21. The Flying Swallow Casts Herself into the Well

As the group stepped out of the main gate, they were met by a surging crowd that had gathered around the captive Qian Sheng, packing the area so tightly not even a drop of water could pass through.

"Hahaha! Old dog Qian Sheng, so this day has finally come for you!"

"You destroyed my family and ruined my life! Today, I’m taking your wretched life!"

"You seized my land and drove my wife and child to their deaths, you beast!"

The crowd swarmed forward, raining down punches and kicks, some even biting him with their teeth. Qian Sheng wailed, his eyes filled with pure terror. Seeing this, Qian Jiaojiao’s body trembled, her usually arrogant face turning deathly pale.

Jing Chen ordered the crowd to stop the beating: "Keep him alive for now. Let’s go ransack his estate first."

"Understood!"

"We follow the Prince's lead."

"The Prince has led us to our vengeance today; from this day on, our lives belong to him!"

The crowd responded in unison, their voices echoing with fervor. Jing Chen then picked a nimble-footed man from the crowd and pointed toward the southern road: "Go guard the intersection. If a large force approaches, go to the Jingzhao Prefecture office and report it."

Though confused, the man nodded and replied, "Yes."

Inside the Qian family dungeon, cries of agony echoed incessantly. The iron cages were packed with people, all of them ragged, half-naked, and covered in wounds. Feiyan sat with her hair disheveled and her clothes in tatters, her gaze vacant and her spirit broken. Heavy chains dragged from her ankles, the clanking sound with every small movement like the chime of a death knell. Her snow-white skin was marred with burns from incense candles—on her chest, stomach, waist, and thighs. Some were red and blistered, while others were festering with pus. It was a harrowing, unbearable sight.

Qian Hao stood nearby, his face twisted in a sinister grin, his eyes lecherous. One of his thugs held an incense candle in his left hand and a leather whip in his right, his eyes scanning the cages, looking for someone with unblemished skin to toy with.

"Young Master!" A man stumbled into the dungeon, panic-stricken. "Young Master, something terrible has happened!"

"What kind of nonsense could it be?!" Qian Hao barked. "Didn't Father go to resolve the matter at the gambling den? Those blind fools, do they really think they can touch my family's money?"

"No... the Master and the Young Lady have both been captured. The Seventh Prince has stormed the gates!"

"The Seventh Prince!?" Qian Hao’s eyes widened: "That’s impossible!"

No sooner had he spoken than a chaotic din erupted outside the dungeon. The messenger, losing his nerve, turned and fled without looking back.

Qian Hao’s expression shifted; he grabbed a blade from the dungeon wall and rushed toward the entrance. Upon reaching the door, he froze, his pupils dilating and his hand trembling as he gripped the sword. The scene before him was beyond his belief; his jaw hung so low an egg could have fit inside.

His father, usually so formidable, was being dragged along like a dead dog. His sister, usually so overbearing and cruel, had her neck locked by her own leather whip. Qian Hao had been lashed by that very whip countless times since childhood. Her clothes were in disarray, with clear drag marks on her red dress. The witch who bullied everyone else had clearly met her match. Holding the other end of the whip was none other than Jing Chen.

Qian Hao’s throat tightened, and he stammered, "Impossible... how could this be... what are you doing?!"

"Nothing much, just collecting a debt." Jing Chen smiled and flicked a promissory note. "Pay back this amount, and I’ll be on my way."

Qian Hao counted the figures: ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... hundred thousand... billion... What the hell!

Qian Hao lost his composure and erupted: "You idiot! Who the hell are you trying to scam?"

"Insolent!" Zhang Meng barked, closing the distance to Qian Hao in an instant. Before Qian Hao could even raise his blade, he felt a sharp pain in his face and was sent rolling across the floor.

"Ah!" A miserable shriek escaped him. As he tried to push himself up, five or six teeth mixed with blood spilled from his mouth. Zhang Meng stepped forward and pinned him under his boot.

Jing Chen had Shi Qian take the keys, open the iron gates, and release everyone inside. Some wept uncontrollably, others sobbed in each other's arms. They all fell to their knees. Jing Chen raised his hands in a gesture of comfort: "You have all suffered; we are late in coming!"

With the head of the Qian family captured and the household caught off guard, the estate was in utter turmoil. As with the gambling den, Zhao Hu was in charge of sealing the exits, while Zhang Meng dealt with the resistance. Any staff who dared to fight back were quickly neutralized.

Large quantities of account books, land deeds, and property titles were seized. The gold, silver, banknotes, and copper coins were still being tallied.

Late that night, Jing Wei, having consumed Five-Stone Powder, was dallying with a beauty.

"Your Highness," someone called urgently from the door.

"Scoundrel!" Jing Wei roared. "Do you want to die for disturbing me in the middle of the night?"

"Your Highness, the monkey from the Liyuan Gambling Den requests an audience. It concerns the Seventh Prince and the head of the Qian family," the servant said helplessly.

"Let him wait in the main hall. I will be there shortly," Jing Wei said impatiently.

After a while, Jing Wei finished dressing, looking satisfied. In the hall, the two met. After the monkey paid his respects, he recounted everything that had happened at the gambling den in painstaking detail.

Upon hearing the report, Jing Wei’s face changed color: "Such a thing happened?"

"Would I dare lie to you, Your Highness? Every word is true!" the monkey replied.

Jing Wei’s eyes turned fierce, and he let out a sinister laugh: "Old Seven, you’ve got some nerve! You’re playing a game of 'dog eat dog' with me. If you like to play dirty, I’ll make sure you break your teeth." He then summoned his trusted servant and whispered instructions into his ear.

Wang Chao helped Feiyan sit down in the courtyard. Feiyan said softly, "Brother Wang Chao, my feet hurt terribly; they are raw from the chains. Please find me some cloth so I can bandage them."

Wang Chao left, and Feiyan, noticing a well in the courtyard, seized the chance to send him away. Tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, and she whispered to herself: "My Prince, Feiyan is already defiled, a fallen flower. Those beasts left countless scars on me with their candles. I have no face to see you, nor can I face myself. Forgive me! My Prince, in the next life, I will surely be pure and clean when I serve you!"

A dull thud echoed, and Feiyan vanished. The courtyard was empty. Wang Chao, realizing what had happened, stumbled toward the well, his heart sinking into the silence of the deep water. He turned and sprinted toward the house.

Jing Chen heard the news and was struck by a moment of blank shock. A moment later, his eyes ignited with killing intent as he strode into the room.