Xie Lang looked indifferent. Seeing the person in front of him stumble as he dismounted his horse, he casually gave him a hand and raised his eyebrows. "Could it be, cousin, that you're too weak?" As he spoke, a meaningful smile appeared on Xie Lang's face. He withdrew his hand, patted Liu Zhiyu on the shoulder, and said with a laugh, "It seems cousin is also one of us."
Liu Zhiyu let out a silent scream in his heart. Unconsciously, a look of disgust appeared on his face. "Who's one of you?"
Xie Lang was a well - known prodigal. How could he be associated with such a person?
As soon as Liu Zhiyu said this, he saw General Xie standing behind Xie Lang at some point. The general's eyes were unreadable as he frowned and asked, "One of what?"
Oh no! No matter how good - for - nothing Xie Lang was, he was still General Xie's own son! His words were really...
Liu Zhiyu's face changed instantly. He flattered, "Cousin and I were just joking. I didn't know when the general arrived."
General Xie just frowned after hearing this. He had a slightly different opinion of this nephew, whom his wife from the Liu family had always said was "steady in his actions".
Xie Lang didn't expect things to be so coincidental. A look of schadenfreude appeared on his face. His eyes were filled with contempt as he raised his eyebrows, looking every bit the prodigal.
General Xie turned his head and saw Xie Lang in this state. His eyebrows furrowed even deeper. "Stand up straight! This is a military camp!"
Only then did Xie Lang realize that his act in front of General Xie had been too natural. Without even noticing, he had leaned against his horse, looking like a complete prodigal.
He stood up. Before he could even dust himself off, he heard General Xie ask him, "What's going on? What were you two just talking about?"
Liu Zhiyu beside him instantly turned pale. His eyes pleaded with Xie Lang as his posture instantly became submissive.
Xie Lang let out a soft laugh. Unconsciously, he leaned against the horse again and said to General Xie, "It's nothing."
"Stand up straight!" General Xie frowned.
Seeing General Xie's strict attitude towards Xie Lang, a look of relief and a hint of a smile flashed in Liu Zhiyu's eyes. He stepped forward and said, "General, calm your anger. Cousin is just used to this. It'll take some time for him to change."
After that, Xie Lang laughed out loud and continued, "It's really nothing. It's just that cousin said he wanted to have a competition with me."
"Okay." General Xie nodded and looked at Liu Zhiyu. "Then the two of you go down and get ready now."
Liu Zhiyu's face instantly turned white. But when he thought that his opponent was Xie Lang, his trembling heart temporarily calmed down.
Xie Lang nodded and said to General Xie, "I'll naturally follow the general's order."
After changing into their riding outfits, the two were taken to the training ground.
The soldiers around were all training, so General Xie frowned and led them to a more secluded place.
Seeing the number of people decrease, Liu Zhiyu felt a bit disappointed.
"Start."
Hearing General Xie's order, Liu Zhiyu went to get an arrow. But at the moment he drew the bow, he caught a glimpse of Xie Lang's skillful movements. Xie Lang didn't look like a novice at all. He even pulled the bowstring with ease, completely unlike himself, who was a bit strained.
Liu Zhiyu's face changed slightly.
"Whoosh—"
The arrow flew with a whistling sound and missed the target completely. No one knew where it had gone.
General Xie frowned. Liu Zhiyu let out a long sigh of relief. His eyes were filled with confidence as he looked at Xie Lang. "This... I'm sure cousin hasn't practiced for a long time, so he's a bit rusty."
A faint smile appeared on Xie Lang's face. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Huh? I think I shot this arrow quite well."
General Xie frowned and was about to say something to Xie Lang when he heard a voice from afar.
"General! Young master Xie shot at the other young master's target. It... it hit the bull - eye."
Liu Zhiyu's face changed slightly.
"Ah? I said it was okay." Xie Lang raised his eyebrows and looked at the two of them. "Sorry. I didn't see clearly. I thought that was my target."
General Xie's expression softened a bit. He said to Xie Lang, "Be serious."
Liu Zhiyu no longer looked confident as he did at the beginning. His eyes were filled with fear as he looked at Xie Lang.
"You..."
"Cousin, start quickly." Xie Lang drew his bow and turned to look at him. There was a faint smile in his eyes. "This time, I won't make a mistake."
These words carried a hint of warning. Liu Zhiyu was even startled by the cold look in Xie Lang's eyes. His hand slipped, and the arrow he shot landed on the grass in front of him.
The result of the competition was beyond doubt. Xie Lang completely suppressed Liu Zhiyu, making him unable to lift his head after shooting the arrows.
Seeing this, General Xie showed a hint of relief on his face. He looked at Xie Lang and said, "You did quite well this time."
Xie Lang was wiping his bow and arrow. Hearing this, he looked up at General Xie and showed his usual prodigal expression. He said with a smile, "General, why don't you keep cousin here and let him practice more?"
Liu Zhiyu was shocked.
His initial goal was to stay in the military camp and see if he could take over some of General Xie's power. Sure enough, Xie Lang was a real prodigal. He actually said such a stupid thing.
General Xie frowned after hearing this. He looked at Xie Lang and asked, "Where are you going?"
Xie Lang had already put down his bow and arrow. He turned around. Hearing General Xie's words, he didn't look back and said, "Naturally, I'm going back to accompany Her Highness. I'm a proper son - in - law now. I have to do what I should do."
This!
It was clearly agreed that it was just an act. Xie Lang was only temporarily married to the princess so that the emperor could feel at ease, and the Xie family could take a step further.
What was Xie Lang doing?
General Xie was furious. He shouted at Xie Lang, "Stop!"
Xie Lang paused for a moment and continued, "Stop for what? Does the general want to go against Her Highness's will?"
General Xie watched as Xie Lang left without looking back. His expression was dark and unpredictable. He angrily threw the long sword in his hand on the ground, making a clear sound.
Liu Zhiyu beside him didn't expect such a pleasant surprise. He noticed the rift between the father and son and continued, "General... I'm sure... cousin didn't do it on purpose."
General Xie gave him a half - smile. His eyes carried a hint of warning.
Liu Zhiyu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar and stood there motionless.
No, the relationship between the father and son of the Xie family seemed different from what the Liu family had said. What on earth was going on?
...
On the way back to the mansion, Xie Lang was in a very good mood.
General Xie's intention was nothing more than to keep him in the military camp and separate him from Shen Mingzhu.
It's just...
It seemed that he never considered whether Xie Lang was willing or whether he had the ability to take over these things. In General Xie's eyes, Xie Lang was just a tool. He pretended to be kind, but in order to gain the new emperor's trust, he let Xie Lang marry Shen Mingzhu.
Now, in order to separate him from Shen Mingzhu and show his loyalty to the new emperor, he wanted to keep Xie Lang in the military camp.
He couldn't help but let out a soft laugh to cover the emotions in his eyes. He handed the horse to his trusted subordinate and then headed towards Shen Mingzhu's place.
He pushed open the door. Seeing the scene in front of him, Xie Lang unconsciously suspected that he had gone to the wrong place. He closed the door.