Chapter 252 Switching Identity
Most of Mu Xi's valuables had been pawned at the "Hezhen" bank, which the Qi family of Xiangnan had disparaged in Yansheng, back in Donghai. However, he still carried the crown prince's gold seal and some gold ingots and silver notes that he could use at any time, just in case.
Mu Xi didn't care about material possessions, but that golden seal of the heir apparent...
I still feel uneasy.
Cao Pan'er quickly picked up a few small silver notes from the box and distributed them to everyone: "Gold and silver jewelry cannot be kept. For now, hide the silver notes on your person. It would be best if they could be kept from being found."
Do all these actions necessarily mean they were kidnapped?
Mu Xi was still unwilling to give up: "What are you doing...?"
Cao Pan'er casually stuffed the silver notes in her hand into her bosom, then picked up the outer robe that Mu Xi had taken off and put it on: "Young Master, this is just in case. If our identities are discovered later, please pretend to be my maid."
“You…” Mu Xi suddenly realized something and grabbed her hand. “Pan’er… if this is the case, you are probably in more danger than I am…”
Cao Pan'er finally took out the prince's golden seal from the small box and smiled resolutely: "The prince saved my life. I am of no use to the prince, but if I really fall into the hands of thieves, I will use my lowly body to protect the prince."
Mu Xi was greatly moved, but at that moment, a loud "boom" resounded.
With a mournful neigh from the horse, the carriage suddenly tilted to one side.
"ah……"
The four people inside the car screamed and rolled around in a heap, tumbling and falling in disarray.
Mu Xi was pulled out of the carriage by Tao'er and Zhe Lan while she was dizzy and disoriented. Before she could catch her breath, she saw Liang Shuo covered in blood.
Before Liang Shuo could finish speaking, several steel knives fell mercilessly.
The "troops" already have an absolute advantage in numbers.
In the chaos, Mu Xi was pulled by Tao'er and Zhe Lan to run towards the direction with more people, while Liang Shuo's body fell under the barrage of knives.
"Liang Shuo..." Mu Xi's gaze couldn't leave, but before she could even grieve, she suddenly remembered Cao Pan'er. Just now, Cao Pan'er seemed to have been pinned down by her and hadn't yet escaped from the carriage. "Pan'er, Pan'er..."
As soon as she paused, Cao Pan'er climbed out of the overturned carriage, still clutching the small box containing the gold seal under one arm.
When I turned around again, Doctor Luo and Bao Fan came to greet me.
Cao Pan'er, carrying a small box, also caught up.
On the other side, Peng Hai, with his few remaining guards, was covered in blood while protecting Mu Xi and the others, still roaring and waving his waist knife.
Cao Pan'er quickly pulled out the Crown Prince's golden seal from the small box and shoved it into Bao Fan's hand, who was closest to him: "Run, throw this thing far away later."
Bao Fan was bewildered, not knowing what it was, but he took it.
Upon seeing this, Doctor Luo's expression hardened.
At this moment, Mu Xi also realized what was happening and pushed Doctor Luo, saying, "Doctor Luo, run... don't worry about me... you'll all die if you fall into the hands of these masked men, run..."
"Run...run fast..." Just as they were speaking, Peng Hai was already on the verge of collapse and screamed in pain.
The group's expressions changed, and they desperately fled in the direction where the most refugees were.
As Mu Xi fled, she finally looked towards Peng Hai.
"Ah..." A bandit suddenly thrust a spear into Peng Hai's back from the side.
Peng Hai's massive body stiffened abruptly, and he slowly knelt down, his gaze still fixed on Mu Xi's direction until the light completely dimmed, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
With Liang Shuo and Peng Hai dying one after another, the guards either fled in panic or perished among the bandits. These scenes shattered Mu Xi's last glimmer of hope.
A bone-chilling cold and immense sorrow swept over her, making her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave, and she collapsed to the ground.
As she fell, Tao'er and Zelan, who were with her, also fell down.
Cao Pan'er noticed in time and suddenly stepped back to block Mu Xi.
Just then, several black-masked bandits rushed over, brandishing knives. She quickly opened the small box she was carrying, scattering the gold ingots, silver notes, and other valuables into the air: "Come on... isn't this what you bandits want?"
Gold and silver valuables were scattered around, and several bandits immediately went to collect them.
Taking advantage of this moment, Mu Xi was pulled up by Tao'er and Zhe Lan and desperately fled with the refugees.
Cao Pan'er brought up the rear, but Mu Xi's body was stiff and unresponsive. She didn't run far before being left behind by the refugees, and was eventually surrounded by a group of black-masked bandits on horseback.
Not far ahead, Doctor Luo and Bao Fan realized that Mu Xi hadn't followed. By the time they turned around, it was too late. When they tried to turn back to help, they were swept up by the refugees.
In despair, Mu Xi slowly shook her head at Doctor Luo, watching them disappear into the smoke and crowd.
After Doctor Luo and Bao Fan disappeared, she was completely disoriented, her mind a blank.
Being pushed around and shoved, being plundered and scrutinized—the humiliation was nothing compared to what was to come.
Mu Xun was not found, Liang Shuo and Peng Hai were dead, and the fate of Doctor Luo and Bao Fan was also unknown.
Previously, he thought that being forced to marry into the East Sea as the Crown Prince of the Golden Faction was already a complete failure.
Later, when he fled to the West, he thought he had hit rock bottom.
Unexpectedly, there was an abyss below the valley, and she was now falling into it.
Soon, cold ropes were put around the necks of Mu Xi, Cao Pan'er, Zhe Lan, Tao'er, and several other young women who had been scouted from the refugee group, and they were driven together like livestock.
While Mu Xi was completely at a loss, a black-masked bandit leader let out a triumphant grin.
After laughing enough, his gaze swept over Mu Xi and the others, finally settling on Cao Pan'er: "Why is this little wench still wearing the clothes of a young master? Could it be..."
As he spoke, he spurred his horse to stand in front of Cao Pan'er and used the tip of his knife to pick at the clothes that Cao Pan'er had been wearing.
Cao Pan'er feigned panic and dodged, saying, "You...you mustn't do anything rash...I can pay you money...please spare me and my maid."
The bandit leader chuckled behind his black mask, slashed open Cao Pan'er's outer garment with a knife, revealing a patch of snow-white skin on her chest.
"Awooo... Awooo..." Immediately, several bandits behind the leader started shouting and making strange noises.
Cao Pan'er's face turned pale, and she instinctively covered her chest.
"Heh heh, pay me? Judging by your appearance, you must be some rich young lady disguised as a man fleeing for your life. You're already a refugee, where would you find the extra money to pay me? But your fair skin is quite nice, you could fetch a good price." The bandit leader didn't make any further moves, and as he spoke, he swept the tip of his knife towards Mu Xi, Tao'er, and Zhe Lan, who were huddled together beside him. "Tsk tsk... these three are not bad either, we've really struck gold today, brothers..."
"Awoo, awoo, awoo..." The bandits let out wild, joyful howls like wolves.
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