Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 249 - 247

The team competition began

There were five teams in total. The riders and horses of the other four teams were all lined up at the starting line. Ignoring the curious gazes of the crowd, Shen Jingrui led his horse and calmly and confidently joined the line.

Seeing the serene, almost casual demeanor of Shen Jingrui as he stationed himself at the starting line, the crowd began debating lively.

"Has there been a mistake! Shouldn’t the Sixth Prince be participating in the first race?"

"Right, the riders on the field are the Fourth Prince and Young Master Lai and a few others. If the eldest son of the Marquis Shengping’s mansion goes up, isn’t this a guaranteed loss?"

"Did everyone see the magnificent sight of Rui’an County Lord clinching first just now? If his sister is this impressive, maybe her brother is even better! Let’s wait and see!"

"Right, men’s horsemanship is generally better than women’s by more than a little. The eldest son of Marquis Shengping should also be a competent rider. This will be exciting!"

"But I remember, in the previous competition, the eldest son of Marquis Shengping’s placement was quite far back."

Everyone: "..."

"Or maybe he didn’t give it his all. After all, no matter how remarkable he is, he’s not as remarkable as the Sixth Prince! So, he simply concealed his true abilities to surprise everyone during the team competition," someone proposed an excuse for Jingrui.

"Doesn’t that seem far-fetched?" freёnovelkiss.com

"So how else would you explain him racing in the first round? Are you saying their team sent him in order to deliberately lose the first race? How foolish would someone have to be to do that?"

Everyone wants to win the race; who would want to lose?!

"Of course not." Hearing this, the man hurriedly shook his head. The Sixth Prince was on that same team! How could they do such a foolish thing?

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement with his reasoning, eyes filled with anticipation for a thrilling comeback from Jingrui.

Meanwhile, the other five competitors at the starting line looked at Shen Jingrui, frowns etched on their faces.

The standout equestrian skills and dazzling feats of Rui’an County Lord lingered in their minds. Could her brother, Jingrui, be even better, and hence chosen to run first?

That isn’t right! He looked like a mediocre rider earlier!

But if he is really more proficient than the Rui’an County Lord...if they lose to a kid several years younger than them who hasn’t yet grown a full beard, where would they hide their faces?

Without realizing it, they each held their backs a little straighter, donning the posture of facing a formidable opponent.

If they were to lose to Shangguan Xuanyi, that would still be acceptable! But losing to this little brat would be far more bearable if they directly knocked their heads dead against a block of tofu.

They could not lose, absolutely could not lose! They repeated these words in their minds, their ears peeling to catch the blast of the signal horn, worried that they might react too slowly.

"Your horse rides well?" Shangguan Xuanjun questioned while studying Shen Jingrui’s horse with a hard furrow of his eyebrows. No matter how he looked at it, the horse seemed ordinary. Could it be like the horses of his younger sixth brother and the Rui’an County Lord that feigned incompetence to outwit their opponents?

What was the matter with the horses at this year’s event? Their appearances had shattered his perception.

"To answer the Fourth Prince, it’s quite ordinary." Jingrui responded with a reverent tone, his face full of earnestness.

Shangguan Xuanjun felt half-convinced, sensing that things were not as simple as they seemed and there could be some hidden plot in play.

Upon hearing this, the others became even more sceptical, and they all thought that he was being modest and consequently prepared for a tough battle.

When the horn blew, the five riders swiftly dashed forward, leaving Shen Jingrui far behind.

Perceiving this scene, doubts crept into their hearts.

Could it be that Shen Jingrui’s horse was like that of Rui’an County Lord? Not making much of a start initially but later, speeding up like a bolt of lightning and outpacing everyone else?

Alright then! They were all somewhat tricked by Jingrui’s arrival to the starting line.

Only until Jingrui was the last to stop at the finish line did they come back to their senses.

Goodness gracious! They were undoubtedly tricked!

The team was so detestable! They insulted them this way.

The audience was equally flabbergasted!

What happened to the anticipated excitement awhile ago?

Wasn’t Marquis Shengping’s eldest son supposed to have a big comeback like the Rui’an County Lord?

How did it look as though he lost the competition with such surety at every step?

"What’s going on? Did they really participate in the race to lose? I was super excited just now."

"I was too. I was full of hope near the endpoint, convinced that the eldest son of Marquis Shengping’s Mansion would win."

"I can’t understand this race at all. Can someone p

lease explain to me, what’s the deal with intentionally losing?"

...

This isn’t right! Shangguan Xuanjun’s furrowed eyebrows tightened further, his sense of impending doom intensifying.

Similarly, all the contestants for the second round stood on the field. Lin Yingyi felt a bit excited. She held her head high, led her horse to the starting point, and stationed herself.

Shangguan Xuanjun understood the situation at once when he saw Lin Yingyi’s appearance.

My goodness! They really don’t have an ounce of shame! They’re utterly cunning!

The five competitors on the field: "..."

Zhao Youwei, with a furrowed brow, asked, "Miss Lin, why is it you?"

Shouldn’t have the turn gotten to Shangguan Xuanyi or Di Shaowei to participate?

Dispatching a woman to compete with them, was this looking down on him?

"Why can’t it be me? Who said I can’t participate? Or does Mr. Zhao look down on me?" Lin Yingyi was a bit embarrassed when she first heard about this plan, but Rui’an County Lord was right. In war, there is no place for sentiment. No matter whether it’s a black cat or a white cat, the good cat is the one that catches the rat! They didn’t break any rules or resort to unscrupulous tactics, they relied on strategy. Their victory would be well deserved!

There was absolutely no shamelessness or dishonesty involved.

So if anyone were to blame, it should be them for not using their brains!

"Miss Lin, please don’t misunderstand, I’m just confused as to why you are participating in a competition that is almost certainly a loss."

"Mr. Zhao is right. I came here intending to lose!" Lin Yingyi replied matter-of-factly.

Intentionally lose? Zhao Youwei understood at that moment. This was, this was completely shameless!

"Intentionally lose? Miss Lin, have you lost your mind?" Another person couldn’t hold it in anymore.

"You’re the one out of your mind! This is a team competition, not an individual race! With my loss and that of Young Master Shen, our team will almost certainly win! So my loss is honorable! My loss has meaning! I’m sacrificing the individual for the collective. Do you understand?"

With that said, if they still didn’t understand, then they were indeed fools!

According to tradition, strong competes with the strong, and weak competes with the weak. In that case, Lin Yingyi’s team would almost certainly draw or lose.

But now, even though they’ve lost the initial two races, they’ll almost certainly win the competition!

Thinking of this, the faces of the fellow competitors darkened considerably!

This was only the second race, and losing was already inevitable. Was there even a need to continue competing? They didn’t need to participate at all! They might as well forfeit straight away.

Hearing Lin Yingyi’s words made Zhao Youwei think of someone. He couldn’t help but look towards a figure dressed in white off the field. He could see her chatting and laughing with the handsome man next to her, her beautiful face full of happiness.

The horn sounded, and dust began flying everywhere!

Without a doubt, Lin Yingyi lost the competition with an extraordinarily huge gap.

With a smile on her face, she walked off the field. In contrast, the competitors who had won appeared downcast. They felt as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed a fly.

Sigh, there aren’t many in this world who can lose a competition while smiling so happily!