Qi Yuan tumbled across the ground a few times, her entire body caked in mud, but astonishingly, she still nimbly avoided being trampled by Liu Mingzhu’s horse.
But Liu Mingzhu, true to her “all or nothing” attitude, turned her horse around and charged at Qi Yuan again without the slightest hesitation.
This time, Qi Yuan didn’t dodge. She spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground, locking eyes with Liu Mingzhu, who sat high above her on horseback.
Xiao Yunting did not move. In fact, he even stopped the guards from Zhou Wang’s household who had been about to rush in to help.
The guards glanced at each other in confusion.
What was going on? Had this Miss Qi not only offended Miss Liu, but also somehow offended Jing Wang?
Liu Mingzhu had the high ground—literally on horseback—and still had a polo stick in her hand, while Qi Yuan was completely unarmed. If the horse trampled her, she’d be dead for sure.
Zhou Wang, having just arrived, also looked bewildered. “You…”
Hadn’t he looked rather concerned about Qi Yuan earlier?
Why was he stopping people from helping her now?
If they were a second too late, she might be reduced to a smear on the ground.
Xiao Yunting gave a cold smile. “If you send someone in now, it’s not clear who’ll be saving whom.”
He could tell that as long as Qi Yuan had even a breath of life left in her, she would neither yield nor admit defeat.
Second Madam Qi was in tears, rushing up to Xiao Yunting and instinctively about to kneel. “Your Highness…”
Before she could finish, a bloodcurdling scream came from Madam Liu: “Mingzhu!”
…Mingzhu?
Wasn’t Qi Yuan the one in danger?!
Second Madam Qi forgot to cry and whipped her head around—only to see that, somehow, Qi Yuan had leapt onto Liu Mingzhu’s horse and was now clinging tightly behind her.
“Oh my god!” Wang Chan covered her mouth with a gasp, her blood surging with excitement and a tingling sensation running through her limbs.
Her cousin was incredible!
She had never even dreamed that someone could run up and vault onto a horse using the stirrups like that.
Even Commandery Princess Luochuan, who had been watching like a spectator at a play, now wore a serious and grim expression.
She pressed her lips tightly together, jaw clenched.
As someone who’d ridden horses for years, she could clearly see that Qi Yuan’s riding skills far surpassed Liu Mingzhu’s—and her own.
This girl…
Where had she come from?
Zhou Wang suddenly shouted in approval, “For a girl to have this kind of courage, this kind of composure in a crisis—excellent! Absolutely excellent!”
He turned to Xiao Yunting and said, “Giving her the Ferghana horse isn’t a loss in the slightest! I haven’t seen a girl this formidable in years…”
By now, everyone was murmuring in amazement or shock, but Liu Mingzhu couldn’t hear any of it.
From the moment Qi Yuan got on the horse, she had tried everything she could to throw her off.
First she tried the polo stick, but Qi Yuan seized her wrist in a death grip. Somehow, her strength made Liu Mingzhu’s elbow feel like it had been smashed with a stick. She lost all strength, and the stick fell to the ground.
This wretched girl!
Seething with hatred, she tried to strike backward with her elbow, but Qi Yuan dodged it easily.
The horse galloped madly across the field, wind howling past their ears, Liu Mingzhu’s hair already undone.
As she flailed in a panic, Qi Yuan let out a soft laugh.
Her breath brushed against Liu Mingzhu’s ear, sending a chill down her spine.
“I’ll have my father kill you,” Liu Mingzhu hissed. “He’ll kill you, I swear it!”
“Is that so?” Qi Yuan chuckled quietly, leaning close to her ear. “Miss Liu speaks as if she’s actually seen someone die before.”
As she spoke, her hands slowly tightened around the reins. She whispered, “Let me teach you what it really feels like… to be at death’s door.”
Suddenly, the horse reared and neighed loudly, and Liu Mingzhu lost her balance. She was thrown violently from the saddle.
She landed on her back with a crash, her organs seemingly colliding with one another from the impact. Her face twisted in agony, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Madam Liu screamed as she ran across the fence, “Mingzhu! Mingzhu!”
Zhou Wangfei now dared not hesitate and ordered people to help immediately.
Everyone was stunned by the turn of events.
No one had expected this. They had come to watch a lighthearted match between noble girls, only to witness an epic battle worthy of legend.
Unforgettable, truly.
Liu Mingzhu’s internal organs felt like they had been turned inside out. She couldn’t even scream in pain.
Qi Yuan dismounted, took a few steps forward, and crouched beside her, smiling faintly. “Miss Liu, how does that feel?”
Blood spilled from Liu Mingzhu’s mouth. She couldn’t say a single coherent word.
Qi Yuan felt no pity whatsoever.
After all, she had taken that same fall earlier. She had already experienced that agony herself.
So even if Liu Mingzhu had died on the spot, she would have deserved it.
Qi Yuan wouldn’t bat an eye.
Madam Liu had now reached her daughter’s side. Seeing her like this was like a knife through the heart. Her bloodshot eyes fixed on Qi Yuan with deadly intensity.
The imperial physician rushed in next. Seeing the scene, he dared not delay and immediately began examining Liu Mingzhu.
He called for invigorating pills and told Zhou Wangfei and Madam Liu gravely, “It’s likely the internal organs are damaged—perhaps even ruptured. We need to carry her back immediately and begin treatment!”
Zhou Wangfei quickly ordered the stretcher to be brought.
Madam Liu stood silently as she watched her daughter being gently lifted onto the stretcher. Her face then contorted with rage as she barked, “Qi Yuan! You dare commit assault in public—attempt murder against a noble’s daughter! You deserve to die!”
She truly had never expected anyone would dare go this far—to cause Liu Mingzhu to fall from her horse like that.
It was outrageous!
Qi Yuan gave her a half-smile, half-sneer. “With so many witnesses, don’t you think your words are a bit one-sided? Who struck first? If we’re talking about assault in public, your daughter would be the one who started it.”
This d*mned girl—not only was she vicious, she had a sharp tongue too.
Madam Liu hadn’t felt this way in years. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, her whole body gave a violent shudder. If this weren’t in front of a crowd, she would have ordered Qi Yuan’s execution without hesitation.
Kill her! Kill this wretch!
She gave a chilling laugh. “You’re standing there unharmed—and you call it self-defense?!”
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