Ch. 746..750: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 746-750

Chapter 746: Chapter 746: Falling into a Desperate Situation (1)_1

"Don’t be afraid, as long as I’m here, no one can hurt you." Lady Mu looked at her kneeling son and daughter on the ground, her heart aching like a knife was twisting in it.

"My, sister-in-law, you do have a big mouth." Lady Jin rolled her eyes at her unabashedly, "At this time, you’re still spoiling them. They’ve committed a capital crime. What are you going to use to save them?"

Lady Mu coldly gazed at Lady Jin. "They are my children. How I save them is not your business."

"Goodness, listen to her, brother." Lady Jin exaggeratedly cried out, "Even at this stage, she doesn’t know how to repent. If the Prince finds out, our Li family’s remaining bit of favor might be lost."

"Mother." Li Jieyong sighed and tried to appease Lady Mu.

The concubines of the main house all began to cry at Lady Mu’s words, pleading with Marquis Li, "If we lose even the last bit of kindness, our entire Li Family will be doomed."

"Master, the eldest son and eldest daughter are your children. So is Teng. Teng has made no mistake, you can’t let him bear the punishment of the eldest son and daughter."

...

Immediately, the cries of the concubine’s legitimate and illegitimate children followed.

Li’s servants all hid far away, all of them were frightened at heart. Each of them secretly praying, hoping that the calamity brought on by the two masters would not involve the innocent servants.

"As long as I’m here, no one in the residence dares to touch a hair on your head." Lady Mu’s face was determined. The look in her eyes towards Marquis Li held deep disdain. This man was the most selfish, always thinking of himself first when something happened.

A tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, but this man, for the so-called benefits, didn’t even care about his children’s lives. His heart was even more poisonous than a snake.

"Madam, you’re only thinking about your own children. Did you ever think about the fact that there’s more than just the eldest son and eldest daughter in this residence? Can’t you consider for others?" Faced with life and death, one of the concubines risked having a public fallout with Lady Mu.

"Yes, Marquis, second son, you need to make a judgment."

"Sister-in-law, listen, people can’t be selfish, only thinking about their own children. Don’t forget, others also have children." Lady Jin again started to coldly mock and ridicule Lady Mu.

Lady Mu coldly watched the crying concubines and their children. To her, these lower-class creatures were beneath her concern.

"Father, mother, we should split up the family as soon as possible. Our branch of the family has not committed any despicable acts like these. The Prince is fair and just, he definitely won’t lump our wrongdoings together." Lady Jin’s eldest daughter-in-law urgently suggested.

"Exactly, look at the You family, even though the You Residence committed such a serious crime, it’s still safe and sound." Lady Jin’s second daughter-in-law echoed. The You family were under the protection of Prince Changling. They, in turn, were tempted. Regardless, they not only wanted to live, but also maintain a relationship with Chu Suifeng for their children’s sake.

Obviously, on this matter, the people of the second house united in their opposition. What angered Lady Mu even more was that the concubines from the main house also sided with the second house.

She was trembling with anger and scanned the room of concubines with her threatening gaze. "The matter hasn’t been settled yet, what are you fussing about?"

"Marquis, second son, we can’t live this way anymore."

"The Madam clearly wants us to be driven to our deaths."

"Marquis, you have to do something."

...

Then there was another round of earth-shattering cries. Those sharp cries gave Marquis Li and Li Jieyong throbbing headaches.

 

Chapter 747: Chapter 747: Falling into a Desperate Situation (2)_1

"Shut up." The Marquis of Li roared, but the crying in the house did not decrease; instead, it seemed to intensify.

Under normal circumstances, Jin’s side would have been gloating by now. However, today’s incident, if not handled properly, could implicate their second house too. As such, they were not in the mood to watch the spectacle unfold.

"Big brother, make a decision." The second brother sighed, "They are also my nephews and nieces, and it pains me. We can’t really wait for the Prince to knock on our doors for retribution."

"Mother, I don’t want to die." The only sentence Li Jiesong could mutter, rolling over and over in fear.

"You lowly creatures. If Miss ends up dead, I will drag you to hell with me. No one will escape." Li Yanran, who had always been pampered at the residence, had a cocky and domineering personality.

In her eyes, the women of the residence were like ants. She never paid them any mind. To think that today these creatures insisted on scapegoating her to endure the suffering.

Unable to hold back, Li Yanran shouted, "Tomorrow, I will sell one by one of you, no, right now. Mother, won’t you say something?"

Madam Mu watched her unruly daughter, feeling a chill forming in her heart. It was only today that she realized how spoilt Li Yanran had become, showing off her arrogance even in such a dire situation. Didn’t she realize that this behaviour would only enrage her father further, and provoked those inferior creatures to make even more noise?

"Shut up." Without waiting for Madam Mu to speak, the Marquis of Li stepped forward and kicked Li Yanran heavily, "Look at the good daughter you have raised."

His anger was evidently directed at Madam Mu.

"I don’t care about Prince Ling’s plan." Madam Mu stared at the Marquis of Li, enunciating each word, "Whoever wants their lives, I will fight to the death against them."

"You dare." Seeing her unyielding resolve, Marquis Li was so furious he felt like disciplining her as well.

"Mother." Li Jieyong also wanted to persuade Madam Mu.

"Hmph, there’s nothing I wouldn’t dare." Madam Mu coldly sneered at the father and son duo, "I am a mother, and I will not stand by and see my children harmed."

"Mother, you can’t save them." Li Jieyong said with a hint of despair.

"You, too, are my child. If anything happens to you, I will protect you as well. But you..." Madam Mu eyed Li Jieyong, shaking her head slowly as disappointment filled her eyes. "One is your brother and one is your sister. How could you bear to join others in harming them?"

"Mother, he is only thinking about himself. He doesn’t consider me his brother at all." Li Jiesong ranted, staring fiercely at Li Jieyong, "He can’t wait for me to die so he can become the Marquis."

"Brother." Li Jieyong looked at him angrily, "I never had such despicable thoughts. If I did, may the heavens strike me dead with a bolt of lightning."

"Second brother, don’t play the good guy." Li Yanran too looked at him with disdain, "What’s the use of swearing? Only you know what you’re truly thinking deep down. Otherwise, why aren’t you helping us, but instead bullying me and elder brother with others?"

"Given what you guys have done, how could I save you?" Li Jieyong felt he couldn’t reason with them and shook his head, looking at them with heart-wrenching pain.

"Mother." Even Li Yanran had begun to feel scared, looking at Madam Mu in fear.

"Fear not, mother will go and find Prince Rui now." Madam Mu said coldly, her composure fully regained, "The Li family may have abandoned you, but mother is still of the Mu family. The current Empress is our Mu family’s legitimate daughter, so Prince Rui won’t disregard mother’s plea."

Chapter 748: Chapter 748: Falling into a Desperate Situation (3)_1

"You’re dreaming." Marquis Li fumed. Not only did Lady Mu blame him, she actually dared to bring up her maiden house in front of everyone. Was she deliberately trying to make him lose face?

"So, you won’t even save your own son and daughter, and now you want to stop me? You’re heartless." Lady Mu looked at him with eyes one would reserve for an enemy.

Marquis Li looked equally vicious, "Even till now, you still act like Lady Mu. This is the Northern Land, not the Capital City where your Mu family reigns. Even if the Empress herself comes, Prince Ling won’t give her face. Just give up."

"Li Pan, we’re leaving." Lady Mu suddenly stood up and pointed at him, "I’m taking their siblings with me. This matter won’t involve you at all."

"Sister-in-law, you’re really heartless." Jinshi was not grateful for her actions, instead she glared at Lady Mu angrily, "You’re running away with them while expecting our entire Li family to die for them."

Li Jieyong was just moved by Lady Mu’s words, but Jinshi’s reminder made him discontented with her too. If Lady Mu were to take the elder brother and younger sister away, then only the entire Li family would be left to bear Prince Ling’s wrath.

They’re all her children, why does Lady Mu always favor her elder brother and younger sister? Isn’t he, Li Jieyong, her son too?

"I’d like to see who dares to stop me." Lady Mu suddenly pulled out a dagger from her bosom and held it to her own throat.

Fool! Jinshi and Er Lao laughed coldly together.

Just go ahead and die, it’s not like they would be afraid.

"Mother."

"Mother."

"Mother."

Their voices chorused, those were the voices of the three Li Jiesong siblings. As for Marquis Li, his face showed no trace of marital affection.

Seeing his attitude towards Lady Mu, one could imagine the expressions on the faces of the others.

The concubines and members of the second branch were hoping Lady Mu would be done for.

"Drag their siblings to the city’s marketplace for whipping. Unless the prince says otherwise, no one else is allowed to plead for them." Marquis Li’s voice sounded like a messenger from hell, devoid of warmth.

"Have you lost your mind?" Lady Mu looked at him angrily.

"Bring him here, Li Haisheng, you oversee the punishment yourself." Marquis Li instructed the butler expressionlessly.

Li Yanran and Li Jiesong were pale with fear. The brother and sister cried out again for Lady Mu to save them.

"Who dares." Lady Mu pulled the siblings behind her for protection.

The approaching servants were frightened and immediately stopped, then looked towards Marquis Li helplessly, waiting for his instructions.

"Have you forgotten whose food you eat?" The servants’ actions made Marquis Li feel humiliated and his tone became even harsher.

"Mother, don’t interfere." Li Jieyong tried his best to persuade Lady Mu, "It’s better for us to punish ourselves than to hand them over to the prince. Maybe the prince will see our sincerity and finally let them go. In the meantime, we should all sit down and think of a way to quell the prince’s anger. We are just making things worse by hiding our problems. Your stubbornness will only increase the prince’s prejudice against the Li family. Mother, the disappearance of the Prince Ling’s wife is related to our younger sister, it can’t be solved by you throwing a tantrum."

He raised his voice as he spoke, wishing he could shake Lady Mu’s shoulders to wake her up.

However, Lady Mu did calm down after his outburst.

"Hang in there, I will definitely find a way to save you both." Lady Mu turned her head toward her daughters behind her and gave instructions through her tears.

Chapter 749: Chapter 749: Falling into a Desperate Situation (4)_1

"Mother, mother, don’t you want us either?" Li Yanran, still young, turned pale with fear at the sight of Mrs. Mu’s abandonment.

Li Jiesong, on the other hand, was driven to madness, "I’m not leaving! Mother, stop them immediately!"

"Don’t just stand there, drag them out." The Marquis Li commanded through gritted teeth.

Despite their reluctance, Li Yanran and Li Jiesong were forcibly dragged away by a malevolent servant.

Mrs. Mu tossed aside the dagger in her hand and, without a glance at the relieved people scattered around the room, made her way out.

Marquis Li shot her a questioning glance, "What’s she doing?"

"I’ve handed the people over to you, are you still keeping me captive?" Mrs. Mu was thoroughly disappointed with the Marquis, her tone no longer as gentle as it used to be.

"You..." Faced with Mrs. Mu’s silent accusation, Marquis Li took a moment, then swallowed his urge to lash out. At the end of the day, Li Yanran and Li Jiesong were his own flesh and blood. It was one thing to send them out for punishment, but if they were to be beaten to death, it would be an entirely different matter. The latter would mean that Li Yanran and Li Jiesong would become the Li Family’s everlasting shame – a consequence he was not willing to face.

Chu Suifeng seemed to have no intention of interfering with what happened in Marquis Residence. All he did was send a large number of black-armored soldiers to encircle the Li household. On his action, the townsfolk of Feng City could only sigh. They sighed, greatly admiring the soft-heartedness of the Crown Prince Ling, who still felt for the old Madame Li who had passed away and did not ruthlessly deal with the Li family.

If it were another family that had done what the Lis had done, they’d probably already have their entire family executed and rivers of blood would flow. Crown Prince Ling was truly an upright man.

When Mrs. Mu left the Li residence, the black-armored soldiers made no move to stop her, and watched indifferently as she boarded the carriage.

"To the post house." Only afterboarding the carriage did Mrs. Mu inform the coachman of her destination.

"Move." The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage immediately started with a creaking sound.

Amidst the treacherous mountains, Lin Ziyin was in dire straits. Things on the battlefield were exactly as she had guessed. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Bayan’s side had completely fallen into the disadvantageous position.

"Protect Miss Lin and get out of here quickly." Despite the injures on his arm and back, Bayan ignored his own condition and hurriedly ordered the men around him.

"Bayan, you take Miss Lin and leave. Your martial arts skills are the highest." The people surrounding him whispered back resolutely.

"None of you will escape." The masked man interjected.

"Are you people from Changchun Country?" Bayan guessed at their identities.

"Damn it." The opposing leader glared at the earlier-speaking man.

The man bowed his head, not daring to speak again, as he had overstepped out of pride previously.

Upon hearing that the enemies were from Changchun Country, Lin Ziyin’s eyebrows slightly furrowed. Compared to Daqin and North Country, Changchun Country was relatively weaker. What were they participating in this affair for?

At this moment, Lin Ziyin didn’t have any goodwill towards them. Before their intentions were clear, she certainly was not going to put her life in their hands.

Her journey through the North Country was fraught with danger, but she was confident in her survival due to the presence of the second prince, who, based on his behavior in the marketplace, could be considered a gentleman.

Changchun Country? Lin Ziyin quickly began searching her memory for information about Changchun Country: Compared to Daqin and North Country, Changchun Country had less internal strife. But the catch was that she’d heard the Crown Prince of Changchun was overly proud and had a volatile personality. Seeing that he sent people to kidnap her, Lin Ziyin harbored no good feelings for him.

Chapter 750: Chapter 750: Falling into a Desperate Situation (5)_1

"You’ve reached an agreement with the Crown Prince?" Bayan asked angrily.

"Indeed, you’re truly a competent aide to the Second Prince." The other party admitted with a laugh. "Your Second Prince has his eyes on the Queen of the King of Ling, and so does our Crown Prince."

Lin Ziyin listened with a furrowed brow, everyone present assumed that she could not understand the language of Changchun Country, but in reality, not only she could understand it, but she was also quite proficient. Simply put, the language of Changchun Country resembled modern Korean.

The expressions on Bayan’s men were extremely tense. They could be sure that the other side was not revealing the truth in order to foster relations between the two parties, but because they already regarded them as dead men.

Thinking that the Elder Prince had actually allied with the Crown Prince of Changchun Country, Bayan and his men were extremely incensed. The men of the North Country were hard men who have always relied on their strength to make their case. The actions of the Crown Prince were no different from a traitor’s.

"Quickly, take Miss Lin away."

Someone pushed Bayan.

"None of you will escape." The other side laughed.

Bayan hesitated for a moment as both sides were about to clash. Then he turned and ran with Lin Ziyin, "Quick, to the horse."

While Tana had never liked Lin Ziyin, she clearly remembered the words of the Second Prince. Moreover, it was not a good sign that so many people were fighting over Lin Ziyin. As enemy soldiers started to surround them, she made the swift decision to cover their retreat without any hesitation.

Lin Ziyin was considered as weak as a caged bird. However, she never planned to reveal her expertise in combat. Moreover, she had no weapons in her possession, so she had no intention of putting on a brave front.

As she ran ahead, protected by Bayan and Tana, with several pursuers behind her, Lin Ziyin was nearly out of breath running against the north wind. However, she dared not slack off, as any slight delay could cost her life.

"Run!" As the three of them managed to break out of the siege and were about to take refuge in the forest on the mountain, their path was suddenly blocked.

It turned out there were a dozen or so people ambushed in the snow!

Lin Ziyin forced a bitter smile.

Bayan and Tana gripped their knives tighter, both visibly tense.

"Where will you run?" A taunting voice echoed from behind.

"Kill them." The ones blocking their path had no intention of sparing their lives.

"Protect Lin Ziyin." Bayan was frantic. The Second Prince had only brought the Queen of Ling to the Northern Land for business matters, not intending to harm Lin Ziyin. However, the people of the Crown Prince clearly wanted to kill Lin Ziyin to avenge their loss in Border City.

If anything happened to the Queen of Ling in the North Country, Chu Suifeng would definitely attack the North Country in his madness. With Chu Suifeng’s meticulous thinking and the rapid development of the North Land, as long as there was sufficient food and arms, Chu Suifeng would be a tough adversary. It would not be beneficial for the North Country to provoke such an opponent.

"Jump." Lin Ziyin said coldly, having surveyed the surroundings in the blink of an eye.

The slope they stood by was gentle. With deep snow, rolling down the slope might cause injuries, but the chances surviving were still high. However, if they were to face the enemies head on, death was certain.

After weighing the pros and cons, she quickly decided in favor of the option which was beneficial for her.

Tana, who had been holding her hand, hesitated for a moment after hearing her words.

Bayan’s eyes lit up, "Jump."

With Bayan’s support, Tana no longer hesitated and jumped down the slope along with Lin Ziyin, followed by Bayan.