Chapter 82 Night Raid on the Dungeon!

Seeing her daughter's angry expression, Zhou Qiwu first felt sorry for her, but then her feelings turned into resentment.

"If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's favoritism, how could I have been exiled to such a desolate place? I've been here until I'm twenty, but I still haven't been granted a marriage. I can only give myself to a local impoverished noble family."

"When my son came of age, he was summoned back to the capital, but was humiliated by that vile woman's daughter. They and their daughter have wronged us. I couldn't do anything to them before, but now that they've come to our territory, I'll make them wish they were dead!"

When Wang Xiangyi saw that her mother had pinched her hand until it bled, she immediately pressed her hand against it in fear.

"Mother, please don't do this, Yi'er is scared. Yi'er would rather not seek revenge than let Mother get sick from anger!"

Zhou Qiwu realized that the ferocity on her face had frightened her daughter, so she quickly put on a loving smile, patting her daughter's hand and comforting her, "Don't worry, Mother is perfectly healthy. Once Mother uses them to lure Shen Lanxi out, it will appease my anger!"

Wang Xiangyi looked worried: "Mother has been working very hard these past few days with the birthday banquet. Why don't you leave the task of capturing Shen Lanxi to me? I want to share Mother's burden!"

Zhou Qiwu didn't take his daughter's words seriously. Seeing that his daughter was well-behaved, he couldn't help but relent and said, "I'll leave it to you!"

With so many guards in the mansion, my daughter will be safe.

Wang Xiangyi emerged from her mother's residence with an innocent smile, but as soon as she stepped out of the courtyard, her face transformed into one of resentment and malice. Her eyes no longer held any trace of filial piety or kindness, but were filled with the venom of a viper.

"To the dungeon!"

The guards immediately led Wang Xiangyi toward the dungeon!

If she can't deal with Shen Lanxi, she'll start by taking some interest from the Shen family!

~

Shen Lanxi and the others were arranged to rest at the inn in the city, while the congratulatory gifts she brought were taken to the princess's residence!

In the dead of night, Shen Lanxi quietly left the post station and headed straight for the princess's residence.

Feng Wu and his six bodyguards were already waiting. When they saw Shen Lanxi arrive, they immediately took her to the dungeon!

"The Third Princess, Wang Xiangyi, originally planned to torture the Shen family this afternoon, but she suddenly received the news and hurriedly left. She has not yet returned!"

"The dungeon is heavily guarded; only those with the Third Princess's token are allowed to enter!"

Feng Wu took out a stick of incense: "This incense is called 'Bewitching Incense.' Once lit, it will make anyone who smells it fall into a drowsy state for a few breaths. It's smokeless and odorless, so no one will notice!"

Shen Lanxi nodded.

The incense was lit, and the guards closed their eyes as if they were dozing off. After four or five seconds, they immediately opened them, thinking to themselves that no matter how well they slept during the day, they would still doze off at night!

With the scent of bewitching incense burning along the way, Shen Lanxi and her eight companions entered the dungeon silently, like ghosts!

I thought the dungeon only contained members of the Shen family, but I didn’t expect it to hold so many people, most of whom were young men!

As I passed by one of the cells, the person who should have been fast asleep suddenly stretched out a hand.

The curved blade flashed across the man's neck like lightning, and though it should have killed him instantly, the blade stopped!

The young man in the cell had his mouth wide open, his oral cavity empty, his tongue cut out!

The young man kept writing words in the air: Save me!

A sinister glint flashed in Shen Lanxi's eyes. Chao Fengwu gave her a look, and the latter left to clean up the mess.

The Shen family members were in the innermost cell. Shen Lanxi unlocked the cell lock, covered their mouths, and woke them up one by one!

"Listen carefully. When you see the Third Princess or Wang Xiangyi, ask them why they wanted to harm the Shen family."

Upon hearing this, Shen Congwen, without even standing up, hurriedly crawled to his daughter's side using both hands and knees.

"Did she steal military funds and frame us?"

Shen Lanxi: "I'm not sure. We're trying to catch a thief red-handed, but we haven't seen the stolen goods or heard any statements."

Shen Congwen's eyes were half-closed in despair, and the other half of his mind was already convinced that the Third Princess had persecuted the Shen family!

"Big brother, some of the people in this dungeon have had their tongues cut out, some have had their hands and feet chopped off and their noses cut off. I don't want to stay here. Please rescue us!" If she weren't afraid of attracting attention, Shen Yuantang would have already broken down in tears by now!

Shen Lanxi: "I will leave people here to protect you, your lives will not be in danger!"

"Big sister, you're so amazing, can't you take us out?"

Shen Lanxi's sharp eyes swept over them: "The truth about the Shen family's murder may be right in front of you. Do you really want to stay in Dongchuan for the rest of your life?"

Shen Yuantang was so frightened by the sudden change in her older sister that she was speechless!

"Big brother, don't worry, if Wang Xiangyi comes tomorrow, we'll definitely get the information out of her!"

Shen Lanxi looked at her younger brother and nodded approvingly.

"Take good care of your father and mother."

"knew!"

She gave them some food and water, and when she returned, the people in the cell had calmed down.

Feng Wu nodded to the man, the incense was lit again, and the group left silently!

That night, the Third Princess's son, Wang Xiangrong, was staying in his concubine's room when he suddenly fell ill. The princess immediately summoned all the skilled healers in Tianjin to treat him.

The next morning, Wang Xiangyi received the news at the villa, threw down the blood-stained whip full of barbs, and hurriedly rushed to the princess's residence.

The princess's residence, which should have been bustling with activity, was now filled with gloom and apprehension. Everyone dared not walk loudly, for fear of disturbing the noble lady and incurring severe punishment!

A teacup was smashed heavily onto the concubine's forehead, followed by a barrage of slaps from the maids.

Zhou Qiwu has only one son and one daughter. He usually dotes on his children like the apple of his eye, especially his son!

Seeing her son lying on the bed, pale and unconscious, she felt heartbroken and tears streamed down her face. She also felt resentment that her son had become such a concubine.

"Don't let her die! If my son doesn't wake up, I'll have her skinned alive and used to burn as a sky lantern to ward off disaster for my son!"

The concubine was already terrified of the Third Princess's ruthless methods. Hearing her say this, she was heartbroken and could no longer bear it, so she fainted.

"Pah, you useless slut. Princess, she's fainted!"

Zhou Qiwu's face was contorted with hatred as he said, "Prick her awake with a needle, then keep hitting her!"

"yes!"

Wang Xiangyi rushed in.

"Mother, what happened to my brother?" Wang Xiangyi rushed to the bedside, tears streaming down her face like beads.

"Physician, you must cure my brother. If you can cure him, I'll give you anything you want!"

Zhou Xiwu, who had been dissatisfied with her daughter and blamed her for being late, exhaled a breath of stale air and questioned her daughter.

Why are you only arriving now?

Wang Xiangyi lowered her head, a flash of resentment in her eyes, and said in a tearful voice, "Mother, your daughter is suffering!" After she finished speaking, she collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably!

Seeing that her daughter looked very wronged, Zhou Qiwu quickly asked the nanny to help her up.

"What happened? Tell me!" She glared fiercely at the maidservant beside her daughter.

The two maids were so frightened that they knelt on the ground with a thud, begging for mercy as they said, "Princess, it's the young master. His mistress, whom he's secretly keeping, gave birth yesterday. Despite the upcoming Princess's birthday banquet, he personally went to the villa to be with her. Miss didn't want such sordid matters to offend the Princess's ears, so she went herself. Upon hearing that the young master was in trouble, Miss didn't even take the carriage; she rode back on horseback, and almost fell off her horse on the way..."