Yang Fu’s expression also froze.
In her mind appeared the image of the young Qun Qing on horseback—the appearance she had loved most in her verdant youth.
At eleven years old, Qun Qing could already control horses. When playing polo, she was even more magnificent than Crown Prince Zhao. During games, she could leap over everyone to retrieve the flower ball for her alone.
Qun Qing would ride holding a lantern, her garments flowing in the wind like an immortal. She would dismount, her skirt and dress only then settling down, and say, “Princess, there’s no need for a marriage alliance.”
Never had she been like today—sitting on a horse, unable to hold the reins.
Why was this?
In an instant, memories of that night at Qingjing Temple flashed like thunder through Yang Fu’s mind, and through Qun Qing’s as well.
When the city fell, the two of them had hidden in the temple. Shi Yuming was the temple’s guard. With an arrow in his chest, supporting himself with his last breath, he slowly moved to the door and leaned against it, using his own body to block the door panel.
However, the next moment, that door panel collapsed, crushing him beneath it. A white horse reared and trampled through the door, bursting into the temple. The rider was clad entirely in blood-stained armor, wearing a bronze ghost mask—like an Asura.
Li Huan had indeed treated her well, but Li Huan that night had truly been strange and terrifying.
The white horse he rode bared its teeth, its four hooves flying, trampling Shi Yuming’s corpse through the door panel. From then on, horses became symbols of ferocity in Qun Qing’s eyes.
Was this the reason? Yang Fu’s breathing quickened. This belated realization was like a thorn embedded in her heart, bringing waves of stinging pain. She watched that figure, tears welling up.
After Shi Yuming’s death, Qun Qing could never ride a horse again.
Cold sweat streamed down Qun Qing, somehow flowing past her brow and dampening her eyelashes, making her eyes sting. She could only hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. After all this time, she thought she could overcome it, but still could not.
Fortunately, her second arrow had struck the horse’s neck, and Zheng Zhiyi’s horse had already weakened and slowed.
Qun Qing’s fingers, drenched in cold sweat, couldn’t curl. Her body was rigid as stone, unable to grip the horse’s belly. She knew she might crash into a tree or fall off at any moment, but she couldn’t see the path ahead. The cedar forest surrounding her spun in the wind.
In that instant, Lu Huating released his grip, and the arrow shot through the air.
The arrow grazed Qun Qing’s neck and struck firmly into a tree trunk, startling the horse to a stop. Then came two more arrows in succession, striking the horse’s front hooves. The horse neighed once, its legs buckled, and it knelt forward. A tremendous force threw Qun Qing off. As she tumbled to the ground, someone caught her waist, and a force pulled her back onto a horse.
This person’s embrace was loose and gentle, making the closeness feel almost playful. The wind blew through his garments, and the scent of yellow sweet grass flooded her nostrils. Qun Qing touched the hard belt at his lower back, which seemed both scorching hot from the sun and ice cold, almost painful to touch.
Realizing who this was, she immediately released her grip. Lu Huating’s hold had been loose to begin with. He hurriedly tightened his arms but couldn’t stop her descent, causing them both to lose balance and fall from the horse.
Qun Qing fell in a daze, but because she was so shocked, she momentarily forgot the pain. She tried to sit up but was pressed down by Lu Huating’s hand on her shoulder, pinned to the ground. He smiled without warmth. “I saved the young lady—why repay kindness with enmity?”
Qun Qing grabbed his wrist in return, and that hand pressed down even harder. She had to release her grip, looked at him for a while, and unconsciously said, “Did the Chief Clerk miss his shot?”
Between the cedar trees and the sky, the smile in Lu Huating’s dark eyes faded, revealing a moment of confusion. But he quickly smiled again. “Yes, I missed.”
Qun Qing glanced at his arm. Feeling at a disadvantage lying like this, she struggled and rubbed the cloth strip in her sleeve. Lu Huating was about to speak when he suddenly saw countless red blotches appear on Qun Qing’s face. The red marks quickly spread to her neck, leaving only her eyes gazing at him.
Just then, Zheng Zhiyi landed safely and ran over frantically. Seeing Qun Qing lying on the ground, she was startled. “Miss Qing, your face…” She looked up and saw Lu Huating, then reached out to push him away. “Move away, stay far back! Can’t you see you’re causing my lady-in-waiting to have an allergic reaction?”
“Heavens, I’ve lived this long and never heard of being allergic to a person,” Juan Su also caught up, looking at Qun Qing in disbelief, then at Lu Huating. “Chief Clerk, did you really give Miss Qing urticaria?”
One dared to say it, the other dared to believe it.
Lu Huating glanced at him. Before Juan Su could finish speaking, he stood up and retreated to a distance, silently withdrawing into the shade of trees.
At that moment, Li Xuan arrived with over ten Jinwu Guards. He was helped down from his horse and strode over quickly. Seeing Lu Huating just standing quietly in the tree shade, anger flared. “You just stand there and don’t think to help?”
After scolding him, he had no time to linger and walked toward Zheng Zhiyi and the others, his face pale. Juan Su couldn’t defend against the accusations. He turned to look at Lu Huating, who appeared calm, seemingly lost in thought.
The wind rustled the branches overhead. Lu Huating recalled the feeling of holding Qun Qing.
The process had been too brief and hurried. He wasn’t accustomed to being so close to others. Looking back now, it felt as though he had held not a person but a wisp of air or a cloud—without substance. That cloud had slipped away in an instant, leaving only the faintest trace of sensation on his sleeve.
His thoughts were quickly interrupted by the scene before him.
Seeing Qun Qing lying on the ground, Li Xuan bent down, actually wanting to lift her in his arms. This action was too hasty—even Zheng Zhiyi couldn’t help but glance at him.
After Qun Qing somehow declined, Li Xuan straightened up and stood to the side with a stern face. “Bring a light sedan chair to carry the Crown Princess and Miss Qing back to the meditation chamber to rest.”
Qun Qing had to accept this kindness. As the sedan passed by Lu Huating, through a gap she saw him still standing under the parasol tree, gazing at her from afar.
His expression was calm, his eyes seemingly covered with a layer of mist. Her gaze shifted to the bow he held, unable to fathom what he was thinking.
Qun Qing lowered the curtain. She knew this matter wasn’t over yet.
The affair of killing Master Zengjia had inadvertently become known to her. The spring wisteria seed juice could only deter enemies temporarily. Once Lu Huating lay down to think carefully, he certainly wouldn’t be able to rest easy. If she were in his position, she would definitely find a way to remove obstacles and wouldn’t do nothing—
Emperor Chenming and Consort Lü sat in chairs as the hunting supervisor reported, “The Crown Princess’s horse is dead, but there was white foam in its nostrils—someone must have fed it poison.”
Consort Lü said, “What vicious person would do such a thing?”
“Near the stables, we saw this servant acting suspiciously.” The Jinwu Guards pushed out a young attendant of seventeen or eighteen. This young attendant glanced at Yang Fu from afar, seemingly making up his mind, then knelt to confess. “This servant tends the flowers and plants at Luanyi Pavilion. Princess Bao’an has been confined for so long that we servants haven’t received our monthly wages. This servant harbored resentment toward the Crown Princess, so I poisoned the horse.”
Before he could finish, Emperor Chenming raised his hand, and the Jinwu Guards dragged the young attendant away—meaning execution.
“Though it was the servant’s fault, negligent management by the noble is also a crime. What if something had happened to the Crown Princess?” Li Pan said. “Your son believes Princess Bao’an should also be punished. Will Third Brother still insist on marrying her?”
Li Huan said, “Princess Bao’an is at fault. If Father Emperor punishes her, so be it. I won’t plead for leniency, but neither will I abandon her like Second Brother.”
Just hearing Li Huan speak gave Emperor Chenming a headache. Consort Lü hurried to mediate. “Your Majesty, Third Brother is straightforward by nature. Valuing loyalty and righteousness is a good thing.”
“Princess Yan is busy in the palace—have you asked him if he values loyalty toward Princess Yan?” Emperor Chenming said.
Prince Zhao Li Pan smiled. He felt everyone’s wariness of Prince Yan was simply overthinking. Li Huan’s willingness to anger the Emperor to protect Princess Bao’an could alone cause his downfall, so naturally he was happy to stoke the fire. “Father Emperor, it’s normal for gentlemen to have multiple wives and concubines. Third Brother is willing to risk imperial wrath for a beauty—your son will plead a favor for Third Brother. Why not simply make Princess Bao’an a secondary consort?”
Li Xuan said, “Father Emperor, Princess Bao’an affected Imperial Consort Han and allowed palace attendants to plot against the Crown Princess. Your son and the Crown Princess may not mind, but if she remains in the palace, Imperial Consort Han might be distressed seeing her. If she’s truly to become Third Brother’s secondary consort, why not let her remain at this Xianyou Temple?”
Emperor Chenming said, “Princess Bao’an, your princess title is stripped. You are enfeoffed as a secondary consort to Prince Yan. Handle the rest according to the Crown Prince’s suggestion. Third Brother, are you satisfied?”
Having one’s beloved woman disposed of by others’ few words was a tremendous humiliation for a man. Li Huan clearly thought so. His hands clenched as he looked at the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao. “This son thanks Father Emperor.”
Yang Fu bowed in thanks, but her heart held none of the joy she had imagined. Instead, she felt empty and uneasy. She had finally obtained an identity but lost even her princess title. Going forward, wherever she was, she could only survive by firmly holding Li Huan’s heart.
Everyone dispersed. Li Huan walked up to Lu Huating, hesitating to speak. Lu Huating only said, “Congratulations.”
Juan Su wanted to follow, but Lu Huating waved his hand, making him retreat, and walked into the forest alone.
Knowing he wanted to be alone, Juan Su only trailed behind at a distance.
From afar, voices came from the valley.
Lu Huating heard the clamor and sounds of weapons in the noise. The Nan Chu spies who had been ambushed the day before had already been captured. This kind of sound… someone was interrogating spies through the night.
Lu Huating hurried toward Consort Lü’s meditation chamber.
Inside the chamber, lamps blazed brightly. Upon seeing him, Consort Lü rose urgently. “Have there been developments with the spies?”
Lu Huating placed the arrow pulled from the old monk on the table. “When arrows are forged, each person’s arrowhead is numbered. This arrowhead has no number—someone used their own arrowhead and attached it to the arrow shaft. Can Your Ladyship recall any other details?”
“You mean the lead is cold? I don’t forge weapons—where would I get leads?” Consort Lü was somewhat agitated. “This Prince Yan chooses beauty over power. Chief Clerk, perhaps you misjudged him.”
“His Majesty is in his prime. There’s still time. Your Ladyship shouldn’t lose composure over temporary circumstances.” Lu Huating smiled slightly. “I’ve heard merchants always seek returns. If Your Ladyship regrets allying with Prince Yan’s mansion, you may withdraw now. It’s just that parcel of land for Marquis Lü Wanhu—I’ve only just raised the deposit…”
Consort Lü’s expression tightened, and she smiled reluctantly. “Are you scolding this palace for caring only about profit and not gratitude? Lord Lu speaks too harshly. How could this palace forget what Prince Yan’s mansion gave the Lü family? It’s just that right now the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao are gaining favor, and His Majesty has been captivated by Imperial Consort Han. I fear imperial favor will be hard to recover, so I’m anxious.”
Lu Huating said flatly, “Your Ladyship had those Nan Chu spies removed late at night—was that also anxiety?”
Consort Lü was quite honest. “It’s not that this palace doesn’t trust the Chief Clerk. Having them tortured was to catch the spies as quickly as possible, lest His Majesty think this palace is incompetent.”
“Your Ladyship’s people lack restraint and easily force false confessions.”
“Who cares if they’re false confessions? As long as the task is accomplished efficiently, isn’t that enough?” Consort Lü said. “Right now there’s a real lead: that Miss Qing beside the Crown Princess has left herself vulnerable. This palace has heard she’s quite formidable—even the Chief Clerk finds her troublesome. She elevated Imperial Consort Han and fanned the flames regarding Princess Bao’an. If we can’t touch those of high rank, can’t we teach those of low rank a lesson? Should we swallow this humiliation?”
Lu Huating remained silent.