C1 The Face Was Disfigured in the Execution Ground

"Pain!" was the only sensation Lo Li could feel at that moment, a searing agony that seemed to scream from every cell in her body. It was as if she'd been run over by a freight train.

Then, a cacophony of sounds filled her ears—cries and wails intertwined in a haunting symphony.

She snapped her eyes open, only to be met with the sight of a dark red pool—a small lake formed by the blood of 1,873 people. It looked like a sea of blood straight out of hell.

"Princess Mingyue, oh, so you've finally woken up?" A voice, sweet yet sinister, broke through the chaos.

Lo Li turned her head to see a woman not far away, her face adorned with a smile. The woman wore a fiery red gown, its neckline plunging daringly, the vibrant red fabric contrasting starkly with her pale skin, creating an allure that was hard to resist.

"Now that you're awake, things will be easier. Do you see this? Today marks the fall of your country. Here lie the members of your royal family—from your father, mother, and your brother, Prince Mingling, who tried to escape, to the palace maids and attendants. All of them are here." The woman gestured toward the lake, where bodies lay dismembered, necks still gushing with fresh blood.

"The entire royal family of Yan is down to just you now."

Lo Li's eyes widened, her mind a complete blur. Who was she? Where was she? A flood of questions surged through her mind, followed by a cascade of images overwhelming her like a tidal wave. Yet, the woman's nagging voice persisted in her ears.

"Don't play dumb. You think acting clueless will get you off the hook? Let me tell you, the Crown Prince is mine, all mine."

"Even if you're engaged, and I can't kill you, I'll still ruin you."

With those words, the alluring woman suddenly swung her arm, a flash of steel slicing through the air. Lo Li felt a sharp sting across her face, and something warm trickled down her cheek.

"Let's see who would want you now, with that slashed-up face. I'm not just going to ruin your face; I'm going to throw you into the Myriad Flower Tower. I'll make sure you're used and discarded by countless men."

"Then we'll see if the Prince still wants you."

Xiangxiang spat out her venomous words, and another flash of cold steel followed. In an instant, a large 'X' marked Princess Mingyue's left cheek, then her right. As if still unsatisfied, Xiangxiang carved another deep 'X' into her forehead.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Lo Li watched silently, her gaze aloof and cool. She didn't cry out in pain or beg for mercy, as if the person being scarred and disfigured wasn't her at all.

Xiangxiang finished her work but seemed unsatisfied. Seeing the disdain in Lo Li's bright, moon-like eyes, her anger flared.

"What’s with that look? Are you defiant? Yes, you're beautiful, and your eyes are your best feature. So why not ruin them too?"

With that, Xiangxiang viciously aimed her knife at Lo Li's eyes. Just as the blade was about to touch her, a furious voice rang out:

"Enough!"

Xiangxiang's hand trembled as she turned to look at General Lin, who had been silently observing from the main seat on the platform.

"General Lin, do you intend to stop me?" Xiangxiang asked, raising her chin with an air of supreme arrogance.