Back at the camp, the hunting competition had officially begun. The princess announced the rules: the winner would be determined by the quantity and rarity of the hunted prey, and the winner would receive a golden arrow personally bestowed by the princess.
As Xin Jiuwei rode on her horse, her fingers tapping lightly on the saddle, her mind replaying the scene of Xie Changjing setting up the trap.
The way the tripwire was tied and the way the shallow pit was disguised were too professional; they were definitely not something a playboy like Xie Changjing could come up with.
This is probably Qi Huaiyu's doing again!
"They're like a persistent ghost." Xin Jiuwei sneered, her eyes flashing with cold light.
She knew Qi Huaiyu too well; he always liked to use others to do his dirty work.
This time, he instructed Xie Changjing to target his sister, but his real target was himself.
After all, if he could "save the damsel in distress" in public, he could not only salvage the situation but also regain her favor.
"Since that's the case, I'll play along with your act." Xin Jiuwei turned her horse around and headed towards the path where Xie Changjing had set up a trap. She deliberately slowed down to make sure someone noticed her direction.
Upon reaching the vicinity of the trap, Xin Jiuwei dismounted to inspect it.
The tripwire was tied extremely discreetly, and the camouflage of the shallow pit was also perfect.
A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. She took out a small knife from her waist and loosened one end of the tripwire slightly, ensuring it would break at the crucial moment.
As for the shallow pit, she deepened it to ensure that she would be thrown out if the horse was startled, but not injured.
"Qi Huaiyu, this time I'll make sure you suffer the consequences of your scheme." Xin Jiuwei mounted her horse and deliberately muttered loudly to herself, "I heard there's a herd of deer around here, I'll go check it out."
She rode her horse slowly forward, keenly noticing a figure moving about in the woods.
Sure enough, Qi Huaiyu had already been lying in ambush nearby, just waiting to "coincidentally" pass by and rescue her.
As the horse stepped onto the camouflage, Xin Jiuwei feigned complete ignorance. With a sharp "crack," the horse's hoof sank into the pit. She released the reins, letting herself be thrown into the nearby bushes. The instant she landed, she adjusted her posture to ensure she only appeared disheveled, but was actually unharmed.
"Jiuwei!" Qi Huaiyu's voice rang out just in time, tinged with just the right amount of anxiety, "Hold on, I'm coming to save you!"
Through the gaps in the bushes, Xin Jiuwei saw Qi Huaiyu galloping towards her on horseback, followed by several noble young men who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion. The worry on his face was so convincingly acted that, if she hadn't already known his true nature, she would have almost been moved.
Just as Qi Huaiyu was a few steps away from her, Xin Jiuwei suddenly stood up from the bushes, deftly brushing the grass clippings off her clothes. "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Qi, but there's no need to trouble yourself." Her voice was clear and loud enough for everyone to hear.
Qi Huaiyu abruptly pulled on the reins, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, but quickly replaced by a concerned expression: "It's alright, I saw your horse was startled—"
"My horse was indeed startled," Xin Jiuwei interrupted him, bending down to pick up the half-broken tripwire. "It seems someone set a trap on this path." She held the rope high to make sure everyone could see it.
The young men who had come with them immediately erupted in an uproar. "Who's so bold as to set a trap in the royal hunting grounds? What if one of the young ladies gets hurt?"
Qi Huaiyu's expression stiffened; he clearly hadn't expected Xin Jiuwei to expose the trap in public. "That's really going too far," he reluctantly agreed, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
Xin Jiuwei looked him straight in the eye and said meaningfully, "Young Master Qi, don't you find it strange? The way this trap was made is so professional; it doesn't seem like something an ordinary playboy could do."
Their eyes met in mid-air. A warning glint flashed in Qi Huaiyu's eyes, but Xin Jiuwei didn't back down. Finally, he looked away first: "Jiuwei, you've been frightened. Let me take you back to camp."
"No need," Xin Jiuwei refused decisively, turning to the others and saying, "Gentlemen, we should report this matter to the Princess as soon as possible to prevent further harm."
Everyone agreed and crowded around Xin Jiuwei as they walked back, leaving Qi Huaiyu standing there alone, his expression uncertain.
Upon returning to the camp, the princess was furious upon learning of the incident and immediately ordered a thorough investigation of the hunting grounds.
Xin Jiuwei noticed that Qi Huaiyu had not returned for a long time, and she sneered inwardly.
Qi Huaiyu didn't reappear until the hunting competition was nearing its end. He had changed his clothes, and his face had regained its usual composure, as if nothing had happened. Xin Jiuwei watched coldly as he moved effortlessly among the crowd, occasionally casting him meaningful glances.
After the conference ended, Xin Jiuwei deliberately lagged behind. Sure enough, after everyone had dispersed, Qi Huaiyu blocked her way.
"The Third Miss's performance today was truly remarkable." His voice was deep, carrying a hint of danger.
Xin Jiuwei looked him straight in the eye: "It can't compare to the show directed by Young Master Qi. But next time you want to play the hero and save the damsel in distress, remember to choose a smarter pawn. A fool like Xie Changjing will only ruin things."
A flicker of surprise crossed Qi Huaiyu's eyes, then he smiled: "You're smarter than I thought. Indeed, Xie Changjing is a fool; he can't even set up a proper trap."
"Stop pretending," Xin Jiuwei said coldly. "Our relationship has long been a life-or-death struggle. I still remember the lesson I learned that time."
Qi Huaiyu's expression suddenly turned serious: "Xin Jiuwei, you have no idea what the truth of the whole thing is. You think I'm trying to harm you? If I really wanted to, you wouldn't have enough lives to lose."
His appearance was truly laughable, as if he were some kind of good person and that their previous conflict had never happened.
Xin Jiuwei couldn't help but think that Qi Huaiyu's thick skin must explain his meteoric rise in his past life.
"Should I thank Young Master Qi for showing mercy?" Xin Jiuwei said sarcastically.
"You'll understand someday." Qi Huaiyu gave her a deep look. "Until then, I advise you not to trust everything you see on the surface, including... the people around you."
After saying this meaningful sentence, he turned and left, his back casting a long shadow in the setting sun.
Xin Jiuwei stood there, her brows furrowed.
"Jiuwei, it's time to go back." Xin Xiyao's voice interrupted her thoughts. Her sister stood not far away, a long-lost relaxed smile on her face.
Xin Jiuwei temporarily suppressed her doubts and walked towards her sister. In any case, at least her sister and she herself hadn't suffered any losses today. As for Qi Huaiyu, she had plenty of time to fight him.
The carriage slowly drove away from the hunting grounds. Xin Jiuwei looked at the darkening sky outside the window and secretly vowed: Qi Huaiyu, we will settle our score sooner or later.
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