A roar followed.
"Ah!"
Everyone's gaze instantly shifted to the polo field.
The horses seemed to have lost control, galloping wildly across the field, causing everyone on the ground to abandon their mounts and flee in fear.
Ling Muzhu, on horseback, looked panicked, gripping the reins with all her might, desperately trying to control the horse, but her efforts were minimal.
"Muzhu, let go quickly and try to jump off," Gu Beichen said anxiously from behind.
"This is bad!" Feng Jin suddenly exclaimed, "Ling Wan, you stay here and don't wander off."
With that, Feng Jin jogged towards the polo field. The horse must have been startled and was unable to calm down. If it wasn't subdued quickly, Ling Muzhu would surely break an arm or a leg if she was thrown off.
Feng Jin rolled up her sleeves, revealing a small, exquisite wrist crossbow tied to her wrist, and aimed it at the horse.
"Gu Beichen, get out of the way quickly!" Feng Jin shouted angrily. Gu Beichen was stumbling around behind her, making it impossible for her to aim, and easy to accidentally injure others.
Hearing the sound, Gu Beichen was stunned for a moment. He scanned his surroundings, spotted Feng Jin, and after realizing what was happening, quickly moved away to a safe distance.
"Ling Muzhu, try to control the horse as best you can."
Feng Jin shouted towards Ling Muzhu, aiming her crossbow at the horse and finding an opportune moment. Feng Jin decisively pulled the trigger.
Needle-like silver projectiles, soaked in anesthetic, were shot out in succession. As the needles pierced the horse's body, the previously frenzied horse instantly lost all strength. Its legs buckled, and it collapsed onto the ground. Ling Muzhu seized the moment and jumped off, fortunately unharmed.
Only after the horse fell did Feng Jin retract her crossbow, heave a sigh of relief, and walk directly towards Ling Muzhu.
"Are you injured?"
Ling Muzhu, still shaken, felt sweat trickling down her forehead, her lips trembling slightly. "N-no... I'm fine..."
"Get up first."
Feng Jin pulled her up and, confirming Ling Muzhu was unharmed, went to check on the horse.
A horse would not suddenly go mad without reason; it must have been stimulated by something.
Feng Jin reached out and felt all over the horse. From its leg, she found a wound, still bleeding. It seemed this was the true reason for the horse's sudden frenzy.
"Young Master Gu, I'll trouble your men to surround the entire polo field. No one is to leave."
Although Gu Beichen didn't understand Feng Jin's intention, he complied. He immediately ordered his men to seal off the entire polo field, not even allowing a sparrow to fly out.
"After all, those present are from prominent families. Young Madam Ling and Young Master Gu, doing this is a bit inappropriate."
As the host of the polo match, Madam Ye, the wife of Marquis Wenchang, felt her reputation was at stake. She stepped forward to express her displeasure.
After all, every lady and young master present was a family member of a prince or minister. Now, at the polo match hosted by their Marquis Wenchang mansion, if others were confined, their Marquis Wenchang mansion's reputation would truly be lost.
"Madam, please forgive us. The horse's fright just now was not an accident but deliberate. Daring to target our Ling family, we must get justice for the Ling family. I also want to see who has such deep hatred to resort to such malicious means!"
Feng Jin's voice was filled with intense anger. She knew that if she hadn't subdued the panicked horse in time, Ling Muzhu would have been severely injured, if not killed.
Regardless, Ling Muzhu was a member of the Ling family, and he couldn't stand by and watch Ling Muzhu be bullied without reacting. He was determined to get justice today.
"Relying on your mere words, you want to detain all of us. You are going too far. Do you really think we are common folk, to be bullied by your Ling family?"
"I want to leave. Let me out, or I will report this to His Majesty and seek justice."
The crowd immediately erupted like a pot boiling over, clamoring to leave. Some accompanying servants had already clashed with Gu Beichen's men.
Suddenly, a troop of soldiers rushed in, their long spears glinting cold light. The entire venue fell silent, and no one dared to move rashly.
Feng Jin, however, recognized the approaching soldiers as Ling Mohan's personal guards. As Feng Jin had expected, Ling Mohan, dressed in dark robes, rode in on a horse. He looked down upon everyone, his face somber, commanding respect without anger.
The esteemed young ladies and gentlemen present, accustomed to a life of luxury, had never witnessed such a scene. Some of the more timid ones were already trembling, their earlier assertiveness gone.
Ling Mohan walked gracefully towards Feng Jin. Just standing there silently, he exuded an invisible aura of pressure.
With Ling Mohan standing beside her, Feng Jin's confidence surged. "I am only trying to find out who is secretly acting maliciously. I will not intentionally make things difficult for you. Once it is confirmed you are not involved, I will let you leave."
"Lu Shi, separate everyone one by one and let the young madam investigate thoroughly," Ling Mohan said in a deep, somber tone.
"Your subordinate obeys." Lu Shi led a group of men and separated everyone.
Madam Ye, seeing the scene, was initially frightened. However, Madam Ye had weathered storms before and quickly regained her composure, maintaining her elegant and dignified demeanor. Her gaze met Ling Mohan's, showing no fear.
"General Ling, today is the polo match hosted by my Marquis Wenchang mansion. Those present are family members of princes and ministers. You bring soldiers with swords to detain our guests one by one. This is to make my Marquis Wenchang mansion unable to carry on. I ask the young general to consider my husband's position, smooth things over, and let bygones be bygones. Moreover, your esteemed son is unharmed. I will certainly visit him with my husband tomorrow."
Madam Ye was clearly trying to gloss over the matter. After all, everyone present came from influential families who could not be easily offended. Madam Ye's suggestion was indeed the best course of action.
If it were someone else, they might have agreed. Unfortunately, Madam Ye had encountered Feng Jin today, and it was destined that this matter would not be easily glossed over.
"Then, according to the Marchioness's words, today's event was our overreaction? Or does the Marchioness believe that only when lives are lost is it a major issue? Are we of the Ling family supposed to be bullied and suffer in silence!"
Feng Jin pressed relentlessly, her words leaving Madam Ye speechless.
Madam Ye had never encountered someone like Feng Jin and was at a loss for how to respond, resorting only to quoting sage principles to suppress Feng Jin.
"How can you be so unreasonable? I am, in a way, your elder. How can you be so disrespectful..."