Chapter 199: Chapter 199 Hunting

This was not the first time Xie Xun laid bare his feelings to Fengyu, but it was the time that touched her most deeply. Having narrowly escaped death, she was embraced in a torrent of fiery emotion that melted the icy fortress in her heart.

"You can only love me," Xie Xun declared with finality.

"Is the Little Marquis truly so sure? What if I love someone else?"

"In this Capital City, who could move your heart more than I?" Confidence laced his brow, and under the light, Xie Xun’s features outshone the blanket of flowers adorning the hills.

"I..." Fengyu desperately wanted to tell Xie Xun that, in the instant before she fell unconscious, the person she most wanted to see was him. At what she believed to be the end of her life, it wasn’t her elder sister she thought of—it was Xie Xun.

She loved Xie Xun, a truth she couldn’t deceive herself about, let alone conceal from others.

"Fengyu, three years from now, ten miles of red dowries, a proper match—I will keep my word." Xie Xun gazed intently at her sternly yet tenderly. "Trust me."

Amid the spring breezes of April, Fengyu’s heart stirred. For the first time, she truly allowed herself to hope for the future.

Fang Chuning and Dugu Jing were the last to leave the hunting grounds. Amid clusters of civil and military officials and noble heirs showcasing their prey, the military generals had the richest harvest. The Beiman generals, in particular, stood out sharply, far surpassing Yanyang’s generals; they were born hunters, and even unfamiliar terrain did not stop them from claiming the lion’s share of prey.

Dugu Jing’s harvest was especially striking, piled into a veritable mountain. He had hunted one more fox than Fang Chuning, making him the top hunter of the first day. No one had managed to capture a sika deer. With his victory, Emperor Jianming gifted Dugu Jing a mighty Overlord Bow—a prize that delighted Dugu Jing greatly.

"Little Marquis, how was your harvest?" Dugu Jing asked with an air of provocation.

At Marquis Zhenbei’s table sat only Xie Jue and Xie Xun; both the Marquis and Xie Zhang were injured and did not attend the banquet. Xie Xun, clearly noting the provocation, replied nonchalantly, "Not as valiant as the Ninth Prince."

Dugu Jing’s arrogance made Yanyang’s generals grit their teeth in frustration. Fang Chuning leaned closer to Xie Jue and muttered, "Ting Feng, that brat cheated—he deliberately hid a fox."

Xie Jue didn’t mind losing and poured him a drink. To him, Dugu Jing’s ambitions were never about the hunt.

The tables were surrounded by grills, and Fang Chuning admired the performances while listening to others extolling the Beiman’s prowess in the hunt—especially the civil officials, whose voices sang endless praise. Meanwhile, Xie Jue and Xie Xun remained silent, their expressions dark.

Lounging carelessly, Fang Chuning roasted a plump rabbit whose aroma wafted enticingly. Even Xie Xun found himself tempted. "Brother Fang, spare me a rabbit leg."

"Roast your own!"

Xie Xun thought to himself: stingy! Nuanyang fetched a plump rabbit for him and placed it on the grill. Watching Fang Chuning expertly dismantle the roasted rabbit by stripping the bones from the meat and serving it on a porcelain plate, Xie Xun saw Fang hand the plate to Xie Jue. "Ting Feng, go on and try my handiwork."

Just as Xie Jue reached for his chopsticks, Xie Xun moved swiftly and snatched the plate away. "I’m starving. Roast another for Second Brother!"

Fang Chuning propped his chin lazily on his hand, smirking faintly. "Your courage is growing, eh?"

Xie Jue lowered his silver chopsticks. "Childish."

"Xie Xun, your brother doesn’t forget grievances. If he retaliates, don’t come crying for my help."

Xie Xun, carefree and indulgent, replied, "When have you ever helped me? You talk as though you’d dare provoke Second Brother."

"Haven’t helped you enough?" Fang Chuning commandeered Xie Xun’s rabbit from the grill and expertly carved it with a small knife before slathering on sauce at the choicest, fattest parts. "Ungrateful brat."

"Listen to yourself—are you feeling guilty? You turn to mush before Second Brother, and everyone looks down on you, isn’t it true, everyone?" Xie Xun sought validation from the tables of young military generals.

After a burst of laughter, Xie Jue’s icy glare silenced them all. The young generals chose instead to bury their heads in their food, pretending to have heard nothing.

"Bunch of cowards."

The generals grumbled inwardly. If even the Marquis feared the Second Young Master, who would dare cross him?

Fang Chuning admired Xie Jue’s favoritism deeply. He lazily sipped his wine. "Tomorrow, during the hunt, let’s have a contest."

"Alright!"

Xie Xun, whose temperament mirrored Fang Chuning’s—possessive, controlling, and prone to showboating—often sought challenges whenever they were together, especially during the idle days in Ningzhou.

With a few cups of wine in him, Xie Jue’s thoughtful gaze drifted toward Dugu Jing on the opposite side. Fang Chuning’s smile faded slightly; he disliked seeing Xie Jue’s attention resting on anyone else, least of all an enemy.

Dugu Jing was unworthy!

Reckless as always, Fang Chuning spoke up—even before the Emperor Jianming—showing no restraint. "Ninth Prince, you once wagered three thousand scarlet armor suits against Second Brother. What wager do you propose this time?"

Xie Xun was curious too—at such a prime opportunity like the Xiyanshan hunt, what could Dugu Jing be plotting?

Emperor Jianming and the Crown Prince turned their attention towards Dugu Jing, as did the military generals, their excitement palpable. The matter of the three thousand scarlet armors had been on their minds for a long time, waiting for Dugu Jing to bring it up.

Rising to his feet, Dugu Jing declared, "Since the sika deer are in the forest, I propose Second Brother and I wager on hunting them—whoever captures a sika deer, wins. What say you?"

Xie Jue swirled his wineglass slowly. "Agreed."

Xie Xun felt a hint of unease. "You’re asking Second Brother to go one-on-one with you in the forest?"

"Is Second Brother afraid?" Firelight cast sharp shadows across Dugu Jing’s resolute face. His provocative tone elicited laughter from the Beiman, as if taunting Xie Jue for lacking the courage to face him in a duel within the woods.

Xie Jue drank three glasses of wine, his alabaster-like visage gaining a subtle flush, yet remained as expressionless as carved jade. Just as he was about to respond, Fang Chuning shot him a warning glance and abruptly stood up. "You ask him for a one-on-one hunt in the woods—who can tell whether you’re hunting the sika deer or hunting Xie Jue? Since when has a peace negotiation not begun with your demand for his life? Who would allow him to duel you in this way?"

Emperor Jianming also found the proposal unwise. Xie Jue was unlike Xie Zhang or generals like Xie Xun or Fang Chuning who were battle-hardened and could hold their own in combat. Sending Xie Jue into Xiyanshan alone against Dugu Jing was courting disaster.

Yet the Emperor remained silent, implicitly permitting Dugu Jing’s provocation. Lin Hongyuan shared his concern for Xie Jue’s safety, vividly recalling the brutal confrontation between Dugu Jing and Xie Zhang. Who would dare let Xie Jue face Dugu Jing alone? "If the Ninth Prince wishes to hunt with Second Brother in the forest, each side can bring a designated number of participants. Xiyanshan is vast after all—two hunters might struggle even to find a sika deer."

The Crown Prince smiled approvingly. "An excellent suggestion. Ninth Prince, what say you?"

Xie Xun knew that Second Brother was determined to win those three thousand scarlet armor suits. With the armor in hand, countless lives could be spared in future battles, and should the Beiman break their treaty post-peace talks, they would face significant deterrents.

Dugu Jing was brimming with confidence. "Fine. Considering Second Brother’s fragile constitution, each side will bring five people. However, I have conditions. First, Second Brother may only bring one military general. Second, everyone in the forest is considered prey; life and death will depend solely on one’s ability."

His words ignited an uproar. Everyone present saw through Dugu Jing’s scheme—he wanted Xie Jue’s life. From the very first day of the peace negotiations, this had always been his goal. It seemed his sole purpose in these talks was to kill Xie Jue, and he would stop at nothing to achieve it.

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