The second day of the selection had arrived.
Everyone waited outside the royal hunting grounds early in the morning.
The Prince had not yet arrived, and the young ladies were trembling.
Were they expected to enter the hunting grounds to hunt?
The royal hunting grounds were divided into two sections. The front was for small game.
It was stocked with countless small prey, not very aggressive.
The rear was for large beasts. The prey in the rear were not domesticated but free-ranging.
However, the front and rear were separated only by a net, and there was a possibility of large beasts from the rear venturing into the front.
Therefore, even knowing that guards were patrolling inside, the young ladies were extremely anxious.
What if something happened in a blind spot of the guards?
"Lord Leng, does the Prince intend for us to go inside?"
Several young ladies couldn't help but pester Leng Ji.
Leng Ji replied helplessly, "We'll have to wait until the Prince arrives to discuss this. I'm just here to make preparations."
"What preparations? Are we really going inside?"
"Lord Leng, will there be fierce beasts inside? What if something happens and the guards can't rescue us in time?"
"Lord Leng, even small wild animals can injure people. What if it injures our faces..."
"Injure our faces?" Some young ladies were about to scream. "No, no! Lord Leng, I don't want to go in! Why use such a cruel method?"
"Lord Leng..."
Leng Ji was also extremely annoyed. The Prince hadn't arrived yet, and he was unclear about many things.
Finally, Prince Xuan arrived.
The moment they saw Prince Xuan descend from the carriage, the young ladies who had been crying and threatening to withdraw from the competition suddenly seemed re-energized.
Excited, nervous, and brimming with passion.
For the Prince, they would charge in and fight for it, even if it meant death.
If they missed this opportunity, when else would they have a chance to get close to the Prince?
Let alone become Prince Xuan's woman.
He was peerlessly handsome, tall and imposing, like a deity, unattainable.
Simply standing in the crowd, he was always the most dazzling, most radiant man.
Even in the most understated deep black, it did not diminish his handsome charm.
The deep black attire, instead, added a touch of mystery to him, an aura of restrained desire and allure that left the young ladies mesmerized.
At this moment, they no longer thought of the dangers and horrors of the hunting grounds, but of the happiness and excitement of being with Prince Xuan.
His tall, slender physique, his noble and aloof features, his eyes that captivated at a single glance.
If only they could lie beneath him, allowing him to dote on them as he pleased...
A stir went through the young ladies' hearts, and they were completely intoxicated by the thought.
Feng Ye Xuan's gaze swept across the crowd.
Suddenly, he turned and walked towards the carriage.
"Your Highness?" Leng Ji was bewildered.
Everyone also became tense, instinctively wanting to follow him.
However, with a host of guards surrounding the Prince, it was difficult to get close to him!
"Your Highness, this..."
"Today's competition is canceled."
Feng Ye Xuan simply uttered these words, then boarded the carriage and left.
The young ladies were left utterly bewildered in the wind.
Canceled?
Why was it canceled?
Although they were relieved not to go to the hunting grounds, they felt something was strange.
There had to be a reason for the cancellation.
What was the Prince's reason? Could it be that he felt pity for them?
Chu Huaiyu walked towards her carriage.
Suddenly, a cold laugh rang out from behind her: "It seems that your seventh young lady from your family didn't come, and Ye Xuan is disappointed."
"I am our family's seventh young lady."
Chu Huaiyu's expression darkened. She turned to look at her and said expressionlessly, "Miss Yu, are you forgetful, or are you deliberately playing dumb?"
"What? Are you in a bad mood?"
Yu Linglong seemed unfazed. After all, she was accustomed to it.
First, Chu Qianli stole the spotlight. Later, this Chu Huaiyu moved directly into Prince Xuan's mansion.
And now, things seemed to have changed again, with Prince Xuan's attention still on Chu Qianli?
The two young ladies from the Duke's mansion truly had remarkable methods.
In any case, Prince Xuan's gaze was locked onto them.
Getting angry was pointless. It was better to think of a way to make them turn on each other.
Then she could reap the benefits.
"Ye Xuan suddenly canceled the competition. Don't you understand his meaning? He didn't see Chu Qianli come, and he's unhappy."
Yu Linglong walked beside Chu Huaiyu, her smile growing colder and more disdainful.
"I used to think that you were the one in Ye Xuan's heart, but it turns out that from beginning to end, it was still Chu Qianli. You, Chu Huaiyu, have nothing to do with it."
"To think you even cried and fainted at that banquet, begging him to take you back. It seems that no matter what schemes you employ, you are still Chu Qianli's defeated opponent!"
Chu Huaiyu's fists, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly.
She was enduring!
In front of everyone, there was no need to stoop to this woman's level.
"Whether I am Chu Qianli's defeated opponent is still too early to say."
Chu Huaiyu turned back, her cold gaze fixed on Yu Linglong's face.
"But it's a fact that you lost to her!"
"You!"
"Instead of trying every way to make her and me target each other, you should focus on improving yourself and standing out in the competition."
Chu Huaiyu ignored her any further and strode towards her carriage.
Behind her, she left only a cold remark: "No matter what, I am the daughter of the Prince's benefactor. He will always have some affection for me, while you... in his eyes, you are nothing."
Yu Linglong was so angry she wanted to chase after her and tear her apart.
Especially when she saw Chu Huaiyu's cold demeanor instantly transform into one of vulnerability as she neared her carriage, Yu Linglong was so furious she almost spat blood.
This Chu Huaiyu was the most ambitious one!
Gentle and weak in front of others, but sinister and cold behind their backs.
Her eyes were filled with hostility, clearly not a benevolent person!
Yet, no one around her could see it, they were simply blind!
The women from the Duke's mansion were all birds of a feather, not a single good one among them!
The most hateful thing was that when she needed help the most, that scoundrel Jian Wuying was not in the imperial city!
Otherwise, she would have ordered Jian Wuying to kill all those Chu Huaiyu and Chu Qianli!
It was too detestable!
...Leng Ji finally caught up to the carriage and followed Feng Ye Xuan as they left the hunting grounds.
Before he could even ask about the Prince's intentions, their path was blocked.
"Fourth Imperial Brother!"
Feng Wuya leaped off his horse and quickly walked to the carriage.
Feng Ye Xuan lifted the curtain: "Why are you here?"
Feng Wuya said urgently, "A'Li has fallen unconscious. Fourth Imperial Brother, please save her!"