Chapter 97: Chapter 8: The Princess Who Refuses to Be Cannon Fodder (Part 8)

Jiang Ling merely cast a glance at Murong Dun, as a lieutenant general working for the imperial family, yet he acted as if he hadn’t seen the prince, turned around to look at Jiang Lai, and pointed at the hairpin on her head, asking.

“Why aren’t you wearing the hairpin I gave you?”

“It’s too small. Next time, give me a larger gemstone.”

“Sister doesn’t know my salary in the army. I’ve saved up three years’ worth and bought you a hairpin, yet you still think it’s small. I suppose it takes a wealthier family to accommodate such a delicate flower as you.”

These words were quite unsettling.

After all, everyone knew Prince Pingyin was impoverished, so wasn’t he just trying to stir up trouble between Jiang Lai and Murong Dun?

Sure enough, Murong Dun’s expression changed.

Jiang Lai leaned beside Murong Dun unmoved, calmly saying.

“My husband has handsome looks and exceptional talent, which are far more precious to me than those useless gemstones. A rough man like you from the military camp can’t understand this.

Also, go play with your big sword if you have nothing else to do, and stop ruining our marital happiness.

Husband, let’s go.”

After hearing, Murong Dun also looked deeply at Jiang Ling, and with Jiang Lai’s reminder, he realized he’d been provoked into conflict.

This Jiang Ling has unclear intentions, better be careful in the future.

As they left, Jiang Lai provocatively smiled at Jiang Ling, her demeanor was arrogant and domineering, making Jiang Ling’s gaze increasingly quiet.

“Now that we’ve met, let’s go up the mountain together and keep each other company.”

Jiang Lai ignored him, silently following behind Murong Dun.

This frail body was indeed delicate, all the way Murong Dun had to support Jiang Lai while constantly keeping an eye on Luoyang to prevent her from falling behind.

Luoyang silently followed.

All the way, Jiang Lai never complained of fatigue, instead she eagerly enjoyed the surrounding scenery, with wild trees and shrubs, tranquil coolness, and occasionally the sound of birds chirping, making the surrounding environment even more silent.

The hunting ground was built halfway up the mountain, as it was a place for aristocratic play, the entrance was guarded by a squad of well-trained Imperial Guards, responsible for verifying the identities of those entering.

Murong Dun showed his Jade Token, and the Imperial Guard leader at the front saluted with fists clasped.

“Humble servant greets Prince Pingyin and Princess Pingyin.”

Entrants were not allowed to carry any other weapons and had to temporarily leave them at the entrance.

When Jiang Lai went in, she didn’t forget to look back, just to see Jiang Ling chatting familiarly with that leader.

The sky was getting dark, and it’s not safe on the mountain at night, so the group planned to stay overnight in tents built nearby.

The hunting ground owner personally came out to arrange a reception, preparing a luxurious tent room for Jiang Lai and Murong Dun, while other servants and maids, five people per tent.

Murong Dun, who used to busy himself with work as an excuse, today could only obediently stay in the tent.

According to the original plot, of course, the original owner wouldn’t miss this rare opportunity, but was rejected by Murong Dun with a light “We need to get up early for hunting, let’s rest early.”

At night, the couple slept on the same bed, with clothes intact. Murong Dun burned calming incense to induce the original owner to sleep deeply, then left the tent to meet Luoyang.

Luoyang was waiting at the back mountain, the two expressing affections within the bounds of propriety, watching fireflies shoulder to shoulder on the hilltop all night, described romantically and warmly in the text.

Recollecting the plot, Jiang Lai was sitting in front of the mirror combing her hair.

Murong Dun was already burning incense.

“Husband, it’s been a tiring day, let’s rest early.”

Looking at the charming woman before him, Murong Dun felt tempted, but rationality finally prevailed, recalling his appointment with Luoyang today.

For this reason, he felt a slight guilt as he looked at Jiang Lai again.

“Yes, we should rise early tomorrow and sleep early tonight.”

With that, Murong Dun lay beside Jiang Lai with clothed sleep, fortunately, Jiang Lai did not move, only turned around and silently watched him, the two had never been so close, the faint fragrance filled the nostrils, Murong Dun only felt extremely restless.

After enduring for a long while, at last, the sound of woman’s steady breath reached his ears.

Murong Dun finally turned around, his gaze settling on Jiang Lai.

She slept peacefully, looking obedient and gentle, lightly leaning against him, only upon preparing to get up did he discover a sleeve was being held in her hand, that appearance of dependence and intimacy made Murong Dun’s heart tremble fiercely.

He felt guilt and helplessness, before him was his married wife, yet his heart had long belonged to another, unable to respond to her.

Heartbeat Value increased as he leaned closer.

It rose to forty-seven.

Just as he was about to move closer, a shadow suddenly crashed onto the tent.

With a “thud,” Murong Dun was startled awake and swiftly jumped up, donning his robe and stepping outside, he saw outside the tent was a bird flapping desperately, its wing broken.

Murong Dun frowned, with regret and sorrow, heading towards the back mountain.

While Luoyang was already waiting there.

“Are you cold?”

Murong Dun said, removing his robe to drape it over her.

Luoyang seemed troubled, looking at the sky in silence constantly.

——

Meanwhile, just as Murong Dun’s footsteps faded away, Jiang Lai opened her eyes intending to sit when another sound of steady, powerful footsteps came from outside.

Jiang Lai frowned and lay back down immediately.

There are guards outside the tent, except for Murong Dun, others shouldn’t be able to enter.

Yet listening to those footsteps stopping at the tent entrance, it was evidently not Murong Dun.

“It’s Jiang Ling.”

At the mention, Jiang Lai silently held the knife at her waist, continuing to lie down with closed eyes, planning to watch what this troublesome person intended.

After stopping at the entrance for a few seconds, the tent flap was lifted by a long, slender hand.

“It’s Jiang Ling.”

Little Buding reminded with a sentence, then fell silent.

Listening to the footsteps nearing, Jiang Lai sensed him stopping beside her bed and then he reached out to gesture at her neck.

“Tsk… looks really ugly.”

Jiang Lai’s brows twitched, hearing the man continue.

“Shall it look better by slashing across it?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lai expressionlessly opened her eyes, meeting a pair of deep black eyes directly.

“What do you want?”

Jiang Ling chuckled, sitting aside leisurely watching her.

“Why not pretend anymore?”

“How do you know I am pretending?”

“I’ve seen plenty of live people pretending to be dead, after all, living in the military camp, how can I not have these skills.”

Jiang Ling was too clever.

Staring at Jiang Lai, his gaze held some evaluation.

“Seems like you’ve become smarter compared to before.”

Jiang Lai felt a slight shiver inside, yet maintained a calm and composed expression.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep