Chapter 1187 – The Attack on Xu Pei, The First Kill of the Lords (Fifty-Seven)
“Water bandits?”
The chaotic footsteps pierced through Xu Yansiao’s eardrums, and a familiar terror uncontrollably spread throughout her body.
She forced her eyes wide open, her fingers digging into her palms, her teeth chattering as the footsteps drew nearer.
Outside the cabin, the terrified cries of the women echoed; though she couldn’t see, the sounds painted a vivid picture in her mind.
The experiences from that day outside Shanweng City surged back to her memory, making Xu Yansiao feel as cold as ice.
Bang—
The cabin door was violently pushed open, and a burly boatman in coarse clothes let out a loud whistle toward the trembling ladies inside.
“Hey, all the big fish are right here—” the man joked in a heavy Zhejun accent, grinning as he continued, “Are you coming out on your own, or should we brothers carry you out one by one? Those who refuse to cooperate might end up as fish food.”
Inside the cabin were Xu Pei’s concubines, illegitimate daughters, and first-class maidservants.
Faced with the water bandits’ threats, the women cried and trembled, unable to move, and their sorrowful wails could almost pierce one’s eardrums.
Xu Yansiao clenched her hands tightly, her pale face drained of color.
She felt that the current situation was even more terrifying than what had transpired in Shanweng City.
Last time, she wasn’t alone; her mother had fiercely protected her, providing her with a dwindling sense of safety.
Now, she was utterly alone, with her life and death left to fate, completely out of her control.
The water bandit grew impatient and threatened again, yet Xu Yansiao remained frozen. The pale-faced first-class maidservant beside her nudged her.
“Xiaoniang, if you don’t go out now, they’ll throw people into the river for the fish—”
Snapped back to reality, Xu Yansiao turned her pale face to glance at the maidservant.
The Xu household wasn’t safe; these maidservants were clever and adept at reading the wind to curry favor and manipulate.
Xu Yansiao had an awkward status; her biological father was Xu Pei’s cousin who had been driven to suicide, and her mother had died tragically. She was merely an unrecognized orphan. Even though Xu Pei wanted to show kindness to her for everyone to see, who knew how she was treated in the inner courtyard?
Her aunt was indifferent, never inquiring about her situation.
Despite Xu Yansiao being Xu Fei’s legitimate eldest daughter, her living expenses and allowances were compared to those of Xu Pei’s illegitimate daughters.
The servants were negligent, often slacking off, and her only “first-class maidservant” was a sneak who would nibble away at her meals before they reached her table. Fortunately, the weather was warm; otherwise, in winter, she might end up with nothing but cold dishes. Because Xu Yansiao was still in mourning, her aunt carelessly bought her clothing and jewelry that looked good on the surface, but Xu Yansiao knew all too well what was underneath. Even so, once those items were stored away, the servants would secretly swipe them.
It wasn’t that Xu Yansiao had a weak temperament; she was simply living under someone else’s roof—how could she wield any authority?
She had also tried to bring up the issues with the scheming servants to her aunt, but her aunt paid no mind, inadvertently encouraging their impudence.
Much like this first-class maidservant beside her, who often overstepped her bounds and would shove and shout at her.
Xu Yansiao said, “Going out means death, not going out also means death; why should I exert myself to take those extra steps?”
The maidservant was momentarily speechless before rolling her eyes.
How ungrateful was this orphan!
Living in a way that was anything but dignified, yet acting as if she was still that esteemed Xu lady?
While the two were talking, the water bandit outside lost his patience, raising a club as he prepared to strike.
The terrified ladies outside were in tears, one by one weakening at the knees, supporting each other as they stumbled out. Some were even so embarrassed they crawled out on the ground.
Seeing Xu Yansiao not budging, the maidservant spat out a “You ungrateful girl” before anxiously following the others out.
Outside stood rows of water bandits, having already taken control of the escape boats.
Everyone was terrified.
“What are you looking at? Haven’t seen a man before, little lady?”
The water bandit grinned, his expression shifting from laughter to a menacing glare in an instant as his voice boomed like thunder, “All of you squat by the railing, hands on your heads! Anyone who dares to look up will have their eyes plucked out and clothes stripped off, tossed into the river as offerings to the River God—”
Xu Yansiao noted that the water bandits didn’t seem to be attacking the women, which puzzled her.
As the bandits maintained their formation without infringing on the ladies, Xu Yansiao began to suspect.
This didn’t seem like common riverbandit behavior; it felt more like—
Trained naval troops?
Xu Yansiao was shocked by her own deductions.
Then, something happened that made her heart nearly stop.
A hand, not particularly large but warm and dry, reached from behind to cover her mouth while another hand pulled her back.
Xu Yansiao instinctively wanted to scream, but the next moment, she tried to bite down on the hand.
The man behind her gasped, yet did not hesitate, effortlessly dragging her into the blind spot of the ship’s corner.
Xu Yansiao opened her red-rimmed eyes wide, realizing that struggling was futile. She then resolved to throw herself against the railing.
“Xu Niangzi—it’s me—”
Qin Gong had just pulled his finger from her mouth when he saw her attempt to jump into the river, and his heart raced.
Hearing that familiar voice, Xu Yansiao’s body went rigid, yet her momentum still pitched her forward.
The anticipated pain didn’t arrive; instead, she collided against a wall of flesh.
Xu Yansiao looked up slightly to see Qin Gong half-leaning forward, using his hand to shelter her forehead, serving as a cushion.
“Qin, Qin—Qin Gong—”
Xu Yansiao felt a wave of bitterness and heat rise in her nose, spreading to her eyes.
At that moment, Qin Gong was not in armor but clothed in coarse linen. Although it lacked his usual imposing air, it bore a certain rugged charm.
“Mm, that’s right, it is this humble soldier.”
