Chapter 253
Chapter 253
Xiaoxizi’s face changed drastically. Frightened, she dropped straight to her knees.
“Your Highness, please don’t frighten me again. I had nightmares all last night…”
“I dreamed I was trapped in Zhenxia Courtyard and couldn’t get out. There was a female ghost, and she kept chasing me!”
The memory clearly still frightened her. Seeing how timid she was, Zhao Wan inexplicably felt better about her own fright.
She put on a scolding air. “Useless thing! I sent you to frighten someone by pretending to be a ghost, and you ended up frightening yourself?”
Feeling deeply aggrieved, Xiaoxizi suggested quietly, “Your Highness, why not ask the Daoist with Young Marquis Ren to have a look at Zhenxia Courtyard?”
Zhao Wan glared fiercely at her. “Have you forgotten how much Father detested those wandering occultists when he was alive?”
After the incident at Zhenxia Courtyard, rumors of a haunting had spread through the mansion.
On hearing them, Prince Wu had flown into a rage. He had the servants who spread the rumors dragged out, soundly beaten, and expelled from the mansion.
Later, some occultists foolish enough not to know better had come to the mansion on the pretext of “catching ghosts,” trying to swindle the household. Without exception, they had met miserable ends.
Influenced by her father, Zhao Wan had never believed in ghosts or gods either. But today…
“Now that you mention it, you’ve reminded me of something!”
Xiaoxizi was puzzled but did not dare interrupt.
Zhao Wan continued, “I forgot there’s a Daoist traveling with Ren Fengjue. That Xia girl has probably conspired with him to use some sort of spell to frighten me!”
This left Xiaoxizi even more bewildered.
Zhao Wan offered no explanation. Her mind was quick, her moods changeable, and her ideas could shift in an instant.
In no time, the gloom had vanished from her face. “Come! Let’s go and meet them.”
Xiaoxizi did not understand why the princess was suddenly all smiles, with even a distinctly smug gleam in her eyes.
She dared not ask and could only follow obediently as they went out together.
Ren Fengjue and the others were gathered in one of the estate’s halls, taking a short rest over tea.
From Steward Sun, they learned that the estate belonged to Prince Wu’s Mansion. It grew a variety of crops, and there was a large tea plantation at the back.
The tea they were drinking had been produced by the estate’s own tea growers.
“It’s winter now, and with the snow falling, there’s little to see. But in spring and summer, that whole expanse is lush and green.”
“There’s a riding ground over there too. When the Golden Plume Army was stationed in Liangzhou, they often held horse races here.”
“Oh, and there’s a training ground at the back…”
Listening to Steward Sun, Ren Fengjue could not help recalling his own days of training in the Golden Plume Army.
Elsewhere in the room, Yan Zhengchu was asking Xia Ximo about Zhenxia Courtyard.
According to his compass, the mansion’s Yin Souls were gathered in its vicinity.
“Did any Yin Soul appear last night?”
Xia Ximo looked down at the Soul-Ferrying Lantern and answered truthfully, “Yes.”
Yan Zhengchu speculated, “The yin qi in the mansion is so dense that it cannot have formed in a short time. Those Yin Souls must have suffered terrible injustice.”
“It’s been ten years,” Xia Ximo said directly.
“What?”
In his excitement, Yan Zhengchu raised his voice, drawing glances from Yu Lang and Ren Fengjue on the other side of the room.
He had to lower it again. “No wonder…”
Xia Ximo continued, “Only a wisp of a scattered soul remained in my courtyard. She remembers little of her life. She kept repeating ‘ten years’ and said she was trapped.”
Yan Zhengchu frowned. “Did you find any other Yin Souls?”
Xia Ximo shook her head. “I’ve already asked the princess. She confirmed that a concubine surnamed Du disappeared ten years ago. It should be her.”
“There really is something strange about that mansion.”
As Daoist Yan spoke, an announcement came from outside. “Princess Fenghua has arrived!”
At the sound, everyone rose in turn. Only Xia Ximo remained seated, not moving at all.
Seeing Xia Ximo show so little respect for etiquette, plainly paying her no regard, Zhao Wan felt displeased. Yet a smile remained on her face.
She had changed into fitted silvery-white riding clothes. Her hair was neatly tied up without any ornaments, a marked departure from her earlier style.
Moreover, since entering, she had kept her eyes on Xia Ximo rather than Ren Fengjue.
“Miss Xia.”
Zhao Wan walked straight up to her without beating around the bush. “As a general’s daughter, Miss Xia, you must be proficient in riding and archery. This estate happens to have a riding ground. Why don’t we go and have some fun?”
Everyone understood her meaning at once.
She clearly intended to use the opportunity to embarrass Xia Ximo.
Ren Fengjue was about to intervene when, to his surprise, Xia Ximo slowly rose and replied, “Very well. What would you like to do?”
She looked composed, and her voice was as calm as ever. She showed not the slightest apprehension.
Zhao Wan immediately said, “How forthright of you, Miss Xia. Then let’s race first, followed by an archery contest.”
Unexpectedly, Xia Ximo countered, “Weren’t you just proposing mounted archery?”
Zhao Wan found that rather embarrassing.
Taken separately, riding and archery were both skills at which she was highly proficient.
Mounted archery, however, was far more difficult and was not her strong suit.
Zhao Wan deliberately looked Xia Ximo up and down. As though concerned that she had misunderstood, she explained, “I said riding and archery.”
Xia Ximo repeated herself too. “I said mounted archery.”
“…”
At such an arrogant tone, the last trace of a smile vanished from Zhao Wan’s lips.
“Xia Ximo, aren’t you afraid of embarrassing yourself in a moment?”
“I’m only afraid you’ll embarrass yourself.”
“…”
No one could get a word into their exchange.
Ren Fengjue was the only person who had the standing to intervene.
But seeing how certain Xia Ximo was of victory, he knew she could handle this, so he remained silent.
Now Zhao Wan had no way to back down with dignity.
She certainly could not retreat before so many people. Doing so would disgrace not only herself but the whole of Prince Wu’s Mansion.
“Then we’ll compete!”
With that, Zhao Wan turned to head for the riding ground.
Behind her, Xia Ximo stopped her. “Wait.”
Delighted, Zhao Wan thought the other woman had changed her mind. She quickly turned back. “Are you frightened and want to back out? I can let it pass.”
Yet Xia Ximo showed no sign of wavering. “I wanted to ask what happens to the loser.”
Zhao Wan’s face darkened again. After considering for a moment, she replied, “The loser will… submit to whatever the winner decides. What do you think?”
Xia Ximo was about to answer when Ren Fengjue suddenly spoke. “A few conditions need to be added to those terms, Your Highness.”
“This is a friendly contest. It must not go too far. Win or lose, both sides must exercise restraint, and neither may do anything to harm the other.”
Finding his words reasonably fair and partial to neither side, Zhao Wan agreed at once.
Xia Ximo simply said, “If I win, I only need the princess to agree to do one thing for me.”