A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 741 Hostage

Colluding with the enemy, betraying one’s country—these are tactics even more despicable than the vilest actions.

For a dignified ruler of a nation to actually employ such methods... if word of this spread, he would be saddled with an eternal mark of disgrace!

General Xiao could almost predict Arubasi’s expression, like that of a man who had swallowed a fly. Admit it? Wouldn’t that be tantamount to telling the entire world, ’My son has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country!’? Wouldn’t his second son then become the laughingstock of the world? The shame would extend even beyond the seas. Don’t admit it? His son remains in the enemy’s hands, his life hanging by a thread. Between reputation and life, only one can be chosen. How to choose?! Oh, wait, even if he did admit it, the Emperor of Great Chu might not necessarily let his son go! This path... who even knows if it leads to death or survival!

HISS!

Arubasi was utterly conflicted. Damn it, to be led by the nose by a brat who isn’t even fully grown! This is absolutely infuriating!

As he was grappling with this, a subordinate hurried over to ask, "Boss, are we still fighting this battle or not? The brothers are all waiting for orders!"

Being pressed like this only amplified Arubasi’s irritation.

"Can’t you damn well see I’m in a bind here?!"

"Fight, fight, fight! You think I don’t want to fight? Don’t you know Min Tu is still in their hands?"

"He’s the only son I have left! Do you want me to die without an heir?!"

The subordinate was so frightened he was struck dumb.

After a long moment, he spoke cautiously, "Boss, do you mean... the Great Chu Dynasty has taken the Second Prince as a hostage?"

Arubasi glared at him fiercely. "You already know, so why the hell are you asking!"

The subordinate lowered his head, pondered for a moment, then said deferentially, "Boss, we have a hostage too, don’t we? Didn’t the Second Prince bring back a woman?"

"These past few days, your subordinate has noticed several small boats always lingering near our ships, as if they’re scouting for information."

"Perhaps this woman actually has some value." Otherwise, why would the Second Prince go to such lengths to bring her back, right?!

After hearing this, Arubasi mulled it over for a moment. Then, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he slapped the subordinate hard on the shoulder.

"Why didn’t you say so earlier?!"

With that, he strode away.

When Min Tu mentioned bringing back a prisoner last time, he hadn’t paid it much mind. So, it was a woman! He had to see just what kind of woman she was!

「On the day of the battle at Xiahe Bay.」

Ye Tang had followed Yang Chenyi and the others to engage the enemy near the Emperor’s encampment.

Initially, clad in men’s clothing, everything was fine.

Later, her identity was exposed. Coupled with the fierce fighting, no one could spare a thought for anyone else.

Seeing she was a woman, the Southern Ocean Soldiers attacked her like madmen.

At first, she managed to cope, but gradually her strength waned. After all, she was a woman; two fists are no match for four, and the few cannot overcome the many. She was running out of stamina and was injured.

So as not to distract Xia Tingfeng, Ye Tang clenched her teeth and stubbornly held on.

Gradually, the wounds on her body multiplied, and the blood she lost increased. Her inner robe was quickly soaked crimson, yet her complexion turned increasingly pallid. Fortunately, her armor was ink-black, concealing the spreading bloodstains, so Xia Tingfeng didn’t notice anything amiss with her.

Just as she was about to collapse, Ye Tang looked at him with a contented smile lingering on her lips. It’s wonderful, he doesn’t seem hurt at all, still so valiant and full of vigor! It’s wonderful, I didn’t end up being a burden to him after all! Manxue is still at home waiting for him; his child... cannot be without a father! Cannot be without a father! As long as he can live well... it wouldn’t be so bad if I died, would it?

Thinking this, Ye Tang could no longer hold on, and darkness enveloped her as she collapsed.

When Min Tu saw her fall, he immediately ordered his men to take her away, lest she die under the indiscriminate strikes of weapons on the battlefield. He saved her for no other reason than her remaining utility. She’s a high-ranking military officer by the Emperor’s side. She’d make a decent hostage—certainly better than nothing!

So, severely wounded, Ye Tang was captured.

「When she opened her eyes again, ten days had passed.」

During that time, Ye Tang had hovered near death several times. Fortunately, the military doctors of the Southern Ocean Kingdom possessed some medical skill. They applied a hemostatic golden powder to her wounds and had her drink many herbal decoctions, finally managing to pull her back from the brink of death.

After ten days, she gradually regained consciousness. Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings and that all "too familiar" person, Ye Tang then realized she had been captured.

The defiant Ye Tang immediately broke down and tried to hang herself but was stopped by the military doctor.

"Ungrateful woman! I advise you to behave!"

"It wasn’t easy to save your life. If you try to die again, you’ll waste all my good medicine!" he snarled, then ordered her to be tied up. Finally, he personally checked that the ropes were secure before leaving with his men.

Before departing, the military doctor also locked the door, specifically instructing, "She’s a hostage. Watch her carefully and don’t let her die!"

"Yes, sir!" several soldiers responded.

After that, Ye Tang never saw the military doctor again.

She was tied to a wooden frame, unable to truly live or die, in great agony.

When Arubasi arrived with his men, Ye Tang was still bound securely to the wooden frame. She had been given little to eat and was extremely weak; her face was pale, and her hair disheveled. The dried bloodstains on her clothes added to her utterly wretched appearance.

Arubasi frowned, finding it hard to believe. "This is her?"

An aide at his side immediately confirmed, "Yes, it’s her!"

Arubasi scrutinized the woman from head to toe once more. Eventually, he narrowed his eyes. "Someone, untie her. Give her a bath and a change of clothes!"

"Your Majesty!" The subordinate was stunned. What does the Boss mean by this? Don’t tell me he’s taken a fancy to this woman? Heavens, no, it can’t be!

"Still not going?!" Arubasi snapped, his eyes narrowing coldly.

"Yes, yes, I’ll get right on it!" The subordinate, thoroughly frightened, scrambled away.

There were no women in the military camp, only a few coarse women in the kitchens. So, naturally, the task of attending to her bath fell to them.

When the women heard they had to attend to a prisoner, they immediately scowled, clearly unwilling. But what could they do? Unwilling or not, they still had the task. So, they impatiently prepared the hot water and the bathtub, tossed down a set of Southern Ocean Kingdom-style women’s clothing, and then quickly left as if fleeing the plague.

Ye Tang, however, didn’t care in the least. A bath? Fine.

After bathing, she frowned upon seeing the clothes. These things... wearing them would be an act of treason! She would rather die than put them on.

So, when she emerged, she was wearing only her own white inner robe.

The women, fearing they would be implicated, were furious. They immediately began to mutter veiled curses. But in the midst of their tirade, a single cold glance from Ye Tang silenced their insolent talk.

They could only watch helplessly as Ye Tang walked away.

After she had gone, they resumed their cursing with renewed vigor, practically jumping in anger. But Ye Tang couldn’t hear them anymore. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Pointless posturing, not worth minding!