Cold-faced Empress

The two rode their horses to a quiet grove of trees at the foot of the mountain.

Seeing Xia Suxi dismount, Fu Siying was wary and did not dismount herself, but remained seated on her horse, looking down at Xia Suxi.

"What does Miss Xia want to say?"

"What exactly is your relationship with Prince Mu now!" Xia Suxi asked angrily, "What did Prince Mu say to you just now?"

"Regarding the first question, I think it's quite obvious. My engagement with Prince Mu hasn't been dissolved yet, so it's an old relationship. As for the second question, it has nothing to do with Miss Xia, right?"

"Fu Siying! You promised me! You promised you would help me become Princess Mu!"

Xia Suxi's anger made Fu Siying sneer: "Didn't I help you? Xia Suxi, if I hadn't helped you, I wouldn't be praised by others for my magnanimity."

"You didn't!" Xia Suxi shouted, "You didn't help me! I was making a scene, losing all face and reputation, while you reaped all the benefits! Even though your reputation is ruined now, Prince Mu hasn't immediately dissolved the engagement with you, while I've made a fool of myself for nothing. Fu Siying, you played me!"

Fu Siying felt guilty at Xia Suxi's accusations. Now that she thought about it, it seemed she had indeed wronged Xia Suxi. But considering their own wishes, neither of them had gotten what they wanted, so it was impossible for her to make it sound like she had benefited from everything.

Fu Siying softened her tone as much as possible: "Xia Suxi, since this is a transaction, you should be prepared for it to fail. Besides, I don't think you have failed; you just couldn't wait any longer. As long as your family continues to insist on marrying you to Prince Mu, the Emperor will naturally agree."

"Don't try to fool me again!" Xia Suxi said. "Now that your innocence is ruined, Prince Mu will not break off the engagement with you for the sake of your reputation. I have no hope left, how can I wait any longer!"

"Fu Siying, you deserve to die!"

The last rebuke was like a command, and with a "whoosh," a long arrow flew from nowhere, heading straight for Fu Siying!

Ever since following Xia Suxi to this place, Fu Siying has remained vigilant. In a flash, she quickly ducked to avoid the danger, pulled on the reins, turned her horse around, and tried to escape.

However, a sharp arrow suddenly flew from the direction she came from, blocking her way back.

Then, the third arrow!

The arrow was incredibly fast, giving Fu Siying no chance to catch her breath before she was struck squarely in the abdomen!

"Well!"

The pain was so intense that his face turned pale instantly, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

At this moment, Xia Suxi screamed in terror and rode away. Seeing that Xia Suxi had escaped successfully, Fu Siying wanted to flee with her, but she noticed that the road that had seemed perfectly safe when Xia Suxi ran away was now fraught with danger as she walked across it!

"Swish swish"!

After Xia Suxi left the woods, Fu Siying suddenly realized that the arrows had all come from three different directions, except for one path leading up the mountain, which was eerily calm. Undoubtedly, this was a lenient approach. But this leniency wasn't tolerance; it was an ambush and a trap.

Fu Siying was unwilling to escape from this side, but she was forced to take a deliberate escape route with no other choice!

Riding a horse up the mountain was not easy, but Fu Siying dared not dismount. She could only lie prone on the horse's back, clutching the wounds on her waist, abdomen, and back.

The wound was painful, but she could tell it wasn't very deep. All the arrows shot at her had avoided her vitals, and their blunt arrowheads suggested they wouldn't kill her.

She knew that whether she gave them a break or showed them mercy, they weren't being soft-hearted; they had other plans.

The other party planned to fabricate a story that she had gotten lost in the mountains and encountered an accident, thus escaping the emperor's strict investigation. They wanted to harm her while simultaneously clearing themselves of suspicion—a clever scheme indeed.

Fu Siying didn't know who it was for the time being, but she was certain that Xia Suxi would know!

Even though it was just her and Xia Suxi present, all the arrows were aimed at her, ignoring Xia Suxi, and Xia Suxi was even allowed to escape. Putting on an act for Xia Suxi took real effort.

This forest was further and further away from the camp at the foot of the mountain, and even further from the hunting grounds. If she made any attempt to stray from the path, a sharp arrow would whistle from the shadows, forcing her back on track!