Chapter 380 Fleeing back to his homeland, forced to become a monk
A low-profile carriage drove into the city gate of Lin'an, escorted by more than a dozen soldiers.
The women sitting inside the carriage had solemn expressions and were filled with anxiety, nervously twisting the handkerchiefs in their hands.
One of them mustered up the courage to lift the curtain and saw the crowd playing outside. She felt that they were laughing at them, so she fearfully lowered the curtain and used her body to block the car window.
A rough-looking butcher on the street, having sold out of pork, chatted with the surrounding vendors as he packed up to go home, letting out a hearty laugh, "Hahaha!!!"
They seemed to hear the enemy soldiers' sinister laughter as they pounced on them and humiliated them.
Several people covered their ears, unable to listen.
"Don't be afraid. As long as we don't say anything, no one will know. Don't tell anyone, don't tell anyone..." Zhao Zhenrou murmured softly, as if comforting others, or perhaps comforting herself.
"If only Fu Rou were still here. She was intelligent and resourceful. I wonder how she is now, or if she is still alive."
That day, Zhao Furou went out alone to lure away the pursuers and never returned.
They hid in the haystacks and watched as the soldiers of the Great Zhou, clad in red armor, slashed down the enemy, but dared not utter a sound.
They feared that the soldiers of the Great Zhou would treat them the same way the enemy soldiers did...
They had heard that the daughters of disgraced officials were forced into prostitution to provide sexual gratification for the soldiers.
Until Zhao Zhenrou saw a familiar face.
She rushed out and shouted, "Young Master Xiao, I am Princess Zhenrou..."
She also asked Xiao Xuance to send people to find her younger sister, Zhao Furou. Xiao Xuance sent people to search the city, but after three days they still couldn't find her. It was as if she had suddenly disappeared, and it was very likely that she had met with misfortune.
Later, Xiao Xuance arranged for carriages and soldiers to escort them back to Lin'an.
Previously, when they fell into enemy hands, they never stopped longing to return to their homeland, but upon returning, they felt apprehensive about being close to home.
They don't know what awaits them.
The other women envied Zhao Zhenrou; she was a princess, and her brother was the emperor.
But their families are still in the hands of the enemy. They are no longer the rich young ladies they once were. They know nothing and have no one to rely on. How will they live in the future?
They have lost their chastity, and even if they were to marry, no man would be willing to take them in.
Many women, having nowhere else to turn, ended up in brothels.
Are they going to a brothel?
No! They are noble ladies and daughters of prominent families; they would rather die than go to a brothel.
There is another way right now: to become a slave or maidservant to Princess Zhenrou, which would be a better way to get to that kind of place.
Thinking this, he bowed to Princess Zhenrou and said, "Princess, I have a request."
"you say."
"This humble woman wishes to follow the princess, to serve her as a slave or maid."
The other three also understood their predicament; they had no family, no way out, and nothing left.
She added, "This humble woman is also willing to serve the princess as a slave."
"This humble woman is also willing to serve the princess."
Zhao Zhenrou still couldn't believe that she had regained her status as a princess.
When they entered Lin'an City, no one came to greet them. She vaguely sensed that something was wrong and felt uncertain about the future.
Zhao Zhenrou shook her head.
The four people's expressions changed slightly, and their hearts sank to the bottom.
Yes, she was a princess, and they both knew about each other's shameful past.
Why would she keep them by her side? She might even kill them to silence them...
Thinking this, the group shrank into a corner, away from Zhao Zhenrou.
Zhao Zhenrou realized they had misunderstood and quickly said, "That's not what I meant. Don't overthink it. I... I don't know what the future holds. If I could, I wouldn't abandon you."
They had faced life and death together many times and had long regarded each other as sisters. Having experienced similar hardships, she also wanted to help them.
Fu Rou's fate is unknown as she tried to save them. The rest of them absolutely cannot die easily. They must live well, so that their brother can find Fu Rou and also rescue their father and mother.
However, their caravan was intercepted by palace staff before it even got close to the palace.
Granny Cao showed Consort Yun's token and sent away the Dingbei Army that was escorting them.
The guards led Princess Zhenrou and her entourage's carriage to a nunnery.
The group of people got out of the car and saw the words "nunnery". Their faces turned pale. Were they being asked to become nuns?
Wanting to confirm her suspicions, Zhao Zhenrou asked, "Granny, why did Third Sister-in-law send us here?"
They are in the prime of their youth, the age when they should be most concerned about their appearance. Making them shave their heads and become nuns, chanting Buddhist prayers every day, leaving them with no hope for the future, is no different from killing them.
They didn't want to.
Perhaps people are inherently greedy. Having suffered countless humiliations in the enemy camp, the thought of becoming a nun, free from humiliation and fear, was a luxury.
But now that they're back, they're greedily trying to live like normal people.
"Several of them were captured by the enemy and have long since become withered and ruined."
"The Imperial Concubine has done more than enough by not giving you poisoned wine and white silk. Go inside, shave your heads, forget your past, forget your former identities, eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist prayers, and ask the Bodhisattva for protection to cleanse your sins."
Granny Cao's voice was low, but every word was like a poisoned needle, piercing their hearts.
Several people sobbed softly, "Waaah..."
Was it their fault that they were humiliated?
What crime did they commit?
"Guards, take them inside."
Upon hearing that there was a frightened bird among them, the group fled in terror, but were stopped by the palace maids brought by Granny Cao.
However, the palace maids and guards were prepared and surrounded them.
Princess Zhenrou looked at the people in front of her and put on the airs of a royal princess. "How dare you! I am Princess Zhenrou. If you dare to touch me today, I will definitely complain to my brother when I see him one day and make him punish you severely."
Taking advantage of the maid's stunned state, she pushed her away and ran away.
Granny Cao shouted, "What are you all standing there for? Go after them!"
"Princess, Princess, stop running! Stop right now..."
As Zhao Zhenrou heard the sound behind her getting closer, she quickened her pace and rushed forward at the corner, only to suddenly collide head-on with a carriage.
She tried to back away but tripped over herself, covering her face with her hands. "Ah!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com