Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Spooked Horse, Life on the Line

It didn’t take a genius for Ji Qingwu to know that this grand prize wouldn’t be easy to claim.

A beast that would normally require five grown men to surround and have a chance of defeating... and a few weak women were going to hunt it? This was no different than lambs walking into a tiger’s den.

Princess Qingyun was far too overconfident. Ji Qingwu offered a well-intentioned warning, "Your Highness, the beast must be nearby. We should be careful. Why don’t we retreat for now? If Lord Li were to find out, he would surely worry for you."

She had deliberately mentioned him, hoping Princess Qingyun would have some regard for her own safety.

But upon hearing Li Chengxun’s name, Princess Qingyun’s expression turned even more sullen. "Don’t mention him to me. He has no time to care about me."

’They had a fight?’ Ji Qingwu hadn’t expected Li Chengxun would dare to anger the Princess.

The young woman in bright blue robes, named Huo Shaofang, was from a Military General’s Family. Full of confidence, she said, "Since when is it your place to lecture the Princess on what she wants to do? If you’re too scared, then stay aside. I will clear the path for the Princess."

Huo Shaofang was the first to plunge into the woods, and the other women followed, darting deep into the forest in pursuit of their quarry.

Ji Qingwu knew she couldn’t stop them. Having done her part by warning them of the danger, she decided to let them do as they pleased. ’Perhaps the beast has already moved on,’ she thought.

She swung herself onto her horse and started back unhurriedly.

But halfway there, she sighed. Her heart was still unsettled.

’She had once heard Mrs. Qiao explain why Princess Qingyun had developed such an arrogant and willful personality. Besides being spoiled rotten by the Empress Dowager, the Emperor also indulged his younger sister, both openly and in secret.’

If something truly happened to Princess Qingyun... she was, after all, Emperor Wu Su’s own sister.

While it was always better to avoid stirring up trouble, it was even better to prevent trouble from happening in the first place.

A thought suddenly struck Ji Qingwu. She could spread the word and get someone to help.

She abruptly reined her horse to a halt in the middle of the path. Facing the empty woods, she called out, "Sanchuan, are you there? I have something urgent. Can you please show yourself?"

Her only answer was silence.

Ji Qingwu tilted her head back to look at the towering branches overhead and tried calling again, "Sanchuan?"

SWOOSH! A figure dropped from a tree. He had been so well hidden among the leaves that there had been no sign of him.

Ji Qingwu said in astonishment, "Why is it you?"

Looking closely, she saw it wasn’t Sanchuan, but the younger Si Hai.

Si Hai said with a deadpan expression, "Sanchuan is busy with other matters. He isn’t here. You can tell me just the same."

Ji Qingwu nodded. "I suppose you’ll do. Princess Qingyun has encountered a dangerous beast and might be in trouble. Find someone to keep an eye on her, or get someone to persuade her to turn back."

Her reluctant tone—’I suppose you’ll do’—irritated Si Hai. His own voice was unfriendly. "Fifth Miss Ji, this is a result of the Princess’s own stubbornness. Why are you getting involved?"

He had witnessed everything that just happened from his hiding spot.

Ji Qingwu said, "I’m not trying to get involved. I’m simply fulfilling my duty to inform you."

Si Hai was very clear about who he was assigned to protect. He refused directly. "My orders are to ensure only your safety. I am not responsible for anyone else."

Ji Qingwu truly didn’t know what kind of orders the Emperor had given him that he could completely disregard the life and death of the Emperor’s own sister. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

She frowned. "Is she ’anyone else’? Princess Qingyun is His Majesty’s own sister. Besides, one must be flexible in emergencies. Since you were sent to protect me, will you obey my orders or not?"

"Furthermore, if Princess Qingyun is injured or eaten by a beast during the hunt, and that news gets out, who in all of Beili will be able to hold their head high?"

A troubled look crossed Si Hai’s face. Sanchuan had been sent to handle other matters, but before leaving, he had specifically reiterated that exceptions could be made for anything concerning this Miss Ji Wu.

After a moment, his form flickered, and he vanished.

Seeing Si Hai obey and go for reinforcements, Ji Qingwu finally felt relieved.

She let her horse amble along, in no hurry to return to camp. It was nice to feel the breeze for a bit longer. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

But before long, Ji Qingwu heard the piercing screams of women from the woods, followed by the dangerous, low growl of a beast.

A corner of her mouth twitched. ’It’s always the bad prophecies that come true.’

The screams grew more shrill. Resigned to her fate, Ji Qingwu cracked her whip, turned her horse around, and rode a short distance in the direction of the sounds.

Suddenly, someone burst out from a narrow path between the trees. It was Huo Shaofang in her bright blue robes. Among the group, her riding and archery skills were the best.

But she was the only one who had escaped.

Ji Qingwu asked, "Where are Princess Qingyun and the others?"

Huo Shaofang’s hands, gripping the reins, were trembling. "The Princess... the Princess’s horse bolted!" she said in a panic. "She’s still in there! Everyone else scattered and ran."

’They left Princess Qingyun in there all alone?’ Ji Qingwu didn’t know what to say.

She pressed, "What kind of beast was it?"

’If it’s a large animal, I have no intention of going over there just to get myself killed.’

Huo Shaofang said, "I didn’t get a clear look. The moment the beast roared, we retreated. But the Princess’s horse got spooked and she couldn’t control it. It just started bolting everywhere."

Ji Qingwu breathed a sigh of relief. ’That’s not the worst outcome. A spooked horse that runs is better than one that’s frozen in fear, just waiting for the beast to come and tear it to shreds.’

She asked, "Did you see which way the Princess’s horse ran?"

"I think... I think it was that way." Huo Shaofang pointed.

That way...

’When Ji Qingwu had been riding around earlier, she had seen that area. It was a desolate cliff. Although there was a guardrail, a panicked horse could easily clear it.’

’If it really galloped wildly over there, there was no time to lose.’

Ji Qingwu dug her heels into her horse’s belly and galloped off, the wind whistling past her cheeks.

The horse she rode was a full-grown steed, faster than Princess Qingyun’s smaller horse. Even so, she had nearly reached the edge of the hunting grounds, the shadow of the guardrail just becoming visible, before she finally started to catch up.

The small, chestnut-colored horse was still galloping at full speed.

Princess Qingyun’s body was hanging perilously close to the ground, and she was on the verge of being thrown from the saddle.

The Princess’s face was splattered with dirt, her hair a mess, and she was struggling to right herself. But the horse was too strong, its path too erratic, making it impossible for her to move.

Seeing a wider stretch of ground ahead, Ji Qingwu expertly controlled her horse, maneuvering them to ride neck and neck.

Catching sight of her in her peripheral vision, Princess Qingyun cried out in terror, "Cousin, save me!"

This time, she could hear that the cry of "Cousin" was truly sincere.

Ji Qingwu’s face was a mask of concentration. She hooked her left foot firmly in the stirrup, leaned sideways from her waist, and, seizing the right moment, grabbed Princess Qingyun’s sash and hauled her back upright in her saddle.

The princess’s horse, though forced to slow for a moment, snorted heavily, still exceptionally agitated. With a sudden surge, it opened up the distance between them once more.

Afraid she would be dragged off her own horse, Ji Qingwu had no choice but to let go.

"Cousin... AHHH! Save me!"

The chestnut horse neighed, lifting its forelegs as if to rear. It looked as if Qingyun was about to be flung backward.

’This is bad,’ Ji Qingwu thought.

She made a split-second decision. Releasing the reins of her own horse, she leaped onto the small chestnut horse.