The Princess of Northern Land
Chapter 768: Infighting (2)_1

Chapter 768: Chapter 768: Infighting (2)_1

Seeing this, the surrounding villagers stirred again.

Ma Zhicai saw Li Yanran draw her last breath with his own eyes. A big rock in his heart finally fell to the ground.

He smirked coldly and stood in the crowd, craning his neck to watch the spectacle. He wished nothing more than for the Li family to create an even bigger ruckus, so the people of Feng City could see the true cold-hearted cruelty of the Prince.

Li Jiesong, having come round, was frightened witless by Mu’s actions. He stared wide-eyed at Mu, looking as though he’d seen a ghost, all traces of his usual faith in Mu gone.

"Why are you crying?" Mu scolded him, "You’re a man, and a man should bleed not cry. Your elder brother has been spoiled by his mother and become a cripple. You have to win some honor for your mother, become a man who can stand tall. And don’t forget, when choosing a wife, make sure she’s literate and virtuous. Never go for a small-minded woman with only appearance to offer. Do you understand?"

Towards the end, her voice was tinged with harshness.

Li Jieyong, chastised by her, quickly nodded his head. He had never been favored by Mu since childhood. Her concern for him at this moment left him a little dazed.

"Bring it here." Mu directed the old maid who was already petrified at her side. She extended her hand, and the old maid immediately handed her an embroidered box.

"This contains all of my dowry, including the part that rightfully belongs to your sister." When Mu mentioned Li Yanran, despair and heartache flashed in her eyes. But she didn’t dare look at the person in her arms again, instead, she earnestly continued instructing Li Jieyong, "These are for you and your elder brother’s children. If your elder brother survives, the two of you will split it evenly. If he passes away, leave it for his two children. I know you, you’re a kind child, you won’t swallow all of this up alone. Look after the children well. If you can, I hope you can leave Feng City, find a quiet village to settle down in. Forget everything in Feng City. I don’t want you to live with the fear of being squeezed from both sides. No matter who comes to find you, resist the urge to come out of your safe corner. Carry on living peacefully in that quiet place with the two children. And then find a wife. Do you remember?"

"Mother, what are you planning to do?" Li Jieyong sensed that something was amiss, watching her with a guarded eye.

"Did I not ask if you remember?" Mu’s voice took on a stern tone.

"I... I remember," Li Jieyong stammered in reply.

Mu nodded her head, then bent down to tidy up Li Yanran’s clothes, "Bury your sister properly."

Then she turned her head to look at Li Jiesong.

Li Jiesong was terrified, thinking she was about to smother him to death in the same way she did Li Yanran. Seeing Mu advancing towards him, he cried out in fear, "Don’t come over, don’t come over, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die. Prince, save me, please stop this madwoman."

Madwoman? This word deeply struck Mu. The smile on her face becoming even more desolate.

Li Jiesong’s cowardice filled her with deep regret.

Mu reflected upon her life. She was not always such a cold, heartless person. Once upon a time, she was a naive and romantic girl, a carefree person. Although she was a concubine-born daughter of the Mu family, she still lived a life akin to a lady’s.

However, after being wedded to Marquis Li, everything changed.

The current emperor held a grudge against Empress De, and was wary of the Prince. He had secretly decreed her to monitor the Wang Residence, not showing the slightest care for the Prince, even going so far as to sabotage relations between the Marquis Residence and the Prince.

She obeyed because she had no choice. But the old lady at home was a clever woman. As her daughter-in-law, she had to follow the old lady’s arrangements, appearing to care for the Prince in front of her, yet showing cold indifference to him behind her back.