Her guards

Chapter 159 The Horse Was Startled

As the guards opened the bamboo cages, dozens of pheasants and rabbits fluttered and ran wildly outside the polo field. At the same time, the women standing at the boundary of the polo field rode forward on horseback, arrows flying everywhere.

Each person has twenty arrows, and the arrows have been marked. The winner is determined by who hits the most prey at the end.

Running prey is much harder to catch than a stationary target.

What's more, it was done while riding a horse and drawing a bow.

Chaos erupted instantly on the polo field.

Someone drew their bow, but was too shaken to release the arrow, which fell in front of them.

Some even collided with other people's horses while riding in the imperial stables.

Of course, amidst the chaos, some managed to pull ahead by a wide margin.

Chai Wan'er stood up straight, drew her bow and shot an arrow. The arrow flew like a meteor and pierced through a half-flying pheasant.

The pheasant fell to the ground and remained motionless.

Chai Wan'er did not linger at all; after the event, her guards would verify the numbers.

She walked past the pheasants and continued her search for prey. Just as a hare came into view and she was about to draw her bow again, someone walked past her, and at the same time an arrow flew past and struck the leaping hare.

Chai Wan'er turned her head and saw a girl in plain hunting clothes.

“Miss Chai,” Mo Zheng smiled slightly, shaking the bow in her hand, “I’m faster than you.”

"Still daring to provoke me?" Chai Wan'er sneered. "The battle is not over yet, what are you so smug about?"

Mo Zheng smiled and said, "Miss Chai, give up. I am also the best at horseback riding and archery."

He urged his horse forward.

Chai Wan'er watched her retreating figure, a ruthless glint in her eyes. She threw down the riding whip in her hand and drew a whip from her waist.

The barbs on the whip gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Horseback riding and archery? She didn't come here today for horseback riding and archery.

She came here today to beat someone up.

Horseback archery is a dangerous activity; you can startle the horse, fall off, and get injured.
This is all the result of your reckless pursuit of victory.

You lowly servant, I'll destroy you with one lash today, and you can forget about ever becoming the leader again!

Chai Wan'er raised her hand and cracked her whip, urging her horse to chase after the girl ahead.

The girl in front knew that Chai Wan'er was chasing after her, but she didn't look back. Instead, she hurriedly drew her bow, as if she was afraid that her prey would be stolen.

Chai Wan'er's eyes gleamed with excitement as she cracked her whip at the horses ahead.

This whip would land precisely on the horse, startling it and causing it to leap up, throwing the rider off and trampling them under its hooves...

Chai Wan'er seemed to already see the girl fall to the ground and scream in pain. Suddenly, the girl in front of her turned around sharply and pointed the bow and arrow at her.

Chai Wan'er was startled; her vision seemed to slow down, and the surrounding noise disappeared. She saw Miss Yang smile slightly, heard a twang of a bowstring, and saw an arrowhead gleaming coldly as it came toward her...

At the same time, the hand holding the whip trembled.

She saw Miss Yang, who was on horseback drawing her bow and shooting an arrow, lean back, her skirt fluttering, and kick the whip that was about to hit the horse's rump.

With a flick of the whip, it spun in the air and flew towards her...

Chai Wan'er let out a scream and instinctively lunged forward to hug the horse's neck.

The arrow grazed her back, but the whip that bounced back struck her back with a crack.

Chai Wan'er screamed again, but it wasn't over yet. The whip that snapped back was like a snake, still leaping all over her body.

He whipped her back, then her head.

Chai Wan'er felt her scalp being pierced by the barbs of the whip, and blood was flowing down.

"Help—" she screamed hoarsely.

"Help—" a woman's voice boomed in my ear, "Help! Miss Chai's horse has spooked—"

Was the horse startled?
No, she hit her—

Chai Wan'er was about to speak again, but the horse beneath her neighed and galloped forward.

Chai Wan'er instinctively grabbed the horse's neck, and the words she was about to say turned into a scream.

……

.......
"The horse got spooked?"

"The horse has really spooked!"

The once bustling polo field became noisy as the ladies, engrossed in their hunt, stopped in horror to see a horse—no, two horses—galloping ahead.

Immediately, they all joined in the shouting.

The horse was startled!
Princess Heicheng also stood up. Although she had been paying attention to Chai Wan'er and Yang Luo on the field, she couldn't see what was happening because of the distance and the large number of people. Suddenly, she saw two horses neighing and galloping wildly.

Was the horse startled?
Why did the horse suddenly get startled?

Did Chai Wan'er and Yang Luo get into a fight? And that caused the horse to be startled?
That's possible. She knew in her heart that Chai Wan'er was up to no good and would definitely seek revenge for what happened last time.

Suddenly her eyes narrowed.

The direction the startled horse ran in—

not good.

That was where the emperor hunted.

Princess Heisei shouted, "Stop her—" At this moment, the two runaway horses had already reached the guards outside the polo field.

But the guards couldn't stop the runaway horse, nor could they shoot it with bows and crossbows, since there were people on its back.

She's no ordinary person; she's the young lady of the Marquis of Yichun's household, the Empress's niece, and Princess Heicheng's cousin...

Not only could they not stop it, they also quickly moved aside to prevent the frightened horse from going even crazier and throwing the riders off and trampling them, which could result in deaths.

Princess Heisei stamped her foot, got up, rushed down, mounted her horse, and chased after the two horses.

She had made a promise to her father and mother.

I won't let this Miss Yang appear in front of me.

How could this accident have happened so suddenly!
Princess Heisei, riding on horseback, looked at the two riders ahead, who were now almost out of sight...

Another thought flashed through my mind: Could it be that Yang Luo startled the horse?
……

……

Mo Zheng lay on the horse's back, and with a gentle lift of her hand, a pebble accurately struck the horse in front of her.

The horses that had strayed off course immediately neighed and returned to the correct direction.

Chai Wan'er, on horseback, let out chaotic screams.

Mo Zheng glanced back and could vaguely see a large group of people chasing after them.

But it was too late to stop her.

Mo Zheng smiled, her lips curving into a smile.

Since she's here, she's not here to write any articles that were burned.

Of course, they wouldn't make a big fuss just because their articles were burned.

What's the point of that?

At a martial arts banquet, scholars who argue over their writings always lack confidence.

Even if there's noise, it should be about things like horseback archery and martial arts demonstrations.

Moreover, there was Chai Wan'er, a helpful ally who came to their doorstep.

They were enemies, and Chai Wan'er also had a distinguished status...

Mo Zheng looked ahead. Yang Luo had already inquired about the location of the emperor's hunt last night.

On the other side of the polo field.

Sure enough, after crossing a hillside, we saw a cluster of hilltops with colorful flags fluttering in the wind. On one of the high platforms, a bright yellow tent was erected, with dragon flags waving, making it particularly eye-catching.

Outside the hunting grounds, officers and soldiers stood at attention. As they drew closer, they raised their swords and spears, forming a defensive military formation.

Where the emperor resides, the capital's garrison is stationed.

Unauthorized trespassers can be shot on sight.

but.
Mo Zheng flicked another pebble, and the horse carrying Chai Wan'er neighed, its slowed speed instantly increasing.

"The horse is startled—"

Mo Zheng screamed, sending her voice far away.

"Help me—"

"Please save Miss Chai!"

"The young lady of the Marquis of Yichun's family—"

……

.......
"It's Miss Chai!"

"Don't fire the arrows—"

"Put down your spear—"

"Fetch a long rope—"

"Wooden fence, set up the wooden fence—"

Wei Jiao sat on a corner of the high platform, looking down at the chaos outside the hunting grounds.

He noticed the two horses as soon as they appeared on the hillside, perhaps because his gaze had been fixed on that side.

He knew Princess Heisei was at the polo field over there, and he also knew that the bastard would never behave himself. Sure enough, not long after, under the bright winter sun, two horses appeared in his sight, one in front of the other.

On the horse at the very front, a girl in a red hunting outfit lay sprawled on the back, her hair disheveled, covered in blood and dust, looking utterly wretched, and whimpering.

He personally witnessed Chai Wan'er arrogantly leading her people out of here and heading towards Princess Heicheng's side.

Now he looks like this, all disheveled.

Wei Jiao looked at the soldiers who were frantically trying to stop the mad horse without hurting anyone, and then at the girl who was hiding behind Chai Wan'er's mad horse, screaming and controlling the two horses in front and behind her. The flying dust could not hide her bright eyes.

That madman!
Wei Jiao couldn't help but laugh.

"The horse is frightened——"

He sat on the high platform, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted loudly inward.

"Protect the Emperor!"

(End of this chapter)