Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 202 Siblings

Chapter 202: Chapter 202 Siblings

"To live in peaceful times and be a carefree aristocrat is a dream so many long for but cannot attain," Fengyu said softly, gazing up at the starlit sky. "I would rather see you as an overlord wastrel in the capital. That would mean the borders are safe and the realm is at peace. Little Marquis, you truly don’t have to chase after the paths of Xie Zhang or the Second Young Master. We are all born with our purpose. Life is unique and irreplaceable. The world praises Xie Zhang for his literary and martial prowess, for stabilizing the frontiers. They applaud the Second Young Master’s mastery of strategy, winning battles from thousands of miles away. People admire them, worship them, but if given a choice, they would rather be like you, the Little Marquis—shielded by an elder brother, free to act as they please, fearless and unfettered."

People admire heroes, but they do not necessarily wish to become one.

Xie Xun chuckled. The Third Miss was truly a remarkable person, always full of brilliant insights that cleared the fog in his mind. When he was happy, she shared in his joy. When he was dejected, she led him out of the whirlpool of despondence.

Xie Xun had a faint understanding of why he liked Fengyu. She seemed like his destined companion, always capable of effortlessly bringing him happiness. As he looked at her fair and delicate side profile, a sudden and uncontrollable urge rose within him—one of cruelty. Startled by the images flashing through his mind, Xie Xun’s face flushed as he hastily avoided Fengyu’s gaze when she turned to him.

Had he gone mad?

Why would he harbor such a malicious thought?

The night concealed his shame as Xie Xun tried to reflect on himself, yet he couldn’t suppress the images resurfacing in his mind. His gaze toward Fengyu grew complicated, tinged with ambiguity and frustration.

Fengyu noticed his mood shifting rapidly from one extreme to another, leaving her utterly baffled.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing!" Xie Xun’s tone was uncharacteristically rough as he clumsily leapt down from the rock. "It’s late. I should head back."

The Little Marquis all but fled in disarray, leaving Fengyu silently pondering. Why on earth did he get upset?

Qiuxiang and Chunlu came over to support Fengyu. Chunlu asked, "Is the Little Marquis all right?"

"A man’s heart is like the weather in June—unpredictable," Fengyu murmured to herself. The Little Marquis was surprisingly sensitive—sensitive enough to feel frustrated, disappointed, even defeated by such things. Were all competitive young men so driven by the desire to win?

Midnight had passed, and the feast had long since ended.

In the campgrounds, only the sound of the wind and faint rustling from birds and beasts could be heard, making for an extraordinarily tranquil atmosphere. The Forbidden Army, Jinyi Guard, armored cavalry, and each family’s personal troops patrolled diligently, maintaining perfect order.

In the Eastern Palace’s encampment, the Crown Prince had gone to see Emperor Jianming after the feast, speaking with him for a full hour. Lin Cheng and Zhang Bolan were already waiting inside the Crown Prince’s tent. When the Crown Prince lifted the curtain and entered, Lin Cheng and Zhang Bolan rose and saluted him. The Crown Prince nodded casually. Two maids stepped forward to remove his outer robe and dressed him in soft spring garb. Another maid entered with hot water, and the Crown Prince washed his hands. A bowl of warm bird’s nest soup was ready, as the attendants knew he hadn’t eaten much during the banquet.

The eunuch led the maids out in an orderly manner and instructed the attendants to stay far from the tent. Lin Cheng asked, "Your Highness, all the mechanisms in Xiyanshan have been reactivated. Eighteen Jinyi Guards and Forbidden Army soldiers are stationed within the forest. Tomorrow, they will coordinate with Dugu Jing to hunt down Xie Jue in Xiyanshan."

The Crown Prince sipped his bird’s nest soup and nodded approvingly. Dugu Jing was about to duel Xie Jue in Xiyanshan. Having received the intelligence early on, they had arranged for their forces to lie in ambush overnight. At dawn, the mountain would be sealed—no entry, no exit. Whether it was Dugu Jing or Xie Jue, their lives would be left to fate. The dismantled mechanisms had all been restored in perfect order.

Both Zhang Bolan and Lin Cheng, eager to atone for their past mistakes, had selected elite soldiers from the Jinyi Guard and Forbidden Army to hide in the mountains. The Crown Prince wanted Xie Zhang dead—first through Dugu Jing’s challenge, and second through the hunting grounds’ intricate mechanisms. Dugu Jing’s duel was a calculated move by the Crown Prince to use Dugu Jing’s hands to eliminate Xie Zhang.

No one anticipated, however, that Dugu Jing would fail—or that Xie Zhang, being so shrewd, would rather die than submit. Lin Cheng and Zhang Bolan had hoped the duel would end with Xie Zhang’s death, praying that Dugu Jing would succeed. But things didn’t go as planned. Xie Zhang proved too resilient, and his severe injuries rendered him unfit to participate in the hunt. The plans for the southern hunting ground had been foiled by Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and others stirring up trouble. Killing Xie Zhang in the encampment itself would have been reckless and foolish. Though the Crown Prince sought Xie Zhang’s death, he was not rash and wouldn’t act in haste.

Xie Zhang’s severe injuries allowed him to avoid the hunt and escape the immediate danger. The Crown Prince’s plans had failed, leaving Lin Cheng and Zhang Bolan fearing his wrath. They were even more afraid that the Crown Prince, stubborn to the core, might insist on eliminating Xie Zhang—forcing them to act within the camp.

"Has the mechanism map been handed to Dugu Jing?" the Crown Prince asked.

Zhang Bolan replied, "Your Highness, it has just been given to the Ninth Prince."

"Then we await good news," the Crown Prince said, sipping his bird’s nest soup with a rather pleased expression. Lin Cheng and Zhang Bolan both breathed a sigh of relief, only for the Crown Prince to glance at them indifferently. "The failure to assassinate Xie Zhang has nothing to do with you."

He set down the bowl, his tone shifting subtly. "However, as elder brothers, you should properly discipline your younger siblings. Otherwise, they may one day cause great trouble and implicate your families."

The words struck dread into Lin Cheng and Zhang Bolan’s hearts—words they had feared most. It was Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin who had mistakenly provoked the venomous bees, fleeing into the southern hunting ground and forcing the Crown Prince to dismantle the mechanisms to avoid leaving evidence. Only by dismantling the traps could they ensure that any deaths on the southern hunting ground wouldn’t result in punishment for Xie Zhang.

Some things did not need to be said out loud. Lin Cheng and Zhang Bolan exited the Crown Prince’s tent, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. Stationed near the Eastern Palace for several days, Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin felt an overwhelming sense of foreboding—a sorrow akin to hunting dogs being discarded the moment the hare was caught.

The Crown Prince wiped his hands with a damp cloth, his dark gaze glinting coldly. "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, wasted just like that."

Xie Zhang had evaded the hunt, and if he were to be killed, another moment would have to be found.

"What a pity," the Crown Prince muttered.

"Eldest Young Master, I’ll let you live a few more days."

The next day, Xiyanshan was sealed off.

Dugu Jing entered the mountain with five Beiman men and Xie Jue. Fang Chuning followed with three Shadow Guards, accompanied by Chen Lin. Both Dugu Jing and Xie Jue carried signal flares: a green flare to call off the hunt, a red flare for capturing a spotted deer. But everyone knew the flares were merely for show. Once inside Xiyanshan, there was little doubt that it would become a fight to the death.

Xie Jue and Fang Chuning, dressed in unassuming green robes, wore light black riding armor. Their close guards and Chen Lin were likewise clad in light armor. Dugu Jing and his five Beiman warriors donned the crimson gauze armor coveted by the cavalry—impervious to blades and spears.

The Marchioness, her eyes brimming with tears, held Xie Jue’s hand. "Ting Feng, winning or losing doesn’t matter. Just come back alive."

"All right!"

"Chu Ning, you must protect him."

Fang Chuning laughed, saying, "Marchioness, rest assured. As long as I’m here, Ting Feng will be, too."

Xie Jue cast him a glance. In those perpetually aloof and indifferent eyes, a gemstone-like brilliance flickered. For a brief moment, Fang Chuning was almost captivated.

The Marchioness couldn’t help but ask, "Can’t we let Zhixu take Ting Feng’s place instead?"

Shouyu and Zhixu were both mighty warriors with immense strength, while Ting Feng, with his frail scholarly demeanor, seemed no match for the fierce and menacing Dugu Jing.

Among Yanyang’s civil officials, many secretly thought that the Marchioness had forgotten who her biological son truly was.