Chapter 47: What is “Like”?

Jiang Jingchen was riding a horse on a hunting expedition, followed by a group of people.

They entered the forest, and suddenly, movement was heard from the treetops in the distance. Jiang Jingchen signaled everyone to be silent, then drew his bow and shot an arrow.

After the arrow flew, the sound of something falling to the ground was clearly heard. Some of the officials behind him began flattering him.

“Your Majesty, your archery is impeccable, truly amazing.”

Jiang Jingchen smiled faintly: “Just luck.”

After speaking, he beckoned Yu Jue, who was nearby: “Yu Jue, go check what was hit and bring the prey here.”

Yu Jue flicked the feather duster in his hand: “At once, your servant will go.”

He called a few young eunuchs to accompany him, afraid that if it was a large prey, he wouldn’t be able to carry it alone.

The group cautiously approached the bushes, pushed aside the plants blocking the way, but when they saw what was hit, their faces went pale with fright.

Yu Jue, as Jiang Jingchen’s trusted aide, naturally recognized the person: clearly, it was a dark-clothed secret guard sent by His Majesty to assassinate the Regent Prince—but why was he found in such a place?

This meant the Regent Prince had already seen through everything and deliberately set this up.

From afar, Jiang Jingchen noticed they hadn’t moved for a long time and shouted, “What’s going on? Is it too big for you to carry?”

Thinking he might have shot a ferocious beast, he was quite pleased.

Just as he was about to send a few guards over, Yu Jue hurried back and whispered, “Your Majesty, it’s a dead man.”

Jiang Jingchen’s expression froze, his eyes sharp: “Bring it here.”

Yu Jue waved his hand, and several young eunuchs quickly carried the already dead man in black to the group. An arrow was still lodged in his chest—the very one Jiang Jingchen had just shot.

Looking at the man, Jiang Jingchen understood: it was done by Pei Ji, a warning.

His grip on the bow tightened as he turned his horse around: “Clean up everything. What happened today must not be leaked.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the group responded, each with their own thoughts.

Jiang Jingchen chose not to go further, knowing Pei Ji’s character—he wouldn’t leave any survivors. Going forward would probably reveal more corpses.

He whipped his horse and galloped away; the others quickly followed.

Pei Ji finished dealing with Jiang Jingchen’s people when Helan rode his horse over: “You think Jiang Jingchen has seen the gift you sent now?”

If he said it himself, Jiang Jingchen was just looking for trouble and didn’t know if he could even beat Pei Ji—experience really beats youth.

“Hm, did Chen Tong catch him?” Pei Ji’s eyes lifted slightly, expression indifferent.

“He was caught, but thinking about it makes me mad,” Helan said, still fuming about what Shen Yanli did.

They had agreed to catch the man together, but when he saw the woman, he forgot everything.

That was bad enough, but when Chen Tong was brought into the room, due to Shen Yanli’s involvement, Chen Tong got scared and escaped.

He had to chase him through several streets, exhausted, before finally catching him.

Seeing Helan so angry, Pei Ji rarely asked: “What happened?”

“Shen Yanli went out last night to play hero and rescue a beauty, then disappeared with her. No one’s seen him since.”

Pei Ji thought of Shen Yanli’s behavior and said coldly, “If he ran away, why look for him?”

If someone can run, it means they don’t care; there’s no reason to keep such a person around.

Helan instinctively replied, “Why else? Because he likes her.”

Love—who can explain it clearly?

“What is ‘like’?” Pei Ji asked, holding the reins and controlling his horse.

Helan twitched the corner of his mouth, staring incredulously: “Don’t tell me—you’ve fallen for Huaiyue.”

It wasn’t strange he thought that; often, those who ask such questions are already moved.

“The King of Qiu doesn’t like anyone,” Pei Ji frowned and immediately denied.

Jiang Huaiyue was just a plaything to him, no feelings involved, nor should there be.

“Like means always thinking of her, caring about her, feeling jealous when she’s with other men, wanting to give her the best things in the world.”

Helan saw his denial and shook his head softly.

Pei Ji said nothing in response and rode away.