The Crown Prince, dressed in magnificent silk robes, carried himself with the upright grace of a pine. His stride was light yet steady, as if he knew every inch of this land by heart. He led his entourage forward, and after passing through a dense thicket of trees, the view suddenly opened up. Before them lay a town that looked like a true utopia.
The town nestled against the mountains and bordered a river, surrounded by lush green hills and crystal-clear streams. Birds sang joyfully in the mountains, their crisp, melodic songs echoing through the air. By the roadside, colorful flowers competed in beauty, releasing an intoxicating fragrance. Suddenly, sounds of people collapsing came from behind. Something was wrong—there was a toxic mist here. The Crown Prince turned to see Princess Sixi had also collapsed to the ground. He tried to reach out to lift her up, but he found his entire body drained of strength.
When consciousness slowly flickered back from the darkness, they found themselves in a dark, damp woodshed that reeked of decay. Their hands and feet were tightly bound with thick ropes, leaving them unable to move an inch. Terror and confusion filled every face; they could not fathom how they had come to such a plight.
Chapter 162