Chapter 724 Kidnapped
The snow at the entrance of the military camp was swept clean, but the area around it wasn't so clean.
As the snow fell, it was trampled and mixed with yellow mud. With each step, some snow mud would splatter onto clothes and shoes, instantly losing their original color.
Cheng Wanwan's shoes were ruined, but she didn't care. Seeing Ruan Mingzhu running faster and faster while she herself was exhausted, she cried out, "Miss Ruan, I'm so old, I really can't run anymore, please help me..."
Upon hearing her voice, Nguyen Minh Chu immediately stopped in her tracks.
She thought it was her mother chasing her, so she ran so fast. How could it be Sui Shuren?
She turned around and saw Cheng Wanwan panting heavily behind her, clearly exhausted.
She was only spoiled in front of her family, not a person who disregarded manners. She immediately turned around and walked towards Cheng Wanwan, taking Cheng Wanwan's arm: "Why is Sui Shuren here?"
“I was escorting Jingyu back to camp when I saw you arguing with Madam Ruan,” Cheng Wanwan said, looking at her. “Madam Ruan may be a bit domineering, but she truly loves you as her daughter. You said you hate your mother; do you know how much that hurts her? I have four sons; if one of them said these things to me, I wouldn’t know what to do…”
Ruan Mingzhu pursed her lips: "I tend to say things when I'm angry. I've said it before, and my mother doesn't mind."
“You are her only daughter, born after a difficult birth at the age of forty. How could she not care about what you say?” Cheng Wanwan shook her head. “It’s just that she cares but can’t say it out loud. After all, she is your mother. That’s how people are. They always use the cruelest words to hurt the people closest to them. They probably know that the person loves them and that no matter what they say, the person will wait for them.”
“I…” Nguyen Minh Chu was speechless. “Maybe I was too willful…”
Having been pampered by her parents and a bunch of older brothers since childhood, she knows she is very willful, perhaps... too willful.
“You’re still young, you don’t know how hurtful words can be.” Cheng Wanwan patted her shoulder. “Let’s go back and have a good talk with your mother. What can’t you two talk about?”
Ruan Mingzhu glanced at Cheng Wanwan, and the image of her mother appeared in her mind. Her mother's eyes and brows were full of wrinkles, she had really aged, while she had never grown up... Perhaps she should apologize to her mother.
However, her mother wouldn't allow her to stay in the military camp, which made her very angry.
Therefore, Mother must apologize to her.
The two walked back the way they came.
It was afternoon, but the sky was overcast, making it look like evening. The wind and snow were blowing hard, and the snow was getting heavier.
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from the snow.
A smile appeared on Ruan Mingzhu's face: "It must be my father. Every time I run away from home, my father comes looking for me..."
Before she could finish speaking, three or four horses galloped up in front of them, each ridden by a man in black who had his face covered even in broad daylight, revealing only a pair of cold, sinister eyes.
Ruan Mingzhu's expression immediately changed: "There are still petty scoundrels in the territory of the capital's garrison, they simply don't take the garrison seriously, take this!"
She leaped up on one foot, and at the same time, swiftly drew her sword from her waist and clashed with the rider.
A cold glint appeared in Cheng Wanwan's eyes.
The He family wouldn't dare to take action in the military or civilian areas, so it could only be someone from Princess Rongqing's faction.
Has this princess gone mad? Why is she repeatedly trying to kill me? Is she certain that I am powerless to resist, or is she certain that the Empress Dowager will protect me?
Cheng Wanwan's hand had just been put into her sleeve when she stopped.
At this point, there's no point in defeating the man in black; it's better to see what Princess Rongqing is up to.
Just as she was thinking this, the sword in Ruan Mingzhu's hand was knocked away. She was no match for four opponents, and a long knife was held to her neck.
Ruan Mingzhu was not about to be easily captured. Seizing the opportunity, she launched another counterattack. The man in black jumped off his horse and slashed her neck hard with his elbow. Before she could even cry out, she fell backward.
Cheng Wanwan rushed over to catch her, then looked up with a frightened expression: "Who...who are you? What do you want to do..."
The man in black approached her step by step.
Then he raised his elbow and aimed it at the back of her neck.
Before the elbow even got close to her, she was so frightened that her face turned pale, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
"Hmph!" The man in black sneered. "Everyone says that Sui Shuren is a woman who is not inferior to men, but I didn't expect her to be just a coward who fainted from fright. She's no different from an ordinary woman. Take her away!"
The other men in black jumped off their horses, hoisted Cheng Wanwan and Ruan Mingzhu onto their backs, laid them sideways on the horses, and galloped away.
Cheng Wanwan was faking her fainting. She lay sideways on the horse's back, and the bumpy ride almost made her faint. Her stomach was churning, but she held it in with all her might and finally didn't give herself away.
I don't know how long the horse ran, but its speed finally slowed down.
She and Nguyen Minh Chu were lifted off the horse and carried on someone's shoulders. She opened her eyes slightly and finally saw where she was.
It turned out to be Xishan in Linxi.
What are the men in black doing here?
Kill to silence someone?
Destroy the body?
However, she wasn't too afraid because she had a trump card and wouldn't let herself die here no matter what.
Now that she's arrived at Xishan, a plan immediately came to mind...
The man in black led Cheng Wanwan and Ruan Mingzhu deeper into the mountains.
Snow was falling heavily, and the mountain was covered in snow. We walked slowly, one step at a time, until it got dark, and finally reached the summit.
Cheng Wanwan caught a faint fragrance at the tip of her nose. She quietly opened her eyes and was surprised to see the plum garden.
The summit of West Mountain was surprisingly covered in plum blossoms, the red plums and white snow complementing each other beautifully, creating a stunning scene amidst the swirling snowflakes.
.
Just as she was admiring the sight, she was suddenly thrown to the ground by the man in black.
"This is it." The man in black clapped his hands. "Sleep in the snow for one night, and you can come back to collect the body the next day."
"To die in the plum grove in the snow is a very good way to die, giving them enough dignity. The princess is really too kind."
"There's a ten-mile-long plum grove here. Even if they wake up in the middle of the night, they won't be able to get out. Let's go down the mountain and wait for news."
"..."
The four men in black turned and left.
The swirling snowflakes quickly obscured their figures and covered the deep and shallow footprints on the ground.
Cheng Wanwan slowly opened her eyes. Just as she was about to wake Ruan Mingzhu, she saw that the girl's eyes were wide open, indicating that she must have been awake for a while. So, the girl was just pretending to be unconscious...
"Sui Suk-yan, are you alright?" Nguyen Minh Chu came to her senses and helped Cheng Wanwan up. "It's too cold here, we have to leave quickly."
Cheng Wanwan spoke slowly: "Didn't you hear them say they were going down the mountain to wait for news? That means even if we manage to get out of Merlin, we'll fall into their hands again."
Ruan Mingzhu clenched her fists: "I also heard them mention the princess. In the entire Dayu Dynasty, there is only one Princess Rongqing. However, Princess Rongqing has always stayed by the Empress Dowager's side and has never been involved in the struggles in the capital. Why would she send someone to attack me? When did our Ruan family offend her?"
Cheng Wanwan looked at her: "Have you ever considered that Princess Rongqing wanted to harm me, and you were just implicated because of me?"
Ruan Mingzhu was a smart woman and immediately thought of the trip to Linxi half a month ago. The evidence found at that time was clearly related to Princess Rongqing, but it was later dropped. If Princess Rongqing really did take action that time, then it would be understandable if she took action again. But why would Princess Rongqing be so ruthless to Sui Shuren?
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