Chapter 244 The Villain Lady Arrives 72
The night grew darker, as if even the stars were holding their breath, watching the final outcome of this game of power.
The meeting between the second prince and the generals ended in a tense and hopeful atmosphere. Everyone dispersed with their visions for the future, preparing for the upcoming battle. However, they did not expect that a storm was approaching silently.
The next morning, when the first rays of sunlight penetrated the clouds and shone on the ruins of the royal capital, the second and third princes were already busy preparing for the final offensive in their respective residences. They believed that as long as they planned carefully and acted quickly, they could defeat the Duke's defenses in one fell swoop and restore the royal dignity.
However, fate always seems to play tricks on people. Just before they were about to launch a general attack, an urgent secret letter landed on the second prince's desk like a bolt from the blue. The familiar handwriting on the secret letter was like a cold blade, piercing his heart - the Duke had already known all their plans and had set up a trap for them to fall into.
"This... How is this possible?!" The second prince's hands trembled, and he could hardly believe what he saw. He stood up suddenly and paced back and forth in the bedroom, feeling mixed emotions. Anger, resentment, despair... All kinds of emotions intertwined together, almost swallowing him up.
"Second brother, what's wrong?" The third prince hurried over, and seeing the second prince losing his composure, he couldn't help but feel suspicious.
The Second Prince handed the secret letter to the Third Prince. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke: "The Duke...he knows our plan."
The Third Prince took the secret letter, glanced through it hastily, and his face instantly turned livid. "This... there must be a traitor behind this!" He clenched his fists, his nails almost digging into his palms, but he didn't feel any pain at all.
"It's no use saying this now." The Second Prince took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil, "We must adjust our plan as soon as possible, otherwise..." He didn't finish his words, but the meaning was self-evident.
However, time did not seem to be on their side. While they were discussing countermeasures, the Duke's army had already surged in like a tide and surrounded their mansion. The second and third princes looked at each other and saw determination and helplessness in each other's eyes. They knew that at this moment, there was no way out.
"Kill them!" The second prince roared, drew his sword first, and rushed out the door. The third prince followed closely behind, and the two fought side by side, vowing to fight the Duke to the death.
However, the Duke's army was well-trained and numerous. Although the second and third princes were brave and resourceful, they were still powerless in the face of absolute strength. After a fierce battle, they were eventually outnumbered and captured and imprisoned in a dark and damp dungeon.
In the dungeon, the flickering candlelight illuminated the tired but resolute faces of the two men. They were chained to the cold stone wall, surrounded by other captured generals and soldiers, their eyes filled with despair and unwillingness.
"Second brother, we...were defeated." The third prince whispered, unable to conceal the bitterness in his voice.
The second prince was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. "But we have not surrendered." He looked up at the ceiling, his eyes gleaming with an unyielding light, "As long as we have a breath left, we cannot give up."
However, reality is always more cruel than imagined. Not long after, the Duke came to the dungeon in person and looked at the imprisoned second and third princes with a sneer on his face.
"Your Highnesses, you are in such a good mood." The Duke's voice echoed in the empty dungeon, with a hint of sarcasm, "Unfortunately, your era is over."
The second prince and the third prince ignored his provocation and just stared at him coldly, as if they wanted to cut him into pieces with their eyes.
The Duke was not angry when he saw this, but just smiled faintly, and then changed the subject: "However, I can give you a chance. As long as you are willing to submit to me, I can spare your lives and even let you continue to enjoy wealth and glory."
"Bah!" The second prince suddenly spat out a mouthful of saliva, which landed right at the Duke's feet. "Don't even think about it! We would rather die than surrender!"
The Duke's face darkened instantly, and he raised his hand and waved, signaling his men to come forward. Several soldiers immediately stepped forward and whipped the second and third princes severely with whips, and their bodies were soon covered with bloodstains.
But even so, they still did not utter a groan, but just stared at the Duke with their eyes full of hatred, as if they wanted to remember his appearance forever in their hearts.
The sound of the Duke's whip echoed in the dungeon, and each blow was like a heavy hammer hitting everyone's heart, especially the second prince and the third prince. Their clothes were soaked with blood and sweat, but they still stood straight with an unquenchable flame burning in their eyes.
In the cell next door, the figures of the king and queen looked particularly desolate. They were imprisoned there and had long lost their former dignity, but their desire for freedom and concern for their children still made their eyes sparkle with an unyielding light.
The ministers either shouted angrily, trying to awaken the dormant justice; or bowed their heads in silence, their eyes full of despair for the future. The entire dungeon seemed like a painting of purgatory on earth, and every inch of the air was filled with a heavy sense of oppression.
"Father, Mother..." The third prince used all his strength, his voice was weak but full of determination, "We will not give up, one day, we will see the light of day again." His eyes passed through the iron bars and met with the king and the queen. At that moment, it seemed as if an invisible force was transmitted between them, giving each other comfort and courage.
The second prince closed his eyes, as if he was in deep thought or gathering strength.
At this moment, a sound of footsteps broke the silence of the dungeon, and Chi Meng walked into this dark place in an inappropriate and leisurely manner. Her appearance was like a touch of green in the desert, abrupt but eye-catching. Seeing this, the Duke hurried forward, his eyes full of pampering and worry.
"An'er, this is not the place for you to be. Go back quickly." The Duke's voice contained some reproach, but more of it was caring.
Chi Meng smiled slightly, and there was a bit of mystery and depth in that smile. "Father, I came here for my own reasons." She gently pushed the Duke away, and her eyes slowly swept over everyone in the dungeon, finally stopping at the second and third princes. Her eyes narrowed slightly in a good mood.
"Third Prince, we meet again." Chi Meng's voice was clear and pleasant, but it carried a power that could not be ignored. "I know that you must hate me to the core at this moment, but please allow me to say a few words."
The third prince looked up at Chi Meng without saying a word, but the disdain and vigilance in their eyes were obvious.
Chi Meng didn't seem to care about their attitude and continued:
"Now that you have fallen into this situation, do you regret it?"