The Deposed Crown Prince had Three Lifelong Regrets - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

The setting sun was like blood, and the air was cool and pleasant.

This was Lu Fengmian’s twelfth day on Tuoliang Mountain, and seven days had passed since she parted ways with Miss Zhao. She had gained nothing particularly useful during this time. The situation in the mountains warranted the mobilization of government troops, yet strangely, no matter how many reports were submitted, the Six Fan Gates of Jizhou remained silent.

In the midst of the tall, wild grass, scattered tents were set up, and numerous stretchers carrying charred, dark-brown corpses came and went.

These corpses had rigid, distorted faces and curled bodies.

Some remnants of clothing were mixed with the shredded flesh of the lower body. The coroner confirmed after dissection that they had been infested with corpse-parasites.

Those whose faces were still recognizable, and who were awaiting cremation, were now placed in the open space designated for temporary morgue use.

Mo Xianghao’s face was almost as distorted as that of the brutally murdered, “I used to think that corpse-driving back home wasn’t a blessing, but now seeing so many people with rotten legs invaded by parasites, I realize it truly is a gift.”

“The larvae can’t fly, so they bite the legs. The person’s legs rot while they are still alive. Shortly after the person dies completely, the adult parasites naturally surge out from the abdomen, at which point the upper and lower bodies separate…” Lu Fengmian, though pained, reacted much more calmly.

“It truly is a bloody mess, making it impossible for the corpse-drivers to handle.”

Her cruel words startled the woman she was supporting. Yet, the woman did not ask further questions, only staring intently at the corpses being carried away for cremation on the stretcher.

The person on the stretcher had died with eyes wide open, like copper bells. The woman also stared unblinkingly, as if holding a deep resentment.

Lu Fengmian couldn’t bear it. She firmly grasped both her hands. “Aunty, please take heart. Yunxi will definitely be all right.”

Comfort aside, no one could say whether the girl was still alive. Lu Fengmian knew that the commission she took could never be completed successfully. Young Master Song hadn’t been found. Even if he were, he would likely be mutilated beyond recognition.

If a protected noble like him was in such a state, what about Bai Yunxi, the abducted young woman?

“I don’t hold out hope that my daughter is alive, I only pray that when she dies, she suffers less of the bone-gnawing torment and dies a quick death.”

The woman raised her face, her cheeks crisscrossed with tear tracks, new tears falling before the old ones dried.

Her eyelids were swollen like ripe peaches, barely able to open to a slit.

Lu Fengmian felt a heavy weight in her hands and immediately pulled the grieving mother into her arms, offering her some support and a shoulder to lean on.

The couple had knelt and kowtowed to Lu Fengmian, compelling her to promise to bring their daughter back alive. The girl’s father, who suffered from a leg ailment, could not endure the journey, but the mother insisted on coming, crying and raising a ruckus all the way.

Now, others wanted the elderly mother to hastily identify a corpse based on a worn-out turquoise dress and a mostly decomposed face. It made Lu Fengmian suspect they were afraid of power.

Bribery and official corruption were rampant in more remote areas, but with the capital recently relocated to Beiping, Jizhou was practically at the emperor’s feet. There was no need to be so submissive.

Let them make a scene, let them argue. It was better than suppressing their anger.

If Second Young Master Song was still alive, the authorities would never uphold the justice of “a life for a life.” Now that he hadn’t been found, it would take a nine-lives centipede to survive. Second Master Song’s trip would forever prevent his return to the capital.

A hand rested on Lu Fengmian’s shoulder and gave a slight squeeze.

It was likely meant to snap her back to attention, but she had no attention to give—she neither grieved for Song Xuan Ye nor was surprised by the likely death of Bai Yunxi. Even the comforting embrace of the woman only minimally affected her.

“It’s alright. My heart is very tough,” Lu Fengmian said honestly, her gaze tinged with pain.

Even the ruthless can be touching.

In this world, people are judged by their actions, not their intentions, or else there would be no perfect people.

She gently patted Mo Xianghao’s hand, gesturing for her to pay attention to Madam Bai. “I’ll help you into the tent to rest.”

The woman looked up blankly. Whether she understood or not, her legs began to buckle. Fortunately, Lu Fengmian’s hand was still firmly supporting her, allowing her to be safely led back to the tent.

Wisps of cooking smoke curled up, drifting southwestward.

The bodyguards who couldn’t go home squatted around the large communal pot, eating their meal while weeping. Unable to stop their snot and tears, they simply wiped their faces with their sleeves.

They couldn’t leave, and they weren’t allowed to leave.

Those who could leave had already done so. Those who remained were those with family ties.

Anyone who dared to flee without family constraints had already vanished without a trace. The remaining wives, children, and elderly were under the control of the security bureau. They were afraid to run, and unable to run.

“What should we do? What should we do…” someone mumbled intermittently, “I don’t want to die yet, I don’t want to die…”

“Stop bloody whining! It’s bad luck, isn’t it?” The tattooed man next to him instantly exploded. He cursed, slammed his bowl on the ground, and rolled up his sleeves to hit him.

The man quickly put down his bowl and backed away, using both his hands and feet.

After retreating a couple of steps, his mental defenses completely collapsed, and he wrapped his arms around his knees, sobbing loudly.

“You only know how to bully me! You, you, you have the guts to smash the Song family, to make them stop and spare us poor souls!”

“Smash it then, you coward! Your pants are probably wet already,” the tattooed man retorted fiercely, but his eyes were a little watery. “We’ll burn everything down with a single fire, leaving no one behind! The whole family will turn to ash!”

The disciples of both Buddhist and Taoist schools who had come for the bounty were also in low spirits. They huddled nearby, warming themselves by the fire, but hearing the defiant words suddenly enter their ears, they could only offer an awkward smile.

If the wealthy Miss Lu Fengmian hadn’t been here, someone might have stepped forward to tease them. But since she, the unmarried fiancée of the Song family, didn’t care, others naturally wouldn’t bother with such matters.

Inside the tent, the elderly woman was frail, but after recovering slightly, she suddenly knelt down before the two noble ladies.

“Two young ladies, please don’t stick up for me anymore,” the elderly woman pleaded, crying and beating her chest. “Fate is something you must accept, even if you don’t want to.”

Mo Xianghao was filled with righteous indignation. She grabbed the woman’s hands and pulled her up, “Aren’t the kings and generals just built up by the taxes of the common people? There is always justice in the world. Don’t underestimate yourself. Frankly speaking, who among us here isn’t a worthless life?”

“Wealth, fame, and power are all external things. We come into the world empty-handed and leave empty-handed. Life must be fought for by ourselves.”

After saying this, she saw that she couldn’t persuade the woman. She elbowed Lu Fengmian’s side, urging her to add a few words.

Lu Fengmian was internally hurting. Justice had always been relative.

Now, both the victim and the perpetrator were gone. To seek justice now would be spitting on the Song Manor’s face and peeling the flesh from its bones.

Their young master was neither alive nor dead, having vanished without a trace. If a small family went knocking on their door again to “cause trouble” and “demand money,” they would likely not even have the peaceful end they had now. Once the storm subsided, hiring assassins to kill an inconvenient woman would be easy.

“Luoyi.” Lu Fengmian stopped her overly impulsive action and personally stepped forward to help the elderly woman up.

The elderly woman recognized that this was a strong person, so she stopped secretly resisting and used the leverage to straighten up.

“Aunty, what are your plans now?” Lu Fengmian comforted her with a gentle gaze.

“I… I just want to return to my hometown. It’s time for me to go back at my age,” the elderly woman forced a bitter smile, feeling a little ashamed.

Mo Xianghao’s pupils dilated in shock, and her knuckles trembled non-stop.

“I I I I I, you you you you you—”

“Shut your mouth and go outside,” Lu Fengmian said in a coaxing tone, fearing she would cause trouble.

The other person let out a small “Ah,” not understanding why she was being treated this way.

Lu Fengmian knew this person wouldn’t leave, so she simply ignored her and spoke to the woman herself, “The Song family head is currently favored by the Emperor. If you rashly go to strike the Dengwen Drum, you will only bring trouble upon yourself.”

“Not only is your life endangered, but what about your son?”

“He seems to be only seven years old. His life has just begun…”

Just as she started, she stumbled, nearly falling, and the rest of her words stopped abruptly.

The ways of the world are confusing and unclear. If they were to clarify things for the common folk, they would only hurt their feelings the most.

The woman smiled tearfully, as if truly feeling relieved.

Predicting that Mo Xianghao would interrupt, Lu Fengmian didn’t blush at all, still nodding in acknowledgment to the woman.

This was too much for the person surnamed Mo. She grabbed Lu Fengmian and dragged her out of the tent for a confrontation.

Lu Fengmian allowed herself to be pulled to a quiet corner.

The corner of the tent’s canvas offered privacy, and although others were curious, the white canvas prevented them from seeing the two.

Their view was completely blocked, and considering the fierce manner in which they exited, the gossip-hungry souls of some people were burning intensely, needing this incident to regulate their mood.

Lu Fengmian remained unperturbed. After all, even if there were idlers with nothing to do, they still wouldn’t dare to openly intrude.

She waited quietly for Mo Xianghao’s anger to subside and for her to understand the cause and effect.

The judgment of her motives was up to the public.

“Lu Fengmian, what do you mean?” Mo Xianghao stammered, speechless. “She is a poor, lonely woman. Your words were excessively cruel!”

“She needs to understand the principle: ‘Where there’s life, there’s hope.’ Besides, with your temper, you were definitely going to interrupt me anyway, so it wouldn’t hurt her much.”

Mo Xianghao’s anger had mostly subsided. She scoffed and said, “You really are tough-hearted, but it is indeed necessary at times.”

Taking the offered peace, Lu Fengmian replied, “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Your anger comes fast and goes fast—straightforward temper,” Lu Fengmian continued to smooth things over.

“I understand. I’ve already gotten used to it anyway.” Intending to lighten the mood, she spoke with a playful tone, a change from her previous suppressive manner.

The breeze was gentle, and the canvas fluttered lightly.

The harmonious scene lasted only a few minutes before someone interrupted.

“Hey, you’re both here,” the martial artist in a sleeveless uniform walked over unceremoniously, his bare arms slightly flexed as he walked, showing off firm muscles. “I hope I’m not disturbing you?”

Lu Fengmian thought, Whether you are or not, you’re already here. It’s not like I can make you leave.

“Actually, I think Young Master Song definitely can’t be found. Instead of wasting time dragging this out, it’s better to return to the capital early.” The martial artist spoke with a Ruzhou accent, making a decisive declaration with broad strokes.

Lu Fengmian sighed many times a day dealing with these issues.

“You’re right. We should indeed set off for the capital in a couple of days.”

“However, these servants I hired are not my people; they were sent by the Song family. And you Spiritual Cultivators and Martial Artists, Buddhists and Taoists, are not under my management either.”

Lu Fengmian offered a polite smile.

“Coming is by destiny, going is by destiny. You are all free people to come and go as you please.”

In short, leave if you want, stay if you want.

“What kind of nonsense is this? Miss Mian, allow me to speak a little recklessly…” The martial artist waved his large hand, launching into a long speech.

She sighed inwardly but was helpless, settling into a proper posture to listen to his monologue.

“You will be a member of the Song family in the future. We laborers will have to listen to you sooner or later. If you put on the airs of the mistress now and give us clear instructions, we can save ourselves the trouble, and we will remember your kindness.”

Lu Fengmian closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, before she could continue listening to this drivel.

If she followed this logic, she would likely offend people inside and out.

Whether they would give her face was another matter. If word reached the capital, she would be criticized for putting on the airs of the Grand Madam.

If she acted like this before marriage, wouldn’t the domestic power be completely handed over to her after?

Furthermore, while the Song family’s eldest young master was a good man, she had no affection for him. It was best not to take the marriage alliance too seriously.

“Enough, don’t say anymore. Leave if you want to leave. Don’t be annoying.” Mo Xianghao, being a person of the jianghu, didn’t care for all those complicated manners, and successfully rescued Lu Fengmian from her predicament.

“You’ve already had dinner, but I haven’t. Lu Fengmian is my friend, and it is her bounden duty to share dinner with me!”