After a long while, he lifted his eyelids to glance at Madam Sun, his tone chillingly cold as he asked, "You've finally come to your senses. Did you get the item?"
"Reporting to my lord, this subordinate... this subordinate..."
"Why haven't you gotten it?"
A frigid glint flashed in Baili Xi's eyes. He tightly gripped the jade thumb ring, the sound of it cracking echoing.
The subtle noise felt like a thousand pounds of weight to Madam Sun. Already suspended in mid-air, the tension caused her blood circulation to falter. Her entire body felt stiff, and even the slightest movement of her fingers was incredibly difficult.
"Useless, good-for-nothing!" Baili Xi's furious voice reverberated through the room. His figure moved like a ghost. Before Madam Sun could react, Baili Xi was in front of her, grabbing her chin tightly.
Baili Xi applied sudden force, and the sound of a dislocated jaw, "crack," was heard. Madam Sun's eyes welled up with tears from the pain, but she couldn't utter a single word.
"Do you truly wish to watch your daughter die? You can't even accomplish this small task, and yet you've caused me to lose so many of my men. Someone as useless as you shouldn't be alive in this world either. Perhaps I should send you on your way... no, and your daughter too. You can all reunite in the underworld."
"No... don't..."
Madam Sun exerted all her strength, managing to utter these few words from her mouth, her eyes filled with terror.
Baili Xi exerted a slight force with his hand, and with another "crack," he reset Madam Sun's dislocated jaw.
"Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life..." Madam Sun said, enduring the pain in her jaw.
"Where did Feng Yuanping escape to? Who rescued him? Do you have any leads?"
Madam Sun's eyes darted around, attempting to conceal her panic. Her voice deepened as she replied, "My lord, that person was highly skilled in martial arts. They first engaged our men outside, allowing Feng Yuanping to escape from behind."
"Idiot. Can't you see something so obvious? It was merely a diversion to lure the tiger away from its mountain. Only a fool like you could be deceived by such a ploy."
"My lord, please forgive this subordinate's oversight. Please grant me another chance. I will definitely capture Feng Yuanping and retrieve what my lord desires."
Baili Xi snorted coldly, "There's no need. You are no longer of any use."
"My lord... my lord, considering my past merits, please spare my life, my lord... please..."
Madam Sun pleaded incessantly, begging Baili Xi to spare her life.
"There's no need to be so anxious. Considering your past contributions, I won't kill you for now. But don't think about leaving this place either."
Baili Xi's lips curved into a chilling smile. Madam Sun couldn't help but shudder, already foreseeing her own end.
But what about her Yan'er... how would Yan'er survive alone in that cannibalistic place if she were to die?
"My lord... my lord, I cannot die now. My Yan'er, Yan'er is still waiting for me. I beg you, for the sake of my service to the Old Marquis, spare my life for now. Once Yan'er... once Yan'er gives birth, I am willing to die."
Madam Sun pleaded repeatedly. Yan'er was due to give birth soon, and it was the most critical time for care. She absolutely could not die like this; she had to live.
"Silence! How dare you speak such nonsense? Do you truly not wish to live!"
He hated it most when people brought up this matter. His useless father had been involved with spies far too often, a true disgrace to the Baili family. Having such a father made him feel even more ashamed.
Anger surged within him, and he felt an urge to kill Madam Sun on the spot. How dare a mere lowly spy from the dust mention such a thing.
"This subordinate deserves to die... this subordinate deserves to die!" Madam Sun realized she had spoken incorrectly, her lips trembling as she continuously begged for mercy.
"My lord, my lord, Yan'er... she is... is..."
Madam Sun's words, halfway spoken, were hastily swallowed as she met Baili Xi's sharp glare. She quickly changed her tune, "Yan'er is now the Third Prince's secondary consort. As long as she gives birth to the eldest son, she will be the future Crown Prince, and the Emperor of Dongchu in the future will have the blood of our Xiliang people flowing within him. With this, why would we worry about Dongchu not being destroyed?"
After Madam Sun's explanation, Baili Xi's expression softened slightly. It seemed this Madam Sun had some background after all. She was quite accomplished for her age, which was not easy.
"Are you truly confident that the child Feng Ruoyan gives birth to will be the future Crown Prince of Dongchu?"
He had made inquiries. There were two women in Prince Chu Yanxi's mansion who were pregnant: Feng Ruoyan and the Third Prince's main consort. Furthermore, both had become pregnant around the same time.
Whoever gave birth first would make a difference. Baili Xi's scrutinizing gaze fell upon Madam Sun, his heart filled with considerable doubt regarding her words.
"I am confident. This subordinate has made arrangements. The child in Yan'er's womb will undoubtedly be the eldest son, the future Crown Prince."
Madam Sun spoke with full confidence, as if everything were already under her control. The child in Feng Ruoyan's womb was very healthy, and all that was needed was a few more days for the due date to arrive, and she would be able to give birth to the eldest son.
"Is that so? A woman's childbirth is destined by heaven, and when a child is born is even more so an act of providence. How can this matter be influenced? Moreover, the Third Prince's main consort is also pregnant, and that is the legitimate son... With the legitimate son still present, how can your illegitimate son compete?"
He now felt Madam Sun had lost her mind. With the legitimate son still present, there was no reason to elevate an illegitimate son. These words were merely a tactic she devised to stall for time.
"I am confident. The Third Prince is completely obedient to Yan'er. As long as Yan'er gives birth to the eldest son and establishes a firm foothold, everything in the Third Prince's mansion will belong to Yan'er. At that time, she will undoubtedly serve my lord and Xiliang with utmost devotion until death."
Knowing Baili Xi's inherently suspicious nature, Madam Sun exerted all her might to persuade him. Regardless of what, she had to stall for time; she would not feel at ease until she witnessed Yan'er give birth.
Baili Xi's eyes deepened. After a moment of thought, he said lightly, "I will trust you this one last time. If you dare to make another mistake, both you and Feng Ruoyan will die."
As the words fell, a cold glint flashed from Baili Xi's hand, and the rope binding Madam Sun immediately snapped. Madam Sun fell heavily to the ground. Ignoring the pain, she quickly scrambled up and knelt at Baili Xi's feet, begging, "Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life. This subordinate will certainly devote all her efforts to serving my lord."
"Considering your loyalty, I shall spare you this time. Get up from your kneeling. Inform Feng Ruoyan of this matter and have her used by our Xiliang."