Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Do You Think She Resembles Her? “Madam, Miss, we’ve arrived at Mulan Horse Ranch,” the coachman said respectfully from outside. “Yue’er, Yuwan, let’s get off,” Madam Liu said when she heard that they had arrived. “Yes, Mother.” The three of them prepared to alight from the carriage. The coachman thoughtfully set out the stools they would need and stepped aside. Danyun came forward and helped Madam Liu and the others down one by one. When Madam Liu got off the carriage and saw Mulan Horse Ranch, she exclaimed in admiration, “This Mulan Horse Ranch truly lives up to its reputation. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. Now that I’m here, I really don’t want to leave.” “Mother, is this your first time here too?” Ling Jiayue asked. “Yes, this is my first time as well. In the past, you girls were too young to attend the peach-blossom banquet, so I never came. Today, I’m simply accompanying you,” Madam Liu replied. “Then let’s take a good look around and enjoy the scenery, so we don’t waste such a beautiful view,” Ling Jiayue said. “That’s right, Mother. Elder Sister is right. Let’s have a good look. Who knows when we’ll have the chance to come again?” Ling Yuwan added after hearing their conversation. “All right, let’s go in first. If we’re late, the Empress and Emperor may blame us,” Madam Liu said, leading Ling Jiayue and Ling Yuwan inside. Madam Wan and Madam Chen followed behind Madam Liu into the grounds. Ling Jiaxuan and Ling Pingzhang followed close behind as well. The entire Ling family proceeded inward at an unhurried pace. Meanwhile, the assassins whose attempt had just failed returned to their respective masters and reported their failure. Although Third Prince Mu Yuyang was deeply calculating, he had a violent temper. When he saw that his personal guard had not only failed to kill Ling Jiayue but had also returned covered in wounds, his anger immediately flared. He kicked the guard to the ground and cursed, “Useless trash! What use are you to me? You couldn’t even kill a mere Ling Jiayue!” The guard was a man of unyielding character. Despite his serious injuries, he straightened himself after being kicked down and knelt upright as he said seriously, “This subordinate was incompetent. Ling Jiayue originally had only a coachman and a maid by her side, but a group of secret guards suddenly appeared from nowhere and drove us back. However…” Seeing the guard hesitate, Mu Yuyang barked, “If you have something to say, say it!” The guard then continued, “However, this subordinate found the martial arts techniques used by those secret guards extremely familiar. They seemed to come from the same school as ours.” Mu Yuyang fell into deep thought. “From the same school as yours?! In the entire Dayi, the only people who could use martial arts from the same school as yours are probably the secret guards trained by the imperial family.” “Reporting to master, that should be the case,” the guard replied. A flicker passed through Mu Yuyang’s eyes. “Enough. Go have your wounds bandaged.” The guard withdrew to treat his injuries. Although Mu Yuyang had a hot temper, he was not stupid. He knew perfectly well that among those attending the peach-blossom banquet, the only person who knew Ling Jiayue and could deploy such secret guards was Seventh Prince Mu Yuheng. Mu Yuheng had led troops into battle at the age of fifteen, and it was he who had captured the former Empress of the Ye Kingdom. It was hardly strange that he possessed such secret guards. However, the fact that Mu Yuheng had deployed them to protect Ling Jiayue showed just how important she was to him. “Well, well, Seventh Brother. Do you think that just because you’re protecting Ling Jiayue, I can’t do anything to her? We have plenty of time. Just wait and see!” Mu Yuyang said viciously. Mu Yuheng had just entered the grounds, and his mood was excellent. Feng Yan had just reported that the secret guards had driven off all the assassins. To him, ensuring Ling Jiayue’s safety was already of the utmost importance. But then he suddenly sneezed. “Who’s cursing me behind my back?” Mu Yuheng asked curiously. Feng Yan was walking behind him. Hearing this, he teased, “Master, perhaps no one is cursing you. Maybe Miss Ling is thinking about you.” “Go on, go on—get out of here. Be careful, or this prince won’t give you the money to marry a wife,” Mu Yuheng said, waving Feng Yan away like a fly. Feng Yan rolled his eyes and thought to himself, My master is accomplished in both civil and martial arts. How did he suddenly become so adorable? Thus, Mu Yuheng and Feng Yan entered Mulan Horse Ranch together, chatting and laughing. As soon as they entered, they saw Ling Jiayue and the others. Ling Jiayue also spotted Mu Yuheng. He raised his brows and smiled at her, while she mouthed the words “thank you.” Mu Yuheng’s smile grew even brighter. Meanwhile, Murong Xi, who had entered the grounds some time ago, was still waiting for the guards he had sent out to return with the “good news.” Murong Xi stood silently, an aura surrounding him that made him difficult to approach. Just as he was certain that Ling Jiayue was doomed, he suddenly caught sight of her. Murong Xi’s expression remained calm, but inwardly he had already begun cursing those useless servants. They could not even kill a mere Ling Jiayue! But if Murong Xi knew that even the assassins sent by the Third Prince and his own assassins working together had failed to kill Ling Jiayue, would he feel any better? At that moment, the guard who had hurried back to report appeared before Murong Xi. He was just about to speak when Murong Xi raised a hand to stop him. “You don’t need to say anything. I already know.” “Master, how do you know?!” the guard asked. Murong Xi lifted his chin toward the place where Ling Jiayue was standing. “Look for yourself.” The guard turned to look and saw Ling Jiayue standing there unharmed. He lowered his head and admitted, “This subordinate was incompetent and failed to complete the mission. I ask that master punish me.” “Tell me everything that happened,” Murong Xi ordered. Unlike Mu Yuyang, Murong Xi was not impulsive. Although he was a general, his true strength lay in organizing and analyzing information. “Reporting to master, we ambushed Ling Jiayue at a bend in the peach-blossom grove. Another group was lying in wait with us, and they clearly intended to kill Ling Jiayue as well. Just as we were about to reach the carriage, another group of secret guards suddenly appeared and defeated us,” the guard answered methodically. “So, counting your group, there were three groups in total. Two groups were trying to assassinate her, and one was protecting her? The two of you joined forces and still couldn’t defeat that one group?” Murong Xi asked curiously. “Reporting to master, based on this subordinate’s observations, the martial arts techniques of the secret guards protecting Ling Jiayue bore some resemblance to those of the other group that tried to assassinate her,” the guard replied. “That is interesting. It seems this peach-blossom banquet is truly full of hidden talents,” Murong Xi said, a flicker passing through his eyes. At that moment, Chu Chaoci approached from a distance. Murong Xi gave the guard a meaningful glance, and the guard withdrew first. “Greetings, Emperor,” Murong Xi said respectfully, bowing to Chu Chaoci. “No need to stand on ceremony, Grand General Murong. Did you notice the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter, Ling Jiayue?” Chu Chaoci asked. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject noticed her.” “Do you think she resembles her?”