Free Web NovelChapter 378: Chapter 378: Attacked
Ye Chutang bent down and picked her up.
Xiao Wu snuggled into the crook of her neck, her arms wrapped securely around her.
Princess Qingyang clicked her tongue. "You only have eyes for your big sister. The moment she arrives, you forget all about me."
Xiao Wu blushed in embarrassment, but her arms around Ye Chutang didn’t loosen in the slightest.
However, Princess Qingyang wasn’t truly bothered by it. She casually picked up the slingshot and tucked it back into Xiao Wu’s arms.
"It’s yours!"
Ye Chutang lowered her gaze for a look. The slingshot was carved from high-quality pear wood, its handle inlaid with a circle of rubies and sapphires that was dazzling to the eye.
This certainly wasn’t a proper slingshot; it was more of an art piece, or rather, a luxury item.
Ye Chutang had intended to politely decline, but when she remembered that the princess before her was lavish and spent money like water, she accepted it without a second thought.
’It must be tiring for the rich to spend their money. We’re all friends; I’m happy to help her with that burden.’
"Xiao Wu, quickly thank the Commandery Princess."
Only then did Xiao Wu take the slingshot, her adorable, fair-skinned face breaking into a brilliant smile.
Princess Qingyang smiled as she watched her, yet she felt a pang of regret.
’What a shame. Why can’t this little girl speak...?’
She shook her head, pushing the thought aside and changing the subject. "Hey, Chutang, what did the Emperor want with you? You were gone for so long."
Ye Chutang answered truthfully, "Nothing much. He just asked me to check the Third Princess’s pulse."
Princess Qingyang’s eyes widened in understanding. She then glanced behind Ye Chutang in surprise, murmuring, "Well, now. You’ve only been back for a few days and you’re already getting this kind of treatment?"
’In my memory, Emperor Muwu really disliked this daughter. He didn’t even want to see her much. But this time—’
"Consort Ru was there too," Ye Chutang said.
With her mediating, it was normal for the Emperor to be willing to show the Third Princess some consideration.
Princess Qingyang, however, frowned. "Nothing else?"
Ye Chutang’s lips curved. "The Third Princess will be residing in the palace from now on. Consort Ru said she wants to find her a good match."
"I knew it!"
Princess Qingyang didn’t seem surprised at all. She pursed her lips.
"Since they brought her back from so far away, of course they had a plan all along."
Ye Chutang thought for a moment and said, "I heard the Third Princess was raised in Consort Ru’s palace since she was a child. After so many years of a mother-daughter bond, it’s normal that she’d want to arrange a good marriage for her."
Princess Qingyang sneered. "It’s not like she’s short on children. She has both a son and a daughter, so why would she care so much about someone else’s child?"
Consort Ru entered the palace at fourteen and has enjoyed the Emperor’s unwavering favor for years. The Second Prince is accomplished in both scholarly and martial arts and is highly regarded by the Emperor, while the Eldest Princess is married to the eldest son of Xie Pei, securing her position.
It would seem she truly had no need to be so concerned with Xiao Lansi.
Ye Chutang said, as if casually, "But she did raise her for many years. Besides, didn’t you say before that the Third Princess’s return helped the Second Prince out of a jam?"
Just for that reason alone, it wouldn’t seem wrong for Consort Ru to pay more attention to her.
Princess Qingyang glanced left and right, then leaned in and asked in a low voice, "So which family’s young master does she have her eye on?"
’Please don’t let it be my brother—’
"The second son of Marquis Zhongyong was mentioned."
The knot in Princess Qingyang’s chest finally loosened. "Oh, that’s good, that’s good! Hahaha—"
’No one is allowed to steal my brother from my sister-in-law!’
’As for anyone else, who cares.’
Suddenly, Princess Qingyang’s laughter died. "Wait a minute. You’re saying—Xie Anbai?"
Ye Chutang nodded, then added, "However, the Eldest Princess disapproved, and the Emperor didn’t agree either."
Princess Qingyang was silent for a long moment, then suddenly sneered.
"In her dreams!"
Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
"Though the Third Princess isn’t favored, she is of royal blood, exceptionally beautiful, and seems shy and timid. Xie Anbai may come from a noble house, but he hasn’t inherited a title, and with that reputation as a hell-raiser, it’s hard to say who’d be getting the short end of the stick in that match."
Princess Qingyang pulled the tent flap tight before saying, "You know that Marquis Zhongyong’s eldest son can’t practice martial arts, right?"
Ye Chutang nodded. "I believe he fell ill as a child? But I’ve heard he’s quite talented and writes beautifully."
"Right, and that’s the key! Since he can’t practice martial arts, that’s the only path he can take. But Xie Anbai is different—he can take a beating."
Ye Chutang: "..."
Princess Qingyang said seriously, "Think about it, what does being able to take a beating mean? It means he can go to the battlefield!"
The smile on Ye Chutang’s lips faded slightly as she gave the princess a meaningful look.
’As expected of the only daughter who once accompanied King Yan Nan to guard the border. She grasped the key point immediately.’
Consort Ru’s many actions today were, in fact, all just probing for a reaction.
Back in the day, Marquis Zhongyong followed Emperor Taizong to conquer the realm; he was a formidable general who intimidated all in his path.
After the lands were pacified, he wisely retreated at the height of his success, taking the lead in handing over his military authority. Later, he even pushed his son to study hard, making it clear he was to take the path of a civil servant.
But even so, his former prestige in the military could not be underestimated.
If Xie Anbai were to join the army, he would undoubtedly rally supporters with a single call.
This is a military force that absolutely cannot be ignored!
And that is precisely what Consort Ru, or rather, the Second Prince, Xiao Chengxuan, lacks the most!
Consort Ru’s father, Jiang Zhao Yuan, is the Chief Cabinet Minister and wields immense power, but he has no military authority.
Meanwhile, the Third Prince took the initiative to volunteer for military service and has established outstanding military achievements, gradually forming his own power base.
How could Xiao Chengxuan not be anxious?
If Xiao Lansi and Xie Anbai were to be joined by marriage, it would undoubtedly be a huge boost to his cause!
Unfortunately, Consort Ru’s brilliant scheme did not go as planned.
Ye Chutang paused briefly before saying in a gentle voice, "The matter isn’t settled, so nothing is certain yet."
Princess Qingyang shrugged. "Do they really take everyone else for fools?"
Ye Chutang looked at her. "Speaking of which, why didn’t you go on the hunt?"
She had thought Princess Qingyang would be very interested in it.
But Princess Qingyang waved a dismissive hand. "They’re all just captive birds and beasts. They’ve lost their wildness. It’s boring."
’I’m better off just waiting here for the feast.’
’Of course, it’s also because I promised my brother I’d stay by Ye Chutang’s side no matter what.’
’Not many ladies came today to begin with, and even fewer are familiar with Ye Chutang. Plus, she has Xiao Wu with her. How could she be left alone?’
Thinking of food, Princess Qingyang’s eyes lit up. "You should try it later. It’s delicious!"
Just as she was speaking, a flurry of hurried, frantic footsteps suddenly sounded from outside.
Ye Chutang’s expression flickered.
Princess Qingyang was also puzzled. "This is the encampment. Who would be in such a panic?"
As she spoke, she lifted the tent flap.
Ye Chutang saw an armored guard running frantically toward the Emperor’s Tent.
"Your Majesty! This is bad!"
Ye Chutang’s brow furrowed, and she stood up and walked out.
Only then did she see that the guard was covered in blood, a gruesome and shocking sight.
Soon, she found out why.
"Your Majesty! The Third Prince was ambushed in the forest! The Young Master has already led men in pursuit!"
