Chapter 1 — The Tigress Who Craved Mantou

I was born with a voracious appetite and a constitution as sturdy as an ox. By the age of seven, I could fire an arrow through both a target and its wooden support pillar with a single shot. My mother, however, insisted that true beauty for a maiden lay in a delicate, willowy frame. Thus, I began to starve myself, surviving on little more than a bowl of thin rice water each day until my vision blurred and my head swam. When it came time to discuss my marriage prospects, the matchmaker insisted that noble sons favored the fragile, wind-blown willow type; consequently, I was forced to have my maids support me every time I ventured outside. Yet, before I could even be betrothed, the reputation of me being a "sickly weakling" had spread throughout the capital, turning me into the city's favorite punchline. As fate would have it, I only attended the polo match to witness the spectacle, yet I was unexpectedly called onto the field by the Princess of Ning. Among the participants was the hypocritical Xie Hanyan, and as luck would have it, we became direct opponents. She prepared for the match with rigorous training, while I survived on ginseng soup. She leaped onto her horse with agility, while I huffed and puffed after taking three measly steps. The entire capital waited, breathlessly, to see me tumble from my horse.

"Does she even know this is a team competition? The prize from the Princess will be awarded to the winners, and anyone stuck as her teammate is truly pathetic."

"Everyone, do not make it hard for Miss Lin. She has been frail since she was young; how could she possibly be expected to play polo on horseback?"

"The eldest daughter of the Xie family is a true warrior's daughter, gifted in both literature and martial arts. Compared to her, where would Miss Lin even find the courage to compete?"

Even the other noblewomen shook their heads in disdain, refusing to be placed in a group with me. When it came time to form teams, the Princess allowed me to start my own group while the other noblewomen divided themselves into two. As the first gong sounded, Xie Hanyan could not keep up with me, Pei Zhihang could not keep up with me, and even the captain of the royal stables, the very man who managed the spring hunting grounds, could not catch me. I gripped my mallet and swung it with casual ease. The crimson-painted ball soared across half the field, smashing straight into the wooden goal.

1

Pei Zhihang’s shout was louder than the drums on the sidelines. The spectators, who had been cheering just moments before, fell into a stunned silence. The Princess on the high platform set down her teacup, and the noblewomen exchanged meaningful glances. I sat astride my horse, my hand still tightly gripping the polo mallet. The horse let out a soft snort. Both of us, horse and rider alike, stood in complete confusion. Pei Zhihang had already lunged to the edge of the field.

"Lin Wandang, do you dare use such despicable tricks during a royal polo match? Are you not afraid of dragging the General of the Northern Defense's estate into disgrace?"

I blinked. "What trick did I use?"

"Still playing the fool?" He sneered. "Usually, you can barely stand after stepping out of your carriage, yet today, as soon as you mounted the horse, you moved like an arrow released from a bow. Do you dare claim there is nothing wrong with this horse?"

I was even more baffled. "Is it a crime for a horse to run fast?"

A ripple of laughter spread through the sidelines. At this moment, Xie Hanyan dismounted from her own horse. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, yet the jade pin in her hair remained perfectly in place. She looked breathtakingly beautiful. She walked up to me, her voice soft and melodious.

"Miss Lin, although today is just a bit of fun, the Princess is watching from above, and the ladies of every house are here. If there is some misunderstanding, you should simply explain it clearly."

She paused, her eyes reddening. "I know that for the past few years, people have whispered about your frail health, and it is only natural to feel frustrated and want to prove yourself. But if you have resorted to illicit methods to put on a display, it will be disastrous for both you and your father’s estate when word gets out."

Her words sounded as if she were coming to my defense, but the gazes around us shifted instantly. What was previously mere suspicion now hardened into the certainty of those who believed they had seen me pouring forbidden drugs into the horse’s trough under the cover of night. Pei Zhihang immediately seized the opening.

"Hanyan, you are far too kind-hearted. She has already climbed over your head, yet you are still shielding her?"

Other noble sons joined in the clamor.

"Exactly. The horses in the royal stables are well-trained; there is no way one would suddenly go mad and bolt like that."

"Miss Lin is so frail that simply sitting on a horse is a miracle, let alone swinging a mallet to score a goal."

"If this is not investigated thoroughly, what kind of rules will remain for the spring hunt?"

The voices piled up, layer upon layer. I sat on my horse, my stomach beginning to growl. The noblewoman standing closest to me covered her nose and stepped back in disgust.

"Is she so hungry she’s about to faint?"

I nodded solemnly. "A little."

Pei Zhihang was so infuriated he began to laugh. "Stop feigning madness and stupidity. We are talking about you drugging the horse."

I looked at him, then at Xie Hanyan. Finally, I began to piece it together. They believed I had won because the horse was tampered with. I turned and dismounted. My legs were weak upon touching the ground, and I nearly stumbled. Another wave of soft laughter rippled through the crowd. Xie Hanyan lowered her eyes, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. I steadied myself against the saddle and looked up at Pei Zhihang.

"You claim I gave the horse medicine, so where is the medicine?"

He froze. I continued, "Who saw me give it to the horse? When was it given? Did I mix it into the dry grass or pour it into the water trough?" The field fell into an instant, heavy silence. Pei Zhihang’s expression darkened.

"That sort of thing you would have obviously cleaned up long ago."

I nodded. "So, no one saw it, nothing can be found, and your only evidence is that you feel I should not have been able to run that fast."

He was rendered speechless. I turned toward Xie Hanyan. "Miss Xie, did you see it too?"

Xie Hanyan’s eyelashes fluttered as if startled. "Miss Lin, I did not mean that. I was only worried that you were being taken advantage of."

"Taken advantage of by whom?"

"This..." She bit her lip. "I cannot speak recklessly."

The more she refused to speak, the more others believed there was something sinister afoot. On the high platform, noblewomen were already huddled together, whispering. I heard one say in a low voice, "The Northern Defense General’s estate has grown too powerful at the border; could they be using the spring hunt to bully the nobles of the capital?" Another added, "Miss Xie is kind enough to offer a warning, yet she is acting so aggressively." Finally, it clicked. She did not want an investigation into the medicine. She wanted a confession. If I confessed, Xie Hanyan would be the saintly victim who was bullied but still tried to protect me. And I would be the sickly, malicious villain. I rubbed my stomach and sighed.

"If you cannot prove anything, could you perhaps let me eat something first, and we can continue the investigation slowly?"

Pei Zhihang said furiously, "You still want to eat?" I felt even more aggrieved. "Being falsely accused is very draining."

2

The inspection of the horse lasted half an hour. The veterinarian, the stable hands, the official in charge of the fodder, and the servants from the water room were all forced to kneel in a row. The white horse had its teeth examined, its eyelids turned back, its muzzle sniffed, and its iron horseshoes inspected. Finally, the veterinarian wiped away his sweat and reported, "Reporting to the Princess, the horse shows nothing unusual. The dry grass is clean, and there is no trace of toxic substances in the water."

Yet, Pei Zhihang remained unsatisfied. "Just because the horse is fine does not mean the person is fine."

I was stunned. "Me?"

He gave a cold laugh and pointed at me. "Your reins have no whip marks, and there are no needle pricks on the horse’s flanks. You are a sickly weakling who barely swings a whip, yet you made this horse run like the wind—is that not even more suspicious?"

The steward ordered my reins and mallet to be brought before the crowd. The reins were indeed clean. The mallet was also clean, simply because I had not spent much energy at all. Pei Zhihang acted as if he had caught me in an ironclad trap.

"Everyone, look clearly. An ordinary rider urging a horse would either use a whip or squeeze the horse's flanks. This horse of hers flew like the wind, yet there is not a single mark of stress on it. If she did not use some dark, occult method, how else can this be explained?"

The noble sons nodded in unison. "Exactly."

"The cleaner it is, the more likely there is a demon at work."

"Miss Lin, you really should just confess."

I listened, feeling utterly lost. "If the horse runs fast, why must one strike it?"

Pei Zhihang was struck dumb. I explained, "It wanted to run on its own. I only gently nudged it with my legs, and it took off."

"Gently nudged it?" Pei Zhihang sounded as if he had heard a joke. "With your physique, you are capable of gripping a horse's flanks?"

Xie Hanyan chose that moment to speak. "Miss Lin, everyone is not here to bully you. But you must provide an explanation that convinces them. If you are honest today, the Princess is merciful and might not punish you too harshly."

She looked at me, her eyes filled with pity. "If you continue to stubbornly persist, once the rumors spread throughout the capital, the General’s estate will be implicated as well."

On the high platform, the ladies gossiped.

"Miss Xie truly has a good heart."

"It is clear her honor was stolen, yet she is still helping Lin Wandang."

"Why is Lin Wandang so ungrateful?"

I looked up at Pei Zhihang. "You claim I used a forbidden drug, where is the evidence?"

Pei Zhihang frowned. "Is what we have seen not enough?"

"It is not."

I pointed to the reins and the mallet. "Clean objects only prove I did not whip the horse. A clean horse only proves it was not drugged. For you to claim I am guilty based on these things is nothing but bullying."

Pei Zhihang’s face turned from green to white, and he was so angry he nearly jumped. "You are still pretending!"

Xie Hanyan saw him being blocked by my words and finally stepped forward. She took my hand, a gesture as intimate as sisters, but her voice dropped lower. "Miss Lin, do not be so stubborn. It was not easy for you to come to the spring hunt today. If you make a scene, and it is truly discovered that someone is supporting you from behind the scenes, I fear it will lead to much greater trouble."

When she said "supporting you from behind the scenes," she deliberately paused. I looked at her with a blank expression. "Who is supporting me?"

Her eyes flickered. "I cannot speak recklessly. I only want what is best for you."

I listened as if I were lost in a fog. For a moment, the entire field was so quiet that the wind could be heard. Xie Hanyan’s eyes grew red, looking incredibly pathetic. "I... I am only worried about Miss Lin; I have no other intentions."

On the high platform, someone whispered, "Behind the scenes? Could the General’s estate have planned this long ago?"

"No wonder Lin Wandang dares to be so firm."

"I suspect Miss Xie knows something but is afraid to speak."

Xie Hanyan’s eyes turned even redder as she shook her head repeatedly. "Everyone, please do not misunderstand; I truly have no other intentions. Perhaps Miss Lin acted out of sudden desperation; I should not have said so much."

The more she explained, the more it seemed she was hiding a monumental grievance. I looked at the corners of her mouth, which were struggling to keep from curling upward, and finally, I realized. She had done this on purpose.

3

In the past, I rarely participated in the affairs of the capital’s noblewomen. My mother would not allow it. She said I ate too quickly, spoke too bluntly, and possessed a mind that was far too honest; going out would only make me a laughingstock. Back then, I did not believe her. Now, I did. Xie Hanyan walked to my side and whispered, "Miss Lin, I am sorry. I really did not mean it earlier. Now that everyone outside is whispering about you, what do you intend to do?"

Her voice was very light, as if she were waiting for me to cry, waiting for me to panic, waiting for me to admit to the crime to save the General’s estate from scandal. I was, indeed, a little afraid. Not of her, but of my mother. Before I left, my mother had warned me for a long time.

"Dang-Dang, if you meet Miss Xie, do not compete with her. You only need to be a little fragile so that others will feel sorry for you. Absolutely do not let people think that the daughter of the General’s estate is uncouth."

Back then, I was hungry. I only remembered one thing: do not compete with her. Now, it seemed I had already competed.