The feeling of suffocation gradually intensified, and Lan Zhi instinctively struggled. The shackles made a sound as the chains moved, and Lan Zhi was slightly conscious. She tried to open her mouth and squeezed out one word: "Brother......"

She couldn't see the expression of the man behind her, but she could feel the hand around her neck loosen slightly. Halfway, Duan Ling's voice sounded in her ears, deep and slow without distinguishing feelings: "...... Want to live? ”

Lan Zhi could only move her jaw in reply. Duan Ling's hand did not leave. The man whispered to himself, "But I don't want you to live." After all, husband and wife, I want to give you a good time, I don't want to be uncontrollable in the future...... Torture you. ”

The hand slowly rubbed against Lan Zhi's neck, as if hesitating. Lan Zhi was finally able to breathe: "Don't you want to know the news of the real Nalan King?" ”

The hand on his neck stopped. Lan Zhi waited quietly for his inquiry, but unexpectedly, Duan Ling said coldly: "Even if I know her news, what can I do?" The man's voice was cold: "Thanks to you, I am already married...... How dare you mention marrying her again? ”

Lan Zhi said calmly: "Even if you can't marry her, don't you want to know if she's okay?" ”

This time, Duan Ling was silent. After a moment, he let go of Lan Zhi, walked in front of her, and stood with his back to her: "Anyway, where is she now?" ”

Lan Zhi straightened up. The night before the suddenness of the incident, she decided to take advantage of the situation, and although it made her deception more credible, she also put herself in a passive position. She hadn't done everything yet, and now she could only think about it and say, "I don't know where she is." She didn't know who she was, it was a kind old couple who adopted her. They opened a tea shed, and life was still passable. But after the death of her adoptive father and adoptive mother, the Yuyuan army invaded soon after, and the people of the Central Plains hated the Yuyuan people from then on, and the people of the town also expelled her. She fled all the way to Qin'an Mountain, where she was injured by a jackal and was dying. The military advisor happened to pass by and saw the birthmark on her back, which saved her. ”

Speaking of this, Lan Zhi paused slightly. She looked at Duan Ling's back and couldn't help but wonder, is he feeling sorry for this "Nalan King", just as he once felt sorry for himself? But he heard Duan Ling say in a deep voice: "What about you?" Who are you? ”

Lan Zhi was stunned for a moment. She didn't expect Duan Ling to ask about her. This may be Duan Ling's casual move, but it may also be another temptation by him. Lan Zhi pondered and said, "I didn't lie to you about many things before. I am an outcast and have been adopted by the Ren family since I was a child. Xiang Jinxiu is indeed my enemy, and Ren Yuanbai is really my brother. ”

Duan Ling was silent for a moment, and then asked, "You were also there when she was rescued?" ”

Lan Zhi shook her head. She wants to keep things as simple as possible: "I haven't met her, these are what the military advisor told me." He asked me to pretend to be her, gave her another sum of money, and the search team sent her to the West. ”

Duan Ling turned around and stared straight at Lan Zhi: "Which fleet?" ”

Lan Zhi avoided his gaze: "...... I do not know. ”

Duan Ling stepped forward slowly: "There are only more than ten ships in the Central Plains fleet, if you don't say it, I can find out......" He stopped, grabbed Lan Zhi's chin and raised: "If you dare to lie to me again......"

Lan Zhi finally looked at him. There was no light in the man's eyes, and there was no emotion in it. Lan Zhi had never seen such a Duan Ling, so indifferent and so detached. He didn't continue, just let go and turned around and left the cell.

Lan Zhi was hung overnight, and it was not until the next day that the maid came in, unshackled her, and dressed her. But her wrists have been hung red and swollen, and she can only eat one or two cold meals a day, this treatment, she is not sure if she will have someone to treat her if she has a high fever due to infection. Fortunately, the injury did not continue to deteriorate, but Duan Ling never appeared again, Lan Zhi could only stay in the dark and damp dungeon day and night, relying on the brief glance when the guards opened the door, estimating that a few days had passed.

On this day, the cell door was pushed open, and several guards rushed in. The sunlight shone in through the cell door, and Lan Zhi narrowed her eyes uncomfortably. But I felt that the shackles were also opened. Two guards dragged her up and pushed her out of her cell.

Lan Zhi was finally able to see the light of day. When the sun was in the sky, it was noon, Lan Zhi was imprisoned for several days, her body was a little weak, and under the scorching sun, she was a little dizzy from the sun. The guards led her to a nearby hut, where several old ladies were waiting, and they hurriedly cleaned Lan Zhi and changed into clean clothes.

The dirt was washed away, and Lan Zhi felt more comfortable. She tried to clear her thoughts: she had only been in prison for seven or eight days, and it was impossible for Duan Ling to investigate all the boatmen in the Central Plains, so this time he brought her out, not to pursue her lies.

So what would he be looking for her? Lan Zhi watched Mama put on a headdress for her, and vaguely guessed a possibility: Duan Ling didn't kill her, then she was still his wife, and she had to show up on some occasions. He was not allowed to come today because a guest came, and he had to let her go out to meet people.

Seeing that Mama took her to the front hall, Lan Zhi felt that her guess had been confirmed. Before entering the door, he saw Duan Ling sitting in the main seat, with a middle-aged man sitting below, and a beautiful girl standing next to the man.

The middle-aged man was talking to Duan Ling, smiling, and the girl beside him hung her head slightly, glancing at Duan Ling shyly from time to time. Lan Zhi's footsteps slowed until she finally stopped in front of the door: she seemed to understand why she had to show up. Seeing Duan Ling looking at her, he beckoned, "Come here." ”

The middle-aged man and the girl turned their heads in unison. The middle-aged man stood up and saluted Lan Zhi: "Mrs. Duan." The girl beside her also bowed her head, but she called: "Sister." ”

Lan Zhi nodded slightly in return and walked to Duan Ling's side. Duan Ling took her hand and squeezed it gently, and said with a smile: "Didn't you say that you should have a good rest, why did you still come over?" ”

Lan Zhi looked at him in a trance and thought that she had returned to her first meeting. At that time, he was sitting in the tent, with a smile on his face, but his eyes were cold, and the smile was not as good as his eyes. Lan Zhi couldn't help but think: How long has it been since she had seen him like this?

She also smiled lightly: "It's just a small problem, it's not in the way." Adults are going to get married, and I should always come over to see such a happy event. ”

As she spoke, she withdrew her hand and walked to the girl's side: "This sister, what do you call it?" ”

The girl blinked: "My sister calls me Xiaoyue." ”

Lan Zhi took off the chicken blood jade bracelet on her wrist, took the girl's hand, and put it in her palm: "Xiaoyue, this jade bracelet is a token of engagement for the adult's parents, and it was given to me by his father when he first met, and I will give it to you now." ”

Xiao Yue's eyes widened in surprise, and she picked up the bracelet and looked at it carefully. The middle-aged man on the side saw that she didn't shirk it, and coughed again and again. Xiao Yue glanced at her father and said reluctantly: "Sister, I can't accept such a valuable thing......"

Before he finished speaking, he heard the man on the main seat say lightly: "It's okay," Duan Ling looked at Lan Zhi, and his eyes became colder: "Since Madam said to give it to you, you can accept it." ”

Xiaoyue was stunned for a moment, and then her eyebrows were overjoyed. But what surprised her even more was still to come. Duan Ling got up and walked in front of her, took her hand, personally put on the bracelet for her, and smiled softly at her at the end: "Xiaoyue has grown up. When we met in the early years, you were a wild child running around the mountains......"

Xiao Yue blushed: "Brother Ling knows how to make fun of me......"

Duan Ling stroked the hair on her forehead with a smile: "Daddy would be happy if he knew that you had received the bracelet." ”

Lan Zhi silently took a step back, looked past the two who were laughing, and looked out of the house: Duan Guangrong has not been waiting to see her since the day he got married, if he sees Duan Ling as a concubine...... I guess I'm really happy to come here.

She thought that she only needed to show her face and make a gesture to reassure the woman's parents, and then she could go back to her prison. Unexpectedly, Duan Ling actually left her for lunch together. Lan Zhi watched Duan Ling greet Xiao Yue with all kinds of cold and warmth, and tried her best to finish the meal elegantly. But after all, she had been hungry for too long, and the amount of food she ate was really amazing. At first, Xiaoyue was still concentrating on laughing with Duan Ling, and when Lan Zhi ate all the meals, she was already stunned to look at Lan Zhi, and asked, "Has my sister been eating so much?" ”

Lan Zhi put down her chopsticks and nodded. Xiao Yue asked suspiciously: "After eating so much, why is it still not good?" ”

Lan Zhi glanced at Duan Ling, who was expressionless, and smiled at Xiao Yue: "Gall." ”

Xiaoyue's father coughed lightly again, obviously thinking that his daughter was too impolite to ask questions. There was nothing to say at the table for a while, and Xiaoyue's father got up and saluted Duan Ling: "Thank you Lord Duan for your hospitality, Zhou Mou's portable little girl said goodbye first, and asked Lord Duan to sit at the house another day......

Duan Ling Youyou interrupted: "You go back, Xiaoyue will stay here tonight." ”

Daddy Xiaoyue was stunned: "This ......"

Duan Ling glanced at him: "What's the matter, Lord Zhou thinks it's not good?" ”

Lan Zhi also looked at Lord Zhou. The middle-aged man's face was struggling, obviously feeling very bad. Although his daughter is a concubine, she can only show respect when she is welcomed into the door and then she performs the husband and wife ceremony. Duan Ling asked for someone so directly...... It's really a bit anxious.

But he didn't dare to refuse. Thinking that his daughter would be Duan Ling's person sooner or later, Lord Zhou still nodded in agreement, briefly instructed Xiaoyue a few words, and left on his own.

Duan Ling watched Lord Zhou leave, then got up and coldly ordered, "Come on, send Madame back to the room." ”

Lan Zhi was finally sent back to her cell. She ate a little, so she didn't sit down, just dragged her shackles and walked up and down the dungeon. The claustrophobic darkness makes people crazy, and Lan Zhi is afraid that she can't stand the silence and collapse, so from time to time she will make some noise for herself like now.

Chains dragged over the floor tiles, clanging sounds echoed through the dungeon. Lan Zhi let go of her thoughts in this voice: What is Duan Ling doing now? Isn't it already with Satsuki...... Roundhouse?

Lan Zhi shook her head. She didn't think so. People like Duan Ling, even if they want to get along with girls, they will always give each other some time, and they won't be so uninteresting and go to bed directly. As for how long this time is...... Then it depends on his mind.

The sound of chains paused for a moment, and Lan Zhi turned around against the wall. She thought: He gave her really long time. When facing her, he is always extra patient, even if it is occasionally persecuted, he will not make her too difficult. And Xiao Yue, Duan Ling should wait for her...... Wait until tonight.

Yes, Lan Zhi thinks that Duan Ling doesn't like Xiao Yue. She had seen him so tender, really considerate, and really doting, that she could tell his sincerity from falsehood. But even if he doesn't like it? He will still ask for Satsuki. His loyalty was for King Nalan, and she was just a liar, and sooner or later he would find a suitable time to divorce her. Although he felt that he was not worthy of marrying King Nalan again, he still had to continue the bloodline for the family, how could he continue to defend himself like jade? Lan Zhi has no doubt that after Xiaoyue, there will be more women......

Lan Zhi stopped again, her fingertips digging into the wall. A thought came out of the confusion with an irrepressible force: no matter how many women he had, it had nothing to do with her. It was she who was determined to give up on him, so that she could no longer see his tenderness and his thoughtfulness. She will not be his king, she will no longer be his wife, she will no longer be his only one. There are so many good women in the world, he will always find someone worthy of love, slowly forget her, and start over. Maybe when that happens, he will be relieved, he will let her go, and she will finally be able to leave as she wishes......

The indifferent disguise collapsed at this moment, and Lan Zhi pressed her forehead against the wall and squatted down little by little. There was a warm liquid running down her cheeks, Lan Zhi's eyes widened in the dark, and she told herself over and over again-

She's not sad, she's not sad, she's not sorry...... Everything went as she wanted. She just needs to vent her emotions, she is just paying tribute to a relationship that she has given her heart...... 166 Reading Network