Transmigrated into the Villain's Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife (Transmigrated into a Book) - Chapter 13

Lin Chu stood frozen, hearing Han Zichen speak so bluntly that it sent shivers down her spine. Only the dead can keep secrets…

In Han Zichen’s eyes, she was already as good as dead.

She stole a glance at Yan Mingge, only to find him calm and composed, as if he had been expecting this moment all along.

After a pause, Han Zichen said, “We’ve been like brothers. I’ll make sure you go with dignity.”

Yan Mingge looked up, his dark, cold gaze like a freezing northern wind cutting through the night.

“You’ve sided with the Second Prince,” Yan Mingge said quietly.

Han Zichen was silent for a moment, then met his gaze. “Ah Heng, the Han family… can’t just fall apart.”

Yan Heng—that was Yan Mingge’s real name.

But that name had been buried five years ago, along with the fall of the Yong’an Marquis’ household.

Hearing it again now brought only bitterness to Yan Mingge’s face.

“Once, the Han and Yan families stood together. By killing me, you’ll prove your loyalty to the Second Prince,” Yan Mingge said with a bitter smile, his voice eerily calm.

Han Zichen closed his eyes briefly, as though trying to suppress his grief. “Ah Heng, in the end, it was the Han family that wronged the Yan family…”

Yan Mingge let out a cold laugh. “We’ve chosen different paths. But tell me, Zichen—when did you start treating your own woman so cruelly?”

Han Zichen’s expression darkened at those words.

Yan Mingge shifted his gaze to Han Junye. “Because Lady Jiang is distantly related to the Yan family, you feared she’d stand in your way. So you tricked her and her son, sending them to die beyond the border. All to curry favor with the Second Prince. Han Zichen, you’ve truly sunk low.”

Lin Chu’s heart raced as she listened. She stared at Han Zichen, realizing more and more what kind of person he really was.

“You, Yan Heng, can barely protect yourself. Stop worrying about others,” Han Zichen sneered, his mask of civility finally slipping.

In a moment of anger, he tightened his grip on Han Junye. Though just a child, Junye had been taught by Jiang Wanxue to fight for survival, making him more mature than his years. He didn’t fully understand the conversation, but he could tell it had to do with his life. Seeing Han Zichen’s cold face, he started crying loudly.

Han Zichen looked at his son, who was practically a mirror of himself, with nothing but indifference. Yan Mingge was right—when he sent Jiang Wanxue and the child to the border, he had already written them off.

“What are you crying for?” he snapped harshly.

Junye’s cries were heartbreaking. Lin Chu couldn’t stand it any longer and was about to step forward when the door burst open.

Jiang Wanxue stumbled inside, tears streaming down her face. She rushed to grab her son from Han Zichen, glaring at him with both fear and hatred.

It seemed she’d been listening from outside for quite a while…

A deliberate move to stir the pot!

Lin Chu glanced at Yan Mingge. He’d said those words on purpose—for Jiang Wanxue to hear!

Seeing Jiang Wanxue suddenly appear, Han Zichen frowned. “Didn’t I tell you to wait outside?”

In his mother’s arms, Han Junye’s fear started to fade, and his cries softened to quiet sniffles.

Jiang Wanxue trembled as she looked at Han Zichen, tears streaming down her face before she could even speak. “Husband, tell me—is what Yan Gege said true?”

Realizing this was a setup, Han Zichen shot a sharp, angry look at Yan Mingge.

But his silence said it all. Jiang Wanxue crumpled to the ground in tears. “You told me that if I poisoned Yan Gege and helped you take the credit, you’d make Ye’er your heir! All these years, I’ve never asked for anything from you! I endured your mother’s scorn, the main wife’s bullying… No matter how much I suffered, I only cared about Ye’er’s future. You promised me, Husband! Have you forgotten everything?”

Little Han Junye, who had just calmed down, started crying again, upset by his mother’s sobs.

Han Zichen felt a headache building from their wailing. Since he’d already decided to abandon them, he felt nothing but irritation. His men were waiting outside—he could have them killed in a hail of arrows and burn this place to the ground.

As he turned to leave, Jiang Wanxue suddenly dropped to her knees and grabbed his robe. “Husband! I gave you my heart, stayed by your side for five years, and bore you a son. I was the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, but I lowered myself to become your concubine. You can’t just abandon me!”

Han Zichen sneered, crouching down to brush a hand across her tear-streaked face.

Jiang Wanxue thought he’d softened. She looked up at him with hope. “Husband…”

“Jiang Wanxue,” he said coldly, “this is what you chose. Don’t act like your feelings for me were so deep. If the Yan family hadn’t fallen, would you have been with me? No, right? Even now, you’re clinging to your ‘Yan Gege,’ calling his name so sweetly. Have you forgotten how disgusting you looked when you broke off your engagement with him?”

Jiang Wanxue froze, staring at his face in disbelief. Was this really the man she had shared a bed with for five years?

“When the Yan family collapsed, and the Jiang family lost its backer, you were like a stray dog. If I hadn’t taken you in as a concubine, where would you be now? Like your sisters, passed around by rich men?”

“You’re no man, Han Zichen!” Jiang Wanxue shouted, raising her hand to slap him.

He caught her wrist before it landed. “Don’t think your tears make you innocent,” he sneered. “You were the one who ended your engagement with Yan Heng. You were the one who agreed to poison him. I never forced you to do anything.”

He let go of her wrist and started to rise, but suddenly, there was a loud thud.

Han Zichen staggered and turned around to see Yan Mingge’s wife holding a thick club.

Lin Chu’s heart jumped in shock. She had hit him, yet he didn’t go down—just how hard was his head?

As she prepared to swing again, Han Zichen finally collapsed. Lin Chu exhaled in relief.

The club Lin Chu had stashed in the room earlier to fend off Zhao Yuan had unexpectedly proven useful.

Even though she had experience knocking people out before, her legs still trembled with fear.

Jiang Wanxue and her son had stopped crying. Little Han Junye sat frozen in shock, while Jiang Wanxue appeared dazed.

Lin Chu didn’t have the luxury to console them. She quickly grabbed a thick coat from the cabinet and draped it over Yan Mingge. “You know Qiang City’s layout better than I do. Where’s the safest place? I’ll help you escape there.”

Since the moment Lin Chu had raised the club to strike Han Zichen unconscious, Yan Mingge’s eyes hadn’t left her. Her tone was steady, but her trembling hands betrayed her nerves as she tied the coat around him.

He stared at her forced composure for a long moment before reaching out to take her shaking hand. “Are you scared?”

The warmth in his voice was unexpected.

Lin Chu shook her head vigorously, managing a carefree smile. “Scared? What’s there to be scared of? Worst case, we die.”

Her voice wavered slightly, a clear sign she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.

Yan Mingge studied her profile thoughtfully. “Head for the North Gate. Once you reach the inner city walls, you’ll be safe. It’s about half an hour to the gate from here. You’ll have a better chance escaping on your own than staying with me.”

If Han Zichen had conspired with the city’s commander, it wouldn’t take long for the city gates to close and the soldiers to start house-to-house searches.

Lin Chu ignored his warning, hoisting his arm over her shoulder with great effort. “You’re my husband. How could I leave you behind…?”

Her lips pressed into a determined line as she struggled under his weight, her voice firm and resolute.

Her words etched themselves into Yan Mingge’s heart.

Just as Lin Chu strained to support him, a large hand suddenly covered her eyes. His deep, steady voice sounded close to her ear. “Close your eyes.”

Her instincts screamed danger, and she obeyed without hesitation. She shut her eyes tightly, feeling the weight on her shoulder vanish in an instant.

A piercing scream tore through the room. It was Jiang Wanxue, her voice so shrill it could have shattered the roof.

Lin Chu flinched as something warm splashed against the hem of her skirt. The heavy metallic scent of blood filled the air.

Yan Mingge had killed Han Zichen.

For a moment, Lin Chu was frozen in place, too shocked to move.

Jiang Wanxue’s screams startled the soldiers stationed outside. They called out, “Lord Han?”

“Lord Han?”

When the room remained silent, the voices outside trailed off.

Hyper-aware of every sound, Lin Chu thought she could hear the courtyard gate creak as several people approached the room cautiously.

“Don’t be afraid,” Yan Mingge’s low voice whispered close to her ear.

The hand covering her eyes withdrew. When Lin Chu opened them, she saw Yan Mingge gripping a large blade, blood still dripping from its edge.

Her gaze darted away in panic and landed on Han Zichen’s body, sprawled in a pool of blood. His wide-open eyes stared blankly, frozen in terror and disbelief.

The stench of fresh blood hit her hard. Unable to hold it in, she turned aside and retched.

Freed from her support, Yan Mingge didn’t falter. He walked to the corner of the room and used the blood-soaked blade to pry loose several blue tiles from the floor. Beneath them lay a large black iron bow.

Spotting a pouch of coins nearby, Yan Mingge paused briefly, his brows furrowing.

Through her nausea, Lin Chu lifted her head weakly. Taking in the scene, she muttered faintly, “Husband, that’s where I hid my money.”