Born to Be Either Rich or Noble - Chapter 76

The senior Madam listened to her maid’s description, but still couldn’t imagine just how horrific the second young master’s condition truly was. Only when she staggered into the rear courtyard and saw the blood–soaked, motionless figure thrown onto the ground did the pain in her chest burst open like a scream.

In the neighboring courtyards, the “barbarians” were still slaughtering indiscriminately. Servants fled for their lives—no one spared a thought for their masters.

And in this state, who could even recognize the Park family’s second young master?

Even his mother, upon seeing the head of the man on the ground, could not believe this ruined figure was her proudest son.

The maid hurried to lift him, brushing aside the clotted hair stuck to his face.

When the senior Madam finally saw that familiar yet mangled face, she threw herself forward, pulling her son into her arms and crying in anguish: “My son…”

The second young master’s eyes had been closed. But at the sound of her voice, they slowly opened. His gaze was scattered, unfocused. The once flamboyant, arrogant young heir was now frighteningly quiet—without even the slightest desire to go on living.

The senior Madam stroked his face, trying to soothe him: “Jun’er, it’s your mother. It’s all right now. It’s all right. You’re home… you’re home…”

The second young master strained to lift his arm. He turned slightly, attempting to write.

The senior Madam loosened her hold so he could move.

His robes were soaked in blood—especially the stain between his thighs, dark and nearly purple. Using the dried blood on his fingers, he dragged trembling strokes across the green stone tiles, pouring out every remaining ounce of strength.

Tonight, there was no need to light lanterns. The entire estate was already ablaze.

The senior Madam saw clearly what he wrote: [Kill me]

Her most gifted son, the one she had been proudest of, the strongest bearer of the Park bloodline… he had always bullied others. And today—he had been tortured to the point that he begged his own mother to grant him death.

What inhuman torment had he been put through?

Her pain hardened into hatred.

The doctor did not arrive in time. The second young master died in his mother’s arms—whether from blood loss or sheer agony, no one could say. He had been gone for quite some time before the senior Madam even realized.

At last the maid whispered, voice breaking: “The second young master… the second young master was—”

Castrated.

The maid didn’t finish the final word. The senior Madam could no longer bear to hear any more.

Blood debts must be repaid with blood. She would kill Mingfeng.

She had already failed to assassinate the heir tonight. Song Yunzhi was waiting to interrogate her. As for the second wave of “barbarians,” she had no idea where they came from.

Everything was already in chaos—she didn’t mind adding to it.

She wanted Mingfeng to die in this night of madness. If she refused the marriage, then so be it. Let her go to the underworld and atone for the second young master’s suffering.

The senior Madam summoned her most skilled killer. “At all costs, bring me Mingfeng’s head.”

When the first wave of “barbarians” burst in, Mingfeng had been escorted to the rear courtyard by the senior Madam and the princess. Outside, flames painted the sky red—yet the rear courtyard was unnaturally calm.

It didn’t take long for Mingfeng to realize something was wrong. She turned sharply to the princess. “You planned to kill the heir tonight?”

The princess didn’t answer—but she wasn’t denying it.

The royal household had many princes. Mingfeng was only the youngest daughter. She had never taken part in their affairs, but that didn’t mean she was ignorant.

She stared in disbelief. “You dare to go this far? Aren’t you afraid of being wiped out in return?”

Was the man who once stood guard at the city gates for the sake of the people—truly her father?

Was Jiangning not enough? He wanted Yangzhou too?

Did he truly think he could swallow it whole?

But the Prince of Pingchang had many sons. Why wouldn’t he think he could?

Mingfeng had already caused trouble once tonight, nearly ruining their plans. The princess had yet to reprimand her, but now Mingfeng was the one asking questions. The princess knew Mingfeng was close to Song Yunzhi and feared she would grow soft-hearted and cause further chaos. She signaled to two maids:

“Take the princess back to her quarters. Without my permission, she is not to leave tonight.”

Mingfeng’s courtyard was the same one that used to belong to the second young master.

The second young master of the Park family enjoyed the company of men, but he could never bring them into his rooms openly for fear his mother might discover it. So he built a secret chamber inside his own quarters.

Conveniently, Mingfeng had been hiding the second young master in that very secret room these past days.

In her absence, Lan Yizhi had been guarding him.

The two maids stood watch at the entrance, refusing to let her out. So Mingfeng went straight to the hidden room. As soon as she entered, she saw Lan Yizhi slumped on the floor, clothes disheveled, a knife shaking in his hand; opposite him lay the second young master—naked from the waist down, trembling violently.

That part of him was nothing but mangled flesh—clearly destroyed.

Mingfeng stopped short, thoroughly stunned by Lan Yizhi.

She had never expected the always-timid young master Lan to be so ruthless—cutting out the man’s tongue wasn’t enough; he had gone on to ruin him entirely.

Lan Yizhi was terrified. Before she could even speak, he threw the knife aside and stammered, trembling: “Princess, I—I was only trying to dress his wounds… he—he tried to… violate me. I—I lost my temper and…”

His voice broke repeatedly. His face was chalk white. He tugged his slipping robe back over his shoulder, arms wrapped tightly around himself in shame and fear.

He didn’t need to pretend.

Mingfeng looked at the second young master now the way one would look at a corpse.

He could live or die as he pleased. None of it mattered to her. Much bigger things were happening outside. She couldn’t sit and wait for death. She told Lan Yizhi:

“Enough. He won’t last long anyway. Drag him out and dump him somewhere tonight.”

Lan Yizhi managed to haul the man out of the secret room—but before he could throw him away, the second wave of “barbarians” arrived.

Their assault was fierce and direct—straight for the rear courtyard.

The two maids outside barely had time to scream before falling silent.

Mingfeng immediately drew the soft sword from her waist. She was about to charge out when the doors suddenly burst open from the outside. The “barbarians” stormed in.

Lan Yizhi seized her arm, pulling her toward the rear window. He shoved it open and urged her to jump. “Princess, hurry!”

Mingfeng barely had time to understand before being forced through the window. Lan Yizhi leapt after her, keeping hold of her arm as he dragged her desperately toward the stables.

As they ran, he panted out: “I know that man—he’s the senior Madam’s top killer. You can’t beat him…”

Mingfeng’s expression darkened.

So the senior Madam intended to kill her as well?

Over an insult she’d thrown at her son during the banquet?

She glanced back. The courtyard she had been living in was already overrun, flames spreading quickly.

A wise fighter doesn’t clash with a superior foe. Mingfeng sprinted forward. “To the prefect’s residence!”

She didn’t know whether Song Yunzhi was still alive—or whether he could last until reinforcements arrived.

They seized two horses from the stable and galloped out through the Park family gates. But when they reached the prefect’s residence, it was empty.

Only a handful of guards remained.

Mingfeng instantly understood: everything tonight had been engineered by her father and the Park family. They were set on killing the heir.

She whipped the reins hard and rode toward Huainan—to find Shen Che, who was stationed there.

It was on the road that they encountered the senior Madam’s assassin.

Mingfeng had practiced martial arts since childhood and excelled with the soft sword. Against an ordinary killer, she would have no trouble. But tonight, the senior Madam had sent her best.

She was no match.

She was quickly stabbed several times.

Finally, after being thrown from her horse and forced to the brink, Mingfeng realized she would not escape tonight. She shouted toward the woods where Lan Yizhi hid:

“Go! Find Shen Che in Huainan!”

The assassin only wanted her. When they clashed, Lan Yizhi, who knew no martial arts, had wisely stayed far away.

Now, seeing clearly that the princess was losing, he didn’t hesitate. After hearing her order, he wheeled his horse and fled at full speed.

Mingfeng caught a glimpse of the vanishing horse tail and gritted her teeth.

Coward. And fast, too.

Barely holding on for two more strikes, just as her strength collapsed, she suddenly heard the pounding of another horse. Shocked, she looked up—

It was Lan Yizhi again, the pale pretty-boy himself. Whether out of guilt or some shred of conscience, he had returned—holding several thunder-crackers in his hand, arm raised high as if ready to throw.

“Princess, move!”

The moment the words left his mouth, one of the explosives dropped to the ground not far from both of them.

Mingfeng: “…”

Was he trying to blow her up too?

Taking advantage of the assassin’s brief distraction, Mingfeng rolled several yards away. Explosions went off one after another beside her ears. She didn’t dare stop for even a moment, pushing herself forward with every ounce of strength.

After throwing all the Thunder-Bursts he had, Lan Yizhi finally charged over on horseback and reached down to her. “Princess, get on!”

By the time Mingfeng clambered onto his horse and sat upright, she felt barely alive. She gritted her teeth. “You had these—why didn’t you use them sooner?”

Lan Yizhi, terrified she would fall, held the reins with one hand and grabbed her arm with the other. As always, he looked both frightened and guilty. “I… I forgot…”

The Princess Consort waited in the rear courtyard for a while before seeing the Prince escorted back by his attendants.

Prince Pingchang’s arm had been slashed twice by the intruders, blood streaming freely. The Princess Consort hurried him inside, dismissed everyone, and whispered, “How is it? Do you have the confidence to eliminate him?”

Though it had been a staged encounter, the wounds were real—flesh torn open, the pain making the Prince sweat. “His mother didn’t train him in vain. His skill is far better than I expected.”

The Princess Consort’s heart tightened. “Then will it succeed?”

“It depends on Madam Piao.” Pingchang Prince lay down on the couch, waiting for the physician. “The Piao family hasn’t been idle over the years. The three assassins Madam Piao keeps close—any one of them is worth a hundred of our palace guards…”
(t/n: “Madam Piao” refers to the matriarch of the Piao family, a powerful noble household.)

Five years had passed. His household had grown wealthier, but the Piao family had grown even stronger.

The Princess Consort wanted to ask more, but the Prince, exhausted and in pain, interrupted, “Enough, don’t worry. Whether it succeeds has nothing to do with us.”

If it succeeds, the conflict between the court and the intruders will temporarily suspend the canal issue. If it fails, there will be disorder between the Piao family and the court for a while. Once the Piao family is weakened by the court, the family head will come begging to him, and then everything will be negotiable.

The physician soon arrived and bandaged his wounds. The sounds of fighting outside gradually subsided, and it was unclear which side had won. The two waited in silence until a guard entered and reported, “Your Highness, Prince Song has arrived.”

The Prince and Princess Consort immediately realized that Madam Piao’s plan had failed that night.

The Princess Consort silently cursed Madam Piao, scoffing at her so-called abilities. Prince Song was still alive and had come to visit, checking on the Prince’s injuries.

Prince Pingchang couldn’t help but blame his age. Not only had he failed to help the prince, but he had also endangered him. He added, “Both coastal defenses were guarded by the Piao family. How did the intruders suddenly cross and attack the city? I wonder if any civilians were harmed…”

He hurriedly ordered his subordinates, “Go along the route and check. Make sure the people are reassured. No panic must arise…”

Prince Song’s expression remained calm. “They are not the intruders.”

Both the Prince and Princess Consort froze.

Prince Song didn’t elaborate. He stood and said, “Your Highness, rest here first. Once the county authorities have cleared the assassins, I will escort you both back.”

Once he left, the Princess Consort’s composure broke. She had heard clearly—Prince Song said assassins, not intruders. He already suspected something. Fuming, she cursed Madam Piao again in her heart but, still uneasy, went to find her.

Halfway there, she encountered a second wave of intruders. She had assumed Madam Piao had planned a backup—if the first attempt failed, there would be a second—but these intruders did not go to the front courtyard to find Prince Song; they stormed the rear courtyard, taking anyone they saw, without distinction.

The Princess Consort’s heart pounded. Could it be that Madam Piao intended to eliminate them as well? It was not impossible. If they could have two minds, why not the Piao family?

Suddenly remembering Mingfeng, she hurried over, only to find Madam Piao slumped on the courtyard ground, cradling a man drenched in blood. Judging by the appearance, he was dead.

The Princess Consort, not recognizing him as Madam Piao’s son, Piao Er, grew furious at the failure of the plan. She demanded in a cold, hard voice, “What happened? Prince Song is perfectly alive. These people are yours? Where is Mingfeng?”

At the mention of Mingfeng, Madam Piao completely broke down. She had not gone to find her, and yet the girl had come. Madam Piao let out a piercing wail, calling out her surname, “Wei! The Piao family has given its heart and soul to your Pingchang House. Whatever you asked over the years, we provided, treating you like deities. How could you treat my son this way?!”

Thinking of the torment her son had suffered, her desire to live faltered. She shouted in rage, “How dare you even mention that bastard of yours!”

Who was she cursing?

The Princess Consort froze, suddenly noticing Madam Piao’s eyes bloodshot and veins bulging in her neck from the intensity of her shout. “What do you mean?” She was baffled by Madam Piao’s sudden madness, and anger welled in her.

One of Madam Piao’s maids, crying, said, “It was Princess Mingfeng who killed Piao Er!”

What?

The Princess Consort was stunned.

“Princess Mingfeng hid him in her room. She cut out Piao Er’s tongue, tortured him for over a month, and in the end… even removed his manhood…”

After the maid spoke, the Princess Consort felt her head spin. The man in Madam Piao’s arms was Piao Er? Mingfeng had already been dissatisfied with this arranged marriage, and the Princess Consort had no reason to doubt she could commit such madness—but now, what could be done? The immediate crisis needed attention first. She told Madam Piao, “If she truly did this, I will give you an explanation. Madam, please mourn, but first prioritize the greater situation. Handle the pressing matters at hand.”

What did she mean by “pressing matters”? Wasn’t her son’s life a pressing matter?

Madam Piao immediately argued with the Princess Consort, “He came crawling out of your daughter’s room! If not her, then who else? Murder must be paid with blood. Princess, you owe an explanation for my son’s death!”

Was she insane? Arguing at a time like this? Prince Song was still alive, and they had no idea if the second wave of intruders was under Madam Piao’s control. If those intruders fell into Prince Song’s hands, how could she manage? She had no clue.

No matter what the Princess Consort said, Madam Piao clung like a madwoman, demanding an explanation. Knowing debate was useless, the Princess Consort told the maid, “Go find Mingfeng!” and turned to return to Prince Pingchang.

Halfway there, the maid behind her suddenly went silent.

The Princess Consort turned just as a knife pierced her back with such force it drove through her ribs and into her heart.

Overcome by searing pain, her eyes widened, her body convulsed, and she could not make a sound. Fear exploded in her heart.

The Piao family dared?

Madam Piao herself dared?

Blood stained her back and dripped onto the hand of the person holding the knife. A girl’s voice whispered from behind, “Does it hurt? Five years ago, at the city gates, those you killed—did it hurt?”

In that instant, the Princess Consort recalled the faces from five years ago.

“Merchants from Yangzhou, Qian Mincheng is here!”
“Your Highness, we cannot retreat. Hold the city gates! Wait for the Shu army…”

The scene shifted to a terrifying vision of Prince Pingchang’s own grim face. “Kill!”

Who was she? How did she know… Prince?

Fear instantly painted itself across the Princess Consort’s face, freezing it into an expression of sheer terror at the moment of her death.

From the moment the “intruders” landed at the docks that night, they had fallen into the trap meticulously laid by Song Yunzhi. Every single one was caught. Nothing escaped.

But he didn’t know there would be a second wave.

Once informed, Song Yunzhi rushed to the rear courtyard, but he was too late. The second wave had arrived suddenly, fire spreading everywhere, screams and cries of women filling the air.

Song Yunzhi quickly realized that this second wave seemed only to create chaos, setting fires to scatter the people. No one had actually been harmed.

The first wave had been hired by Madam Piao with the goal of taking his life.

But the second wave was different.

Though he didn’t yet know their purpose, they were clearly not part of the Piao family—they were enemies, targeting the Piao family, or perhaps the Prince himself…