Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 348: Catching a Turtle in a Jar!

Assassins emerging from the darkness hurried under the moonlight.

A group dressed in nightclothes quickly surrounded Zhan Lan’s carriage, clashing with her Hidden Guards.

When the assassins lifted the carriage curtain, they found only a large rock inside.

The leader shouted, "It’s a trap, let’s go!"

Suddenly, a woman in black men’s attire, wearing a golden crown and with her ponytail swaying in the wind, approached on horseback, spear in hand.

Behind her, hundreds of Hidden Guards galloped, bows and crossbows ready, encircling the assassins.

Zhan Lan sat on her horse, her cheeks illuminated by torches, her expression cold as she looked at the dozen assassins.

The skirmish erupted in an instant, and Zhan Lan quickly realized that these assassins were extraordinarily skilled.

"Take them alive!" Zhan Lan roared, and her Hidden Guards charged at the assassins together.

The leading assassin was entangled in a fierce battle with Zhan Lan, striking ruthlessly, each blow aimed to kill Zhan Lan instantly.

Zhan Lan’s spear pierced through his shoulder blade, and with a kick, she knocked him to the ground.

Zhan Lan’s Hidden Guards, with their numerical advantage, quickly subdued the others.

They were well-trained Hidden Guards; they immediately extracted poison pills from the assassins’ mouths.

Zhan Lan, standing on the leader’s back, said coldly, "Speak, who sent you? If you lie, you die!"

The leader suddenly laughed, "You won’t kill me; my people have already taken a hostage!"

Zhan Lan’s heart tightened. Since she was alerted on her wedding night that someone had entered the Regent Prince Mansion, she had always been cautious, not knowing whether she or Mu Yan was the target.

Thus, she always used a decoy when traveling.

The carriage never carried her, and today she finally seized the opportunity to capture this gang.

However, she had not anticipated that the assassins would split into two groups and even take a hostage. Who was the hostage?

"You’re in my hands yet still dare to threaten me!" Zhan Lan stirred her spear forcibly, veins on her foot-bound captive bulged as he grasped the spear in pain, blood flowing from his shoulders, and Zhan Lan smelled the blood in the air.

Soon, Zhan Lan saw torchlights not far away.

Zhan Lan heard the others shout, "Release them, we have caught Mu Yan’s woman!"

The man illuminated a woman’s face with a torch; Zhan Lan frowned as she saw they had caught Qingcheng.

Although she had no heartfelt connection with Qingcheng, knowing Qingcheng had once saved Mu Yan, Zhan Lan understood that if Qingcheng died, Mu Yan would remember her for the rest of his life.

For the first time, Zhan Lan felt selfish; she did not want Mu Yan to remember this woman!

She must save her!

Zhan Lan scoffed, "You should know who I am, I am the Regent Princess Consort, why should I save this woman!"

Qingcheng closed her eyes, her voice cold, shouting at Zhan Lan, "Don’t bother with me!"

The antagonist, growing impatient, placed a knife on Qingcheng’s neck, "We’ll release together or else I’ll count to three and kill this woman!"

With a bloodthirsty smile, Zhan Lan breezily said, "Go ahead, let’s do this together!"

She twisted her spear hard, and the man under her foot fainted from pain.

Seeing Zhan Lan entirely undeterred, the other immediately pressed the blade closer to Qingcheng’s neck, saying, "One, two..."

While smiling, Zhan Lan gestured with one hand to her Hidden Guards, who gradually approached her.

The next moment, Zhan Lan fiercely grabbed an arrow passed by a Hidden Guard and shot it at the man.

Bang!

The arrow shot by Zhan Lan pierced the man’s throat, and Qingcheng’s face was splattered with blood. Surprised by Zhan Lan’s archery, the moment the man behind her was hit, she turned and ran.

"Catch that woman!" someone shouted loudly.

Suddenly, several arrows were shot towards the assassins capturing Qingcheng, and Zhan Lan saw Mu Yan leading the Hidden Guard, galloping on horseback.

Quickly, two groups of assassins, some dead, some wounded, some captured.

Mu Yan dismounted and checked Zhan Lan’s body up and down, Zhan Lan looked at a nearby spot and said, "Qingcheng is scared, go and comfort her!"

Mu Yan looked at Zhan Lan with a half-smile, thinking, is her little woman jealous?

Mu Yan took Zhan Lan’s hand and walked towards Qingcheng.

Qingcheng, holding a handkerchief, wiped the blood off her face. Mu Yan sized her up and asked, "Are you injured?"

Qingcheng shook her head, "It’s nothing. If it were not for sister-in-law’s arrow earlier, I probably wouldn’t be able to talk to you now. Thank you for rescuing me."

Qingcheng nodded towards Zhan Lan, who was dressed in black men’s clothing and holding a battle spear today. The wind lifted Zhan Lan’s hair, adding to her stunning and spirited demeanor, momentarily mesmerizing Qingcheng.

Zhan Lan raised her hand to support her, smiling, "Miss Qingcheng is truly brave!"

Today, Zhan Lan found something distinct about Qingcheng compared to ordinary women.

Though afraid, she remained calm, made quick judgments to escape, and sought to protect her life, truly worthy of being the daughter of Zhongzhou’s Left General.

Qingcheng’s cheeks flushed, looking at Mu Yan she said, "I’m sorry, today Qingcheng was a burden to you and brother-in-law."

Mu Yan looked towards the carriage brought by the Hidden Guard and said, "Qingcheng, we will escort you back first, and we will strengthen your protection in the coming days."

Qingcheng calmly answered, "Yes."

Mu Yan felt somewhat guilty, today’s event was a trap set up by him and Zhan Lan, a plan to trap their enemies.

But he did not expect Qingcheng to be involved.

"Bring the people back!" Mu Yan looked at the assassins with bound hands and feet, his voice cold as he ordered the Hidden Guard.

The Hidden Guard nodded and said, "Yes, my lord!"

Mu Yan and Zhan Lan boarded another carriage and headed to the Xingtian Department together.

Although Mu Yan no longer served as the Seal Keeper at Xingtian Department, the Iron Armor Guard was still present, obeying his commands.

Zhan Lan saw the mysterious aura of this place, each room of the two-story building seeming to hold its secrets.

Just Mu Yan sitting on the main seat of the grand hall emitted a sense of solemnity, oppressiveness, and a deterrence that shook one’s heart!

Zhan Lan sat beside him, watching as the Iron Armor Guard brought in several leading assassins.

They each wore expressionless faces, seemingly prepared to die rather than confess.

Mu Yan looked at Zhan Lan and said, "Lan’er, if you are tired, I can continue the interrogation alone. You can rest upstairs."

There was his bedroom upstairs, where he had spent nights during busy times.

Zhan Lan smiled and refused, "No need."

Perhaps these people were targeting her; she wanted to see who exactly sent them!

When Mu Yan’s gentle eyes turned back to the assassins, they instantly became cold and merciless. His voice carried a strong oppressiveness as he said, "Talk now; you should have inquired about the methods of the Xingtian Department!"

The assassins remained silent. Mu Yan gently flicked his finger, signaling the Iron Armor Guard to drag up the assassin kneeling on the left.

Irons were nailed into his legs, the excruciating pain causing the man to scream out.

"Ah!"

Each strike of the hammer splattered bone and blood on the faces of the several assassins.

This was all too bloody, and instantly, they felt as though venomous snakes were crawling up their spines, sending shivers down their backs.

The blood from the man who was nailed dyed the clothes of those kneeling on the ground red.

Zhan Lan regretted watching this, not because she thought Mu Yan’s methods were too cruel, but because she was getting sleepy.

Mu Yan looked at Zhan Lan’s somewhat tired eyes, his voice ice-cold as he looked down at them, "In the Xingtian Department, there are one hundred and eight tortures; no one can endure past the tenth. Continue!"