Chapter 50 Suppressing Bandits
After the beating, Wang gradually calmed down and took a deep breath. "What crime did Lingyi commit that you want to throw her into the pond? Have you lost all the sage books you read in the past?!"
Lu Qian had a blank expression on his face, and the more violently the words rolled in his throat, the deeper his anger became.
"Apologize to Lingyi."
"..." Lu Qian looked at his mother in disbelief. She only saw that he was about to scare the girl to death, but didn't she see that he was also a mess?
"Apologize."
Wang repeated it in a stern voice, and Song Lingyi's heart trembled. She secretly glanced at Lu Qian's ugly face, and the pleasure of teasing him disappeared in an instant.
"Aunt...actually, I..."
Before he could finish his words, the young man sneered disapprovingly: "Why should I apologize? She provoked me first. She deserved to be thrown into the pond and drowned."
Snap——
Another slap.
Like a thunderclap, everyone, including Lu Yu, fell silent. The mistress was always gentle and calm, rarely making such a fuss. It seemed she was really angry.
"Go to the ancestral hall, kneel down, and copy the Buddhist scriptures ten times. Do not come out until your father returns home!"
After saying this, Wang was afraid that she would be soft-hearted, so she led a group of servants away in a mighty manner.
Lu Qian stood there, his eyes frozen in ice.
"elder brother……"
Lu Yu wanted to say a few words of comfort, but when Lu Qian glanced at her, she became scared and pulled Song Lingyi away from this dangerous place quickly.
…
In the afternoon, there was a heavy rain in Kyoto. The big raindrops hit the window frames with a crackling sound. The accumulated water kept flowing down the green tiles of the imperial city, stirring up small splashes on the bluestone slabs.
Xuanfeng came to the East Palace in the pouring rain.
Inside Mingde, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence in the hall.
"Your Highness, Lord Xuanfeng wants to see you for something." Feng Tong reported, bowing his body.
The carved window lattice was half open, and the damp earthy smell in the air was masked by the incense. A man in a crimson brocade robe with dark patterns sat behind the desk, with an indelible gloom and coldness between his clear and elegant brows.
After hearing the report, Xiao Mingyi turned the memorial upside down on the table and said calmly, "Let him in."
"Yes." Feng Tong bowed and left.
Not long after, Xuan Feng, dressed in a military officer's robe, entered the hall with a heavy expression on his face. "Your humble servant pays respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
The man behind the ebony desk slowly raised his eyelids and said in a gentle tone, "What's the matter?"
Xuanfeng frowned and clenched his fists under his sleeves.
"Your Highness, there is indeed a group of bandits in Jiuhua Mountain. Their whereabouts are erratic and they specialize in robbing passersby. The local people have reported them to the authorities many times, but due to the Second Prince's inaction, no soldiers have been sent to eliminate them."
The air pressure in the hall grew increasingly low, and Xuan Feng's voice tightened. "I have been tracking down the bandits and learned that they kidnapped several young girls a few days ago. They are all around the same age as Miss Ali."
Xiao Mingyi's face was sinister, his narrow eyes fixed on Xuanfeng, his tone gradually sinking: "We are just of similar age, have you found out?"
"I took Miss Ali's portrait and investigated. Someone with inside knowledge said that one of the girls looked similar to the girl in the portrait."
After hearing the report, Xiao Mingyi's breathing quickened for a moment, and there seemed to be dark clouds in his eyes.
But after leaving for five days, she dared to sneak away.
If I had known this, I should have kept her by my side and watched her at all times.
Outside the window, the sky was gloomy and rain was pouring down. Inside the hall, it was also gloomy and dim. Xiao Mingyi sat in silence for a long time, feeling as if his chest had been torn open, and even breathing was painful.
"Your Highness..." Seeing that the person behind the desk hadn't responded yet, Xuanfeng raised his head cautiously and said anxiously, "I have sent people to investigate the whereabouts of these bandits. As soon as we get any information, we will capture them all."
A cold look flashed across Xiao Mingyi's eyes. He clenched his fingers tightly and stared out the window with a dark gaze. "Pass on my order. Have the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards at the Palace Front immediately recruit two hundred soldiers. I will personally flatten Mount Jiuhua."
"……"What? !
Xuanfeng was stunned.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Ali have a good relationship, but the court is busy with government affairs, so these matters can be handed over to the Pacification Office. There is no need for him to lead the troops personally.
Besides, His Royal Highness had always complained about Miss Ali's erratic nature. There were so many noble ladies in Kyoto, and if he lost this one, there would always be someone better to take her place. His Royal Highness had always been unfeeling and uncaring, and he wasn't the type to let go.
It's no use trying to persuade him, Feng Tong has already gone to convey the order.
An hour later, Xiao Mingyi changed into a black robe and armor, and the imperial guards were ready to go. They left Donghua Gate and rushed to Jiuhua Mountain.
Even though Jiuhua Mountain stretches for ten miles and has a superior terrain, it is difficult for bandits to hide.
Just as it was getting dark, a small flag officer from the Pacification Office found the exact location of the stronghold and reported it. Less than half an hour later, amidst the sky full of flames, the imperial army rushed into the stronghold and captured a group of bandits alive.
The sounds of swords, spears, and halberds clashing gradually subsided.
The figure in a black robe and black armor stood on the stone steps, holding a long sword. His face was stained with the blood of the bandits in the fight, and the blood slid down his jaw, revealing a hint of unruly evil.
The remaining bandits knelt on the ground trembling with fear in their eyes.
Xiao Mingyi took a handkerchief and slowly wiped the blood off his face. "Have you found all the people the bandits robbed?"
The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards nodded and said, "Your Highness, we have found them all, but the woman in the portrait is missing."
After a while, Xuanfeng brought the bandit leader to the stone steps. The man had a face full of flesh and looked ferocious. His right leg was broken by Xuanfeng's sword and was bleeding profusely.
The bandit leader knew that he would die today, and cursed in pain: "I admit defeat! Kill me if you want, kill me quickly!"
Before he finished speaking, he heard a sneer from above his head: "Feeling good?"
"You have committed all sorts of evil, such as burning, killing, and looting. Wouldn't it be a pity for you to die so quickly?"
The bandit leader raised his head slightly, met the cold gaze that was as cold as a knife cutting flesh, and his heart trembled for no reason.
Who was this man, and how could he be so majestic at such a young age? Furthermore, the soldiers he brought with him were so agile that the people in the village looked like rookies in front of them, and they were beaten without any chance to fight back.
"Are you from Jingzhao Prefecture?" the bandit leader asked tentatively.
A long sword, gleaming with a cold light, rested on his neck. Any movement would result in his head and body being torn apart. Xuan Feng's expression was stern. "My master's identity is beyond your reach. Tell me where all the girls we've kidnapped are these past few days."
Upon hearing this, the bandit leader probably guessed their purpose, but the girls they had robbed these days were dressed simply and did not look like girls from powerful families. How could they attract such a big shot to seek revenge?
While he was thinking, he caught a glimpse of a feather arrow coming at him, and his chest suddenly felt a sharp pain.
The bandit leader's face was pale and he kept wailing.
Looking up at the stone steps, the calm and steady leader in black robes drew his bow and pointed the arrow at his head.
Those dark phoenix eyes were as calm as an ancient well, seemingly peaceful yet revealing a hint of arrogance. "Why don't you just confess the truth?"
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