The dungeon echoed with cries of agony.
According to the jailer, these prisoners were all bandits captured from Black Wind Stronghold.
They were all captured alive, without exception!
Jiang Yue had already learned what had happened from her adopted son beforehand, so she was already aware of the situation and didn't listen too closely.
After walking for about half a cup of tea's time through the narrow corridor, we finally arrived at a secluded prison where prisoners were held.
Inside were clearly serious criminals; outside the cell stood two Liu family guards armed with knives.
That's right, they are Liu family guards, the kind with superb martial arts skills.
If I remember correctly, these two guards were already my adopted son's biggest trump card...
"Godmother, this is the one."
As soon as Liu Yunfei arrived, the guards bowed and greeted Princess Jiang first, and then the young master.
"No need for formalities."
Jiang Yue nodded, indicating that the two of them did not need to be so polite.
Then, led by his adopted son, he entered a special cell...
Before coming, she had imagined what it would be like to meet Er Yuehong.
She assumed that the other person must be a capable individual with exceptional intelligence and strategic thinking.
But when she saw a woman with bright, clear eyes and a gentle face, she never imagined that this person was actually the leader of Black Wind Stronghold!
After Er Yuehong finally met the legendary Princess Xiangyun, she turned around and gave a graceful bow.
"My name is Er Yuehong, and my real name is Situ Hong. I pay my respects to Princess Xiangyun."
"Situ Hong? That's a very nice name."
With a thought, Jiang Yue gently helped the other person up.
As a woman herself, why should she make things difficult for the other person?
It's likely that the other person suffered a lot when they were young.
Otherwise, why would such a beautiful woman choose to become an outlaw instead of living a good life?
"I have long heard of Princess Xiangyun's deeds and admire you greatly. Meeting you today is an experience that surpasses all my previous knowledge."
A look of admiration flashed in Situ Hong's eyes, and her tone of voice was full of respect.
"Um?"
Jiang Yue raised an eyebrow. Was the other person a fan of hers?
“Your Highness, the message I asked this official to convey is true. I ask that he excuse himself for a moment. I will give the specific address to Your Highness only.”
Situ Hong spoke frankly, her expression sincere, without any other emotion.
Out of instinct, Liu Yunfei refused outright.
"no."
In his view, the other party was a martial arts expert, and how could he be so careless as to leave his adoptive mother alone with him?
"It's alright, Yunfei, you can go out and wait."
Since Jiang Yue chose to meet him, it means she believed that the other party must know something.
The allure of the mines is simply too great; we absolutely cannot let go of the specific details.
"Stepmother~"
Liu Yunfei wanted to persuade her further, but seeing his godmother's indifferent expression, he had no choice but to stop trying and obediently leave the special cell.
"I didn't realize that this gentleman listens to you so much."
Situ Hong moved a chair, gesturing for the princess to sit down.
She then found a seat, picked up the kettle, and as she poured water, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself:
"This is not my Black Wind Stronghold. I have no good tea or water to offer you. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Jiang Yue paced back and forth, showing no sign of displeasure, then sat down in a chair and naturally took over the conversation:
"Chief Situ, you flatter me. A few years ago, I was just an ordinary peasant woman. Let alone simple meals, even three meals a day were extremely difficult for me..."
That's true. When she first transmigrated into the book, she was furious when she heard the comments of several unfilial sons.
Oh no, actually, she fainted from anger...
The past is best left unremembered; it's better to cherish the present.
Upon hearing this, a hint of envy flashed in Situ Hong's eyes.
Although the princess is widowed, she has three sons and one daughter. If she were in her shoes, she would also be willing to remain a widow, as long as her children are by her side.
He then became dejected, a hint of sadness in his voice, and respectfully raised his water glass, saying:
"This servant is clumsy with words and has stirred up the Princess's past; I should not have done so. I will punish myself with a cup of water instead of wine."
Jiang Yue raised her glass, filled it with water, and used it instead of tea to toast the other person, saying:
"Chief Situ, judging from your appearance and demeanor, you shouldn't be in such a predicament. Could you tell me why you...?"
"Does Your Highness wish to ask me why I became an outlaw? And why I, a woman, became the leader of this stronghold?"
Situ Hong drank the water in her hand in one gulp and smiled brightly.
Then, she began to tell her life story.
That's a very long story...
Black Wind Village was formerly known as Black Soil Village, which, as the name suggests, was a village that made its living by producing a type of black clay.
No matter what kind of grain, fruit, or vegetable is planted in the soil of the village, it will yield no harvest!
Black clay, made into black lumps, can be used for heating and as fuel; it's very useful.
However, because of the large production volume, many families rely on it for their livelihood, so the price is naturally low.
Gradually, the price of grain rose higher and higher, and people couldn't even get enough to eat. Some people took the initiative to move out of Black Soil Village and settle down in nearby villages at the foot of the mountain.
Over time, many villagers moved out of Heitu Village.
Gradually, fewer and fewer people lived in Heitu Village.
Situ is the surname of most people in the village.
Situ Hong is the village chief's granddaughter and the most beautiful girl in the village.
Because her parents had worked hard and fell ill in their early years, they passed away when Situ Hong was very young.
Therefore, she grew up under her grandfather's care.
By the time she turned sixteen, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman and became the object of affection for many boys in the village.
Not only were there marriage proposals from young men in Heitu Village, but also from eligible men from several villages at the foot of the mountain...
Grandpa carefully selected a family for her at the foot of the mountain.
Soon after, the groom's bridal sedan chair arrived, and she was married in grand style.
Unexpectedly, on the eve of her wedding, a caravan of merchants came to the village, saying they wanted to buy the black lumps, and offered twice the price they had previously sold them for!
Grandpa was the village chief, and he wanted to save up for her dowry when she got married, so he readily agreed to lead the few villagers to dig for black pebbles...
At that time, she vaguely sensed that the people in the caravan didn't seem like merchants.
Unfortunately, she was slow to realize what was happening, and by the time the subsequent events occurred, it was all too late.
"After obtaining the cave where the black lumps were produced, those beasts began their slaughter that very night."
In Heitu Village, all fifty-three people, young and old, perished tragically at the hands of those beasts.
"Because of this face, I survived and wasn't killed on the spot."
Situ Hong stretched out her right hand, scratching her face with her fingernails, leaving marks and drawing blood, but she felt no pain.
Her pain had vanished that night.
Jiang Yue fell silent; she could roughly guess what had happened to the other person.
Beauty is, in itself, the original sin.
Especially when you lack the ability to protect yourself, you can imagine what you might encounter...
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