Chapter 304: Conversation
Yuan Xu walked over, gave Qian Qiuyun a cold look, and said, "Master Chen, my son and I were originally just traveling with Master Chen to look after each other on the road, so we shouldn't have said anything. But now that I've heard what you've said, I can't help but say something fair. I heard that Master Yuan was also captured by the Northern Rong? If what Madam Qian said is true, then could it be that Master Yuan is also in cahoots with the Northern Rong soldiers? It's clearly just lies!"
Chen Wu broke out in a cold sweat as soon as these words came out. He shouted sternly, "Nonsense! We are all following the emperor's orders. How can we collude with the Northern Rong soldiers? Why don't you slap this gossipy woman in the face!"
The other officers also reacted.
Saying that Yuan Xun colluded with the Northern Rong doesn't that mean that all the officials are suspects?
There are many unjust, false and wrongful cases in this world, and the authorities would rather kill the innocent than let them go.
If these words get out, will they still be alive?!
Officers came up immediately, two of them held Qian Qiuyun's arms, and the other one started beating her left and right.
After a few "pa pa" sounds, Qian Qiuyun was already beaten with a black eye and swollen face, and blood was flowing.
How could the other prisoners dare to say a word?
Chen Wu turned to look at Yuan Xu and asked, "I wonder if Master Yun has discovered anything? Madam Qin and Miss Shen have special statuses after all. If they were really abducted, even if we report the truth to the court, I'm afraid we won't be able to save our lives... Master Yun is skilled in martial arts, so please help rescue us!"
Yuan Xu whispered, "I did find some traces and was about to follow them to check, but I'm afraid the officials will think I'm meddling..."
After hearing this, Chen Wu's eyes couldn't help but sparkle with hope: "Mr. Yun, you're worrying too much! If you can rescue Madam Qin, Madam Shen, and the others, I, Chen Wu, will be grateful to you, so how can I blame you!"
Yuan Xu nodded and said, "There's no time to lose. I'll go after him immediately. If my young master comes back, I hope Mr. Chen will let him know."
After saying this, he clasped his fists and disappeared into the woods.
Chen Fenghe, along with Qin Mengyue and Xiao Yunhao, were blindfolded with black cloth by the Beirong soldiers and taken to a place through many twists and turns.
The black cloth was pulled off, and Chen Fenghe discovered that it was actually a felt tent built in the mountains.
The masked man made a gesture of invitation to Qin Mengyue and Shen Fenghe, indicating them to enter the tent.
Qin Mengyue glanced at Chen Fenghe, who nodded and said, "Don't worry, mother. Everything will be fine."
The two of them pulled Xiao Yunhao in.
Yuan Xun also wanted to follow in, but was stopped by the Beirong soldiers.
The masked man ordered his men to light a fire, and soon the tent became warm. The guard also placed a copper and iron kettle on the fire, and soon the air was filled with the aroma of milk tea.
Chen Fenghe calmly looked around the interior of the tent. Although it was simple, it was obvious that it had been carefully arranged.
Judging from the situation, whether it is Dayu or Beirong, although they are dynasties that do not exist in the history she is familiar with, Beirong should be similar to the ancient Xiongnu and Mongolia.
"Please." The masked man asked the guard to pour the prepared milk tea and brought it to the three people.
Xiao Yunhao timidly looked up at Qin Mengyue: "Mother..."
Chen Fenghe glanced at the masked man, then quickly picked up the milk tea and took a sip.
Seeing this, Qin Mengyue whispered to Xiao Yunhao, "Don't be afraid, Hao'er. It's okay."
As she spoke, she and Xiao Yunhao also drank a little each.
I have to say, it was freezing outside, but apart from the fact that they were captives, it was still very comfortable to drink milk tea in the warm tent.
The masked man blinked and smiled, "You are quite brave, Princess. Aren't you afraid that I might poison your milk tea?"
Chen Fenghe smiled and said, "If you wanted to kill us, you should have done it before. Why bother bringing us here? Since you won't kill us for the time being, then you don't have to worry about food."
The masked man couldn't help but nod and said with a smile, "That's true. The Crown Princess is not only stunningly beautiful, but also very kind and virtuous. It's a pity that Crown Prince Dayu is not lucky enough to have her."
The words were said frivolously, and Chen Fenghe couldn't help but frown. She changed the subject and said, "Your Excellency Dayu does speak well. I just wonder why you arrested us? The Crown Prince was unjustly executed, and my mother, the Ninth Prince, and I were demoted to commoners. Although many of the border commanders are close to the Crown Prince, the situation is so pressing that even if Your Excellency wanted to use us as bargaining chips, I'm afraid few would buy it, right?"
The masked man sneered and said, "The Crown Princess is truly clever. In just a short while, she's guessed most of my intention in inviting the three of you back to Beirong. It's still early, and I'd like to chat a little longer to relieve my boredom. Would the Crown Princess be willing to accompany me?"
Chen Fenghe narrowed her eyes slightly, then smiled and said, "We are just prisoners now. We will naturally listen to whatever you say. Is there any room for negotiation?"
The masked man chuckled and said, "That's true. Since the Crown Princess has guessed my intentions, then among the Empress, the Crown Princess, and the Ninth Prince, which one is most important to me and can bring me the greatest benefit?"
Chen Fenghe said calmly, "Ninth Prince."
"Oh? Why?" the masked man raised his eyebrows slightly and asked.
Chen Fenghe said calmly, "Although the three of us have been demoted to commoners, the Ninth Prince is still a prince with the blood of the Dayu royal family. He can make up some excuse and ascend the throne in the future, and the people of the world will be convinced. Therefore, if we want to use us to threaten or bribe the border guards close to the Crown Prince, the Ninth Prince is the most powerful."
In ancient times, women held very low status and were essentially mere appendages of men or their families. Even for women like her and Qin Mengyue, it was a great blessing for them to survive the fall of the crown prince.
If the Ninth Prince had not been there, the Northern Rong soldiers would probably not have bothered to go to the trouble of abducting them, let alone using them to threaten the border guards.
Even if we threaten them, I'm afraid no one will buy it.
Although she, as a modern person, cannot agree with such an idea, it is the fact.
Of course, there is one more point that Chen Fenghe did not say.
I'm afraid Qin Mengyue is more useful than her. As for the reason...
The masked man suddenly chuckled and said, "The Crown Princess's analysis is indeed true, judging by Dayu's social customs. However, in our Northern Rong, that's not the case. We in the Northern Rong never look down on any woman. From a young age, women learn horseback riding, archery, hunting, and siege techniques just like men. If there is a capable person, even a woman, she can become the Great Khan and command the entire Northern Rong. You Dayu have always said that we in the Northern Rong lack civilization, but in our opinion, it is Dayu's disdain for women that is the most vulgar."
Chen Fenghe couldn't help but take another look at the masked man.
Regardless of how true or false what he said, it is really rare to have such an idea.
Of course, she was not stupid enough to think that Beirong was a paradise for women just based on a few words from this man.
The masked man looked at her with burning eyes and said with a smile, "Actually, in my heart, the Ninth Prince and Queen Dayu are certainly important, but the one I value most is you, the Crown Princess."
Chen Fenghe: “…”
Why did she have a bad feeling...
Sure enough, the masked man didn't wait for her to speak before continuing, "Since your Dayu's Crown Prince is dead, why don't you, Crown Princess, follow me back to Beirong and marry me? I swear to heaven that I will treat you well for the rest of my life and never let you suffer any injustice again!"
The corners of Chen Fenghe's mouth twitched.
Qin Mengyue had been silent until now, but now, hearing this Northern Rong man being so bold, she couldn't help but stare at him in astonishment and anger, scolding him in astonishment, "You! How dare you say such bold words! Shuo'er... even if the Crown Prince has... Feng He is the Crown Princess, how could you, a Northern Rong man, be so frivolous!"
The masked man then glanced at Qin Mengyue indifferently and said, "In your country, if a woman remarries after her husband dies, it might be considered treason. But it's different in my Beirong. When a brother dies, it's normal for a younger brother to marry his widowed sister-in-law, and even for a son to marry his father's concubine after his father dies. It's all normal. The Crown Princess is still young, do you want her to be a widow forever?"
Qin Mengyue was speechless for a moment.
Now that the prince was still alive, she had not considered this matter again. However, if the prince really died, then... would she have to imprison Shen Fenghe for the rest of her life and let her be a widow for twenty or thirty years?
The masked man continued, "Even though you are the noble Queen Dayu, you have been demoted to a commoner by Emperor Dayu. Do you really have to remain a virgin for him? That's too pedantic! In my opinion, it would be better for you to agree... and remarry someone who truly loves you!"
When Chen Fenghe heard him say the word "agree", she subconsciously paused and couldn't help but look up at him again.
Qin Mengyue didn't notice anything unusual, but was so angry at these words that her face turned pale again. She said angrily, "You! I, Qin Mengyue, have always been innocent. How can I allow you to tarnish my reputation with such nonsense!"
Chen Fenghe hurriedly stopped Qin Mengyue and whispered, "Mother, I am now at the mercy of others. Even for the sake of the Ninth Prince, you must endure this anger."
Qin Mengyue came back to her senses when she heard her mention the Ninth Prince. She couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat on her back, and finally suppressed her anger.
If she was the only one being humiliated, even if she killed herself, it would be fine. But if Feng He and Hao Er were implicated, she would never forgive herself even in death.
Chen Fenghe looked at the masked man and didn't respond to his previous question about 'marrying him'. Instead, she suddenly asked, "Your Excellency, are you waiting for someone right now?"
The masked man was suddenly asked this question, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He glanced at Chen Fenghe dimly.
After a while, he suddenly smiled and asked, "How did you know?"
Chen Fenghe smiled and said, "Not only do I know, I also want to guess who you are waiting for."
The masked man raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That's interesting. I'd like to hear more about it."
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