While riding a horse at high speed, with branches growing wildly in the dense forest, an accident could happen if one lost focus for even a moment.
Ning Xi'er reminded her, "Don't rush, let's talk about it later."
Hearing Ning Xi'er say this, Zheng Ye's emotions calmed down a little.
The group rode their horses at full speed, only slowing down slightly as they entered the dense forest.
The scene before them stunned Zheng Ye, Ning Xier, and the others!
Based on the old man and woman's words, and the guard's earlier remarks, they already had a general idea that the attack on their group was likely severe...
But at least the Prince and the Duke of Protectorate are unharmed; otherwise, the guards' probing earlier wouldn't have been so restrained...
The vegetation in the dense forest was trampled and bent over, and knife marks were visible all over the tree trunks...
Everything indicated that a fierce battle had just taken place here.
Hundreds of people were leaning against the tree trunk, groaning incessantly, with others either helping them up or bandaging their wounds.
The figures moving back and forth, in pairs, carried the lifeless corpses together to one place.
Zheng Ye walked heavily, never expecting to encounter such a terrible attack after only a few hours away!
He searched everywhere for the prince's carriage, as well as the figures of his grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, and parents.
Ning Xi'er looked up and recognized the servant who was being carried by two guards not far away. He was the one who had been massaging Xie Zhun's legs.
Two guards walked past behind him, carrying another servant whose name was written on the plaque for leg massage.
Both men were stabbed in the back at similar angles, making it easy to imagine the circumstances surrounding their injuries...
He lunged at Xie Zhun, shielding him from the knife...
"Crabapple blossoms, snow-covered flowers, licorice root..."
Ning Xi'er was a little anxious and called out.
"Miss!"
Haitang and Aoxue got up from beside the injured and were relieved to see that Ning Xier was unharmed.
Ning Xi'er quickly approached, "Are you alright?"
Haitang's eyes reddened. "Miss, we're alright. Gancao took a knife to save us..."
After bandaging the wounded beside them, they immediately led Ning Xi'er into the carriage.
Ning Xi'er lifted the carriage curtain and saw Gan Cao lying inside, her face pale.
The back of my hand was bandaged, but a few streaks of crimson blood still seeped through.
"The wound is very deep; you can see the bone..."
As Haitang spoke, tears streamed down her face. "We've used all the hemostatic powder you gave us, but it can't take away her pain..."
Ning Xi'er quickly took out pain-relieving and scar-fading powders from her spatial storage, and also took a bottle each of hemostatic and anti-inflammatory powders...
Pretending to take it out from her sleeve, she instructed Haitang on how to use each kind of powder. With her comfort, Haitang's guilt finally lessened.
"Don't cry, tell me what happened? Is the prince alright?"
Ning Xi'er asked.
Haitang's eyes, which had just recovered, suddenly reddened again.
"After you left, the carriage traveled for about an hour or two, and then suddenly stopped not far from a mountain."
"Gan Cao went down to investigate and heard that General Zheng felt the environment was unfavorable, so he ordered the troops to stop."
"The group stopped for less than the time it takes to drink two cups of tea when a huge roar erupted from the mountain, and rocks of all sizes rained down, as if the mountain were about to collapse..."
"General Zheng and Eunuch Xu originally intended to retreat with their men, but then a large group of masked men appeared out of nowhere behind them, and they started hacking at anyone they saw..."
"Waaah... there's blood everywhere..."
Haitang wept uncontrollably. After Aoxue finished bandaging the wounded, she got into the carriage and continued her story.
"At that time, Eunuch Xu and General Zheng protected the prince and the Duke's carriage, while the other guards and bandits escorted everyone as they retreated into the dense forest..."
"But the enemy's moves were ruthless and deadly; soon many elderly people, children, and servants fell to the ground..."
"Their main force headed straight for the carriage; they weren't in a hurry to kill people, their main goal was to find the prince..."
"Gan Cao told us to hide in the carriage; we dared not go out. Xuan Dian helped Gan Cao protect us. We didn't know what was happening on the Prince's side, but later a troop of reinforcements arrived..."
"The situation quickly turned around. After getting off the vehicle, we heard that General Zheng and Eunuch Xu had both sustained minor injuries, but thankfully none were life-threatening..."
"The prince is unharmed because many guards and servants rushed to his side, covering him completely, which is why he was fortunate enough to escape injury..."
"Where are the Duke and his wife, and the First and Second Wives?"
Ning Xi'er asked again.
Ao Xue calmly said, "We've given the wounded some basic treatment and bandaged them. The Duke and his wife aren't inside, nor are the First and Second Wives, so they should be alright for now..."
Ning Xi'er's mood at this moment was far from relaxed.
Hearing Ao Xue recount how so many people had sacrificed themselves to save Xie Zhun, he felt a deep sense of heaviness in his heart.
Perhaps they are to Xie Zhun what Haitang, Aoxue, and others are to her.
Even though they were of humble status, they were still precious and vibrant lives.
"Have You Yong and the others returned?"
Ning Xi'er suddenly thought of something and asked.
There were few elderly people and children in the Prince's Mansion and the Duke of Huguo's Mansion. At a quick glance, there were quite a few dead old people and children, who should all be members of the mountain bandits.
"They're back, a little earlier than the young ladies. They're digging a hole..."
With so many wounded, it's not easy to move them for the time being.
The large number of corpses makes it unsuitable to bury them nearby, as this could easily lead to an epidemic.
Ning Xi'er nodded, said nothing more, and prepared to go see Xie Zhun.
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