CHAPTER 232: CHAPTER 232: THIS COUPLE IS TOXIC!

In a mere instant, Qiao Zizhan’s face turned extremely unsightly.

Talking to a mad dog, one could only be a mad dog!

"Li Qingmu, to humiliate me, you’ve actually degraded yourself? Hmph, I’ve really overestimated you before!"

"Degraded myself?" Li Qingmu chuckled softly, "As ministers, we are the hounds of the Emperor. Does Young Master Qiao have any objections to this notion?"

"I..."

Qiao Zizhan was momentarily at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.

If he objected, with so many people around, it would surely spread, and once it reached the Emperor’s ears, his future would be ruined, possibly even implicating the Crown Prince. But if he didn’t object, wouldn’t that be admitting he was also a hound?

"You... Fine, very well! When a person is despicable, they are unbeatable, Li Qingmu, you’ve won!"

"Thank you for the compliment!"

"Hmph!"

"Li Qingmu, just being glib is useless. If you have the skill, let’s see it with the bow and arrow! You agreed to the contest before, I want to see what you’ve got!"

"Alright!"

Li Qingmu replied indifferently, flipping onto his horse. Long Yue wanted to follow, but someone stepped in front of her.

"Dear sister, we’ve only exchanged a few words, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Pang Shuangyue blocked Long Yue, her smile appearing somewhat cold.

Long Yue said, "Going hunting with my husband, would you stop me, sister?"

"How could I? I’m not stopping you, but... Imperial Censor Li has a wager on his shoulders, sister, what is this for?"

"For what else? The Blood Jade Coral, such a treasure, who wouldn’t covet it? In this day and age, cutting off someone’s financial path is like killing their parents. Are you still going to stop me, sister?"

After speaking, Long Yue’s gaze also turned icy. She even grabbed the reins of a horse, ready to charge through if Pang Shuangyue dared to block her again!

Pang Shuangyue chuckled slightly, "How could I? I just want to... Ah—"

While she was speaking, a sharp neigh suddenly pierced the air. Long Yue swiftly mounted her horse, and under her control, it lunged directly at Pang Shuangyue.

Pang Shuangyue screamed loudly, retreating in fear. In her panic, she twisted her ankle, rolled several times to the side, and finally stopped.

Her beautiful clothes were instantly stained, and the exquisite hairpins on her head scattered all over the ground, leaving her in utter disarray.

"Jinheng, Jinheng..."

At this moment, Pei Jinheng was riding over from the side. Seeing Pang Shuangyue being hit by Long Yue, Pang Shuangyue cried out to him for help.

Pei Jinheng ignored Pang Shuangyue. His deep gaze turned to Long Yue.

Long Yue gave him a slight smile and then rode away.

"Miss, miss, are you alright?"

Pang Shuangyue’s trusted maid rushed forward to help her up, brushing off the dust on her with a look of concern.

Pang Shuangyue was furious, wanting to beat the people around her, thinking how useless they were for making her look so foolish in front of so many people. But now was the time to play the pitiful card, so she quickly wiped her tears and cried.

"Jinheng, look at sister, I just wanted to have some private talk with her, and I almost got trampled to death... How can she be so domineering as a Sixth Rank Lady?"

These words quickly reached Qi Yun’s ears.

Consort Xue was massaging Qi Yun’s head, sighing upon hearing the news but saying nothing, which only made Long Yue appear more at fault.

Qi Yun said solemnly, "Previously, Li Qingmu stated in court that disputes among women should be resolved by themselves. The court should discuss the people’s livelihood and governance. So let them be!"

The eunuch who came to report twitched at the corners of his mouth, could only helplessly retreat.

...

"Hyah, hyah!"

In the dense forest, many horses galloped rapidly.

Qiao Zizhan rode a white horse, Chang Yao a chestnut horse, and both Li Qingmu and Long Yue rode black horses, distinct and separate.

"Swish, swish!"

In the air was the sound of arrows slicing through, followed by the noise of birds falling.

Chang Yao’s archery was also impressive, having hunted three hares and two condors in just half an hour, a remarkable performance.

Li Qingmu and Long Yue also had a good haul—two pheasants, a hare, and a small green snake.

"Husband, the Emperor said anything as tall as a person counts as three points. Look, isn’t this small green snake about a person’s height?"

Long Yue held the little snake, and when stretched out, it was indeed about a man’s height. She pouted and smiled.

Qiao Zizhan’s mouth twitched fiercely, thinking this couple was truly venomous.

"Heh, wishful thinking!" Chang Yao sneered. "If that’s the case, we should all just hunt snakes!"

"Hahaha..."

The people around laughed heartily at his words.

Long Yue snorted softly, pouting, looking very displeased, which drew another wave of laughter.

"Everyone, dare to venture deeper into the hunting grounds?"

Someone in the crowd proposed.

There were plenty of prey at the Beiyuan Hunting Ground, but the outer areas only had small game like hares and birds, with low scores. To get better scores, one had to go deeper in.

"Alright, let’s go. This spring hunt, I’ll break into the top ten! Hahaha..."

"Let’s go!"

"Hyah, hyah!"

The group spurred their horses, charging into the depths of the forest. Long Yue and Li Qingmu exchanged a glance, both seeing some unease in each other’s eyes.

"If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how will you catch the tiger cub? Let’s go!"

The horses galloped wildly. Chang Yao and the others sped on, vanishing into the forest in no time.

"In this forest..."

Li Qingmu glanced around at the forest, frowning deeply.

His sixth sense told him there would be danger here.

"Imperial Censor Li, why not keep up? What, are you scared? Hahaha..."

Huang Hua, following Chang Yao, saw Li Qingmu not keeping up, thinking him scared, laughed brazenly.

"Slap!"

Long Yue lashed out with a whip, forcing Huang Hua to crouch on his horse in fright, narrowly dodging it.

"Who says we’re scared? Hyah!"

"Yue’er, be careful!"

The group charged into the depths of the dense forest.

Inside, there was indeed more game than outside, and some rare prey began to appear.

"Thwack!"

"Thwack!"

A deer emerged from the forest, and Chang Yao, quick-eyed and swift, drew his bow and shot. Almost at the same time, Li Qingmu released his arrow.

Both struck the deer’s neck. The deer gave a cry and fell to the ground.

"I spotted it first!"

Chang Yao rode forward, blocking Li Qingmu.

Li Qingmu glanced at him indifferently, then at the deer, chuckling, "You said you spotted it first? Where’s your evidence?"

Chang Yao’s face turned cold, "Everyone here saw it. They can testify for me!"

"That’s right, it was Third Young Master Chang who spotted it first, hahaha..."

Huang Hua was the first to respond.

Li Qingmu looked at them coldly, saying indifferently, "Fine, I won’t argue. If you want it, take it! Yue’er, let’s go!"

"Hmph, coward!"

Seeing Li Qingmu so readily give up the deer, Huang Hua scoffed disdainfully.

"Howl—"

Soon after they left, a loud wolf howl suddenly echoed from within the forest.