Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Chance Encounter in the Mountain
Chapter 289: Chance Encounter in the Mountain
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
After saying that, Jiang Sijin ran off.
An hour later, Jiang Peihuan and Xiao Nanye left the house. Those who accompanied them were Jiang Ruyun, Jiang Changbai, Jiang Sijin, and Cao Jun.
When Cao Jun heard that the Jiang siblings were heading to South Mountain, he decided to join them.
Since they were going hunting, they didn’t take a carriage and rode their horses towards South Mountain.
Jiang Sijin, who usually stayed in the military camp, was excited to get out. She eagerly spurred her horse forward.
Worried about Jiang Sijin’s safety, Jiang Changbai followed her.
Initially, Jiang Peihuan wasn’t too invested, but seeing the others racing ahead, she became interested. Turning to the man beside her, she whispered, “Xiao Nanye, do you remember our first horse race?”
Hearing Jiang Peihuan’s voice, Xiao Nanye nodded and smiled, “Of course I remember. We didn’t have a clear winner back then. Are you challenging me to a rematch today?”
“Indeed.”
As her words fell, Jiang Peihuan gently patted her horse, Lie Feng, saying, “Let’s go, Lie Feng!”
Lie Feng, being highly responsive, immediately galloped forward at Jiang Peihuan’s command.
Looking at Jiang Peihuan’s figure, Xiao Nanye also spurred his horse, Zhui Yun, saying, “Zhui Yun, you can’t let your ‘wife’ win.”
After Jiang Peihuan married into the Cheng Mansion, Lie Feng also moved with her. Lie Feng and Zhui Yun were kept together. It’s said that horses follow their owners, and among the rare breeds, Zhui Yun was quite aloof, but he always loved following Lie Feng.
Now, seeing Lie Feng sprinting forward, Zhui Yun quickly chased after.
“Eldest sister, brother-in-law, wait for me!”
Initially, Jiang Sijin was leading, but two figures suddenly raced past her. Watching the backs of Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan, Jiang Sijin called out. However, all she got in response was the dust they kicked up.
The group soon reached South Mountain. As they approached the foot of the mountain, Jiang Peihuan reined in Lie Feng.
As she halted, Xiao Nanye stopped beside her. Glancing at the man next to her, Jiang Peihuan whispered, “It’s another tie. We’ll race again next time.”
“Alright.”
“Let’s go into the mountain.”
Under Jiang Changbai’s command, the group slowly walked into the mountain.
Just as they entered, numerous small animals scattered around.
Seeing this, Jiang Sijin, with a grin, drew her bow and arrow. “1 knew there’d be plenty to hunt,” she remarked as she shot two rabbits.
“Why are there only small creatures? No big one,” she complained after some time.
Hearing her, Jiang Changbai whispered, “For bigger prey, we need to go deeper. This area is too shallow.”
“Then let’s go deeper.”
As she spoke, Jiang Sijin rode deeper into the woods.
Seeing this, Jiang Changbai didn’t object. After all, the Jiang family children had martial arts training from a young age and enjoyed hunting.
However, as he passed by Jiang Peihuan, he told Xiao Nanye, “Your Highness, please take care of Peihuan.”
“Don’t worry, elder brother-in-law.”
“Eldest young master, rest assured, 1’11 take care of Ruyun,” Cao Jun added as Jiang Changbai glanced at him.
Then, the six of them ventured deeper.
“Elder brother, come quick, there really is something!”
Not long after they ventured in, Jiang Peihuan heard Jiang Sijin’s voice. Following the direction of the sound, Jiang Peihuan frowned.
“That voice?”
Jiang Peihuan and Xiao Nanye exchanged glances, both with a hint of bewilderment in their eyes.
Although Jiang Changbai wasn’t married, he was still a grown man and well-versed in worldly matters. So, when he saw Jiang Sijin moving forward, he immediately shouted, “Sijin, come back!”
But it was too late. The arrow from Jiang Sijin’s bow had already been released.
“Ah…”
As Jiang Sijin’s arrow took flight, Jiang Peihuan heard a woman scream in pain, a voice she recognized all too well.
“Eldest sister, it sounds like Yan Xin,” Jiang Ruyun whispered before Jiang Peihuan could speak.
Jiang Peihuan remained silent, her gaze fixed on a large tree in the distance. Moments later, a man emerged from behind the tree.
Upon seeing Ha Chi now, Jiang Peihuan was visibly taken aback.
Ha Chi, equally surprised to see Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan, greeted, “King Cheng, Queen Cheng.”
“First Prince Ha Chi.”
Seeing him bow, Jiang Peihuan returned the gesture.
Soon after, faint murmurs came from behind Ha Chi, and Yan Xin stepped out. Her expression upon seeing everyone present was a chaotic mix of emotions. “Miss Yan, what are you doing here? What were you and Prince Ha Chi up to?” Jiang Sijin, still innocent to the implications of the earlier sounds, asked, sensing something was amiss.
Yan Xin’s eyes flashed with anger at the question. She ignored Jiang Sijin, turning instead to Jiang Peihuan, “Jiang Peihuan, did you intend to murder someone?”
“If Prince Ha Chi had truly been hit by that arrow, how would you explain to the Emperor?”
“That was my arrow, what does it have to do with my elder sister?” Jiang Sijin retorted, stepping protectively in front of Jiang Peihuan.
Yan Xin sneered, “The upbringing of the Jiang general mansion is truly exceptional, daring to shoot an arrow at the prince of the grassland tribes.” “Yan Xin, there’s no need to twist the facts. My younger sister had no idea you and Prince Ha Chi were behind that tree. She thought it was a wild animal, hence the arrow.”
“Wild animal? Jiang Ruyun, you dare to insult Prince Ha Chi by calling him a beast? You… All…”
Before Yan Xin could finish, she felt a sharp pain at her neck. Turning her head, she saw an arrow quivering in the tree trunk right behind her. Holding the bow was none other than Xiao Nanye.
Meeting Yan Xin’s horrified gaze, Xiao Nanye calmly warned, “If I hear your voice again, 1’11 kill you on the spot.”
Fear replaced the rage in Yan Xin’s eyes, rendering her speechless.
In Qi Kingdom, everyone knew of King Cheng’s unpredictable temper. And if Xiao Nanye truly killed her, the Emperor wouldn’t punish him.
Everyone in the Qi Kingdom knew the Emperor’s indulgence towards King Cheng.
“King Cheng, this matter has nothing to do with Miss Yan. Please don’t make things difficult for her..”