FBC – Chapter 226 A Bloodthirsty Slaughter

The guards of the Mu residence had already studied the map of the Prince’s manor. They knew exactly where the prisoner was held, and so they rushed there with Zhao Luoxuan.

At first, there were still people blocking the way, but the Mu residence guards fought them all off one by one. Still, precious time was wasted.

Zhao Luoxuan was on the verge of losing her mind. Sword dripping with blood, she cut down anyone who dared stand in her way, roaring, “Anyone who dares block this princess—kill! Kill them all! Kill! Kill! Kill!”

With the princess looking like a maddened demon, no one dared stop her. After all, she was a princess—if she killed, she killed. Who would dare complain? Soon, no one blocked their path.

In the vast Prince’s manor, they spent nearly half an hour before finally reaching the eastern courtyard.

The guards stationed here were different from the idle ones outside. When they saw Zhao Luoxuan and Zhao Yuwen charging in with their men, they didn’t retreat in the slightest—they drew their swords and attacked.

Zhao Yuwen grabbed Zhao Luoxuan’s arm. “These are masters.”

The Mu residence guards rushed forward, and soon the two sides were locked in a fierce battle.

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes blazed red with fury as she roared, “Anyone who dares secretly torture meritorious generals—your entire families must die! With this princess bearing all responsibility, kill! Leave no mercy!”

Zhao Yuwen too could not back down. Swinging his sword, he shouted, “This prince is here! If you dare resist, you are committing treason—an offense of murdering the imperial bloodline!”

Some of the opponents hesitated, their moves slowed. The Mu guards immediately seized the openings, and their defense collapsed.

The group charged into the western wing.

Inside was a large house.

Its doors and windows were sealed shut, the interior pitch-black, nothing visible.

Zhao Luoxuan felt a wave of unease. Her hand trembled on her sword; her steps grew unsteady, staggering with every two steps.

Zhao Yuwen quickly steadied her. “Stay outside. I’ll go in.”

“No. I must go in.” Zhao Luoxuan bit her lip.

The door to the house had already been kicked open. Several people rushed in at once. But the moment they saw what was inside, they froze, rooted in place, not daring to move, holding their breath.

A suffocating silence fell.

Zhao Luoxuan’s heart pounded wildly. She nearly stumbled inside, only to be overwhelmed by a stench of rot mixed with blood.

She almost fainted from the nauseating odor, but bit her lip hard, the pain snapping her awake. She forced her eyes wide open.

There, on the left side of the dark house, was a water dungeon ten feet square. At its center stood a massive iron cross.

No light illuminated the room. A human-shaped shadow hung on the cross, the lower half of his body submerged in murky black water, lifeless.

“Qi Jun…”

Zhao Luoxuan let out a heart-wrenching scream. Her body gave out and collapsed to the ground.

Zhao Yuwen snapped out of his daze and caught her. “Xuanxuan! Xuanxuan!”

The Mu guards leapt into the pit to rescue him, but the chains bound his arms and legs so tightly that they couldn’t be undone quickly.

One of the guards scrambled out of the pit, crying, “The key! Get the key from those bastards!”

The room erupted into curses and sobbing.

Nearly all the Mu guards jumped into the pit, trying to lift the cross.

Zhao Luoxuan regained consciousness, crawling forward through her tears.

Zhao Yuwen tried to hold her back, but she slipped from his grasp, tumbling into the pit. Terrified, he jumped down to pull her up.

But she pushed him away, desperately wading through the water toward the center.

“Qi Jun! Qi Jun! Hold on, I’m here to save you!”

Her throat was hoarse, nearly unable to make a sound, but she still shouted with all her might.

At last, she reached him. When she saw what was left of Qi Jun, no longer even resembling a human, her eyes filled with blood and she burst into sobs.

“Qi Jun! You cannot die! I will marry you! Qi Jun, do you hear me?!”

She cried as she carefully took his hand, only to find that all five of his finger bones were shattered, dangling by skin alone.

Clutching his mangled hand, Zhao Luoxuan wept until her heart nearly broke apart.

But he showed no response, his hand ice-cold without a trace of warmth.

Zhao Yuwen forced his way beside her. Seeing the state of the man, his face went deathly pale.

“Heavens! How could they be so cruel? Did they torture him alive to death?”

Zhao Luoxuan screamed like one possessed. “He’s not dead! He cannot die!”

Zhao Yuwen’s nose stung with grief. He held his swaying sister, speechless.

Just then, Chiyu arrived with reinforcements. When he saw the dungeon, he froze.

This was clearly a torture chamber, no less cruel than the prisons for imperial felons in the capital. The entire house reeked of old blood and rotting flesh.

Chiyu gave the order: “Search.”

The guards began to scour the surroundings.

“The key! The key! We found it!” one guard cried, rushing in, tumbling in his haste.

It took all their strength, but finally they freed Qi Jun from the rusted cross. Several men carried his body, tears streaming down their faces.

A man once strong and upright, now reduced to nothing but broken flesh—almost every bone shattered.

Zhao Luoxuan could hold on no longer. Darkness swallowed her vision and she fainted.

Chiyu’s group gathered the evidence and Qi Jun’s body. Zhao Yuwen carried Zhao Luoxuan as they walked out of the eastern courtyard—only to find Jiang Duo waiting with men, surrounding them.

Jiang Duo, sword in hand, face dark, sneered: “Put him down, and I’ll let you leave. Otherwise, none of you will leave alive!”

Zhao Yuwen’s eyes widened. “What did you say? Say that again!”

He was a prince!

And Zhao Luoxuan was their father’s most beloved daughter!

How dare Jiang Duo!

Jiang Duo snorted arrogantly. “So what if you’re a prince and princess? You led soldiers to storm the Prince’s manor and steal a prisoner—that itself is a crime! Tomorrow, I’ll report this to court and impeach you both!”

He noticed the Mu guards carrying items taken from the dungeon. Clearly, they had uncovered incriminating evidence.

That was why his father and elder brother had ordered him—no matter the cost, they must not allow them to leave with the prisoner or the evidence.

Chiyu’s gaze turned icy.

Neither the Prince of Ping’an nor Jiang Shizi had appeared.

Madam had guessed right. Knowing how serious this was, they had pushed Jiang Duo forward alone.

Chiyu’s cold voice cut the air: “Lord Jiang, think carefully. The Mu family’s Black Armored Guards are here. You cannot stop us. If you open the way, we’ll leave peacefully. Otherwise, the Duke Yong’s residence will never let this go!”

Jiang Duo sneered. “You’re nothing! How dare you boast in the Prince of Ping’an’s manor. Whether we can stop you—try and see!”

Zhao Yuwen’s anger boiled over. “Jiang Duo, you’re the one who’s nothing! The generals of the Mu army were released by imperial decree. You not only imprisoned them in secret but tortured them to death! That’s blatant defiance of an imperial edict! And now, you threaten to kill a prince and princess—does your Jiang family mean to rebel?!”

Jiang Duo suddenly lunged forward, sword raised, pressing its tip against Zhao Yuwen’s throat.

With a twisted grin, he sneered, “My Jiang family has no need to rebel. The Great Liang dynasty is already ruled by Jiang blood!”

Zhao Yuwen’s eyes widened.

Suddenly, his arms were empty.

Zhao Luoxuan had seized Jiang Duo’s blade with her bare hand. In the instant of his shock, she plunged a dagger into his chest with her other hand.

Jiang Duo froze, staring wide-eyed at Zhao Luoxuan—her face twisted, eyes blood-red, his blood splattered all over her.

She shoved his sword away, yanked the dagger out, and stabbed again, harder.

Jiang Duo collapsed stiffly to the ground.

Zhao Luoxuan fell with him, straddling his body, dagger clenched in both hands as she twisted it deep into his chest.

Jiang Duo convulsed violently, blood gushing from his mouth and nose.