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Chapter 85: The Princess Comes with the Craftsman, Breaking the Lock
Chapter 85: The Princess Comes with the Craftsman, Breaking the Lock
Chapter 85
The livestream opened the next day.
The anxious looks of tens of thousands of citizens instantly filled Gu Sang's view.
The Elder Princess had long been waiting at the foot of the city wall: "Gu Sang, they've already drawn the map. I'll describe it to you now."
The advisors immediately presented a long scroll painting.
As the map slowly unfurled, it revealed a route map of Gu Sang's journey since her abduction.
The lines drawn in cinnabar ink traced her kidnapping route.
Black ink marked the distribution of forks in the road.
Looking at the dark circles under the Elder Princess's eyes and her worried expression, as well as the trust she placed in her, Gu Sang was moved: "Wei Qi, thank you."
"It's very detailed."
The Elder Princess smiled faintly: "No need for formalities between us. You've helped me so much before. I only stayed up one night for you, which is far from comparable to all you've done for me."
Pei Changying stared intently at Gu Sang on the livestream screen. He could see her lips moving, seemingly talking to Wei Qi.
Damn it!
How could Gu Sang be so gentle with Wei Qi, yet so cold and distant with him!
Mind you, he's Gu Sang's husband, a woman's support!
Instead of relying on him to strategize her escape, she turns to Wei Qi. Is it because she's banking on the public's unrest, thinking he wouldn't dare send troops to strangle her?!
Pei Changying sneered sarcastically: "Gu Sang, even at a time like this, you're surprisingly calm, even able to smile."
"Instead of begging me to help you escape, you're chatting and laughing with Wei Qi? Do you know the consequences of losing your chastity?!"
"You'll have no face to remain in this world anymore!"
In such circumstances, Gu Sang originally had no intention of engaging with Pei Changying.
She was asking the craftsman beside the Elder Princess to examine the iron chain's structure, hoping to find a way to unlock it—after all, this was the best escape method!
Back in ancient times, when rescuing Pei Changying from enemy captivity, she had some knowledge about simple direct locks.
But Pei Changying was truly despicable!
Every word was harping on about lost chastity!
Seeing the craftsman starting to study the chain's structure, Gu Sang turned her gaze to Pei Changying: "Can you be any less nauseating?"
"Kept man!"
"Is chastity all you see? Weren't you humiliated enough in the past?"
"Seven years ago, when you were an unfavored illegitimate son, you were tricked by the Third Prince into a pack of wild dogs. I risked being bitten to carry you out!"
"Three years ago, when you led troops to war, even though the enemy had retreated, I told you to stop while ahead. But you arrogantly pursued them, only to fall into their ambush, lying on the ground wailing with your neck strained! Again, it was I who fought through enemy lines to rescue you..."
In the great hall.
The ministers listened to Gu Sang's shocking words.
They lowered their heads in astonishment, with those near the doorstep almost wishing to dig a hole and bury themselves.
Stop talking!
These are the past humiliations that His Majesty never wants to mention!
Seeing Pei Changying's expression of anger, urgency, and humiliation—that kind of fury of disliking her yet being unable to take her down, powerless and impotent.
Tch!
That felt good!
Indeed, with such a soft, despicable, and useless man, one must confront him head-on.
"Click, click—"
The sound of a wooden door unlocking came from outside.
A young man, not even five and a half feet tall, walked in carrying water.
He was about nineteen or twenty, probably the youngest brother in this family.
The brother intended to deliver the water and leave, but when his gaze met Gu Sang's, his body felt a jolt of electricity!
What a beautiful girl!
She was the most beautiful girl he'd seen in his nearly nineteen years of life!
Fair and delicate skin, big eyes, a slender figure, yet just right.
As if possessed, the brother walked over with the bowl, holding it to Gu Sang's lips: "Would you like some water? I'm afraid you haven't had any all night."
Seeing Gu Sang's silence, he placed the bowl in front of her.
He crouched not far from Gu Sang, his movements cautious and timid, his eyes fixated on her in awe and infatuation.
"Now that you're here, don't think about escaping. It's impossible."
"The city girls recently trafficked here make a huge fuss when they arrive."
"Some even threaten us by refusing food and water, but it's useless."
"Mountains surround this place. Even if you know the way in, without a car, relying on walking, it would take days and nights to get out."
The brother shared so much because he was truly captivated by Gu Sang's beauty.
He didn't want to see her legs crippled after a failed escape attempt.
But it was just a warning.
If Gu Sang begged him to let her go, it would be impossible.
He too was waiting to marry a wife!
Gu Sang took in the brother's demeanor. Although she saw amazement, passion, and sympathy in his eyes, that was all!
Gu Sang, with a resigned and helpless manner, asked: "I know. I won't run. I knew I couldn't escape the day I arrived."
"I just want to live a bit better. I'll be obedient and not resist."
"Do you also kidnap and trick girls from outside to marry here? Can you afford tens of thousands?"
Hearing Gu Sang's resignation, doubt flashed in the brother's eyes; he didn't fully believe her.
He'd seen too many girls who claimed to have given up but still wanted to run.
The brother replied: "If we could marry local girls, we'd prefer that. At least local girls are honest, reassuring, and stable, not thinking of escape."
"But the local women are all too materialistic, their parents are like bloodsuckers."
"We thought city girls wouldn't demand bride prices, having not experienced society's harsh blows, still naive and easy to trick. But now they're all cunning! My brother's girlfriend is from the city. We've invited her home several times, but her parents absolutely refuse her marrying far away unless we offer 300,000. They're holding onto her household registration and ID, not letting her come to another province."
"If that family weren't so ambitious, not releasing her without a bride price, my brother would have long tricked her back."
These words, uttered in a calm tone, made Gu Sang's scalp tingle.
A girl working encounters a rural man from another province, insists on marrying far away against her parents' wishes, only to find she can never return once she reaches his hometown...
In the depths of these mountains, where not even a network signal could reach, there was no escape, no way out. One could cry to the heavens, but they would not answer; plead with the earth, but it would remain silent.
One misstep, and her life would be ruined forever!
The thought was truly terrifying!
"Be obedient. No one can escape from here. Accept your fate," her brother said, casting a deep look at Gu Sang before turning to leave.
But—
He didn't see it as he walked away!
There was a fleeting, strange glint in Gu Sang's eyes.
At that moment, over in the Elder Princess's quarters, the craftsmen had deciphered the lock's mechanism at top speed. They immediately laid out the blueprint.
Gu Sang studied the blueprint for several minutes.
By her feet lay two branches—ones she had intentionally tossed far away during her meal. Using her fingernails, she shaped them into toothpick-like tools.
Gu Sang tried once, twice, each attempt ending in failure.
About two hours later—
Click!
The iron lock opened!
The ancients held their breath, overcome with excitement, hugging their heads and shouting!