Soon, the royal hunting field was already busy before sunrise. Horses stamped on the ground. Bows were checked. Servants hurried back and forth. The men gathered at the front, waiting for the signal to begin.
The women sat together on raised seats to watch.
Lin Xu sat beside Yan Mei, quiet and thoughtful. She kept her eyes forward, but her mind wandered back to the news of Chu Ming's release… and to Xuen Lu's silence.
Yan Mei leaned closer.
"Stop thinking about it," she whispered. "You didn't cause any of this."
Lin Xu smiled faintly. "I know."
On the other side, Mo Lan, Mo Qing, and a few noble ladies sat together — clearly enjoying themselves far too much.
Mo Lan folded her fan and looked over with a sweet, poisonous smile.
"Well, well. Lady Lin looks very calm today. I'd be nervous too if every powerful man in camp was fighting because of me."
A few ladies giggled.
