Chapter 10 “What Kind of Lesson Will Make You Remember”

Chapter 10: "What Kind of Lesson Will Truly Stick?"

I couldn't fathom Xie Yan's intense animosity towards Xie Xing. All I could do was force an awkward, ingratiating smile and softly, soothingly coax, "Alright, I get it. It's all my fault."

"I'll definitely steer clear of Xie Xing from now on, a hundred thousand miles away!"

Xie Yan looked down at me, his gray eyes piercing and sinister, much like a serpent's, cold and chilling. Only then did he deign to speak, "Stay close to me."

How dared I disobey? I quickly scurried to follow, fawning like a loyal dog.

The Summer Banquet's agenda was nothing more than competitions in horsemanship, archery, and martial arts. Though the Emperor claimed "fun first, competition second," it was clearly an opportunity to assess the royal descendants' aptitudes and select promising talents.

My paltry riding skills were utterly unpresentable—I didn't even qualify to participate. In stark contrast, Xie Yan hogged the limelight in every event.

First in horsemanship, first in archery, first in swordsmanship—he swept them all. The entire assembly was awestruck. Even the stern and severe Emperor couldn't help but reveal a proud, fatherly smile.

After the overt competitions concluded, the Emperor, in high spirits, smiled and declared, "Everyone performed admirably today. However, I'd still like to see who can hunt the great tiger in these woods."

When he spoke of the tiger, his tone carried a hint of nostalgia as he sighed, "Back when the late Emperor was still on the throne, he greatly admired this tiger's patterns and always wished for its pelt to make a fur coat. But tigers are fierce and elusive, so that wish remained unfulfilled."

"It wasn't until I lay in ambush in these very woods for three days and three nights that I finally brought down that fierce, striped tiger. Thinking back, so many years have passed since then."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present exchanged meaningful glances, their expressions shifting.

Even someone as dim-witted as I could grasp the Emperor's implicit message. The late Emperor had desired a tiger fur coat, and the current Emperor, then a prince, had hunted it for him.

Now, with history seemingly repeating itself, would the next person to hunt the tiger also have a chance to become the ruler of this realm?

The Emperor's words were like a massive boulder dropped into calm waters, stirring up tumultuous waves. Even the princes who had performed poorly earlier looked grave, immediately rushing into the woods with their attendants.

Xie Yan, as the Crown Prince, also swung onto his horse. Though his expression remained impassive, I felt a pang of nervousness for him.

As the Emperor's officially appointed Crown Prince and the most legitimate successor, if he failed to hunt this tiger today and someone else succeeded first, it would undoubtedly invite criticism and gossip.

"Mount up," Xie Yan said calmly, noticing I was still standing there, dazed.

I glanced around and realized that while Xie Yan was mounted on a tall steed, there was no horse prepared for me.

Just as I thought about finding a horse, a sudden realization dawned on me: Xie Yan hadn't prepared a horse for me, yet told me to mount. Wasn't he giving me a chance to ride with him?

My heart pounded, and my face grew warm. I was just pondering the most dashing way to mount when Xie Yan suddenly leaned down, his long arm sweeping around me. I felt a tightness at my waist, and in an instant, I found myself dazed, seated on the horse, in front of Xie Yan.

I was sharing a horse with Xie Yan!

I was sharing a horse with Xie Yan!

I was sharing a horse with Xie Yan!

Countless joyful thoughts surged through my mind, and even my breathing grew heated. In contrast to my overwhelming excitement, Xie Yan remained composed. With one hand loosely encircling my waist and the other holding the reins, he calmly instructed, "Hold on tight."

Before I could react, the horse galloped into the woods. I quickly clutched Xie Yan's arm tightly to steady myself.

Seeing my panicked reaction, Xie Yan looked down on me even more, sneering coldly, "Useless."

Well, it seemed that in Xie Yan's eyes, I was nothing but a cowardly, unskilled good-for-nothing. No wonder he couldn't be bothered to prepare a horse for me. My wounded pride made me feel a pang of desolation.

As the horse moved, Xie Yan's dark cloak billowed in the wind. His expression was cold, his features profound and striking, like a deity riding the wind.

The galloping steed weaved through the lush greenery of the woods, startling the birds resting in the trees. They flapped their wings and soared into the azure sky, while the horse's hooves kicked up dust, as if treading on golden waves.

Glancing to the side, I noticed Xie Yan hadn't brought many guards—only a few dozen followed behind us. I found this somewhat surprising.

As the Crown Prince, Xie Yan held a noble status. Even if the area was heavily guarded, he shouldn't have brought so few attendants.

But my attention was soon captured by a sika deer in the distance. It stood proudly, its patterned coat elegant and magnificent, its antlers pointing sharply toward the sky, its eyes clear and bright. I couldn't help but pat Xie Yan's hand. "Xie Yan, look! That deer is so beautiful."

Xie Yan ignored me, so I turned to look at him. In doing so, my nose accidentally bumped against his chest, bringing tears to my eyes from the pain. "Are you made of stone? So hard."

"Fool," Xie Yan said dismissively. He tugged the reins, and the horse sped up, chasing after the fleeing deer.

The deer led us through tricky and hidden paths. As we moved farther from the campsite, even someone as unwary as me began to feel uneasy. Yet Xie Yan seemed to possess a strange, stubborn determination to press on.

"Xie Yan, we're too far from the campsite. Let's go back. I'm worried it might be dangerous."

No sooner had I spoken than the sound of arrows cutting through the air echoed nearby. Countless arrows whistled toward Xie Yan and me.

Terrified, I closed my eyes, trembling uncontrollably. Fortunately, Xie Yan deflected all the arrows with his sword, leaving both of us unharmed.

When I opened my eyes, before I could feel relieved, I saw numerous masked black-clad warriors emerging from the woods. Brandishing sharp swords, they charged toward Xie Yan. Xie Yan wrapped his cloak around me, shielding me, and dismounted with me in his arms.

"Kill the Crown Prince! Leave the others!" the black-clad figures bellowed as they advanced.

Seeing this, Xie Yan handed me over to the guards behind him and engaged the attackers alone.

Xie Yan's swordsmanship far surpassed that of the black-clad warriors. Though he had brought few guards, each was highly skilled. The attackers gradually fell into a disadvantage. Just as I was about to relax, I noticed one of them approaching Xie Yan from behind, yet Xie Yan seemed completely unaware.

Although I knew nothing of martial arts, given Xie Yan's earlier agility, he should have sensed the danger. But he didn't turn around. Without a second thought, I rushed over in a panic.

I thought I could subdue the ambushing attacker, but I overestimated my own meager skills. When the black-clad warrior's sword slashed my arm, I saw his pupils tremble with shock, as if surprised by what had happened.

It was truly strange.

Xie Yan turned around as soon as he heard my footsteps, but he was too late. He could only watch as the sword viciously cut my arm, staining my riding attire with gushing blood.

I saw a moment of stunned disbelief on Xie Yan's face, followed by anger. Yes, anger—I had never seen such intense emotion from him before. He was always so cold, as if others' deaths meant nothing to him. Now, even though I was injured, I felt like I was witnessing something rare.

Xie Yan immediately pulled me into his arms and mercilessly thrust his sword into the black-clad warrior.

Loss of blood made my consciousness fade. Fortunately, the Emperor, upon hearing the Crown Prince was under attack, arrived promptly with a large contingent of guards and captured all the assassins.

Xie Yan held me close. Perhaps because I was bleeding heavily, I felt intensely cold. Clutching his lapel tightly, I gradually lost consciousness.

Before closing my eyes, I was fortunate enough to see a hint of panic in Xie Yan's expression. His gray eyes, for once, held a reflection of me.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a tent at the campsite. It was already nighttime, and the tent was dimly lit by an oil lamp.

Xie Yan sat on a wooden chair beside me. He seemed exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. One hand held a document, the other rested on the armrest of the chair. Even in his light sleep, he seemed troubled, his brows tightly furrowed.

I wanted some water but didn't wish to disturb his rest. Although the wound on my arm ached, my other arm and legs were fine, so I propped myself up to fetch water.

But my movement woke Xie Yan. When his cold gray eyes met mine, they suddenly filled with anger. His expression turned grim as he stared fixedly at the wound on my arm. "Feng Muqiu, get back."

Obedient as a quail, I immediately withdrew my foot from the edge of the bed and tucked myself back under the covers.

Xie Yan's eyes lingered on my lips before he stood up and poured me a cup of water. I took it and drained the cup in a few greedy gulps, even attempting to ask for another cup. But Xie Yan took the cup away, his cool fingertips suddenly clamped onto my chin.

He leaned in close, so near that I could count his long, thick eyelashes. His breath gently brushed against my face, sending an unfamiliar shiver through me.

"Feng Muqiu, just what will it take to make a lesson stick with you?"