Ch. 741..745: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 741-745

Chapter 741: Chapter 741: Hot Commodity (3)_1

Tana and the man looked at her in surprise, perhaps astonished by Lin Ziyin’s audaciousness, but they didn’t say anything. If Lin Ziyin was willing to roast the chicken herself, it would save them the trouble of doing it later on.

They seemingly thought of Lin Ziyin as too altruistic. She wasn’t as well-intentioned as they thought. She was a pro at barbecuing. The Lin family’s condiments were available for takeaway, and Bayan, being attentive, had bought quite a few to bring along. He had probably anticipated her not being used to the taste of wild game on the journey and, thus, purchased some for the trip.

Without any oil, Lin Ziyin didn’t care. When the chicken was almost roasted, she deftly spread the condiments evenly all over its body. It wasn’t long before a strong aroma wafted about, followed by the faint sound of a tiger’s cries from not far away.

Once the chicken was well-roasted, Lin Ziyin didn’t utter a word. She just tore off a wing and started munching on it, totally unperturbed by the two people standing right beside guarding her.

Tana was extremely disgusted by her impolite behavior and shot her several fierce glares.

However, being glared at was harmless, so Lin Ziyin didn’t pay any mind to Tana’s juvenile actions.

The moment the freshly roasted chicken wing entered her mouth, it proved to be very tasty. The chicken aroma had completely permeated her taste buds. Delightful!

When Bayan and his companions returned, they found Lin Ziyin eating the roast chicken alone, with Tana watching mournfully from the side.

"The fur is quite good," said a man as towering as an iron tower, tossing a tiger onto the ground and casting a glance at Lin Ziyin.

"The taste is also good, would you like some?" asked Lin Ziyin, her eyes crinkling in a smile as she offered a chicken leg to Bayan.

Surprised by her friendly initiative, Bayan hesitated for a moment, but he didn’t reach out to accept the chicken leg.

"My roast chicken is quite decent, alas, it’s just a bit short on oil." Lin Ziyin sighed. "Otherwise, it would taste even better."

While speaking, she tore off another chicken wing, "It’s a bit small, you guys can share it."

Even with others’ shares included, none of the men were moving, no one reached out to take it.

Lin Ziyin let out a soft sigh, "All the ingredients were prepared by you guys, what are you afraid of? I haven’t poisoned it."

She waved the chicken wing in her hand, "I just want to eat this, would that be okay?"

She questioned while pointing at the tiger on the ground.

I see! The group felt a bit awkward and had somewhat of a realization.

Tana was nearly angered to death by her. She really couldn’t stand this royal concubine. Despite her high status, she was so shameless. The chickens belonged to them, yet the royal concubine had the audacity to want to trade them for tiger meat, with an incredibly thick face.

Bayan took the chicken from her without changing his expression, then had the people beside him use a sharp dagger to peel off the tiger’s skin. They found the most tender meat, cleaned it with snow water, before handing it over to Lin Ziyin.

"Here’s a small bottle of vegetable oil." Bayan handed her a small jar.

They still have this? Lin Ziyin looked at him in surprise.

"My master said, since Miss Lin is from Daqin, she might not be used to our North Country’s food. That’s why I specially prepared some on the journey," Bayan explained.

Lin Ziyin could tell, this guy was trying to speak up for the Second Prince.

Well, she would let it go in consideration of the vegetable oil and condiments.

"The mutton in North Country is flavourful, and the beef is excellent too. Everyone simply has their own dietary preferences. Try the meat I roasted, it’s actually really tasty," said Lin Ziyin with a smile, definitely not behaving like a captive.

Lin Ziyin was not a fool. Being in the perilous North Country, she needed to build a good relationship with these people around her. As for Tana, it was out of the question. That woman’s temperament was too twisted, always at odds with her. Given this, she had no intention of trying to get on her good side.

Chapter 742: Chapter 742: Hot Commodity (4)_1

However, the remaining people could still work on improving their friendly relationships.

The aroma of the oil-brushed roast meat was very enticing, and it wasn’t even fully cooked yet. The sizzling sound was already making everyone’s mouth water.

The tiger meat was very tender, it didn’t take too long to cook.

This time, Lin Ziyin was not stingy, she almost shared some with everyone before she started eating the leftovers.

Hehe, being able to enjoy such a delicious meal even in ancient times, this trip may not be a complete loss after all, Lin Ziyin comforted herself with a bitter smile.

Bayan and the others accepted the roast meat and their gaze towards Lin Ziyin softened significantly.

After Lin Ziyin had eaten and drunk enough, she simply went straight to sleep.

Tana stared at her sneakily, thinking that she was as shameless as a pig. She could sleep anywhere without care for her surroundings.

Lin Ziyin closed her eyes, however, her mind was busy calculating what she needed to do to save herself if she encountered any danger in the North Country?

After pondering over it again and again, she seemed somewhat despondent. She realized that if she did not have Chu Suifeng’s people welcoming her in the North Country, she would be at other people’s mercy.

And clearly, Bayan and his group wanted to bring her into the capital city of the North Country, which was heavily fortified and dominated by the people of the North Country. Even if Chu Suifeng wanted to save her, it would come at a great cost.

This was certainly a consequence Lin Ziyin did not want to see.

"We’re getting close to the border, everyone be alert. We will only truly be safe when our people meet up with us." Only when Lin Ziyin’s breathing steadied, Bayan whispered a reminder to everyone around him, "Tana, don’t forget your master’s admonition."

"Yes," Tana replied grudgingly.

At dawn the next day, everyone ate the leftover roast tiger meat. Lin Ziyin saw that Bayan had packed up the tiger skin. She ate a bit reluctantly as her breakfast.

Even though the food tasted good, eating the same thing constantly, and eating meat for breakfast, even if she was a carnivore, didn’t appeal to her anymore.

Bayan noticed her lack of appetite and glanced at her. Rather than urging her to eat more, he had his men roast a flatbread for her, which even included some pickled vegetables.

Lin Ziyin thanked him and continued to eat. In such terrible weather, it was important to conserve energy.

Regretfully, her behaviour was seen as a new shortcoming by Tana.

Leaving the warm cave, Lin Ziyin shivered and then resignedly climbed onto a horse’s back.

The group began their difficult journey again.

By midday, Tana pointed to the top of a mountain with excitement, "Look, our Witch God Mountain."

Lin Ziyin guessed that they must be near the territory of North Country.

"Everyone, let’s speed up. We’ll be at Dijia Garden soon," a man jovially said.

"It’s an ambush." Lin Ziyin suddenly spoke up; dropping from her horse and pulling Tana behind a large rock.

Bayan and the others also reacted quickly, as her voice fell, each found a place to hide.

"Are you crazy?" Taken by surprise, Tana was pulled down by Lin Ziyin and fell to the ground. Worsening things, she was careful not exert too much force in fear of hurting Lin Ziyin.

"Shut up." Bayan ordered coldly. He felt somewhat relieved that he had given Lin Ziyin the antidote this morning, allowing her to recover her voice.

At that moment, a flurry of arrows rained down from the mountain as predicted. One of their horses fell while the others fled in fear.

Chapter 743: Chapter 743: Hot Commodity (5)_1

The moment Tana saw the landing point of the arrow, sweat immediately dripped down her forehead. That was exactly the spot she had just been standing. If it weren’t for Lin Ziyin pulling her away, she’d have become a target by now.

How did the Princess of the Mausoleum know there would be an ambush? Tana regarded Lin Ziyin with complex eyes.

Lin Ziyin had no time to worry about what Tana was thinking. She was fuming. She hadn’t even set foot on the North Country’s territory, yet someone was already after her life. If she were to really enter the North Country, would she still be alive?

Tana looked at Lin Ziyin as if she had seen a ghost. How could the Princess of the Mausoleum have known about the ambush? If it weren’t for Tana constantly by her side, Tana would have thought Lin Ziyin was colluding with the enemy.

When it came to guerilla warfare, Lin Ziyin’s experience matched anyone present. She was also very meticulous. What caused her to react just now was purely instinct. However, she didn’t put it down to Chu Suifeng’s men arriving.

Gauging by their speed, Chu Suifeng would never make it on time.

If it wasn’t her own people, then it must be the enemy.

After a shower of arrows was released, the enemy saw that no one was hurt and charged down the mountain immediately. In the accumulated snow, dozens of white figures leapt up.

"Protect Miss Lin," Bayan yelled, rushing towards the enemy.

Tana and the young man from the cave once again stood by Lin Ziyin’s side, one on each side. They were both wielding curved blades that shimmered in the snow, showing their deadly sharpness.

The newcomers were a group of fearless individuals. As soon as they clashed, it was a fight to kill.

Lin Ziyin was a bit nervous. She had no weapon in her hand. If the enemy wanted to kill her, she would be as defenseless as a chick up for slaughter.

An enemy wielding a large knife approached them, and the young man immediately stepped up.

Tana was even more nervous. She held Lin Ziyin with one hand and gripped her curved blade cautiously with the other.

From Lin Ziyin’s estimation, the enemy’s numbers far exceeded those of Bayan and the rest. Without reinforcements, they wouldn’t last long. And to them, she was a complete burden.

The identity of the enemy was unknown, so naturally Lin Ziyin leaned towards Bayan’s side.

Meanwhile, Si Jinhan and Luo Yan had led their men to a place sheltered from the wind.

"They must have rested here." Luo Yan squatted, finding ashes from burned firewood under several huge rocks.

"They probably left a few days ago." Si Jinhan’s face was frosty, making him seemingly unapproachable. "Judging by a three-day journey, they’ve already entered North Country’s territory."

"There may have been some unforeseen issues." Luo Yan’s face showed fatigue. It was no wonder they were exhausted. Ever since they had managed to beat the potential location out of one of Li Yanran’s men, they had been in pursuit.

But even so, due to prior delays, they hadn’t caught up with the Tatar group.

"Let’s rest here." Luo Yan turned and ordered. Upon hearing his command, the fifty or so men following him immediately scattered to prepare.

Si Jinhan leaned against a rock, his face impassive, without uttering a word.

"Ah." Luo Yan sighed and patted his shoulder, "Brother, forget about it."

What to forget, both of them knew well.

"Hmph." Si Jinhan gave him a cold stare.

Luo Yan shook his head, love indeed was damaging. It was not usual for Si Jinhan to fall for a woman. However, when he did, it turned out to be someone else’s wife, and worse still, she was the wife of his superior cum best friend, the princess. Moreover, he was too slow in realizing his feelings, only to discover them after she had been taken away by someone else. Therefore, recently, Si Jinhan had been living his most frustrating days.

Chapter 744: Chapter 744: Hot Commodity (6)_1

What amused Luo Yan the most was that this fellow was secretly in love, and up until now, the Queen of the Lying King had no idea that someone was silently adoring her from afar.

"Does the white lotus from the Li Family know if she has been hung up by His Highness at the city gate or not?" Luo Yan, who preferred the color red, had changed into a matching white outfit in conjunction with his surroundings.

"Are you free?" Si Jinhan glanced at him irritably.

"Yeah, pretty free. With this damn weather, what else is there to do?" Luo Yan answered with a shrug, "The snow has been falling for several days, the accumulation on the mountain is so thick, and with the Queen’s delicate frame, I wonder if she’s frozen to death."

As he spoke, he was sneakily observing Si Jinhan’s reactions from the corner of his eye.

Upon hearing this, a flash of worry emerged on Si Jinhan’s face, but then he laid down nonchalantly on the spread fur.

Luo Yan quietly sighed to himself, and wisely did not continue to tease.

There was no shortage of game or firewood on the mountain, the black-armored soldiers quickly found what they needed. Everyone quickly prepared some food and cuddled up to sleep while the remaining two people were left on watch and in charge of adding firewood to the bonfire.

Within Feng City, chaotic circumstances were afoot. This situation was a big deal for both the Li Family and the citizens of Feng City.

They would have never guessed that the Queen of the Lying King was actually kidnapped by the Tatars, and the reason for the kidnapping involved the young Miss of the Li Family.

"That Li Yanran is nothing but a two-faced person." Customers in the teahouse were murmuring in low voices.

"Exactly. The King and Queen were nothing but kind to the old matriarch, but she took advantage of the funeral ceremony to assist the Tatars in smuggling the Queen out of the city. Such a despicable creature." Even though the matter involved the confidential affairs of the Lying King’s Residence, many people could not resist their inherent curiosity, speaking in hushed voices among their groups.

"I heard, initially that young Miss from the Li Family intended to enter the Residence at all costs to become His Highness’s concubine. But His Highness rejected her."

"Right, I heard that too. Our King is regarded as a War God in the North. He’s not any flashy-looking gentleman, he would never take an interest in that sort of woman."

"Therefore, out of spite for unrequited love, that Li creature kidnapped the Queen."

"I heard that the idea of the Lin Family’s workshops as well as the rice and corn in the fields were all the Queen’s contribution."

"Really or not?" People’s interest was piqued, their voices inadvertently grew louder. Tabloid news would never compare to matters of livelihood, particularly as many of them owned farmland and were waiting for the springtime to buy rice and corn seeds from Shili Village.

"It’s true, my sister married into Shili Village."

...

Ma Zhicai sat among the crowd, listening to the din of chatter from customers around him, quietly sneering to himself.

No matter how brilliant Lin Ziyin is, she is now kidnapped by the Tatars and taken to the North. It wouldn’t be easy for her to return. Moreover, the North is wild, a woman captured by a group of men, even if Lin Ziyin did return, her reputation is in ruins.

"Disobedient daughter, disobedient son." The Marquis of the Li Family pointed at the two people kneeling on the ground with trembling fingers.

"Father, no, I know I was wrong, you have to save me." Li Jiesong couldn’t understand, he was definitely not involved in the grain business, so why were the consequences ultimately falling onto his shoulders?

Li Jiesong hadn’t experienced what it would be like to fall into Chu Suifeng’s hands, but was already scared to the point of trembling, unable to stand.

"Save you? What should I save you with?" The Marquis of the Li Family was furious to the extreme, and deeply desperate. At this point, he finally understood why the old matriarch, before her death, insisted that the second son, Li Jieyong, be the successor instead of the eldest son.

Chapter 745: Chapter 745: Hot Commodity (7)_1

Li Jiesong, for the Li Family, was a man who could do no right and everything wrong.

"Father, it’s her, it’s that slut You who instigated me into selling the grain," Li Jiesong suddenly thought of a scapegoat and started yelling.

"Shut up." The Marquis Li landed a kick on him.

"My lord, you must save Yanran, our daughter." Lady Mu pleaded through her crying.

Mentioning Li Yanran was a mistake. The moment her name was uttered, Marquis Li became even more emotional.

"Why do you think the Prince sent her back, don’t you get it?" The dignified man finally shed tears. But Marquis Li’s tears were not for Li Yanran, they were for the imminent downfall of the Li Family.

The late Prince had once promised the old lady to keep the Li family safe. But that promise came with a condition — descendants of the Li Family must abide by the rules and do nothing to harm the Prince.

But only a few days after the old lady had passed, the members of the Li Family had already caused so much trouble.

The son sold grain illegally, which would be severely punished; the daughter was even more extreme, she had helped the Tatars kidnap the Prince’s wife, a crime punishable by death. Even the thought was enough for Marquis Li to faint, hoping that all of this was just a nightmare.

But reality did not allow him to faint. When the Prince brought Li Yanran back with his black-armored soldiers yesterday, he wished he could split her in two. The daughter he had once spoiled and adored was now his mortal enemy.

"Brother, sister, how could you do this?" Li Jieyong, both frustrated and helpless, didn’t know what to do. Watching his siblings court death, he felt helpless and heartbroken. But he lacked the ability and courage to save them.

"Father, I didn’t have a choice." Li Yanran sneered, expressing no fear. As she had taken advantage of the lax search in the city yesterday and went to the countryside by herself. She had planned to ruin Lin Ziyin’s face there, then break his limbs and throw him into the Heihe River.

However, to her surprise, she didn’t find the bastard Lin Ziyin in the countryside. Instead, she ran into the charming Prince.

Indeed, the moment she saw the Prince, she was scared by the chill in Chu Suifeng’s eyes. But Chu Suifeng didn’t touch her; instead, he seized her nanny and maid, Xique.

After a night, she was returned to the Li Residence by the black-armored soldiers without a scratch. On her return, she blamed Xique and her nanny for betraying her. And most surprisingly, while the Prince did not dare to kill her, her own father wanted her dead.

No, she couldn’t die.

"Mother, since father does not want me, you must save me," seeing the hatred in Marquis Li’s eyes, Li Yanran, without recognizing her own faults, acted spoiled like she always used to, hugging Lady Mu’s legs and crying. "Mother, it’s all the fault of that slut You. If she hadn’t run into the Wang Residence and snitched, the Prince would have never suspected me."

"Yes, it’s all the fault of that slut You," Li Jieyong vehemently agreed with a grimace.

The siblings jointly blamed You.

Lady Mu also held resentment; she vowed to torture You when she returned, making her wish for death but unable to die.

"Brother, sister, don’t you regret your actions even now? Are you satisfied only when we are all killed?" Listening to them, Li Jieyong gave up hope of saving them.

"Big Brother, we can’t show mercy," Lady Jin incited further, although she was afraid. Both Li Yanran and Li Jieyong’s actions constituted grave crimes. Although the second branch of the family wasn’t involved, they were still living in the Li Family mansion, with properties not yet divided.

If the Li Family really angered the Prince, causing him to execute them all, the second branch wouldn’t escape either.

Even if the properties were divided, their association with the Li Family would still bring them trouble given the seriousness of the situation.

"Big Brother, we need to split our family, right now." The anxious Lady Jin immediately spoke.

"You..." Faced with this crisis, instead of helping, the second branch added insult to injury.

Marquis Li and Lady Mu were so angry their chests hurt, and Li Jieyong looked at the second branch’s family disapprovingly.

"Big Brother, it’s not that we are ruthless." Mr. Li from the second branch spoke, "You guys do whatever you want, and all the problems you cause are serious. We can’t risk our whole family’s life for you."

Those cold-hearted words made Marquis Li feel like the sky was falling, his legs gave in, and he collapsed onto a chair.

"Big Brother, you better deal with those two quickly." Lady Jin couldn’t help but interject, "If you are soft-hearted, you might end up causing the death of our whole family."

Deal with? When Li Yanran and Li Jieyong heard this, they were so frightened that they forgot to beg for mercy, staring at Marquis Li in shock.

This term was supposed to be used for disposable servants, not them. But no, they didn’t want to die.

"Father, mother, you can’t be so ruthless." Li Jieyong started wailing.

"Mother, I don’t want to die." Li Yanran held onto Lady Mu’s legs even tighter.