The brother's current humiliation is all because of uncle's family. Otherwise, with his abilities, he would be waiting to be promoted.
His eyes were filled with endless hatred as he glared at the Third Prince.
Princess Changlin did not comment on Third Prince Jiao Ren's words, but it was still unsightly to openly refute Wen Xinglu.
So, she raised her voice and said to the Third Prince.
"Xinglu is the person by my side. What he said earlier was for my own good. Your Highness, please do not misunderstand."
After speaking, she glanced at the warrior Jiao Ren lying on the ground and said to the maid beside her, "Go, find an imperial physician to treat him."
"Yes."
Her words interrupted the tense standoff between the two, and the atmosphere eased, though they still couldn't stand each other.
Feng Jinyao watched everything clearly from within the tent. For some reason, she felt that Su Cheng had done it on purpose!
He had deliberately provoked that person to bump into him, deliberately let him get injured, and then let the Third Prince make trouble, making both sides unhappy.
But why would he do such a thing?
She found it rather strange!
The reason Su Cheng acted this way was actually on Prince Ding's orders.
However, if he had not participated today, it would have been the Third Prince who would have been injured.
"No matter what method you use, keep the Third Prince and his entourage in the capital for as long as possible."
This was the order he had received!
The strong man's injuries were quite serious, and he was his trusted subordinate. He would definitely have to stay in the capital to recover. This way, it could delay things for some time.
As for what would happen later, that could be dealt with later.
After this small incident at the polo match, many people lost interest. Princess Changlin, fearing the atmosphere would become dull, suggested going to Mingchi Mountain for a hunt. The one who hunted the most prey within the time it took for three incense sticks to burn would win.
The prizes were the same, just a different way of playing.
Feng Jinyao was not skilled in riding and archery, but Bai Siruo, Su Cheng, and Feng Jinlin were all excellent!
The three of them were eager to participate. Feng Jinlin said to A Yao, "Don't worry, all the prey I hunt will be given to the two of them. I won't interfere!"
"That's more like it."
Seeing that Bai Siruo really wanted to go, she didn't stop her, only reminding her second brother and Su Cheng to take good care of their cousin.
Thus, all three registered.
Among the participants on the field, most were men, and there were very few young ladies. Bai Siruo was one of them, and there were three other young ladies from military families.
The incense was lit as the signal, and the whips were cracked to begin.
Soon, everyone entered Mingchi Mountain.
Wen Xinglu and the Third Prince of Jiao Ren were also among them!
The two exchanged glances. The Third Prince's expression of disdain for speaking to him made Wen Xinglu clench his horsewhip and fiercely strike the horse's hindquarters. With a whoosh, he disappeared into the forest!
"Hmph, a fellow who climbed up through connections is worthy of arguing with this prince! Go, give this驸马爷 some 'special service'!"
He winked at his subordinates and then headed in the opposite direction. Two people were missing from his side.
Bai Siruo took the lead. She had been feeling very stifled these past few days. Whether she hunted or not was secondary; the ability to gallop freely on horseback now greatly improved her mood.
For some reason, she thought of the many things Xiao Muqian usually told her about Liangzhou.
After they got married, she wanted to experience the vastness of Liangzhou.
"Siruo, slow down, be careful."
Feng Er shouted from behind as he chased.
It was the good season for the spring hunt in March. There was an unwritten rule in the spring hunt: no hunting young or female animals. As they rode, they had already seen many rabbits, foxes, and other animals, but they hadn't made a move.
"Forget it, let's just consider it a good ride. I say, autumn and winter hunts are more satisfying. Hunting fat sheep and geese is truly enjoyable."
Su Cheng had never been very interested in spring hunts, so he followed the two of them, riding around the mountain.
While the three of them were leisurely, others were not.
See a deer, shoot a deer. Encounter a rabbit, kill a rabbit.
Before long, many trophies of deer were hanging from the horses' backs.
As a general's daughter passed by Bai Siruo and the others, her eyes showed a look of killing anyone who stood in her way, and then she sped past the three of them.
She drew her arrow, pulled the bowstring, and with a whoosh, another rabbit fell into her bag.
She turned back and glanced contemptuously at Bai Siruo, not even saying a word before galloping away.
"Tsk tsk, committing such heavy sins and still being proud? Truly terrifying."
Spring hunts were inherently not very humane.
This woman was slaughtering indiscriminately, which was truly horrifying to behold.
Before they could react, they heard a scream not far away.
All three frowned!
Mingchi Mountain had always been a place for royal hunts, but it was also opened to nobles and dignitaries to practice their skills each year.
Therefore, no traps were ever set, as they were not hunters who relied on prey for survival.
"That scream, doesn't it sound like the驸马爷's?"
Su Cheng, as the deputy leader of Prince Ding's secret guard camp, naturally had some skills. Even though he had only met Wen Xinglu a few times and exchanged a few words, he could still recognize his voice.
"He did stand up for you just now. Do you want to go and see?"
"Let's go!"
The three of them whipped their horses towards the direction of the scream. As expected, in a dense forest, they found Wen Xinglu with an arrow wound in his leg, lying beside his horse, with several dying prey around him.
"驸马爷, what is this..."
Su Cheng dismounted first and walked over. He looked at his wound, his expression grim.
"This arrow is shot cunningly. If it is pulled out, the bleeding cannot be stopped, and he will die of excessive blood loss. If it is not removed, and the arrow stays inside for too long, your leg will likely be crippled."
He was telling the truth. Having been in the secret guard camp for so many years, he had seen too many sword and arrow wounds.
Wen Xinglu's face was pale with pain. Hearing his words, his eyes widened further. He grabbed Su Cheng and cried out desperately, "Save me! Young Master Su!"
"I want to save you, but I am not a doctor! The only thing to do now is to rush down the mountain quickly and ask the Princess to find an imperial physician. Perhaps there is still hope!"
Wen Xinglu endured the pain in his leg and was helped up by Su Cheng.
He could not mount the horse himself, so Su Cheng carried him on his back and onto the horse.
The four of them no longer cared about the time limit of three incense sticks and hurried back to the polo field.
Feng Jinyao was talking with Yun Xu and He Huan in the tent when she saw Su Cheng carrying someone in.
This scene immediately reminded her of many scenes from her previous life.
Her second brother was also carried back like this, unconscious, his leg bone crushed, and he became a dispirited驸马爷 in the princess's mansion, unable to walk properly thereafter.