A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1209: The Darkest Nightmare of Her Life

Xia Ruqing let out a cold sneer.

"I don't need you to give me face either!"

"Even though I have no idea why you've captured me, there's only one thing I need to say!"

"I will absolutely ensure you do not succeed!"

Zhao Junqi's gaze abruptly sharpened.

"You..."

His eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, and he lunged forward, his hand reaching for her neck.

"Why did I capture you?"

"Qingqing, can you not yet grasp my feelings for you?"

"I am sincere in my affection for you, yet how have you treated me?"

He paused, releasing her neck, only to pull her tightly into his embrace.

"Look, look within yourself, my heart is entirely consumed by you!"

"It's only you inside!"

He behaved like a furious, red-eyed lion, driven mad by an unattainable prize.

Xia Ruqing fought back with all her might, but it was futile.

In a moment of desperation, she bit down hard on his shoulder.

"Ah!"

Zhao Junqi cried out in pain, immediately loosening his grip.

Xia Ruqing seized the opportunity to break free.

Regrettably, her body was far too weak to flee any significant distance, and other servants were present in the courtyard.

Thus, almost as soon as she gained her freedom, the maids swiftly apprehended her through their combined efforts.

Xia Ruqing was plunged into utter despair.

Indeed! How could she possibly escape by relying solely on her own strength?

Even if she managed to get away, the surrounding area was a dense forest filled with dangerous beasts and noxious miasma; how could she possibly survive?

Her sole chance of survival lay in remaining here.

The maids dragged the helpless Xia Ruqing back, her eyes fixed fiercely on Zhao Junqi.

"Peh!"

"Even if I perish, I will never surrender to you!"

Zhao Junqi was consumed by rage and dismissed all the attending maids.

He then seized Xia Ruqing by her collar, dragging her to the bed and forcefully pinning her down.

"You refuse? Then I shall make you mine by force!"

"What I cannot possess, no one else shall even dare to dream of obtaining!"

"As the Empress, you have been involved with another man; do you truly believe he will still desire you?"

"Do you think that is even possible?"

Xia Ruqing struggled frantically. Hearing this, she suddenly stilled.

’He’s saying that because Zhao Junyao is truly still alive, right?’

’Finally, there's concrete proof; Zhao Junyao is indeed not dead! Haha!’

Xia Ruqing felt a surge of elation and excitement.

However, she dared not reveal her true feelings, maintaining her outward struggle.

The enraged Zhao Junqi failed to notice anything amiss.

His eyes, which had grown cold with anger, were gradually reignited by lust.

Her screams, her delicate neck, her disheveled hair, her flushed shoulders—all of it captivated him endlessly.

This was the woman he had yearned for, day and night!

This was the woman he would dedicate everything to obtaining!

And now, she was finally lying before him.

What a perfect opportunity, truly!

Take her, take her! Take her!!!

Zhao Junqi's eyes blazed with a frenzied, bloodshot madness, utterly devoid of reason.

As if compelled by an unseen force, he applied pressure with both hands and arms, and with a ripping sound, he tore Xia Ruqing's collar.

Xia Ruqing's face flushed crimson with fury, her body trembling as she let out a piercing scream.

"Stop, Zhao Junqi!"

"Zhao Junqi, you vile bastard!!"

"If I ever escape this alive, I will see you torn limb from limb!"

Zhao Junqi erupted into manic laughter.

"Come, come!"

"To meet my end at the hands of a beauty, I welcome it!"

Observing her flushed cheeks, a mixture of humiliation and rage, amplified his twisted, perverted delight.

He lowered his head, intending to kiss her.

Xia Ruqing seized the opportune moment to bite down with all her might.

Zhao Junqi's chin was split open, instantly gushing blood.

Recoiling in pain from the sharp bite, he abruptly halted his actions, grabbing her fiercely.

"How dare you bite me!"

Xia Ruqing responded with a wild laugh.

"What if I do? I wish to kill you too!"

Zhao Junqi narrowed his eyes, furiously wiped his chin with his sleeve, and advanced again, intent on forcing a kiss.

He was determined to prevent her from biting him again.

With one hand, he pinned her arms, while the other gripped her chin.

Unable to close her mouth, Xia Ruqing squeezed her eyes shut and instinctively tried to shield herself with her arms.

However, it was all in vain.

As Zhao Junqi was on the verge of kissing her, tears streamed from Xia Ruqing's eyes.

Whether influenced by ancient customs or not, she felt a profound sense of shame.

In modern society, she knew.

Even if a woman were violated, she could still live her life openly.

After all, it was not the woman's fault; she understood that and had nothing to be ashamed of.

But now, her primary concern was for Zhao Junyao.

He was not a modern person; he was an ancient individual—an Emperor!

He had not received modern, civilized education.

If something were to happen to her, what would he do?!

How heartbroken and devastated would he be!!

Xia Ruqing felt an overwhelming sorrow.

Yet... it seemed heaven had not entirely abandoned her in her despair.

At a moment of dire peril, a hidden poison within her sleeve suddenly came to mind.

Xia Ruqing’s eyes gleamed with sudden inspiration.

She reached through the tear in her sleeve, her fingers seeking the packet of potent drug.

Not daring to fully expose it, she kept it concealed within her garment, deftly using two fingers to twist open the packet.

Then...

Just as Zhao Junqi charged towards her like a cornered beast.

She swiftly covered her mouth and nose, scattering the powder with a flick of her wrist.

Zhao Junqi, gasping for air with his mouth agape, undoubtedly inhaled a significant amount through his nostrils.

Furthermore, the fine white powder was mercilessly driven into his eyes.

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

Zhao Junqi immediately recoiled from her person, his hands flying to his eyes as he shrieked in agony.

"Wretch!"

"You dared to poison me!"

"What kind of concoction did you administer?!"

"Tell me, what did you use?!"

"Wretch!"

The now-blinded Zhao Junqi's frenzied state intensified, resembling a maddened animal even more.

He thrashed about on the bed, desperately seeking Xia Ruqing's form, intent on inflicting savage retaliation.

However, the searing torment in his eyes rendered him almost incapable of maintaining his footing.

"Someone, come quickly!"

"Help!!"

The serving maids outside rushed in with alarmed haste.

"Master!"

"Master, what ails you?"

"Master, what has befallen you?"

Eager to assist, the maids jostled Xia Ruqing aside, clustering around their master and bombarding him with questions.

Zhao Junqi, in his fury, grabbed at whoever was near, raining blows upon them!

"Insolent wretches! Can't you see your Master is blind?!"

"Why are you babbling? Hurry and fetch the physician!"

"The rest of you, swiftly escort Master back to his chambers!"

"Yes, yes, right away!"

Witnessing this, the maids scattered, some rushing out as commanded.

The remaining attendants surrounded Zhao Junqi, assisting him as they departed.

...

Following the chaotic commotion, the room lay in utter disarray.

Xia Ruqing, finally out of immediate danger, collapsed weakly in a corner of the bed.

She pulled her knees to her chest, curling into a ball, and wept unrestrainedly.

"Zhao Junyao!"

"Zhao Junyao, where are you!"

"Come and save me, I can't take any more!"

"Zhao Junyao, you scoundrel!"

"If you are still breathing, why aren't you here to rescue me?!"

"Boo hoo hoo..."

She cried for an immeasurable duration before finally succumbing to an exhausted slumber.

Her collar remained torn, though thankfully, the damage was confined to that area.

Her arms were a landscape of bruises.

The wound on her palm had re-opened, and the blood-soaked bandage now bore fresh stains.

Years later, when Xia Ruqing reflected upon that day, it remained etched in her memory as the most harrowing nightmare of her existence.