She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Princess Changle’s expression slightly stiffened, and her gaze was somewhat evasive.

She said blandly, "After being abducted by the mountain bandits, I escaped soon after when they were not paying attention. It was just that I got lost in the mountains and it took me a long time to find the official road."

In the wooden house of the mountain stronghold, she queued up every day, waiting for the chieftain to take interest in her, begging those vile and despicable bandits to take her away.

Such unbearable memories, for her, a noble and lofty Commandery Princess, how could she speak of it? How could she be willing to bring up such a filthy scene?

Mingyue nodded, and did not ask further. She could see that the Commandery Princess was reluctant to talk more, so she tactfully shut her mouth...

Princess Changle squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, driving away the memories she was unwilling to recall.

The group stood in silence outside the city gate, with the afterglow of the sunset casting their shadows long.

Princess Changle looked at the towering city walls, her heart filled with complex emotions.

She was silent for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the attendants and maids.

She wanted to say "you’ve suffered," but the words turned in her throat and were swallowed back down.

Right in front of her was the gate of the Capital City; no one knew what had happened on the mountain, and it was already in the past. These were her maids serving her, all of low status,

towards whom she had never cared to say tender and caring words beyond giving commands.

"Let’s go," she finally spoke, with a trace of decisiveness in her voice, "we’re going home."

Princess Changle straightened her chest, lifted her aching legs, and walked forward first.

Mingyue and the attendants responded and followed behind her, slowly heading towards the city gate.

The guards on the city wall had long noticed this group; seeing them clad in tattered clothes and appearing exhausted, they stepped forward to question them.

"Halt! Who are you?" the guard shouted sternly, holding his spear horizontally in front of him, blocking their way.

Princess Changle lifted her head, casting a cold glance at the guard, her voice naturally carrying the authority of her status.

"Are you blind? I am Princess Changle, step aside quickly!"

The guard was startled and scrutinized her carefully. Although her clothing was ragged, the innate nobility between her brows couldn’t be concealed.

Hastily, the guard withdrew his spear and bowed, "So it’s Your Highness the Commandery Princess. I failed to recognize you, please forgive me."

Princess Changle said no more, just nodded slightly, and led the group straight through the city gate.

The streets within the Capital City remained bustling, filled with people coming and going, the clamor of carriages and horses. Walking on the familiar streets, Princess Changle felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

The experiences of the past two months seemed to create an invisible barrier between her and this world.

"Commandery Princess," Mingyue glanced at her own dress and said softly, "are we going straight back to the manor?"

Princess Changle stopped in her tracks, her gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd on both sides of the street, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.

"If not returning to the manor, then what else?"

Mingyue nodded, but felt a vague sense of unease in her heart.

She knew that although the Commandery Princess appeared calm on the surface, her inner turmoil was far from settled.

Dusk quietly fell, and they finally arrived at the Champion Marquis Manor.

The main gate of the Marquis Manor was tightly closed. Princess Changle gestured for Mingyue to go ahead and knock on the door.

After a moment, the gate of the Champion Marquis Manor slowly opened, the guards inside scanning the disheveled figures outside with wary eyes.

Under the night, they were in tattered clothes, their faces haggard, as if they had just crawled out of hell.

The leading woman’s hair was disheveled, her face smeared with dust, yet her eyes still stubbornly shone with light. The maids behind her were stumbling as if they might collapse at any moment.

"Halt! Who dares trespass the Marquis Manor?"

The Guard Commander frowned and shouted sternly, already placing a hand on his sword’s hilt.

The woman raised her head, her voice hoarse yet still carrying a hint of arrogance, "It’s me, Changle."

The Guard Commander was stunned, carefully discerning for a moment, his expression abruptly changed, and hurriedly dropped to one knee.

"Commandery Princess! I did not recognize you with my dull eyes, please forgive me!"

Princess Changle did not respond, just tiredly waved her hand, and led the maids and attendants straight into the manor.

Her steps were heavy, each one feeling like stepping on a blade’s edge, while the servants behind her lowered their heads, quietly following.

The servants inside the manor, upon seeing this scene, paused their work, staring in shock at this group as if they had returned from hell.

The news quickly reached the inner courtyard; the Champion Marquis and his wife hurriedly came over.

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