Chapter 83

Chapter Eighty-Three: Do You Want to Race with Older Sister? When Murong Xi heard this, his heart jolted. Yet not the slightest trace of it showed on his face. He merely pretended not to understand. “This subject is foolish and does not know whom His Majesty means by ‘her.’” “Truly, you do not know?” Chu Chaoci asked, gazing at Murong Xi. “This subject truly does not know.” Murong Xi had already decided to play dumb. “If you do not know, then why did you send people to assassinate her?” Chu Chaoci asked, seemingly offhandedly. Upon hearing this, Murong Xi felt the clothes against his back grow damp with cold sweat. Yes—how could he have forgotten that Chu Chaoci was no simple man, having risen step by step to where he was today? From the ruthlessness he had shown toward Ling Jiayue alone, it was clear that Chu Chaoci was deep-minded and utterly cold-blooded. Murong Xi hurriedly fell to his knees and pleaded guilty. “This subject is guilty! This subject is guilty!” “What exactly are you guilty of?” Chu Chaoci asked lazily. “This subject should not have sent people to assassinate Miss Ling. This subject begs Your Majesty’s forgiveness,” Murong Xi said respectfully. “Oh my, Grand General Murong, I merely asked a casual question. Why are you so nervous? I did not come to see you because of Ling Jiayue’s matter. You may put your mind at ease. I came to discuss the mineral deposit with you.” Chu Chaoci appeared startled and quickly helped Murong Xi to his feet as he explained. Murong Xi knew that Chu Chaoci had discovered his attempt to assassinate Ling Jiayue. This was Chu Chaoci’s warning for him not to make a move against her again. After all, Ling Jiayue had become a County Lady at Chu Chaoci’s recommendation. If she died now, it would amount to slapping both Ye Kingdom and Dayi in the face. Murong Xi therefore abandoned his plan to kill Ling Jiayue at the peach-blossom banquet. “Your Majesty, the mineral deposit is distributed across the western side of Mulan Horse Ranch, near the territory of Ye Kingdom. Although the deposit is close to our kingdom’s borders, it is still some distance away. If we wish to mine it in secret, we must first come up with a suitable pretext.” Murong Xi voiced his thoughts on mining the mineral deposit. Chu Chaoci nodded. “Grand General Murong is right. Have you thought of a pretext?” “Your Majesty, this subject is incompetent. I have not thought of one yet.” Murong Xi spoke with slight embarrassment. “Forget it. This matter must be handled gradually; there is no need to rush. It would indeed be asking too much of you to think of one on the spot. Just take part in the peach-blossom banquet properly. Speaking of which, Grand General Murong, you are no longer young. It is about time you found someone who understands your heart. If you find such a person at the peach-blossom banquet, that would be a fine thing indeed.” As he spoke, Chu Chaoci even patted Murong Xi on the shoulder. “Your Majesty jests.” Murong Xi gave a noncommittal response. “Very well. Take part in the peach-blossom banquet ‘with peace of mind.’” Chu Chaoci placed heavy emphasis on the words “with peace of mind.” Having said that, he left. Murong Xi waited until Chu Chaoci had gone some distance away before straightening up. He understood perfectly well that Chu Chaoci had come this time ostensibly to discuss the mineral deposit, but in truth, he had come to warn him not to act rashly again. He feared that if Ling Jiayue so much as lost a single strand of hair, Chu Chaoci would come back to give him another thorough “warning.” Murong Xi’s gaze darkened. It seemed his prediction had been correct: Ling Jiayue would certainly become a great threat to him in the future. If he did not take advantage of the present, while Ling Jiayue’s wings were still undeveloped, to eliminate her, she would only become more difficult to deal with later. After all, there was still a force around Ling Jiayue protecting her—one he knew nothing about and could not identify. At that moment, Ling Jiayue had just entered Mulan Horse Ranch with Madam Liu. Mulan Horse Ranch had always been reserved exclusively for the imperial family. Normally, court ladies such as Madam Liu were not permitted to enter, so it was a rare opportunity for them to visit today. Although Mulan Horse Ranch was called a ranch, its construction was magnificent and imposing, possessing quite a bit of imperial grandeur. Madam Liu led Ling Jiayue and the other female members of the family to take their seats in the women’s section for Dayi. Ling Jiaxuan took Ling Pingzhang to the men’s section. Dayi had always been known as a land of propriety and etiquette. Men and women were seated separately from the age of seven; even fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, and brothers and sisters could not share a table. Thus, there were separate sections for male and female guests. Before Ling Jiayue and the others arrived, the Dayi Emperor Mu Yuye and Empress Su Wanrong had already taken their seats on the high platform. Chu Chaoci had also leisurely returned from Murong Xi’s side and was seated at a table opposite Mu Yuyang, the two of them sitting to the north and south. When Empress Su Wanrong saw that the young men and women of both kingdoms had taken their seats, she instructed the steward matron beside her to have the prepared tea and pastries brought to the tables. The entire banquet soon filled with a lively atmosphere. As the mood at the banquet gradually grew warmer, Empress Su Wanrong spoke. “The scenery at Mulan Horse Ranch is beautiful and delightful. If we could also enjoy the graceful sight of the young ladies of both kingdoms riding forth at full gallop, that would make it all the more splendid.” When the young ladies of the various families heard the Empress’s words, they understood that a horse-racing competition was about to begin. They all rose and bowed to Empress Su Wanrong. “We respectfully obey Your Majesty’s imperial decree.” “Your Majesty, the literary competition began with the young men of our kingdom, while the calligraphy competition began with the young ladies of Ye Kingdom. Which kingdom should begin the horse racing?” Su Wanrong asked Mu Yuye. “Indeed. Why not let the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom decide?” Mu Yuye tossed the question to Chu Chaoci. Chu Chaoci had just placed a grape into his mouth. Hearing Mu Yuye’s words, he thought for a moment before saying, “As for horse racing, it is more enjoyable with more participants. How about this? Let each of our two kingdoms put forward several young ladies. That would make for a better spectacle.” “That would be fine. We shall proceed as the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom has suggested.” “Yes, Your Majesty,” Empress Su Wanrong replied. “Yes.” The young ladies of the various families from Dayi and Ye Kingdom answered one after another. Ling Jiayue and Ling Yuwan also rose and agreed. “Yuwan, little sister, would you like to race with Older Sister?” Ling Jiayue suddenly turned around and asked Ling Yuwan. Ling Yuwan was startled when Ling Jiayue turned to ask her that. Afraid that Ling Jiayue had discovered her plot to harm her, she forced herself to remain calm and said, “Older Sister, the horse Yuwan is riding is still a young horse, so naturally I cannot race with you. But I will cheer you on.” Ling Jiayue sneered inwardly: That is exactly what I want—for you not to race with me. That way, if something happens to you, you cannot pin the blame on me. Yet she continued smiling sweetly. “Very well. You must be careful too. Although I was raised in a Buddhist temple before, I know that women are most likely to be injured when riding horses, especially younger women. You must be sure to ‘take care.’” Ling Yuwan still thought Ling Jiayue knew nothing about the sachet. She mocked Ling Jiayue inwardly for being a fool, then replied with a bright smile, “All right. Thank you for your concern, Older Sister. I will certainly take care. You must also ‘pay attention to your safety.’” “Older Sister knows,” Ling Jiayue replied with a smile. The two sisters each harbored their own schemes, yet they smiled at each other on the surface. Ling Yuwan believed herself to be the mantis stalking the cicada, never realizing that Ling Jiayue was the oriole waiting behind.