Chapter 323: Framed
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“I am the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. Why haven’t 1 ever heard my father mention you?”
Hearing Jiang Peihuan’s words, Wan Yang’s eyes showed a hint of panic, but he persisted, “The Great General probably didn’t mention me to the queen, thinking that such a significant matter shouldn’t be disclosed to a woman.”
“Heli…”
Upon hearing Wan Yang’s words, Jiang Peihuan let out a light chuckle.
Although a smile adorned Jiang Peihuan’s face, there wasn’t a hint of amusement in her eyes, only darkness and fury.
Looking at Wan Yang, Jiang Peihuan said coldly, “Do you know that the ‘woman’ you speak of joined her father in battles at the age of thirteen?”
“For generations, my Jiang family has risked our lives to protect the citizens of Qi Kingdom. Yet there are ungrateful traitors like you.”
“Han Feng?”
“At your service.”
Hearing Jiang Peihuan’s voice, Han Feng immediately stepped forward.
“Go and see if there are any other family members in his home. No matter who, execute them all!”
“Yes.”
Upon hearing Jiang Peihuan’s order, Han Feng immediately mounted his horse.
The previously cold-looking Wan Yang now displayed pure terror in his eyes.
“This matter was all my doing; it has nothing to do with my family.”
Wan Yang looked at Jiang Peihuan, his eyes full of panic.
However, Jiang Peihuan didn’t even glance at him.
As Han Feng was about to whip his horse and leave, Wan Yang suddenly exclaimed, “I’ll tell you, it wasn’t the Great General who instigated me. Someone instructed me to frame him purposely.”
Hearing this, Han Feng pulled on the reins.
Jiang Peihuan’s already grim expression grew even darker.
Approaching Wan Yang, she demanded, her eyes filled with fury, “Who told you to falsely accuse my father?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“I truly don’t.”
Facing Jiang Peihuan’s skeptical gaze, Wan Yang quickly said, “Each time that person contacted me, they sent a letter, and each time a different person delivered the message. So, 1 genuinely don’t know who it is.”
As he spoke, Wan Yang took out the letters.
As Jiang Peihuan was about to take them, Xiao Nanye stopped her. He took the letters from Wan Yang, read them, and then handed them to Jiang Peihuan.
Jiang Peihuan carefully examined the letters, finding no clues.
“Don’t worry; there will always be some clues left behind. I will have someone investigate,” Xiao Nanye whispered, seeing Jiang Peihuan’s furrowed brows.
Given the current situation, all Jiang Peihuan could do was nod in agreement.
“You bastard, how dare you frame a good person like the Great General!”
Wan Dashan’s eyes were filled with anger as he kicked Wan Yang.
By now, the bandits in the mountains were all captured.
Looking at the bandits, Wan Dashan turned to Xiao Nanye and asked, “Your Highness, how should these people be dealt with?”
“Kill them, leave none alive!”
Upon hearing Xiao Nanye’s chilling declaration, a shiver ran down everyone’s spine.
Upon seeing the man’s icy demeanor, everyone involuntarily shivered.
“Your Highness, would this be…”
“If they were merely bandits, I might have spared their lives,” Xiao Nanye interrupted, “but every one of them has the blood of the common people on their hands. Such people don’t deserve to live.”
Soon, all the bandits were executed.
The entire mountain was dyed red.
Seeing this bloodshed, Jiang Peihuan’s eyes were filled with mixed emotions.
“Huan Er, let’s go back first.”
Xiao Nanye approached and took Jiang Peihuan’s hand, leading her onto the carriage.
The carriage then headed straight to their mansion in the city.
As soon as Jiang Peihuan sat down, she saw Han Feng rushing in.
After bowing to the couple, Han Feng turned to Xiao Nanye, “Master, news has come from the capital.”
“Go on.”
“Our people followed Duan Nian when he left, and he went directly to the capital. His junior sister is the side consort of the Prince Qing’s mansion.”
Although Xiao Nanye had severed one of his hands, Duan Nian was still alive.
Hearing Han Feng’s words, Jiang Peihuan showed a hint of surprise. She had suspected many, but she never thought it could be Lin Mengyao.
In the capital.
Pines and Cranes Pavilion.
Inside the private room, Lin Mengyao looked at Duan Nian sitting across from her, her eyes reflecting a mixture of feelings.
However, Duan Nian seemed oblivious to her expression and said with remorse, “Junior sister, it’s all my fault. I not only failed to kill Jiang Peihuan but also…”
“It’s alright, senior brother.”
Before Duan Nian could finish, Lin Mengyao gently interrupted.
Gazing at Duan Nian, her eyes were filled with tenderness, “Senior brother, it’s my fault. Because of me, you lost a hand to King Cheng and now can’t practice bone-shrinking technique.”
“It’s not your fault. How could this be blamed on you?”
“It’s alright. Even though I can’t practice the bone-shrinking technique, my skills remain. Once 1 recover, 1’11 definitely kill Jiang Peihuan for you.”
“It’s too late.”
As Duan Nian’s voice fell, Lin Mengyao whispered.
Seeing her, Duan Nian looked puzzled, “Junior sister, what do you mean it’s too…”
Before Duan Nian could finish, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.
Touching his stomach, he looked in disbelief at Lin Mengyao.
The gentleness in Lin A/Iengyao’s eyes disappeared instantly, replaced by mockery, “Senior brother, you can’t blame me. Blame yourself for being so incompetent.”
“Jiang Peihuan is very smart. If you were still alive, she would surely trace it back to me. So… Senior brother, please don’t blame me.”
As she spoke, Lin Mengyao pulled out a dagger.
She approached Duan Nian, aiming the dagger straight at his heart.
“Hahaha…”
But Duan Nian seemed oblivious to the dagger in Lin Mengyao’s hand, bursting into laughter.
The face of a grown man, yet he let out a sharp, childlike laugh, sounding eerily sinister.
“Lin Mengyao, you truly are the rightful disciple of the old poison master. You are so ruthlessly cold.”
“However, if you think you can kill me, it won’t be that easy.”
With that, Duan Nian struck Lin Mengyao with a palm, sending her flying, then he broke through the door and fled.
Watching Duan Nian’s retreating figure, Lin Mengyao’s eyes were filled with darkness.
She wanted to order someone to chase after him, but she was too injured by Duan Nian’s attack to even stand.
Jiang Peihuan was entirely unaware of the events in the capital.
The next day, Xiao Nanye had everything packed up, intending to return to the capital with Jiang Peihuan.
He left the matters of Anzhou in the hands of Jiang Changbai.
Jiang Changbai was also deeply concerned about Jiang Peihuan’s health, so he had no objections to Xiao Nanye’s arrangements.
However, before leaving Anzhou, Xiao Nanye sent a letter to Emperor Qi Ming..