The eunuch hesitated for a long time before finally taking the key to the woodshed from his sleeve.
This only made His Highness Prince Wen even more displeased, "What are you dawdling for?!"
"No... no."
Xiang Gonggong's hands trembled, and he seemed to struggle even to speak.
Seeing him like this, Song Chaoyu's heart grew more worried and fearful.
She stepped forward, decisively snatched the key from Xiang Gonggong's hand, and glared at him, "If Tiao Hong has any trouble, I will make all of you pay with your lives!"
Xiang Gonggong lowered his head and took a step back, causing Song Chaoyu's heart to sink further.
Mu Changxi also stepped forward, taking the key from Song Chaoyu's hand, "Let me do it."
He was worried about Song Chaoyu, and also about the situation inside the woodshed.
Even Prince Wen sensed something was wrong with Xiang Gonggong. He kicked Xiang Gonggong's leg and angrily demanded, "What did you do?!"
Xiang Gonggong merely knelt down, head bowed, and remained silent, but his trembling body indicated his fear.
Mu Changxi pulled Song Chaoyu behind him, then stepped forward and unlocked the woodshed.
"Click—"
The woodshed door opened, but it was exceptionally quiet inside. Song Chaoyu did not hear Tiao Hong's voice.
There were no windows in the woodshed, so it was extremely dark.
Mu Changxi stood blocking the doorway, preventing Song Chaoyu from seeing the situation inside. He called out softly, "Tiao Hong, are you in there?"
There was no response from inside, but there seemed to be a slight movement of a body.
Song Chaoyu tried to step forward but was stopped by Mu Changxi, "Ayu, you should wait outside. I see Tiao Hong."
Something was wrong!
If Tiao Hong were alright, Mu Changxi wouldn't have asked her to wait outside!
She insisted on going forward, "Tiao Hong? Are you inside? Are you alive? It's me, I've come to get you! Are you okay?"
There was still no reply from Tiao Hong, but there was a sound, as if someone's body had moved slightly.
It was as if to tell Song Chaoyu that she was still alive.
But was merely being alive enough?
Song Chaoyu insisted on entering the woodshed, "I want to go in. I allowed them to bring Tiao Hong here, so I must know Tiao Hong's condition!"
At this moment, Song Chaoyu was filled with regret.
If she had directly fallen out with Ti Le back then and not let them bring Tiao Hong, wouldn't Tiao Hong have been safe?
If anything happened to Tiao Hong, she would never forgive herself!
"Ai—"
Mu Changxi sighed, then turned back and took Song Chaoyu's hand, "Ayu, let's go in together. But promise me one thing, no matter what happens to Tiao Hong, we will seek justice for her. But we must be rational, do you understand?"
As he spoke, he also nodded to Prince Wen behind them, "Have someone bring a torch. It's too dark in here, I can't see anything."
Prince Wen realized that the situation was likely not good and quickly went to find someone.
Song Chaoyu followed Mu Changxi into the woodshed, feeling only darkness before her eyes.
Inside the woodshed, there was a foul odor that made Song Chaoyu's heart tremble.
Tiao Hong's figure was in a corner of a pile of firewood.
Hearing Song Chaoyu and the others approach, Tiao Hong seemed to shrink back.
Song Chaoyu quickly said softly, "Tiao Hong, it's me! I've come to take you home."
"Princess Consort?"
Tiao Hong's voice was very, very faint, as if her body was extremely weak, "Is it the Princess Consort? The Princess Consort is here!"
It was as if she was responding to Song Chaoyu, but more like she was talking to herself.
Song Chaoyu's heart grew more distressed, and Mu Changxi also received the torch from the person at the door.
—
The torch entered the woodshed, illuminating the entire space.
Song Chaoyu could finally see Tiao Hong's condition clearly.
Her heart sank heavily—
Tiao Hong was curled up in a corner of a pile of firewood. Her clothes were torn and ragged. Beneath her was a dirty, unidentifiable piece of cloth, and on that cloth were splatters of bright red blood!
Tiao Hong's trousers were also stained with a lot of blood.
The blood had dried on her trousers, turning a dark red, but it was a shocking sight!
Song Chaoyu now understood what had happened to Tiao Hong.
Standing before Tiao Hong, she clenched her fists.
If Xiang Gonggong were here right now, Song Chaoyu had no doubt she would have directly killed him!
But Mu Changxi was still here, and Prince Wen was also here.
Song Chaoyu could only suppress the anger in her heart, take off her outer garment, and then move slightly closer to Tiao Hong, "Tiao Hong, don't be afraid. I'm here. I know I'm late. It's my fault, but don't be afraid. I'm taking you home now, let's go home!"
As Song Chaoyu approached Tiao Hong, her body instinctively flinched.
Soon, realizing it was Song Chaoyu, she relaxed.
She was extremely weak, likely having not eaten much for the past two days.
Allowing Song Chaoyu to drape her clothes over her, Tiao Hong leaned her head into Song Chaoyu's embrace, "Home, I want to go home!"
Song Chaoyu reached out and touched Tiao Hong's forehead, finding it burning hot.
Her heart grew more pained, and she could no longer hold back, her eyes reddening.
"Let me!"
Mu Changxi naturally knew what had happened. Without a word, he stepped forward, intending to lift Tiao Hong onto his lap.
"No... don't touch me!"
However, as if hearing a man's voice, Tiao Hong resisted more fiercely.
"It's okay, I'll do it!"
Song Chaoyu nodded to Mu Changxi, then called Qiu Qing into the room, gesturing for Qiu Qing to support Tiao Hong, and personally carried Tiao Hong on her back, "I was the one who had her brought here, so I should be the one to take her home."
Mu Changxi nodded and followed behind Song Chaoyu, "Ayu, don't worry. I won't let this matter rest. The entire Chang Prince's estate will not let this matter rest."
Song Chaoyu knew, of course, that all of them would avenge Tiao Hong!
But the most important thing now was to get Tiao Hong safely back to the Chang Prince's estate.
Prince Wen outside also knew what had happened, his expression as dark as ink.
Xiang Gonggong, kneeling on the ground, dared not even lift his head.
But Song Chaoyu, carrying Tiao Hong on her back, stopped in front of Xiang Gonggong.
For the first time, she looked at Prince Wen with such a cold gaze, "Your Highness Prince Wen, can you hand this servant over to me?"
Even Prince Wen feared this Song Chaoyu.
Handing over Xiang Gonggong, the chief eunuch, was not in accordance with the rules.
But Prince Wen did not hesitate at all, and even looked apologetically at Song Chaoyu, "Sister-in-law, please do as you wish. It is I who did not discipline my subordinates properly. This dog slave can be dealt with as Sister-in-law sees fit."