I died tragically in my previous life, and I want to be an empress in my next life

The news that Princess Jing was abducted by bandits spread like wildfire in the capital overnight, causing an uproar.

In Prince Jing's mansion, Xuanyuan Ping paced anxiously with a frown on his face. He knew that Pei Zhiyan's safety was related to the honor and fate of the entire palace. Without hesitation, he quickly gathered a team of elite soldiers and personally led the team into the mountains to search.

A day passed, and the only sounds echoing in the forest were the sound of wind and birds, but there was no sign of Pei Zhiyan. Xuanyuan Ping was extremely anxious, but it was of no use.

At the same time, Xuanyuan Che, who was far away, also learned the news. He was shocked and immediately rode his horse as fast as he could to rush back to the capital.

Xuanyuan Che led a team of secret guards and quietly entered the mountains. They were like ghosts in the night, moving silently among the trees, looking for Pei Zhiyan's trace.

There were indeed a group of bandits lurking in the mountain. They had not come down the mountain to cause trouble for many years, so the imperial court did not try hard to suppress them and left them a way out.

But why did they suddenly come down the mountain this time, knowing that it was the carriage of Prince Jing's mansion, and kidnapped the people? Isn't this courting death?

Thinking of this, Xuanyuan Che cried out inwardly, "Not good! These must not be ordinary bandits."

The last time, the assassins from the Loyalty Marquis' Mansion kidnapped Pei Zhiyan at the White Horse Temple. This place is not far from the White Horse Temple. Could it be that this time, it was the assassins from the Loyalty Marquis' Mansion who did it again?

Didn't Yongtai promise himself that he would let go of his hatred and live a good life? Then who would have ordered these assassins?

Thinking of this, he ordered someone to send a pigeon back to the capital. He wanted to know Yongtai's whereabouts and see if she was in the palace.

At this time, Xuanyuan Che was extremely confused and prayed secretly in his heart that Princess Yongtai was not involved in this dispute.

Soon news came back that Princess Yongtai was not in the palace.

Under the dim moonlight, Pei Zhiyan and Yin Liu were escorted by a group of vicious bandits into the depths of the forest. Although she was terrified, she remained calm. She knew that every move she made at this moment could affect her life or death.

She quietly tore off the scraps of her skirt and gently hung them on the branches, a mark left for Xiao Lin who was secretly protecting her. She was abducted in the White Horse Temple last time, and she already knew the complexity of the matter. How could she not be careful when she went to the White Horse Temple again late at night?

Before setting off, she had secretly arranged for Xiao Lin to lead a team to protect her in secret. She told Xiao Lin not to show up before she gave instructions. She didn't want to alert the enemy, and she didn't want to put herself in a more dangerous situation.

She didn't know whether being kidnapped by the bandits this time was related to Madam Lin's coma, but she knew that she had to find out the truth as soon as possible and find out the mastermind behind it.

Pei Zhiyan took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She knew that she couldn't panic at this moment and had to keep a clear mind to cope with the next challenge.

The bandits did not notice Pei Zhiyan's abnormality. They rudely urged her and Yin Liu to speed up. Pei Zhiyan had no choice but to follow them obediently, but she was thinking about how to deal with the next crisis.

Finally, they stopped in front of a row of dilapidated houses. Several people pushed them in and locked them inside.

The house was dark and a musty smell filled the air. Pei Zhiyan frowned, but she did not show it. Instead, she remained calm and secretly observed her surroundings.

Soon, there was a chaotic sound of footsteps outside, and someone roughly pushed open the door. With the sound of wind chimes, a veiled woman slowly walked in. Her posture was elegant and mysterious, and every step revealed a majesty that could not be ignored.

"Pei Zhiyan, you didn't expect that we would meet here?" the woman said coldly, her voice revealing an unspeakable hatred.

Pei Zhiyan recognized it as Princess Yongtai's voice.

Pei Zhiyan smiled slightly and tried to remain calm, "Princess, what do you mean? If you want to see me, why go to such great lengths?"

Princess Yongtai stared at Pei Zhiyan coldly with a look as sharp as a knife, "Pei Zhiyan, stop pretending to be confused! This princess not only wants to see you, but also wants to see you destroyed with her own eyes!"

Her voice was full of resentment and anger, as if she wanted to pour all her hatred on Pei Zhiyan.

Pei Zhiyan's heart trembled. She knew that Princess Yongtai had always regarded her as a thorn in her side, but she didn't expect that she would deal with her in such an unscrupulous way again and again.

Pei Zhiyan took a deep breath and said calmly, "Princess, I don't have any deep hatred against you, why do you have to force me so hard?"

Princess Yongtai seemed to have heard a very funny joke. She sneered, "Pei Zhiyan, you are pretending very well! If it weren't for you and Prince Jing, would my mother and the crown prince have ended up like this?"

Pei Zhiyan's heart sank suddenly. Princess Yongtai was blaming herself and Xuanyuan Ping for the fall of the Queen and the Crown Prince.

"The deposed queen and the deposed prince brought this upon themselves. What does it have to do with me and Prince Jing?" Pei Zhiyan said calmly.

"Hmph! If you hadn't forced them, would they have taken such a risk?" Princess Yongtai asked angrily.

It's really easy to find a pretext to accuse someone of something! The disputes between the imperial court and the imperial party have never been able to be reversed by one person alone. If we really want to find someone to be held accountable, then the entire imperial court should be the culprit.

"Princess, there are some things you cannot understand. Perhaps in your eyes, Prince Jing and I are the culprits. But in my heart, we are just witnesses and participants of history."

Princess Yongtai glared at them, and she obviously couldn't accept Pei Zhiyan's words. In her opinion, Pei Zhiyan and Xuanyuan Ping were the culprits who led to the downfall of her mother and the crown prince. They had joined forces to push their loved ones into an abyss of no return.

"Pei Zhiyan, do you think you can clear yourself of the matter by saying this? I'm telling you, it's not that easy!" Princess Yongtai's voice was filled with threats, "I'll make you pay the price!"

After that, she waved her hand, and the guards outside brought two short and wretched men in. The two men had lustful eyes, and they looked at Pei Zhiyan unscrupulously.

This made Pei Zhiyan feel sick. It was a shame to be looked at by such a person for even a second.

"Princess Yongtai, what do you mean?" Pei Zhiyan's voice was firm and powerful. She met Princess Yongtai's angry and resentful gaze without fear.

Princess Yongtai sneered, "Pei Zhiyan! Today, I will make your life worse than death, and let the world know what kind of person the Princess Jing, who has always been known for her dignity and nobility, is!"

Her words were full of malice and jealousy, as if she wanted to completely destroy Pei Zhiyan. The two wretched men could not wait to approach Pei Zhiyan, with lustful lights flashing in their eyes.