mtl008 Chapter 73, 9th Lifetime: ① Bloodstained Blade, Madman's Revenge and Decisive Strike
Chapter 73, 9th Lifetime: ① Bloodstained Blade, Madman's Revenge and Decisive Strike
Chapter 73 Bloodstained Blade: The Mad Queen's Revenge and Decisive Strike
The warm spring sun shines down on the flower-filled courtyard without reservation, and a gentle breeze carries the rich fragrance of flowers, making it intoxicating.
Luo Qingci lay comfortably in the rocking chair, gently swaying her body, while playing with a freshly picked begonia flower in her hand. The petals were delicate and had a faint pink hue.
She thought that after her aunt's family's matter was settled, she could finally have a few days of peace and quiet. However, Xiao Li, a subordinate of the Dark Pavilion, rushed in like a gust of wind, his face full of panic, as if he were being chased by a demon.
"What? The Prince's Mansion got involved in that incident back then too?" Luo Qingci sprang up from the rocking chair in an instant, her movements as fast as lightning. The begonia flower in her hand was crushed to pieces, its juice splattering everywhere. It fell to the ground with a "thud," just like her broken and angry mood at that moment.
"Fine, this Prince's Mansion is asking for trouble. Since they dare to interfere in the affairs of my Luo family, they'd better be prepared to have their claws chopped off!" She took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently, trying to suppress the raging anger burning within her.
His mind started racing, like a sophisticated machine. "Treating my aunt's family before was just a small matter. This time, a big fish has come. I'll take them down in one fell swoop and show them what happens when they mess with me!"
Thinking back to her innocent and adorable self, Luo Qingci couldn't help but laugh at herself. Back then, she was a carefree little girl, always wearing two cute little braids, skipping and jumping around in the Luo family's garden like a happy little deer.
She can chase after a beautiful butterfly for ages, speaks in a childish voice, and is innocent and naive, like a blank sheet of paper. She believes everything people say. Once, her cousin tricked her into climbing a tree to pick fruit, but she couldn't get down and burst into tears, her eyes and nose running everywhere. She looked utterly pathetic.
But now, having experienced a blood feud, she has long since been transformed, becoming a fearsome figure in the capital. She acts decisively and ruthlessly, with a powerful aura that can intimidate people, inspiring awe wherever she goes.
Within days, a grand banquet was in full swing at Juxianlou, the most magnificent and luxurious restaurant in the capital. The restaurant was brightly lit, as if it were daytime. The dignitaries, dressed in gorgeous clothes embroidered with gold thread, held expensive wines and flattered each other. The noise was so loud it felt like it could lift the roof off.
Dressed in men's clothing, wearing an exquisite jade crown, and carrying a folding fan painted with ink bamboo, Luo Qingci walked into Juxianlou at a leisurely pace. Her eyes, like searchlights, quickly spotted her target in the crowd—Wang Gui, the head steward of the Prince's mansion.
This Wang Gui was a powerful henchman of the Prince's mansion. He used to advise the Prince and was involved in many plots to harm the Luo family. He was full of evil intentions, and his face practically screamed "I'm a bad guy."
Wang Gui was standing in the middle of a group of officials, boasting eloquently about his "great achievements." His fat face jiggled with laughter, his eyes were narrowed into slits, and his mouth was stretched almost to his ears. He looked so smug, as if he had conquered the world and was just short of standing shoulder to shoulder with the sun.
Luo Qingci's lips curled into a cold smile as she thought to herself, "Wang Gui, today is your death day. Let's see how long you can be so smug! You'll be crying soon enough."
She walked gracefully to Wang Gui, bowed slightly, and wore a perfectly measured smile that, while seemingly friendly, concealed a sharp edge, like a rose with thorns. "Lord Wang, I have long admired your name. It is truly an honor to meet you today."
Wang Gui squinted at her, looking her up and down as if she were an ant, his eyes full of disdain. He snorted softly, thinking to himself: "Just a brat who doesn't know his place. What skills could he possibly have? He dares to try and get close to me."
He waved his hand impatiently, his nostrils practically pointing to the sky, and said arrogantly, "Whose young master are you? I've never seen you before. Are you here to freeload?"
Luo Qingci remained calm and took out a carefully forged "secret letter" from her bosom. She deliberately lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "Lord Wang, I have a letter here that concerns the secrets of the Prince's mansion. I would like to talk to you about it privately."
This is a huge matter. If word gets out, the Prince's mansion will be in big trouble. Upon hearing this, Wang Gui's face changed instantly, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes. However, he was a seasoned veteran and quickly regained his composure.
With a forced smile, he said, "Oh? Is that so? Then come with me. Don't try to fool me with some fake news." His feigned composure was like an ostrich burying its head in the sand after its lie has been exposed, pretending nothing was wrong, which made people want to laugh.
The two walked into a quiet private room. Wang Gui couldn't wait to reach for the letter. He looked so anxious, like a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey, his mouth practically watering.
Luo Qingci suddenly pulled the letter back and said coldly, "Lord Wang, don't be in such a hurry to read it. Once you finish reading this letter, there will be no turning back. The contents of this letter are enough to give you a hard time."
Wang Gui was stunned. Looking at Luo Qingci's ambiguous smile, his heart skipped a beat and a strong sense of foreboding surged up. Cold sweat began to break out on his back. He wondered to himself: Just who is this kid?
Just then, the door was kicked open with a bang, and a group of soldiers rushed in like a tide, led by the Minister of Justice.
With a serious expression, he looked at Wang Gui and said loudly, "Wang Gui, someone has reported you for embezzlement, bribery, and colluding with foreign enemies. The evidence is conclusive. Come with us! Your petty tricks cannot escape the eyes of the imperial court."
Wang Gui's eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets, as he stared at Luo Qingci in disbelief, roaring at the top of his lungs, "You...you liar, what's going on? Who are you?"
The voice was sharp, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, filled with anger and shock, and the veins on his neck were bulging.
Luo Qingci calmly removed her disguise, revealing a bright yet ruthless face. She sneered, "Wang Gui, this is all you deserve. You participated in the massacre of my Luo family back then, and that debt should be settled today. You think you can get away with it? Dream on!"
Wang Gui was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud. His face was deathly pale, and he stammered, "You...you are Luo Qingci? This is impossible. How are you still alive? Weren't you dead a long time ago?"
His voice trembled like fallen leaves in the autumn wind, filled with fear and despair, and his body shook uncontrollably.
Luo Qingci approached step by step, the oppressive aura emanating from her making Wang Gui tremble like a leaf. She looked down at Wang Gui and mocked, "What, are you surprised to see that I'm still alive? Are you scared? When you were trying to wipe out my Luo family back then, you didn't expect this day to come, did you? This is called karma, what goes around comes around."
After saying that, he waved his hand, and the soldiers took Wang Gui away. Wang Gui was still struggling and shouting. His disheveled appearance was a stark contrast to his imposing manner at the banquet. It was like falling from the clouds into a mud pit.
Having dealt with Wang Gui, Luo Qingci set her sights on the deeper influence of the Prince's Mansion. She knew in her heart that bringing down the Prince's Mansion would not be an easy task, but she was not afraid at all. Her indomitable spirit made her more courageous in the face of setbacks.
Through the Dark Pavilion's intelligence network, she learned that the prince would be hosting a lavish banquet at his villa in a few days, inviting many high-ranking officials and dignitaries. This banquet would be her next opportunity.
On the day of the banquet, the prince's villa was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. The gate was lined with magnificent carriages, and dignitaries, accompanied by their families, dressed in their finest attire and beaming with smiles, entered the villa.
The prince, dressed in a magnificent robe embroidered with gold thread and sparkling with gemstones, wore an arrogant smile. Surrounded by a group of guards and guests, he swaggered around as if he were the ruler of the world, walking with an air of superiority and his nostrils practically pointing to the sky.
Luo Qingci disguised herself as the son of a wealthy merchant who had traveled from afar, mingling among the guests. Looking at the prince's arrogant demeanor, she felt utterly disgusted and secretly spat, "Your Highness, you will soon pay the price for your actions. Today is your unlucky day. Soon you will be crying for your parents."
While she was thinking to herself, she quietly observed her surroundings, looking for an opportunity to strike, her eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
At the banquet, fine wines and delicacies filled the table, and guests toasted each other, their laughter echoing throughout. Dancers gracefully swayed on the stage, their long sleeves flowing, captivating the audience. Luo Qingci seized the opportunity and secretly slipped a specially prepared sleeping potion into the prince's wine glass.
This sleeping potion is colorless and odorless. It doesn't take effect immediately after ingestion; it takes about an hour for the person to become weak and fall into a deep sleep. As she administered the drug, she chuckled to herself, "Your Highness, this is a 'gift' I prepared especially for you. Enjoy it."
An hour passed, and the prince suddenly felt his head grow heavy and his body go limp, without even the strength to stand up. He was startled and tried to call for help, but his throat felt blocked, and he couldn't make a sound.
His eyes were wide open, filled with terror, and he kept pleading for help from the guards around him, but the guards were all held up by the people that Luo Qingci had arranged in advance and could not get through at all.
At this moment, Luo Qingci stepped out from the crowd, stood in front of the prince, and said with a sneer, "Your Highness, it's been a long time. How have you been? Judging from your complexion, you don't look too well."
The tone was like greeting an old friend, but there was no warmth in his eyes, only a chilling coldness that could freeze you.
When the prince saw her, his eyes widened even more, filled with terror. He tried to speak but could only utter "woo-woo" sounds. He instinctively reached for the sword at his waist, only to find that Luo Qingci had already sent someone to take it.
He was filled with regret. He should have never provoked this young lady. But it was too late to say anything now. He could only silently pray that someone would come to his rescue.
Luo Qingci approached step by step, emanating a powerful aura. Each step she took seemed to carry an invisible pressure, making it hard for the prince to breathe.
"Your Highness, how have you been? You were involved in framing my Luo family back then, and today we should settle that score. You think you can escape punishment? You're too naive."
The prince tried to back away, but found he couldn't move at all. He could only look at Luo Qingci with terrified eyes. He cursed himself a thousand times in his heart, wondering why he was so unlucky to have run into this jinx.
Luo Qingci squatted down, gently lifted the prince's chin with her dagger, and said mockingly, "Your Highness, at this point, do you still want to resist? Do you think your guards can save you? They can't even protect themselves now. Just accept your fate."
Her eyes were full of mockery. In her eyes, the prince was like a ridiculous clown, someone to be manipulated at will.
The prince looked around in despair, when suddenly an idea struck him. He squeezed out a few tears, wanting to beg for mercy, but due to the effects of the drug, he could only make indistinct sounds.
He looked utterly disheveled, a stark contrast to his earlier imposing demeanor.
Looking at his pathetic appearance, Luo Qingci couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Your Highness, do you think a few tears can soften my heart? You underestimate me too much. Dozens of lives were lost in my Luo family back then. How can a few tears make up for it? You will have to pay the price for all the bad things you have done."
The laughter was crisp yet carried a hint of chill, standing out starkly in the lively banquet. The surrounding guests were drawn to the sound, casting curious glances at it.
After saying that, she stood up and waved to the men in black who were already lying in ambush: "Make your move. Let the prince have a complete corpse. That will be my last bit of 'respect' for his status."
However, before taking action, let's move him to the VIP section and let him witness this 'good show' and experience the taste of despair. Let him know the consequences of offending me.
As the prince was carried away, the guests at the banquet finally realized what was happening, and chaos ensued. Some guests turned pale with fright and rushed out; others stood by, whispering amongst themselves, unsure what had transpired. Luo Qingci stood there, watching the chaotic scene, a satisfied smile on her face.
She knew that the Prince's mansion's influence had not been completely eliminated, but this was only the beginning. She would drag out everyone who participated in the massacre back then, one by one, and make them pay a heavy price for their actions.