20demayo Chapter 149 What's with the pretense of being high and mighty?
Chapter 149 What's with the pretense of being high and mighty?
Jiang Mian didn't close her eyes all night.
The dim light in the room went out, and the snow's light shone through the window lattice, like a layer of cold gauze enveloping her.
She sat up all night, her mind in turmoil, her eyes stinging.
As soon as dawn broke, I got up and started packing my things.
She had come to the Prince of Beiqin's residence empty-handed because her home had burned down. Now that she was leaving, she had very little left. A single bundle contained all her belongings.
When she left, everyone in the mansion came to see her off, except for Xiao Hengzhi.
According to Rong'er, he left home before dawn, wearing a cloak.
That's true, they're getting married soon, so they must be very busy these days.
Rong'er pouted and said, "The jacaranda trees in the courtyard haven't bloomed yet, and Miss Jiang is already leaving."
"Yes, the prince didn't ask you to leave, so why not stay a few more days and go back after the general's mansion is repaired?"
"Commander Jiang hasn't returned yet, Miss Jiang, there's no need to rush."
"yes......"
"No need to go..."
Everyone chimed in, urging her to stay.
She didn't stay long, but she got along well with everyone. Seeing this scene, she felt a little emotional.
In her past life in the palace, everyone around her looked down on her and pretended to fawn over her.
She's only staying temporarily at the Prince of Beiqin's residence, yet everyone genuinely wants her to stay.
Unfortunately, things had come to this point, and she had no reason to stay any longer.
Moreover, this might be her best chance to get rid of Xiao Hengzhi.
She snapped out of her thoughts and smiled, "Alright, you don't need to see me off. I'm not going anywhere far, and we might run into each other again in the future."
The old woman wanted to say something more, but Jiang Wan smiled and shook her head.
Turning around and stepping out of the mansion gate, she clutched her bundle tightly, not looking back even once more.
This departure is both a severing of ties and a means of self-preservation.
After returning to the general's mansion and tidying up, she went straight to the carriage and horse rental shop to rent a horse without stopping for a moment.
Last time she was just one step away from getting in, today she's determined to get the antidote for the Spring Bitterness Powder.
But what exactly is that sailing order?
Jiang Mian took some self-defense items and a map, and ran towards the hilltop.
The horse's hooves thundered, the wind whistling past. She followed the map to the halfway point up the mountain.
The sky grew increasingly dark, and the mist shrouded the mountains and forests like the slowly opening mouth of a beast.
Finally, at sunset, at the end of a fork in the road, she saw a door.
Hidden among the dense trees, the door is mottled and unguarded, with only a lantern with the character "酒" (wine) on it swaying in the wind.
The surroundings were eerily quiet. Not even the birds chirped; only the wind whistled through the woods, carrying an indescribable chill.
Jiang Mian thought to herself, "Is this the 'man-eating place' that the hermit Jichen mentioned?"
It looked somewhat eerie, but there didn't seem to be any major disturbances; it was more like a winery.
Jiang Mian was hesitating whether to go in when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her, accompanied by voices.
She couldn't dodge in time, and her wrist was grabbed!
"Who's acting so suspiciously?"
Three tall, burly men blocked her way. The leader had a fierce face and spoke in a rude tone.
"I...I'm here to find someone..." Jiang Mian tried to remain calm, but her voice trembled slightly.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Find...find your boss," she blurted out in desperation.
But the men clearly didn't believe them and asked again, "Looking for our boss? Then tell me, what's our boss's name?"
Jiang Mian choked, her mind going blank.
The next instant, a black cloth was draped over her head. She only managed a scream before being knocked unconscious with a single blow and tied up.
Not long after, she gradually woke up, but her mind was still a little foggy.
I heard heavy breathing in my ears, and the sound of something being dragged was under my feet.
She was being dragged along.
The burly men, unaware that she was awake, continued their unrestrained conversation.
"Ever since this woman took over, business has been getting worse day by day."
"In my opinion, it's just womanly compassion. The only reason she's staying here is because her son died here."
"If you ask me, why don't we just......"
"Easy for you to say! She secretly takes good care of those slaves and has countless confidants. Look at those who have opposed her, who has had a good ending?"
"..."
Jiang Wan couldn't understand what they were saying, but her heart was pounding like thunder. Where was she?
After an unknown amount of time, the black cloth was lifted.
Jiang Mian's eyes stung from the stinging, but her vision gradually cleared.
Before me was a dilapidated house, with rows of straw mats laid out inside, and on the mats were women with large pregnant bellies.
Another person was lying on the ground screaming, with blood gushing from under their legs.
She stood there, stunned by the sight before her.
The air was stifling, as if it were about to condense into water. The smells of medicine, blood, dampness, and decay mingled together, creating an unbearable stench. In the corner, a basin held freshly changed bloody water, and suppressed sobs could be heard nearby.
These women were pale-faced, with vacant eyes and thin clothing, as if they were just domesticated livestock.
Jiang Mian felt a chill run down her spine, sweat seeped out along her spine, and her hands and feet were stiff and cold, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
She had no idea where she was or what she was about to face.
"Newcomer, go over there." A hoarse, deep female voice rang out.
Jiang Wan turned her head and saw an old woman with age spots on her face staring at her.
His gaze was sinister and cold, as if he were selecting a product.
"From now on, you will be called Yuan'er. Go with me tonight and give it a try. If you succeed on your first try, you will receive a reward."
Before she could ask any further questions, the old woman had already turned and left, her attendant behind her writing a mark on the register, as if recording the number of a livestock.
Jiang Mian was pushed to a corner, where the woman next to her was drinking medicine.
She asked softly, "Young lady, what did that old woman mean by that? What should we try tonight?"
The woman's eyes were blank, and her voice was weak: "You know nothing, what are you doing here?"
Jiang Wan paused for a moment, feeling that these words sounded somewhat familiar.
She remembered that when she was tied to the boat, it seemed that A-Yun had given the same answer.
Her heart sank to the ground, her mind a complete mess.
At night, several stewards came in and took away several women, including Jiang Mian.
They were led into a dimly lit room.
As soon as she entered, she saw several men standing in a corner, watching them coldly.
The women who came with them had already begun to skillfully take off their outer garments, creating a very indecent scene.
Jiang Wan froze on the spot, realizing what was about to happen.
The manager glared at him and shouted sternly, "What are you all standing there for? Get to work!"
The whip whistled through the air as it cut across the ground, its force terrifying.
Jiang Mian woke up with a start and instinctively tried to escape, but her path was completely blocked.
She had nowhere to retreat, and cold sweat soaked her back.
There was only one voice in my heart—
It’s over.
She seemed to have fallen into a complete and utter dead end.
The man in charge angrily stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Mian's shoulder, and yanked her forward.
"You've come this far, and you still dare to act all high and mighty?"
He snorted coldly, his palm as thick as a palm-leaf fan, and raised it to slap her face.