She originally did not want to go, because she still had some things unfinished.
But Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzheng had already been cooped up at home for more than half a year. Every day, aside from studying, they only practiced martial arts and horseback riding, yet had never truly gone out to see what a real hunt was like.
This time, although it was only sika deer raised in captivity by the Xiang family, using it as practice for those two fellows would be more than enough.
She smiled slightly: “It’s not impossible…”
Just as she was teasing the two youngsters, the window was lightly tapped.
Qi Yuan had originally thought it was Xiao Yunting.
After all, aside from Xiao Yunting, everyone else used the front gate.
Who would have thought that when the window opened, it was Liujin’s somewhat anxious face that appeared.
The moment she saw Liujin, Qi Yuan knew something had happened.
She stood up: “Wait until I think about it.”
At home she had always been decisive, let alone these children, even the elders in the family all listened to her.
So Qi Yunzheng and Shen Jialang immediately answered obediently. Knowing she had matters to handle, they consciously withdrew.
Once they left, Qi Yuan nodded.
Liujin flipped in through the window from outside and nervously said to Qi Yuan, “Miss, His Highness just had Qingfeng come out and say the Lu family has had an incident.”
He took a deep breath: “Qingfeng said someone was following him, so he didn’t dare come directly to you. Instead, he circled to the place where we usually meet and told me this.”
The Lu family had an incident. Qi Yuan immediately reacted.
She had never believed there were coincidences in this world.
Right after she had destroyed the Song family and Song Liangdi died, the Lu family followed with trouble.
How could such a coincidence exist?
This was no coincidence, it was the Crown Prince or County Prince Nanan returning tooth for tooth, eye for eye.
Of course, this retaliation would not only target Xiao Yunting’s maternal family, the Lu family.
After all, the one who directly caused the downfall of the Song family was her.
If the Crown Prince could vent his anger on Xiao Yunting, how could they let her off?
She was not flustered. Sitting in the chair, she took a sip of tea: “What happened to the Lu family?”
Whether it was the Crown Prince or Xiao Jingzhao making a move, it was for revenge.
If it was revenge, then the charge against the Lu family could only be more serious than the Song family’s.
Otherwise, how could it achieve the intended effect?
She curled her lips mockingly.
The Crown Prince was truly interesting.
She had let him live too long.
Liujin was equally furious; he simply could not understand how people could be shameless to this extent.
His Highness had fought desperately in Hongdu for whom?
Those people were something else, the throne had not even been obtained yet, yet they were already picking the peaches.
Failing to pick the peaches, they still wanted to uproot the peach tree.
Lowering his voice, he said: “Colluding with the enemy and betraying the country.”
Qi Yuan laughed.
Those four words, colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, were truly like a brick, used wherever needed.
The Lu family only raised horses in the northwest. They even had a grandson serving as the Imperial Grandson, why would they need to collude with the enemy?
Sell out their own grandson’s country?
Could the Oirat possibly make them kings or something?
Ridiculous!
She rotated the teacup in her hand. Though she was smiling, there was no smile in her eyes.
Liujin had not seen such a look from Qi Yuan for a long time. When she suddenly glanced at him, he felt a chill run down his spine: “Miss Qi, His Highness said you needn’t worry, just protect yourself first. This matter is surely aimed at you as well…”
He was also deeply worried.
What happened to the Lu family was like a disaster falling from the sky, a sudden accusation appeared out of nowhere.
Qi Yuan likely would not fare much better.
Worst of all, they had no idea how things would unfold.
He pressed his lips and looked at Qi Yuan: “Miss Qi, it’s a troubled time recently. Perhaps…”
Though reluctant, Liujin truly wanted to suggest that Qi Yuan hide for a while.
When a mad dog bites people, one cannot bite back at the mad dog.
Moreover, you do not even know how many mad dogs are waiting outside.
Qi Yuan instead clicked her tongue meaningfully: “So the source is here.”
?
Liujin was confused and did not know what Qi Yuan meant.
What did “the source is here” mean?
Had Miss Qi discovered something?
But Qi Yuan had never been interested in explaining. She flicked the dust off her sleeve and said slowly: “I accept this challenge.”
A challenge?!
The sky was dark, and lanterns throughout Duke Cheng’s residence had already been lit. From afar, it looked like a sea of stars.
Duke Cheng looked at Wen Mingfeng with some disgust: “With you? You think you’re worthy?”
Wen Mingfeng gave a half-smile: “Father, you’re talking nonsense again. Whether I’m worthy or not, doesn’t it all depend on you?”
Standing before Duke Cheng, the harmless smile he usually wore in public disappeared completely, replaced with a face full of ridicule: “Besides, aren’t we all doing things for the noble person above? If I marry her, wouldn’t that remove a major threat for that noble person?”
Duke Cheng’s face turned livid. He stared at Wen Mingfeng, yet the hairs on his back stood one by one.
Just as Wen Mingfeng said, he could do nothing.
Behind this illegitimate son stood the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince even knew about those extremely private matters from his past, yet had never revealed a trace.
What did that mean?
It meant the Crown Prince was absolutely not as weak and sickly as he appeared.
He was merely pretending to be an ailing tiger.
Silently protecting Wen Mingfeng until he grew this old, and only activating him at this moment, how deep and calculating this scheme was!
Duke Cheng’s right eyelid twitched violently: “You think negotiating with a tiger will give you any chance of winning?”
Qi Yuan was not someone easy to deal with!
Otherwise, he would not have suddenly changed his stance and pretended to be deaf and mute back then during Duke Chu’s incident.
How could things be that simple?
That girl Qi Yuan, if you want one of her fingers, she will want your life!
He had seen too much.
He truly did not want to offend this plague star.
Wen Mingfeng sneered: “Father, what’s the use of persuading me? Look, does your wife listen to you?”
If Duchess of Cheng had not been instigated and provoked by others, how could Ling Qiang and Ling Chuhan have done such things?
He clicked his tongue meaningfully: “Do you still have room to refuse?”
Duke Cheng immediately felt his teeth ache.
He truly hated how sinister the Crown Prince was, even such vicious tactics could be devised.
Yes, where was his way out?
If he did not let Wen Mingfeng marry Qi Yuan, Ling Qiang and Ling Chuhan had already thoroughly offended Qi Yuan anyway.
He kept a straight face. After hesitating again and again, he finally asked irritably: “You want to marry her, but with the Wen family’s background, you have no advantage at all in front of Yongping Marquis residence. How will you marry?”
Wen Mingfeng immediately laughed: “Hero saves the beauty, turn the raw rice into cooked rice. Can I marry her then?”
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