Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 12

There were six people in total, divided into three pairs. Ling Yue was quite fortunate, having drawn the weakest contestant in equestrian archery, who had fallen off a horse during a previous exam, injured their leg, and dropped out.

The matches for the other two pairs had yet to conclude. Ling Yue leisurely sipped water while watching the remaining bouts. Wang Lan, skilled with a broadsword, wielded it with heavy force and swift attacks. Her opponent quickly found themselves overwhelmed and was soon kicked flying after a momentary lapse in defense.

After her victory, Wang Lan pointed her blade at Ling Yue, exuding pure provocation.

Yet Ling Yue merely responded with a faint smile, which frustrated Wang Lan immensely. She had hoped to provoke Ling Yue into anger, but no matter what she did, the other remained amiable, driving Wang Lan to near madness.

Resting the broadsword on her shoulder, Wang Lan shot Ling Yue a dark glare and couldn’t resist taking a jab at the Ling family: “Just as Mother said, the whole lot of you are hypocritical smiling tigers.”

Seeing Wang Lan’s sour expression, Ling Yue felt somewhat helpless. In her past life, they had also started as adversaries before becoming friends. Wang Lan wasn’t inherently bad, just overly arrogant.

“Wen Yuanyuan wins.”

Just then, a breeze swept through, lifting the hem of the beauty’s robes. Wen Yuanyuan sheathed her sword neatly and cupped her hands in a salute. “I concede to your courtesy.”

Noticing Ling Yue watching her, Wen Yuanyuan walked over, evoking a sense of déjà vu in Ling Yue.

Having witnessed too many partings in life and death, the perils of the battlefield had often led Ling Yue to speculate about her own demise. In moments of turmoil, Wen Yuanyuan would approach to offer guidance, much like now.

Seeing Ling Yue lost in thought, Wen Yuanyuan smiled and struck up a conversation: “Miss Ling, please go easy on me later.”

Ling Yue snapped back to reality. She had been blinded by hatred, and the memories of those long gone had faded from her mind.

A pang of guilt washed over her. Before this, she had even considered withdrawing, thinking that living an ordinary life in this lifetime might not be so bad.

She looked up and returned a smile. “Mm.”

Up on the high platform, the Princess Royal watched the scene with a deepening frown. An intense restlessness gripped her, and she wished she could descend immediately to separate the two.

This agitation, in turn, sparked another kind of anxiety. She refused to believe she harbored any special feelings for Ling Yue and saw no reason for such possessiveness to arise.

Why, then? Could it be because of that marking incident?

The more Lu He pondered, the darker her expression grew. She tapped rhythmically on the table before her, the steady knocking causing the emperor beside her to straighten his spine.

Down below, the final draw began. With only three contestants left, one would inevitably be exempt from competing.

Wang Lan rushed to draw first and picked a bamboo slip marked with the number one.

Ling Yue’s slip, however, was blank. She glanced at Wen Yuanyuan’s slip, which clearly displayed a “one.”

It seemed she wouldn’t have to compete again. Ling Yue marveled at her own luck but soon sensed a tense atmosphere around her. Puzzled, she realized she was standing between Wang Lan and Wen Yuanyuan.

Ling Yue could almost smell the faint scent of gunpowder in the air and quietly shrank back, retreating from the impending confrontation.

Memories of her past life and the reality of the present tugged at her, and she discreetly stepped away from the battlefield.

Wang Lan eyed the slender sword at Wen Yuanyuan’s waist and flashed her trademark mocking smile. “Such a thin sword.”

Wen Yuanyuan’s smile was laced with daggers. “Naturally, it can’t compare to Miss Wang’s imposing stature.”

Ling Yue felt a headache coming on. In her recollection, these two should have been inseparable and affectionate.

Before she could dwell on it further, their match officially began.

Right from the start, Wang Lan swung her blade fiercely toward Wen Yuanyuan’s neck with overwhelming force.

Ling Yue’s heart leaped into her throat. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively reached out a hand.

But Wen Yuanyuan was no ordinary opponent. She sidestepped, darted behind the king, and swiftly thrust her sword straight at his back.

Ling Yue nearly leaped onto the platform in alarm.

Fortunately, Wang Lan dodged the strike just in time.

This match was exceptionally perilous; the two combatants seemed less focused on sparring and more intent on killing each other. Ling Yue’s heart raced uncontrollably.

In the end, Wang Lan’s blade severed Wen Yuanyuan’s sword and came to rest at her neck, signaling the conclusion of the duel.

Ling Yue could finally sit back down with relief.

Both fighters were skilled Wen excelled in agility but fell short in strength. By the end of the match, both had sustained significant injuries.

Wen Yuanyuan picked up her broken sword, clutching her numb arm as she stepped down from the platform. Meanwhile, Wang Lan’s clothes were riddled with small gashes, each oozing blood.

Ling Yue felt a mix of emotions. She had some medicinal salve prepared by her elder sister and quickly stepped forward to offer it to Wen Yuanyuan.

Wen seemed somewhat surprised, forcing a faint smile onto her pale face. “Miss Ling, you are too kind.”

Ling Yue gave a noncommittal hum, then walked past her to stand before Wang Lan. She extended her hand, revealing a small medicine bottle in her palm.

Wang Lan was taken aback by this gesture of goodwill. With a sharp slap, she knocked the bottle away, sending it rolling into the distance.

“Stop with the fake kindness!”

Ling Yue simply picked up the bottle and placed it on the ground beside Wang Lan. Without waiting to see if it would be accepted, she walked away.

In truth, Wang Lan was barely holding herself together. Sweat seeped into her wounds, causing a stinging pain all over her body. Continuing to fight in this state would put her at a severe disadvantage.

The thought of losing to someone from the Ling family filled her with resentment, and she couldn’t resist kicking the medicine bottle even farther away.

But the competition had to go on.

Ling Yue tested her spear, then calmly stepped onto the platform.

Wang Lan was already standing opposite her, glaring fiercely. Yet beneath that imposing demeanor, Ling Yue noticed a slight tremble in Wang Lan’s sword hand.

After a moment’s thought, Ling Yue switched her weapon to her less dominant right hand, a small gesture to level the playing field.

If not for other factors, losing to Wang Lan in this match wouldn’t have mattered. But…

Ling Yue glanced up and locked eyes with the Princess Royal before lowering her head silently.

She couldn’t afford to repay those ten thousand taels! Sorry, sister!

A fierce determination ignited within her. As soon as the match began, Ling Yue launched the first attack.

She knew Wang Lan’s style all too well. Her initial strike aimed straight for the lower body. Wang Lan blocked with her blade and used brute force to push her back, but in lifting her sword, she left an opening.

Seizing the opportunity, Ling Yue delivered a powerful kick that forced Wang Lan back several steps.

Wang Lan’s face instantly paled. Ling Yue’s offensive momentum faltered, she hesitated.

But to Wang Lan, this mercy felt like an insult. Already irritated and disregarding her physical condition, she began swinging her blade with reckless abandon.

Hesitant, Ling Yue shifted from offense to defense.

Others might not have understood, but Lu He knew Ling Yue was holding back.

But why hold back?

Lu He couldn’t figure it out. In the end, she could only attribute it to kindness. Yet kindness had no place on the battlefield, what she needed was a general, not a saint.

The match dragged on. Ling Yue, who could have easily claimed victory, chose to prolong the fight in a gentler manner.

After what felt like an eternity, Wang Lan’s blade clattered to the ground. Her sword hand trembled uncontrollably. Her opponent kept evading, and her own techniques demanded too much strength, while Ling Yue remained composed and unruffled.

Ling Yue retracted her weapon and said calmly, “I concede the victory.”

This was Ling Yue’s consideration. Everyone present knew Wang Lan was injured, and coupled with Ling’s evasive tactics, they would only see her win as a mere fluke.

In this way, she could conceal part of her strength without harming her opponent.

An ordinary person might have resigned themselves to fate, especially with the Grand Princess watching from the stands.

But Wang Lan was not one to act recklessly without reason. She mustered all her strength and shouted, “I refuse to accept this! It’s unfair!”

The entire arena fell silent instantly. Everyone looked fearfully toward the Grand Princess on the dais, only to find her with her eyes closed as if she were asleep.

The Emperor was also startled. Hoping to save Wang Lan’s life, she sternly shouted, “How dare you! Guards, drag her out!”

Soldiers immediately stepped forward to seize Wang Lan, but despite her exhaustion, she somehow broke free from their grasp, knelt down, and pleaded, “This is unfair! I beg Your Majesty to choose another day for a rematch!”

The Emperor was furious. By bypassing the Grand Princess and appealing directly to her, Wang Lan had effectively thrown her into the fire!

Stealing a glance at her elder sister beside her, she noticed the Grand Princess had opened her eyes and was looking at her. Though she appeared to be smiling, there was an unmistakable undercurrent of anger.

Terrified, the Emperor even softened her breathing and whispered, “Elder Sister.”

Ling Yue hadn’t expected things to unfold this way. Worried that the Grand Princess might erupt in anger, she knelt as well. “Miss Wang has fought two matches and sustained significant injuries. My victory is indeed unearned. I am willing to compete again on another day.”

Wang Lan was taken aback but suspected Ling Yue was merely putting on an act. She was on the verge of cursing her outright.

But then, a question came from the high platform: “Daughter of the Wang family, do you refuse to accept this?”

The voice cooled Wang Lan’s temper slightly, but she stubbornly insisted, “I do not accept it. I beg the Grand Princess to grant me a rematch with her on another day.”

Lu He smiled, yet no one in the audience could muster a smile in return. Instead, they all looked at Wang Lan with pity.

Wang Lan’s arrogance had long provoked discontent, and many were eager to see her meet a tragic end, as if her blood would add a splash of color to the snowy scenery.

Ling Yue felt as though the sky had fallen. In this second life, how could Wang Lan die even earlier than in the previous one?

Was there any way to save her again?

She shuffled forward on her knees, wearing an expression of heroic sacrifice. “Your Highness, my victory is undeserved. I am willing to restore the honor that rightfully belongs to Miss Wang!”

If necessary, she would even return the ten thousand taels!

Lu He grew increasingly irritated as she watched them argue. Wang Lan had always looked down on Ling Yue, while Ling Yue, for Wang Lan’s sake, seemed willing to disregard even ten thousand taels.

This realization displeased her greatly.

She stood up and walked forward, casually drawing a sword from a nearby soldier.

As she wiped the blade, the hearts of everyone present sank with each stroke.

The Emperor dared not speak, merely casting a regretful glance at Wang Lan.

She understood clearly: her elder sister favored Ling Yue, so Ling Yue’s impertinence could be overlooked, but Wang Lan’s could not.

Finally, Lu He set the sword down.

She looked down at the two kneeling below and let out a scornful laugh. “Since this is a martial contest, fairness is essential.”

Wang Lan instantly brightened, and Ling Yue breathed a sigh of relief, smiling unconsciously, convinced that the matter had been perfectly resolved.

But before Wang Lan could express her gratitude, Lu He’s light, airy voice came again: “However, a rematch cannot be scheduled for another day. Given your injuries, you may choose an alternative method.”

Before Ling Yue could process this, she felt an intense killing intent directed at her. Her battlefield-honed reflexes kicked in, and she instinctively grabbed a spear to block.

The blade struck the spear shaft, and Ling Yue strained with both hands to resist, lifting her head to see Lu He’s smiling face.

Her voice sounded beside her ear, so close.

“Then let me test whether she truly has the qualifications.”

Ling Yue’s mind was in turmoil, unsure why the other’s anger had turned toward her. In that tense moment, Lu He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “The one I’ve set my sights on, how could she win by mere luck?”

Support