kvmb Chapter 495
Chapter 495
Night fell like a thick, black silk, weighing heavily on the capital. Inside the Marquis's residence, the lights flickered. Dongfang Wan'er's brows furrowed, her heart filled with anxiety. Her personal maid had disappeared since the afternoon. She had sent people to search the entire residence, but to no avail. This maid had served her for many years, always loyal and devoted; her sudden disappearance was truly suspicious. The more Dongfang Wan'er thought about it, the more uneasy she became, and she decided to search for her herself.
Just as Dongfang Wan'er was about to leave again with several guards, a servant rushed in, panting, and reported, "Miss, news has come from His Highness Crown Prince Jingchu that someone resembling your maid has been spotted in the suburbs!" Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Dongfang Wan'er's eyes, and without hesitation, she flicked her sleeve and said, "Let's go immediately!"
On the outskirts of the city, a cold wind howled across the wilderness, rustling the withered grass by the roadside. A dilapidated, abandoned temple loomed ominously in the night. When Dongfang Wan'er arrived, she immediately saw the maid huddled in a corner, looking disheveled. "What are you doing here? What happened?" Dongfang Wan'er quickly stepped forward and asked with concern.
However, before the maid could speak, hurried footsteps came from outside the temple. Immediately afterward, a group of men in black rushed into the dilapidated temple like ghosts, instantly surrounding them. Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the ruins, illuminating the gleaming blades of the men in black, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"Protect Miss!" The guards swiftly drew their swords, shielding Dongfang Wan'er and her maid. Without hesitation, the men in black brandished their weapons and launched a fierce attack. These men were clearly well-trained and highly skilled in martial arts; every move was ruthless and deadly. Although the guards fought valiantly, they gradually found themselves overwhelmed, and wounds began to appear on their bodies.
While warily observing the men in black around her, Dongfang Wan'er protected her terrified maid, her mind racing as she considered a solution. She knew that in this desolate wilderness, if they couldn't escape quickly, the consequences would be unimaginable. However, the enemy was coming on strong, and they were outnumbered, putting them in a desperate situation.
Just as the situation became extremely critical, a loud shout came from afar: "Stop!" Dongfang Wan'er's heart skipped a beat. She looked up and saw Crown Prince Jingchu riding a tall horse, leading reinforcements at breakneck speed. Seeing the situation was dire, the men in black tried to retreat, but they were already surrounded by the Crown Prince's men. After a fierce battle, the men in black fell to the ground, and the few remaining managed to escape in the chaos.
"Wan'er, are you alright?" Crown Prince Jingchu dismounted and quickly walked to Dongfang Wan'er's side, his eyes full of concern. Dongfang Wan'er gently shook her head, "Thank you for coming in time, Your Highness. Otherwise, today would have been very dangerous."
The maid was terrified and collapsed to the ground, trembling. Dongfang Wan'er squatted down and gently comforted her, "Don't be afraid, it's alright now. Tell me slowly, what exactly happened?" After a while, the maid calmed down a little and sobbed as she told the truth.
It turned out that it was Dongfang Mingzhu who instructed her to steal the Marquis's seal, forge letters, and even arrange for someone to set fire to the mansion, attempting to frame Dongfang Wan'er. Upon hearing this, Dongfang Wan'er was filled with anger and hatred. She never expected her own sister to be so vicious, resorting to any means for her own selfish gain.
The truth came to light, and Dongfang Wan'er and Crown Prince Jingchu returned to the Marquis's residence with their maids. Dongfang Mingzhu was in the hall when she saw everyone enter. A flicker of panic crossed her face, but she quickly regained her composure and tried to argue, "Sister, don't listen to this maid's nonsense. How could I do such a thing?"
However, when the maid stepped forward and pointed at her one by one, Dongfang Mingzhu's face turned deathly pale. She opened her mouth, but could no longer utter a word. Crown Prince Jingchu's face was grim as he coldly said, "Dongfang Mingzhu, you have committed such a heinous crime that I, the Crown Prince, will show no mercy!"
Following this, Crown Prince Jingchu, in accordance with the rules of the manor, severely punished Dongfang Mingzhu. The turmoil finally subsided, and the Marquis's residence returned to its former tranquility. Dongfang Wan'er, having survived this ordeal, gained considerable prestige within the manor thanks to her wit and courage. Looking at Crown Prince Jingchu, her eyes held a newfound resolve, and she secretly vowed to protect him even more diligently in the future, to uncover more hidden conspiracies, and to never let the villains succeed.