In a hall capable of accommodating thousands, nearly a thousand bandits were toasting each other, spewing coarse language. Their fierce and malevolent appearances were evident, while the floor was scattered with wine jars of all sizes, the stench of alcohol and sweat mingled, making one queasy.
"You, you..." A bandit suddenly caught sight of the group, his previously blurry drunken eyes instantly clearing. A fearsome scar stretched from his forehead to his eye corner, now twisted in shock, and he abruptly cried out in terror, "The military is here! The military..." He collapsed to the ground before finishing his sentence, his neck bleeding profusely, his eyes wide with terror and disbelief.
The other bandits, upon hearing the noise, were momentarily stunned, afterward they grabbed their weapons to fight desperately to the death.
Long Xuanmo had already ordered no quarter be given, and as such, the soldiers were merciless. With their numerical superiority over the bandits, it was a one-sided slaughter.
Those women, having never witnessed such a scene, were either fainting in fright or screaming in terror.
In a moment, flashes of blades and swords twinkled amidst flying flesh and blood, with the sounds of battle cries and screams never ceasing.
"Master, the leader and Ma Tiankun should be in the back rooms now," an Elite Guard reported to Yang Mengchen.
Detecting the disgust in the Elite Guard’s tone, Yang Mengchen understood, a dark gleam flashing in his eyes, "Where is Long Fengying confined?"
"In the fifth room in the back."
"Mu Zhu, Mo Ju, follow him to find Long Fengying, and remember, no one is allowed near her!" If the soldiers saw Long Fengying, the royal family’s dignity would be utterly lost.
The three of them then departed.
Long Xuanmo and Yang Mengchen, along with Hai Tang and others, arrived outside the leader’s room. Intriguing sounds echoed from inside, and everyone’s expressions were solemn.
The bandits had not colluded with any power, and Long Xuanmo was already aware of Ma Tiankun’s recent approach to Prince Duan. Feeling there was no need to meet Ma Tiankun, Yang Mengchen spoke to Long Xuanmo and then took Hai Tang and the others to the fifth room.
Seeing Yang Mengchen and others approach, Mu Zhu greeted them with respect, then opened the door for Yang Mengchen to enter, while he and Mo Lan guarded the door.
Inside the room, three bandits lay on the floor, each killed with a single strike, their blood pooling around them. On a dirty wooden bed covered with a smelly thin blanket, which was now stained with numerous marks, lay a woman with her body covered by an equally malodorous thin quilt.
The woman’s eyes were wide open, staring blankly without focus. Her exposed fair skin was covered in red marks and handprints, clearly having been subjected to severe mistreatment.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and an acrid odor that was simply nauseating.
Furrowing his brow, Yang Mengchen slowly walked to a spot five steps from the bed and looked at Long Fengying indifferently, "Long Fengying, I trust you’ve been well."
"It’s you!" Hearing the voice, Long Fengying slowly turned her head. Seeing Yang Mengchen, she stiffened, then gradually emerged from the numbness and resignation of the previous days, her heart filled with endless hatred. Her voice was shrill and twisted, "What are you doing here? Are you here to mock me, Princess?"
"What does your well-being or woe have to do with the princess?" Yang Mengchen’s expression was indifferent and distant.
Glaring fiercely at Yang Mengchen, Long Fengying’s eyes flashed with bitter hatred as she gritted her teeth, "If it weren’t for you, this lowly..."
’Slap’, Mo Ju sternly slapped Long Fengying, sending her reeling, stars bursting in her vision, and a vivid handprint appeared on her swelling red cheek, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Mo Ju coldly said, "Dare to disrespect the princess, you deserve to die!"
Seeing the intense murderous intent in the eyes of Mo Ju and the others, Long Fengying was terrified out of her wits, but then, thinking of her own plight, she bit her lip, resigned to her fate, "Had it not been for you, I would never have fallen to this state. I am the Emperor’s own daughter, the Princess of Dong Chu, and you, a peasant girl, on what basis do you receive the Emperor’s favor? On what basis do you receive those honors? Why does everyone like you? Why?" But she was scared of death and dared not continue cursing Yang Mengchen.
Yang Mengchen had previously regarded Long Fengying as arrogant and foolish, but now she seemed to have a real problem with her way of thinking. She actually believed Yang Mengchen had stolen the glory that belonged to Long Fengying, which was utterly unreasonable.
"You have brought this upon yourself today!" Mo Mei, who had long been disgusted, said coldly, "Apart from being a princess, apart from living like a parasite since childhood, demanding the finest clothes, the most exquisite jewelry, the most luxurious settings, the most prestigious places, endlessly wanting everything, what else do you have? What have you done for Dong Chu? Have you ever alleviated the Emperor’s worries or aided the common people?"
"You..." Long Fengying glowered at Mo Mei.
Mo Mei’s face remained expressionless, "You actually believe the princess has stolen your glory, what a ridiculous joke! Let me tell you, you are not even worth a single hair of the princess’s head!"
Although Mo Mei was not old, she had often been sent out on missions before she came to Yang Mengchen’s side, seeing many who appeared righteous but were actually despicable. Princess Fengying, always selflessly devoted to country and people without taking pride in her achievements, seemed ordinary to Mo Mei, who found it inconceivable and who came to respect and adore the princess from the bottom of her heart. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Hai Tang and the others nodded, having never seen anyone as benevolent and virtuous as the princess (their master), someone whose heart was filled only with concern for the people, never caring for personal gain or loss.
Yang Mengchen felt ashamed, as she had done those things out of concern for her loved ones and friends, and was quite selfish, wasn’t she?
"You..." Long Fengying was so furious that she trembled all over.
Mo Mei’s lips curled into a sneer, "I forgot to tell you, last month the Emperor announced to the outside world that Princess Fengying, missing Princess Jiayang, ’passed away due to illness’ and decreed that Princess Fengying be buried next to Princess Jiayang’s grave. Do you know why the Emperor, knowing full well you were still alive, proclaimed your death?"
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