Chapter 249: Chapter 249 All Eyes on Them
Eastern suburbs hunting grounds.
When Zhan Lan arrived, she saw several familiar faces.
Si Jun was the first to look her way, after three years, he had completely learned to hide his emotions.
Zhan Lan seed to see the cold-blooded and ruthless emperor of the previous life, and even though he hid it well now, Zhan Lan could still see the ambition in his eyes.
The way Si Jun looked at her was like a hunter eyeing his prey.
Zhan Lan sat on a jujube-red horse, dressed in a refreshing white outfit, her hair tied with a red ribbon in a ponytail.
Her arrival imdiately drew everyone’s attention.
So greeted her politely, and Zhan Lan nodded slightly in response.
Her gaze shifted to the main seat where the princes had gradually arrived.
The eyes of those three also fell on her, Zhan Lan caught sight of the Crown Prince, forrly Prince Yu, his eyes curious as though assessing her worth.
Zhan Lan lowered her gaze and no longer looked at anyone.
The Crown Prince sitting in the main seat and Si Jun were like fire and water, incompatible.
The Crown Prince hated Si Jun to the bone, but he also had to restrain himself due to Emperor Xuanwu’s imperial authority, maintaining a superficial harmony.
Princess Si Yao, dressed in a red riding outfit, also arrived at the hunting grounds.
Not long after her arrival, an important figure ca, the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager, dignified, descended from the phoenix carriage, and everyone stood up and said, “We welco the Empress Dowager!”
The Empress looked straight ahead and smiled slightly, “Today, His Majesty is handling state affairs and has sent to watch your hunt.”
She raised her splendid sleeve and announced, “In a quarter of an hour, the hunting grounds will open. Today, let’s see who can excel; show your skills.”
“Yes!”
Once everyone was seated, the Empress Dowager’s eyes fell on Zhan Lan’s face.
At the Flowers Banquet three years ago, she had already seen Zhan Lan, whose deanor was the best among all the noble ladies, combined with stunning beauty, leaving a deep impression on the Empress Dowager.
However, at that ti, Zhan Lan was just the foster daughter of the General Mansion, and she felt Zhan Lan’s family background was not worthy of her son.
But now, seeing Zhan Lan sitting there, even dressed in n’s clothing, her dignified and elegant deanor and outstanding temperant could not be concealed.
Her gaze then turned to Zhan Xuerou, the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion, who was initially also favored for, if the General Mansion’s support could be secured, her son’s position would be stable and lasting.
However, Zhan Xuerou had a secret affair with Si Jun, not only committing to a betrothal privately but also forcing the Zhan Family to let her marry Si Jun through threats of death, a matter known throughout the city.
This must also be that bastard Si Jun’s idea!
He made Zhan Xuerou take the initiative, making the emperor suspect not Si Jun’s ambition, but rather that Zhan Xuerou was throwing herself at him.
It shows how sinister Si Jun is, creating an image of a man who couldn’t bear to reject a woman’s love.
Although Si Jun and Zhan Xuerou are engaged, they sat far apart, deliberately avoiding suspicion.
And Zhan Lan was seated diagonally opposite Si Jun. The Empress glanced at Si Jun looking at Zhan Lan from ti to ti, her hand in armor gently rubbing the chair.
Could it be that Si Jun was also interested in targeting Zhan Lan?
The Empress looked at Zhan Lan, never once glancing at Si Jun, and sighed in relief.
Finally, the hunt began. Zhan Lan knew that today, with the Empress Dowager present, it must be the Crown Prince who would win; but since she was here, she must put on a show.
She stepped on the stirrup, mounted the horse, carrying a bow and arrows to the hunting grounds. The Empress Dowager gave the Crown Prince a look, signaling him to follow.
The Crown Prince nodded and rode up to catch up with Zhan Lan.
“General Zhan, I’ve heard your horse riding and archery skills are outstanding, may this Crown Prince accompany you?”
Zhan Lan nodded, “Your Highness, please go ahead.”
The Crown Prince’s face showed a smile as he closely examined Zhan Lan. Except for the scar on her hand that was holding the horse’s reins, which seed slightly imperfect, he was satisfied with everything else.
The Queen Mother had spoken privately with him yesterday, encouraging him to interact more with Zhan Lan and try to win her heart.
At this mont, her words still echoed in his ears: “Although Si Jun is engaged to Zhan Xuerou, the Zhan Family is not satisfied with their marriage. When problems arise, Zhan Xuerou still has to seek help from her father and grandfather. If you can make Zhan Lan your empress, she can lead troops into battle for you, protect the realm, and the Zhan Family will not trouble their foster daughter. This way, you’d indirectly establish a familial relationship with the Zhan Family!”
The Crown Prince felt exhilarated. With Zhan Lan’s Brave Army, his mother’s clan’s power, and a brilliant strategist he recently recruited, he believed that when the ti ca for him to ascend the throne, everything would proceed smoothly.
Zhan Lan and the Crown Prince rode side by side on their horses, and Si Jun, witnessing this scene, followed from a short distance.
Seeing their figures from behind made Si Jun’s heart sour. He rembered how, at the age of thirteen, Zhan Lan had blushed the first ti she saw him, even struggling to speak properly.
Zhan Lan must have liked him.
But sohow, at the Book Forest Conference when he saw her again, she seed to have changed, becoming sowhat distant towards him.
He recalled once when Zhan Lan called him “elder brother,” suggesting that she still had feelings for him.
Could it be that she was jealous because he was with Zhan Xuerou?
Subsequently, Zhan Lan began to target him!
Before his father the Emperor banished him to Lingnan, in court, Zhan Lan produced evidence of Western Rong’s rebellion, and their relationship had significantly soured.
With the breeze brushing his ears, Si Jun stared at Zhan Lan’s back. Not having seen her for three years, she had beco even more beautiful.
Even without make-up, her stunning features were undeniable.
Watching Zhan Lan ride tall in the saddle alongside the Crown Prince, Si Jun gripped the reins tighter, feeling a tightness in his chest.
If Zhan Lan beca the Crown Prince Consort, things would beco complicated!
Before, Zhan Lan liked him, and she would co to his side with just a flick of his finger.
However, now so many n were following her with their eyes.
Suddenly, Si Jun wondered if Zhan Lan would turn and throw herself into his arms if he spoke up.
As he lost Zhan Lan’s love, and seeing other n circling around her,
He suddenly began to recall Zhan Lan’s good qualities; even without dressing like a woman, she still shone brightly among other noblewon.
The ones you cannot have stir unrest in your heart; Si Jun was now lost in this turmoil.
He wanted to secretly connect with Zhan Lan, partly to satisfy the competitive spirit of a man.
On the other hand, Zhan Lan could beco a powerful ally to help him seize and stabilize the realm.
Si Jun began to regret getting engaged to Zhan Xuerou.
He had been too hasty!
Had he been engaged to Zhan Lan instead, he would not only have the Brave Army but also indirect ties with the General Mansion.
Unfortunately, he had made the wrong decision.
While Si Jun was lost in his thoughts, Zhan Xuerou followed behind him.
Although her health had more or less recovered over the past two years, she was only just managing to ride a horse.
Seeing Si Jun following closely behind Zhan Lan and the Crown Prince, she felt a biting resentnt.
Just now, her fiancé had glanced at Zhan Lan several tis. What was Si Jun thinking?
This vile Zhan Lan, isn’t Mu Yan enough for her? Now she wants to seduce Si Jun and the Crown Prince too?
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