She zoomed in on the screen to see what the nanny was having the two servants do—

The two were pouring some kind of white powder into the feed of a chestnut-red horse. After eating it, the horse’s eyelids drooped and its energy seemed to drain away.

Su Xi’s heart lurched. If she remembered correctly, that was Zai Zai’s horse! What were they putting in there? A sedative?

But perhaps afraid that the horse’s condition would be too obvious, Nanny Jia ordered the servants to pat its head a few times to rouse it. Then, as if that still wasn’t enough to endanger Zai Zai, they secretly sliced partway through the saddle straps. The cuts were extremely subtle, their movements quick and practiced—something no one would easily notice.

Watching these filthy tricks unfold before her eyes, Su Xi felt her blood boil with fury.

In the stall beside the chestnut-red horse stood two black stallions—larger, glossier, and far stronger than the red one at a glance. Clearly, they belonged to Lu Yuan and Lu Wenxiu.

Although the Prince Ning Manor had fallen on hard times, it wasn’t as if they couldn’t afford a few good horses. Yet Princess Ning insisted on treating Zai Zai harshly at every turn—always pretending that such things were the steward’s negligence, and that she herself “knew nothing.”

Su Xi had long known that Zai Zai’s life in Prince Ning’s Manor was miserable—she could tell just from the whip scars on his back from his childhood—but seeing now that they even went so far as to make things difficult for him over a few horses still made her heart ache.

She didn’t hesitate.

Once Nanny Jia decided everything was in order and left with the two servants, Su Xi quickly scooped up a handful of the feed that the chestnut-red horse had been eating and tossed it into the troughs of the two black stallions.

Perhaps there was some kind of attractant in that powder, because the two horses began eating right away.

Afterward, although they were stronger than the chestnut horse and the signs were less obvious, they still started to show a bit of sluggishness, eyelids drooping slightly.

Su Xi was about to go a step further—to imitate Nanny Jia’s method and secretly slice through the black stallions’ saddles as well—but before she could act, a few guards came over to lead the horses away.

Lu Yuan’s black stallion and Zai Zai’s chestnut-red horse were both taken—led straight toward the main gate.

Su Xi already had 27 points, just enough to unlock one more area. She quickly unlocked the “Prince Ning Manor Main Gate” along with several of the streets outside and followed the scene over.

At the gate, both Zai Zai and Lu Yuan were standing there, seemingly about to set out—to find the divine physician.

The two horses were brought before them.

Lu Yuan, surrounded by his attendants and guards, walked toward his tall black steed. He glanced back at Zai Zai, his eyes carrying a trace of mockery.

A servant beside him muttered under his breath, “I really don’t know what the old madam was thinking. How could Third Young Master possibly find that divine physician everyone in the capital’s been searching for? To even let him go with you, Young Master—it’s absurd. If you can’t find him, he definitely won’t.”

“Watch your mouth,” Lu Yuan scolded with a frown. “I’m going to that rich merchant Zhong Ganping today. I’ll get to the bottom of it and find out where that divine physician is!”

He had already boasted grandly before the old madam. Whether he succeeded or not, he had no choice but to produce results.

Otherwise, where would his legitimate grandson’s dignity go?

Watching the two whispering to each other, the words popping up on her screen, Su Xi’s expression was pure old man watching phone.jpg.

They didn’t even realize that the “divine physician” they were looking for was standing right there under the eaves—Zai Zai himself.

This was just… too awkward.

And whether Zai Zai shared her thoughts or not, he watched them murmuring and his face stayed utterly blank—but a white speech bubble appeared above his head, filled only with a string of “……”

Lu Yuan swung himself onto his black horse and turned back proudly. “Third Brother, I’ll be going first. Don’t bother following me. Go find your own way—if you fail, don’t come back crying!”

Zai Zai said nothing.

His gaze fell to the chestnut-red horse before him. He picked up the reins, his dark eyes deep and unreadable.

Su Xi panicked—afraid he’d actually mount the horse and was just about to think of something to stop him.

But then she saw him curve his lips faintly, sneering as he said, “If we both ride, I may not be slower than you. Are you sure you’re not afraid?”

Sure enough, Lu Yuan was provoked. Anger flickered across his face, but beneath it was a flash of irritation at being seen through.

Because Zai Zai was right. He was worried.

This illegitimate brother of his, low-born as he was, was a real rival. In riding and archery, Zai Zai had always outshone both him and his younger brother Wenxiu.

And after the incident by the creek, the old madam had even shown favor toward him.

Lu Yuan was deeply wary—terrified that this bastard brother would once again pull off something astounding and outshine him, leaving him humiliated.

His own black stallion was tall and fierce, far superior to Zai Zai’s horse, but who knew what tricks this half-brother might have up his sleeve? What if he reached Zhong Ganping first, or even found the divine physician before him?

Lu Yuan would never tolerate being surpassed.

And since it was just the two of them and a few of his trusted followers at the gate right now—

Why not simply take the bastard’s horse away?

Let’s see how calm he remains when he has no mount to ride.

Thinking of this, Lu Yuan gave a cold snort.

“If Third Brother is really that confident,” he said, “then don’t ride a horse!”

Lu Huan seemed momentarily caught off guard by the absurd demand—his brows twitched, and he stepped forward, guarding his horse.

“No,” he said sharply, “I need this horse.”

Seeing his reaction, Lu Yuan felt even more pleased with himself.

Unlike Lu Wenxiu, who was foolish enough to act rashly in front of others, he, Lu Yuan, always appeared calm and composed in public. But now there was no one else around—no witnesses, no gossiping tongues. Even if he took Lu Huan’s horse by force, who would spread the word?

Besides, Lu Huan only had this one horse. The other horses in the stable were under the care of the servants loyal to his mother—there was no way they would let the illegitimate son touch them. Once Lu Huan was left without a mount, he would surely fall far behind.

So why not take advantage?

Why not bully this bastard brother when the opportunity presented itself?

Should he really risk letting him gallop ahead and find the divine physician first?

Before Lu Yuan even gave the order, his trusted aide already understood his intent. He strode forward, snatched the reins from Lu Huan’s hand, and barked mockingly, “Thank you for the horse, Third Young Master!”

With that, the man swung himself up onto the horse’s back.

Lu Yuan, needing to make haste, gave Lu Huan one last triumphant, condescending glance from atop his own steed, and then rode off with his entourage, his figure soon disappearing down the road.

After they left, and the entrance of Prince Ning’s Manor stood empty and silent, Lu Huan slowly let the look of shock and helplessness fade from his face. His expression returned to calm as he gazed in the direction where Lu Yuan had galloped away, his eyes as cold as the snow on distant mountains.

───♡───

Outside the screen, Su Xi was stunned speechless by Zai Zai’s acting—

Wait a second.

Did he know his little chestnut horse had been tampered with?

Lu Huan, however, did not turn back toward the manor. Instead, he walked unhurriedly toward the outer city, deciding to find someone who could disguise himself as a divine physician in a black cloak—someone to appear in his place before the old madam.

He had always been alert and cautious. How could he not know that before the Qiuyan Mountain hunt, Princess Ning would surely make some move against him? He had been on guard for days.

Even if it wasn’t the saddle today, even if she had used some other trick, he would have spotted it.

Over the years, Princess Ning’s methods had always been the same—reused again and again, laughably foolish.

She never told Lu Yuan about such schemes, probably wanting to keep her beloved legitimate son’s hands “clean.”

But Lu Yuan’s weakness was his arrogance—his need to compete, his jealousy.

As long as Lu Huan struck that nerve and provoked him just a little, he would act rashly.

In truth, he was hardly any better than that fool Lu Wenxiu.

That chestnut-red horse had been with Lu Huan for many years and now, it would merely serve to take the life of one of Lu Yuan’s confidants.

A pity indeed.

Because there was no rush, Lu Huan continued walking slowly toward the outer city.

But as Su Xi watched Zai Zai’s retreating figure on the screen, a heaviness grew in her chest.

From the very first day she had logged into the game, she’d known how poorly Zai Zai lived in Prince Ning’s Manor—his hunger, his shabby clothes.

Yet today, perhaps because of that stark contrast between the three horses in the stable — two strong and majestic, one small and thin—she felt her heart ache even more for him.

Human hearts are strange like that.

When one’s own child doesn’t eat well, the pain might still be bearable.

But the moment comparison enters the picture—

When you see other children with pretty lunch boxes, eating warm homemade meals, carrying nice schoolbags, riding shiny new bikes—

While your own child has, for years, eaten plain steamed buns, carried books in a yellowed cloth bag, trudged through muddy roads on foot, only able to look longingly at those other children’s bicycles…your heart can’t help but ache and sour all at once.

If this game were a kindergarten, then Su Xi was the kind of mother who absolutely couldn’t stand to see her own child envy anyone else’s.

She wanted her Zai Zai to have the very best of everything.

Of course, Zai Zai himself probably didn’t care whether his horse was as fine as the ones Lu Yuan and Lu Wenxiu rode—

He probably cared even less that his food, clothes, and lodging were inferior to theirs in every way.

But Su Xi, as a doting mother, still couldn’t help tearing up at her own imagination.

Whatever other children had, her child had to have it too.

Even though Zai Zai now possessed a farm, silver, followers, and workers—and even though his future would surely grow brighter—

What he had lacked and suffered through in the past could never truly be made up for.

So, Su Xi opened the game shop—

Enough said, time to spend money!

───♡───

Having left the crowded streets of the capital, Lu Huan had just reached a narrow country path when he suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats ahead.

Instinctively, he looked up. Not far away, beneath a tree, stood a horse—pure white from head to hoof, without the slightest blemish. Its mane fell like silk down its back; tall and well-proportioned, radiant and graceful, head held high, eyes bright and spirited. One look, and anyone could tell—it was a magnificent steed that could travel a thousand li a day.

Could it be… that person?

Lu Huan had grown used to that mysterious person sending him comfort in times of loss.

When he lacked something, that person would quietly make up for it.

He had lost his horse and that person had gifted him another.

Looking at the horse, his expression softened. He stepped forward, gently stroked its back, and after a long moment, lowered his face into its snowy mane, cheek pressed against the soft hair, feeling a trace of warmth seep through to his skin.

It felt as though he had been walking alone through endless darkness and at last, he had found the one small light that could bring him peace.

───♡───

Meanwhile, back in the manor, Princess Ning sat drinking tea while waiting for news.

When Nanny Jia reported that everything had been prepared and that Lu Huan would surely break a leg before the Qiuyan Mountain hunt, she finally allowed herself to relax a little.

But until she heard confirmation that Lu Huan was truly injured, she couldn’t fully rest easy—

Yet no one could have predicted that that very night—

Lu Huan would return to Prince Ning’s Manor with a “divine physician” in a black cloak!

That divine physician prescribed medicine for the old madam’s rheumatism and chronic cold legs.

The entire manor was thrown into an uproar!

And just as Princess Ning smashed her teacup in fury—another report arrived:

Lu Yuan, on his journey out of the capital to seek the wealthy merchant surnamed Zhong,

had broken his leg!

Right now, Lu Yuan lay on the roadside, unable to move, while two guards hurriedly sent men back to report the news—pleading for a doctor and a sedan chair to be sent at once!