Chapter 18: Jealousy

At this moment, a gentle voice suddenly sounded from behind.

“So it’s the Seventh Princess. Thank you for your assistance earlier.”

Feng Bai Su and Liu Tan turned their heads at the same time and saw a young man in a light yellow shirt walking over gracefully.

Looking at the handsome young man before him, Liu Tan immediately stepped in front of Feng Bai Su alertly.

He questioned, “Which family’s young master are you? How do you know my cousin?”

Wei Jing Qi looked at Liu Tan, who was staring intently at him, and smiled gracefully, “Young Master Liu, please don’t misunderstand. My carriage had an accident on the road earlier. Fortunately, the Seventh Princess helped, allowing me to arrive here safely.”

As he spoke, his gaze moved past Liu Tan to Feng Bai Su behind him, smiling gently: “Your Highness left in a hurry earlier, and I didn’t have a chance to thank you properly.”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Su’s alluring peach blossom eyes remained calm, and she replied in a somewhat flat tone: “Young master, there’s no need for such formalities. It was just a small matter.”

Wei Jing Mo stood not far away, seeing the three people standing together from a distance.

His long, thick eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing the emotions surging in his ink-black eyes. His slender jade-like hands tightened in his sleeves.

Shen Ruo walked over at some point and, after looking at the three in the distance, immediately whispered in Wei Jing Mo’s ear: “This Seventh Princess is quite a social butterfly, attracting men as soon as she arrives.”

He looked carefully at the two young men, suddenly fixing his gaze on Wei Jing Qi. Somewhat surprised, he said: “Cousin, isn’t that your family’s illegitimate brother? How did he get mixed up with the Seventh Princess?”

Wei Jing Qi was the second young master of the Northern Marquis’s mansion, Wei Jing Mo’s half-brother from the same mother but different father. Their relationship was lukewarm, with little interaction usually.

After hearing Shen Ruo’s words, Wei Jing Mo hid the emotions in his eyes. He looked up at him and said softly: “My second brother usually keeps to himself and is quite introverted. I don’t know how he came to know the Seventh Princess either.”

Shen Ruo watched Wei Jing Qi’s gaze frequently darting towards Feng Bai Su and couldn’t help but shake his head: “Looks like your illegitimate brother has fallen for her!”

He sighed, then looked at Liu Tan who was standing in front of Feng Bai Su glaring at Wei Jing Qi, and clicked his tongue: “Too bad he’s met his match. This young master Liu is no pushover either.”

“Young Master Liu?”

Wei Jing Mo’s eyelashes fluttered, his voice flat as he asked seemingly casually.

Seeing him ask, Shen Ruo thought of his usual cold demeanor and how little he knew about the young masters in Feng Ling City. He briefly introduced: “This young Master Liu is the nephew of Noble Consort Liu from the palace, and is the Seventh Princess’s cousin. I heard they grew up together, so they’re childhood sweethearts. Moreover, this young Master Liu is especially fond of his cousin, and I’ve heard that Noble Consort Liu intends to match them up.”

After hearing Shen Ruo’s words, Wei Jing Mo’s face took on a coldness that he himself didn’t notice.

His clear, cold ink-black eyes lowered, and he couldn’t help but mutter softly: “Vixen…”

After Shen Ruo finished speaking, he turned his head to look at Wei Jing Mo beside him, seeming to have heard him say something softly. He leaned in and asked quietly: “Cousin, did you say something? You seem a bit unhappy?”

Wei Jing Mo looked at him with a cold expression, his tone indifferent: “What are you talking about, cousin?”

Hearing this, Shen Ruo looked at him carefully again, seeing him still with that cold and aloof manner. He shook his head at him, indicating it was nothing.

He just thought he had seen wrong.

——

Half an hour later, the Emperor arrived at the hunting ground accompanied by the Male Empress and several noble consorts.

Apart from the Male Empress, the accompanying noble consorts were either the fathers of the princesses present or those particularly favored by the Emperor.

Every year’s autumn hunt was more or less the same. The princesses first accompanied the Emperor around the hunting ground, then led their own entourages into the hunting grounds.

This autumn hunt was originally a grand ceremony for young people, so regardless of status, as long as they were noble ladies from Feng Ling City, they could participate. Moreover, the person who hunted the most would receive a reward from the Emperor, which was considered an honor for the noble ladies present.

As for the princesses, they naturally wanted to perform well. Although they didn’t care about the Emperor’s rewards, they also wanted to gain some favor in front of the Emperor.

In the autumn hunt, besides these noble ladies participating, men could also take part, but most of them were just playing around casually and wouldn’t compete with those strong and robust women.

At most, they would ride horses around the outskirts of the hunting grounds, hunting some small rabbits or deer.

Shen Ruo led his small horse to Wei Jing Mo’s front, seeing nothing behind him, and asked somewhat confused: “Cousin, where’s your horse? Didn’t we agree to go to the hunting grounds together?”

Seeing his somewhat disappointed look, Wei Jing Mo smiled faintly: “I asked Dong Qing to lead it. Since I promised you, of course I’ll fulfill my promise.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Dong Qing led a small chestnut horse over from afar.

Shen Ruo looked at the somewhat familiar small horse before him, frowning involuntarily. Seeing its plump and round figure, he asked suspiciously: “Cousin, this isn’t the one I know, is it? Why has it become so fat?”

Goodness, how many pounds has it gained? It’s completely unrecognizable from its previous gentle and cute appearance, looking stupid and silly now!

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo’s jade-like face couldn’t help but redden slightly.

He hadn’t particularly fed it, how did it end up like this!

At this moment, Shen Ruo suddenly leaned close to his ear and asked softly: “Why did you bring it here? What if someone recognizes it as the horse the Seventh Princess rode? What then?”

As he spoke, his gaze couldn’t help but fall on the chestnut small horse beside them, and he added after a pause: “…Although it’s fatter now, what if someone recognizes it? What about your reputation?”

Seeing the concern in his eyes, Wei Jing Mo smiled faintly: “Cousin, there’s no need to worry. I brought it this time intending to return it to the Seventh Princess. Besides, it’s just a horse. You and several young masters were present at that time, how could it tarnish my reputation? Cousin, don’t overthink it!”

Seeing his calm and usual demeanor, Shen Ruo could only let it go in the end.

With the help of their attendants, the two mounted their horses and trotted towards the outskirts of the hunting grounds.

This time, Wei Jing Mo was purely accompanying Shen Ruo and hadn’t even prepared a bow and arrow on horseback.

Shen Ruo, on the other hand, had a quiver on his back and held a bow in his hand, clearly prepared to show off his skills in the outskirts.

On the way, they also encountered several pairs of young masters traveling together. Among them was the young master of the Liu family, Liu Tan.

Liu Tan naturally recognized Wei Jing Mo and Shen Ruo, these two famous young masters in Feng Ling City, but due to differences in family status, although Liu Tan was a royal relative, he couldn’t speak to the two of them.

Usually, at banquets hosted by young masters, he would only watch them from afar.

Today, however, Liu Tan couldn’t take his eyes off them for a long time, his round big eyes fixed on the chestnut small horse under Wei Jing Mo.

He loved Feng Bai Su in his heart, so naturally he paid extra attention to everything related to her. He remembered everything she had used at a glance.

Although this chestnut small horse looked somewhat different from his memory, seeming fatter, he wouldn’t mistake it. This was Feng Bai Su’s mount.

Liu Tan hadn’t expected Feng Bai Su to have any connection with Wei Jing Mo, let alone give him her horse.

He couldn’t help but bite his lip, his gaze involuntarily falling on Wei Jing Mo’s cold and otherworldly face.

Such a divine young master, outstanding in family background, appearance, and talent. Would cousin like him too?

Such an intense gaze naturally drew the attention of Wei Jing Mo and Shen Ruo.

The two looked up and glanced at the opposite side, seeing Liu Tan biting his lip, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

Shen Ruo immediately leaned sideways and said to Wei Jing Mo: “See? This young Master Liu has recognized the horse under you.”

Wei Jing Mo remained silent, his ink-black eyes flickering slightly as he looked at Liu Tan.

Then he smiled lightly at him from afar, greeted him, and withdrew his gaze, reminding Shen Ruo: “Let’s go, cousin. Didn’t you want to hunt rabbits?”

The two urged their horses forward.

Liu Tan watched his calm demeanor, as if he hadn’t taken him seriously at all.

The seemingly gentle and kind smile, Liu Tan saw some arrogance and pride in it. That aloof indifference made people feel inferior for no reason.

Liu Tan thought he must have seen wrong. Wei Jing Mo had always been a cold and otherworldly divine young master, well-liked even among men. How could he think him arrogant?

——

Meanwhile, Wei Jing Mo and Shen Ruo entered the outskirts of the hunting grounds.

The animals living in the outskirts of the hunting grounds were mostly docile, mainly rabbits and small deer. So it was safe even without guards.

Shen Ruo rode his horse to a small mound covered in lush grass.

Seeing him stop, Wei Jing Mo asked puzzledly: “What is cousin waiting for?”

Shen Ruo immediately shushed him and said softly: “This is a rabbit den. I’m waiting for rabbits.”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo nodded thoughtfully.

Watching him sitting on his horse in the middle of the rabbit den, he wondered: Being so close, would those rabbits come out?

Soon, time gave Wei Jing Mo the answer!

The two waited at the original spot for nearly half an hour, without seeing even a shadow of a rabbit.

Seeing his somewhat dejected expression, Wei Jing Mo could only comfort him: “Cousin, don’t rush. Let’s go look elsewhere.”

Shen Ruo nodded, and only then did the two leave this rabbit den.

After circling around the outskirts of the hunting grounds for another large half circle, perhaps due to bad luck, they didn’t see a single animal.

Shen Ruo muttered to himself somewhat dejectedly: “What’s going on today? Why isn’t there even a single small animal?”

As soon as he finished speaking, suddenly, a sharp whistling sound came from the forest behind them!

The horses under Wei Jing Mo and Shen Ruo were startled and neighed loudly, running forward uncontrollably.

The attendants behind them immediately cried out in alarm: “Young masters!”

When Feng Bai Su came out from the inner circle, she happened to meet the female lead Feng Bai Wei.

She wasn’t alone, with several noble ladies following behind her. When everyone saw Feng Bai Su, their gazes unconsciously fell on the game on her horse, seeing only a deer and a few wild chickens.

Contempt and disdain flashed across everyone’s eyes.

When Feng Bai Wei saw Feng Bai Su, she greeted her kindly: “Seventh Imperial Sister, you’ve come out too?”

It wasn’t clear whether this was for show for the people behind her or if it was genuine.

But as the saying goes, don’t hit a smiling face, so Feng Bai Su immediately curved her red lips into a smile at her: “Fifth Imperial Sister.”

Her peach blossom eyes slowly fell on her horse, seeing her bountiful harvest, and she casually praised: “Fifth Imperial Sister is impressive, looks like you’ve harvested quite a lot.”

Hearing this, Feng Bai Wei laughed, just about to say something. Just then, a tiger’s roar came from the front.

In an instant, everyone present tensed their gaze and rode their horses towards the front!