“How could the princess go missing? Didn’t I tell you to watch her carefully? Go and receive fifty lashes!” These people couldn’t even oversee a princess. It seemed he needed to restore order.
“Your Highness, spare me! In this cold weather, even a slight injury could be severe. Fifty lashes would surely send me to the King of Hell!” Xiao Hong cried.
“Do I need to personally take you there?” Dong Fang Ce kicked Xiao Hong, his face full of anger.
“Your Highness! Xier has returned!” The residence had been engulfed in grief. The old steward rushed in, his face pale. Having followed the prince for so long, he had never seen him this angry. This princess must be very important to him.
“Xier? Where is she?” she was Lan Ling’er’s closest maid. If the princess was missing, she would know her whereabouts.
“Your Highness, Xier is injured and is currently in the main hall, urgently wanting to see you. It seems quite serious!” The old steward spoke loudly, maintaining a respectful distance.
Injured? Could something have happened to that girl?
Pushing aside the kneeling Xiao Hong, Dong Fang Ce quickly walked toward the hall.
“Xier, where is the princess?” His cold voice echoed before he entered.
Everyone cleared a path, afraid of the prince’s wrath, except for Xiao Shen, who tended to Xier’s wounds.
“Your Highness, I am incompetent. The princess has been kidnapped!” Xier knelt on the ground and cried, knowing she might face death upon return but believing her sacrifice was for the princess.
Meanwhile, Lan Ling’er slowly opened her eyes, feeling disoriented and smelling a slight rotting odor.
“Where is this place?” Her voice was hoarse as she took in her surroundings. Supporting herself against the wall, she stood up.
“Miss, you’re awake! Here, have some water!” A girl around her age approached her with a bowl of water.
“Thank you! May I ask where this is?” Lan Ling’er took the cold water and felt chills throughout her body.
She quickly sat down on a pile of firewood and spoke to the delicate woman in front of her.
“This is a small house in the countryside, a liaison point for bandits!” The woman sighed, sitting next to Lan Ling’er, her face filled with helplessness.
