Chapter 254: Chapter 252: The Sacred Deer Descends_1
Chapter 254: Chapter 252: The Sacred Deer Descends_1
The giant deer came closer and closer!
“Your Highness!” Old Fang widened his eyes and hid behind a guard, shouting hoarsely, “Your Highness, come back! Bai Qingyan will get you killed!”
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Bai Qingyan stood as steady as a pine tree, her gaze calm. The arrowhead wrapped in cloth was always aimed at the giant deer’s forehead.
“Your Highness!” Old Fang’s legs went weak with fear, his voice filled with urgency. “Your Highness, run! Bai Qingyan will kill you!”
Sweat appeared on the Crown Prince’s forehead. The giant deer’s legs alone were as tall as a person, and its enormous antlers were terrifying to behold.
The Crown Prince finally couldn’t bear the immense pressure coming at him and instinctively stepped back.
Bai Qingyan released the bowstring, grabbing the Crown Prince’s wrist and pulling him back. “Your Highness!”
“Let go of me!” The Crown Prince’s eyes widened in terror as he stared at the giant deer rushing towards them. “Bai Qingyan, are you trying to kill me?!”
“Eldest Young Lady!” Bai Jinzhi screamed in panic.
At the critical moment, Bai Qingyan’s eyes darkened. She grabbed the Crown Prince’s hand holding the sachet and almost dragged him forward two steps, raising his hand.
“Bai Qingyan! You are trying to murder the Crown Prince! This is a crime that will condemn your entire clan!” Old Fang shouted until his voice broke.
“Trust me, Your Highness!” Bai Qingyan gritted her teeth. She trusted her foster brother, Xiao Ruojiang, who said he could train it. He certainly could!
“Bai Qingyan!” the Crown Prince shouted angrily. Seeing the giant deer just one zhang away, he couldn’t break free of Bai Qingyan’s grip and closed his eyes in despair.
Unexpectedly, the giant deer, upon smelling the sachet in the Crown Prince’s hand, suddenly veered left, avoiding Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince. It turned so sharply that its hoofs slipped, and it crashed to the ground, rolling towards the Jin soldier holding a shield.
The Jin soldiers, faces pale, retreated one after another.
The giant deer rolled several times before stopping, propping itself up on its front legs, and stood up. Steam puffed heavily from its nostrils. It shook its fur, scaring the Jin soldiers into retreating. Some even fell to the ground in fear, looking up at the enormous creature with terror.
In the Jin Kingdom, the white deer was considered a sacred deer, not to be killed. Especially this enormous creature, which they had never seen before. No one knew if it was a divine beast.
The giant deer stood up seemingly without the intention to harm. It shook its fur and turned, walking in a proud stride toward the Crown Prince and Bai Qingyan.
The Crown Prince’s face was deathly pale. He could barely stand without leaning on Bai Qingyan.
“Your Highness…” Bai Qingyan supported the Crown Prince. “Are you alright?”
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth tightly, his whole body shaking. With Bai Qingyan’s support, he took two steps forward.
Seeing the giant deer slowly approach, the Crown Prince craned his neck to meet the deer’s bright, clear black eyes.
The giant deer sniffed the air and lowered its head. The Crown Prince hurriedly stepped back two steps.
“Your Highness!” Bai Qingyan grabbed the Crown Prince’s wrist and pulled him back, raising his hand holding the sachet…
The Crown Prince resisted, wanting to retreat, but Bai Qingyan held him firmly. “Your Highness, your soldiers are all watching you!”
The Crown Prince swallowed and glanced at the long line of soldiers, seeing the entire Jin Army looking in their direction. He gritted his teeth, trying to control his trembling.
The giant deer sniffed the sachet in the Crown Prince’s hand but did nothing frightening.
Bai Qingyan, seeing this, released her grip and took a step back. Unexpectedly, as soon as she let go, the Crown Prince also quickly withdrew his hand and stepped back with Bai Qingyan, staring fixedly at the enormous white deer.
Old Fang, whose heart had almost jumped out of his throat, was the first to react. He knelt and shouted, “The sacred deer has descended! It submits to our Crown Prince! May the Jin Kingdom prosper for eternity! Long live the Jin Kingdom!”
Zhang Duanrui also hurriedly knelt down, “Long live the Jin Kingdom!”
The Jin soldiers put down their weapons and shields, kneeling and bowing.
“Long live the Jin Kingdom!”
“Long live the Jin Kingdom!”
“Long live the Jin Kingdom!”
Li Tianfu, sitting in the fragrant carriage, lifted the curtain and looked toward the majestic and open high slope…
The sky, dyed by the setting sun, was a spectacular and beautiful hue. The glorious golden afterglow of the sunset reflected on the imposing mountains, outlining the enormous white deer with sacred and dazzling golden light. The silhouettes of Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince standing before the white deer were painted with a magnificent and grand spirit.
Li Zhijie, wounded and sitting in a carriage, also lifted the curtain. His long, narrow amorous eyes were fixed on Bai Qingyan, whose cloak fluttered in the wind. Seeing her calm and clear eyes and upright posture, which was entirely different from the Crown Prince’s sweaty and pale appearance, a smile curled on his lips…
The sacred deer of the Jin Kingdom? Ha… Interesting!
But, I wonder… will this sacred deer be considered tamed by the Crown Prince or Bai Qingyan?
“The sacred deer has descended. If Your Highness can present it to His Majesty on his birthday, he will surely be pleased.”
Bai Qingyan’s calm voice brought the Crown Prince back to his senses.
A cool breeze brushed his face, and the Crown Prince, drenched in cold sweat, suddenly shivered. Clutching the sachet tightly, he realized that he had misunderstood Bai Qingyan in Feng County. He thought Bai Qingyan wanted to use him to capture someone, but it turned out… she wanted to make the Jin Kingdom’s sacred deer submit before him to solidify his position as Crown Prince.
But why didn’t Bai Qingyan tell him?
[The Crown Prince fears His Majesty deeply. Telling him… could ruin everything.]
The Crown Prince clenched his fist.
At the time, these words only made the Crown Prince angry, thinking Bai Qingyan treated him as a pawn.
But now, upon careful reflection, even though Bai Qingyan’s words were harsh, she wasn’t wrong…
Even though he didn’t want to admit it, he indeed feared his father deeply. He was not the legitimate son, and from a young age, one look from his father could scare him out of his wits.
If Bai Qingyan had told him in advance, under his father’s questioning, he would have definitely revealed that this auspicious event was prearranged by him.
Even if his father was pleased, his joy would be greatly diminished.
Since it’s to make his father happy, it had to be a truly heaven-sent auspicious event to make his father happy. It would also make his father believe that even the sacred deer of the Jin Kingdom submitted to him as the Crown Prince. He would be the only rightful heir to the throne. Even if his father had thoughts of appointing another, he would have to think twice after today’s event.
Especially if the people of the Jin Kingdom knew the sacred deer submitted to him, they, too, would recognize his position as Crown Prince, just like the sacred deer.
Bai Qingyan’s intentions were good, but he misunderstood her. He was wrong.
The Crown Prince turned to look at Bai Qingyan, whose expression remained calm as usual. His heart was filled with mixed emotions. “Thank you, General Bai…”