Qu Nian was stunned, then couldn't help but laugh.
He knew that no matter the situation, with Ren Yingying around, things would be exciting.
This woman embodies the saying, "To live is to take risks."
However, at this point he hadn't yet guessed the truly exciting part; he only thought the two were trying to escape and had just been caught.
Leertai chuckled, "Your Highness the Princess and the Crown Prince's Consort, you're quite something."
Tang Zhuyun slowly turned around—anyway, Ren Yingying was stuck up there on her own—and calmly said, "It's not that we want to cause trouble, but your hospitality is... not exactly commendable."
As she spoke, she looked at the pile of ropes she had untied.
At the same time, her mind was racing.
What stage have the men's negotiations reached?
If she weren't still thinking about Ren Yingying, she should be seizing the opportunity to approach Leertai now, taking him by surprise and capturing the leader first.
Qu Nian's face turned cold as she questioned Leertai, "Is this what you call treating others with courtesy?"
"That's enough," Leertai said calmly. "What the Crown Prince should be comparing is the fate of the other women captured by the Northern Yi. My sincerity in cooperating is there."
Qu Nian couldn't say anything about it either.
Because Leertai was telling the truth.
In fact, seeing that Ren Yingying was perfectly fine and lively greatly relieved his anxiety, and he was finally at ease.
Leertai treated him with respect.
Ren Yingying: I can't reach the sky or the ground, so of course I have to be lively and energetic!
Leertai then said, "Now, Your Highness, can you sit down and talk with me?"
He didn't resemble a barbaric Northern Yi at all, but rather possessed the gentle and refined manners of a gentleman from the Central Plains.
Of course, later events proved that this initial impression was unreliable.
Qu Nian gritted his teeth. "Talk!"
He didn't come forward after entering the room, Tang Zhuyun vaguely guessed that Leertai still had some restrictions on him.
Indeed, since Leertai has made up his mind to use the two of them as hostages, he won't hand them over easily.
"Let me carry the Crown Princess down first," Qu Nian said.
Ren Yingying: "No need, I'm not coming down. I'll just enjoy the scenery here, it's beautiful!"
Heavens above, earth below, time-travel gods, if Qu Nian finds out I've embarrassed myself, I'll bang my head against a wall and travel back in time today, I'm not following your script anymore!
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Come up with a good reason.
Sure enough, Qu Nian angrily said, "It's pitch black outside! What are you looking at?! Get down here right now, stop causing trouble, I'll deal with you when we get back!"
These two shouldn't be staying in the mansion; they're just causing trouble.
After returning, both he and the Prince of Jin should take their respective women back and discipline them properly!
Leertai's expression was gentle, with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. He seemed quite satisfied with the performance and gestured invitingly, saying, "Please proceed, Your Highness."
Tang Zhuyun's gaze toward Leertai deepened.
She had a gut feeling that this man was unfathomable, and she didn't know where he came from.
Ren Yingying: "No, Qu Nian, don't come any closer! I don't want you to touch me! Tangbao, protect me!"
Qu Nian said fiercely, "If you keep causing trouble and not knowing the situation, wait till we get back and see how I deal with you!"
Leertai is still around!
Do you know how serious the situation is right now?
What could Tang Zhuyun do?
Of course, she had to protect her best friend's image.
So she spoke up, "Your Highness, I can handle things here. What's going on between you and Leertai?"
Ren Yingying: "I don't know how those two got together!"
Now, she'll do anything to make Qu Nian leave.
Qu Nian got even angrier, "Fine, fine, fine, you just wait!"
If I don't deal with her properly when I get back, I'll make her take my surname.
Leertai, however, seemed to have noticed something and suddenly spoke up, "It's not convenient for me to be here, so I'll leave first. May Your Highness speak with me in private?"
"Tangbao, if you leave, I'll break off all ties with you!"
Qu Nian belatedly realized that something was wrong.
Even though Ren Yingying was being so arrogant and shouting, he still didn't turn around and glare at her angrily.
This isn't right; this isn't Ren Yingying's style.
"Yingying?" he called out tentatively, his tone softening.
Ren Yingying: This person is dead. If you have something to say, burn some paper money for him. I'm nagging you to come down and keep me company!
Seeing that Leertai had left, Tang Zhuyun mouthed to the Qu Nian, "Stuck."
Qu Nian read it twice before she understood it, and she was both annoyed and amused.
"Let me do it," he said.
Tang Zhuyun: "No, let me do it. Have someone bring a table and a chair."
No matter how far the negotiations have progressed, the most important thing now is to rescue Ren Yingying.
What can Qu Nian do?
He could only suppress his laughter and asked Leertai for a table and chairs.
Without a word, he let Ren Yingying put her feet on his shoulders, and with his other hand he held onto the chair, watching Tang Zhuyun nimbly climb up.
Tang Zhuyun placed her hand on Yingying's chest, "Take a deep breath, yes, inhale..."
After a great deal of trouble, Ren Yingying was finally rescued.
Qu Nian had intended to mock her, but seeing her face flushed crimson, he swallowed his words and asked, "Are you alright?"
Ren Yingying ignored him.
Can you pretend you're blind and mute?
Can't you be a little kinder?
Tang Zhuyun also asked softly, "Are you alright?"
Ren Yingying threw herself into her arms. "It hurts so much!"
I need a hug, I need comfort.
Qu Nian: "..."
Tang Zhuyun asked, "Young Master, how did you find us? What's the situation outside? How is my lord?"
Qu Nian said, "You've asked so many questions right off the bat, how am I supposed to answer any of them? You all wait here for a bit, I'll go out and talk to Leertai. We'll discuss the rest when we get back."
Tang Zhuyun wanted to ask a few more questions, but Ren Yingying was already telling her to leave.
Considering Qu Nian's words, "We'll talk about it when we get back," which seemed to indicate that he already had a plan, Tang Zhuyun swallowed her words.
"I'll have them send you some food..." Qu Nian was quite thoughtful. "Don't worry, eat and drink well."
He felt that if he stayed any longer, Ren Yingying's face would be hot enough to bake a pancake, so he chuckled and prepared to leave.
--Their safety is a blessing from God.
He planned to keep the jokes about Ren Yingying for the rest of his life.
"Wait!" Ren Yingying called out to him.
"Are you scared?" Qu Nian thought to himself with secret delight.
Does she miss him?
Was he finally a man she could rely on?
Ren Yingying: I'm not thinking about you, I'm thinking about the toilet.
"What do you want?" Qu Nian didn't hear clearly.
Ren Yingying, having given up all hope, abandoned her hesitant stammering and shouted loudly, "I need a toilet! I need to relieve myself!"
Qu Nian: "... You should have said so earlier."
Soon, the problems of eating, drinking, and relieving oneself were all solved.
Ren Yingying couldn't eat.
Tang Zhuyun asked, "What's wrong?"
"He's probably heartbroken and wants to go on a hunger strike." Ren Yingying felt that Qu Nian could use this one thing to mock her until she was in her coffin.
She wanted to flee the city that very night!