106: An ungrateful princess from an enemy country

The Original Owner, Qin Jiuge, was originally the dignified First Prince of a nation.

When he was nine years old, he passed by a slave market and saw the female lead, Ning Xue'er, locked in chains and gaunt from hunger.

Out of kindness and pity, he not only paid a large sum to buy her but also stuffed a heavy bag of gold coins into her hands, letting her find her own way in life.

However, seeing his luxurious clothing and generous spending, Ning Xue'er determined that his status was extraordinary and would never miss this opportunity to climb the social ladder.

She immediately grabbed the hem of Qin Jiuge's robe, feigning a weak, pitiful, and homeless appearance.

Tears fell like beads from a broken string, and she kept crying out, "Young Master, save me," stubbornly clinging to Qin Jiuge's side.

In the days that followed, Ning Xue'er played her schemes to the fullest.

She was completely obedient and gentle toward Qin Jiuge, coaxing him into falling deeply in love with her.

At the same time, she secretly probed into his background, and upon learning that he was the future Crown Prince, she was overjoyed.

She pestered Qin Jiuge night after night, forcing him to swear an oath to the heavens that when he ascended the throne as Emperor, he must make her his Empress.

Furthermore, the harem could only have her; if he broke the oath, he would be struck by lightning and his country would perish and his Family would be destroyed.

Qin Jiuge, blinded by love, actually agreed to this absurd oath.

Good times did not last long; the iron cavalry of a neighboring country trampled through the national gates, and Qin Jiuge's country fell overnight.

During the chaos of war, Qin Jiuge and Ning Xue'er were separated, and he was captured by the enemy army while fleeing.

The former prince was reduced to a prisoner, stripped of his fine clothes, forced into coarse hemp prison garb, and dragged to the slave market to be sold like livestock.

Just as Qin Jiuge was on the verge of death, hoping for someone to save him,

a luxurious figure slowly walked over—it was actually Ning Xue'er!

At this moment, she was adorned in a Phoenix crown and robes, radiating brilliance; there was no trace of the humble and pitiful girl from before.

It turned out that she was actually the long-lost princess of the enemy country!

A glimmer of hope ignited in Qin Jiuge's eyes, and he struggled to shout at her:

"Xue'er! Save me!"

But Ning Xue'er only glanced at him from above, a vicious sneer curling the corners of her mouth.

The disgust and satisfaction in her eyes were like a poisoned blade, piercing straight into Qin Jiuge's heart.

Far from showing any pity, she instead mocked him in a shrill voice in front of all the slaves and merchants:

"Qin Jiuge, you have a day like this too?"

"If you hadn't meddled in my affairs and bought me back then, I would have been found by my Imperial Father and Mother long ago. How would I have suffered so many years with you?"

"You ruined the glory and wealth I was supposed to enjoy. Today, I will make you pay it back a hundredfold!"

Having said that, Ning Xue'er bought Qin Jiuge in front of everyone for ten times the price of what he had paid years ago.

But she had no intention of letting him live; instead, she ordered people to throw him into the slave gladiator arena.

Even more viciously, she specifically ordered that every duel be arranged so that Qin Jiuge's former subjects would fight him.

Watching the former monarch and subject slaughter each other in the iron cage for survival, Ning Xue'er sat on the high platform, drinking wine, clapping, and cheering, laughing until she swayed.

Watching his compatriots fall one by one beside him and listening to Ning Xue'er's piercing laughter, Qin Jiuge's heart turned to ash.

He recalled his own kindness back then and remembered those vows of eternal love, feeling only immense irony.

In the final duel, Qin Jiuge was covered in wounds and exhausted. He looked at Ning Xue'er, who was laughing maniacally on the high platform, his eyes filled with despair and hatred.

Just then, one of his former guards roared and lunged at him. Qin Jiuge did not dodge, allowing the cold blade to pierce his chest.

Before dying, he used his last ounce of strength to spit out a curse in the direction of Ning Xue'er.

And Ning Xue'er merely glanced at his corpse with contempt before turning and leaving, without even frowning.

...

【Plot summary complete】

【Original Owner's wish: Let the female lead receive the retribution she deserves】

"Oh, interesting. Let's begin."

Qin Jiuge said indifferently.

...

...

Time flowed backward, and fate was reset.

At this moment, the slave market was still bustling with noise.

In a foul-smelling corner, that gaunt girl was locked in chains, peering at passersby with a pair of seemingly innocent, wide eyes.

Qin Jiuge stood not far away, hiding terrifying power capable of destroying the world within the body of a nine-year-old child.

A playful smile curled the corners of his mouth.

"Found you."

Qin Jiuge whispered to himself, a flash of red light passing through his eyes.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze for an instant, but then returned to normal.

No one noticed what changes had occurred to this boy in luxurious silk robes.

Qin Jiuge stepped toward the slave stall, each step carrying the heavy power of Karma.

He could perceive this girl, Ning Xue'er, the future vicious princess,

with the enemy royal Bloodline hidden within her body, as well as the greed already twisted deep within her Soul.

"Young Master, buying a slave?"

"Although this girl is thin, she is quick with her hands and feet. Only ten copper coins."

The slave trader smiled obsequiously.

Ning Xue'er immediately lifted her head, a calculating light flashing in her eyes.

Recognizing the luxury of Qin Jiuge's clothing, she immediately squeezed out tears, feigning a pitiful appearance:

"Young Master, please save me. My parents are both dead, and I am homeless..."

Qin Jiuge crouched down and looked directly into her eyes.

In a dimension invisible to Ning Xue'er, his will was scanning her Soul, fully discerning her future betrayal, viciousness, and her current hypocrisy.

"What is your name?"

Qin Jiuge asked, his voice calm.

"Ning... Ning Xue'er."

The girl answered timidly, but secretly looked up to observe his reaction.

"How pitiful."

Qin Jiuge smiled, a smile that made Ning Xue'er feel an inexplicable chill.

He turned to the slave trader and said:

"I will buy her, at ten times the price."

The slave trader was so pleasantly surprised he almost jumped up, while a gleam of triumph flashed in Ning Xue'er's eyes.

But Qin Jiuge's next words left them both stunned:

"And then, I will give her a bag of gold coins and set her free."

He produced a heavy money bag, the clinking of gold coins making a pleasant sound.

The slave trader's eyes nearly popped out, while Ning Xue'er was first stunned, then a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.

This was not the script she had anticipated!

"Young Master, you... don't you want me to serve you?"

Ning Xue'er hurriedly grabbed the hem of Qin Jiuge's robe, tears coming on command,

"Xue'er has nowhere to go. I beg the Young Master to take me in..."

Qin Jiuge gently brushed her hand away and smiled:

"I have changed my mind. Take these gold coins and go start your new life."

He handed her the money bag along with the deed of sale and turned to leave.

Ning Xue'er panicked, completely panicked.

How could she let this big fish slip away?

She hurriedly knelt on the ground and hugged Qin Jiuge's leg:

"If the Young Master will not take me in, Xue'er would rather die here! Xue'er is willing to serve the Young Master for a lifetime, with absolutely no disloyalty!"

Qin Jiuge stopped, his back to her, the sneer on his lips widening.

"Since that is the case..."

He turned around, a flash of red light passing through his eyes,

"Then I will 'take you in'."

At that moment, an invisible contractual brand was silently carved into the depths of Ning Xue'er's Soul.

She was completely unaware, only kowtowing in ecstasy:

"Thank you, Young Master! Thank you, Young Master!"

Qin Jiuge helped her up and said gently:

"Come back to the palace with me. From this day forward, you are my personal maid."

"The... the palace?" Ning Xue'er was stunned.

"I forgot to introduce myself,"

Qin Jiuge's smile was as warm as a spring breeze,

"I am the First Prince of this country, Qin Jiuge."

Ning Xue'er's heart began to pound—this was even better than she had imagined!

She had actually latched onto a prince of a nation!

She suppressed the ecstasy in her heart and feigned a fearful appearance:

"Your... Your Highness? Xue'er did not know, I have offended you..."

"It is no matter."

Qin Jiuge took her hand,

"Let's go, we are going home."

...

Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

Over these ten years, Ning Xue'er planned every step carefully, using every means to gain Qin Jiuge's trust and love.

She was gentle, considerate, and understanding, coaxing the First Prince until he was wrapped around her finger.

And Qin Jiuge, just as she wished, had fallen "deeply in love" with her.

"Xue'er, after I ascend the throne, I will definitely make you my Empress."

The nineteen-year-old Qin Jiuge held Ning Xue'er and said affectionately.

Ning Xue'er snuggled in his arms, but a flash of impatience crossed her eyes.

She could not wait any longer.

A few days ago, she had made contact with spies from the enemy country and learned that she was the long-lost princess of the enemy country!

Her biological parents had been searching for her!

"Your Highness, Xue'er... Xue'er is afraid."

She squeezed out a few tears,

"If you have other concubines in the future, will you not want Xue'er anymore?"

Qin Jiuge sneered in his heart, but his expression was incredibly sincere:

"How could that be? I only have you in my heart."

"Then... then swear an oath!"

Ning Xue'er took the opportunity to say,

"Swear that after you ascend the throne, you will only make me Empress and never take any concubines into the harem! If you break this, you will be struck by lightning, and your country will perish and your Family will be destroyed!"

What a vicious oath.

Qin Jiuge looked at the pitiful face before him, remembering that the Original Owner had been harmed by this very oath, leading to the destruction of his country and Family.

"Very well, I swear it."

He raised his hand and said word by word,

"I, Qin Jiuge, hereby swear: after ascending the throne, I will definitely make Ning Xue'er my Empress, and the harem will never take any concubines."

"If I break this oath, I shall be struck by lightning, and my country shall perish and my Family shall be destroyed."

As soon as the words fell, a flash of triumphant ecstasy passed through Ning Xue'er's eyes, but she did not notice the strange rune that flashed on Qin Jiuge's fingertips.

That oath did not bind him; instead, it formed a reverse Karma chain, tightly binding Ning Xue'er to her future fate.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Qin Jiuge asked gently.

"Satisfied, Your Highness is the best to Xue'er."

Ning Xue'er offered a kiss, while her heart was already calculating how to pass intelligence about the Qin State to the enemy country.

That night, Ning Xue'er snuck out of the palace to meet with the enemy spy.

"Your Highness, the Princess, your parents have been looking for you. This is their token."

The spy handed over a Phoenix-shaped jade pendant.

Ning Xue'er took it with trembling hands, "excited" tears welling up in her eyes:

"I am finally... finally going home."

"Tell them I will act as an inside agent. When the time is ripe, we will work from within and without to destroy the Xuanqing State in one fell swoop!"

"The Princess is wise!"

What Ning Xue'er did not know was that all of this was being watched by Qin Jiuge.

He hovered in the air, his form concealed, indifferently watching the drama of betrayal below.

"It's about time; it's time to close the net."

...

Three months later, the enemy army pressed upon the border.

The imperial court was in chaos, and the ministers were arguing endlessly.

Only Qin Jiuge remained calm and composed.

"Imperial Father, your son is willing to lead the troops to meet the enemy."

He volunteered.

The old king looked at him with worry:

"Ge'er, the enemy's forces are three times ours; this mission is dangerous..."

"Your son has absolute certainty of victory."

Qin Jiuge smiled slightly, a flash of red light passing through his eyes.

That night, Ning Xue'er came to Qin Jiuge's study, looking "worried."

"Your Highness, I heard you are going to lead the campaign yourself? It is too dangerous!"

She feigned a tearful appearance.

Qin Jiuge held her in his arms and said softly:

"For you, and for our future, I must go."

"But... if... if something were to happen..."

Ning Xue'er asked tentatively.

"Rest assured,"

Qin Jiuge stroked her hair,

"I have already arranged everything. Even if the front line fails, I have hidden enough treasure in the secret passage of the palace for us to fly far away."

Ning Xue'er's eyes lit up. A secret passage! Treasure! This was important intelligence!

She passed the news to the enemy spy that very night.

Seven days later, the two armies faced off.

The commander of the enemy army was none other than Ning Xue'er's biological father, Yuwen Ba.

Before the battle lines, Yuwen Ba shouted arrogantly:

"Qin Jiuge, if you surrender now, this King might spare your life!"

Qin Jiuge sat on his horse before the battle lines and smiled:

"Yuwen Ba, are you sure you want to do this? Do you know that your daughter is in my hands?"

Yuwen Ba's expression changed:

"What did you say?"

Qin Jiuge clapped his hands, and the soldiers behind him escorted a masked woman forward.

He pulled off the woman's veil—it was none other than Ning Xue'er!

"Xue'er!"

Yuwen Ba exclaimed.

Ning Xue'er struggled "in terror":

"Father! Save me!"

This was the ruse they had agreed upon—pretending to be captured, in reality, to distract Yuwen Ba.

But she did not know that Qin Jiuge had already rewritten the script.

"Yuwen Ba, withdraw your troops, or I will kill your daughter."

Qin Jiuge's sword was pressed against Ning Xue'er's neck.

Ning Xue'er secretly chuckled, waiting for her father to feign hesitation according to their plan, and then suddenly launch an attack.

But Yuwen Ba's reaction was beyond her expectations.

"Just one daughter,"

Yuwen Ba said coldly,

"I have seven daughters; I don't miss one. Attack!"

The war drums sounded, and the enemy army surged forward like a tide.

Ning Xue'er was stunned, completely stunned.

Father... Father doesn't want her?

Qin Jiuge whispered in her ear:

"Surprised? To him, you are nothing more than a pawn."

"No... impossible..."

Ning Xue'er murmured.

"You think he really cares about you?"

Qin Jiuge laughed,

"He knew you were in the Xuanqing Kingdom long ago, ten years ago, but he didn't take you back, instead making you an inside agent."

"Because in his heart, you, his long-lost daughter, are most valuable as a tool to subvert the Xuanqing Kingdom."

Ning Xue'er trembled all over, unwilling to believe it.

"Now, see how your 'Family' treats you."

Qin Jiuge released her and patted her back,

"Go on, return to your father's side."

Ning Xue'er staggered toward the enemy formation, shouting as she ran:

"Father! It's me! I'm Xue'er!"

What greeted her was a rain of arrows.

Yuwen Ba's cold voice came:

"Better to kill the wrong person than let one go! Fire arrows!"

Ning Xue'er looked at the incoming arrows in terror, closing her eyes in despair.

But the arrows suddenly veered away as they approached her, striking the soldiers on either side.

Qin Jiuge's voice resounded across the battlefield:

"Yuwen Ba, to kill even your own daughter, you are truly a beast."

Yuwen Ba's face turned livid:

"What sorcery did you use?"

"Sorcery?"

Qin Jiuge laughed, slowly ascending into the air,

"No, this is divine punishment."

He spread his arms, and terrifying energy erupted from within him.

The sky instantly became overcast, with lightning and thunder.

The enemy warhorses neighed in terror, and the soldiers abandoned their armor and fled.

"Ten years of planning, today I close the net."

Qin Jiuge's voice boomed like thunder,

"Yuwen Ba, you and your entire Family will pay the price for your greed."

He reached out and grabbed, and Yuwen Ba was lifted into the air as if gripped by an invisible hand around his throat.

"And you, my dear Xue'er."

Qin Jiuge looked at the collapsed Ning Xue'er,

"The game has only just begun."

The war ended within a day.

Qin Jiuge, with the strength of one man, completely annihilated the enemy army of 300,000.

Yuwen Ba and his three sons and six daughters were all captured, and together with Ning Xue'er, they were taken back to the capital of the Xuanqing Kingdom.

The court and the public were shaken, and the whole country rejoiced.

Qin Jiuge was revered as the "Divine Martial King," and the old king abdicated directly, passing the throne to him.

After the coronation ceremony, the first thing Qin Jiuge did was take the Yuwen Family to visit the newly built "Life and Death Arena."

"Welcome to your new home."

Qin Jiuge sat on the golden throne on the high platform, looking down at the Yuwen Family, who were bound by iron chains.

Ning Xue'er, her parents, and her siblings, a total of eleven people, were locked in an iron cage in the center of the arena.

They were in rags, looking disheveled, a sharp contrast to their former glory and wealth.

"Qin Jiuge! If you have the guts, just kill us!"

Yuwen Ba roared.

"Kill you?"

Qin Jiuge laughed,

"That would be too easy for you. I want you to experience what true despair is."

He snapped his fingers, and the iron cage opened.

"The rules are very simple,"

Qin Jiuge's voice spread throughout the entire arena via magic,

"Among the eleven of you, only one can survive. The one who survives, I will grant freedom."

"What?!"

Ning Xue'er's mother, Yuwen Ba's queen, screamed,

"You want us to kill each other? You devil!"

"Devil?"

Qin Jiuge tilted his head,

"Compared to what you did to my people, what is this?"

Qin Jiuge was referring to the fate of the Original Owner, betrayed by his beloved, his country destroyed, and his people reduced to slaves killing each other.

"Now, begin."

Qin Jiuge waved his hand,

"Oh, right, to make the game more interesting, I planted a little something inside you."

"When you have the thought of killing a relative, you will feel extreme pleasure,"

"And when you hesitate, you will feel piercing pain."

As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of the Yuwen Family began to twist.

Ning Xue'er's eldest brother, Yuwen Hao, suddenly had red eyes, breathing heavily as he looked at his sister:

"Third sister... I'm sorry... I want to live..."

He picked up an iron rod from the ground and charged toward Ning Xue'er.

"Big brother! You're crazy!"

Ning Xue'er screamed and dodged.

But Yuwen Hao's speed was astonishingly fast, because as his killing intent grew, the "Pleasure Curse" Qin Jiuge had planted began to take effect, granting him strength.

"Bang!"

The iron rod smashed into Ning Xue'er's shoulder, and she fell to the ground in pain.

"Hao'er! Stop!"

Yuwen Ba wanted to stop him, but the moment he thought about protecting his daughter, he felt a sharp pain in his heart; that was the pain of hesitation.

He knelt on the ground, cold sweat streaming down.

Ning Xue'er's second sister, Yuwen Yan, seeing this, had a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes.

She quietly picked up a stone and approached Yuwen Hao, who was attacking Ning Xue'er, from behind.

"Big brother, I'm sorry."

She murmured, then smashed it hard against the back of Yuwen Hao's head.

Yuwen Hao groaned and fell to the ground, blood pouring from the back of his head.

Ning Xue'er looked at this scene in terror:

"Second sister... you..."

Yuwen Yan dropped the bloodstained stone and gave Ning Xue'er a strange smile:

"Third sister, you have to die too; only one person can live, remember?"

Just then, Yuwen Ba suddenly lunged, punching Yuwen Yan in the face:

"Rebellious daughter! How dare you kill your brother!"

Yuwen Yan flew out, hitting the iron cage, vomiting blood continuously.

But Yuwen Ba also felt a sharp pain because he attacked his daughter; Qin Jiuge's curse punished everyone who hesitated equally.

"Father... why..."

Yuwen Yan said with difficulty,

"Don't you want to live too..."

Yuwen Ba was stunned.

Yes, he wanted to live.

The intense desire to survive overwhelmed his affection for his children, and the pain of hesitation struck again, even worse than before.

"Ah!"

He clutched his head and screamed.

Taking this opportunity, Ning Xue'er's fourth brother, Yuwen Feng, picked up Yuwen Hao's iron rod and quietly crept behind Yuwen Ba.

"Father, farewell."

He whispered, then swung the rod with all his might.

Yuwen Ba's skull was smashed out of shape, and he fell with wide eyes, dying with deep resentment.

The queen, seeing her husband killed, screamed:

"Feng'er! You killed your father!"

"So what?"

Yuwen Feng panted, his eyes filled with crazy red light,

"Mother, you have to die too; only one person can live, these are the rules."

He walked toward the queen.

Ning Xue'er curled up in the corner, watching this tragedy of Family members killing each other, trembling all over.

She finally understood how vicious Qin Jiuge's revenge was; he didn't just want to kill them,

but to destroy all their human dignity and make them show their ugliest side.

"No... don't..."

She murmured.

But the slaughter continued.

Yuwen Feng killed the queen, but was stabbed in the back by his fifth sister, Yuwen Lin.

Yuwen Lin was then strangled by her sixth brother, Yuwen Kang... Yuwen Kang had his throat bitten through by his seventh sister, Yuwen Fang...

One by one, the people of the Yuwen Family fell in pools of blood.

Finally, only Ning Xue'er and her youngest brother, the ten-year-old Yuwen Le, remained in the arena.

"Sister..."

Yuwen Le said, crying,

"I don't want to die..."

Ning Xue'er looked at him, complex emotions surging in her heart.

But just then, Qin Jiuge's voice rang out:

"There are two people left. I'll give you a quarter of an hour. If no one dies, I will execute one of you at random."

Ning Xue'er's heart pounded wildly.

She didn't want to die!

She still had a great future!

She was a princess!

She should be enjoying glory and wealth!

"Le'er..."

She whispered, slowly walking toward her brother,

"Close your eyes, it will be over soon."

Yuwen Le seemed to understand something and retreated in terror:

"Sister... don't..."

But Ning Xue'er had already picked up the knife from the ground.

As her killing intent grew, she felt an unprecedented pleasure; that was the curse taking effect, rewarding her ruthlessness.

"I'm sorry, Le'er."

She said, shedding tears, but her movements did not stop,

"Sister wants to live."

The knife pierced Yuwen Le's chest.

The little boy widened his eyes, looking at his sister in disbelief, then slowly fell.

Ning Xue'er dropped the knife, knelt on the ground, and wept loudly.

But in her tears, sadness accounted for only half; the other half was relief and a faint... pleasure.

Qin Jiuge applauded.

"Brilliant, truly brilliant."

He stood up from the throne and slowly walked down from the high platform,

"Ning Xue'er, you won; you are the last survivor."

Ning Xue'er looked up, a glimmer of hope igniting in her eyes:

"You... will you set me free?"

"Of course,"

Qin Jiuge smiled,

"I keep my word."

He snapped his fingers, and the chains on Ning Xue'er fell off.

The doors of the arena slowly opened.

"Go, you are free."

Qin Jiuge stepped aside to clear the path.

Ning Xue'er couldn't believe her ears.

She struggled to stand up and staggered toward the door.

One step, two steps... She stepped out of the arena.

"Am I really... free?"

She murmured.

"Yes,"

Qin Jiuge's voice came from behind,

"Free from the arena."

Ning Xue'er suddenly had an ominous premonition.

She turned to ask for clarification, but found the surrounding scene beginning to twist and change.

The arena disappeared, replaced by a dark, damp, foul-smelling cave.

From the depths of the cave came eerie gurgling and shrill laughter.

"Welcome to the Goblin Lair."

Qin Jiuge's figure appeared at the cave entrance, but his voice came from all directions,

"This will be your eternal home."

"No!"

Ning Xue'er screamed,

"You said you would set me free!"

"I set you free from the arena,"

Qin Jiuge's voice carried a cold smile,

"But I didn't say I would let you go anywhere else. Ning Xue'er, you will be here, forever and ever, suffering endless torment."

In the depths of the cave, dense red eyes lit up.

Those were Goblins—greedy, ugly, cruel monsters.

"These Goblins have been placed under an eternal curse by me,"

Qin Jiuge explained,

"They will not die, and they will not let you die."

"They will torment you every day, using every method you can and cannot imagine."

"And when your spirit breaks, I will repair your Soul, let you regain clarity, and then... start all over again."

"You are a devil!"

Ning Xue'er screamed hysterically.

"Devil?"

Qin Jiuge laughed,

"Compared to what you did to the Original Owner, what is this?"

"You made him watch his people slaughter each other, made him be betrayed by his beloved, and made his country fall."

"And now, I am simply giving you a taste of your own medicine."

The Goblins swarmed up and grabbed Ning Xue'er.

She screamed and struggled, but it was to no avail.

"Enjoy your eternity, Xue'er."

Qin Jiuge took one last look at her desperate face, then turned and disappeared into the light.

Ning Xue'er's screams echoed in the cave, but were soon drowned out by the Goblins' strange laughter.

Qin Jiuge returned to the palace.

Standing on the high platform, he overlooked the prosperous kingdom, toying with a crystal ball in his hand.

Reflected in the ball was the real-time scene of Ning Xue'er being tormented in the Goblin Lair.

In the crystal ball, during a brief moment of clarity, Ning Xue'er's eyes were filled with extreme regret and despair.

She regretted betraying the Original Owner, regretted her own greed, and regretted everything.

But it was too late.