Ch. 756..760: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 756-760

Chapter 756: Chapter 756 Difficulties (4)_1

"Heating the ground and then covering it with pine needles and dry grass will keep us slightly warm, even when we sleep." Lin Ziyin said, "But I don’t know how to hunt, so we’re all going to be hungry tonight."

As she spoke, she had already dragged Bayan onto the pile of pine needles she laid out.

The ground was indeed warm after moving the bonfire away. Bayan felt that the wound on his back had improved a lot and he felt comfortable. He looked at Lin Ziyin in surprise. It was the first time he had seen such a method of keeping warm, and he hadn’t expected the small and delicate queen of Ling to think of it?

Tana witnessed everything Lin Ziyin did and she was deeply shocked. She felt embarrassed for her previous behavior of looking down on Lin Ziyin.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to apologize to Lin Ziyin out of humility.

After half a day of traveling, half a day of escape, and then busy with saving lives and looking for branches, Lin Ziyin was both tired and hungry at the moment.

"I have only one bun left. You guys can’t fight with me over it." After saying so, she magically produced a bun from her bosom.

Tana recognized it instantly, the bun was the one she had baked for Lin Ziyin in the morning, and she didn’t expect her to have saved one.

Lin Ziyin skewered the bun with a branch and toasted it over the fire.

Actually, Bayan and Tana were also hungry, but they couldn’t and wouldn’t fight with Lin Ziyin over food.

Once the bun was roasted, its fragrant smell was permeated into the air, perhaps enhanced by their intense hunger. Both Tana and Bayan caught the aroma.

Lin Ziyin sighed and divided the bun into three parts. "I’m really kind-hearted, can’t bear to devour it all by myself. Although this bun was given to me by you, it’s mine now. Look, you guys owe me another favor now."

"No, you eat it yourself." Bayan refused, Tana didn’t speak, but she didn’t reach out either.

"You two are really mean." Lin Ziyin sighed and said, "You must be refusing deliberately to keep from owing me favors, or are you waiting for the enemy to attack so that you won’t have to exert energy?"

"If the enemy comes, I will protect you with my life," Bayan replied through gritted teeth.

"Without energy, it’s all talk. I bet you’re doing this on purpose." Lin Ziyin said.

"You..." Bayan could not argue with her, he was so frustrated that he couldn’t speak clearly.

Lin Ziyin took advantage of his open mouth and crammed a piece of the bun into it.

Bayan had never encountered such a woman, so he was so surprised that he fell silent. Of course, with a bun stuffed in his mouth, he couldn’t say anything if he wanted to.

"This piece is yours." Lin Ziyin stuffed a piece of bun into Tana’s hand, "He might have a fever tonight, and I’ll need you to watch him. Oh, you’ll take the first shift, keeping the fire going and watch out for his fever. I’m going to get some sleep first. If anything happens at night, wake me up. I’ll take the night watch in the second half of the night." After she said that, she ignored everything, lay down on the pine needles and closed her eyes.

Tana held a small piece of the bun, her eyes becoming moist. Now, she finally understood why the powerful king Ling would marry a peasant girl like Lin Ziyin.

Even her master, the second prince, would not have thought of her, a maid, in such a hopeless situation, yet Lin Ziyin did.

Lin Ziyin’s breathing was long and steady, which showed that she was sleeping soundly.

The queen of Ling sure had some guts! Bayan looked at Lin Ziyin again with a complex expression.

Bayan slept on his stomach due to the knife wound on his back. Perhaps because he was exhausted, he soon fell asleep as well.

Tana was also very tired, but she dared not sleep.

The cave was small, and the entrance had already been half-blocked by Lin Ziyin with wood and small stones. She was still afraid that wild animals might break in, or that enemy soldiers might attack.

Chapter 757: Chapter 757 Difficulties (5)_1

"Bayan, what’s wrong with you?" In the middle of the night, just when Tana was starting to feel weary, she noticed an abnormal flush on the face of Bayan who was lying next to her. She immediately recalled the words Lin Ziyin had once said.

She extended her hand to touch Bayan’s forehead, which was indeed very hot.

"Princess Lin." In her anxiety, Tana looked to Lin Ziyin as a savior.

Lin Ziyin, who was deep in sleep, was suddenly woken up. She asked groggily, "What’s the matter?"

"It looks like Bayan has a fever." Tana answered with evident panic.

Lin Ziyin’s sleepiness vanished instantly. She quickly sat up, got out of her bedding and squatted next to Bayan. She then reached out to feel his forehead, "Indeed, it’s really hot."

"What should we do?" Tana asked anxiously, looking at her.

What could they do? Lin Ziyin was also somewhat panicked.

"Wait." After a moment, she regained her composure, fetched her all-purpose gauze, and crawled out of the cave through a gap.

The outside was dark, but the snow reflected a dim light, creating an ambience where Tana could vaguely make out her figure.

Normally, Tana wouldn’t be afraid, but she was very worried in the present circumstance. She was concerned that Lin Ziyin might encounter a wild beast while out there.

However, Lin Ziyin just took a brief walk around the outside and came back. She didn’t even venture far from the cave.

"Help me take his coat off." Lin Ziyin instructed.

Tana looked at her in surprise. She had heard that women from Daqin were extremely shy and very reserved, definitely unlike the women of North Country who were much more open.

She had also heard that if a part of their body was seen by men, even a foot, they were considered impure in Daqin. This decision by the princess was truly unexpected.

"Hurry up. If his temperature doesn’t drop, he’s in danger." Lin Ziyin hadn’t thought about it as much as Tana. In their dire situation, Bayan and Tana were relatively decent people who were risking their lives to protect her. Even though Bayan and Tana were bound by duty, the fact that they were guarding her at this crucial time mattered the most. Lin Ziyin figured that in their ambiguous circumstance, it was safer to be with these two. Besides, if the two were to survive, they would owe her a favor. That could be useful if the prince’s men found them. Conversely, if they were found by the enemy, she wouldn’t lose anything.

"Oh." Tana, spurred by her urgency, immediately leaned in to help.

Lin Ziyin started rubbing Bayan’s forehead with snowflakes, "Do what I’m doing. Rub under his armpits, wrists, and ankles repeatedly, until his body temperature drops." Surprisingly, Lin Ziyin just demonstrated once and then delegated the rest of the task to Tana.

Tana being a native of North Country, had less strict notions about male and female decorum compared to those in Daqin. After Lin Ziyin instructed her, she went out to fetch more snow.

All Tana could do was follow the instructions and start rubbing snow on Bayan’s body.

The two worked in tandem, nearly collapsing from exhaustion. However, their efforts were not in vain; by dawn, Bayan’s temperature had finally subsided.

"At least we have managed to save him, our efforts were not in vain." Lin Ziyin sighed and stoked the fire a bit more, "After daylight, we must extinguish the fire."

Tana did not mind Lin Ziyin’s use of the term ’we’ any longer. Lin Ziyin’s character had earned her respect. Unconsciously, she had started considering Lin Ziyin as one of her own.

"However, we shouldn’t relax. In this hellish weather, if no one comes to rescue us soon, we’ll probably die of cold or hunger here before any enemy attack." Lin Ziyin unconsciously stirred the fire with a stick in her hand.

Chapter 758: Chapter 758 Difficulties (6)_1

First, let’s wait and see, then try finding some food.

In Feng City, Lady Mu had finally achieved her wish of meeting Prince Rui at the inn.

Prince Rui’s attitude towards her was not bad; there was a constant faint smile on his face and his tone was gentle. Hope filled Lady Mu’s heart when she first saw him.

"Prince, I had no choice but to plead for your help as I have nowhere else to go. I beg you, for the sake of the Mu Family and the Empress, please help me," Lady Mu knelt down before Prince Rui.

"Please stand." Prince Rui quickly ordered his guards to assist her.

"Your words are too weighty," his expression became serious, "I have heard about the deeds of the eldest son and the young lady of your Residence. It’s not that I don’t want to help, but this matter is too grave, and I am powerless to assist."

Upon hearing this, Lady Mu was struck like a bolt out of the blue, not lifting herself from her kneeling position. "Prince, I beg you, save them. They are still young. To lose them both, it’s as if you’re asking for my life."

The guards in the room were all under Prince Rui’s command, hearing Lady Mu’s words, they all sneered silently in their hearts. How Lady Mu seemed to think herself to be so important. Even if she was from the Mu Family, she was merely from a side branch. If she died, what did it have to do with Prince Rui?

Prince Rui looked at Lady Mu with a difficult but sympathetic gaze. After a moment he sighed, "My lady, hoarding and selling grain is a capital offense, the Emperor..."

"No, when my son brought in the grain from Jiangnan, the Emperor had not banned the buying and selling of grain yet." Lady Mu hurriedly explained.

"If that’s the case, the crime doesn’t warrant death," Prince Rui mused to himself.

Upon seeing his softened stance, Lady Mu quickly tearfully added, "Yanran, she’s young and was brought up alongside the Prince, her feelings for him have grown over time. When she saw him get married and his wife would not let him take concubines, she got the idea."

Prince Rui sighed again, "Indeed it’s a tragic love affair."

Lady Mu nodded vigorously agreeing, "Prince, if you could save them, I will be forever in your debt. I am willing to retire and take them back to the Capital City."

Return to the Capital City? Prince Rui could not help but sneer internally.

Right now, the only value in Lady Mu lies in her identity as the wife of the Marquis. If she were to return to Daqin, she would be no different from a disabled person.

However, these words could not be said out loud.

"How about this, on your behalf, I’ll visit Prince Ling. Although, let me state first – I cannot guarantee the outcome. After all, the Prince’s temper is known to all – he won’t listen to just anyone," Prince Rui was very cautious with his words.

Even though he did not offer an absolute guarantee, to the desperate Lady Mu, his words were like music to the ears.

"Thank you, Prince." Lady Mu expressed her gratitude by giving him three deep bows.

"Let’s go, madam." Prince Rui stood up, his urgency seeming to surpass that of Lady Mu herself.

Seeing his actions, Lady Mu’s gratitude towards him deepened.

King Chu burst into laughter when he heard from his guards that Prince Rui was actually taking Lady Mu to see Chu Suifeng.

"What a Prince Rui, truly a hypocrite."

None of the guards dared to comment, they all just lowered their heads.

Chu Suifeng was not hard to find. He was standing in the open space in front of the wide city gates. Beside him were intimidating black-armoured soldiers and a fawning, bootlicking Marquis Li and his second son, Li. Also, there was Li Jieyong, with a face filled with sorrow and reluctance.

Chapter 759: Chapter 759 Difficulties (7)_1

The surroundings were filled with townsfolk who had come to see the spectacle. Today was the 27th day of the year, the streets should have been lively. But this New Year had been overshadowed by the disappearance of the Princess Consort of the prince’s tomb, which left everyone feeling terrified. The streets were devoid of festivity, the faces of each individual were filled with worry and gravity. To outsiders, it would appear as if every household had suffered a death.

When Mu saw the two figures tied to the pillar clearly, her heart shattered instantly.

"Prince Rui, I beg you, they can’t hold on any longer." Mu bit her lip hard to restrain herself from rushing over to them.

The spectacle attracting the masses was her children. At this moment, they were being whipped and were crying out in agony, the horrifying screams felt like a dagger to her heart.

"Stop it, prince, I beg you, please stop beating them." Mu staggered over to Chu Suifeng, and swiftly knelt before him.

Chu Suifeng’s face was icy-cold, he remained silent.

The surrounding townsfolk scoffed at Mu, some even threw balls of snow at the beaten siblings.

"Prince, they made a mistake because I was too lax in my discipline. If a punishment is needed, punish me instead." Mu cried, pleading for mercy.

Chu Suifeng still didn’t utter a word.

Fearing that Mu’s pleas would anger Chu Suifeng, Marquis Li promptly stepped in, delivering a kick to Mu, "Get back, stop ranting nonsense."

"Mom, save me. I can’t take it anymore. Really can’t take it anymore. I won’t dare to do it again, Prince Ling, I beg for pardon."

"Mom, it hurts so much, really hurts," Li Yanran, with her hair disheveled, her outer clothes had long been torn off, only her inner clothes remained.

Blood had seeped through the clothes, streaking it with lines. Her face no longer held the pride it used to, only confusion and helplessness remained.

"Dad, mom, save me." Seeing Mu, Li Jiesong’s cries became more severe.

"Seventh Brother." Prince Rui sighed before speaking with whiff of patience.

"So, how do you plan to settle the account?" Chu Suifeng asked coldly.

Prince Rui was taken aback, not understanding Chu Suifeng’s implication, "Seventh brother, are you willing to give me the acting power?"

Unable to comprehend what Chu Suifeng was referring to, Prince Rui decided to deliberately twist the meaning of his words.

"You seem to have forgotten what I once said." With the disappearance of Lin Ziyin, Chu Suifeng seems to have returned to his former heartless self.

"If you aren’t willing to give the acting power to me, where’s the account to settle?" Prince Rui responded in a jesting tone.

"Weren’t you here to plead for mercy?" Chu Suifeng left no room for roundabout, he directly stated Prince Rui’s purpose. "You know very well the severity of their crime, yet you still come over. It shows you’ve already decided to make an offering for their lives."

A feeling of despair rose in Mu’s heart. Chu Suifeng’s words made it clear to everyone that he was determined to take the lives of her children.

"Prince, I’m willing to trade my life for theirs." Mu knelt down again repeatedly bowing her head towards Chu Suifeng.

"Your life isn’t worth a penny in my eyes." Chu Suifeng coldly rejected Mu, "Anyone who dares to harm the princess, I will make sure they would rather die than live."

The Prince never lied, Mu’s face turned pale instantly.

All the men in the Li Family, including Marquis, felt their hearts quaking in fear.

They came only because they had no choice, if it was possible, they wouldn’t have wanted to come witness this punishment at all.

They were reluctant not because they cared about Li Jiesong and Li Yanran, but rather because all the members of the Li Family felt humiliated.

"I won’t dare again, I really won’t dare." Li Yanran started shaking her head, crying out loudly, "It was the Tatar who deliberately sent people to deceive me. Yes, prince, someone deliberately lured me into harming the Princess."

Chu Suifeng’s face paused, raising a hand.

"Pause." Congyi commanded coldly.

The servants of the Li Family who were holding the whip were immediately frightened and retreated, Congyi walked up to Li Yanran and asked in a cold voice, "Who helped you do it?"

In the crowd, Ma Zhicai became so scared that his legs went weak, he hastily pulled his hat down further and covered half of his face with his scarf, further lowering his head. His heart was beating fiercely as he was afraid that Li Yanran would confess about him.

He was scared of death, although he hated the Lin Family, and daringly did many things for the Tatar, he still didn’t want to die.

What to do? If this damn woman confessed about him, where should he hide? Will he really need to flee to the Northern Territory?

"It was a bearded man, he is from our Northern Land, I recognized his accent." Not caring about her pain, Li Yanran shouted loudly.

Hearing this, Ma Zhicai relaxed immediately, even standing a little straighter. Notwithstanding, he still hid in the crowd, quietly listening to the proceedings.

The surrounding townsfolk were all murmuring with fury against Li Yanran and the so-called bearded man.

"How did he contact you?" Congyi glanced around and all the townspeople immediately quietened down.

"At night someone threw a dagger into my house with a letter below it. The letter wanted me to meet him at the wine house. I went there and then I saw the bearded man." Li Yanran was completely honest, revealing every detail.

"Did that person make contact with you again afterward?"

"No, I really never saw him again. But he is a man with a big beard, I could recognize him if I see him again." Li Yanran sobbed, feeling a glimmer of hope surface in her heart.

Standing within the crowd, Ma Zhicai’s eyes glinted with frostiness, he hoped that Chu Suifeng would quickly dispose of Li Yanran. Only when Li Yanran dies can he be truly safe.

Chapter 760: Chapter 760: Goodbye (1)_1

"Prince, she was just confused for a moment, she has repented now. I beg the Prince to spare her, as her mistress, I assure you she will not stir up trouble again," pleaded Madam Mu as she knelt down crying. Li Yanran’s confession rekindled her hope.

"Prince, I have something to say." Upon seeing Li Yanran’s confession, Li Jiesong commanded the servants to stop and began to exclaim, "It was Blackie, Blackie from the city who resold the grain. We merely sold our grain to him, we did not inflate the price."

Chu Suifeng looked at him coldly, not even a sneer crossed his face. What a fool, that Li Jiesong was!

Situ Gong explained with a faint smile, "Blackie is a bandit, his grains are resold to the North Country. His crimes of treason have been exposed."

"But I..." Li Jiesong was gobsmacked.

Madam Mu, unable to bear it any longer, scolded him, "Shut up." Just when things were beginning to turn around for them, this fool of a son had incited Chu Suifeng’s wrath again.

It wasn’t only Chu Suifeng whom he had enraged, but also the onlooking crowd. Initially, reselling grain within the city at worst resulted some price inflation. Li Jiesong could only be regarded as an unscrupulous merchant. But now, thanks to his impromptu declaration, he had become a spy, a traitor.

Every citizen born in the Northern Land despises the Tatars of the North Country. Suddenly, Li Jiesong had become the object of everyone’s anger.

Marquis Li, upon witnessing the crowd pelting Li Jiesong with snowballs, felt utterly humiliated and wished he could leave immediately, but he couldn’t.

"Continue the punishment." Seeing that nothing useful could be gleaned from the siblings anymore, Congyi indifferently gave the order.

The sound of whipping started again. Li Yanran and Li Jiesong watched Madam Mu in horror on the ground, even forgetting to beg for mercy. At this point, the siblings realized how close to death they were, and both began to regret their actions. If only they had not...

But there was no medicine for regret in this world. Hence, the two had to endure the lashes of the whip. Soon, the physically weakened Li Yanran was on her last breath and the glimmer of life in Li Jiesong’s eyes began to fade.

Marquis Li was afraid, the prince’s actions indicated that his rage was burning intensely. His children might lose their lives, but despite his pain, Marquis Li wouldn’t care too much. After all, apart from Li Yanran and her brother, he still had an heir and several other sons and daughters in the Li Residence. He feared that Chu Suifeng’s wrath would extend to the entire Li Family.

The men from the second family were even more afraid. They were not responsible for this incident. If Chu Suifeng attributed the blame to them, it would be a grave injustice.

"Stop! You lowly slaves!" Upon seeing her nearly lifeless children, Madam Mu immediately rushed over to snatch the whips from the hands of the servants.

The servants, seeing the first lady charging towards them, were terrified and flustered.

A smirk appeared on Chu Sufeng’s face.

Seeing this, Marquis Li’s heart skipped a beat, and he shot toward Madam Mu, kicking her, "Wretch, if it weren’t for your indulgence of them, they would not have committed such atrocities!"

Madam Mu fell due to his kick, but despite the pain, she turned over and crawled back to snatch the whips.

"Men, seize this wretch and keep an eye on her!" Marquis Li was furious and loudly ordered the servants who had come with him.

The servant boys dared not arbitrarily intervene, so the old maid accompanying Madam Mu had to cry while embracing her.

"Milady, please calm down."

"Let go of me, you old wretch!" Madam Mu tried to scratch the maid with her long nails.

The maid’s face and hands were scratched all over, the wounds burning with pain, but she dared not let go, she was at her wit’s end.