CHAPTER 346: CHAPTER 346: BREAKTHROUGH

Sitting across was Tao Mingxuan, still wrapped in his fox fur coat, holding a hand warmer, his gaze toward her tinged with mockery and a certain satisfaction of getting what he wanted.

"Pei Shu’er, you finally ended up in my hands."

Pei Shu’er sighed, indeed, the Power of Plot is strong.

Even though she had gone this far, building up the border, she still couldn’t escape its influence.

Pei Shu’er remained silent, her gaze sweeping over Tao Mingxuan’s face, noticing that although he was smiling, his eyes were as calm as a still lake.

Tao Mingxuan’s voice was lazy: "That catapult of yours is really useful. This time, when we attacked the Gulan Military Camp, it contributed the most."

Pei Shu’er couldn’t help but think of the catapult in the camp, such an important item had been snatched by the Dazi.

Tao Mingxuan nudged his chin towards Shen Wanqing, but his eyes remained on Pei Shu’er.

"I advise you to cooperate nicely, or don’t blame me for treating your mother poorly."

At this moment, Shen Wanqing was tied to another pillar, not yet regaining consciousness.

Pei Shu’er frowned, her eyes toward Tao Mingxuan now filled with more anger and hatred.

Tao Mingxuan, seeing Pei Shu’er in such anger, felt slightly better.

"If you are willing to give me the design sketch of your catapult, then I can release your mother."

Pei Shu’er did want to give it, but she was acutely aware that this was just a tactic of Tao Mingxuan to extract information.

How could he possibly release Shen Wanqing?

Not to mention she couldn’t or didn’t want to give it easily, even if she did, her end would be worse; she’d probably die even quicker.

Pei Shu’er responded coldly, "Sorry, I forgot."

Tao Mingxuan laughed, then picked up a whip and slowly walked toward Shen Wanqing, the sense of oppression evident as he advanced.

Just as his whip was lifted high and about to strike Shen Wanqing, Pei Shu’er smiled and began to speak.

"Scholar, what kind of grudge do you hold against Dayan, that you’re willing to go this far for the Tazi?"

When the word "scholar" was mentioned, Tao Mingxuan’s movement clearly paused.

It had been years since anyone called him "scholar"; a flash of nostalgia passed through his eyes, followed by intense ridicule.

His voice was low, pleasant, and exceptionally magnetic.

"Deep hatred! To speak of it, my hatred for Dayan might run deeper than my hatred for you."

Pei Shu’er shrugged, looking completely indifferent.

"I haven’t done anything to you."

Tao Mingxuan chuckled, such deep enmity, and yet Pei Shu’er didn’t feel it was anything? How laughable.

She had destroyed the fortress he had spent years of effort building and wrecked his well-planned siege strategy, and yet she claimed she hadn’t done anything?

"Will you give me the manuscript?"

Pei Shu’er shook her head firmly.

"Sorry."

Tao Mingxuan smiled, then nodded: "Alright."

When his whip was about to land on Shen Wanqing, Pei Shu’er smiled and said, "I may have forgotten the manuscript, but my medical skills... wouldn’t you like to make good use of them?"

At these words, Tao Mingxuan froze for a moment.

He had heard that Pei Shu’er’s medical skills were quite good, but how good could they be?

Could they even cure the ailments he had suffered for years?

Tao Mingxuan sneered, "Can you heal me?"

Pei Shu’er beamed with confidence, "I don’t really want to heal you, but what can I do, my skills are just too good."

Tao Mingxuan looked at a few Tazi around.

"Untie her."

Once Pei Shu’er was released, she realized these people had bound her so tightly that her arms were numb from the lack of circulation.

If they had delayed any longer, her hands might have been crippled.

Thinking of this, Pei Shu’er said, "Could you untie my mother too? You’ve bound her too tightly. If anything happens to her, don’t expect to gain anything from me."

After Tao Mingxuan nodded, the Tazi stepped forward to untie Shen Wanqing.

Shen Wanqing awoke, first coughing violently, then realizing she was lying on the ground.

Looking around, she found herself in a tent, surrounded by Tazi people.

Her face turned a bit pale.

Upon seeing Pei Shu’er, she quickly took a few steps towards her, anxiously examining Pei Shu’er, and was relieved to find no wounds on her body.

Shen Wanqing sighed, "I’m the one who dragged you down."

If not for her inability to run fast, Pei Shu’er wouldn’t have been caught.

Pei Shu’er shook her head, hugging the trembling Shen Wanqing lightly.

"Mother, it’s my fault for implicating you."

If not for her, perhaps Shen Wanqing wouldn’t have been captured and brought to the Tazi Camp.

Shen Wanqing shook her head, and Pei Shu’er said, "Mother, you rest here for a moment while I go check on Tao Mingxuan’s injuries."

As Pei Shu’er walked over, Tao Mingxuan was looking up at her with an inscrutable expression.

For a fleeting moment, Pei Shu’er considered taking Tao Mingxuan hostage and escaping.

Tao Mingxuan said, "Behave. If you do something you shouldn’t, you might escape, but can your mother?"

Pei Shu’er pressed her lips together, saying nothing more.

At this point, Pei Shu’er began to examine Tao Mingxuan’s condition.

Tao Mingxuan had a chronic illness, exacerbated by the conditions in confinement, alongside possibly overthinking and frequent insomnia.

In modern terms, these symptoms could be explained as severe depression.

Pei Shu’er thought that if she wanted to leave the Tazi Camp, then Tao Mingxuan might just be her breakthrough.

She nodded, "I understand your symptoms. I will prepare some medication to calm and suppress your cough. Remember to take it yourself."

Tao Mingxuan turned his head to look at her, clearly showing disbelief in his eyes.

Pei Shu’er shrugged.

"Don’t worry, I’ll give it to you. If you don’t trust it, you can have a doctor check if there’s a problem with the prescription. You can even let someone try it first."

Tao Mingxuan said nothing more.

Once Pei Shu’er had written down the prescription, Tao Mingxuan looked at her.

"I’ll give you one day to think about the catapult’s sketch."

Pei Shu’er did not respond to him; her mind was occupied with memories of the Tazi Camp map.

This map was something she had requested from Tang Zan, and he had given it to her.

Upon studying the map, she realized she was currently placed in the innermost part of the camp. If she wanted to escape, it would be as difficult as ascending to the sky, surrounded on all sides by Tazi.

If Pei Shu’er really tried to escape, she might very well encounter the enemies who led to her death in her previous life.

However, staying by Tao Mingxuan’s side, Pei Shu’er felt that the likelihood of avoiding danger was greater.

At least, she had something he wanted; before she handed it over, Tao Mingxuan wouldn’t dare to harm her.

Moreover, Tao Mingxuan, even at this point, still maintained the demeanor of a scholar.

Even if there wasn’t much of that scholarly demeanor left, it was still better than those rough types.

After all, although there was enmity between them, it wasn’t a hatred that couldn’t be resolved.