Chapter 160: Stop Her
When noisy sounds came from outside the hunting ground, the noise inside the hunting ground was actually even louder.
There were more than forty people in the field competing in flag seizing.
The contestants in the field were boiling with enthusiasm, the spectators outside were also clamoring, and even His Majesty the Emperor sitting on the high platform stood up, shouting along with several old military generals.
“Back in the day, we were like this too.”
“The team I led always won back then.”
“Yeah, His Majesty was really cunning at the time, always launching sneak attacks…”
“What do you mean cunning, this is called tactics, tactics… Quick, look at that young man, his movements are so nimble.”
“That’s from Duke Yongwu’s Family, Zhu Yunxiao.”
The Emperor watched while chatting and laughing with everyone, as if he had returned to his youthful days once again.
The clamor outside the field could not be heard at all.
Moreover, for something like a startled horse, the soldiers stationed at the gate would not alarm the Emperor.
Although the young lady from Marquis Yichun’s Mansion could not be shot on the spot, the startled horse could be lured elsewhere, but just as they began to act, a sharp cry came from mid-air.
“Protect His Majesty—”
As soon as the cry to protect His Majesty fell, more cries from guards arose immediately in the field.
“Protect His Majesty—Protect His Majesty—”
Like a gale sweeping in.
The noisy crowd heard it, and protecting His Majesty was no small matter. The people looking toward the field were shocked and turned back, only to see the soldiers outside the hunting ground running with wooden rails and ropes, ready in strict formation…
There really is an assassin?
The people immediately panicked, the clamor boiling over.
……
…….
“Assassin?”
At the moment the first cry to protect His Majesty came, the imperial guards on the high platform instantly surrounded the Emperor.
The military generals also hurriedly stood in front of the Emperor, nervously looking around.
“Not an assassin.” An imperial guard hurriedly said, “It’s a startled horse.”
A startled horse— the military generals breathed a sigh of relief.
Today was the martial arts banquet, with horses everywhere, many people noisy; it wasn’t strange for a horse to be startled.
“Then why shout to protect His Majesty.” The Emperor also said irritably, flicking his sleeve as he sat down, “Making a fuss over nothing and causing chaos!”
“Your Majesty—” Wei Jiao hurried over from outside, his expression nervous, “It’s the young lady from Marquis Yichun’s Mansion and the young lady from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion; both their horses are startled and charging straight this way.”
He took another step forward as he spoke.
“Your Majesty, this matter is suspicious!”
Marquis Yichun’s Mansion? Duke Ding’an’s Mansion? The military generals’ expressions froze; these two families…
And the Emperor, who had just sat down upon hearing it was a startled horse, suddenly stood up again: “What?”
Wei Jiao’s eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice even more: “How is it such a coincidence? Your Majesty, is there some plot? Your Majesty just punished Marquis Yichun, and Duke Ding’an’s Family also had a young lady who died in White Horse Town…”
The Emperor glared at him: “What nonsense!” He hurriedly asked, “How are the people? She…”
Before his words finished, the Empress’s voice came first.
“Your Majesty need not worry; the horses have already been stopped and rescued.” She said.
The Empress had no interest in flag seizing and was sitting in the back, talking with the ladies.
She had obviously received the news as well.
And knew even more.
“The soldiers all have experience.” She looked at the Emperor and said, as if thinking of something, “Shouldn’t Your Majesty go out for the hunt? Go change and prepare.”
Besides watching the young people compete in flag seizing, the Emperor had also prepared to hunt personally.
However, flag seizing wasn’t over yet; changing clothes seemed a bit early.
Was this asking the Emperor to leave?
The military generals around exchanged subtle glances.
The Emperor’s expression also stiffened slightly.
The Empress took a step forward and said again: “This subject will watch here; please feel at ease, Your Majesty.”
She looked at the Emperor, her gaze firm.
The Emperor nodded: “Good.” Then he turned to the several military generals with a smile, “Let’s go, we’ll go hunting; let me see if you few are not as good as before.”
The several military generals hurriedly followed along in jest, “Your Majesty underestimates us,” “It’s Your Majesty instead; later if we snatch your prey, don’t renege.”
“Your Majesty, hurry and go. I will handle the startled horse!” Wei Jiao threw down these words and turned to leave in quick strides.
The Emperor followed his gaze to that side. At this time, the hunting ground was in an uproar, with many people surging toward the doorway, and the distance was far, so nothing could be seen.
Let’s go.
The Emperor withdrew his gaze and turned to leave.
……
…….
“What’s going on?”
“Are we still competing or not?”
“His Majesty has left—”
His Majesty had left, so what was the point of competing? Zhu Yunxiao reined in his horse and first looked toward the high platform. Sure enough, the Emperor’s figure was already nowhere to be seen.
What bad luck. Zhu Yunxiao frowned. He had been about to seize the flag and win in front of the Emperor, earning praise.
“There’s a startled horse outside.”
“It’s a young lady from Marquis Yichun’s family.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yunxiao thought coldly to himself, a startled horse? Why hasn’t she fallen to her death yet?
The thought flashed through his mind, and then another voice came.
“…Not just one horse is startled; there’s also the horse of Miss Yang from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.”
Miss Yang? Zhu Yunxiao was startled. Such a good opportunity had actually arisen?
If he could save Miss Yang, the benefits would be greater than those from flag seizing!
Zhu Yunxiao urged his horse toward the doorway.
His companions in the hunting ground were momentarily stunned, watching Zhu Yunxiao’s retreating figure as he galloped away on his fast horse.
“Is Yunxiao going to watch the excitement?”
“What’s so exciting about this commotion?”
“Don’t get us caught in the crossfire. That’s a young lady from Marquis Yichun’s Mansion…”
……
…….
“Wan’er—”
“Quick, lasso the horse—”
“Wan’er, hold tight to the horse’s neck and don’t let go—”
The female family members of Marquis Yichun’s Mansion had already rushed to the doorway upon hearing the news, extremely anxious.
Because a sudden crowd had surged over, the soldiers were guarding against the startled horse and controlling the crowd, making things even more chaotic for a moment.
Fortunately, the startled horse did not charge into the crowd, but it was extremely agile, dodging the soldiers’ wooden rails and frames time and again, and the thrown ropes missed time and again.
Two horses carrying two people were madly circling and running at the doorway.
The soldiers also did not dare to press too closely.
The Empress stood in the crowd, watching the two horses running crazily. The young girl on the horse’s back was tightly hugging the horse’s neck, letting out cries and shouts.
There must be something suspicious about this startled horse.
The area where Princess Pingcheng was located had been strictly inspected for people and livestock, even bow and arrows, and the horses had been selected as the mildest-tempered.
How could there suddenly be a startled horse, and it even ran here?
It must be that Yang woman who did it, deliberately startling the horse, right?
A cold smile tugged at the Empress’s lips.
Willing to risk her life just to see the Emperor?
Then fulfill her wish!
“Crossbowmen.” She commanded.
Following her order, the leader of the soldiers responded. From the soldiers guarding outside, a squad of heavy crossbow soldiers stepped forward.
Seeing these sternly standing heavy crossbows, the noisy crowd fell silent.
Were they going to shoot the startled horse?
The heavy crossbow’s bolts were very powerful, and these soldiers were well-trained, but after all, it was a madly running horse, with someone on its back.
If there was a misfire…
Even if not misfired, if the horse shot by the crossbow bolt fell and rolled, the person on its back was very likely to be thrown and injured…
Or even shot dead, thrown dead, or crushed to death…
“Your Ladyship—Wan’er she—” A matron screamed, but the next moment, the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun reached out to cover her mouth and pinched her arm.
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun’s face turned pale. She looked at the startled horse galloping in the distance and the two young girls on it.
She knew that the Empress did not intend to shoot Wan’er dead, but rather to take the opportunity to get rid of that Lady Yang.
Although Chai Wan’er was her own granddaughter.
But to the Empress, this was indeed a good opportunity.
For everyone’s safety, get rid of the startled horse. If Lady Yang dies, her Chai Clan only loses one daughter—what could the Emperor possibly say?
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun gritted her teeth and said word by word to her daughter-in-law whose mouth she was covering: “Do not disobey the Empress. Let the Empress decide everything.”
It was just one daughter, after all.
The Chai Clan had plenty of daughters.
But there was only one Empress position.
Third Madam Chai, Wan’er’s mother, did not know if it was from being stifled by the hand over her mouth or shocked by those words—her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed powerlessly backward into the arms of the servant women.
Zhu Yunxiao, who had galloped over on horseback, also reined in his horse and stopped, looking at the archers who had stepped forward in front of the gate…
The Empress dared to kill publicly in broad daylight? It was clear that Miss Yang was not that important in the Emperor’s heart either, so he had better not take the risk…
“Empress, do not act recklessly!”
An elderly voice shouted, breaking the stagnation.
The Empress slightly turned her head and saw Wang Zaitian striding over with several people.
Tomorrow was the third day, and they would meet then.
