Chapter 381: Final Victory (3)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In short, Princess Jingning must not be harmed under Xiao Duye’s nose.
Otherwise, the Empress would kill Concubine Yu. Of course, she would also take her anger out on Xiao Zhonghua and Concubine Xian.
“Me too, me too!”
Princess Hui An was determined not to let Jingning take the lead. If Princess Jingning could do it, she would do it!
Xiao Duye secretly clenched his fists.
“Mother said that you can’t enter the hunting ground. Have you forgotten that you were injured during the last hunt?”
Xiao Zhonghua adhered to the principle of not bringing Princess Hui An into the forest and coaxed his sister nicely.
Princess Jingning was not in a hurry. She waited calmly and occasionally mocked Princess Hui An, telling her not to embarrass herself. Princess Hui An was so angry that she almost fought with her.
“Third Brother, you decide!”
“Brother, come and be the judge.”
Princess Hui An brought out Xiao Zhonghua, and Princess Jingning brought out Xiao Duye.
After a while, the matter of entering the forest was delayed.
Just as Princess Hui An was about to complain to Emperor Jing Xuan, the young eunuch at the entrance rang the gong.
This meant that the riding and archery competition had ended and someone had come out.
It was Su Cheng who came out.
He was wearing shining armor and riding a tall horse, like a victorious general on the battlefield.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his handsome face, casting a golden and cold light.
He gripped the reins tightly in his right hand and held the long saber in his left.
There was a man across the saddle.
When they got closer, everyone realized that it was the unconscious Qin Jiang.
Xiao Duye’s eyes flashed.
Xiao Zhonghua asked, “Lord Protector, what’s going on?”
Su Cheng said with a solemn expression, “It’s a long story. Please allow me to report to His Majesty.”
In the tent, Emperor Jing Xuan summoned Su Cheng.
Su Cheng first took off the cloth bag hanging on the saddle and showed everyone the white-tailed fox he had captured alive.
The white-tailed fox’s leg was covered with a seal, so it could not be faked.
Su Cheng had undoubtedly won this match.
Qin Canglan and the Old Marquis were so excited that they almost burst into tears—Cheng’er had defended the Qin family’s military power!
The officials were shocked and speechless.
Su Cheng, the descendant of the Qin family who grew up in the countryside, had actually completely defeated Qin Jiang.
Not only was his martial arts superior to Qin Jiang’s, but his horsemanship was also superior to Qin Jiang’s.
There was only one Art of War left that had yet to be announced, but Su Cheng, who had won two rounds in a row, had already locked on to victory.
What was this talk about him being a farmer, a cowherd, and a country bully?
This man was clearly radiant!
“Father…”
Princess Jingning reminded Emperor Jing Xuan softly.
Emperor Jing Xuan regained his awareness and composed himself. He did not immediately announce the final result. Instead, he asked, “What happened to Qin Jiang? Why was he injured? Did you hurt him?”
The accusation was too obvious.
Qin Canglan and the Old Marquis’ expressions darkened.
Princess Jingning lowered her eyes and did not speak.
Su Cheng replied without changing his expression, “Your Majesty, Qin Jiang was not injured by me, but by an assassin.”
Emperor Jing Xuan frowned and asked, “Assassin? Where did the assassin come from?”
Su Cheng sighed and said, “An assassin sneaked into the Imperial Guards. He was the one who followed Qin Jiang. Not long after we entered the forest, he ambushed Qin Jiang. Then, he ambushed me. Fortunately, Guard Cheng beside me sacrificed himself to protect me. I only suffered light injuries.” With that, he rolled up his sleeve, revealing a bloody right arm.
The expressions of Qin Canglan and the Old Marquis changed!
After showing off, Su Cheng pulled up his sleeves. He was afraid that he would be exposed if he was a second late.
Emperor Jing Xuan asked coldly, “Where are the two Imperial Guards?”
Su Cheng said sadly, “It wasn’t easy to get rid of this imperial guard. Who knew that another group of masked assassins would come? I lured away a portion of them. Qin Jiang dealt with two of them. As for the rest… Imperial Bodyguard Cheng died with them. Their corpses are in the forest.”
Emperor Jing Xuan said to Xiao Duye and Xiao Zhonghua, “Go find them.”
The two of them agreed. “Yes!”
The two of them led a group of people and found everyone’s corpses according to the route Su Cheng had pointed out.
Two of them were wearing armor. One of them was an archer from the forest that night, and the other was a real Imperial Bodyguard Cheng.
In addition, there were more than ten corpses of men in black.
Xiao Duye looked at the corpses on the ground in disbelief and muttered, “How could this be…”
Xiao Zhonghua looked at him in confusion. “Brother, what are you talking about?”
Xiao Duye composed himself and said, “I… I say, who did it? How did this happen? Since we found the corpse, let’s hurry back..”
