Chapter 87 Who Are You Looking At?

As she spoke, she casually took out some white powder from a small pouch and flicked it onto the wet spot on her cuff.

With gentle rubbing, the tea stains faded and disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Bai Mei spoke up curiously at the opportune moment:

"Young Miss, what kind of miraculous medicine is this? It can even remove tea stains?"

Qingzhu also blinked in response:

"Yes, Miss, I have never seen her before."

While calmly dealing with the stains, Song Yiqiu explained indifferently.

Those around them seemed indifferent, but in reality, they were all listening intently.

"It's nothing special. It's just a common military cleaning remedy, made by grinding wood ash with several kinds of minerals. It's quite effective at dealing with bloodstains, mud stains, and even some food residue."

"The frontier is harsh and resources are scarce. Clothes need to be worn repeatedly. These little tricks are just for survival."

These words inadvertently revealed the kind of environment in which she had been tempered, and those around her couldn't help but nod and sigh. As expected of the Marquis of Yongjia who was about to inherit the title, her mindset and vision were indeed different from ordinary noble ladies.

This scene happened to be witnessed by Fu Langxing, who was talking with a friend not far away.

He was wearing an indigo riding and archery uniform today, which made him look even more upright.

What started as a casual glance was captivated by Song Yiqiu's swift reaction and her composed yet assertive words.

Ba Qun, the bodyguard, stood by the tent and suggested with sharp eyes:

"Young Master, look, Miss Sang Yu is over there, and it seems... the atmosphere is a bit off. Why don't you go over there..."

Fu Langxing raised his hand to stop him, his gaze drawn to the moon-white figure from the very beginning.

He clearly saw the whole process of the group stepping forward to provoke him. He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Song Yiqiu's calm and almost indifferent expression, and a sense of curiosity suddenly arose in his heart.

What kind of past did she have?

Seeing his master's focused expression, the guard couldn't help but mutter to himself:

“Young Master, this…this Miss Song doesn’t seem to be as arrogant and unreasonable as the rumors say. On the contrary, these noble ladies…”

Realizing he had misspoke, he quickly stopped talking and bowed, saying...

"I have misspoke, please punish me, young marquis."

Fu Langxing, however, was not angry. His gaze remained fixed on Song Yiqiu, as if he were truly getting to know her for the first time.

Compared to the noble ladies around her who would complain at the slightest mishap, Song Yiqiu appeared exceptionally calm and composed, a unique quality honed through trials and tribulations.

I hadn't seen her for several days, and she seemed to have lost some weight. Her face looked even more beautiful, and her confident and composed demeanor made her look...remarkably different.

Fu Langxing tightened his grip on the riding whip, glanced at Song Sangyu, and for the first time, he began to waver on the idea of ​​changing the engagement.

Following the palace maid who led the way, Song Yiqiu arrived at the seats for the female members of the official family and sat down comfortably.

Bai Mei, who had been holding back her laughter for a long time, finally broke into a smile when the surroundings quieted down.

"Miss, I thought they would come up with some ingenious and wicked plan on such a grand occasion as the Autumn Hunt! But it turns out to be just this kind of low-class prank?"

"Didn't you see how their faces turned a deep purplish-red when you retorted to them? I was wondering how Butcher Zhang's stall in the east of the city ended up at the Royal Hunting Grounds. Turns out it was their faces."

Upon hearing this, Song Yiqiu smiled slightly, but then stopped Bai Mei's audacious remark with a look.

Bai Mei stuck out her tongue and shut her mouth in annoyance.

Qingzhu, being more meticulous, spoke softly:

“Miss, I think Sister Bai Mei’s words were a bit rough, but the reasoning is sound. However… in my opinion, they will not give up so easily. The autumn hunt has only just begun, and we need to be even more careful.”

Just then, the chief eunuch beside the emperor stepped forward and announced in a loud voice:

"His Majesty has decreed! This year's autumn hunt coincides with the grand celebration of the new emperor's tenth anniversary of ascension to the throne. In past autumn hunts, His Highness the Crown Prince, known for his bravery, has consistently emerged victorious. Today, at this grand gathering, we wonder who will claim the title of champion?"

"Today's autumn hunt is divided into two parts: the first is for all the young men to demonstrate their riding and archery skills. The second is a mixed-gender hunt, where everyone can display their unique abilities. I hope you all enjoy yourselves and show the might of our Celestial Empire!"

All eyes turned to the smug Crown Prince Xiao Yongjing, who stood at the head of the male section.

Today he was dressed in a dark-colored dragon-patterned riding and archery outfit, his hair tied up with a jade crown, his posture upright, and his brows exuded the nobility of a crown prince, softening his usual coldness.

He felt the gaze on him, his eyes sweeping across the female guests' section, pausing slightly in Song Yiqiu's direction.

Song Yiqiu immediately looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze. "He's alright looking," she thought to herself.

However, this brief gaze did not escape the notice of Fu Langxing, who had been keeping a close eye on Song Yiqiu.

Fu Langxing frowned slightly, a strange displeasure suddenly welling up in his heart.

He straightened the cuffs of his riding attire, casually rode his horse to the prince's side, and politely began to speak:

"Your Highness seems to be quite interested in the scenery here? I wonder, what is it that has made Your Highness stop for so long?"

After he finished speaking, he glanced meaningfully in Song Yiqiu's direction.

"However, Your Highness should not pay too much attention to other people's fiancées, lest... it attract unnecessary criticism."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yongjing slowly turned his head. He wasn't angry; instead, he chuckled softly, his voice languid.

"Young Master Fu is mistaken."

He tightened the reins,

"If I remember correctly, the woman you are betrothed to is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongjia's mansion. And the Marquis of Yongjia's mansion currently has two legitimate daughters. One is the other person that Young Master Fu mentioned earlier, and the other... is Song Sangyu, who was having a pleasant conversation with your mother."

He successfully saw Fu Langxing's face darken before continuing slowly and deliberately:

"Young Master Fu is referring to his fiancée at this moment. Who is he referring to? If it is Miss Song Sangyu, then I naturally cannot inquire further. But if he is referring to General Yiqiu..."

Xiao Yongjing suddenly turned his gaze back, and began to mock.

"As far as I know, it seems that Young Master Fu and your mother prefer Miss Song. If that's the case, why rush to acknowledge this title for General Song at this moment? Could it be... that you've suddenly changed your mind because you've seen the opportunity?"

These words were truly scathing, exposing the sordid scheme of Fu Langxing's family to arrange a marriage exchange, and also satirizing his contradictory possessiveness towards Song Yiqiu at this moment.

Fu Langxing was speechless for a moment, choked with words. He really couldn't refute it; it was a fact that his mother favored Song Sangye, and it was also a fact that he had previously looked down on Song Yiqiu.

The air between the two instantly became tense. Fu Langxing clenched his fist, snorted coldly, and stepped forward.

Xiao Yongjing remained calm and composed, but the concern in his eyes was impossible to ignore.