Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Let Him See It With His Own Eyes

At these words, Lady Han, standing behind her, trembled violently, eyes wide in disbelief.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan seemed not to notice.

“Kill… kill them all?” Ye Rong’s eyes grew wide.

Shang Hang Yu replied calmly, “A wounded snake will strike; a cornered tiger is sure to harm. Once these ruthless villains wake, escape would be impossible. Even if we wished to spare some, with our numbers, it’s simply not feasible.”

“In that case,” Ye Rong sneered coldly, “we’ve already killed so many, what’s a few dozen more?”

“Kill one, you’re guilty; kill thousands, and you’re a hero. Tonight, those you’ve slain were wicked souls deserving death. Slaying one makes you strong; slaying them all makes you heroes among heroes,” Sheng Zhi Wan spoke earnestly, her trust sparking an unprecedented fire in the hearts of Ye Rong and the others.

In truth, not all needed to lift their blades.

For some unknown reason, the bandits had begun to fight fiercely amongst themselves. By the time Sheng Zhi Wan’s companions joined the fray, over a hundred lay dead, the survivors severely wounded.

Driven by honor and excitement, the young masters easily dispatched the remaining bandits.

Ting Lan assisted Lady Han into Sheng Zhi Wan’s carriage. The heavy stench of blood drifted inside, yet Lady Han trembled not from fear but excitement.

“Dead! They’re all dead!” she murmured repeatedly.

Seeing her state, Sheng Zhi Wan frowned slightly and instructed Ting Lan to move Han Ming Rui to another carriage. Lady Han resisted briefly, then, meeting Sheng Zhi Wan’s unwavering gaze, loosened her grip.

Inside, only Sheng Zhi Wan and Lady Han remained.

Their eyes met, and Lady Han’s lips trembled, speechless.

Sheng Zhi Wan steadily regarded her. “The women we rescued tonight don’t know your identity. What happened here is known only to heaven, earth, and yourself. If you remain silent, no one else ever needs to know.”

“General Han is gone. Ming Rui is the only flesh and blood he’s left behind. Can you bear to let him lose even his mother’s love?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s question pierced deeply into Lady Han’s heart.

Lady Han clutched tightly at her chest, breathing heavily.

After a long silence, she suddenly fell to her knees. Just as her forehead nearly touched the floor, Sheng Zhi Wan swiftly reached out, stopping her gently.

A complicated look crossed Sheng Zhi Wan’s face.

Had she acted earlier, before Meng Yang moved, had she commanded the destruction of the bandits sooner, perhaps Lady Han might have avoided this torment.

Yet, there were no ifs.

She did not regret her choices, but neither could she accept Lady Han’s kneeling gratitude.

“Go home and raise your child well. The Sheng Kingdom already owes the Han family too much.”

At these words, Lady Han could hold back no longer and sobbed openly.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not comfort her further. Her own wounds now sapped her strength. Feeling somewhat reassured by Shang Hang Yu’s presence outside, she relaxed against the cushions, slipping into a fitful sleep.

Lady Han moved to another carriage to stay beside Han Ming Rui, while Ting Lan carefully bandaged Sheng Zhi Wan’s wounds.

Sheng Zhi Wan drifted vaguely, unaware of the carriage’s shaking, feeling instead that she lay enveloped in a pleasant, warm scent of sandalwood.

The cold wind occasionally blew inside, causing her to instinctively curl deeper into that comforting fragrance.

Dawn was nearly breaking.

At the same moment, on another path, a troop of fully armed imperial soldiers finally reached the bandits’ hideout.

Leading the soldiers was none other than Qi Shu Xian.

His imposing armor gleamed coldly, flames from burning torches highlighting his striking, noble visage.

Tonight, he had planned to spend in Meng Yang’s courtyard.

If Zhang Da and the others had not kneeled injured outside Endless Courtyard for half the night, accusing Shang Hang Yu and the others of abandoning them during the bandit attack, he would never have known Sheng Zhi Wan had fallen into enemy hands!

Even more unimaginable was that the Shadow Guard he’d sent to follow Sheng Zhi Wan, Wu Ying, had been knocked unconscious and dumped in an alley.

By the time they discovered this, Sheng Zhi Wan had already been captive for half the night.

Qi Shu Xian dared not imagine what horrors Sheng Zhi Wan might have endured during those hours. Those bandits would hardly spare her for being a princess, let alone considering her stunning beauty…

The more Qi Shu Xian thought, the darker his expression grew. Ignoring the pain from his cold poison, he forced himself out of bed.

Meng Yang, naturally, did not wish him to rescue Sheng Zhi Wan, especially seeing him suffer so. But under his piercing gaze, she swallowed her bitter reluctance, raising tear-filled eyes in concern, “My Lord, please return safely. Meng Yang will always be waiting here.”

Without responding, Qi Shu Xian hurriedly departed.

The moment he was gone, the tears vanished instantly from Meng Yang’s eyes.

Sheng Zhi Wan… after a night like that, surely she must already be dead from the men’s cruelty?

No matter how noble or beautiful, a woman without thorns could only be a helpless plaything.

A tarnished woman, even if she returned alive, what use would she be?

Yet, this was also good. Let Qi Shu Xian witness with his own eyes the image of countless men defiling her.

Thinking this, Meng Yang couldn’t help but cover her mouth, quietly laughing to herself.