Chapter 446: Galloping to Injure?

Chapter 446: Chapter 446: Galloping to Injure?

The Ninth Prince’s gaze froze as he watched helplessly while Mo Lingwei walked into the pavilion. Shen Ningning immediately broke into a wide smile, her dimples showing faintly.

Mo Lingwei opened the box and picked up the blood jade bracelet. "You like jade, don’t you? This one is high quality. I saw it and figured you’d like it, so I went and got it for you."

"WOW!" Shen Ningning exclaimed as she took it. The Blood Jade was a deep crimson. When she held it up to the sunlight, she could see what looked like fine, crimson threads swirling within. It was truly an unparalleled piece of jade.

’My Immortal Realm will definitely love to eat this!’

Seeing Shen Ningning’s delighted expression, Mo Lingwei chuckled softly. His eyes, fixed on her, were filled with a brilliant, dark gleam.

"If you like it, then it’s yours to keep."

Meanwhile, Mo Zhirou tugged on the Ninth Prince’s sleeve, her hushed voice tinged with grievance.

"Ninth Prince, since the Crown Prince has already taken it, I... I guess I don’t want it anymore. I wouldn’t dare compete with Princess Funing."

But despite her words, how could she possibly be content with that?

It was such a magnificent bracelet; she had only seen Princess Shu wear one like it a single time.

Normally, her treatment in the Prince Mansion was excellent, even better than that of a young lady from a prestigious family.

However, Princess Shu insisted on holding her to the strict standards of etiquette for a high-born lady, which included limiting her monthly silver allowance.

Princess Shu forbade her from being extravagant, cutting back her silver allowance severely.

It would have been one thing if she’d never seen the Blood Jade, but the moment Mo Lingwei revealed it, it wasn’t just Shen Ningning who was captivated—Mo Zhirou wanted it desperately, too.

Unfortunately, she dared not provoke Shen Ningning and could afford to offend Mo Lingwei even less. Her only option was to work on the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince pressed his thin lips together, his eyes turning a deep, icy black.

He turned to Mo Zhirou and said, "We’re going to find my uncle."

While Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei were sitting in the pavilion admiring the blood jade bracelet, King Shu and Princess Shu arrived. They were followed by a group of young noblemen, as well as the Ninth Prince and Mo Zhirou.

"Ling Wei," King Shu said, walking into the pavilion with a hearty laugh. "And Ningning is here too. Perfect! I was hoping to invite you both to join the others in their games. We can all have some fun together."

Shen Ningning lifted her large, round eyes and glanced at Mo Zhirou, who was standing behind King Shu with her head guiltily bowed.

The little girl’s sharp intuition kicked in. ’What kind of trouble are they stirring up now?’

Mo Lingwei sounded completely uninterested. "I have to take Shen Ningning home in a bit, and then I’m returning to the palace. You all can have fun by yourselves."

As he spoke, he noticed Princess Shu standing beside her husband. She had a hesitant expression, her brows furrowed as if she had something she wanted to say.

Mo Lingwei narrowed his eyes slightly. "Is there something else?"

King Shu chuckled. "Well, it’s nothing major. It’s just that your ninth brother has also taken a liking to this blood jade bracelet. I was thinking, since both you brothers are interested, why not compete for it? It would be a fair way to decide who gets it."

Mo Lingwei glanced at the Ninth Prince standing next to King Shu.

His thin lips curled into a cold sneer.

"And here I was, wondering what all the fuss was about. You came here making such a scene, all because you want the Blood Jade but don’t have the guts to ask for it yourself? You had to get our uncle to be your mouthpiece?"

His tone turned icy as he finished, "Who do you think you are, daring to snatch a jade that I’ve already claimed?"

The Ninth Prince’s expression stiffened. "Crown Prince, our uncle was already planning to offer the Blood Jade as a prize for a game everyone could participate in. It’s not quite right for you to have taken it beforehand, is it?"

Hearing this, Princess Shu could no longer hold her tongue.

She looked at King Shu, her delicate brows furrowed. "My Lord, you already promised to give it to Ling Wei. You can’t go back on your word, otherwise..."

But before Princess Shu could finish, King Shu cut her off.

"Ling Wei, you said you wanted this jade for Princess Funing, and I let you take it. But are you sure you won’t reconsider competing? It’s just a game, after all. If you win, it will make your claim to the blood jade prize even more legitimate, don’t you think?"

Shen Ningning felt sick just listening to him.

’What a bunch of hypocrites!’

’King Shu is obviously favoring the Ninth Prince. He’d already given the jade to Mo Lingwei, but now he’s trying to take it back.’ 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

’Making the Crown Prince compete in a game for it... how utterly degrading.’

Before Mo Lingwei could answer, Shen Ningning placed the blood jade bracelet back in its box and pushed it forward.

"If our uncle, the King, can ask for a gift back after giving it, then I don’t feel right accepting this jade. I don’t want it anymore."

With that, the little girl took Mo Lingwei’s hand. "Brother, let’s go."

Mo Lingwei, however, didn’t move. Shen Ningning looked back at him and saw him staring at the jade, lost in thought for a moment.

He then looked up, raised an eyebrow at Shen Ningning, and flashed a daring smile.

"Even if we don’t want this jade, we’re going to win it first... and then smash it."

Mo Lingwei turned to the Ninth Prince, his sharp, commanding eyes radiating an oppressive aura.

"I would sooner destroy something I’ve cast aside than let anyone else have it."

King Shu’s smile faltered. He quickly changed the subject back to the competition.

"The competition is just a horse race, something you’re very good at, Ling Wei. It’s only a game, so don’t get truly angry."

As the race was about to begin, King Shu sidled up to Mo Lingwei, speaking to him in a soft, placating tone.

It was as if he was terrified Mo Lingwei would let his horse run wild and hurt someone.

No one had forgotten that the Crown Prince once had a reputation in the Capital for being the most violent of all.

He had changed so much for Shen Ningning’s sake over the years that most had almost forgotten about it.

Only when King Shu saw the simmering rage between Mo Lingwei’s brows a moment ago did he remember.

’This boy hasn’t changed at all. He’s just learned how to control his savagery.’

Mo Lingwei listened to King Shu’s warnings with an expressionless face. "Mind your own business."

’It wasn’t that he disliked his uncle; he just loathed this kind of duplicity.’

’If he was reluctant to part with it, he should have just said so. Given their relationship, would I really have refused to return it?’

’But since he chose this underhanded approach, he can’t blame me for what comes next.’

The Prince Mansion had its own training grounds, so racing horses for a few laps was no issue.

Since the Crown Prince himself was participating, the others naturally had to join in as well.

A stable boy led out nine fine horses from the stables, letting Mo Lingwei take the first pick.

But Mo Lingwei turned and gestured to Shen Ningning with his chin. "You pick one for me."

The little girl skipped over, looked all the horses over, and pointed to one with a red mane.

"Let’s go with that one! It looks well-behaved."

"Alright, your choice." Mo Lingwei grabbed the reins and vaulted gracefully onto the horse’s back.

Only after he had made his choice could the other nobles and the Ninth Prince pick their horses.

The Ninth Prince had the next highest status, so he got to choose second. His hand had just settled on a yellow-maned horse when King Shu cleared his throat lightly.

At that, the Ninth Prince immediately withdrew his hand and turned to pick a sturdy-looking brown horse instead.

Before the race began, the spectators were seated, with men and women in separate sections. King Shu and the crowd of spectating noblemen sat on the left.

Princess Shu led Shen Ningning to a seat on the right, while Mo Zhirou sat on the princess consort’s other side.

Princess Shu couldn’t help but say, "Ningning, the King handled this poorly. But with so many guests here today, he was just trying to consider everyone’s feelings and not spoil the fun. That’s why he suggested it."

"It looks like Ling Wei is quite angry. When you two head back later, could you please help your auntie and try to calm him down?"

Shen Ningning gave a natural smile, her fair, pretty face lighting up.

"Of course, that’s no problem. But Auntie, I don’t think Brother is angry because the King suggested a game."

"It’s because the Blood Jade was already promised to him, but then, thanks to a few words from a certain someone, all these schemes were cooked up to take it back. Does this so-called competition really seem fair to you?"

As she finished, the little girl shot a beaming glance at Mo Zhirou.

Mo Zhirou ducked her head, not daring to utter a word.

Princess Shu, however, prompted by Shen Ningning’s words, furrowed her brow in thought and looked out at the race grounds.

’Logically, Mo Lingwei is the legitimate son of the late Empress. My husband, King Shu, is the Emperor’s biological brother. He should be more fond of Mo Lingwei.’

’And normally, the King only ever socializes with the Crown Prince’s faction.’

’But this whole affair gives me the distinct feeling that my husband is paying far more attention to the Ninth Prince.’

While she was lost in thought, Shen Ningning’s excited voice rang out, "The race is starting!"

Everyone turned to look at the track. With a crack of his whip, Mo Lingwei shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

The rule was simple: the first to complete three laps and strike the red gong would be the winner!

He took an immediate lead, with the Ninth Prince right on his heels in relentless pursuit.

The other riders didn’t dare truly compete with the two princes; they were merely riding along to add to the spectacle.

The crowd roared with approval, the noise echoing under the vast blue sky.

Just as Shen Ningning saw that Mo Lingwei was about to cross the finish line and strike the gong...

Suddenly!

He yanked the reins, and his horse, seemingly out of control, charged directly toward the men’s seating area!

King Shu, who had been watching the race with a smile, felt it vanish from his face the moment he saw the head of Mo Lingwei’s tall steed charging straight for him!

"Ling Wei, stop! Stop!" King Shu shrieked, his face pale with fright. He shot up to run, but the other noblemen, all scrambling for their own lives, ended up trapping him in his seat.

Atop his horse, Mo Lingwei appeared to be desperately pulling on the reins, trying to control its direction.

However, his sharp, dark eyes glinted with a deep, cold light.

It was all the proof needed to show that this was intentional.

Shen Ningning quickly covered her eyes with her little hands, lest she witness King Shu being trampled until he coughed up blood.