266 I Never Wanted Him (1/2)

Li Xueyue had initially wanted to nap the remainder of the day but decided against it as it would ruin her sleep schedule further. After lazily browsing through the books in her room, she decided to practice archery and take her mind off of things. When she was in the zone, nothing mattered except for the target and the arrows.

She bent low and plucked the grass. Rubbing it in between her palms, she dried off the remaining moisture on them.

Holding the grass high above her, she let it go, watching the direction that it fluttered off to determine the wind direction.

Li Xueyue prepped the arrow and bow. Seconds went by until it trickled into minutes and hours. It didn't take long for the high sun to swoop low as it cast a fiery cloak across the skies. The day went by as cerulean blue was overtaken by the blush of dawn.

”Are you done showing off?”

Li Xueyue jumped at the unexpected voice. She was too concentrated on her archery to notice someone had entered the training fields.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she looked up and realized the sun was already setting. The afternoon had passed too quickly.

”No one asked you to watch,” Li Xueyue responded as she dropped her hands. Undoubtedly, she would be sore all over tomorrow.

A familiar 'whirl' whizzed through the air. She ducked her head to the right, narrowly missing the arrow which had sliced through a strand of her hair.

Li Xueyue turned around and raised a brow. ”I should've let the arrow graze my ear, then I'd have something to blame you with.”

Li Minghua narrowed her eyes irritably. How was she able to dodge the arrow unscathed? ”I was aiming for the targets behind you.”

Li Xueyue pressed her lips together and chose to not respond. She didn't have time for people like Minghua.

Picking up her footing, she headed in the direction of the equipment racks. She handed her bow and quiver to the servants who hung it up for her.

Li Xueyue let out a quiet sigh as she gathered her long ponytail into a bun. She was well aware that her guards were down in front of Minghua. She didn't care. If the girl wanted to attack her, go ahead. It would be used as evidence against her.

Li Xueyue tied a string around her new bun to secure it and began to head in the direction that led into the house. When she was near the steps leading up to the hallway, Li Minghua blocked her path.

”What do you want?” Li Xueyue impatiently asked.

In the far distance, her eyes handed on Jingxia who seemed far from pleased at the sight of the Young Misses together. The Head Maidservant disappeared into the hallways no less than a second later, most likely to report to the Duchess.

”I want you to get the hell out of my house. You're not welcomed here. Your time as my replacement is up and over with. Stop leeching off of my family,” Li Minghua truthfully responded.

Li Minghua crossed her arms and stared her down.

”And if I don't?” Li Xueyue mused.

Li Minghua took a threatening step closer. Her hair swayed along with the unforgiving breeze that coursed through the fields. Hatred and irritation flashed within her eyes, rough and dark like tree bark.

”I'll expose your secrets. You killed someone. You're a murderer,” Li Minghua seethed. Her lips curled into a satisfied smile upon seeing Xueyue's body tense.

”Funny you would say that,” Li Xueyue murmured. ”When you were the one who killed the Empress.”