Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 83

Chapter 83

It had been many months since she had last returned to Chang'an. Seeing the bustling, bold, and energetic citizens of the capital again, she felt a profound sense of warmth and familiarity.

Zhao Lingfei, the fifth daughter of the Zhao family, rode a brown horse, traveling along the main boulevard leading into Chang'an alongside her cousin and their companions.

On both sides of the road stood grand wine shops and multi-story buildings, their architecture magnificent and their storefronts vast. The streets were teeming with people; colorful flowers bloomed in intervals, and banners fluttered in the wind—what a scene of prosperity. Amidst this clamor, Zhao Lingfei saw her cousin, who had been leading the pack and traveling faster than anyone else, suddenly pull his horse to a halt to speak with a gentleman wandering along the street.

Even from a distance, the young man’s jade-like appearance and distinguished bearing were impossible to ignore. Zhao Lingfei’s eyes lit up instantly, and she urged her horse forward, joyous and eager: "Brother Yan, did you hear that I was returning and come all the way to the city gate to welcome me?"

Yan Shang replied, "Ah... so it is Fifth Miss Zhao. Long time no see."

His tone was hurried, yet his voice remained gentle and smiling. Because he was on horseback and it was inconvenient to perform a formal greeting, he simply cupped his hands in a salute.

But the moment Zhao Lingfei heard his surprised tone, she knew Yan Shang had absolutely no idea she was returning to Chang'an today.

Before Zhao Lingfei’s gaze could dim or she could find a way to further strike up a conversation with the young Master Yan, Yang Si, who had been speaking with Yan Shang, turned his horse around. He pressed a finger to his lips and emitted a sharp, resonant whistle that startled the surrounding knights, causing them all to stiffen in alertness.

They watched as the leading young man, Yang Silang, dressed in a black robe with narrow sleeves, shouted aloud: "Men, take note! Follow me out of the city! Lingfei, you lead the female relatives back to my house to report our safety. I have business to attend to outside the city with Brother Yan—"

"Hyah—"

As soon as the words left his lips, he acted with absolute decisiveness. Not giving Zhao Lingfei a single chance to refuse, Yang Si turned his horse’s head and led the way back toward the city exit. Zhao Lingfei looked blankly at Yan Shang, waiting for an explanation from this usually gentle-natured gentleman. But Yan Shang only offered an apologetic bow before tightening his reins and spurring his horse to chase after Yang Si.

Yan Shang’s voice raised slightly: "Third Brother, wait for me—"

Following Yan Shang, the group of riders—the young masters who had followed Yang Si and had only just returned from outside—turned their horses around one after another, trailing their master as he headed back out of the city.

On the main avenue of Chang'an, the mass of horses turning in unison created a thunderous sound, kicking up a storm of dust. As Zhao Lingfei choked on the dust and watched the horses and men brush past her, she remained stunned for a long while. The urgency of the situation even stirred a sense of curiosity in her, making her want to follow them and see what was happening.

However, after a moment of hesitation, she looked at the female attendants settled in the carriage behind her and decided it would be better to return to the residence to report their safety before coming back out to join the excitement.

In the narrow palace corridor, just as Liu Wenji was preparing to leave the palace for the Hanlin Academy as he did every day, a young eunuch came to call him and led him to this secluded spot.

Liu Wenji assumed that his actions had once again drawn the ire of someone, and that another round of private beatings was inevitable. He held his body rigid, enduring the fear of the impending blows, and followed the young eunuch into the passageway.

At the entrance to the corridor, waiting for him was not the beating he had expected, but a stout, portly old eunuch with a kind and benevolent face.

Recognizing at a glance that this man was Cheng An, the favored head of the inner palace who served directly by the Emperor's side, Liu Wenji quickly knelt to pay his respects.

Cheng An saw that this young eunuch was fair-skinned, youthful, and well-versed in etiquette, so he nodded with a satisfied smile. He signaled to the young eunuch who had brought Liu Wenji there, and that eunuch eagerly stepped forward to help Liu Wenji up.

The young eunuch said, "Oh, Wenji, why are you kneeling? Do you really think Master Cheng specifically asked to see you just to make you kneel?"

Cheng An wore a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes: "Liu Wenji, is it? This old servant was previously busy serving the Emperor during his illness and had no time to manage the affairs of my godson. Now that the Emperor’s health has improved, this old servant has only just learned that my godson was on the verge of a life-and-death feud with a Hanlin scholar, and it was you who acted as the mediator to resolve their conflict?"

Cheng An paused: "I hear you hosted several 'Famous Flower Banquets' at the Northern Quarter, all paid for by you? That must have cost quite a lot, right?"

Liu Wenji replied sensibly, "It wasn't worth mentioning; it was all merely my duty."

Cheng An chuckled dryly.

He drew out his words, making his voice sound somewhat shrill: "Fine, fine! You young eunuchs—what you're really thinking, don't I already know? I have served by the Emperor’s side for decades and can at least be considered half a person of note. Since I accept your favor, I won't let your efforts go to waste. Tell me, what kind of reward do you want? Do you want a post outside the palace, or are you looking for money and beauties?"

For a eunuch to ask for a position outside the palace was normal; to ask for money and beauties was laughable.

Yet, the three eunuchs standing there did not find it laughable at all.

Though they had been stripped of their manhood, they spent their entire lives pursuing the status and meaning attached to it. Like an act of revenge, it was cruel and insidious.

Otherwise, how could there be rumors of eunuchs secretly keeping wives and concubines outside the palace? How could there be accounts of "marriages" between eunuchs and young palace maids?

Liu Wenji understood the mindsets of these men who had been "uprooted." Yet, what meaning did money or beauties hold for him? Since he had entered the palace, there was only one thing he craved—power.

That overwhelming, colossal power capable of consuming everyone.

Liu Wenji lowered his eyelids and replied obsequiously, "This slave seeks nothing else; I only ask to follow by Master Cheng’s side and receive your teachings."

Cheng An said, "Tsk, you’re looking to serve before the Emperor, eh? Heh heh, our Emperor is not easy to serve."

Liu Wenji said, "I rely entirely on your guidance, Master."

Cheng An examined him closely, and indeed, he had some considerations of his own. As the Emperor’s health declined day by day, his own age was catching up with him. Eunuchs who had been uprooted aged much faster than normal men. Before Liu Wenji, Cheng An already had several young eunuchs he had trained personally by his side, just in case.

If one of these disciples could rise to power, he would have someone to look after him in his old age.

Cheng An said, "Fine. Starting tomorrow, in addition to going to the Hanlin Academy, you will follow me and work by my side."

Liu Wenji was moved to tears, pulled up his robes, and knelt again to kowtow.

This time, Cheng An accepted his gesture with composure.

Cheng An lowered his head, scrutinizing the handsome young eunuch, and muttered to himself: "Still, you are just a minor eunuch with no rank or status; it’s not suitable for you to be before the Emperor. How about this: starting tomorrow, you shall be a Palace Superintendent. At least you will have a rank and look the part."

Liu Wenji snapped his head up, the light in his eyes flickering like stars, staring at Cheng An in a daze. When Cheng An nonchalantly bestowed upon him the title of "Palace Superintendent," his heart was filled with a bitterness, sorrow, shock, and joy that could not be put into words.

The rank of Palace Superintendent was a specific grade for inner attendants.

If this rank were translated into an official government post, it would be equivalent to the lower tier of the eighth rank.

The significance of the lower eighth rank was this... Yan Shang, after numerous trials and tribulations—calculating his provincial exams, participating in the spring examinations, taking the imperial certification exams, and working hard for an entire year to earn a good reputation among the scholars of Chang'an—his current official rank was only the lower eighth rank.

Liu Wenji had come to Chang'an seeking an official post for two full years with no opportunity.

Yet, the moment he entered the palace as a minor eunuch, without having done anything truly monumental... an official rank equivalent to the lower eighth grade had simply fallen from the sky.

All of this made his life feel so... ridiculous!

Cheng An squinted, looking down at the young eunuch who appeared to have tears in his eyes: "What, are you not satisfied with being a Palace Superintendent?"

Liu Wenji suppressed the bitterness and sorrow in his heart and kowtowed joyfully: "Thank you for your favor, Master."

In the Southern Mountains, as early spring arrived, the thin layer of snow that had blanketed the peaks had just faded, and Princess Danyang had arranged to go hunting there with the envoys of various small states.

Horses raced, and the green forests stretched vast and wide.

The envoys of the small states surrounded the beautiful Princess Danyang, scrambling to curry favor. At first, they had only proposed marriage on behalf of their sovereigns because they couldn't stand the Wuman King’s dominance; but later, they were genuinely eager to propose.

If they could form a marriage alliance with the Great Wei, wouldn't their relationship be strengthened? Some neighboring border states relied on the protection of Great Wei to survive, so they were naturally particularly keen on marrying into the Great Wei.

This Princess Danyang was a perfect choice!

And even if it wasn't Princess Danyang, any other princess would do, as long as Great Wei gave its approval!

However, Mu Wanyao only responded to the envoys’ flattery with casual, polite smiles. It was only when her beautiful eyes met those of the Wuman King’s party that they lit up slightly.

The Wuman King, riding on horseback, wore a mask, as did the Wuman soldiers behind him. Mu Wanyao muttered to herself, thinking she had never seen the Wuman practice such a strange custom before. However, in Great Wei, Meng Zaishi often did this, and she couldn't be bothered to inquire about any of his personal affairs.

After exchanging a glance through the mask with the Wuman King, Mu Wanyao clapped her hands, signaling for the surrounding crowd to quiet down. She said with a smile: "Alright, enough idle chatter. Let us begin the hunt—early spring has just arrived, and the animals in the mountains have just woken up; they are not easy to find, so it will all depend on your own abilities."

Laughter erupted from all sides, and someone boldly asked: "If someone wins, is there a reward?"

Mu Wanyao looked over with a smile: "If you win, I shall reward you with the honor of dining with me tonight."

Behind her, Meng Zaishi’s voice rang out like a magnet: "Oh? In that case, this King will not hold back."

Immediately, an envoy expressed his dissatisfaction: "The Wuman King is being far too confident! Our archery skills are in no way inferior to the Wuman’s!"

Meng Zaishi said lazily: "Come and try, then."

This arrogant attitude provoked the anger of the crowd, and soon, everyone was arguing loudly.

Mu Wanyao felt a bit more at ease and glanced back at the Wuman party. When she had first seen these people wearing masks and Meng Zaishi not saying a word, she had thought there might be some trap; now, hearing Meng Zaishi’s voice and knowing he was there, her plan could finally proceed.

The Wuman King reached out to her, signaling for both parties to travel together, just as Meng Zaishi had behaved in the past.

Usually, Mu Wanyao wouldn't necessarily give him any face, but today, she smiled at him, spurred her horse, and took the lead.

As Princess Danyang’s slender, beautiful back disappeared into the lush forest, Meng Zaishi’s party stared intently. Hearing the Princess’s delicate cry of "Hyah," her guards followed suit. The Wuman side reacted faster than any of the other envoys, surging forward a step to pursue Princess Danyang.

Seeing this, the others finally reacted and rushed to mount their horses and enter the forest!

"Swish—"

The Southern Mountains were like a green ocean. Arrows crisscrossed through the forest, aimed at the unsuspecting, newly awakened animals. The hunters’ eyes in the woods were sharp as lightning, filled with extreme vigilance, while the forest rustled like waves, masking every movement.

Gradually, Mu Wanyao’s group and Meng Zaishi’s group became separated from the main body.

Dressed in the bold red attire of Great Wei and raised in a culture where the Wuman valued martial arts, Mu Wanyao was no ordinary girl who couldn't pull a bow or ride a horse.

Her skirt draped like lotus petals over her horse’s back, and her bow and arrows were ready in her quiver. She pressed her legs against the horse’s belly, sprinting at the very front, pulling her bow repeatedly, sending arrows flying one after another. Every time she hit her mark, Fang Tong and the others would ride quickly to retrieve the prey.

After a few rounds, a smile appeared on Mu Wanyao’s face, and her brows finally relaxed.

Meng Zaishi’s side, naturally, did not lag behind.

Everyone in the Wuman team could ride and shoot, and as they drew their bows repeatedly, the speed of their horses actually surpassed that of Mu Wanyao’s group.

Mu Wanyao’s group began to slow down. She, who had originally been riding neck-and-neck with the Wuman King in the forest, now began to lag behind, the distance between them growing wider.

Mu Wanyao feigned heavy breathing and brought her horse to a stop. Her gaze remained fixed on the backs of the Wuman party ahead, not missing a single detail.

Slowly, with a hint of a smile still in her eyes, Mu Wanyao twirled her bow in her hand and turned her head to speak playfully to her attendant, Fang Tong. For a fleeting moment when she met Fang Tong’s gaze, Mu Wanyao blinked her eyelids, creating an arc—a signal to "act."

Instantly, birds took flight in the forest, and from behind bushes and trees, the figures of guards appeared. Some carried bows and crossbows, others gripped swords and sabers. The guards had been quietly lying in ambush in the deep woods, waiting for this very moment.

The Wuman, riding at the front, sensed a sudden air of danger. The Wuman King’s horse came to a halt. The masked Wuman King waved a long hand, signaling his followers to stop, then slowly turned his horse to look at Mu Wanyao, who was trailing behind.

In an instant, Mu Wanyao screamed: "Kill—"

Arrows flew from the forest toward the Wuman people. They were not aimed at the men, but at the horses.

Shoot the horses’ legs! Force them to lose their mobility!

The Wuman were a people born on horseback; their horses were their lives! If you wanted to disable them, you had to strike the mounts first!

In the deep woods, the Wuman horses began to be hit. Some Wuman soldiers cried out in pain as they fell from their saddles. As others bent down to help them, more arrows rained down.

The Wuman began cursing in their native tongue. Mu Wanyao gave a cold laugh and waved her hand again—

A group of Great Wei’s finest men, who had been hiding in the forest, charged at the Wuman who were scrambling to stop their horses and dodge the arrows!

In the deep forest, the battle had begun!

Yang Si and Yan Shang’s group had arrived at Leshou Plain and were now heading up the Southern Mountains. The mountains were vast, and they had no idea where exactly Mu Wanyao was.

At this point, it was Yang Si, who had followed Yan Shang here, who was more familiar with the terrain.

Yang Si hesitated only for a heartbeat while holding his horse, then determined a direction: "Follow me—"

His profile was cold and stern, his eyes sharp. The usual laziness and ease were completely restrained, and the spirit of a youth charging fearlessly seemed to be erupting from him.

Yan Shang followed closely, reminding him: "Third Brother, are you certain this is the way? Time is of the essence..."

Yang Si leaned forward on his horse, beginning to feel for the horizontal sword at his waist. As the wind whipped past his ears, his gaze remained calm. The signal of his drawn sword caused the knights behind him to follow suit, drawing their blades in unison.

Yang Si replied coldly to Yan Shang’s question: "Don't worry. I know the Southern Mountains better than you—

"I played here since I was a child. I know which parts of the Southern Mountains are suitable for ambushes, where the trees are dense, and where the wild beasts gather... I’ve grown up playing here. Finding people, killing people in the Southern Mountains... I am more familiar with it than you!

"Follow me!"

Yan Shang drove his horse forward, reminding him again: "Third Brother, do not act on impulse; Her Highness’s safety is more important—"

With his long sword in hand, his horse moving like lightning, Yang Si no longer answered Yan Shang’s questions.

Yan Shang knew that at this point, he could no longer control Yang Si. The Yang Silang who had spent his days racing horses and hunting hawks in Chang'an had vanished; the raw wildness in Yang Si’s nature had begun to awaken.

Since he couldn't control him, he would just have to let go of the reins—

After a brief pause, Yan Shang said concisely to a knight behind him: "Sir, please lend me your bow and arrows—"

Blood stained the forest floor as the battle raged.

The Wuman horses were struck by arrows one after another. The soldiers were dragged down, rolling on the ground to evade the incoming projectiles. Great Wei guards rushed forward, but these Wuman warriors were all fierce and skilled in combat; they sprang up from the ground and struck back at the assassins.

A Wuman soldier shouted: "Kelilu, protect the King!"

A man immediately cried out: "Of course! My King, this subordinate comes to your aid—"

A burly, imposing Wuman warrior jumped from his horse, his long sword swinging as he slashed at the men closing in on the Wuman King: "You treacherous Great Wei dogs! Did you really think we Wuman were so easily fooled—"

Leading the charge against the Wuman King were Fang Tong and his men. Fang Tong understood a few phrases of Wuman; hearing the cold wind and the voices of the Wuman warriors behind him, he shouted: "It’s Kelilu! He’s a fierce general of the Wuman, everyone be careful—"

Fang Tong was knocked to the ground by Kelilu, but the other guards continued to rush the Wuman King’s horse, hacking at its four legs. With his long sword in hand, the Wuman King spun around to strike at the guards. As blood splattered into the air, the Wuman King used the neck of a fallen corpse to leap from his horse.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the Wuman King turned and charged toward Princess Danyang, Mu Wanyao, who was observing the battle from afar.

Seeing him rush toward the Princess, the guards immediately stepped in to block him, willing to trade their lives for hers!

Swords flashed, shadows danced, and bodies piled up!

Their roars were so loud that the mountain birds scattered in flight: "Ah—"

The Wuman soldiers were covered in blood. Though they were fewer in number than the guards ambushed by the Princess’s residence, they were incredibly brazen: "Great Wei people, truly treacherous! Come on, let us play with you—"

Fang Tong engaged in a fierce battle with the fierce Wuman general Kelilu. Kelilu’s fighting style was relatively simple, but he was massive and powerful. Fang Tong relied entirely on his agility to dance around him, leading Kelilu in a specific direction. Unaware, Kelilu unleashed one powerful punch after another, laughing heartily: "Back in the Wuman lands, I always wanted to slaughter you—"

Fang Tong was sent flying backward by a punch, slamming into a tree and vomiting blood. His vision darkened, his ribs were likely shattered, and he was in so much pain he could barely move.

But Fang Tong laughed coldly.

He opened his mouth, and blood dripped from between his teeth. Staring at Kelilu as he strode forward, he shouted back in the Wuman tongue: "Come on—if you don't kill me, you’re not a man!"

Kelilu lunged, intending to flatten the Princess’s personal guard, who was now immobilized and appeared incredibly frail in his eyes. But as he approached, an iron net fell from above, draping over him. Kelilu tried to dodge, but Fang Tong threw himself forward, grabbing Kelilu’s waist and dragging them both into the iron net.

Fang Tong roared: "Come on—let’s die together—"

Fang Tong took the lead, sacrificing himself to be trapped with Kelilu in the iron net, which turned the tide of the battle.

Having personally walked through the Wuman lands, he had never dared to underestimate their fighting strength. Even though the guards ambushed here by the Princess’s residence outnumbered the Wuman several times over.

Mu Wanyao watched the battle with tension, cold sweat soaking her hands. She saw the Wuman being pressed down one by one—some trapped, some slain. The number of bodies on the ground increased, and the number of standing Wuman soldiers dwindled. She found it hard to breathe. Finally, she saw the Wuman King, riddled with wounds, swaying before crashing to the ground.

Leaves drifted down, and the forest grew suddenly silent.

Only a dozen or so guards from the Princess’s residence remained standing, while not a single Wuman warrior was left on his feet.

The guards looked back: "Your Highness!"

Mu Wanyao jumped down from her horse and walked toward the battlefield. Her expression was indifferent; her apricot-colored skirt swept through a sea of blood and corpses without the slightest tremor. The guards cleared a path, and Mu Wanyao looked at the scattered Wuman soldiers in their masks—some struggling as they were forced to their knees, and the fierce Wuman King, who had also fallen at her feet.

This gave her a dreamlike sense of unreality.

On that night she left the Wuman, she had borrowed the blades of the old Wuman King and the next Wuman King to kill Meng Zaishi once.

Today, in the Great Wei, had she really killed Meng Zaishi once again?

Had he really been killed by her?

Mu Wanyao crouched beside the Wuman King’s corpse, looking at the arrows protruding from his chest and the blood-stained sword gashes on his body. She reached out and pulled away the mask from his face.

Bit by bit, the true face of the Wuman King was revealed behind the bronze mask.

His brows were sharp and his features cold and decisive—but Mu Wanyao’s expression changed abruptly.

She stood up instantly, shouting urgently: "Retreat—"

This was not Meng Zaishi!

The dead Wuman King was not Meng Zaishi!

In that split second, one of the Wuman corpses on the ground suddenly "resurrected." At such close range, no one could react in time. The man leaped up, seized Mu Wanyao around the waist, and vaulted into the air, flying toward the high trees.

Fang Tong, who had been rescued from the iron net and was being supported by two guards, arrived. Seeing this turn of events, he was horrified, screaming "Your Highness" as he hurled his sword at the man who had snatched the Princess.

The man climbed to a high branch in the trees, clutching the struggling Mu Wanyao to his chest, and turned his head. Fang Tong’s thrown blade smashed the mask off his face.

His features were revealed—handsome and chillingly cold.

Fang Tong gasped: "Meng Zaishi—"

This was the true Wuman King!

The dead one was a decoy!

Meng Zaishi had used someone to die in his place! The Wuman King who had come to the forest for the hunt today had been a "fake king" from the start. The true King had hidden among the knights, saying nothing, watching the farce with cold eyes while pretending to be hacked to death.

And then, at the most critical moment, Meng Zaishi had struck, snatching the Princess away!

Fang Tong felt a weight in his chest and vomited more blood.

The guards beside him were anxious: "Sir—"

Fang Tong gritted his teeth: "Pursue! Save Her Highness!"

Now that the fish was dead and the net was broken, there was no need for anyone to pretend anymore!

But at that moment, another group of Great Wei soldiers burst from the forest: "Who dares to be so insolent here—"

The Great Wei army!

Fang Tong’s expression shifted slightly; he knew others had been drawn into this—

The forest was deep and green, and the spring water broke through the ice.

Meng Zaishi had exploded into action. Standing next to the corpse he had used as a disguise, how could Mu Wanyao avoid him? She was instantly swept into his arms, and he carried her, jumping through the forest to escape. She struggled desperately, but under the man’s overwhelming strength, she was truly helpless.

The strength of that man filled her with extreme hatred!

"Thud—" Mu Wanyao was thrown away, landing in the water.

A waterfall cascaded down from the mountain behind them, forming a tiny rainbow over the pool. Mu Wanyao had been thrown down by Meng Zaishi, and unable to steady herself, she fell into the water.

The mist from the waterfall sprayed from behind, soaking her skirt and half her body. The spring water was bone-chillingly cold. As she sat in the water, she struck a rock, and the hand she had held behind her back was cut and stung by the ice floating on the water’s surface. In the shallow pool that reached her knees, the cold made Mu Wanyao tremble uncontrollably.

She sat in the water, one hand behind her back feeling for the small dagger she had hidden in her sleeve, while she lifted her face to look at the man who was glaring fiercely at her with red-rimmed eyes.

Meng Zaishi lunged, grabbing Mu Wanyao by the throat and pinning her down. His hand clamped around her windpipe, and he said coldly: "Mu Wanyao! You want to kill me again!"

He shouted: "This is the second time! The second time! I forgave you once, and now you do it again! Do you want to kill me that much?"

Mu Wanyao’s throat was held by him. Her upturned face showed a sickly pallor. Her jet-black eyes stared at him, her hairpin fell into the water, her hair came undone, a lock of dark silk floating on the water’s surface, sticking wetly against her waist.

She looked at him and laughed: "That’s right, I want to kill you. Did you only just find out today? Surely not? Does the great Meng Zaishi, who wishes to be the king of the grasslands, only now realize that I want to kill you?"

Meng Zaishi applied pressure to her throat, turning her face a congested, bruised blue. Pinned by him against the rock, her entire being was extremely fragile in his grasp. With a slight squeeze, he could end her.

And she was so beautiful.

In the prime of her youth, yet sharp as thorns that pierced anyone who came near. Cold and brilliant, her dark, icy eyes staring at him... this destructive aesthetic stirred the savagery within Meng Zaishi.

He lowered his head to kiss her.

A flash of white light streaked past, causing Meng Zaishi to lean backward while his other hand quickly grabbed her restive wrist. Seeing the small knife in her hand, Meng Zaishi said coldly: "Do you truly want to kill me? Have I not treated you well? Is it not good to be my Queen?"

Controlled by him, Mu Wanyao replied in surprise: "I truly want to kill you. Of course it is not good to be your Queen!"

She shouted sharply: "I went to great lengths to escape you and your father, and to walk out of that nightmare! What right do you have to disturb me, what right do you have to demand that I turn back!"

Meng Zaishi’s voice was furious: "I disturbed you? You have always been mine! Everything you are today is thanks to me! Look at yourself now; without me, who would teach you how to be a woman—"

Mu Wanyao’s hand attempted to strike again, but Meng Zaishi gripped her wrist with the ease of lifting a chick.

The light in Mu Wanyao’s eyes flickered, and she said with hatred: "That is why I must kill you! That is why you are my shame! I will not let my shame follow me for the rest of my life, I will not let the nightmare never end... You want me to enter a marriage alliance, so I want you dead! I am your sworn enemy!"

Meng Zaishi was furious: "It was my father who hurt you! Why do you blame it all on me?"

Mu Wanyao: "Neither of you are good people!"

Meng Zaishi: "Were the laughs and joy we shared in the past all fake?"

Mu Wanyao laughed coldly: "What else could they be? Would I fall in love with the son of the enemy who shamed me? Would I fall in love with the man who trampled my dignity into the dirt? Would I feel pity or mercy for an enemy? Am I crazy—"

Meng Zaishi: "You are a lunatic! What I felt for you in the past..."

Mu Wanyao screamed: "That too was driven by you!"

She said every word with cold intensity: "I am driven crazy by you people every moment, every day, every night! You barbarians, you people who understand nothing, who cannot speak properly, who act savagely, who have no rules, no sense of shame, no sense of guilt... Why did I ever get mixed up with you? Why do you insist on forcing me into this marriage alliance..."

Meng Zaishi stared at her blankly.

His gaze descended, and without a word, he began to tear at her collar.

Mu Wanyao shivered violently, horrified: "You—"

Meng Zaishi tore off her sash and used it to bind her flailing hands. The water splashed and roared around them, full of the tragic sorrow of a dirge. Meng Zaishi said coldly: "You call me a beast, you say I shamed you, so I will show you what true shame is—"

He pinched her face and leaned in close, whispering: "The beautiful Princess Danyang being taken by the Wuman King in the wild—tell me, will the Emperor of Great Wei still offer you to me? Anyway, it wouldn't be the first time—"

Pressed into the water by the man, the sharp stones scraped her back, and her whole body went cold.

Her long hair twined like vines; water droplets clung to her face and eyelashes, but her eyes remained clear, filled with nothing but hatred.

There was no panic, no fear—only hatred.

Mu Wanyao’s eyes brimmed with hate: "You dare! If you do this, I will spend every remaining day of my life as your enemy! I will think of escaping you every moment, hating you every second! I will resist you all my life, and you will never, ever possess me—"

Meng Zaishi’s heart pained.

Then he sneered: "You’ve always hated me anyway, so it doesn't matter..."

He lowered his head, pinched her chin, and just as his breath brushed against her face, he suddenly sensed danger approaching from behind.

Meng Zaishi leaped up violently, standing under the waterfall, dripping wet. He turned his head and saw a bow aimed at him from a higher ridge in the forest. The arrow that had just been fired was embedded firmly in a rock in the water.

Had Meng Zaishi not dodged, that arrow would have pierced his heart.

Meng Zaishi looked up, locking eyes with Yan Shang, who stood on the mountain ridge with his bow drawn.

Mu Wanyao struggled to sit up from the pool, staring upward in a daze.

Robes fluttering, under the spring sun, Yan Shang’s bow was leveled at him, and the arrow was fired once more. At the same moment, Meng Zaishi leaped to dodge, but a black shadow suddenly streaked across the forest, moving with the speed of lightning!

In the split second, evading the path of the arrow, Meng Zaishi’s chest was struck by a fist.

A black-robed youth suddenly appeared, forcing Meng Zaishi down into the pool beneath the waterfall.

Meng Zaishi was forced to his knees by the youth, his knees dragging across the stones in the pool, and the scent of blood immediately began to spread. He was already injured, and being pushed to this extent by the coordination of the two, he fell into a fit of coughing.

The youth who pinned his throat knelt in the water with him and lifted his face.

His eyelashes were long and thick, and beneath them, his eyes were quiet and ice-cold.

It was Yang Si.