"...!"

Lei Yu’s eyes suddenly widened.

Indeed, on the grasslands, if the bonfire gathering is not for a significant festival or victory, it must have another purpose, and tonight’s bonfire gathering clearly follows the defeat at Taiyuan, so theoretically, it shouldn’t be happening.

Now it seems that since last night, Ashina Shali has been pondering how to deal with Shang Ruyi, and today, he happened to learn from General Pasha, who returned from Taiyuan, that Shang Ruyi is the daughter of Shang Ruohong. With both new and old grudges, he is even less likely to let her go.

But—

Lei Yu said, "But the words you said, they clearly anger him, doesn’t that leave you with no way out?"

Shang Ruyi lowered her head, thought for a moment, and then said, "Actually, I don’t think he will kill me."

"Why?"

"If he wanted to kill me, he would have had the samurai drag me away and kill me immediately, just like last night. The reason he’s been talking to me without drawing his sword in rage is because just killing me is no longer enough for him."

"..."

"That’s why I have this small window of opportunity to fight for a sliver of life."

"..."

"And the reason I said those things to him is that, as the daughter of Shang Ruohong, I must hold my head high in front of the Turkic Khan, especially this Western Turkic Khan."

"..."

"Because my father was someone who once defeated him."

"..."

"Although my father is dead, as his daughter, I also represent my father’s spirit. If I grovel and humbly beg for survival, I would only tarnish my father’s reputation. And if my father was so insignificant, how could someone defeated by him endure it?"

"..."

Lei Yu blinked as if understanding something.

Shang Ruyi glanced back again; behind her, Ashina Shali had slowly walked to the side of the crowd and sat at the low table that had been rearranged, his towering figure still as formidable as a mountain.

She said, "When I was a child, I once heard my father mention his acquaintances, especially this Shali Khan."

Lei Yu asked, "What did he say?"

"Ashina Shali, a hero."

"..."

"Without such skill and temperament, he wouldn’t have been able to unify the Western Turks and once again raise a sword north of the Central Plains Dynasty. People like him have a different way of seeking revenge and settling scores than ordinary people."

"..."

"If I am too humble, it will only make him angrier and look down on me."

"..."

"What happens to someone who looks down on you and is your enemy’s daughter—you don’t need me to say more, do you?"

"..."

Hearing her words, Lei Yu fell silent.

But her eyes were filled with swirling emotions.

Indeed, hatred is not a simple emotion, especially in the context of "national and family enmity," where those involved have more complex feelings entwined. For Ashina Shali, killing Shang Ruyi is just a matter of words, but from last night till tonight, from knowing she was Yu Wenye’s wife to learning she is the daughter of Shang Ruohong, he hasn’t acted, which shows he too must be overwhelmed by a tumult of emotions.

But—

Shang Ruyi said, "But now, at least I can fight."

Lei Yu furrowed her brow even tighter and turned to her, "How do you plan to fight?"

"..."

"You want me to lose to you, that’s easy."

"..."

"But if you win, you’ll die!"

Shang Ruyi also turned to her and said, "I can die, but I cannot lose."

"...!"

Lei Yu’s heart sank heavily, and her eyes immediately reddened.

Of course, she understood what Shang Ruyi meant by that.

If she lost, she would have to become a concubine to Ashina Zhuxie. Regardless of how Ashina Zhuxie might treat her, the matter itself was already unacceptable to her.

In their hearts, female loyalty is important, but not that important. After all, at a life-and-death juncture, the choice can only be made based on one’s own will. However, Shang Ruyi is different from other women.

She is not only Princess Qin of the Dasheng Dynasty but also the daughter of Shang Ruohong.

She values these honors and her own dignity more than life itself.

So—

Should she win or lose in the end?