allonlinenovel Chapter 372 The Tragic Princess of Loulan
Chapter 372 The Tragic Princess of Loulan
At that crucial moment, when it seemed a beautiful marriage was about to blossom, Princess Nazai of Loulan's eyes, which had been filled with affection, instantly filled with panic and rage. Like a startled deer, she recoiled several steps back, her delicate embroidered shoes leaving frantic marks on the ground. The blush on her beautiful face vanished instantly, replaced by a deathly pallor, and her lips trembled slightly with overwhelming emotion. Then, with all her might, she shouted, her voice filled with boundless grief and determination, echoing above the noisy crowd: "No! I refuse to go back to this Western Regions capital with you! You evil forces from the Western Regions have wantonly seized our weak nation, turning the people of Loulan into slaves of a conquered country, forever forced to eke out a living in your shadow, at the mercy of your Ouyang family! Loulan may be small, but our dignity cannot be trampled upon. I, and all the people of Loulan, will absolutely not go with you!"
The Western Regions prince, Ouyang Lie, had been beaming with an air of confidence. He was handsome, with a fair complexion and phoenix eyes that gave him a captivating allure. His smile was confident and arrogant, as if the entire world was beneath his feet. However, in an instant, that smile froze as if by magic.
His lips twitched slightly, the upward curve gradually flattening before slowly closing. In its place was a cold, mocking smile, a smile as chilling as a gust of wind, sending shivers down one's spine.
Ouyang Lie tilted his head slightly, his eyes, sharp as a hawk's, fixed intently on the enraged Loulan princess before him. His gaze was piercing and icy, as if it could penetrate the princess's body and reach the deepest fear and unease in her heart.
"Is that so? You absolutely won't come with me, is that it?" He repeated the princess's words softly, his tone full of mockery and disdain. The drawn-out tone was like a venomous snake, slithering through the air and sending chills down one's spine.
"Then let's see if you guys have the final say!" Ouyang Lie suddenly raised his voice, which resonated through the air like a booming bell. This sudden loud noise startled everyone present.
Before he could finish speaking, he loudly ordered his followers, dressed in black and with long swords at their waists, "Men, seize Miss Nazai of Loulan for this prince! Anyone who dares to obstruct us will be killed without mercy!"
His command, like a thunderclap, boomed through the crowd. Upon hearing it, the attendants pounced on the people around the Loulan princess like hungry tigers. The previously bustling crowd scattered in all directions. The once lively and festive scene of the selection of the princess's consort instantly descended into chaos. Those who had been cheering and discussing the selection of the princess's consort were now pale as paper, their eyes filled with terror. They fled like headless flies, some falling to the ground in their panic, ignoring the pain, quickly getting up and continuing to run; others were squeezed into corners by the crowd, trembling. Cries and screams mingled together, the scene a complete mess. The Loulan guards who had been standing by to maintain order showed fear in the face of the wolf-like entourage brought by the prince from the Western Regions. The spears in their hands trembled slightly. Although they wanted to protect the princess, they hesitated and retreated when they thought of the powerful forces in the Western Regions. Their eyes met, filled with helplessness and bewilderment.
The locals, who had been passing through and enthusiastically showing Gu Mochen and his group around, suddenly changed their expressions. Knowing the cruelty of the Western Region prince, they dared not linger. They hurriedly led their camels, waving frantically at Gu Mochen and his companions, signaling them to flee. Although shocked by this sudden turn of events, Gu Mochen and his group had intended to travel discreetly and couldn't easily reveal their identities. So, they exchanged glances and tacitly followed the locals away quickly. As they walked, they frequently looked back at the chaotic scene, their eyes filled with worry and resentment. Gu Mochen paused, pondered for a moment, then quietly called Song Ming and a quick-witted assistant to his side, whispering, "You two stay here and secretly observe the situation. Remember, be careful and don't expose yourselves. Afterwards, follow the signal we left behind to find us." Song Ming and the assistant nodded solemnly and quickly disappeared into the chaotic crowd.
Gu Mochen and his group traveled swiftly, arriving at a city between the Western Regions and Loulan. While not as prosperous as the Central Plains, this city possessed a unique Western Region charm. Earth-yellow buildings lined the streets, their walls adorned with exquisite carvings. They entered a reasonably tidy-looking inn and booked several rooms. The group sat down wearily, their minds still preoccupied with the situation in Loulan. Ye Qingchen frowned, saying worriedly, "This Western Region prince is so arrogant; the Loulan princess is likely in grave danger." Bai Zhi echoed, "Yes, it's pitiful for the people of Loulan. They've just experienced the pain of losing their kingdom, and now this tragedy has struck again." Fu Ling said, "Are the people of Loulan pitiful? I saw that the crowd that was rushing around just now is mostly fleeing. Does anyone care about the Loulan princess?" Gu Mochen's expression was grave; he remained silent, gazing quietly out the window, his mind calculating the various possibilities.
After an unknown amount of time, darkness gradually fell. Dim oil lamps were lit in the inn, their light flickering. Just then, light footsteps sounded at the door. Song Ming and the innkeeper, following the signal left behind, returned. They looked exhausted, their clothes dusty. Song Ming quickly approached Gu Mochen, bowed, and respectfully reported, "Master, Princess Nazai of Loulan has been captured by the prince from the Western Regions. She's staying in this city, but at the city lord's house."
Gu Mochen's eyes flashed, and he pressed, "Were there any casualties in Loulan?" Song Ming looked up, a hint of resentment on his face, and replied, "No, but it's infuriating. Not a single man in Loulan dared to challenge this prince. Although Miss Nazai knows some martial arts, she couldn't even withstand 50 moves from this Western Region prince before being subdued. None of the men intervened; they just watched helplessly as the princess was taken away." Upon hearing this, Gu Mochen's fists clenched involuntarily, a flash of anger in his eyes: "How can the men of Loulan, so cowardly, be worthy of protecting their homeland and princess? However, the Western Region prince's actions must have a deeper meaning; we cannot act rashly." Ye Qingchen pondered for a moment and said, "In my opinion, the Western Region prince's capture of the Loulan princess is likely an attempt to further control Loulan, or perhaps he has other ulterior motives. Should we secretly rescue the princess?" Gu Mochen shook his head slightly: "No, we don't know enough about the situation here. Taking rash action will only alert the enemy. Let's continue to observe and see what the Western Region prince does next before making any plans." Everyone nodded in agreement, and the room fell into silence, with only the occasional crackling of the oil lamp, as if it too was sighing for the situation in Loulan.