Reborn Into A New Life, Everyone Loves Me Now (GL) - Chapter 25
Su Qishi said, “In this life, I have never taught you how to shoot an arrow.”
Suddenly recalling something, she halted near the front gate, standing still for a moment before slowly strolling toward the main entrance.
Gu Congran stood with an impassive face, leaning against a red pillar. Her voice was cold. “Why have you come?”
Su Qishi lifted her head to meet her gaze. “I missed you.”
Gu Congran coughed awkwardly, clearly caught off guard. “I am not one of those naïve young girls. Your sweet words might fool them, but not me.”
Su Qishi took a step up the stairs. “Congran, everything I said today—and that day—was sincere. Not a word of it false.”
In truth, all Gu Congran had wanted was an attitude from Su Qishi. Now that Su Qishi had come in person to reconcile, her anger had largely faded. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to accept it—not yet.
“Su Qishi, say no more. I understand your intent, but I cannot accept it.”
Su Qishi froze, her brows furrowing slightly in confusion. “Why?… Congran, were you threatened?”
Gu Congran chuckled softly. “No, I wasn’t. Ah Shi, rest assured—I won’t betray you. But now is simply not the time.”
Su Qishi nodded solemnly. “I trust you. I just worry for your safety.”
Gu Congran crossed her arms, her posture bright and assertive. “Rather than worry about me, worry about yourself.” Then her tone darkened, “Be careful of Prince Chen. He will make a move soon.”
Leaving only those words behind, Gu Congran turned and stepped into the General’s Manor, not giving Su Qishi the chance to speak again.
A wave of helpless bitterness washed over Su Qishi. Even with a second life, there were still things she could not fully control.
After leaving the General’s Manor, Su Qishi went to the riverside. Alone, she sat for a long time, staring at the calm lake while inner turmoil roiled in her heart. The cold night wind swept through, her red hair ribbon fluttering—as if to carry away the weight in her chest.
In the Changchun Palace, the Emperor and Empress sat across from each other at the dining table. The surface appeared calm, yet a strange tension lingered in the air.
Su Sheng was the first to speak, his voice steady with a hint of laughter. “Ah Yue, our Shi’er has truly grown up. The other day, I gave her a question—the same one I posed to her elder brothers before—and Shi’er’s answer pleased me the most.”
Hearing her daughter praised should have filled Xiao Yue with pride, but she merely replied, “Your Majesty, perhaps refrain from calling her Shi’er in the future. I find it… inappropriate.”
Su Sheng smiled, not quite smiling. “And why would that be, Ah Yue? I find it quite fitting.”
Xiao Yue shot him a cold glance. “Don’t think I don’t know why you gave her that name. She’s your child. Is this how a father should behave?”
Su Sheng didn’t grow angry. He simply laughed. “If I’m unworthy, then what about you? Shi’er is your daughter too. Don’t think I’m unaware of your actions toward her—and your reasons.”
Xiao Yue snorted. “And how noble are you, really?” Her tone turned mocking, dripping with sarcasm. “Yes, of course. His Majesty is never wrong—just like all those years ago.”
Su Sheng’s voice turned sharp. “Enough!” He stood abruptly and stormed toward the door but halted at the threshold.
“I hope you will conduct yourself with care, Ah Yue.” With that, he strode off, his words more warning than advice.
In a fit of anger, Xiao Yue swept all the dishes from the table, her eyes burning with fury.
The next morning, under the warm spring sun, the once-every-three-years Spring Hunt officially began.
The Spring Hunt symbolized heritage, courage, and the display of power.
The opening ceremony was marked by Emperor Su Sheng shooting a colored target ball from a hundred meters away. With a fluid motion, he drew his bow and released the arrow—the target exploded on impact, scattering fragments. Hidden within was a scroll bearing the name of this year’s primary hunt target: “Shanjun” (Mountain Lord), a fearsome beast.
As soon as the name appeared, the crowd mounted their horses and galloped toward the hunting grounds. The thunder of hooves filled the air, kicking up dust. Dressed in a robe embroidered with dragons, Su Sheng rode at the front, the others close behind.
Su Qi cast a glance at Su Qishi before following the riders.
Su Qishi, however, rode at a leisurely pace.
Behind her, Liu Jiangli’s horse, led by a guard, caught up with her.
Along the way, Su Qishi didn’t see even a rabbit. Bored, she resigned herself to admiring the scenery.
The primary target was exceptionally dangerous, and she had no intention of confronting it. She planned to focus on smaller prey—quantity over size.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from ahead, “Royal Sister, why are you alone?”
Su Qishi didn’t even need to look. She sneered, “I was wondering who it was. That stench gave you away from a mile off—it’s you, Royal Brother.”
Her gaze flicked, almost indifferently, to Gu Congran, who rode beside Su Qi.
A chill crept into Su Qishi’s heart. She asked casually, “So, Miss Gu is here too?”
Gu Congran tightened her grip on the reins, her expression composed. “Indeed. This Spring Hunt, I intend to seize victory alongside Prince Chen.”
Su Qishi said expressionlessly, “Then I shall await good news from the two of you. I have matters to attend to and will take my leave.”
With that, she deliberately rode her horse straight between the two, brushing past Gu Congran. As she passed, her gaze briefly swept over Gu Congran before she calmly rode off under their watchful eyes.
Su Qi gave a smug smile and turned to Gu Congran. “Miss Gu, stop watching. Let’s go, or we’ll be left behind.”
Gu Congran replied, “Mm.”
Nianqi, trailing closely beside Su Qishi, grew increasingly agitated as he recalled the earlier encounter. “Your Highness, why was Miss Gu with Su Qi?”
Su Qishi’s expression remained composed, her voice cool. “We must trust her.” She believed Gu Congran had her reasons—she believed Gu Congran would not betray her.
Nianqi pressed, “Do you truly trust her, Your Highness?”
Su Qishi sighed deeply, then turned to Nianqi and replied solemnly, “I do.”
Not far behind, Liu Jiangli was urging the guards to hurry, trying to catch up to them.
The guard, struggling to keep pace, protested, “Miss Liu, I’m leading this horse on foot. I can’t catch up to His Highness riding ahead.”
Liu Jiangli blushed in frustration. Determined, she dismounted and called out, “Ah Shi!”
Su Qishi instinctively turned her head, catching sight of Liu Jiangli.
Beside her, Nianqi muttered, “Your Highness, Miss Liu has chased you all this way—shouldn’t you go greet her?”
Su Qishi shot Nianqi a side glance. “Too talkative.” Then, tugging the reins, she rode toward Liu Jiangli under Nianqi’s amused gaze.
Looking down, Su Qishi met Liu Jiangli’s expectant eyes.
Liu Jiangli softly called, “Ah Shi… can I ride with you?”
Su Qishi blinked, confused. “Don’t you have a horse?”
Liu Jiangli’s smile faltered. Her Ah Shi could be so dense sometimes. “I want to ride with you.”
Su Qishi remained unmoved. “I’m going hunting. It’s too dangerous. You should ride with the guard.”
She then turned to the guard, “Lead the horse carefully. Don’t let Miss Liu fall.”
The guard saluted. “Understood!”
With a light chuckle, Su Qishi paid no heed to Liu Jiangli’s expression and rode off.
Liu Jiangli frowned but mounted her horse. “Follow them.”
As Su Qishi rode further, unease settled in her heart. The surroundings were unnaturally quiet. From the bushes came faint rustling, and a green leaf drifted from the trees. Suddenly, two figures leapt from the grass, charging straight at them.
Su Qishi swiftly leapt from her horse, drew her sword, and killed one assailant with a single strike. She broke the encirclement briefly, but the black-clad men quickly adjusted their formation, every move aiming for her vital points.
Su Qishi and Nianqi were soon surrounded.
Her face grew grim. This was no ordinary ambush—their skills were far too refined, likely assassins trained by the Qi Yan royal family.
She said quietly, “I’ll cover you—get out.”
Nianqi protested, “No, Your Highness! I’ll protect you—please escape!”
Su Qishi snapped, “Stop wasting time! They’re here for me. You’ve got a better chance to get out—listen to me!”
Nianqi’s eyes brimmed with tears, torn with indecision.
At that moment, the black-clad assassins charged. Su Qishi unleashed her Seven Star Sword Technique, forcing the attackers back to create an opening for Nianqi.
With a leap, Nianqi broke through. “Your Highness, you must survive until I return!”
Su Qishi saw one assassin pursue Nianqi and quickly killed two enemies in her path. Using a tree stump as leverage, she soared toward the pursuer. Her sword flashed, reflecting in the exposed eyes of the masked man.
“If you seek bl00d—it is mine you want!”
The assassins exchanged glances, then attacked in unison. Su Qishi raised her sword to block, channeling her inner force against them.
Fatigue soon set in. Her movements slowed, her strikes dulled. Several cuts marred her body, bl00d seeping through, staining her red robe, though the wounds were barely visible. Bl00d trickled down her cheek, and her hand, gripping the sword, was slick with crimson.
At last, only three attackers remained.
In a moment of inattention, one hurled a chain that coiled tightly around her neck. Su Qishi didn’t panic. She staggered back, reached into her boot, and thrust a violet-gold dagger straight into his heart—quick and deadly.
Just as Su Qishi finished off one attacker, another assailant charged at him. He couldn’t react in time and was struck hard in the chest by a powerful kick, knocking him to the ground. His throat tightened, and he coughed up a mouthful of bl00d.
The man’s sword immediately thrust toward Su Qishi’s heart, but his eyes remained frighteningly calm. As the blade closed in—barely five centimeters away—a sudden arrow pierced the attacker’s heart. At the same time, the throwing knife in Su Qishi’s palm vanished back into his sleeve. The black-clad man fell with a dull thud, and as he collapsed, Liu Jiangli’s face appeared in Su Qishi’s line of sight.
Their eyes met—and everything became clear.
In this life, Su Qishi had never taught Liu Jiangli how to shoot an arrow…