Even though she was already in a life-and-death situation, upon hearing Lady Jiayuan’s words, Shang Ruyi’s face darkened immediately.

Ashina Shali was slightly stunned, and then a cold smile appeared on his face.

What a malicious thought!

Shang Ruyi bit her teeth tightly — while Lady Jiayuan’s suggestion seemed to spare her life, the real motive was far deeper — if Ashina Shali were just to execute her, it would confirm the "great merit" established by Ashina Zhuxie, but obviously Lady Jiayuan could not allow such a thing to happen.

Thus, by not killing her, the credit merely remains in words.

Moreover, for Ashina Shali, this hatred that lasted for more than ten years couldn’t possibly be settled by simply killing her.

What he wanted was humiliation, was revenge.

And making her a concubine for Ashina Zhuxie would indeed be a relief, because she was not only Yu Wenye’s wife but also Shang Ruohong’s daughter. To become a concubine to the Crown Prince of the Western Turks would be the greatest humiliation, not only for herself but also for Yu Wenye who was alive, and would disturb her deceased father Shang Ruohong within his grave.

Moreover, she has to stay alive to receive more torment.

More importantly, she was the daughter of the person Ashina Shali hated the most. Lady Jiayuan proposed letting her be a concubine for Ashina Zhuxie, and over time, Ashina Shali might inevitably transfer this hatred onto the people around her.

This can be counted as killing three birds with one stone.

For herself, once this matter comes true, her integrity, her honor, everything would be destroyed!

It could even tarnish the newly born Dasheng Dynasty’s reputation because she was the dignified Princess Qin. Regardless of her feelings with Yu Wenye, her status was undoubtedly special. If it gets out that the Western Turks not only captured the Princess Qin but also turned her into a concubine, the citizens of the Dasheng Dynasty might not be able to accept it.

With this thought, Shang Ruyi immediately lifted her head: "I do not accept!"

"I refuse!"

Almost simultaneously, two voices sounded together.

Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat, she immediately turned her head towards the person next to her, and saw the tall Prince Zhuxie standing with his back to the bonfire, his face shrouded in shadow, his expression appeared even gloomier, and somewhat sinister.

Upon hearing the simultaneous words, he also turned his head to glance at Shang Ruyi.

The two remained enemies even now since he captured her and brought her all the way from Qi County to the Western Turks, but in that glance, they seemed to have reached a silent understanding.

However, Lady Jiayuan’s smile deepened, she leaned close to Ashina Shali’s ear, softly murmured: "Look, Khan, the Crown Prince and this woman seem to have some understanding."

"..."

Ashina Shali frowned at them and said: "Zhuxie, why do you not accept?"

He did not even ask Shang Ruyi.

After all, in his view, Shang Ruyi was merely a piece of meat on a chopping board, having no room for refusal; it was Ashina Zhuxie’s remark "I refuse" that echoed defiance and stirred a slight displeasure in him.

Ashina Zhuxie replied in a deep voice: "Father Khan, I do not need concubines."

"..."

"Nor do I need this woman as my concubine."

Ashina Shali stated: "As I’ve told you already, your younger brother has taken a wife, so you should sooner find a woman by your side, even if—"

As he spoke, he used his only remaining eye to coldly glance at Shang Ruyi and said: "She could even be warming your feet at night?"

Shang Ruyi’s face darkened further.

But Ashina Zhuxie somehow calmed down, he took a deep breath, stepped forward and said: "Father Khan, finding women is necessary, but this woman, I do not want."

Ashina Shali’s face darkened, he said: "If you do not want her, she will only die."

With that, he looked at Shang Ruyi again, his gaze cold as though looking at a piece of meat on a chopping block, said: "So, do you want to die? If not, you’d better beg my son, let him take you as his concubine."

"..."

Shang Ruyi did not speak immediately, just calmly looked at him.

At this moment, everyone on the grassland fell silent, they all seemed to understand, she had only one way to stay alive, now the question was whether she would abandon her dignity for a glimpse of life, or uphold her and her father’s honor and face death.

No one knew how long it was before Shang Ruyi’s calm voice broke the silence:

"If I beg him, it would be enough?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"..."

"Turns out, on the grassland, one only needs to ’beg’ to get what they want."

"..."

"I thought you people acquire everything with ability."

"..."

"If so, no wonder my father managed to accomplish what he wanted ten years ago."

As these words came out, it was like a fierce wind filled with blades blowing across, piercing through Ashina Shali’s body, astonishing everyone and leaving them shocked and angry, for a moment forgetting to react.

Even Lei Yu held his breath in fear.

Shang Ruyi speaking such words at this time, was she not afraid Ashina Shali would mince her into meat sauce?

Sure enough, in the next moment, Ashina Shali slowly stood up with both hands on the edge of the table, though he was old, he was still robust, only having one eye made him seem more sinister and bloodthirsty, he walked up to Shang Ruyi, his sharp gaze nearly pierced through the seemingly slender and frail woman before him, said: "Say it again!"

"..."

At this moment, Shang Ruyi’s heartbeat was like thunder.

Yet, her face showed no fluctuation, facing the blood-red eye she appeared even calmer, colder, and said coldly: "I say, Turkic people have no strength."

"..."

"Of course, dealing with a woman like me indeed requires no strength."

"..."

"Therefore, I refuse to beg."

"..."

Ashina Shali glared at her fiercely, both hands clenched into fists, joints creaking noisily, he suddenly gritted his teeth: "Try it and you’ll know if we Turks have strength."

"..."

"But, what do you have to compare with us?"

Shang Ruyi’s heart leapt again, but this time, it was like standing at a cliff’s edge, nearly stepping into the void yet barely managing to hold her footing in alarm and danger, she maintained her composure without showing any fear or agitations, still calmly said: "I know, Turks excel at riding and archery."

Ashina Shali suddenly sneered: "Do you dare to compete with us in riding and archery?"

Shang Ruyi replied: "I dare."

"..."

"But I don’t know if Khan is willing to accept."