Chapter 152

Chapter 152: How Could This Be?

Many eyes turned toward them.

The young eunuch attendant spoke awkwardly, “The commoner group is still leaving marks of the Red Fox everywhere… although now they’re roasting their prey for lunch.”

“Just as expected…”

“We shouldn’t have set high hopes on those spoiled youths.”

“It’s already surprising enough they’re able to feed themselves.”

“How foolish. Weren’t they given dry rations before entering the mountain? Roasting prey openly in the forest, aren’t they afraid of attracting Northern Di soldiers?” Liu Yan gloated openly.

Sheng Zhi Wan said nothing.

[Perhaps… this was his intention all along?]

“What about Northern Di’s side?”

People urged impatiently for news. The eunuch attendant asked them to be calm, and soon, messengers following the two Northern Di groups returned separately.

The first report didn’t surprise the eunuch attendant. It merely mentioned the beasts hunted were numerous but small, since the Northern Di split into two groups with fewer people each.

But the second report made the eunuch pause in shock. Almost instinctively, he looked toward Sheng Zhi Wan.

“This… this is unexpected. Northern Di General Hu Shu Xie ordered his soldiers to rest in place while he himself chased the Red Fox tracks toward the south…”

“What?”

“Impossible!”

Everyone stared at each other, unwilling to believe it. “Isn’t that too reckless? Even if they aren’t directly his men, taking them along would mean more trophies. How could he just abandon his soldiers and go alone?”

Wasn’t he afraid of enemy ambushes?

Sheng Zhi Wan shook her head lightly, “Remember, this isn’t a real battlefield, and those soldiers aren’t all under his direct command. Besides, General Hu Shu Xie must be supremely confident in his own strength.”

So confident that he believed even if he faced Sheng Kingdom’s large group alone—a bunch of pampered young masters—they could do nothing to him.

The expressions around turned grim, especially Minister Ye and Pei Ling Yuan.

Indeed, those Northern Di warriors were fierce and muscular, their strength frightening enough to knock down half a bull with one punch.

How could their pampered sons, who had never suffered, even in training—where instructors always held back—possibly handle such a powerful opponent?

It would be fortunate if they weren’t killed instead.

“Those reckless boys wouldn’t be foolish enough to attack head-on, would they?” Censor Chen murmured anxiously. His ancestor spoiled Bao Jing so much, raising him into a round little lord. If something happened, his own life wouldn’t be enough to compensate.

“They deserve it!” Madam Liu thought gleefully, nearly blurting it aloud if not for fear of provoking public anger.

“Look, more news!”

Just as speculation grew louder, two more messenger pigeons flew in.

The eunuch attendant swiftly removed and read the notes.

“Ah?” he exclaimed, eyes lighting with joy.

“What is it? Good news?”

“Good news indeed! General Hu Shu Xie headed straight south, about to meet Second Prince and Heir Apparent Qi’s group!”

“Really!?” Everyone was amazed. Hu Shu Xie’s luck was truly awful.

Meeting the commoner team would have been fortunate for him.

But encountering Heir Apparent Qi was disastrous…

With over twenty young lords, even the weakest had some skill, let alone Heir Apparent Qi himself, highly trained and capable.

General Hu Shu Xie was surely doomed!

The eunuch attendant quickly read the other message.

“It’s true! Second Prince and Heir Apparent Qi have spotted General Hu Shu Xie and are preparing to surround him!”

“Excellent!” Cheers erupted both inside and outside the tent.

Emperor Chong Sheng slapped the table approvingly, “This Qi Shu Xian is impressive, not just skilled and wise but lucky too, heading straight toward Hu Shu Xie.”

Sheng Yuan Hao nodded, smiling, “Indeed, Imperial Father’s chosen is naturally outstanding in every aspect.”

Not only Imperial Father’s choice but also his own. Sheng Yuan Hao was delighted seeing his father praise Qi Shu Xian.

“Too bad he’s just a minor sixth-ranked official right now…” Crown Prince suddenly added.

Sheng Yuan Hao raised a brow, speechless. [Was his Crown Prince brother planning to win Qi Shu Xian over too?]

Surprisingly, Emperor Chong Sheng wasn’t displeased, calmly nodding, “Once we return to the palace, I’ll indeed think carefully about promoting him suitably.”

“What’s happening now?” After a long wait with no new messages, anxiety filled the tent again.

Surely, Hu Shu Xie hadn’t escaped?

Duke Qi felt especially tense.

After Madam Cui’s stroke, Qi Shu Xian had given him the cold shoulder for days. Only after arriving at the detached palace had he told him about His Majesty’s plans. If Qi Shu Xian impressed the Northern Di in this hunt, rewards awaited, possibly even restoring Duke Qi’s rank or promoting him further.

This was a rare opportunity!

“Look, another pigeon!” Anticipation rose again as two birds landed.

“Hurry, open them!” Several hands reached out impatiently.

The eunuch attendant swiftly opened the messages, frowning slightly.

“What happened?”

“Did they capture Hu Shu Xie?” Everyone crowded around.

The eunuch shook his head, “No, someone else discovered the Red Fox tracks and came looking!”

“What?!” they gasped angrily. “Those reckless young masters again! If not for them, none of this would’ve happened. What do we do now?”

If directly confronted, the young masters surely couldn’t win.

“Wait, calm yourselves,” the eunuch’s expression eased, raising a finger. “It’s only one person! He seemed to follow slightly different tracks than General Hu Shu Xie.”

“Thankfully!” the crowd sighed in relief.

Opening another note, the eunuch attendant exclaimed joyfully, “Heir Apparent Qi has already captured that Northern Di soldier!”

Before finishing, another pigeon fluttered down.

Again, another Northern Di soldier, strangely alone, had rushed toward the Sheng Kingdom troops, almost as if enchanted.

“This…” Even the slowest minds felt something was odd.

“Could this be… a tactic of luring out enemies one by one?” someone ventured. But who was attracting these Northern Di warriors individually?

Hu Shu Xie had been drawn by the young masters’ tracks, but surely these two couldn’t have also been tricked similarly?

How was that possible?

Though their paths were similar to Hu Shu Xie’s, they weren’t identical. If they were, these men would’ve joined up rather than arriving separately.

Even if this was planned, how could those spoiled youths have guaranteed Qi Shu Xian’s group would intercept each lone enemy soldier?

General Pei Ling Yuan, with battle-hardened experience, clearly understood the current strategic picture but couldn’t pinpoint exactly how this scenario had been engineered without being present himself.

Yet, a possibility lingered…

But this possibility was far too daring, far too unbelievable…!