Chapter 565: Chapter 435: Tormenting the Hong Residence Family
Hong Shisan’s gaze became grave.
"Hong Fang, it seems you’ve forgotten that your wife and child are also in my hands."
"A true man is not distressed by the lack of a wife or child. Compared to the pursuit of power and empire, which is lighter and which is heavier is clear at a glance." Hong Fang spoke coldly. When he said these words, the complexions of Zhuge Rou and Hong Yulang turned pale at once.
Hong Mingyue, the one who held back Xiahou Qi’s hand, also couldn’t help trembling.
She looked at her own father with disbelief.
Zhuge Rou and Hong Yulang also staggered, especially Zhuge Rou, who kept muttering under her breath.
"No, my husband, you wouldn’t do this to Rou’er."
Not far away, Ye Huangyu witnessed this scene with a clear mind.
Hong Fang, a man of cold nature and ingratitude, who could abandon her and Ling Yue back then, was expected to abandon his wife today.
"It seems I’ve underestimated Lord Hong after all. You’ve proven to be even more heartless and ruthless, vile and shameless than I imagined," Hong Shisan snorted coldly, hands behind his back, he slowly stepped forward, coming a few steps closer to Hong Mingyue. "But I really do want to see who is quicker, my hand or yours."
Suddenly, a dark object targeted Hong Mingyue.
Hong Mingyue’s eyelids twitched rapidly, and Hong Fang’s expression froze.
"Hong Shisan!" Luo Song and the elder from Three-Life Valley, having seen what was in Hong Shisan’s hands, their faces changed color.
The Nirvana Cannon, what Hong Shisan held was the Nirvana Cannon.
On the mainland, the notorious reputation of the Nirvana Cannon was well known.
It was rumored the power of the Nirvana Cannon could, from a distance, directly obliterate a Martial Artist of the Reincarnation Three Paths.
And now, Hong Shisan was only a few steps away from Hong Mingyue, who was merely a Martial Artist from the Reincarnation Second Realm.
"Princess Ming Yue, you are young and beautiful. If you are not careful and get hit by the Nirvana Cannon, your pretty face will instantly turn to blood and water, leaving not even a single bone or strand of hair behind. Tsk tsk, thinking about such a scene, I can’t help but feel it would be such a pity for you."
The dark muzzle of the Nirvana Cannon aimed at Hong Mingyue’s head, emitting threads of chill.
Hong Mingyue’s breathing became rapid, and she could even feel her body gradually stiffening.
Even though her nature was colder than most, Hong Mingyue was ultimately just a girl under the age of fourteen.
Today, she had experienced one disaster after another. First, she was defeated by a rival she had never regarded highly, and then, under her father’s instigation, she plotted against the Emperor and usurped the Crown Prince. Especially after her father’s ruthless words just now, Hong Mingyue felt utterly exhausted both in body and spirit, and her disappointment in Hong Fang had reached its peak.
Hong Shisan’s words intermittently drifted into her ears.
It was nothing more than, what does it matter how much you’ve done for the Hong Residence?
A daughter married off is like water poured away. Everything you’ve done today, Hong Mingyue, is merely making a wedding dress for another.
In the days to come, once Hong Fang achieves success and fame, he can still marry another wife and raise a bunch of daughters and sons. Who then will remember the daughter who died tragically for his sake?
Even if she were lucky enough to survive, once Hong Fang ascends the throne, she, Hong Mingyue, would still have to defer to women younger than her as her stepmothers.
Hong Shisan’s words, each sentence laced with malice, would not have been taken to heart by the former Princess Ming Yue, not a single word.
But today, every word of his struck right at the heart of Princess Ming Yue.
"Ming Yue, don’t listen to him."
Seeing Princess Ming Yue’s expression growing worse, Hong Fang’s heart was on fire with anxiety.
The anxious voice of her father Hong Fang, the crying of her brother and mother, the thick gunpowder smoke in the training field, and the corpses scattered everywhere; all of these woven together formed a terrifying tableau of infernal hell, causing Princess Ming Yue a severe headache.
"Ming Yue, don’t fall for his demon’s words. The Crown Prince is in your hands; if he dares to use the Nirvana Cannon, the Crown Prince will not be spared either." As Princess Ming Yue’s expression changed, Hong Fang, struggling to restrain Xiahou Qi, saw his own hand trembling uncontrollably with utmost anxiety.
Hong Fang wished he could rush forward and take control of the Crown Prince himself.
"Enough!" Princess Ming Yue seemed to have reached her limit and suddenly let out a sharp scream.
She abruptly raised her face, glaring fiercely at Hong Fang.
"Father, I’ve had enough. Whatever you and grandfather told me to do since I was young, I did. You wanted me to learn martial arts; I began as soon as I could walk. You wanted me to join the Three-Life Valley; I fought through five challenges and six generals to join the Three-Life Valley. You wanted me to marry Luo Song, and without a word, I married. But what about you? How did you treat me? When I succeeded, you just proudly bragged everywhere. When I was defeated, did you ever give me a single word of comfort?" Princess Ming Yue recalled her recent crushing defeat, and the first words her father had said when he came over were to tell her to seize the chance to kill Emperor Xia during the upcoming conferment.
Hearing that sentence, Princess Ming Yue felt her heart turn cold.
The stubborn voice of the young girl echoed in the training field.
It fell on everyone’s ears, sounding exceptionally desolate.
Ye Lingyue inwardly sighed, but felt not a hint of sympathy for the people of the Hong Residence; their misdeeds were all self-inflicted.
Princess Ming Yue kept her eyes red, trying hard not to let the tears in her eyes fall.
Zhuge Rou and Hong Yulang also couldn’t stop their tears, but Hong Fang alone looked extremely ugly.
He glared at her as if he had never known Princess Ming Yue at all.
"Ming Yue, you have greatly disappointed me!"
Disappointed...Indeed, very disappointed. The father she had always revered and assumed to be loving and caring for his wife and children turned out to be a shameless villain who, for the sake of status and power, did not hesitate to kill his own brother and abandon his wife and children.
"Hong Shisan, I will release Xiahou Qi as a condition of exchange, let my mother and brother go," announced Princess Ming Yue, her heart having died completely.
The only thing she could do now was to save the lives of her mother and Hong Yulang.
Hong Shisan’s heart eased a bit, the hand holding the Nirvana Cannon still trembled slightly.
Only she herself knew that the Nirvana Cannon only had one Candle Dragon Elixir left, and it would be impossible to fire anything from it.
She glanced at the Marquis who, though still with a stern face, quickly nodded towards her, signaling her to agree to Princess Ming Yue’s demands.
"Alright, I agree to your terms. We count to three, I will release them, and you will release him," Ye Lingyue said, slowly lowering the Nirvana Cannon in her hand.
"No, Ming Yue, you can’t let him go, do you want to get our entire family killed!" Hong Fang didn’t expect that Princess Ming Yue, always the most obedient, would betray him at the crucial moment!
"One, two..."
Neither Princess Ming Yue nor Hong Shisan paid any heed to Hong Fang, both counting in unison. But just as they were about to say "three" together, a sudden thunderous noise erupted above the training field, and an immense figure swooped hurriedly over like a dark cloud of impending doom.