APSIL -Chapter 3 Taken Hostage

When Zhang Shou frankly spoke of marriages being between families of equal status, and Zhu Gongquan pressed him step by step, even revealing that her father had secretly supported Zhang Shou and his mother all these years, Zhu Ying couldn’t help feeling sorry for the refined young man who had left such a perfect first impression on her.

The bold idea that had just crossed her mind instantly turned into a firm decision.

She abruptly stood up.

“What marriage? I don’t acknowledge it!”

The moment she rose, Zhu Ying noticed the fleeting look of delight on Zhu Gongquan’s face. He clearly believed that his words had succeeded in provoking her anger.

Happy to let him remain under that illusion, she walked straight toward Zhang Shou.

Lost in thought, Zhang Shou was startled by her sudden shout.

When he looked up, he found the light before him suddenly blocked.

Before he realized it, Zhu Ying had already stepped directly in front of him.

Their eyes met.

He could clearly see the dark pupils in her bright eyes and the surge of determination within them.

The next instant, she gave a sharp cry.

Moving as gracefully as a butterfly weaving among flowers, she flashed behind him.

Then he felt a hand clasp around his throat.

The sudden turn of events caught him completely off guard.

Immediately afterward, he heard a whisper beside his ear.

“Do me a favor. Let’s put on a little act to fool that annoying fellow.”

Her breath brushed lightly against his ear, fragrant as orchids.

Then she shouted again, “Everyone, stand back!”

For a moment, Zhang Shou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He could clearly feel the warmth of the hand resting against his neck.

There were no calluses.

No protruding knuckles.

Yet his eyesight was excellent. From her agile movements just now, he could tell this noble young lady had genuinely practiced martial arts.

Even without her whispered explanation, he could tell that her hand was only lightly touching his neck.

She wasn’t applying any force at all.

Thinking that today had become by far the most interesting day of the three peaceful years since his transmigration…

He decided not to resist.

Just acting in a play?

Then I’ll play along.

Madam Wu was terrified by the sudden scene.

Instinctively, she rushed forward to rescue her son.

Before she could, Zhu Gongquan stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

Desperate, she looked pleadingly toward the guards.

To her astonishment, every one of them stood motionless, their expressions unreadable.

As Zhang Shou was slowly escorted backward with his “captor,” anxiety nearly overwhelmed her.

Keeping perfect pace with the young lady’s overly gentle “chokehold,” Zhang Shou followed her toward the door.

Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed the high threshold.

In a voice barely above a whisper, he reminded her, “Careful—the threshold.”

Zhu Ying had been entirely focused on whether Zhu Gongquan or the guards would stop her.

She hadn’t even noticed the obstacle behind her.

Hearing his warning, she quickly glanced backward.

Her opinion of Zhang Shou rose even higher.

He’s not only handsome—he’s genuinely kind.

Who worries about the safety of someone who’s just taken him hostage?

No… I absolutely have to teach him to be more cautious in the future.

Otherwise he’ll be deceived so easily!

When no one came chasing after them even after they left the main hall, Zhang Shou quickly surveyed the front courtyard.

Old Liu had wisely hidden himself in a corner.

By the kitchen doorway, Aunt Liu and the silent servant A-Liu were peeking out curiously.

Every single one of them wore expressions that screamed they were enjoying the spectacle.

Zhang Shou couldn’t help feeling that he was faithfully helping someone perform a one-person play.

After leaving the residence, he glanced at the horses and carriage.

He had assumed Zhu Ying intended to seize one of the horses.

To his surprise, she didn’t stop for even a moment.

Still keeping one hand around his neck, she simply dragged him farther away.

Only after they climbed onto a ridge between the fields did Zhang Shou finally lose his patience.

Pretending to stumble, he deliberately let his footing slip.

His original plan was simple.

Lean backward.

Lightly bump into her.

Then duck free of her grasp.

Unexpectedly…

The instant Zhu Ying noticed him stumbling, she abandoned the “hostage” act altogether.

Without hesitation, she reached out and firmly supported him.

“Y-You’re all right, aren’t you?”

“Did you twist your ankle?”

“Are you hurt?”

Hearing her anxious questions one after another, Zhang Shou became even more certain.

This young lady truly harbored no ill intentions whatsoever.

Once he regained his footing, he smiled and shook his head.

“I’m fine.”

“What I’m curious about is this.”

“You asked me to help you put on this little performance.”

“What exactly are you trying to accomplish?”

Only then did Zhu Ying release him.

Standing upright again, she smiled warmly.

“I’m Zhu Ying, daughter of the Duke of Zhao.”

“And you?”

Since she had introduced herself so openly, Zhang Shou responded just as frankly.

“I’m Zhang Shou.”

“Zhang Shou…”

She repeated his name twice before looking him over once more.

Her sudden decision to “kidnap” him had really been for one reason alone.

She wanted to speak with him privately about the marriage their fathers had arranged.

Immediately, she apologized.

“I had no choice but to take you hostage so I could get away. I’m truly sorry.”

“You saw how unbearable Zhu Gongquan was.”

“There were some things I didn’t want to ask in front of him.”

“If I’d tried speaking with you privately, he would certainly have interfered.”

“He wants me to break off the engagement, so he’d have been delighted to see us arguing.”

Looking directly into Zhang Shou’s eyes, she asked seriously, “There’s only one thing I want to know.”

“Had you really never heard about our engagement before today?”

Rather than answering immediately, Zhang Shou looked back toward his home.

The residence stood out conspicuously amid the surrounding countryside.

Even now…

Not a single person had come after them.

Recalling how Zhu Gongquan had used him earlier as an example while belittling country folk…

A strange thought suddenly crossed his mind.

So even after transmigrating…

I’ve ended up in one of those ‘broken engagement’ storylines?

When such things happened to fictional protagonists, readers naturally sympathized with them.

But now that it had happened to him…

He found himself oddly looking forward to seeing what happened next.

Although the girl before him was beautiful enough to delight the eye and seemed perfectly reasonable…

There was no way he could instantly accept her as the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.

Granted…

She was more beautiful than any woman he had known in his previous life.

And her beauty was entirely natural.

Still…

Whether free love had its flaws or not…

He remained firmly convinced of one thing.

Arranged marriages?

Absolutely not.

He hadn’t even left this countryside to explore the wider world.

Why should he be talking about marriage already?

Having reached his decision, he answered honestly.

“I’ve lived here ever since I was little.”

“I’ve never traveled anywhere farther away.”

“I’ve never once heard that I had a fiancée.”

“So…”

“You needn’t bring up this engagement again, Miss Zhu.”

Had Zhang Shou been an unpleasant-looking fellow, Zhu Ying—already burdened by her family’s recent troubles—might have felt nothing but relief upon hearing those words.

Instead…

His calm, straightforward refusal somehow made her feel…

Rejected.

And at that exact moment—

Grrr…

A loud rumble suddenly echoed through the quiet fields.

Zhang Shou had been wondering why she hadn’t reacted to his heartfelt declaration.

The unexpected sound left him momentarily stunned.

Then he noticed the embarrassment spreading across Zhu Ying’s beautiful face.

He immediately understood.

“So absorbed in talking…”

“We completely forgot it’s lunchtime.”

He smiled.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you?”

This is bad…

I’d been so angry with Second Brother these past few days that I hardly ate anything…

As Zhu Ying desperately searched for another topic to change the subject…

Her stomach betrayed her once again.

Grrr…

She wished the ground would simply open up and swallow her whole.

But Zhang Shou only smiled more broadly.

“It seems you really are hungry.”

“If you don’t want to go back and see that irritating adviser of yours…”

“Then why don’t we find somewhere else to fill our stomachs…”

“And have a proper conversation while we’re eating?”