Because at this moment, unless Baili Chen appears safely, unless the fire can be resolved immediately so that those people don't have to die, all explanations are futile. Ouyang Yue immediately transferred half of her people to the Princess's Mansion to protect Princess Shuangxia and Baili Su, just in case someone took this opportunity to cause trouble at the Princess's Mansion. Ouyang Yue then sat and practiced her inner cultivation technique and read books. Sometimes Chuncao and Dongxue seemed to want to say something but held back, but no one dared to disturb Ouyang Yue.
Two days later, Sun Meng'er took the initiative to visit. Ouyang Yue had changed into clean clothes and dressed up specially, but she was obviously pale due to poor sleep. Sun Meng'er immediately asked with concern, "What's wrong, Princess Consort Chen? You look so pale. Don't think too much about it. The young master is at the Princess's residence now. No matter how much influence someone has, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble there." She then sighed, "His Highness is a man, and it's not appropriate for him to visit his sister-in-law at a time like this. So he sent me to see if there's anything I can do to help Princess Consort Chen."
"Thank you for your kindness, Third Prince and Consort Sun. I am doing well." Ouyang Yue's expression was calm, without any sign of despair in the face of adversity. Sun Meng'er was slightly suspicious, but became even more affectionate. That day, Baili Zhi sent the chief steward to chat with Ouyang Yue for half an hour. As for what they talked about, even Chuncao and Dongxue did not know.
In the past few days, Sun Meng'er has been visiting her from time to time to advise her: "Alas, I was ignorant before, and I even had some unpleasant things with Princess Chen. Now that I think about it, what were those things? The Prince and Prince Chen are brothers, and no one can compare to their status. We women are all for men, aren't we? Now that I see the troubles in Prince Chen's mansion, I feel very sad."
"I appreciate Consort Sun's kindness. I will remember it all. No matter what happens, life goes on, and we must look forward." Ouyang Yue treated Sun Meng'er with increasing gentleness, as if she had become less prejudiced against her because of Sun Meng'er's many visits.
Sun Meng'er said sadly, "I think we should go to the temple to pray. Wuhua Temple isn't far away anyway. I don't believe that Prince Chen has really had such a thing happen to him. The young prince is so well-behaved and adorable, how could he be a jinx? As long as the flood can be resolved quickly, even if there's no other way, praying to the gods will put my mind at ease. To be honest, Princess Chen, I haven't been able to sleep well lately because of this worry."
Ouyang Yue nodded: "What Consort Sun said is very true. I also had the same idea. Why don't we go tomorrow?"
"Very well, I will go back and make preparations now. Tomorrow I will accompany Princess Chen to Wuhua Temple to offer incense." Sun Meng'er's worried expression had softened somewhat.
“Your Highness, Consort Sun’s temperament has changed too quickly. Are you really going to Wuhua Temple with her? Could she be plotting something?” Chuncao said with some concern. Ouyang Yue’s eyes flickered slightly as she said, “Tomorrow, have Dongxue take a few skilled martial artists with her.”
Chuncao and Dongxue exchanged a glance, neither understanding what Ouyang Yue was up to. Ever since the prince cut off all contact, the princess had become even more unpredictable.
The next day, Sun Meng'er accompanied Ouyang Yue to Wuhua Temple as promised. The journey was peaceful, and Sun Meng'er kept persuading Ouyang Yue to let go of her worries. Sun Meng'er also patiently accompanied her as she paid her respects and knelt before the Buddhas in the various halls of Wuhua Temple, showing great sincerity.
"I feel much more at ease after praying."
"Wow……"
On the return journey, Ouyang Yue and Sun Meng'er sat together. Ouyang Yue was very quiet and listened to Sun Meng'er talk from beginning to end. But at this moment, a lot of noise suddenly came from outside. Sun Meng'er stopped in surprise and asked, "What happened outside?"
"Princess Consort Chen, Consort, something terrible has happened! There are refugees outside!"
"What, disaster victims!" Sun Meng'er was stunned. She lifted the carriage curtain in surprise and saw the disaster victims outside wearing tattered clothes, their faces covered in dirt and dust, and they were all emaciated and pitiful. "Heavens, there are so many disaster victims. At a glance, there are at least a hundred people here. The disaster in Yuezhou Prefecture is said to be very serious. This is supposed to be the harvest season, but today not only can we not collect taxes, but their own lives are also in trouble. However, with so many disaster victims pouring into the capital, even if Father Emperor wants to solve the problem, he cannot come up with so much silver in a short time. I heard that all departments are mobilizing silver, but it is too far to help the immediate crisis."
Peering through the crack, Ouyang Yue saw that the disaster victims were emaciated from hunger, their eyes cloudy, their expressions blank and lifeless. Some were sitting, some were lying down, and some were groaning on the ground. They looked truly pitiful. Ouyang Yue glanced at them and her eyes flickered slightly: "Let's go first."
Sun Meng'er looked surprised: "Princess Chen, look how pitiful they are! They're almost starving to death. We came here today to pray to the gods and Buddhas for peace of mind. How can we not lend a helping hand when we see them?"
Ouyang Yue said coldly, "Consort Sun, I am doing this for your own good."
"It's for my own good. You can live with your conscience if you stand by and watch these poor people die, but I can't. You're cold-blooded and indifferent, so should I be like you? This is also for my own good. If I just let them go today and leave on my own, I'll have a guilty conscience for the rest of my life. If you don't want to plead for me, Princess Chen, don't say such heartless things." Sun Meng'er couldn't help but raise her voice and rebuke them. The disaster victims were all stunned. Hearing this shrill voice, they couldn't help but prick up their ears. Hearing this voice, their faces showed dejection, and they didn't step forward.
Ouyang Yue remained calm, showing no dissatisfaction or embarrassment at Sun Meng'er's words. Sun Meng'er, however, took out her purse and instructed her servants to distribute the silver and food they had brought to the disaster victims. Just as her maids approached, the victims suddenly changed their tune, grabbing the silver and shouting, "The people in that cart have silver! They have food and money! Go ask them for it!"
"I'm hungry, please give me some food..."
"I'm hungry..."
"I'm hungry..."
The refugees suddenly surrounded the carriage. The maidservant who had brought Sun Meng'er had already taken all the silver and food, and now she had nothing left in her hands. She kept shouting that no one should be chased away, but this only angered the refugees.
"Don't listen to their nonsense. They definitely still have these rich and heartless bastards on them. They eat our hard-earned money and indulge in pleasure every day, but they refuse to lend a helping hand at this time. If we arrest them, we can definitely exchange them for silver."
"Yes, their attire clearly indicates they're not from ordinary families. Rob them, arrest them all." Immediately, Sun Meng'er was pushed aside and fell to the ground. The disaster victims suddenly rushed up, ignoring her completely, each one stomping on her. The maidservant immediately coughed up blood, and in a short while, her body was covered in blood. Moreover, due to the trampling incident, her internal organs were ruptured, and she died a horrific death.
Sun Meng'er was so frightened that her face turned pale, and the next moment she screamed, "Ah!"
☆、275、The Death of Sun Meng'er!
"This! This... How could they..." Sun Meng'er was truly terrified. She had only intended to take this opportunity to demonstrate her kindness and help these disaster victims. In return, they would help her promote herself for free, and she could use this opportunity to slander Ouyang Yue. It would be clear who was good and who was bad between them. Who knew that these people would actually riot? This was different from what was agreed upon.
Sun Meng'er was unaware that these refugees had fled all the way to the capital. Although the imperial court was urgently allocating grain and silver, and some wealthy families were even distributing porridge for free, it was only enough for one bowl a day, inevitably leading to their starvation. This was far from enough to save them from hunger. Several people who had just gotten close to Sun Meng'er's maid managed to grab some snacks and quickly stuffed them into their mouths. However, those who hadn't gotten any were now reaching out with their dirty hands to snatch them, using their black fingers to pluck food from the mouths of the others. Those who managed to get some struggled to bite and swallow, and countless hands caught the crumbs that fell off and stuffed them into their own mouths.
Some who couldn't get any food even resorted to physical violence out of anger. These disaster victims were so hungry that they could only act on their primal instincts. The things Sun Meng'er gave them didn't earn them gratitude; instead, they received only complaints and even madness.
Imagine a dying person, already in despair, watching people walk past them. They think nothing, gradually becoming numb until death, knowing no one will save them. But if someone suddenly stops in front of them, believing they are being kind, and carries them away, without truly saving them from death, merely placing them on a grassy patch—warmer than the previous cold ground—they're still going to die anyway. Does it matter if they freeze to death or not? This person won't be grateful; instead, they'll resent you for giving them hope. Such a rescue is worse than watching them die like the group that hastily left.
Sun Meng'er is now facing the same situation; she is the one who was half saved but ultimately left.
"Ah, don't come any closer! Don't come any closer! I am the concubine of the Prince Zhi's mansion. If you come any closer, you will be offending me and will be punished!" Sun Meng'er cried out in alarm. Ouyang Yue in the carriage almost cursed her for being an idiot. The more critical the moment, the more a person's intelligence can be seen.
"What? The Queen Consort, that must be a very high-ranking official position."
"She's dressed so well, she must be very rich. Let's arrest her quickly and exchange her for silver and grain. Let's arrest her quickly," said one of the dark-skinned women.
"Yes, grab her and exchange her for silver! Everyone, attack!" The others immediately echoed, reaching out to grab Sun Meng'er. Sun Meng'er was sweating profusely with anxiety: "No, no... you've grabbed the wrong person! This... this is the Princess Consort of Prince Chen. She's far more noble than me; she's a princess! Grab her, grab her!" Sun Meng'er was frantic. Seeing those dirty arms reaching for her, she immediately grabbed Ouyang Yue and pushed her forward.
"Princess Consort Chen, yes, catch her, catch her quickly!" another person shouted from the crowd. Sun Meng'er's eyes flashed slightly, and a smile appeared on her lips: "Princess Consort Chen, you were heartless just now. Look how pitiful they are now. They are starving. Please help them. I don't know about others, but you can definitely do it. You can definitely fill their stomachs."
The men's eyes lit up at the mention of filling their stomachs, and they stared at Ouyang Yue with ravenous hunger, as if they were eyeing a large piece of fat meat. Ouyang Yue glanced at Sun Meng'er and sneered, "So this is why Consort Sun summoned me here today, isn't it?"
Sun Meng'er asked in confusion, "What are you talking about? I only hoped that you would help me, I had no other purpose. Princess Consort Chen is wronging me."
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly: "Oh, did I misspoke? You knew perfectly well that it was inconvenient for the Third Prince to come in person at this time, yet you appeared under the pretext of comforting me. Moreover, contrary to your previous confrontational attitude, you showed me great care. People are most in need of comfort and companionship at this time, and they are also the most vulnerable. Even if I am wary of you, over time, that wariness will gradually dissipate. This is the perfect time to take advantage of your vulnerability." Ouyang Yue's face showed sarcasm. "Miss Sun comes from a wealthy family and has been pampered since childhood. What do you know about the hardships of life? Just now, she eagerly had silver and food delivered to her. If it were the former Consort Sun, she would probably have turned the carriage away immediately because they were dirty. She would never have accepted them. Oh, you want to use this opportunity to ruin my reputation, but this reason alone is far too far-fetched."
Sun Meng'er's face stiffened for a moment, then she said angrily, "What are you saying, Princess Consort Chen? I never thought that after all this time I've been trying so hard to think of you, you would think of me like this. Do you know that I've been holding back my temper to take care of your feelings? Don't you think about how you've been lately? You've been sullen and silent, like you've gone mad. Would anyone else want to talk to you? To think that my good intentions have been taken for granted by you, is there anyone as heartless as you? I was just speaking up for these people. Prince Chen is dead. Who was responsible for this? Putting aside that, Prince Chen left behind such a vast fortune. Do you, a mere woman, really think you can protect it all? You might as well use this disaster to do some good deeds and accumulate some good karma for the young prince, so that you won't be impeached by the court officials and end up dying. Will you be happy guarding all this stuff every day? I'm doing this for your own good."
Ouyang Yue smiled coldly. So this was the purpose. Perhaps there was more to it than that.
Sun Meng'er's eyes were also cold. Although she spoke with righteous indignation, she was actually very happy inside.
Indeed, Sun Zhaoyi's initial refusal to help her reminded her that if she wanted to deal with Baili Su, there was still someone else she truly needed to deal with. This Ouyang Yue, she had to admit, was indeed a formidable figure. She had easily countered Ouyang Yue's attacks several times. To ensure Baili Su's supernatural identity was widely acknowledged, she needed to make it believable. Regarding the withered grass in the palace, she had only spread rumors and waited for an opportunity. Unexpectedly, news of Baili Chen's death followed—a golden opportunity to thrust Baili Su into the limelight. Moreover, something else excited her: a sudden flood in Qizhou City, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. This thrilled her immensely; she no longer needed to spread the word, as the rumor that Baili Su was a harbinger of disaster would spread far and wide.
Of course, Sun Meng'er wanted more than just that. Although Baili Chen was dead, Baili Zhi and Baili Chen were brothers, and although the two had a good relationship, Sun Meng'er deeply resented the Chen Prince's Mansion. Given Baili Chen's past glory, when would it be Baili Zhi's turn to rise to prominence? Even now, with the news that Baili Su was a cursed star, the harem was in turmoil, and the court was submitting memorials demanding Baili Su's punishment. However, Emperor Mingxian was still hesitant, clearly unwilling to let him go. Emperor Mingxian's favoritism towards this little brat meant that Baili Zhi would eventually become Baili Su's stepping stone. Although it was unlikely that Baili Su, given his seniority, could surpass Emperor Mingxian's son and uncle to seize the throne, it was hard to say that Emperor Mingxian might have such thoughts. Therefore, she could not afford to let this opportunity slip by.
If Ouyang Yue dies at this time, the matter of Baili Su's evil star will no longer be able to be suppressed. At that time, Baili Su will definitely be sent away, or even secretly executed. By taking advantage of this opportunity, she can not only get rid of Ouyang Yue, a thorn in her side, but also help Baili Zhi deal with the hidden danger, which will increase the possibility of him seizing the throne. Is there anything better than using someone else to kill and taking advantage of the situation? There is no better opportunity than this. Therefore, she must seize this opportunity.
"Oh, these are Consort Sun's true feelings." Ouyang Yue sneered. She hadn't even done anything yet, and she already had her eyes on the Chen Prince's property. Such a greedy and vicious person truly lived up to the saying, "The most poisonous heart is a woman's." Through Sun Meng'er's words, Ouyang Yue was now certain that Baili Su's affair was almost certainly caused by Sun Meng'er. Since she dared to put her son in danger, then she had no reason to be polite.
If Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue both die in the future, there are several possibilities for the distribution of this estate. One is that the Emperor will order its acquisition, since it includes many items that Emperor Mingxian bestowed upon Baili Chen. Another possibility is that Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua will inherit it, since Ouyang Yue had a substantial dowry when she married, and she also owns many profitable shops, all of which belong to her private property. These can be given to her children, or, if she has no children, can be selectively accepted by her maternal family after their death. Yet another possibility is that Baili Zhi, her elder brother, will inherit Baili Chen's estate, which would also be reasonable.
Although Baili Chen kept a low profile with his businesses, Sun Meng'er knew that he owned many profitable businesses, given Baili Zhi and the Sun family's wealth. Adding to this Ouyang Yue's shops and such, once all the masters of the Chen Prince's mansion were dead, she could spread the rumors even more widely, making it known that Baili Su had murdered his elders. By exerting influence within the royal family, she could prevent Ouyang Yue's businesses from falling into the hands of Princess Shuangxia and her allies. The Chen Prince's mansion's wealth alone would be enough to build Baili Zhi's power base. Furthermore, since Baili Zhi and Baili Chen were brothers, a small number of those who originally followed Baili Chen would naturally selectively help Baili Zhi. Therefore, the deaths of all three members of the Chen Prince's mansion would greatly benefit both Baili Zhi and her.
However, killing a princess is extremely difficult. After much deliberation, Sun Meng'er came up with this plan: to send someone to mingle among the disaster victims and, through their words, spread rumors that Ouyang Yue was rich but heartless, and even have the disaster victims kill Ouyang Yue. This kind of thing had happened before, so it wasn't actually that difficult. Moreover, she had already made arrangements to ensure that Ouyang Yue would not return this time, thus completing her plan.
"Give me the money..."
"I'm hungry, please, give me some food..."
"Give me something to eat!"
"Stop wasting your breath on them! These people are heartless rich people. Quickly overturn the carriage and drag them out as hostages. Do you think they won't hand over their goods? Surround the carriage!" Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out, and the carriage where Ouyang Yue and the others were located was surrounded. They pushed and shoved the servants who had come with the carriage. Although the servants were quite strong, they were no match for these people who were almost starving. Some of them were even pushed out of the crowd.
"Come out... come out!"
"Come out, come out quickly!" After the disaster victims surrounded the carriage, they began to push and pound on it. Some even reached out from the curtains and windows to grab things inside. Ouyang Yue was sitting on the back wall of the carriage and was fine for the time being, but Sun Meng'er was sitting to the side and had her hair grabbed a few times, which made her very angry.
"Arresting me is useless. Look at this one. This is Princess Consort Chen, the princess consort of the emperor's most beloved prince. As long as we capture her, the emperor won't let you go hungry for the sake of his prince." Sun Meng'er was indignant but didn't forget to stir up hatred for Ouyang Yue.
Those people's eyes turned green with envy as they stared at Ouyang Yue. The carriage curtains and window lattices couldn't withstand the tugging and were easily pulled open, revealing the scene inside. Today, Ouyang Yue was still traveling in the relatively understated carriage of the Prince Chen's residence, but it still had tables and chairs inside, with a small incense burner on it emitting a faint fragrance. The golden object made these people dizzy. A golden incense burner? Was it really made of gold? Even if it wasn't, with their experience, they knew it was very valuable. In addition, there were some carved walls, and the carriage was made of mahogany. Who knew they could sue it for some money?
"Come out, come out, come out now!" The people kept pounding on the carriage, some even pushing it, causing it to shake violently. Sun Meng'er lost her grip and fell to the ground with a thud, making the carriage shake even more violently.
Even worse, some people took the horses off the front of the carriage, and several people surrounded them, grabbing sharp objects and attacking the stools. The horses cried out in pain, but these starving people didn't care. They surrounded the horses and began tearing at their flesh, leaving a bloody mess. Sun Meng'er felt nauseous at the sight and quickly signaled to the people in the crowd.
"Hurry up! This horse is huge, but Princess Chen is of such noble status. She can have as many horses as she wants, and as much meat as she wants. Quickly grab her, then we won't have to go hungry anymore. Hurry, grab her!"
"Don't touch the princess!" Dongxue and the others struggled to squeeze in, but Ouyang Yue and Sun Meng'er had already been dragged from the carriage. The others rushed into the carriage to grab what they could, and at this moment, they were no different from bandits.
However, Ouyang Yue didn't blame them at all. When there was no food to eat and all that was left was the instinct to survive, eating had become their basic desire. Talking to them too much at this point would be useless. Moreover, if Sun Meng'er hadn't deliberately provoked these people to their madness, they would have just been waiting for help in a daze. What was truly hateful were those who took advantage of their pitiful state to achieve their own exorbitant profits and desires.
Ouyang Yue was pulled down by several people, but she didn't actually feel any pain because of the clever force. At this time, Dongxue and the others squeezed in to protect her. On the contrary, Sun Meng'er was a bit disheveled when she was pulled down. She struggled and screamed, and ended up messing up her hair.
"You...you all...I am the concubine of Prince Zhi, how dare you be so rude, it's simply outrageous!"
“Princess Consort Chen, your family is wealthy and powerful. Now is the time to show your compassion and benevolence to these displaced people. Please provide some assistance. Someone like you only needs to contribute a tiny fraction to help us through this difficult time.” A dark-faced man stepped out from the crowd. His face was covered in soot, making it difficult to see his features. However, as he spoke, the displaced people looked at Ouyang Yue expectantly. Ouyang Yue remained silent. The dark-faced man sneered, “It is truly rare to see Princess Consort Chen so heartless. Princess Consort Chen probably doesn’t know that we are starving to the point of madness. We are capable of anything. Princess Consort Chen is a smart woman. She should know that no matter how much money you have, you must be alive to spend it. If you are not alive to spend it, then it is all in vain.”
“Hey, this…this is the princess…” An old man next to him, who was still somewhat rational, said in a low voice.
The dark-faced man shouted, "So what if she's a princess? We're all going to die anyway. Using a princess as a cushion will make the court pay more attention to us disaster victims, and allow our families to have a better life in the future. What's there to be afraid of? Such a vicious princess, what does it matter if she dies? She's so heartless and cruel, who knows how many evil deeds she's done in private, how many people she's killed. We're doing a service to the people now. Grab her, strip her naked! Those clothes are worth a lot of money!"
While the crowd hesitated, two men suddenly rushed out and shouted, "Charge! Strip them naked, exchange their clothes for money, and then for food!"
Hearing about food, the refugees' eyes lit up, and they swarmed towards Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue simply watched quietly, a cold smile occasionally playing on her lips. Dong Xue and the others had been protecting Ouyang Yue, and now they had drawn their daggers. These refugees, bewitched, didn't know what they were doing, but those who hadn't lost their minds knew that if Ouyang Yue were truly stripped of her clothes, she would be ruined even if she didn't die. If they then encountered Baili Chen and there was no news of him, everyone would assume he was dead, and Ouyang Yue might be ordered to be buried alive with him. These people harbored the idea that they wanted to kill Ouyang Yue and then defile her to their heart's content; their intentions were exceptionally vicious.
Sun Meng'er stood to the side, her eyes crinkling with barely concealed pleasure. She had finally waited for this moment. To watch Ouyang Yue die, suffering the humiliation of these lowly commoners before her death, leaving her with an indelible stain of shame even in death. A woman who lost her virtue before death deserved to die. For someone who brought such scandal to the royal family to want her dowry back was simply a pipe dream.
Ouyang Yue and the others were quickly surrounded in a circle. At the front were several men with shifty eyes, led by a dark-faced man, who reached out to grab Ouyang Yue's chest.
"Smack!"
"ah!"
Suddenly, a streak of blood shot out from the sky, and the man's hand was slashed off with a sound. His arm was severed, and the man rolled on the ground in pain. The disaster victims, led by the dark-faced man, were so frightened by this scene that they retreated one after another.
Dongxue's face was like that of a demon: "This is the Princess Consort of Chen. Her status is noble. Who dares to offend her? Not only will you die, but your families will also die. If you don't believe me, try it."
The hunger in the eyes of the disaster victims faded a little. In ancient times, the common people still had a different kind of awe for the royal family. If they hadn't been so hungry, and if someone hadn't deliberately instigated and provoked them, they would never have dared to do this. Ouyang Yue suddenly thought of her grandfather's death. He had also been trampled to death by the chaotic disaster victims. Why would those irrational disaster victims treat a general who was wholeheartedly for them, and why would they treat a truly good general who protected his country like this?
A cold glint flashed in Ouyang Yue's eyes. Her current experience had convinced her that her grandfather's death was not as simple as a disaster relief riot. Clearly, someone had deliberately tried to harm him. What a clever scheme to kill someone with a borrowed knife! She was determined to find that person!
However, Dongxue's intimidating power did not last long. Instead, the dark-faced man shouted, "You...you are so cruel! We only need food. If you hand it over, why would we make things difficult for you? How could you be so cruel as to injure his hand? How will he live in the future? You heinous criminals, you deserve to die!"
"Damn it, they deserve to die. Even at a time like this, they still deliberately hurt people. They are demons. Kill them quickly to avenge our companions."
"Damn it, revenge!"
"Kill her!"
"Yes, kill her! Kill her now! Everyone, attack together!"
A group of people instantly glared angrily at Ouyang Yue, looking as if they wanted to devour her. Ouyang Yue smiled coldly, but the dark-faced man felt a chill run down his spine. Something wasn't right. Most women would have been terrified in this situation, so why was this Princess Consort of Chen so calm from beginning to end? Even the most composed person would have to consider the safety of these disaster victims who only cared about food. What was she thinking? Why did he have a bad feeling?
Just then, the disaster victims were enraged and charged at Ouyang Yue, roaring as they rushed forward. Dongxue and the other attendants protected Ouyang Yue and retreated. Dongxue asked anxiously, "Your Highness, what should we do now?"
"wait!"
"Wait?" Dongxue was stunned. She heard Ouyang Yue say calmly, "Protect yourselves and don't get hurt. Remember those who are shouting the loudest. Apart from them, if a fight breaks out, you can hit and scold the disaster victims, but don't take their lives. Stop when you've made a move."
Although Dongxue's group wasn't the core members of the First Killing Alliance, they were all assassins, each with considerable martial arts skills. Killing these refugees would be a piece of cake for them, even if it meant taking on two at a time. Fighting without causing serious injury was more difficult than killing them outright. However, Dongxue knew that Ouyang Yue never did anything reckless, so she nodded seriously.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Kill them!"
Some of the disaster victims carried wooden sticks for support, some carried hoes and other items, and some ran alongside, while others collapsed due to exhaustion. Although the number of people involved was considerable, it did not cause much of an impact. However, the sheer number of people was overwhelming. Dongxue and the others left two to protect Ouyang Yue, while the rest rushed out. Although they used their strength to strike the victims, they only managed to temporarily disable them, causing them to retreat to the side with cries of pain. The victims were directly driven back by Dongxue and the others, while Sun Meng'er watched anxiously from the side.
These lowly maids Ouyang Yue brought are quite capable. This can't go on. I should have known better than to let my second brother come later; we could have used the momentum of the suppression to take the opportunity to kill Ouyang Yue and her people—it would have been much easier. Sun Meng'er's eyes darted around, and a wicked plan formed in her mind: "Princess Consort Chen, how can you be so heartless? If it weren't for your son, the Crown Prince Chen, being a celestial demon reincarnated, causing disaster to the world, there wouldn't have been this flood. These people are suffering because of the Crown Prince Chen, and they're just asking you to do what you can. Why can't you help them? Ultimately, isn't all of this your fault? You are the culprits, and you should bear the responsibility. Otherwise, if these disaster victims really get angry and beat you to death, it won't be up to anyone!"
Sun Meng'er wasn't trying to persuade them at all. The moment those disaster victims heard the name "Demon Star," their faces were filled with deep hatred. They had escaped the flood, lost their homes, and some had been separated from their families. Some of their relatives had even been swept away and killed by the first wave of floodwaters. All of this had been caused by someone else. Originally, they were filled with anger, but now they were filled with deep hatred. No matter who Ouyang Yue was, they wanted her dead to avenge their loved ones.
“Kill her. She gave birth to a demon star, so she must be a monster herself. Don’t be fooled by her sorcery.”
"Kill her, avenge our loved ones!"
"Kill them!"