Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 39 Teasing

Lin Yu Yan smiled gently and said, "Cousin, it was Fengyu who blocked our path. The horse was startled and went wild; it wasn't intentional."

"You knew she's not skilled at riding. You should have avoided her, yet you charged toward her. I suspect you deliberately let the horse hurt someone."

"Cousin!" Lin Yu Yan hadn't expected Xie Xun to be so unyielding and wanted to act pitifully to feign grievance.

Lin Yu Yan had schemed against Fengyu for two years, vicious and domineering, always arrogant. This was the first time Fengyu saw her pretending to be delicate and pitiful. She watched the antics coolly, as though enjoying a performance.

"Your family has no business visiting the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, and I rarely see you. You cling to the idea of being related to this marquis—who are you exactly?" Xie Xun tilted his head, a mocking smile on his face, as he asked.

Lin Yu Yan's coyness in front of her beloved was shattered by a pail of cold water, leaving her infuriated and humiliated. She always boasted of growing up as childhood sweethearts with Xie Xun, calling him her cousin and claiming he was particularly close to her. Being publicly rebuked by Xie Xun was a slap in the face. All Lin Yu Yan could feel were the mocking gazes around her, and she seethed with hatred for Fengyu.

If not for Fengyu, none of this would have happened.

Xie Xun stood on the sidelines, seeing everything clearly. Li Pengfei was merely a pawn in Lin Yu Yan's schemes. Fengyu, using her own courage and wit, had managed to escape the traps they set for her the very first time. Her ability had already impressed him. But Lin Yu Yan and Li Pengfei were relentless, unwilling to end the feud. While Xie Xun wasn't intentionally protecting Fengyu, fate had clearly intertwined their paths.

Lin Yu Yan was just a competitive maiden from a noble household, and that could be tolerated. But her willingness to endanger lives? That was ruthless and cruel. Xie Xun recalled Lady Lan's assessment and realized she must have long since seen through Lin Yu Yan's true nature.

"Li Pengfei, if I kill your horse, would you hold a grudge?" Xie Xun tightened the reins, asking casually. His attitude was languid, bearing the air of a carefree and charming youth from the pleasure quarters.

He didn't even bother paying attention to Lin Yu Yan, and Li Pengfei, whose family status was below the Lin Family's, dared not oppose Xie Xun either. "No," he replied.

"Afraid of the strong, are you? Before this marquis arrived, weren't you boasting loudly, threatening to kill and demanding vengeance?"

Li Pengfei was rendered mortified by Xie Xun's flippant tone and was desperate to find a hole to hide in. He clenched his fists tightly in frustration and shame.

Xie Xun's smiling brows cooled suddenly. His gaze landed on the fallen crimson horse, an almost icy chill within his eyes. "A general cherishes fine steeds. On the Ningzhou Battlefield, raising such a warhorse consumes considerable time and effort. It should have galloped across the battleground under a worthy master. Alas, its master is nothing but a coward who bullies women."

Li Pengfei's face burned red with a mix of shame and anger. But before he could reply, Xie Xun had already turned his horse and departed.

Fengyu watched his retreating figure and was reminded of a line:

Silver saddle, white steed, speeding swift as stars' beam.

After Xie Xun left, the tension lifted among the crowd. The watching youths and noblewomen began to disperse. As Lin Yu Yan turned her hateful gaze toward Fengyu, Fengyu curled her lips slightly.

"Fengyu, don't think you've won! Just wait and see!"

"Whenever you're ready."

Lin Yu Yan flung her sleeves angrily and stormed off, followed closely by Zhang Jingmiao and Wu Changhuan. Li Pengfei left as well, glaring bitterly at Fengyu. Servants came over to clean up the horse's carcass.

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Fengyu had only planned to relax by accompanying Fang Lingjun to the riding and archery banquet; she hadn't expected anyone would try to kill her. So, if they sought vengeance, she wouldn't hesitate to retaliate.

"Fengyu, can you ride and shoot?" Zhang Boxin greeted her. "Interested in a match?"

Fang Lingjun snapped her whip in the air before he could finish. "Get lost! Don't make me beat you."

"You're so fierce! If you're not careful, you'll scare away potential suitors."

"I'll find myself a househusband—no need for you to worry. If you don't leave, I'll really hit you!" Fang Lingjun raised her whip again, forcing Zhang Boxin to leave awkwardly.

On the viewing platform, King Qi clapped his hands, laughing. "Today's riding and archery banquet was truly thrilling. A royal sweat-blooded horse, shot dead without hesitation. The Marquis Zhenbei Mansion certainly acts boldly."

"If a beast suddenly harms someone without cause, and there's bloodshed at the banquet, even you, Your Highness, wouldn't escape blame. The young marquis has actually resolved a potential problem for you. His Majesty is wise and compassionate; he likely wouldn't blame the young marquis for this."

Though distant from the central commotion below, they couldn't hear exactly what Xie Xun had said. As the crowd dispersed and the drama concluded, Lin Cheng, who had been acquainted with Xie Xun for two years, remarked insightfully about his personality: Xie Xun was someone who didn't generally meddle in others' affairs. If Feng Shu weren't Xie Zhang's fiancée—more notably, his pampered younger sister—Xie Xun likely wouldn't have intervened in Fengyu's predicament. After all, Xie Xun dared to confront even the Third Prince, so what's a royal horse to him?

"You've grown quite close to the young marquis these past two years; aren't you afraid of stirring trouble?"

"A clear conscience fears no shadows. Our two families are already linked by kinship, so isn't it natural to be closer?" Lin Cheng replied with a cryptic smile. "The Crown Princess Consort is about to give birth. If she bears a son, the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion will have cause for celebration too."

The two laughed while clinking their cups, moving the conversation elsewhere.

Fang Lingjun and Fengyu strolled with their horses. Fang Lingjun fumed indignantly, cursing Lin Yu Yan. "Why does Lin Yu Yan hate you so much? She always targets you! At the Imperial College, she was just making mischief; now she's escalated to trying to kill you. That woman has a narrow mind, backed by the Lin Family to act recklessly. You'll have to be careful and avoid her in the future—don't give her another chance to harm you."

"I'm even more curious about where I've offended her." Fengyu said indifferently. "Back at the Imperial College, her bullying and isolation were just childish squabbles. I tolerated them to avoid bringing trouble to my sister. But now she's after my life—she truly doesn't understand the meaning of moderation."

"Don't be upset. We'll find an opportunity to teach her a lesson," Fang Lingjun consoled. Then she noticed a red mark across Fengyu's hand. "You're hurt?"

The reins had rubbed a red welt into Fengyu's delicate palm, which was soft and unaccustomed to such roughness. Though she appeared unbothered, she had to hold tightly to steady herself during the commotion. The grand riding and archery banquet had Imperial Physicians on standby, but Fengyu didn't think her injury was worth the fuss. At that moment, Qiangwei hurried over. "Miss, Miss... Princess Xue Lan is here; she's looking for you!"

"You go see the princess first. Qiuxiang will come find me."

"Alright. Look for me after seeing the physician."

"Will do!"

Fengyu thought her palm injury didn't require the Imperial Physician's attention—it would fade in a few days. Instead, she wandered into the estate's chrysanthemum garden, where the vibrant blooms of autumn were at their peak: yellow, green, white, purple—all dazzlingly beautiful. While the riding arena buzzed with activity, the garden was quiet and peaceful. Fengyu lingered over the flowers.

That was when she noticed Xie Xun lying drunk amidst the blooms. The young marquis, still wearing his riding attire, reclined among the flowers with a wine jug in hand. The sunlight poured over him and the blossoms like spilled gold. Each time Fengyu encountered Xie Xun, he had been cold, decisive, the embodiment of an unforgiving young general. Now, slightly drunk and surrounded by flowers, with his dusty features glowing, he seemed more like the carefree and romantic young marquis of Capital City's rumors.

"Would you like to drink, Third Miss?" Xie Xun lifted his wine jug toward her, letting drops of wine fall among the flowers. The intoxicating mix of wine and blossom perfumes made the scene feel like a tale straight out of a storybook—where a Little Tyrant teases a noble lady.