Chapter 161: Do Not Harm Anyone
Wang Zaitian and several scholars were not in the hunting ground.
Instead, they were discussing the Dao in the mountain, evidently having received the news and hurried over.
The news had reached them quite quickly; the Empress sneered inwardly.
This martial arts banquet was where he had brought Yang Luo along; he had truly gone all out for this disciple.
Last night at the night banquet, he had even wanted to summon Yang Luo over.
Wasn’t it just because this Yang Luo had taken first place in the exam?
What a waste of Princess Pingcheng’s deep admiration for him! He had no regard for the Princess at all!
Wang Zaitian walked quickly, but his disciple Ling Yu was even faster, overtaking him and rushing toward the startled horse, only to be blocked by the soldiers.
He seemed about to shout something loudly, but also seemed afraid of frightening the horse into running even wilder; the words reached his lips and turned into an “ah—”
“Your Ladyship, do not harm anyone.” Wang Zaitian stopped in front of the Empress and said again.
The civil officials and scholars behind him also urged one after another, “There is no need to deploy crossbow soldiers.”
The Empress looked at Wang Zaitian: “Libationer, this palace is doing this precisely to avoid harming anyone.”
She pointed to the surroundings and those behind her.
“With so many people here, and His Majesty as well, a crazed horse could easily injure someone.”
With that, she looked toward the archers and crossbowmen.
“These soldiers are the best of the best, with superb archery skills; they will not harm anyone.”
“Rest assured, Libationer. You worry for your disciple, and this palace also worries for this palace’s niece.”
Wang Zaitian looked at her, his gaze deep: “Empress, can you say those words without a guilty conscience?”
The Empress instantly grew furious. Without a guilty conscience? What did she have to feel guilty about!
Since they had already left, why come back! It was they, mother and daughter, seeking their own doom!
The Empress opened her mouth to issue the order when a horse charged out like lightning, overtaking the soldiers surrounding the area and heading straight for the madly running horse. In the winter day, black clothing fluttered, revealing red lining within, like a blooming flower.
As the black clothing fluttered, a rope was flung out, steadily lassoing one horse. At the same time, the person jumped down from their own horse’s back and leaped to the other side of the startled horse.
The rope in his hand turned out to be two: one tied to the horse he was riding, the other gripped in his hand. Man and horse pulled together with force; the startled horse reared up with a neigh, kicking up a cloud of dust, and came to a stop.
Chai Wan’er, who had already lost the strength to scream on the horse’s back, tumbled down at this moment.
Fortunately, the startled horse had stopped moving, avoiding severe injury from the fall or trampling.
The surrounding soldiers immediately rushed over and lifted Chai Wan’er away from the horse.
“Wan’er—”
“Imperial Physician, quickly summon the imperial physician—”
The women of the Chai Clan let out excited shouts.
The Empress’s gaze sharpened. Wan’er was saved; now there were no more concerns. She was about to issue the order again when the figure in fluttering black clothing threw out another rope, lassoing the other startled horse.
But this startled horse could not be pulled to a stop; instead, it charged even farther forward.
The figure did not release the rope but used the momentum to flip up, hugging the young girl on the horse’s back.
The horse let out a neigh and charged even more frantically in another direction, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
The mounted soldiers hurriedly took up ropes and gave chase.
At this moment, Princess Pingcheng arrived with a crowd of young ladies, and upon seeing the scene, each one’s expression turned terrified.
“Mother Empress.” Princess Pingcheng dismounted and ran to the Empress, her face pale. “It was me… I didn’t do well…”
The Empress looked at the departing horse, loosening her clenched hand, and did not call out to the archers and crossbowmen again.
Using a heavy crossbow to kill someone in front of her daughter would leave a shadow on her for life.
“It has nothing to do with you.” She said, then asked with concern, “Are you alright? Were you injured?”
……
……
“Miss—”
Yang Luo jumped down from Jiang Rui’s horse, looking at the departing startled horse with an anxious expression.
The incident had happened suddenly. Princess Pingcheng had ridden after it, and the companion reader ladies as well as the women present had all mounted up to chase after.
As a maidservant, she had no horse, but fortunately Jiang Rui had seen and carried her along.
But by the time they arrived in pursuit, they only saw “Miss Yang” racing off once more.
Jiang Rui hesitated for a moment, grabbing the reins. Should she take her to chase again…
“Miss Asheng.”
A male voice came.
Without even looking up, Jiang Rui happily called out “Yunxiao,” and then hoofbeats sounded as Zhu Yunxiao rode up and stopped.
He extended his hand toward this maidservant.
“Get on.”
Yang Luo immediately grabbed his hand and flipped onto the horse’s back with his help. Zhu Yunxiao spurred the horse toward the direction where Wei Jiao and Miss Yang had gone.
“…Be careful.” Jiang Rui only had time to caution once.
That was good too; Yunxiao’s riding skills were much better than hers, so carrying the Asheng maidservant to chase the startled horse would be safer.
Yunxiao truly had a warm heart.
So focused on saving people, he hadn’t even glanced at her once.
Jiang Rui watched the departing pair, her expression nervous and worried.
She hoped they could save Miss Yang.
……
……
“Will you stop the horse yourself, or shall I do it?”
The horse raced wildly, as if deranged, but the rider on its back could feel that the horse was actually breathing steadily, with firm hoofbeats.
This mad run was truly due to the woman on the horse’s back controlling it.
Wei Jiao gripped the reins. Because of the horse’s speed, he had no choice but to press tightly against the person in front, speaking right by her ear.
Though Mo Zheng kept emitting screams, there was no trace of terror on her face; instead, it carried a smile.
Hearing Wei Jiao’s words, she turned her head slightly.
“That depends on whether the Captain wants to stop me, or Senior Brother wants to help me.” She said.
She said this with a smile, and Wei Jiao could see her small, white, sharp teeth.
She tilted her head slightly to speak, nearly brushing his jaw.
Wei Jiao always felt that in the next moment, she would bite him.
Asking if he was Captain or Senior Brother?
Ridiculous.
Did she think that by calling him Senior Brother, they would truly become siblings? That he would dote on her endlessly and obey her every word?
Wei Jiao didn’t act for the sake of others’ approval!
He suddenly reached out to yank the horse’s neck, simultaneously pulling the person in front tightly into his arms.
The horse neighed, its head and forelegs rearing up. The next moment, it landed again, now facing a different direction, and stood dazed in place.
“Whether you acknowledge it or not doesn’t matter.” Wei Jiao sneered. “Aren’t you desperate to die, to see him, and to be acknowledged?”
With that, he clamped his legs against the horse’s belly.
“Then I’ll take you to see him now, and we’ll see what you can do after.”
The originally dazed horse neighed again and charged forward, rounding a hillside to reveal the faint mountain forest ahead, along with dozens of soldiers—horses, armor, bows, and crossbows arrayed menacingly…
They were escorting seven or eight men in hunting attire, led by the one wearing a bright yellow kerchief hat: the Emperor.
Seeing the horse suddenly charging toward them, the soldiers immediately formed ranks and raised their bows and crossbows.
“Your Majesty—Wei Jiao has successfully captured the startled horse—” Wei Jiao shouted loudly.
Hearing Wei Jiao’s name, the soldiers paused, and the Emperor, blocked behind, spurred his horse forward.
“Wei Jiao.” He said, narrowing his eyes as he looked over, seeing Wei Jiao’s figure on the horse’s back and the smaller figure in front of him. Was it the Chai Clan’s daughter?
“Your Majesty, retreat! The Empress has sent word to protect the Emperor—” a soldier suddenly shouted.
Accompanying the shout, he raised his bow and crossbow, aiming at the increasingly close horse and the young girl upon it. With a buzz, a crossbow bolt shot out with a sharp whistling sound.
……
……
Mo Zheng’s body instantly tensed.
The moment that soldier raised his bow and crossbow, she had noticed. Defense and offense were different forms.
But the distance was too close; the crossbow bolt’s speed was beyond her ability to dodge.
It wouldn’t be fatal.
Injury was inevitable.
This was also expected; the Emperor had heavy protection around him.
Moreover, there was the Empress to stop it.
Mm, and Imperial Consort Li, who hadn’t appeared but might also have schemes.
This time, she hadn’t expected to achieve her goal unscathed.
Mo Zheng arched her body, watching the arrow in her line of sight drawing ever closer. As long as she fell slightly to the left, just a bit, she could avoid the fatal heart…
But the next moment, her whole body spun.
With all her attention forward, she was lifted by Wei Jiao from behind. The world spun, and she heard the sound of a crossbow bolt entering flesh by her ear.
This was the sound she had anticipated, but the pain was unexpected. The next moment, she was flung heavily to the ground, covered by his body, completely enveloped.
“Your Majesty—” Wei Jiao’s sharp laughter rang out. “I’ve captured the startled horse and the person—”
……
……
The person captured?
The Emperor only felt his heart pounding.
There were two on the startled horses: one Miss Chai, one Miss Yang.
Now one horse, one person—which one was it?
He loudly ordered the soldiers back and strode over. The young girl on the ground was completely covered by Wei Jiao, only her scattered hair visible.
Perhaps sensing the Emperor’s approach, Wei Jiao slightly lifted his body.
“Your Majesty, look!” He exclaimed excitedly, showing off.
The Emperor looked over. The young girl on the ground had a pale face, a small visage, clear and refined features…
But the girl’s eyes weren’t on him; they were looking up at Wei Jiao.
Blood dripped down drop by drop, splattering on her face like blooming flowers.
Mo Zheng looked surprised at the crossbow bolt piercing Wei Jiao’s shoulder.
