Chapter 296

Chapter 296: A Substitute in the Race

Thinking about how Jiang Liu Yun had once spent several months alone with Yu Zhi Yi out in the world, Jiang Liu Bin grew very jealous.

He looked at Yu Zhi Yi and promised, “Sister, don’t worry. After I spend a few more days with you, I will know you better than he does.”

Yu Zhi Yi answered, “That isn’t necessary.”

Luckily, the competition was about to start, and both of them had to go to the field, so the argument ended. Yu Zhi Yi let out a breath, [Finally, some quiet.]

Seeing Jiang Liu Bin’s face getting darker by the second, she frowned, then took the jade pendant from her waist and said, “You gave me a welcome gift yesterday, and I haven’t returned the favor. Wear this for now.”

Jiang Liu Bin’s eyes lit up as he thought, [A jade pendant. I finally get sister’s pendant!]

Jiang Liu Yun felt upset, [That’s a pendant she wore. It means something.]

Watching the two foolish brothers act like this, Chen Xin Yue almost dug a hole in her own palm from anger, [Useless.]

She knew this was not the time to speak, so she kept silent.

Someone nearby still could not help muttering, “Giving something you already used as a first gift isn’t great, right? And why give it only to Fourth Young Master Jiang, not to Fifth Young Master and Miss Chen?”

The speaker might not mean harm, but the listeners did. After all, Fourth Young Master Jiang was Alliance Leader Jiang’s son. The other two were different: one was Second Master Jiang’s son, and the other was the daughter of the adopted daughter of the previous alliance leader.

Yu Zhi Yi looked toward the voice and saw a plain-looking youth. She said, “How do you know I didn’t give gifts to my own brothers? Besides, this young master seems hard of hearing. I clearly said this is a return gift. He gave me a gift first, so I am returning one.”

The youth choked on his words and tried to say more, but Chen Xin Yue rushed toward him as if to stop him and cried, “Young Master Zhou, don’t say any-ah!”

It seemed she lost her footing. Everyone heard a sharp crack as Chen Xin Yue pitched forward toward the ground. Han Lian Qiao caught her just in time so she didn’t fall flat.

Chen Xin Yue grabbed her ankle and gasped, “It… it hurts.”

Han Lian Qiao shot a glare at the troublemaking Young Master Zhou, then said, “From that sound, it’s at least a fracture. I’ll take you to get treated.”

Chen Xin Yue shook her head and said, “Lian Qiao, you still have a match soon. I can’t delay you,” then showed a guilty face as tears gathered. She added, “I also signed up for both events today. I’m afraid my total score will drag the Martial Alliance down.”

The Grand Horse Racing Meet had only two events, solo and pairs, but in the final summary the standings of each sect or force were based on how their participants performed. In past years, even if the individual scores went up and down, the Martial Alliance still stayed at the top after the final tally.

If Chen Xin Yue quit today, her events would earn zero points and that would hurt the Martial Alliance’s total. In past years, older brothers like Jiang Liu Yi competed. This year they sent Jiang Liu Bin and the two others. If the first year they took over they lost first place, it would be a huge embarrassment.

People would excuse Chen Xin Yue because she was injured. But for the other two, no matter the reason, others would mock them for losing first place for years to come.

While the two brothers stood there at a loss, Chen Xin Yue looked at Yu Zhi Yi and asked, “Sister, can you compete in my place?”

Everyone was stunned.

Yu Zhi Yi smiled, [So this is what she was waiting for.] She said, “All right.”

From the moment she reached the race grounds, she felt something was off. She had been wondering how to find a reason to look into it. Chen Xin Yue’s move to lure her in fit her plan perfectly.

Chen Xin Yue was satisfied, though she kept a guilty look on her face and said, “Sister hasn’t joined such a grand meet before. Even if you lose, it’s fine. Please remember to put your safety first and don’t get hurt.”

Hearing this, Han Lian Qiao’s hand stiffened. [That sounds strange.] And pushing someone else out there felt wrong too. If Chen Xin Yue’s absence might make the Martial Alliance lose first place, why would sending Second Miss Jiang fix anything? At least Chen Xin Yue had decent skills and some fame in the Martial World. Second Miss Jiang, on the other hand, was unknown. Even if she knew some moves, she could not be better than someone who grew up in the Martial Alliance.

If Chen Xin Yue lost, people could understand because she was hurt. But if she shoved someone else out there and first place was lost, that person would have no excuse.

She frowned and tried to stop it, saying, “This isn’t proper.”

Yu Zhi Yi glanced at her with a smile, happy that this young lady was not being led by the nose, and said, “It’s fine. I also want to see this grand event of the Martial World.”

Marquis Wu’an’s heir apparent spoke up and said, “Miss, how about I go instead?”

So far, they had seen Yu Zhi Yi catch ghosts, read faces, and use outstanding lightness skill, but not much else. Anyone could tell Chen Xin Yue was digging a pit. The heir apparent had strict Imperial Family training since childhood. He might not excel at everything, but when it came to riding and archery, he believed he could match anyone on the field.

Yu Zhi Yi answered, “No need. I truly want to broaden my view.”

Seeing she insisted, the heir apparent stopped trying to persuade her.

The people of the Martial World were informal. With the match about to start, they all skipped the usual ways and leaped down one after another, each showing a different type of lightness skill. It was eye-catching and far better than the stiff entrances in the capital.

Even the well-traveled heir apparent and his companions looked a bit envious. Li Rou did not; worry filled her face.

The heir apparent coughed softly and moved closer to comfort her, saying, “Miss never does things she isn’t sure about. If she insists on competing, she will be fine.”

His guards were his subordinates, and he treated them well, so they felt relaxed around him and even dared to joke. Seeing their boss trying to melt a stone heart, they winked at each other and chimed in, “The boss is right. Miss is amazing. She’ll be fine!”

Others who saw this sighed and said, “Second Master Jiang truly dotes on this daughter, and Alliance Leader Jiang really indulges her. Among the new generation of the Martial Alliance, who else has such a grand escort, needing twenty bodyguards to open the way when she goes out?”

Right on cue, Chen Xin Yue showed a sad, lonely look.

Li Rou immediately shot back, “We all serve Miss. We have nothing to do with the Martial Alliance.”

People looked at one another, clearly surprised by the truth.

Han Lian Qiao glanced at Chen Xin Yue with mixed feelings.