Chapter 129 - The Tent Would Become a Snake Nest?

Chu Junyi didn’t get angry after hearing Shen Ninghua’s words. Instead, he laughed proudly. Perhaps Shen Ninghua herself didn’t notice it, but she was becoming more relaxed and casual in front of him.

Thinking back about the Shen Ninghua who was always on guard and wholeheartedly took every possible measure to ensure her safety, Chu Junyi felt both heartache and happiness. He would definitely maintain this current state. Since he had already stepped into Shen Ninghua’s world with one foot, he would not be driven out by her!

Shen Ninghua did not notice the fluctuations in Chu Junyi’s heart at all. Seeing that he didn’t become angry after being mocked but even smiled gently, she suddenly felt that she was finding fault with him for no reason whatsoever. She shook her head and drove this idea out of her mind. “Bu Jinglan also invited your sister, right?”

Chu Junyi nodded. “Yes, he sent her an invitation.”

“Then I’ll tell you in advance. Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her cause trouble for me!”

Many things had happened during this period of time. Although she wasn’t afraid, she felt tired. If Xiao Huanxi didn’t provoke her, she wouldn’t be bothered to argue. Anyway, with that bet, Chu Junyi knew what to do. If Xiao Huanxi provoked her, she wouldn’t have any misgiving when dealing with Xiao Huanxi!

“Don’t worry. I will let my people watch her.”

The next day, Yang Yingxue prepared everything and waited in Shen Ninghua’s courtyard early in the morning. “Cousin, the hunt this time should be a smooth trip, right?”

Seeing her somewhat uneasy expression, Shen Ninghua felt funny. “Cousin, things are not absolute. Besides, there are so many people participating in the hunt. No one can guarantee that nothing will happen, so just take care of yourself.”

In the capital, especially in the aristocratic families and the royal family, there were always people who were plotting all the time. If she wanted peace, it would be better to pray for the sun to rise from the west.

Yang Yingxue had followed Shen Ninghua to several banquets. Although she came back safely each time, the process was truly soul-stirring. She was truly scared. “Yes, I will take care of myself.” Thinking of Shen Ninghua’s intelligence and amazing deeds, Yang Yingxue secretly decided to follow Shen Ninghua all the time in the garden without talking much.

Shen Ninghua smiled and thought in her heart. Although this cousin wasn’t entirely obedient, she was not a rotten wood that couldn’t be carved. Maybe she would make a big difference in the future.

Shen Xuanlin ran over hand in hand with Yun Chuan, and his face was full of unhappiness. But he obediently bowed to Shen Ninghua first. “Greetings, Eldest Sister.”

Shen Ninghua put down the comb in her hand. “Why are you here? Don’t you need to practice martial arts today?”

Shen Xuanlin’s body had grown a lot, and he also became very sturdy after practicing martial arts. He rushed in front of Shen Ninghua like a calf, grabbing her sleeve and shaking it. “Eldest Sister, you didn’t ask me to go hunting with you. I already said that I wanted to capture a red fox to make a scarf for you!”

Shen Ninghua was amused. He was quite honest and had a talent for martial arts. “I was invited by someone else, so I don’t have the right to bring other people with me. Also, how come you want to hunt a red fox? Which class of bows can you draw now?”

“Thirty stones!” Shen Xuanlin straightened his chest proudly.

Shen Ninghua was slightly shocked. Thirty stones were not a light weight. Among his peers, he could be considered as an outstanding one. This kid had really put in a lot of effort.

Yang Yingxue said to Shen Ninghua, “Cousin, cousin Xuanlin has worked very hard. Why don’t you bring him with you?”

“No, Xuanlin, my trip this time isn’t going to be peaceful. Bringing you with me is equivalent to dragging myself down. When you are able to protect yourself, I will take you with me!”

Shen Xuanlin lowered his head and pulled Shen Ninghua’s hand in a somewhat helpless manner. “Eldest Sister, but I want to protect you…”

“Protection is not something you say. It is something you have to do. Right now, you don’t have the qualifications to do it.” Shen Ninghua did not give him any face because Shen Xuanlin was still a child. Living in such an environment, even a child did not have the right to be naive all the time. It would be harmful for him if she protected him too well.

“Yes, Eldest Sister, I know.”

Seeing Shen Xuanlin walking out with a lowered head and a sad expression, Yang Yingxue paused for a moment before she followed him out.

Bai Ruo looked at Yang Yingxue’s back and whispered, “Miss, Youngest Master…”

“It’s fine.”

Yang Yingxue chased after Shen Xuanlin to the side of the corridor and said, “Cousin.”

Shen Xuanlin turned around and looked at her in confusion. “Cousin, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I saw that you were very sad. Sister Ninghua didn’t mean to be so mean to you. Don’t be angry.”

“Why should I be angry?” Shen Xuanlin looked at Yang Yingxue who had a concerned expression and felt a wave of alert in his heart. Did she come here to sow discord?

“Ah?”

Shen Xuanlin was on guard, but his face remained calm. “Cousin, you misunderstood. I know that Eldest Sister said those words for my own good. If it weren’t for her strict requirements, I wouldn’t have made any progress. I will definitely learn martial arts well and strive to have the qualifications to protect her! Only the weak ones will lose their fighting spirit after setbacks!”

Yun Chuan, who was standing at the side, was also full of fighting spirit. “That’s right. I also want to learn martial arts to protect Her Highness!”

Looking at the two teenagers running away hand in hand, Yang Yingxue was dumbfounded. She just wanted to say something nice to buy popularity. Why did she feel like she was being mocked…

Yang Yingxue gritted her teeth. She wanted to vent her anger, but thinking of Shen Ninghua’s extraordinary abilities, she could only put her mind at ease.

Shen Ninghua brought Yang Yingxue, Qing Que, and Bai Ruo to the entrance of the Palace.

Many people had already gathered at the Palace gate. The scale of the hunt was grand and the participants could only wait and gather at the entrance of the Palace. At this time, their statuses were clear at a glance.

All the low-grade officials gathered at the periphery, and they had to be careful not to block the path of the big shots. Although they weren’t all trembling with fear, they were definitely very cautious.

Yang Yingxue was helped out of the carriage. With a glance, she saw her father Yang Lian smiling eagerly at an official in the crowd. Ever since she moved into the Prefectural Princess Mansion, she had not seen her father. She couldn’t help but shout excitedly, “Father!”

Yang Lian raised his head and was stunned, but he hurriedly went forward to salute Shen Ninghua. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Shen Ninghua smiled and said, “Uncle, you don’t need to be so polite. I haven’t held a banquet for you since you came to the capital. When the hunt is over, I will definitely hold a banquet as an apology to you.”

“No, no, you flattered me.” Yang Lian repeatedly refused. He knew more about the official circles than Xia Jingqiu and Yang Yingxue, so he naturally knew Shen Ninghua’s current status. Even Princess Anning and Princess Anqing, who were the emperor’s biological daughters, were not as favored as Shen Ninghua. He was willing to offend anyone other than Shen Ninghua.

Yang Yingxue’s heart trembled when she saw her father’s fawning expression. A sense of humiliation arose in her heart. Back in Jiangnan, her father had always been the one who was fawned by others, but now, he had to cautiously cater to others. Power was really something that could have people crushed to death psychologically!

Shen Ninghua did not pause for long before she walked towards Princess Anning.

Yang Lian hurriedly signaled for Yang Yingxue to follow her.

Yang Yingxue took two steps and couldn’t help but look back at Yang Lian. This time, she saw the official who had just ignored her father’s flattery smiling obsequiously at him.

“Brother Yang, so you’re actually Prefectural Princess Zhaohua’s relative. Why didn’t you say so earlier? When the hunt is over, I will hold a banquet at Qinyang Building. Brother Yang, don’t refuse me…”

Bai Ruo took two steps back and whispered, “Miss Yang, it’s time to go.”

Yang Yingxue trembled and hurriedly withdrew her gaze. She followed Shen Ninghua’s footsteps, but her lowered eyes lit up with flames. She also wanted to be like Shen Ninghua. She wanted to be chased after by everyone, enjoy the best of everything and make her father proud!

Bai Ruo blinked her eyes and couldn’t help but sigh in her heart. “Power is indeed a good thing. Unfortunately, it is a double-edged sword and may hurt the owner sometimes. Its effect depends on the owner’s ambition. Judging from her expression, Miss Yang will climb up the social ladder at all costs, just as Miss has predicted.”

Maybe because of Chu Junyi’s warning, Shen Ninghua did not see Xiao Huanxi along the way. When they arrived at the destination and the guards began to set up the tents, Xiao Huanxi, who was dressed in a sapphire blue dress, walked over with two maids.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Greetings, Miss Xiao.”

“Is this your tent?” Xiao Huanxi turned around and looked at the guards who were busy in the open space behind.

Shen Ninghua smiled and said, “The scenery here is good. It is very suitable for camping. Where is your tent?”

“I can’t compare with you. My tent is on the periphery, like the other young ladies from official families. I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll leave now.”

After Xiao Huanxi left, Bai Ruo asked curiously, “Miss, has Miss Xiao come all the way here just to say this?”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes were filled with smiles. “If she didn’t have any motive, she probably wouldn’t have come to see me. Just watch.”

After their camps were set up, everyone went inside to rest and get prepared for the hunt tomorrow.

Shen Ninghua entered her tent and looked around.

“Miss, is there anything wrong?”

Shen Ninghua curled her lips and coldly spat out a few words. “Things are very wrong here. Bai Ruo, did you remember the looks of the guards who helped set up our camp today?”

“I only remembered the looks of two of them. The rest…” There were too many people today, so she couldn’t remember clearly.

Qing Que said, “Miss, I remembered the looks of all of them.”

“Alright, Qing Que, go find Chu Junyi and tell him what the guards look like. Tell him to find a way to control these guards. Don’t let them commit suicide or get killed.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Bai Ruo was a little panicked. “Miss, did those people do something while they set up our tent?”

Shen Ninghua sized up the surroundings of the tent. “Someone took advantage of setting up the camp to bury Wanying pollen in the ground. There is a kind of viper that likes the smell of Wanying pollen the most. As expected, this place will become a snake nest in the middle of the night!”

“Ah!” Bai Ruo covered her mouth and exclaimed. Who had such a vicious mind?

“Miss, let’s quickly move to another tent!”

Shen Ninghua’s eyes were deep. “We will, but not now.”

This matter had better have nothing to do with Xiao Huanxi. If she found evidence of Xiao Huanxi’s involvement in this, Chu Junyi would definitely lose the bet.