The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 766-770

Chapter 766: Chapter 766: Goodbye (7)_1

“No need, have those people come to see me immediately, the sooner the better.” Lady Mu commanded expressionlessly.

“Yes, My Lady.” The old servant agreed respectfully.

Even though Lady Mu didn’t specify who to find, the old servant understood clearly.

Taking advantage of the old servant’s absence, Lady Mu took out a box from her hidden compartment, she opened the box to check the contents inside, then closed the box again.

Following that, she began to dress and apply makeup in front of the mirror.

By the time the old servant returned, Lady Mu had finished applying her makeup, “Brush my hair, in the most fashionable style.”

Seeing her unusual behavior, the old servant trembled with fear.

“My Lady, you?”

“Enough. Go ahead and comb my hair.” Lady Mu hurried impatiently.

With trembling hands, the old maid picked up the comb and slowly started brushing.

After a short while, four or five people appeared quietly in the room.

The appearance of these people was very ordinary, they were the kind that wouldn’t stand out in a crowd.

“Go and kill that bitch You’s woman, and don’t stop until she’s dead.” Lady Mu issued a cold order.

“My Lady,” the old maid tried to stop her nervously, “the Prince and the Marquis are enraged, if we kill the young lady, we will surely get into trouble.”

“Trouble?” Lady Mu almost broke into tears laughing, “now, what trouble can I possibly fear? My son and daughter are dead, what more can happen if there is trouble?”

Seeing her go mad, the old maid became even more panicked. “My Lady, you still have your second son and the young master and young miss. You have to think for them too.”

“Second son?” Lady Mu’s voice was filled with despair, “I treated him like a good son, has he ever treated me like his mother? And those two little ones, they have the blood of that bitch You’s woman, why would I spare them?”

“My Lady, the second son has always been good. Whenever he receives any benefits, isn’t he always thinking of you and the Marquis first? As for the young master and young miss, although they have You’s blood, they are also your eldest son’s children, and they belong to the Li Family too.” The old maid pleaded carefully, fearing that Lady Mu would lose her mind.

Hearing this, Lady Mu remained silent, but she still ordered the men, “Do as I say, kill You’s woman, and do not stop until she’s dead. If you fail, better go die yourselves.”

“Yes, miss.” The men then bowed respectfully and quickly disappeared from the room.

“Let’s go.” By this time, the old maid had finished arranging Lady’s Mu hair. Lady Mu looked at herself in the mirror, then started laughing in satisfaction.

“My Lady, where are we going?” The old maid asked anxiously, she had felt that Lady Mu was not right ever since they returned.

“Of course, to see my children. Oh, and go to the rooms of the eldest son and eldest daughter, find them each a beautiful set of new clothes. Be quick.” Lady Mu instructed.

“Yes, My Lady.” Not daring to disobey her order, the old maid hurriedly left.

As the eldest son and daughter of the Marquis’ residence, Li Jiesong and Li Yanran were certainly not short of new clothes. Soon, the old maid and two maidservants came out carrying two sets of new clothes.

Lady Mu touched the new clothes with her hand, and laughed in satisfaction again.

After boarding the carriage, Lady Mu urged the lad driving the carriage to speed up, fearing she wouldn’t see her children for the last time.

Fortunately, the punishment for Li Jiesong and Li Yanran from the Marquis Residence was not continuous, but once every hour.

Chu Suifeng just stood there, not saying a word. Even upon seeing his children beaten to near death, Marquis Li did not dare plead for them.

By the time Lady Mu arrived, Li Yanran was almost at her last breath, but she could still recognize Lady Mu.

“Your Highness, please allow me to dress them in new clothes.” Lady Mu kneeled before Chu Suifeng.

As soon as Marquis Li saw her, he was filled with indignation, anxious that she would impulsively say something and anger Chu Suifeng.

“Mm.” Initially, Lady Mu thought that Chu Suifeng would not agree to her plea and she was prepared to plead further. Unexpectedly, Prince Ling agreed to her request kindly.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Lady Mu raised her head, her eyes filled with hatred. That hatred was undisguised.

Chu Suifeng’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, filled with ridicule.

Finally, Lady Mu withdrew her gaze, letting two maidservants and the old maid bring the clothes to Li Yanran and Li Jiesong.

“Mother, save me.” Li Jiesong was in too much pain, he had fainted and woken up several times, “I can’t hold on any longer.”

“Mother.” Li Yanran looked at her painfully.

“Don’t be afraid, mother is here. I will definitely protect you all.” Lady Mu whispered, “Look, mother brought new clothes for you. As the eldest son and daughter of the Marquis’ Residence, how can you be so ragged?”

“Mother, it hurts so much.” The look in Li Yanran’s eyes was scattered, the tears in her eyes had almost dried up.

“It won’t hurt soon.” Lady Mu comforted her with a smile, her hand stroking her face, as if she were comforting her as a child.

Chapter 767: Chapter 767: Internal Struggle (1)_1

“What are you trying to do?” Marquis Li tried to stop her in exasperation.

“Can’t you see what I’m doing?” Ms. Mu scoffed at him, giving no regard for his face, “You, as a spineless father, dare not protect them. As their mother, how can I let them leave in such a pitiful state?”

Underneath her merciless gaze, Marquis Li felt somewhat ashamed.

“The Prince has given his agreement, what are you afraid of?” Ms. Mu sneered at him once more before turning her eyes to Li Yanran, her look instantly changing into one of tenderness and love, “My good daughter, no matter what others think of you, your mother will always love you.”

In her embrace, Li Yanran broke down and tears flowed once more.

“I advised you not to fall for that man, that heartless man. Do you regret it now?” Ms. Mu softly whispered, her face close to Li Yanran’s. “In this world, your mother loves you the most. You won’t be alone, rest assured.”

Li Yanran regretted, she thought that if she hadn’t so foolishly clung to Chu Suifeng, perhaps her life as the daughter of the Marquis Residence would have been glorious. What kind of man couldn’t she fitfully marry? The joyful days of her childhood and Ms. Mu’s kindness over the years filled her mind…

“Rest assured, all the pain will be over soon,” Ms. Mu gently wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

Li Yanran lay in her arms like a child, basking in her warmth and tenderness.

Suddenly, the handkerchief in Ms. Mu’s hand quickly moved to cover Li Yanran’s mouth and nose.

Li Yanran’s eyes widened in shock, staring in disbelief at Ms. Mu.

“Mother can’t save you, but she can’t bear to watch you humiliated and in pain either. Don’t worry, mother will join you soon,” Ms. Mu was speaking gently and soothingly while tears streamed down her face.

At first, Li Yanran struggled fiercely, but after hearing Ms. Mu’s words or perhaps due to losing strength, she quickly ceased showing signs of life, her hands falling lifelessly by her side. But her eyes remained wide-open, as if they were condemning the ruthless world.

The tragic change happened quickly. Initially, the surrounding crowd watched in silence, but soon started whispering. Majority of the men looked at Ms. Mu with fascination, while the women eyed her with disgust and hatred.

It’s an age-old principle — a beast will not eat its young. Ms. Mu cold-heartedly murdering her own daughter publicly was lower than an animal’s behavior. In the eyes of the people, if Li Yanran had died from her justified punishment, it would have been her fault. But since she was killed by her own mother, Li Yanran turned from a criminal into a victim.

“Wretch, wretch, how could you be so cruel?” Seeing Ms. Mu killing Li Yanran, Marquis Li felt relieved. At last, he no longer had to bear the torment of watching the ceremony. But then another thought struck him — if the prince holds him accountable for Li Yanran’s death at the hands of Ms. Mu, and why did Ms. Mu have the right to kill their daughter?

With these troubling thoughts, his newfound peace dissolved, and rage flared up in his eyes as he looked at Ms. Mu.

“Mother.” Li Jieyong knelt down beside Ms. Mu in grief and indignation, “How could you be so foolish?”

“Your mother is not foolish, she is clearer than anyone else.” Ms. Mu smiled sorrowfully and gently closed Li Yanran’s unblinking eyes with her right hand. “As her older brother, could you bear to see her continually humiliated and in pain?”

Li Jieyong wept silently, the tears of grief and helplessness flowing freely.

Chapter 768: Chapter 768: Infighting (2)_1

Seeing this, the surrounding villagers stirred again.

Ma Zhicai saw Li Yanran draw her last breath with his own eyes. A big rock in his heart finally fell to the ground.

He smirked coldly and stood in the crowd, craning his neck to watch the spectacle. He wished nothing more than for the Li family to create an even bigger ruckus, so the people of Feng City could see the true cold-hearted cruelty of the Prince.

Li Jiesong, having come round, was frightened witless by Mu’s actions. He stared wide-eyed at Mu, looking as though he’d seen a ghost, all traces of his usual faith in Mu gone.

“Why are you crying?” Mu scolded him, “You’re a man, and a man should bleed not cry. Your elder brother has been spoiled by his mother and become a cripple. You have to win some honor for your mother, become a man who can stand tall. And don’t forget, when choosing a wife, make sure she’s literate and virtuous. Never go for a small-minded woman with only appearance to offer. Do you understand?”

Towards the end, her voice was tinged with harshness.

Li Jieyong, chastised by her, quickly nodded his head. He had never been favored by Mu since childhood. Her concern for him at this moment left him a little dazed.

“Bring it here.” Mu directed the old maid who was already petrified at her side. She extended her hand, and the old maid immediately handed her an embroidered box.

“This contains all of my dowry, including the part that rightfully belongs to your sister.” When Mu mentioned Li Yanran, despair and heartache flashed in her eyes. But she didn’t dare look at the person in her arms again, instead, she earnestly continued instructing Li Jieyong, “These are for you and your elder brother’s children. If your elder brother survives, the two of you will split it evenly. If he passes away, leave it for his two children. I know you, you’re a kind child, you won’t swallow all of this up alone. Look after the children well. If you can, I hope you can leave Feng City, find a quiet village to settle down in. Forget everything in Feng City. I don’t want you to live with the fear of being squeezed from both sides. No matter who comes to find you, resist the urge to come out of your safe corner. Carry on living peacefully in that quiet place with the two children. And then find a wife. Do you remember?”

“Mother, what are you planning to do?” Li Jieyong sensed that something was amiss, watching her with a guarded eye.

“Did I not ask if you remember?” Mu’s voice took on a stern tone.

“I… I remember,” Li Jieyong stammered in reply.

Mu nodded her head, then bent down to tidy up Li Yanran’s clothes, “Bury your sister properly.”

Then she turned her head to look at Li Jiesong.

Li Jiesong was terrified, thinking she was about to smother him to death in the same way she did Li Yanran. Seeing Mu advancing towards him, he cried out in fear, “Don’t come over, don’t come over, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die. Prince, save me, please stop this madwoman.”

Madwoman? This word deeply struck Mu. The smile on her face becoming even more desolate.

Li Jiesong’s cowardice filled her with deep regret.

Mu reflected upon her life. She was not always such a cold, heartless person. Once upon a time, she was a naive and romantic girl, a carefree person. Although she was a concubine-born daughter of the Mu family, she still lived a life akin to a lady’s.

However, after being wedded to Marquis Li, everything changed.

The current emperor held a grudge against Empress De, and was wary of the Prince. He had secretly decreed her to monitor the Wang Residence, not showing the slightest care for the Prince, even going so far as to sabotage relations between the Marquis Residence and the Prince.

She obeyed because she had no choice. But the old lady at home was a clever woman. As her daughter-in-law, she had to follow the old lady’s arrangements, appearing to care for the Prince in front of her, yet showing cold indifference to him behind her back.

Chapter 769: Chapter 769: Internal Struggle (3)_1

The result had led to Prince Ling’s complete disgust of the Marquis Residence, and her heart ached. She could only pin all her hopes on her children, but in the end, after all, she has done, what had she gained? Looking at her daughter lying lifelessly on the ground, Lady Mu was filled with hate, yet she didn’t know whom to direct it at?

Hate Prince Ling? It seemed that Prince Ling was also a victim.

Hate the Emperor? Even though she was a weak woman, she was still a citizen of Daqin. If the king wanted his servant to die, the servant must die. On what grounds could she hate the Emperor?

Hate the old madam? The old madam was extremely kind and righteous, she had not mistreated her at all over the years, proving to be a good mother-in-law.

In her confusion, Lady Mu suddenly felt desolated and that was why she had insisted that Li Jieyong must leave Feng City.

Only by leaving Feng City and steering clear from Prince Ling, could the Emperor have no excuse to let Li Jieyong keep an eye on Prince Ling’s residence. She did not want her only son to follow her tragic path.

Her eldest son, she looked at him with complex emotions, then shook her head. It was only now that she fully acknowledged that her eldest son had been utterly ruined, he was a complete waste.

“Mother won’t kill you.” Lady Mu smiled as she said to Li Jiesong.

However, the overly frightened Li Jiesong completely disregarded her words, “Get away, get away, you are a demon, stay away from me, help!”

Lady Mu stared blankly at her eldest son and continued, “Your sister is a girl, too timid. Mother cannot allow her to be humiliated, nor allow her to be tormented and subsequently suffer for a long time. But you are a man, if the Prince spares your life, you must live well in the future and listen to your younger brother’s arrangements. If you lose your life, your younger brother will bury you with full honors, don’t be afraid.”

“Get away, I don’t want to die.” Li Jiesong yelled angrily, his eyes full of terror as he watched Lady Mu reach out to touch his face.

His hair immediately stood on end. In his tension, he opened his mouth, ready to bite Lady Mu’s hand.

Marquis Li had been attentively watching Lady Mu’s actions, seeing her reach out, he thought she was planning to harm Li Jiesong again.

To prevent Lady Mu from angering Chu Suifeng, he moved first.

Just as he reached out to stop Lady Mu, Li Jiesong took a bite.

“Ah, you cursed child, let go quickly.” It was not Lady Mu who screamed in agony due to Li Jiesong’s nervousness, it was Marquis Li.

“Big brother.” Li Jieyong was taken aback and kept trying to calm him down.

“You beast, let go.” Marquis Li’s words caused the entire room to burst into uproarious laughter.

If a father calls his son a beast, isn’t he essentially calling himself an old beast?

When Li Jiesong realized he bit the wrong person, he wanted to let go. But for some reason, his mouth seemed to not respond to his intentions, he simply couldn’t release.

“Prince.” Situ Gong bent down to ask for Chu Suifeng’s instructions.

Chu Suifeng shook his head, and Situ Gong stopped speaking.

“Aren’t you going to pry his mouth open?” Marquis Li was in pain, his forehead covered in cold sweat, he sternly rebuked Li Jieyong.

Only then did Li Jieyong come to his sense and went forward to forcefully pry open Li Jiesong’s mouth.

“I didn’t intend to bite father, I wanted to bite mother, I am afraid that she will kill me.” Before Li Jieyong could reach him, Li Jiesong finally let go, sobbing and explaining while warily watching Lady Mu.

“Never mind, it’s over.” Lady Mu gave a mournful smile, her oldest son was indeed too cowardly. Even now, he still clung onto illusions. Well, as his mother, she would give him one last helping hand.

“Yanran, you are always the obedient one. You didn’t waste mother’s love for you.” Lady Mu sat on the ground, embracing Li Yanran, her eyes filled with motherly love.

“Madam.” The old maid watched Lady Mu, tears streaming down her face.

Chapter 770: Chapter 770: Internal Struggle (4)_1

“Madam.” The old woman called out again, her voice tainted with fear and sorrow.

Li Jieyong turned around just in time to see Mu Family’s Lady tightly hugging Li Yanran while sitting on the ground, black blood flowing from her mouth.

The onlookers up front were taken aback and gasped in disbelief, causing unrest among those at the back who could not quite see what happened.

“Mother.” Li Jieyong stumbled and crawled to the front of the Mu Family’s Lady, kneeling down and weeping uncontrollably.

Li Jiesong stared blankly at his mother and younger sister, struck by the harsh reality that in the blink of an eye, he had lost two of his dearest.

“The folly of women.” The fury in the Marquis heart outpaced his heartache, his eyes were filled with rage as he looked upon the lifeless body of the Lady from the Mu Family.

He saw her suicide, in front of the public, as a direct slap to his face, signaling that she couldn’t care less about his existence as her husband.

Truth be told, that was indeed what her intention was.

“Mother, how could you be so foolish?” Among everyone present, only Li Jieyong was genuinely grieving for her.

Those who had previously held grudges against the Mu Family’s Lady were now sighing in sympathy. Their hostility towards her had eased somewhat.

“One life for one life. Keep Li Jiesong confined for five years of hard labor. He will be released after five years.” Chu Suifeng finally spoke.

“Thank you for your benevolence, Your Highness.” The Marquis thanked him and bowed, though his heart was far from elated.

Li Jiesong, as the eldest son of the Marquis’s residence, would be looked down upon after serving hard labor, which would tarnish the reputation of the Marquis’s family.

After all, what the Marquis cared about most was his own pride.

Upon hearing the verdict, Li Jiesong wept tears of joy; he almost danced in delight if only his hands and feet were not bound to the post.

He was going to live. He would not die.

“Mother.” Li Jieyong was still crying heartbreakingly.

Only when Li Jiesong was certain of his survival did he calm himself down. He looked over at the sight of the Lady from the Mu family gripping tightly to Li Yanran, his lips curled slightly. The relief of being alive had taken over his feelings of grief, he didn’t shed a tear in the presence of their bodies.

Satisfied that he had seen enough of the Li family’s drama, Chu Suifeng climbed onto his favorite horse, leading away his ranks of troops in dark armor.

Two of the armored soldiers took Li Jiesong away. He was no longer fearful, for he was sure that he wouldn’t die.

Seeing that the bringer of doom had finally left, the Marquis heaved a sigh of relief then became agitated upon seeing Li Jieyong still wailing and shouting, “Enough. They brought it upon themselves.”

Li Jieyong quieted down, but for the first time, he bore resentment towards the Marquis his father. He asked with a straight face, “What now, father?”

“Just find somewhere to bury them.” He responded without much thought as he didn’t want their bodies to be buried in the family grave and embarrass the future generations of the Li family.

“Father, all these people are watching.” Li Jieyong pushed back in anger. “Mother, she did not commit any sins.”

He was suggesting that the Lady from the Mu family was still the Lady of the Li Family’s Residence. If they dispose of her just like that, the whole of Feng City will be laughing at them.

The Marquis glanced around and sighed, “Take them back.”

“Brother, that girl committed a capital crime, you can’t bring her back to our residence.” The second household objected.

Li Jieyong didn’t dare to confront his father, but he had no such reservation towards the people of the second household. “Second Uncle, Mother was the Lady of our residence. Yanran did not die because of official punishment. If the Prince didn’t take it into consideration, why should you? Besides, aren’t you leaving the Marquis’s Residence in a few days?”