Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Competitiveness
Ye Lingyue nudged her twin brother, signalling it was his job to explain. She had planned to go secretly, but this traitor just had to expose her.
Sensing his sister’s anger, Ye Lingrui maintained his calm. "Second Brother, we are going to hunt for games."
Ye Lanxi’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he had a flash of realization. "Hunting for games? That’s right. How come I didn’t think of it before?"
"Mother, it’s fine, right?" Ye Lingrui turned to Shen Jingyi.
Based on today’s imperial guards’ neglect alone, they might die of starvation if this continued.
"Let me go with you two," Shen Jingyi furrowed her brows and said. Ever since she became the mistress of the Ye family, she rarely exercised or picked her weapons anymore.
She had to act elegant and virtuous—something people would expect from a mistress of a noble family.
Her skills must have become rusty, but it was better than the two novices to go. Even if Ye Lingyue had an outstanding archery skill just like her twin brother claimed, she had just recovered; her sense of danger and common sense would be different from others.
On the other hand, Ye Lingrui’s physique wasn’t that good. If there was danger nearby, could he even run fast enough to evade it?
At this moment, Ye Lanxi suddenly volunteered himself. "Mother, I will go."
His eyes swept over his two younger siblings arrogantly. "What skill can these two have anyway? It will be good enough if they can catch a frog. I doubt whether they can even outrun a wild animal."
Shen Jingyi frowned slightly. Her second son had good martial art skills, but he was sometimes just too reckless.
However, compared to the two twin siblings, Ye Lanxi might have a better chance at defending himself.
She finally sighed. "I will go with Lan’er."
With her around, she definitely could stop him from making reckless decisions.
"Yue’er and Rui’er will stay here," she decided.
In a few minutes, the pair of mother and son already exited the carriage and sneaked around, evading the watchful eyes of the sleepy imperial guards and disappeared into the darkness.
Ye Lingyue touched her nose.
She actually still had the rice sacks, but... she didn’t trust the Ye family members yet. Besides, the farther they were from the Capital, the worse their condition would be.
Some areas suffered from famine, disasters, and plague.
Until now, she also hadn’t seen more night markets around. Unless she went to the market during the day, she wouldn’t be able to get any more supplies.
It was absolutely impossible for her to go during the day.
So, it was better for her to save the rice sacks and flour for now.
"Third Brother, it’s your fault," Ye Lingyue looked at Ye Lingrui accusingly, pouting. "Now, I can’t even go out and have to stay in this cramped room."
Shen Jingyi and Ye Lanxi had just left not too long ago.
Seeing his twin sister was full of grievance and sat with her back on him, Ye Lingrui curled up the corner of his lips and asked almost rhetorically. "Who said we can’t go?"
Ye Lingyue turned around, her eyes widening. Gloominess faded from her big, round eyes. "Let’s go, let’s go!"
Even if Shen Jingyi and Ye Lanxi went out, it didn’t mean they couldn’t do the same!
"But..." she trailed off. "What if the imperial guards check this carriage?"
"The one responsible for today’s patrol is that hateful Yan Luo’s lackeys!" She furrowed her brows unhappily.
"Don’t worry, they won’t wake up for a while," Ye Lingrui assured.
With that, the two went out, passing by Ye Changde’s sleeping figure near the carriage and slipped into the forest.
After the two arrived in the forest, Ye Lingyue took out an oil lamp from her space. She began to mutter a barrage of complaints.
"Third Brother, is it fun that you always sold me out? Are you really my brother? What if you sell me out in the future... how can I trust you?"
Ye Lingrui was slightly taken aback, and then he smiled. "What do Yue’er want then?"
Her answer was straightforward. She held out her hand. "Sleeping powder."
He took something from his pocket and gave it to her. She quickly snatched it, worried he might renege on his words.
The item immediately disappeared from her hand, into the place he couldn’t reach. She beamed smugly.
"Go find some games to hunt now, quick!" She pushed his back. "We have to catch more games than the stinky Second Brother."
The twins quickly walked the forest with Ye Lingrui pointing the way. Compared to the last time, they moved quicker.
Ye Lingyue’s competitiveness was triggered.
In the end, the siblings caught two wild chickens, three quails and their eggs, and also a roe deer.
They feast on the roe deer and bring back the rest. The roe deer should be enough for their whole family. It was such a huge piece that it was impossible to hide.
Ye Lingrui picked some plants and started making something that could hide its wafting, mouthwatering aroma. The taste would be compromised slightly, but it was better than risking the imperial guards finding out about it.
When they returned, Shen Jingyi and Ye Lanxi were already back.
Shen Jingyi had a worried look on her face while Ye Lanxi seemed annoyed, his face gloomy.
"Yue’er, Rui’er!" Shen Jingyi put her hand on her chest with a relieved sigh. "You two finally returned."
"What a pair of rebellious twins!" Ye Lanxi snorted.
Ye Lingyue inwardly rolled her eyes at his words. He should take a mirror and look at himself!
"What did you two finally catch?" Ye Lanxi hadn’t seen most of the games they had brought back. They were delivering the wild chickens and quails first.
"Caught nothing?" Ye Lanxi muttered with a knowing look, his expression full of smugness. "Mother and I caught two rabbits. Don’t worry, we will still share the meat with you."
"The rabbits are quite fat, so I am sure–" he didn’t continue his words.
Ye Lanxi froze upon seeing the games his twin siblings brought back.
