NFBE Chapter 373 What exactly did she suffer?
Chapter 373 What exactly did she suffer?
This horrific scream instantly shattered the girls' previously joyful mood.
Princess Changning frowned deeply, her sharp gaze sweeping over Steward Liu as she questioned him, "Liu Qing, what exactly is going on?"
Liu Qing's heart skipped a beat, and a strong sense of foreboding surged into his mind. He was certain that something serious must have happened in the backyard.
However, he dared not show it on his face, feigning composure and replying with a smile:
"Your Highness, it must be that one of the maids in the manor has made a mistake and has been punished by her mistress in the back courtyard."
"It's just a trivial matter, not worth taking up Your Highness and the ladies' precious time."
Upon hearing this, the other noble ladies exchanged glances.
They all understood that Steward Liu's words implied a warning to them to mind their own business.
They naturally dared not meddle in the affairs of the Prince Yong's residence.
Just as she was about to echo her response, Princess Changning spoke up again, "Punish maids? Maids are living, breathing people too. Moreover, I remember that the laws of the Great Zhao clearly stipulate that maids cannot be beaten or killed at will. Even if a maid has committed a serious crime, she should be sent to the Jingzhao Prefecture for legal processing."
"As members of the royal family, my brother and I should set an example."
As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Changning, without waiting for Liu Qing to utter a single word of refusal, raised her hand and said to the group of noble ladies beside her, "Come, all of you, come with me to see what serious mistake this maid has made that has been punished to this extent."
Princess Changning took the first step, while the other noble ladies, still mindful of Steward Liu's earlier words, hesitated to step forward.
Without hesitation, Xiao Huanyan followed Princess Changning's steps.
Upon seeing this, Liu Qing's expression changed instantly.
The other noble ladies looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and then followed.
Cold sweat was breaking out on Liu Qing's forehead, and he knew in his heart that something was wrong.
What exactly is Princess Changning trying to do?!
Princess Changning was already very familiar with the Yong Prince's residence, and with a clear purpose this time, she took almost no detours and arrived at Yilan Courtyard in the shortest possible time.
Liu Qing, who had been jogging along, felt a sudden darkness engulf her when she saw Yilan Courtyard.
Ignoring the pain in his chest from running, he rushed forward and blocked Princess Changning's path.
"Your Highness, please wait!"
Princess Changning stopped in her tracks, a look of impatience on her face, and asked Liu Qing, "What is it now?"
Liu Qing took a few quick breaths and explained, "Princess, you may not know this, but the concubine living in this courtyard is one of the prince's most favored concubines recently."
However, some time ago, relying on the prince's favor, she acted arrogantly, which greatly angered the prince. He then ordered her to be confined to this courtyard as punishment, forbidding her from leaving even a step, and forbidding anyone from entering the courtyard to visit her.
"There's really nothing worth seeing in this courtyard. If Your Highness wishes to enjoy the scenery, please go elsewhere."
This was almost a clear message to Princess Changning: she could not enter this place.
Looking at the scene before her, Xiao Huanyan felt a sense of unease.
If she didn't understand why Princess Changning would do this before, she now understands a little better.
There must be something wrong in this Yilan Courtyard.
She remembered that the person living in Yilan Courtyard... seemed to be Su Qingchan!
Princess Changning looked very unwell.
But Liu Qing was already blocking the entrance to the courtyard. If she forced her way in today, she would be in the wrong.
She glanced at Yu Wan standing behind her without making a sound.
Sister Yu, what do we do now?!
Seemingly sensing Princess Changning's thoughts, Yu Wan glanced at the silent courtyard out of the corner of her eye, and her heart sank slightly.
That's all she can do; the rest is up to Su Qingchan herself.
Looking at the noble ladies in front of him, Liu Qing felt the sharp gaze of Princess Changning upon him and inwardly groaned.
He didn't want to go against the emperor's most beloved princess, but if he let these people in today and let them see what was going on inside, he would be the first to suffer when the prince returned to the capital.
Liu Qing's face paled even more as he thought of the Prince of Yong's usual methods.
He gritted his teeth inwardly, his attitude hardened, and raised his hand to say directly, "Please, Your Highness, move aside."
As he spoke, he gestured for the guards beside him to come forward.
The guards, their expressions cold and their eyes gleaming with ruthlessness, stepped forward in unison, their hands simultaneously landing on the hilts of their swords.
Apart from Princess Changning and Xiao Huanyan, the other noble ladies couldn't help but feel fear and took a few steps back.
The atmosphere was tense, and a hint of worry flashed in Princess Changning's eyes.
She glanced at Yilan Courtyard, which was still quiet, and sighed inwardly.
It seems there's no way I can help Sister Yu rescue Su Qingchan today...
"Enough, enough." Princess Changning waved her hand dismissively, "Since Steward Liu thinks it's inappropriate, I won't look at it. Why did Steward Liu have to order the guards of the Prince's Palace to do this?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qing breathed a slight sigh of relief and quickly said with a smile, "Yes, yes, please put away your swords and knives, lest you frighten the noble ladies."
"Let's go, let's go back. I'm tired of playing today." Princess Changning shook her head at Yu Wan imperceptibly as she turned around.
Xiao Huanyan saw this scene, and her eyes flashed.
Everyone turned to leave, but just then, a loud "bang" suddenly came from Yilan Courtyard behind them.
Immediately afterwards, a faint cry for help came through: "Help...help me..."
The gate of Yilan Courtyard was suddenly kicked open, and a thin, pale-faced woman appeared before everyone.
This scene startled everyone who instinctively turned around to look.
Some timid girls couldn't help but scream.
"W-what's going on?"
"Who is she? What happened to her?! How did she end up like this?"
These noble ladies all came from prestigious families. Even if their fathers and brothers did not hold high official positions, they had all been pampered since childhood and had never seen such a terrifying scene.
In their eyes, the girl in front of them could hardly be described as "human".
She was like a survivor who had narrowly escaped from a battlefield teeming with corpses and blood.
His hair was disheveled, his clothes were tattered and torn, and his clothes were soaked in blood. No part of his exposed skin was intact; it was covered with bruises and swellings, and in some places the flesh was even rolled up, with blood still flowing out.
Everyone was stunned by this scene and remained in shock for a long time.
The two maids serving Su Qingchan hurriedly chased after her. When they saw the large group of noble ladies at the courtyard gate and Steward Liu, whose face was terribly gloomy, their legs went weak and they knelt on the ground with a thud, trembling.
Finished!