Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 1471: Ill Intentions

Editor: Henyee Translations

Sun Bai, Sun Qian, and the rest led the effort to clean up the aftermath, tending to the wounded and providing necessary first aid. The ordinary followers, although visibly shaken, staggered forward to offer their assistance. Their limbs trembled, and many could scarcely move due to exhaustion.

None of the attackers survived the encounter.

Sun Bai and Sun Qian felt a sense of remorse but recognized the necessity of their actions.

Afterward, they invited Shao Yunduan to a quiet spot.

“Lord, those people, despite their disguises as mountain bandits and their concealed identities, are certainly not typical mountain bandits. Genuine mountain bandits lack the coordination and training we just witnessed. These individuals possess highly disciplined skills, suggesting systematic and prolonged training. It’s unlikely that common mountain bandits could achieve this level of proficiency. I suspect their background…”

There was a significant likelihood, around 80% to 90%, that they were dispatched by one of the princes, with the Fourth Prince being the prime suspect.

However, lacking concrete evidence, Sun Bai refrained from making baseless accusations.

Shao Yunduan nodded and replied thoughtfully, “I anticipated this would occur, and their presence reassures me. Nevertheless, I have a strong sense they won’t give up easily. We must remain vigilant. Instruct them to maintain heightened patrols and to report any suspicious activity to me immediately.”

“Understood, My Lord.”

Sun Bai and Sun Qian nodded gravely, sharing Shao Yunduan’s sentiments. This was merely the beginning, not the conclusion.

Each of the princes harbored deep-seated animosities against the Crown Prince, and the opportunity to undermine his standing was too tempting to resist. Whether it was solely the Fourth Prince or if other princes were involved remained unclear.

As the Crown Prince, Shao Yunduan was under constant scrutiny. He was cautious with his words and actions, refraining from making confrontational statements against his brothers to avoid tarnishing his reputation. This cautious approach allowed his siblings to accrue more power over time.

Their organization boasted a substantial number of individuals under their command.

Having already initiated action, they couldn’t simply abandon their efforts. It was evident, though, that after the considerable delay, they wouldn’t be able to exit the Black Pine Forest before nightfall, which further heightened everyone’s anxiety.

Shao Yunduan remained unperturbed, calmly suggesting, “We might as well limit our travels for the day. Once we cross this rocky slope, we can find a suitable spot to spend the night. With our large group, we need to be cautious. In a way, the forest’s intricate environment serves as a form of protection for us.”

Witnessing his composed demeanor, the group found some solace and concurred with his decision.

Shao Yunduan boarded Qiao Xuan’s carriage and transferred Lixia and two others to his own. His wife had likely been quite alarmed and needed his presence for comfort.

Drawing the curtain, the carriage started to move at a leisurely pace. Shao Yunduan took Qiao Xuan into his arms, sitting her on his lap, gently reassuring her.

Qiao Xuan’s heart warmed with a mixture of emotions, leaving her uncertain whether to laugh or cry. Nevertheless, she felt a sense of pride within herself, understanding the importance of demonstrating her courage and composure to her husband.

Shao Yunduan, seeing her unshaken demeanor, found immense relief.

Throughout the journey, everyone remained on high alert and eventually traversed the rocky slope. After covering less than three miles, they halted and set up camp.