"It is I who should be saving you, my lady," Zhu Yu said with concern.
In that instant, her mistress had left her no room to consider. If she hadn't cooperated, her mistress would have been in even greater danger.
"I am younger than you and lighter. If it were you, I wouldn't have your formidable inner strength to assist me," Yu Mingyue reasoned, leaving Zhu Yu speechless.
Yu Mingyue glanced at the horse, lying on the ground, barely alive, her eyes turning sharp.
"A pity about my Zhui Feng." Yu Mingyue's face was splattered with blood. Coupled with her cold smile, she exuded a fierce, bloodthirsty aura.
"Eldest Sister,"
Yu Miaoyan only snapped back to reality when Yu Mingyue called her. It was the first time she felt death so close.
She had nearly fallen from her horse, hot blood spraying onto her face and into her eyes. The world seemed to turn crimson, and she wondered if she was dying.
Yu Mingyue's figure was somewhat blurry, but her voice was clear.
Yu Miaoyan lunged into Yu Mingyue's embrace, sobbing like a child, "Sixth Sister!"
After more than ten years as sisters, their relationship had only recently begun to thaw. Yet, they had never been this intimately close.
Yu Mingyue paused for a moment, but ultimately did not push Yu Miaoyan away. She gently patted her shoulder, "It's alright now. You're safe."
She had indeed saved Yu Miaoyan with ulterior motives. She wished for the Yu family to unite and offer their full support, so her father and brother wouldn't have to toil so hard, and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion could prosper.
If Yu Miaoyan had met with an accident under her watch, all her previous efforts would have been in vain. The disintegration of a family often began with such minor incidents, just like in the storybooks. A single Su Wanqing had caused the various branches of the Yu family to fall apart and become isolated.
But when Yu Miaoyan threw herself into her arms with such trust, she felt a profound tremor in her heart.
Perhaps she had truly done the right thing.
Being trusted felt surprisingly good.
When Yu Mingchuan and Yu Miaoling arrived, they saw the two of them embracing.
Yu Miaoling stumbled over, disregarding the blood on them. She placed her arms on their shoulders, her face etched with anxiety, "Are you hurt? Are you hurt!"
Although Yu Mingchuan was their elder brother, due to the distinction between genders, he couldn't be as uninhibited as Yu Miaoling. He stood by, his fists clenched, his face full of worry.
He was too weak. If Eldest Brother were here, none of this would be a problem.
"It's alright, you're safe. Don't cry, let's go back first," Yu Mingyue said softly, comforting them.
Neither of them was injured, but Yu Miaoyan was deeply shaken. Like a startled bird, she clung to Yu Mingyue, nodding and speaking only when prompted.
Yu Mingyue remained remarkably calm, not like a child, or more precisely, not like a young girl.
"Zhu Yu, send someone to take the horse's carcass to the Feng family's tent. Tell them it's a gift from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion."
Yu Mingyue glanced at the horse lying on the ground, its bloodied form too gruesome to look at a second time.
"Yes!" Zhu Yu replied.
Yu Mingyue didn't need to investigate; she had already guessed most of it. It was a case of fighting fire with fire. How could a formidable general not be a tough opponent?
However, she was not a pushover either.
Did they think she was vulnerable because her father and brother were not in the capital? Then they should see if the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was afraid.
She had always felt this year's spring hunt lacked excitement, realizing now it was missing a grand finale.
She hadn't expected that she would be the one to perform this final act.
Those accompanying the Sage on the hunt had returned. The quiet encampment gradually became lively. It was then that Zhu Yu delivered the horse's carcass to the front of the Feng family's tent.
The bloody horse carcass, emitting a foul odor, and the gathering crowd caused Madam Feng to explode in anger.
"Your Duke of Dingguo's mansion has gone too far! When General returns, I will certainly report you to the Sage!"