Not to mention Pingjiang and the others, even Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu had not expected that they would discover such a secret in the Gu family's residence!
In the backyard of the Gu family's mansion, there was actually a cellar!
Who would have thought that in the mansion of a dignified court official, there would be such a large cellar?
The entrance to the cellar was located within the rockery in the backyard. Because the entrance was very hidden and obscured by the rockery, even someone as meticulous as Pingjiang had not discovered this place last time.
It could be considered that he was thoughtful this time to have found such a place.
When Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi reached the entrance of the cellar, it had already been opened.
However, as soon as they approached the rockery, Song Chaoyu smelled a foul odor. It was the faint smell she had noticed upon entering the Gu family mansion!
Mu Changxi's brows furrowed tightly, "There is such a cellar in this place?"
Pingjiang also knelt before Mu Changxi, "Your Highness, the path down is narrow and slippery, making it difficult to navigate. Moreover, down there... it is truly astonishing. Please, Your Highness and Your Highness Consort wait here, and let your subordinates go down to bring the people up."
People?
As expected, the thing Song Chaoyu least wanted to hear had happened.
Were there people down in this cellar?
Then that smell...
Song Chaoyu dared not think further.
Mu Changxi, however, stared at the cellar entrance, his tone very firm, "Even if you have to carry them, you must carry them down for this King!"
Then he looked up at Song Chaoyu, seeming hesitant about whether to bring Song Chaoyu down.
Song Chaoyu understood his gaze and nodded at him, "Where Your Highness goes, I go."
Mu Changxi seemed to look at Song Chaoyu gratefully and did not stop her.
---
However, Mu Changxi would not let Song Chaoyu go ahead.
Naturally, Pingjiang led the way, while Xiao Ruizi and the other two carried Mu Changxi's wooden wheelchair.
Looking at their relaxed demeanor, it seemed as if they were accustomed to doing such things. But only Song Chaoyu knew that Mu Changxi was not light at all.
She remembered when they were at the manor, she always clamored for Han Xi to carry her.
Once, Han Xi jokingly said that it would be good when they swapped roles.
At that time, Song Chaoyu was sulky and insisted on carrying Han Xi.
As a result, as soon as she carried him, she could no longer bear Han Xi's weight and fell directly to the ground!
So now, seeing Xiao Ruizi and the others easily carry Mu Changxi along with the wooden wheelchair, Song Chaoyu felt an indescribable feeling.
It was as if she and Han Xi at that time had not changed anything, yet everything had changed.
However, this thought was just a fleeting moment. Song Chaoyu knew what was most important to them now.
As they went down into the cellar, Song Chaoyu realized that the cellar was dug very deep.
It took them quite some time just to descend the steps.
Song Chaoyu noticed that the walls beside the steps, and the path beneath their feet, were all stained with blood.
Most of the dried blood emitted a foul odor, causing Song Chaoyu to cover her mouth and nose with a handkerchief.
The steps were very dim, requiring those in front and behind to hold torches to illuminate them slightly.
After they walked down the entire flight of steps, the view before them became wider.
But the scene before them truly left Song Chaoyu stunned—
It was a vast space, as if the entire underground had been hollowed out!
And this vast space was arranged into many cages!
Living people were imprisoned in these cages!
Most of them were women and children, held in separate cages.
The women and children were mostly on the verge of death, and it was unknown how long it had been since anyone had cared for them.
But what was most bizarre was that outside these cages, in that vast space, there were several large cauldrons larger than a person!
Clearly, these large cauldrons had been used frequently before. Some had even been burning firewood underneath, making the entire space feel warmer than outside.
Moreover, a foul odor emanated from these large cauldrons.
Carrying a fishy and medicinal scent, it made Song Chaoyu feel uneasy.
Mu Changxi also looked around and asked Pingjiang, "What is this place?"
Pingjiang's men were diligently opening the cages holding the women and children. He lowered his head and sighed, "It seems to be a place where humans are used as medicinal ingredients. I don't know what evil arts Lord Gu is practicing. He has kept twelve women and thirty-one children here. But because no one has been here for a long time, they have been starving for several days. So, your subordinate thinks it's best to let them eat something first before they can reply to us."
Did that Lord Gu have such a perverted hobby?
So, did Lord Lei have a hand in this, by scaring them, to prevent them from discovering this place?
Upon hearing this, Mu Changxi's eyes turned extremely grim.
He turned back to Pingjiang and said, "No matter how many survivors there are here, you must save them all! Other matters can be discussed later!"
He pushed the wooden wheelchair and slowly moved forward.
Song Chaoyu followed him. Suddenly, from a cage in front, a woman's extremely weak voice could be heard, "Save me—save me! I know what they are doing, save me!"
The woman still had the strength to struggle and cry out, which made Song Chaoyu excitedly step forward and say to Tiaohong, "Go get some food and water!"
Tiaohong busied herself in fetching food and water. Song Chaoyu stepped forward, ignoring the woman's filth, and grabbed the woman's hand, "Don't be afraid, we are here to save you!"
The woman still had the strength and tightly held Song Chaoyu's hand, "Water... give me water!"
Song Chaoyu frowned. While waiting for Tiaohong to bring the water, she instructed Pingjiang, "They have probably been starving for too long. Have someone bring water first, and then cook porridge. Remember, don't let them eat too much, or they will burst."
Pingjiang was somewhat surprised. How could a young lady from a boudoir know so much?
He suddenly understood why his own Prince looked down on everyone else, yet insisted on marrying a woman of concubine origin.
Compared to those delicate noble ladies from the capital, perhaps only a woman like the Consort could catch the Prince's eye.
Pingjiang immediately agreed and had his men relay the instructions.
The people Mu Changxi brought became busy once again.