Her guards

Chapter 160 Stop her

When the noise comes from outside the paddock, the noise inside the paddock is actually even louder.

There were more than forty people vying for the flag.

The contestants inside the arena were filled with excitement, and the spectators outside were equally noisy. Even the emperor, who was sitting on the high platform, stood up and shouted along with several old generals.

"We were just like that back in the day."

"Back then, my team always won."

"Yes, His Majesty was truly cunning back then, always resorting to sneak attacks..."

"What do you mean by cunning? This is called tactics, tactics... Look at that young man, he's so nimble."

“That’s Zhu Yunxiao from the Yongwu Earl’s family.”

The emperor watched and chatted with everyone, as if he had returned to his youthful days.

The noise from outside the venue was completely inaudible.

Moreover, the soldiers stationed outside the gate would not disturb the emperor in the event of a horse being startled.

Although the young lady of the Yichun Marquis's mansion could not be shot on the spot, the frightened horse could be led to another place. However, as soon as the action was taken, a sharp cry came from mid-air.

"Protecting the Emperor——"

As soon as the call to protect the emperor ended, more calls for protection immediately arose from the guards inside the arena.

"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"

It swept in like a whirlwind.

The noisy crowd heard it, and knowing that the escort was no ordinary person, those who looked into the area turned around in shock and saw soldiers running around outside the enclosure, holding wooden fences and ropes, ready for battle...

Was there really an assassin?

People were immediately alarmed, and a great uproar broke out.

……

.......
"assassin?"

When the first cry for protection was heard, the imperial guards on the high platform instantly surrounded the emperor.

The military officers also stood in front of the emperor, nervously looking around.

“It’s not an assassin,” a guard said hastily. “It’s a runaway horse.”

The horses were startled, and the generals breathed a sigh of relief.

Today is a martial arts banquet, there are horses everywhere, and it's no wonder the horses got spooked due to the crowds and noise.

"Then why are you shouting for protection?" the emperor said irritably, turning his sleeves and sitting down. "Making a fuss over nothing and causing trouble!"

"Your Majesty—" Wei Jiao rushed in from outside, his brows furrowed with anxiety, "It's the young lady from the Marquis of Yichun's mansion and the young lady from the Duke of Ding'an's mansion. Both of their horses have sprung a fright and are heading straight this way."

He said he would take another step forward.

"Your Majesty, this matter is suspicious!"

The Marquis of Yichun's residence? The Duke of Ding'an's residence? The military officers were taken aback. These two families...

The emperor, who had sat down upon hearing about the frightened horse, suddenly stood up again: "What?"

Wei Jiao's eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice further: "How could it be such a coincidence? Your Majesty, is there some scheme behind this? Your Majesty just punished the Marquis of Yichun, and a young lady from the Duke of Ding'an's family also died in Baima Town..."

The emperor glared at him: "What nonsense are you spouting!" He asked urgently, "How is she...?"

Before he could finish speaking, the Empress's voice came first.

“Your Majesty need not worry, we have already stopped the horse to rescue you,” she said.

The Empress had no interest in the flag-fighting contest; she sat at the back and talked with the women.

She had obviously received the news as well.

And they learned even more.

“The officers and soldiers are all experienced,” she said, looking at the emperor, then seemed to remember something, “Shouldn’t Your Majesty be going on the hunt? Go change your clothes and get ready.”

In addition to watching the young men compete for the flag, the emperor also prepared to go hunting himself.

However, the flag-fighting is not over yet, so changing clothes is a bit too early.

Is this a request for the emperor to leave?

The generals around them exchanged subtle glances.

The emperor's expression stiffened slightly.

The Empress stepped forward and said again, "Your Majesty, I will be here watching over things."

She looked at the emperor with a determined gaze.

The emperor nodded: "Alright." Then he turned to the generals and smiled, "Let's go hunting, let me see if you're all not as good as before."

Several military officers quickly chimed in, saying, "Your Majesty underestimates us!" and "But Your Majesty, don't try to cheat us later after we've stolen your prey!"

"Your Majesty, hurry! I'm going to deal with the runaway horse!" Wei Jiao said, then turned and strode away.

The emperor followed his gaze in that direction. At that moment, the hunting grounds were in turmoil, with many people rushing towards the entrance. The distance was too great for them to see anything.

Let's go.

The emperor withdrew his gaze, turned, and left.

……

.......
"What's going on?" "Are we still going to compete?"

His Majesty has left—

"His Majesty is gone, so what's the point of the competition?" Zhu Yunxiao reined in his horse and looked at the high platform. Sure enough, the emperor was no longer in sight.

"What bad luck," Zhu Yunxiao frowned. He was supposed to win by seizing the flag in front of the emperor and receive praise.

"The horses outside have sprung up."

"She is a young lady from the Marquis of Yichun's family."

Hearing this, Zhu Yunxiao thought coldly, "A startled horse? Why hasn't it fallen to its death yet?"

The thought flashed through my mind, and then another sound came.

"...It wasn't just one horse that got spooked; there were also Miss Yang's horses from the Duke of Ding'an's mansion."

Miss Yang? Zhu Yunxiao was surprised. Such a good opportunity?
If we can save Miss Yang, the benefits will be far greater than those gained from fighting for the flag!
Zhu Yunxiao spurred his horse toward the door.

His companions on the hunting grounds were momentarily stunned, watching Zhu Yunxiao's retreating figure on horseback.

"Did Yunxiao go to watch the fun?"

"What's so interesting about this spectacle?"

"Don't let them take their anger out on you, that's the young lady from the Marquis of Yichun's mansion..."

……

.......
"Wan'er——"

"Quickly, harness the horse!"

"Wan'er, hold on tight to the horse's neck and don't let go!"

The women of the Yichun Marquis's residence rushed to the gate upon hearing the news, extremely anxious.

Because of the sudden influx of people, the officers and soldiers were caught off guard by the startled horses and the crowd, which caused chaos.

Fortunately, the frightened horse did not rush into the crowd, but it was extremely agile, repeatedly dodging the soldiers' wooden fences and frames, and the ropes it threw out missed their mark time and time again.

Two horses carrying two people were running wildly in circles at the doorway.

The officers and soldiers didn't dare to push too hard.

The Queen stood in the crowd, watching two horses running wildly, with the girls on their backs clinging tightly to their necks and crying out.

There must be something fishy about this startled horse.

At the place where Princess Heisei resided, people, livestock, and even bows and arrows were strictly inspected, and the horses were selected from the gentlest breeds.

How could the horse suddenly be startled and run here?
Was it this guy surnamed Yang who did it? He deliberately startled the horse, didn't he?

The Empress gave a cold smile.

Would you risk your life just to see the emperor?
Then grant her wish!
"Archers!" she shouted.

At her command, the officers and soldiers responded, and a squad of heavy crossbowmen from the guards outside stepped forward.

Upon seeing these imposing crossbows, the noisy crowd fell silent.

Is this to shoot the frightened horse?

The crossbow bolts were very powerful, and the soldiers were well-trained, but they were still riding wildly on horseback, with people on their backs.

In case of being accidentally injured...

Even if they aren't accidentally hit, the rider of a horse killed by a crossbow bolt is very likely to be injured from the fall and impact...

They could even shoot them, throw them to their deaths, or crush them to death...

"Your Majesty—Wan'er—" a woman screamed, but the next moment the old lady of Yichun Marquis covered her mouth with her hand and pinched her arm.

The old lady of the Marquis of Yichun turned pale as she looked at the runaway horse and the two girls on it in the distance.

She knew that the Empress did not intend to kill Wan'er, but rather to take the opportunity to get rid of that Yang woman.

Although Chai Wan'er is her own granddaughter.

But for the Queen, this was indeed a good opportunity.

For everyone's safety, the runaway horse was eliminated. Yang's daughter died, and the Chai family lost a daughter. What else could the emperor say?

The old lady of Yichun Marquis said through gritted teeth, speaking slowly and deliberately to her daughter-in-law, whose mouth she had covered: "You must not disobey the Empress. Everything is up to the Empress."

She's just a daughter.

The Chai family has many daughters.

But only one person can become empress.

Whether it was because she was choked by the words or because she was frightened by them, Chai Wan'er's mother, Madam Chai the Third, rolled her eyes and fell backward weakly into the arms of the servants.

Zhu Yunxiao, who had ridden his horse forward, reined in his horse and stopped, looking at the archers who had lined up in front of the gate...

The emperor dared to kill the empress in public? It's clear that Miss Yang wasn't that important to him; he shouldn't take the risk...

"The Empress must not be so absurd!"

An aged voice broke the silence with a shout.

The Empress turned her head slightly and saw Wang Zaitian leading several people running towards her.

　Tomorrow will be the third day, and we'll be able to see each other then.

　　(End of this chapter)