Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

After Lingyan calmly and sharply glanced at the bandits after they appeared, she knew what was going on.

They're just a bunch of rabble, nothing to worry about.

So an idea came to her mind.

She sat upright on her horse, her voice clear and crisp as she looked at the bandit leader and said, "Why haven't we set off yet? Aren't you going to rob us and take us back?"

The bandit leader was taken aback, suspecting that her cooperation was a trap.

So Lingyan deliberately sneered disdainfully, "I thought you were so powerful, but it turns out you're just all bark and no bite. You're so afraid of me, a mere woman, that you're so hesitant. What else can you possibly accomplish?"

Upon hearing this, the bandit leader immediately stiffened his neck and roared like an enraged tiger, "Who said I'm afraid of you? Humph! Since you're so eager to become my wife, I'll grant your wish!"

After saying this, he reached for Lingyan's horse, seemingly wanting to demonstrate his authority.

However, Lingyan did not give him that chance. She refused, saying, "I can ride a horse myself, and I'm very good at it. You don't need to worry about me."

Upon hearing this, the bandit leader's eyes flashed with surprise, but it quickly turned into a playful smile.

Then he looked at the crowd behind Ling Yan and said, "I can let you two young ladies and that handsome man go up the mountain, but no one else is allowed to follow."

Ling Yan replied without hesitation, "Okay."

They were all civil officials anyway, and had no power to protect themselves.

On the contrary, the guards will have to be distracted by protecting them later.

So all the bodyguards need to do is follow her.

Upon hearing this, the bandit leader smiled with satisfaction, a smile filled with smugness and cunning.

He then led the way, as if showing off his territory or flaunting it to Lingyan.

Ling Yan completely ignored him.

She knew that everyone was worried about her and did not approve of her actions.

So she smiled at everyone and said, "Don't worry, everyone. After I go up the mountain with the bandits, I won't have to work so hard delivering goods anymore! How wonderful that is! I can live a good life from now on! So friends, don't worry, hurry back."

After saying that, he turned around and followed the bandits away in a dashing manner.

Yunmeng and Chu Xiyao naturally followed along.

In any case, whatever the Crown Princess/Ling Ling wants to do, they only need to follow along.

The officials who remained in place were filled with worry.

They gazed in the direction Ling Yan had left, their hearts filled with worry and unease.

At this moment, Lord Feng stepped forward to reassure everyone, saying, "Everyone, there's no need to worry. The Crown Princess is exceptionally intelligent and has the Eastern Palace's secret guards with her. That rabble is no match for her. Therefore, the Crown Princess will not suffer any harm. We just need to wait where we are. If we follow her up the mountain, we will only become a burden to the Crown Princess."

Upon hearing this, everyone's worries subsided, and they waited quietly in place.

With the Crown Princess's abilities, she must be safe since she dared to venture into the lion's den.

………………

At this moment, Lingyan was riding a tall and mighty chestnut horse, its hooves clattering on the rugged mountain road with a deep and powerful sound.

This mountain road is like a winding giant python, coiling among the mountains.

The road was covered with stones of different sizes, some sharp as knives and others round like eggs. Every time a horse's hoof landed, it had to carefully avoid the traps that could cause it to stumble.

One side of the mountain road is a steep cliff with no bottom in sight.

A few crooked pine trees grow sparsely on the edge of the cliff, their branches stretching outwards as if desperately grasping at this last bit of space to survive.

Looking down from the edge of the cliff, all one sees is swirling mist and clouds, which sends a chill down one's spine.

On the other side are rolling hills covered with waist-high wild grass that sways gracefully in the breeze.

Various unnamed wildflowers dot the grass, but beneath this beautiful appearance lie countless thorns and traps; a slight misstep can result in scratches.

Ahead of the three of them, several bandits led the way.

The other bandits were behind them, there to keep an eye on them and prevent them from escaping.

As they continued to climb, the outline of the mountain stronghold gradually appeared on the distant mountain peaks.

It was a fortress built of wood and stone, surrounded by a high fence.

It turns out that the location of the counterfeit store is so hard to find.

Without someone familiar with the area to guide you, it would be very difficult to find.

This is because these mountain bandits dare to act so recklessly, taking advantage of the steep terrain, difficult mountain roads, and numerous traps. The imperial court has no way to deal with this.

It's not that there's no way out.

The main reason is that I feel it's not worth it.

Because the manpower and resources required to wipe out a mountain stronghold are far less than the value of capturing the stronghold itself.

Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the imperial court will not issue an edict to annihilate them, as it would be too unwise.

Unless there is a very necessary reason.

For example, when the tenth prince lost his leg, Emperor Jingzhao was determined to wipe them out to avenge his son, which led to the complete annihilation of these bandits.

How come new bandits have appeared and settled here so soon?

Upon arriving at the mountain stronghold, the leader, before even going inside, excitedly shouted from outside, "Brothers, come out quickly! Look at our newly captured wife!"

As soon as the loud voice rang out, the entire village erupted in chaos.

A group of his henchmen rushed out from their various tents and wooden huts.

Curious and excited gazes all focused on Lingyan and the other two.

The people in the mountain village began to whisper among themselves and discuss the matter.

"Hey, there are three new wives here! And that man is really handsome!" A tall, thin bandit squeezed to the front, staring intently at the three of them.

"Brother, you're really something! You even managed to get your hands on such a beauty!" another burly man chimed in loudly, a malicious smile on his face.

Upon hearing this, the chieftain glared at the crowd and shouted, "Shut up, all of you! These are all my men, and none of you are to try anything funny!"

Lingyan had reached her limit in enduring their disgusting gazes.

So he secretly made a hand gesture.

Instantly, the guards from both sides appeared, and the battle was over in less than a quarter of an hour.

These bandits were indeed no match for them.

At this moment, all the bandits were tied up in the open space outside.

The palace guards reported to Lingyan: "Your Highness, there are 280 bandits in the stronghold, along with 52 kidnapped women and two old women from the kitchen."

At this moment, all 280 bandits were tightly bound with ropes, lying sprawled on the ground, their faces ashen.

When they heard the words "Crown Princess," their eyes were filled with endless fear and dread, and their previous arrogance vanished without a trace.

They were trembling all over, their lips were quivering, and their teeth were chattering.

Their eyes turned to Ling Yan in fear, but they no longer dared to stare at her openly. They only glanced at her briefly before hurriedly lowering their heads.

"Spare us! Your Highness, spare us! We'll never dare to do it again!"

A burly bandit begged for mercy at the top of his lungs, his voice trembling with sobs, tears and snot streaming down his face, leaving streaks on his filthy skin.

"Please have mercy and spare us! We've been blinded by greed and delusion!" another bandit cried out hoarsely, his voice sharp and piercing with extreme fear.

Those faces that were usually fierce and menacing were now twisted into pitiful and pathetic expressions.

Lingyan remained unmoved by this.

On the other side, the fifty-two kidnapped women stood there blankly, their eyes vacant and lifeless.

Their clothes were tattered, their hair was disheveled, and their faces were etched with pain and hardship.

The prolonged torment had almost numbed their souls, and they showed little surprise or hope at the current situation.

Their souls had left their bodies; their faces were expressionless, and they moved mechanically with the crowd, unresponsive to anything around them.

The two old women in the kitchen also looked terrified.

Their hair was gray, their faces were wrinkled, and their bodies were hunched over with fear.

One of the old women cried out, her voice hoarse and trembling: "Your Highness, we were also kidnapped to cook! We are all unfortunate people, please spare us!"

Another old woman, wiping away tears, cried out, "We live in constant fear in this mountain village, forced to work, and we never dare to disobey them!"