery of the garden blurred into the background, enhancing the dreamlike quality of the scene. It felt as though time itself has paused to admire her, the embodiment of elegance and tranquillity. She knelt before him, her voice soft and pleading. "Xin-ge."

But his dream shattered when he heard her voice. This was not his Yu Yu. His version of Yu Yu never existed. Instead, it was Xiang Yu all along. He glared at her, his eyes narrowing as he recognised the dress she wore. It was the exact same as the one he had gifted Yu Yu. This was all in an attempt to manipulate him. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice cold.

Peng Xiu’s eyes reddened with unshed tears. "Xin-ge, I have loved you for a very long time, and I want to be with you. I will serve you well and make you happy," she said, biting her red lip lightly.

Han Xin averted his gaze, but Peng Xiu clutched his robe desperately. "I can be her. She stole my image to attract your attention, but I can be anything you want me to be."

Peng Xiu refused to accept that the person who had impersonated her was Xiang Yu. That day when she confronted him in prison, she guessed it but didn’t believe it. She couldn’t fathom losing Han Xin’s heart to a man, believing instead that it was a vixen who had bewitched him. She thought she could fix it.

A chill crept up Han Xin’s spine, but the feeling was fleeting. He stood up, forcing her to let go. She had never begged like this in her entire life, but she had no choice now. She followed him, her voice urgent. "I can save you. If you marry me my father will let everything go."

Han Xin’s steps halted, and he clenched his fist, realising that she had orchestrated all this just to marry him. He turned around, his eyes blazing with anger. "Even if I am sentenced to death by a thousand cuts, I will not marry you to save myself."

Peng Xiu’s face faltered as she watched him walk away. Her lips twisted into a sinister smile. No one was allowed to tell her no. She would make sure he bent to her will soon enough.