Fire Phoenix's face turned deathly pale as she looked at Night Treasure, who was crying uncontrollably with his eyes closed. She panicked, completely at a loss. "I...I didn't...I didn't mean to! How could this happen! What's wrong with him?"
"What are you doing..." Azure Dragon roared, then, as if remembering something, he quickly hugged Night Treasure tightly.
The artifact's actions had just occurred. Night Treasure's crying gradually stopped, leaving only murmured words, "Mommy, go quickly...Mommy, why isn't Daddy coming yet..."
"Mommy, do I have a Daddy?"
"Mommy, does Daddy not want me anymore? Will Daddy never come back?"
"Mommy...Waaah...Mommy..."
...
For a long, long time, Azure Dragon didn't dare let go. Fire Phoenix's complexion gradually returned to normal. She sat there blankly until Night Treasure, who was perched on Azure Dragon's shoulder, groggily opened his eyes. Only then did she snap out of her daze. Their eyes met, one filled with horror, the other utterly confused.
"What's wrong? Did I have another nightmare?" Ye Bao cautiously touched his cold little face with his chubby little hand, asking blankly.
"More than just a nightmare, it's our nightmare!" Huo Feng blurted out.
A complicated look flashed across Ye Bao's teary eyes. He didn't speak. He didn't know why he was like this. Sometimes he would fall asleep and not even realize the sky was falling, and he would always have nightmares, but when he woke up, he couldn't remember anything about them.
It was a strange habit he had developed since he was little; as long as his mother hugged him, he would be fine.
"Ye Bao, what did you dream about?" Qing Long asked softly, picking Ye Bao up and gently wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his long, beautiful fingers. Looking at the child's innocent and confused face, he remembered that he was only six years old.
"I don't remember. Did I shout something?" Ye Bao blinked his big, watery eyes and asked seriously.
Just as Qinglong was about to speak, Huofeng interrupted, "You called him 'mother' and 'father'? Don't you have a father?"
Yebao immediately looked up at Huofeng, as if he had been stimulated, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes brimming with tears. Huofeng couldn't move forward and retreated, afraid that the boy would punch her. Qinglong hadn't taught him any martial arts along the way. But then, Yebao turned around and ran away in a hurry!
"How can you talk like that!" Qinglong shouted angrily.
"He said it himself on the way, saying he wanted to find Lord Wushang to be his father! Seeing how much you take care of him, I think you should be his godfather! What a weird quirk! You scared me to death just now!" Huofeng, restrained by her mask, loudly defended herself.
Qinglong didn't speak and hurriedly chased after him.
Huofeng also caught up and said, "Qinglong, being good to this child is harming him. When he goes to the Hundred Poisons Sect, he won't be able to adapt and won't survive!"
"How do you know!" Qinglong stopped and asked coldly.
"I knew it! Look at his pampered manner. I only said one thing and he can't take it. When he sees his master, won't he say something to her and then commit suicide?" Huo Feng retorted. Her master, Zhao Xueling, was no ordinary sharp-tongued person!
"I bet if you chase after him now, he'll still smile at you. Believe it or not," Qinglong asked calmly.
"He'll definitely hide and cry! Didn't you see how much his mother dotes on him? He must have been spoiled rotten from a young age!" Huo Feng said.
Qinglong didn't argue. No amount of explanation could compare to action. The two chased to the deck and saw Ye Bao struggling alone towards the railing. His small figure was lonely and forlorn... He looked like... like...
Qinglong was anxious and rushed over. "Ye Bao, Lord Wushang will send a letter in a few days. Please don't do anything rash!"
"Kid, are you serious? You can't handle just one sentence from me? How are you going to go to the Hundred Poisons Sect? Didn't you tell us so many ambitious plans along the way?" Huo Feng was also anxious.
Ye Bao turned his head and looked at them from afar, his little face still wet with tears.
Qinglong and Huofeng immediately stopped. "Ye Bao, calm down, please calm down! You're so young, you have a bright future ahead of you!"
"That's right, kid, didn't you say you wanted to find yourself the richest and most powerful father? Where did your ambition go?"
Ye Bao glanced at the two of them expressionlessly, said nothing, and continued climbing up the railing.
"Ye Bao! You can't!" Qinglong shouted, attracting a large number of onlookers from the crew.
Huofeng flew over directly and instantly appeared in front of Ye Bao! Just as she was about to yell at him, she saw an incredibly bright smile bloom on Ye Bao's dirty, tear-streaked face.
Qinglong won, and sure enough, he smiled. He wasn't smiling at her, but rather at the small fishing boat nestled under the big ship. The small fishing boat had been set out early that morning by a few slaves, bringing back seafood for breakfast that day. Every morning they could bring back a lobster, and today they were lucky; it was a big lobster with a pair of large claws, clearly plump and full of meat!
Ye Bao looked up, his hands clenched into fists as before, tears welling in his eyes, almost streaming down his face, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "I thought I'd miss the first catch of the day. If I missed this lobster, I'd regret it for the rest of my life!"
Huo Feng nearly fell into the sea, but Qing Long remained calm. "Young Master Ye, Lord Wu Shang instructed that you're allergic to seafood and can't eat it. Let's go back and eat dry rations!"
With that, he grabbed Ye Bao by the collar and slowly dragged him away amidst the onlookers of the crew...
However, an hour later, the fragrant aroma of lobster wafted from the cabin. Qing Long had been sent away somewhere, and Ye Bao sat cross-legged on the floor, one lobster claw in each hand, gnawing on it with relish. Several small, scattered allergy spots had appeared on his pink face, and a bottle of pills sat beside him.
Huo Feng waited patiently, occasionally pursing her lips and swallowing her saliva.
After waiting for a while, Ye Bao finally cleaned the two big red claws and was about to reach for the lobster's head when Huo Feng finally spoke up, "That head is just a shell, why aren't you going to let it go?"
"Hehe, every foodie knows the lobster head is the meatiest and most delicious!" He said, pulling out his backpack and a Swiss Army knife. This knife was a gift from his mother to Lao Bai, who then gave it to him because he thought it was too childish. He pulled out a pair of small pliers and easily cracked open the lobster's hard shell. Sure enough, it was delicious and meaty!
Huo Feng stared in disbelief, shaking her head. "You brat, this is already the fifth lobster we've caught since we entered the sea. Can't you let me see that little green one?"
Ye Bao, with a bone in his mouth, smiled and said, "No rush, I'll definitely show it to you before we disembark!"
When we get to Nanzhao, which is so hot, his little green one will definitely wake up. Then she can look at it however she wants, touch whoever she wants, as long as she dares!
After three days and three nights of rapid travel, the grand autumn hunting party finally arrived at the royal hunting grounds that afternoon. The royal hunting grounds were heavily guarded. It was late autumn, the sky was high and the clouds were thick, and the wilderness stretched out for miles. A north wind blew, and colorful flags fluttered in the wind. The hunting camps were already set up, extending for miles to the left and right of Xuan Yuanlie's main camp. Banners and ribbons fluttered in the wind, and the occasional neighing of spirited horses filled the air, creating a majestic and exhilarating atmosphere.
On either side of the main camp were the Empress Dowagers, the Prince of Li, the Prince of Qi, and Princess Qixi, followed by civil and military officials and their families. To the left of the camp were the kitchen and servants' tents, and to the right were the armory and stables.
Xuan Yuanlie ordered everyone to disembark and rest briefly. An hour later, the hunting carts were sent into the forest to familiarize themselves with the terrain.
Upon entering the camp, Murong Wei disregarded all sleep and nearly collapsed from exhaustion during the journey. This time, no one gave her any trouble, but the wives of princes and ministers constantly summoned her for medical attention at the slightest ailment. She was often rushed from one place to another after just one visit. These women, accustomed to a life of luxury, were easily worn out by a day's travel, their backs aching, legs cramping. They were all afraid of death and would rush to find a doctor for even the smallest injury. Since the imperial physicians were all men, a readily available female physician was naturally preferred.
The camp was divided into two sections: a warm and comfortable bedroom at the back, without a bed, but covered with fox furs; and a main hall at the front, with a low, tiger-skin-skin couch and seats on either side.
Murong Wei immediately collapsed onto the couch upon entering, sprawling out without any regard for decorum. Seeing Xuan Yuanli follow, she closed her eyes, too lazy to even speak.
"Is that all the stamina you have?" Xuan Yuanli asked with a smile.
"Go and serve those pampered ladies. You have to exert yourself to even talk to them!" Murong Wei said lazily. For the past three days, she had been forced to go even when someone came to invite her in the middle of the night, and even a person of iron would break down from that.
"Go inside and sleep. If someone sees you later, they'll have plenty of excuses to retaliate!" Xuan Yuanli propped himself up beside her, looking down at her. His clear eyes were incredibly gentle, but Murong Wei, with her eyes closed, didn't see them at all.
"Go and guard the gate. One lion's roar, and I guarantee no one will dare to come in." Murong Wei said weakly.
"Lion's roar?" Xuan Yuanli frowned, puzzled.
"Yeah, don't you think you sound like a lion when you roar? Lion Li." Murong Wei smiled, her face pale and her eyes dark-rimmed.
"Lion! Hey, who gave you permission to give me such a nickname?" Xuan Yuanli roared again without realizing it!
Murong Wei opened her eyes, watching him giggle uncontrollably. A scene suddenly flashed through her mind: what would it be like if this guy one day sat on the nine-dragon throne in the Xuanyuan Palace, unleashing his lion's roar
? "Thirteenth Prince, do you want to be emperor?" she suddenly asked casually.
Xuanyuan Li was startled, then sat up beside her. After a long while, he lay back down, just like Murong Wei, with his legs in the air. He said calmly, "When I was little, I always thought I would be, and I never doubted it. Now... whether I'm emperor or not doesn't really matter, as long as... I can personally lead the iron cavalry to crush the quicksand, as long as... the people around me aren't bullied, that's enough!"
"Thirteenth Prince, you must have suffered a lot in the quicksand," Murong Wei asked. If she hadn't overheard so many things in the Imperial Study that day, perhaps she wouldn't have noticed the many royal secrets hidden within this seemingly simple prince.
"Hmm, this is too bitter. I'm going to take a bath. You go to the inner room to sleep; it's much more comfortable and quiet there," Xuan Yuanli said casually, getting up and walking out.
Murong Wei glanced into the inner room and was immediately dumbfounded. Wasn't it supposed to be frugal? It was so luxurious! Thick white fox fur was spread on the floor, practically a bed right inside the door. She didn't care about anything else and flopped down to sleep. Today was the first day, and the deer hunt was on the tenth day. She needed to ensure she got enough sleep to improve her concentration...
Just as she was sleeping soundly, Xuan Yuanli came to call her. Murong Wei admitted that this was the first time she had slept on such a good bed, and also the first time she had lingered in bed. She only woke up when Xuan Yuanli dragged her to the outer room.
"Hurry up and get ready. Usually, only those who participate in the hunting trip can go to familiarize themselves with the forest. I asked Qi Xi for help; consider her a friend she brought, and count her in too!" Xuan Yuanli said.
"Princess Qi Xi?" Xuan Yuanli nodded.
"Isn't she afraid of the Empress Dowager's glare?" Murong Wei said with a smile. A map would be enough for her to familiarize herself with the terrain; if not, she could act at night.
"A little afraid, a little afraid. I begged her for a long time, and she reluctantly agreed because of the reason I introduced Bai Wushang to her last time. Let's go!" Xuan Yuanli said, pulling Murong Wei away before she could ask any more questions.
Not far away, a row of hunting wagons were lined up in a "V" shape. These wagons resembled battlefield wagons, with two horses pulling them and the riders standing on a flat platform on the axle of the two large rear wheels. The
two Empress Dowagers were not present. Xuan Yuanlie's wagons were flanked by Xuan Yuanche and Xuan Yuanli's wagons. Murong Wei glanced at them from afar, smiled calmly, and turned to walk towards Xuan Yuanqixi, who was waving at her. She had changed into casual clothes, a light yellow floral long dress, and a wide-sleeved top, elegant and easy to move in.
"Murong Wei, come on up, come on up, stand here with me!" Xuan Yuanqixi was very enthusiastic.
"Thank you, Princess." Murong Wei didn't need anyone's help; she stepped into the hunting carriage and gripped the front railing.
"I'll let you in on a secret: your feat at the Chrysanthemum Banquet—defeating everyone with your words and verses, leaving no one alive—is so legendary that all the storytellers in the capital have heard every version of it. You're amazing!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said excitedly.
Murong Wei's lips twitched. She had seen the princess's eccentricities before, but this was the first time she had heard her use idioms so carelessly. She maintained her smile and said modestly, "Your Highness is too kind. That person was merely reciting poems to liven things up and composing lyrics to toast. Your Highness was also present. Even the storyteller was just making things up."
"Oh dear, what are you being so modest about!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi laughed, and in a very sisterly manner, she put her arm around Murong Wei's neck, pulled her down, and whispered, "Hey, I risked being scolded by the Empress Dowager to bring you along. You keep telling me what you and my thirteenth brother are plotting? Why didn't you invite me?"
Murong Wei continued to smile and said, "Nothing much, it's just that the thirteenth prince's most frequent acute illnesses are flaring up. He doesn't want to lose face, so he wants me, the doctor, to be with him at all times."
"Tch... Murong Wei, do you think I met Xuan Yuanli today? He may care about his reputation, but he would never tell a woman this. Confess honestly, do you have some kind of secret with him?" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi questioned.
"Princess, I'm innocent! I have a son, and I don't care about reputation. The Thirteenth Prince is still... a fine young man of marriageable age. Don't tarnish his reputation; it will be difficult for him to find a wife in the future. I can't bear that responsibility!" Murong Wei quickly protested.
"Anyway, I don't care. I'm sticking with you two for the next few days!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said domineeringly.
Murong Wei was about to persuade him when she suddenly froze. She saw two familiar figures slowly approaching. It was none other than Ren Fan, whom she had once sold into slavery, and Shen Zui, the young master of the Shen family, who had publicly announced his intention to marry her and later apologized!
Well! The world is vast, but fate is not shallow; they've both run into each other.
"Old Bai... we're just missing you..." Murong Wei murmured to herself, sighing softly.
"What? Bai Wushang is coming?" Xuan Yuan Qixi, with her sharp ears, asked immediately. Ever since they presented the treasure together last time, her admiration for Bai Wushang had been like a surging river.
"No, Princess, those two aren't royalty, nor are they high-ranking officials, so how could they..." Murong Wei asked in a low voice, watching Ren Fan and Chen Zui walk by. Ren Fan had his head down, while Chen Zui glanced at her and gave her an elegant smile.
"My brother said he would invite some friends this time, and it turns out to be these two. Heh, one reeks of money, and the other is incredibly vain. They clearly don't have the air of an immortal, yet they put on airs. I'll tell you a secret, Chen Zui is even more money-grubbing than Ren Fan, and he's extremely concerned about his image. I heard from the servants of the Chen family that he has to spend at least an hour getting ready before he goes out!" Xuan Yuan Qixi whispered, seemingly having no good impression of either of them.
Murong Wei smiled, knowing exactly what was going on.
"Let me tell you a secret, Ren Fan is the undisputed richest merchant in the world, even wealthier than our Xuanyuan royal family. But look at that gray robe he's wearing, so plain it looks worn out. This guy is stingy not only with others, but even more stingy with himself. I don't know what he's saving all that money for!" Xuanyuan Qixi added hastily, a complete gossip, the kind of girl Murong Wei loved most.
"Princess, does the Emperor have a good relationship with the Shen family?" Murong Wei asked.
"So-so. The Shen family is the overlord of the martial arts world. The martial arts world and the imperial court don't really interfere with each other. The Emperor usually gives the Shen family a wide berth. As for how close they are, it depends on the specific circumstances!" Xuanyuan Qixi said, seemingly a spoiled and willful princess, but actually quite shrewd.
"And Ren Fan? Did he come to curry favor with the Emperor?" Murong Wei asked again, looking ahead. Shen Zui and Ren Fan were riding in the same hunting carriage, following the Emperor and two princes, chatting and laughing all the way.
"I guess so. I heard the finances are tight lately, and he contributed quite a bit to this autumn hunt," Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said with a smile.
The group slowly headed into the jungle. Along the way, Murong Wei and Xuan Yuan Qi Xi got along well. Exploring the terrain, the route wasn't difficult for her. She subtly tried to get information out of Xuan Yuan Qi Xi while memorizing the terrain and route. Before she knew it, she had already circled the hunting grounds. When they returned to the camp, Xuan Yuan Qi Xi wouldn't let her leave and insisted on inviting her to sit in the camp.
Xuan Yuan Qi Xi's camp was right next to Qi Wang's. Beside Qi Wang's camp were two smaller tents, undoubtedly belonging to Consort De and Yelü Lingrong.
Murong Wei was almost inside when a small figure suddenly appeared beside the camp commander. She could only see his back, but his white palace robes and gold-trimmed boots unmistakably proclaimed his noble status: Qi Wang's son, Xuan Yuan Ming Qi! He
seemed to be playing hide-and-seek with the palace maids. Murong Wei stood there for a long time, unable to see his face. Just as she was about to approach, Xuan Yuan Qi Xi abruptly pulled her inside.
This pink tent was different from Xuan Yuan Li's; it didn't have inner and outer rooms, only a screen separating them. White fox fur decorations were visible throughout the room.
"Sit down. I guarantee Thirteenth Brother will definitely come looking for you later!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said cheerfully, instructing a maid to bring tea.
Murong Wei didn't speak, but smiled, picked up her hot tea, and sipped it gently. She recalled the terrain she had just become familiar with. She had to admit, this royal hunting ground was indeed vast, spanning thousands of miles, with two large mountains in between. What they had just familiarized themselves with were merely a few groves where their prey frequently roamed.
"Murong Wei, I have a question for you, you must tell me honestly!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi approached, her tone somewhat
cryptic. "Princess, please ask away. I will tell you what I know," Murong Wei replied, maintaining her humble and polite attitude.
"Murong Wei, can you stop being so pretentious? You and my Thirteenth Prince are always so straightforward. This princess hates hypocrites!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said, displeased.
Murong Wei was taken aback, staring at her for a long time before finally speaking humbly, "Princess, affectation and hypocrisy are not used like this."
"You!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi was so angry she was practically spitting fire. Pointing at Murong Wei, she flung her hand away and said, "Why is it that my thirteenth brother is willing to be with you and close to you!"
"Your Highness, this is a question I don't quite understand either. Actually, you can go to..." Before Murong Wei could finish speaking, a child suddenly burst into the room. It wasn't Xuan Yuan Li, but a little boy, Xuan Yuan Ming Qi! He was
exquisitely beautiful, with bright eyes and white teeth. He would surely grow up to be a handsome young man, but there was nothing about him that resembled Xuan Yuan Che. The coldness between his brows was somewhat similar to that of Consort De. Both Xuan Yuan Che and Consort De had large eyes, but this little boy had small, single-eyelid eyes.
"Aunt Qi Xi, can I hide here?" Xuan Yuan Ming Qi said hastily, and without waiting for Xuan Yuan Qi Xi's reply, he rushed behind the curtain.
Xuanyuan Qixi, having recovered her composure, immediately chased after him inside. "You brat, how dare you barge into my tent?"
As she entered, Xuanyuan Mingqi emerged from the other side, his expression arrogant. He shouted, "Aunt Qixi called me a brat! I'm going to tell my mother!"
"Go ahead, go ahead! This princess isn't afraid of you!" Xuanyuan Qixi clearly didn't like the child.
Murong Wei sat quietly watching, each time she saw the little girl, it stirred up memories of her son.
"My mother is the principal wife! She's your sister-in-law! Aren't you afraid?" Xuanyuan Mingqi asked smugly, with a questioning air.
"Oh, you've become the principal wife?" Xuanyuan Qixi sneered, slowly walking over. Xuanyuan Mingqi, however, was wary of her, cautiously retreating towards the gate.
"Indeed, by right, you should call my mother sister-in-law!" Xuanyuan Mingqi said proudly.
"Bah! Let me tell you, you little brat, even the Right Consort Yelü Lingrong is beneath my notice, let alone a mere Left Consort!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi sneered, lunging forward and startling Xuan Yuan Ming Qi, who stumbled and fell backward to the ground, bursting into tears.
At that moment, several maids rushed in, all from Consort De's tent. Seeing their young master fall, they panicked, frantically trying to help him up, creating chaos and forgetting where they were.
Xuan Yuan Qi Xi's brows furrowed deeper, her face storming. Murong Wei watched quietly, saying nothing.
"Bleed...he's bleeding!" Suddenly, someone shouted.
Xuan Yuan Ming Qi's crying abruptly stopped.
"Help! The young master has fallen and hurt himself! Come quick..."
Before the urgent words could finish, Xuan Yuan Qi Xi roared, "What do you take this place for?! Huh?!"
Silence fell instantly. Xuan Yuan Qi Xi's roar was no less powerful than her thirteen, and everyone was stunned, including the weeping Xuan Yuan Ming Qi.
"Your Highness, spare us!" The head maid knelt down with a thud, and everyone hurriedly followed suit, only then realizing that this was the princess's tent. They had not only trespassed but also forgotten to pay their respects.
"Guards, send all these ignorant servants away, lest they embarrass themselves here!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi coldly ordered.
"Your Highness, spare us! Young Master, save us!"
"Your Highness, spare us! We were only worried about Young Master's safety, that's why we offended you. Please, Your Highness, have mercy..."
No
matter how the maids pleaded, Xuan Yuan Qi Xi remained unmoved. Several burly slaves dragged seven or eight maids out in quick succession, the cries and struggles creating a great commotion.
Xuan Yuan Ming Qi seemed terrified, not daring to utter a single word.
At this moment, a familiar, displeased voice came from outside the door, "Qi Xi, what are you doing?"
It was Xuan Yuan Lie!
Xuan Yuan Qi Xi and Murong Wei exchanged a glance, a rare moment of tacit understanding, and shrugged helplessly.
Soon, the curtain was lifted, and both of them were startled. Murong Wei, who had been lazily leaning against the door, immediately stood up.
A large group of people were outside: Xuan Yuan Lie, Ren Fan, Chen Zui, Xuan Yuan Li, and many ministers. Most importantly, the father of the little child sitting by the door, his knees scraped and tears streaming down his face, Xuan Yuan Che, and his mother, Consort De, were all there!
"Qi'er!" Consort De, her face veiled, cried out and rushed forward, kneeling beside Xuan Yuanmingqi. Seeing the abrasions on his knees, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Summon the imperial physician!" Xuan Yuanche said calmly, entering the tent and carrying Xuan Yuanmingqi to the warm couch.
"Doctor Murong is right here. Why summon the imperial physician? Murong Wei, hurry up and examine him!" Xuan Yuanlie interrupted, following him in.
The large tent quickly filled with people. Xuan Yuanqixi glared coldly at Xuan Yuanmingqi, a look that seemed both a warning and a provocation.
Seeing his parents present, Xuan Yuanmingqi showed no fear, glaring defiantly back.
Murong Wei, having witnessed everything, took some medicine and gauze to carefully treat Xuan Yuanmingqi's wound. However, the moment the cotton swab touched the wound, he cried out, "It hurts... Waaah... Daddy, it hurts! I don't want this imperial physician!"
"Good boy, it'll be fine in a moment. Any imperial physician would hurt you," Xuan Yuanche patiently coaxed, holding him on his lap. Consort De, standing beside him, also comforted him, "Qi'er, be good. Daddy and Mommy are with you! Don't be afraid!"
"No, I don't want this imperial physician! I hate her!" Xuan Yuanmingqi whined, his uninjured leg kicking wildly. Murong Wei had to awkwardly dodge, avoiding everyone's curious gaze.
The room was quiet. To make it to the last day, Xuan Yuanli was extremely cautious this time, enduring as much as possible and avoiding trouble. At this moment, his clear eyes were glaring fiercely at Xuan Yuan Qixi, filled with a dangerous aura. Didn't he know he had been instructed not to cause trouble? Absolutely not! Of all the people this girl could mess with, she had to provoke the Prince of Qi's son, the only male member of the royal family!
Most people, unlike Ren Fan, such as the ministers, were all looking at Murong Wei, simply wondering what she had done to the child. As for Chen Zui, his eyes hadn't left Murong Wei since he entered the room. He hadn't fallen in love at first sight, but after being scolded by her in public, he was captivated and determined to marry her.
Consort De also looked at Murong Wei, her sinister gaze hidden beneath her veil. Just as she was about to speak, Xuan Yuanche took out some medicine powder and patiently continued to coax her gently, "Qi'er, be good, apply the medicine obediently. Once your injury heals, I'll teach you to ride a horse."
"Really?" Xuan Yuanmingqi was indeed a child; upon hearing this, he was overjoyed, his tearful face breaking into a smile.
"Once your injury heals, I'll take you," Xuan Yuanche said softly. "Don't move, I'll apply the medicine for you."
"Seventh Brother, a child's skin is delicate. You're not a doctor, so let Doctor Murong do it," Xuan Yuanlie said, taking a seat to the side.
"Yes, Your Highness, please hold the Prince firmly to prevent him from moving around. Let Doctor Murong handle it!"
"Exactly, exactly. A woman's grip is gentler. And she's a doctor, experienced too!"
...
Faced with everyone's persuasion, Xuan Yuanche didn't react much, simply saying, "It's alright, I've already treated the wound."
At this moment, someone rushed out—it was Prime Minister Gu. Gu Xihe's fall from grace hadn't affected his position. He boldly stopped Prince Qi's hand, earnestly saying, "Prince Qi, absolutely not! Let Doctor Murong handle it. Tomorrow is the start of the autumn hunt, the flag-raising ceremony; Your Highness shouldn't be stained with blood!"
"Exactly, Seventh Brother, you just hold him!" Xuan Yuanlie said, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.
Xuan Yuanche didn't say much, only glancing at Murong Wei, signaling her to continue.
Murong Wei felt something was off about the ministers' advice earlier, as if they were hiding something. Not wanting to dwell on it, she nodded and continued carefully cleaning the wound with a cotton swab. She thought to herself that Ye Bao had countless wounds like this, many left by that brat from his mischief, and she didn't dare let her know.
Murong Wei took out the medicine powder. She had her principles; she wouldn't involve a child in matters of right and wrong. But, just as she bent down to apply the medicine, Xuan Yuan Mingqi immediately cried out, kicking her hand with his other foot. "It hurts… I don't want the medicine, get away!"
"Prince Qi, hold his leg down. This medicine is very effective; the pain will only last a short while, and it will scab over quickly," Murong Wei said earnestly.
"No! Father, don't be fooled by her… she must be trying to murder me… she's the one who pushed me down!" Xuan Yuan Mingqi cried out.
Immediately, an uproar erupted!
"She pushed me! Even Aunt Qixi couldn't stop her!" Xuan Yuan Mingqi was indeed a clever child, actually protecting Xuan Yuan Qixi and blaming Murong Wei!
"Your Highness, it's not good for someone so young to lie to their parents," Murong Wei said in a low voice, her patience finally exhausted.
"I didn't lie, Uncle Emperor! Why don't you ask Aunt Qixi?" Xuan Yuan Mingqi said.
Everyone immediately turned to look at Xuan Yuan Qixi. Xuan Yuan Qixi was stunned, truly in a dilemma. If she confessed, all the blame would fall on Murong Wei. If she told the truth, Murong Wei wouldn't do anything, but she would definitely be confined and unable to participate in tomorrow's flag-raising ceremony and archery performance. She had practiced diligently for a whole month for that performance!
Adults just can't argue with children; it's never worth it. No matter what, it's wrong for adults not to give in to children, and it's understandable for children to be ignorant, but it's considered unreasonable for adults to be ignorant!
What a dilemma!
"Qi Xi, is what Qi'er said true?" Consort De, as the mother, was the first to attack!
"Actually...actually it's just...a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding..." Xuan Yuan Qi Xi stammered.
"Aunt Qi Xi, you must stand up for me! You saw her push me, all the maids saw it!" Xuan Yuan Ming Qi cried.
"Qi Xi, speak!" Xuan Yuan Lie's voice was cold.
"Emperor brother, children are bound to be naughty and love to run and jump. It's normal for them to bump into things. If he learns riding and archery in the future, he'll fall even more often. It's not a big deal!" Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said, stepping forward and speaking to Xuan Yuan Ming Qi in a very gentle tone, "Nephew, how about Auntie applies medicine for you herself? Don't cry, okay?"
"No! She pushed me on purpose, Mother, you must stand up for me and give her thirty lashes!" Xuan Yuan Ming Qi continued to cry and make a fuss. If Xuan Yuan Che hadn't been holding him back, he would have definitely thrown himself at Murong Wei.
"Your Highness! That's enough!" Suddenly, the silent Murong Wei shouted. Xuan Yuanmingqi was startled, his lips trembling. Before he could even cry out, Murong Wei coldly said, "Your Highness, didn't your mother teach you that a man sheds blood and sweat, not tears? It's just a small scar, why are you making such a fuss? If you want to apply medicine, then apply it; if not, it doesn't matter. This kind of scar is nothing, it'll be fine after washing! As for how you fell, you know the answer yourself..."
Murong Wei's voice grew lower and deeper, her bright eyes revealing a captivating look as she stared at Xuan Yuanmingqi, and said in a low voice, "Your mother must have told you that if a little child lies, a monster will come and tear your mouth apart at night..."
"Murong Wei! How dare you!" Consort De suddenly shouted angrily, shoving her away. At this moment, the stunned Xuan Yuanmingqi finally came to his senses and burst into tears. This time, he was truly frightened.
Xuan Yuanche, unusually angry, roared, "Murong Wei, how dare you! Are you implying that I failed in my duty of upbringing? Take her out and give her ten strokes of the cane! She's never to approach Prince Beile again!"
"Seventh Brother, she didn't push Qi'er! Qi'er trespassed into my tent and tripped while I was chasing him!" Xuan Yuanqixi cried out anxiously.
"How many times have I told you? You're her elder, you should give way to her! When have you ever listened? Guards, take her out and give her ten strokes of the cane!" Xuan Yuanche said coldly.
Xuan Yuanlie sneered without speaking, while Xuan Yuanli was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, wanting to stand up for Murong Wei but powerless. For the first time, his seventh brother and the emperor were on the same side, leaving him no room to speak.
At this moment, Chen Zui spoke up, "Your Majesty, it's really just a small matter. A reprimand will suffice ."
"Indeed, Your Majesty, let's make a big deal out of it and let it go!" Ren Fan also chimed in to persuade him.
"Heh, Prince Qi dotes on his son, so his word is law!" Xuan Yuanlie was unusually generous.
"Take him out, immediately!" Xuan Yuanche's face darkened, his cold eyes chillingly sharp.
In the silence of the crowd, two burly slaves immediately stepped forward. One pinned Murong Wei down, while the other followed closely behind Qi Xi, not daring to touch her.
Murong Wei glanced at Xuan Yuan Che, who was taking Xuan Yuan Ming Qi from Xuan Yuan Lie's arms, her expression unchanging. She abruptly broke free from the slave's grasp and said, "I can walk by myself."
Outside, eunuchs had already set up benches, and everyone from the various tents had gathered to watch. The Empress Dowagers stood silently at their respective doors, observing.
Murong Wei and Xuan Yuan Qi Xi lay face down on the benches, exchanging helpless glances.
"Murong Wei, I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said apologetically.
"It's not your fault. He was targeting me anyway," Murong Wei said calmly.
"But it's my fault," Xuan Yuan Qi Xi said timidly.
"At least you have someone to share the blame with, so it's not so shameful," Murong Wei said with a helpless smile, noticing the various strange looks from those around her, including Consort De's mockery and Xuan Yuan Ming Qi's smugness.
Before the words were even finished, she suddenly cried out in pain, "Ah..."
It hurt, a burning pain, an unbearable agony! How could it not hurt when the slave's brute force struck the most vulnerable parts of her body?
However, her heart ached even more... not for herself, but for Ye Bao, for that child who had been bullied and wronged since childhood, who had nightmares every night, who longed for a father's love. Her heart was being torn apart. Who gave him life, and who condemned him to a life of wandering?
Xuan Yuan Che, are you really such a doting father?
After the scream, Princess Qi Xi's cries of agony could be heard beside her, along with the surrounding whispers. She lowered her head, her hands gripping the bench tightly, her jaw clenched, refusing to cry out in pain, silently counting the blows.
The ten strokes of the cane were quickly finished. The unconscious Xuan Yuan Qi Xi was hurriedly helped away by her maid. Xuan Yuan Li strode forward to support her, not even bothering to bid farewell to the emperor, and rushed back to camp.
"You stupid woman, why are you arguing with a child!" Xuan Yuanli asked angrily.
"I'll do it anyway," Murong Wei said, shaking off his hand. Amidst the disdainful gazes of the crowd, she limped along stubbornly and proudly. She wasn't that delicate, nor that fragile.
"You! Aren't you afraid you won't make it to the last day?" Xuan Yuanli asked, trying to help her, but she pushed his hand away again.
"I can make it!" Murong Wei said.
"Stay away from that family these next few days. They're all jinxes; running into them will only bring trouble!" Xuan Yuanli said resentfully, following behind her.
Murong Wei suddenly stopped and turned around. She saw Xuan Yuanlie and the ministers returning to camp one after another. Xuan Yuanmingqi was curled up in Xuan Yuanche's arms, and Consort De was clinging to his arm. The three of them were discussing something with the imperial physician who had arrived. Xuan Yuanche's expression was still cold and sullen, clearly displeased.
"Hurry back and apply the medicine. Let's bear with it for now. Let's see if Consort De can still laugh after we shoot the deer!" Xuan Yuanli whispered.
"Definitely!" Murong Wei said in a deep voice.
"Hurry, hurry, I'll find someone to apply the medicine for you!" Xuan Yuanlie urged.
"Thirteenth Master, Chen Zui is here, Lao Bai must be idle. Try to ask him if Ye Bao has written to me, okay?" Murong Wei said calmly.
"Weiwei, do you miss Ye Bao?" Xuan Yuanli asked.
"It's alright, it's just a pity I didn't bring him along for such a fun event as the autumn hunt. If he knew, he would definitely cause a huge scene in the East Sea." Murong Zijing smiled to herself...
The next morning, the hunting grounds resounded with loud horns.
Today's schedule included two major events: the autumn hunt flag-raising ceremony and the autumn hunt banquet. The flag-raising ceremony was a very solemn occasion, announcing the official start of the autumn hunt. The banquet would feature a performance of riding and archery, a tradition where the emperor would review the progress of the princes and princesses' riding and archery skills over the past year. However, since Xuan Yuanlie had no heir, the performers were the two princes and the princess, along with ministers and officials, including their wives and daughters. Those interested could also sign up to participate.
Murong Wei drifted in and out of sleep amidst the loud horns, and when she finally woke up, she had missed the flag-raising ceremony. Everyone returned to their camps to change into their riding gear.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Murong Wei asked, frowning, her gait still somewhat unnatural.
"Is it still painful? Have the maid apply some more medicine. You can rest for a day; you'll be fine tomorrow. I have experience with this," Xuan Yuanli quickly said.
"Did you find Lao Bai?" Murong Wei asked, carefully sitting down sideways.
"Give the steward instructions," Xuan Yuanli replied.
"The autumn hunting feast is coming up soon, right? You'll be participating too, right?" Murong Wei asked with curiosity and anticipation, as it was her first time seeing such a banquet and archery performance.
"It's nothing special, just fancy footwork. Everyone's keeping their real skills to themselves. Tomorrow is free; after the draw, we're free to do as we please. The real show is yet to come. Starting the day after tomorrow, it's a horse relay race, then an archery competition, followed by a combined horseback archery event. The three-day competition is divided into groups, and that's when the real battles begin!" Xuan Yuanli said excitedly.
"The group assignments are drawn tomorrow?" Murong Wei asked.
"Yes, the draw is tomorrow morning, and then we'll have a day to practice together. It's supposed to be free time, but it's really just preparation for the two groups. I wonder who I'll be paired with this year. I hope it's not with those women; they're too boring!" Xuan Yuanli said.
"Women participate too?" Murong Wei asked.
"Yes, it's Xuan Yuan's tradition that there's no gender distinction at the hunting grounds," Xuan Yuanli said.
"Can I participate too?" Murong Wei asked eagerly.
“You definitely have to participate. Only after passing the three rounds will you be eligible to participate in the final deer hunt. Hehe, didn’t I prepare your riding gear for you already? Get some rest, we’ll go draw lots together first thing tomorrow morning!” Xuan Yuanli said with a smile.
“Can I go and take a look today?” Murong Wei asked, wanting to at least see how the ancients rode and shot, and gauge everyone’s skill level.
“You should rest. A small feast is fine, but a big feast is never a good feast, there are too many rules. I’ll bring you some food later, roasted lamb leg that’s only available at the hunting grounds.” Xuan Yuanli said.
Murong Wei hesitated for a moment but then nodded in agreement. Xuan Yuanli
then put on the bronze wrist guards specially prepared for the Red-tailed Kite, his black hair tied up high, and dressed in a white brocade riding outfit with gold trim. He looked incredibly dashing and spirited. He smiled and said, “Doesn’t it look good?”
“Handsome! Tall, handsome, and rich!” Murong Wei exclaimed in admiration, giving him a thumbs up!
“What do you mean?” Xuan Yuanli didn’t understand.
"It means the most beautiful in the world!" Murong Wei said very seriously.
"Hehe, then I'm going!" Xuan Yuanli said happily, striding out the door, looking very handsome.
He had just left when Murong Wei followed. Although her bottom was still sore, she was confident in her self-healing ability. The autumn hunt was held in the spacious grounds of Xuan Yuanlie's main camp. Tables were arranged in an arc around the tents, and several targets were placed a mile away. Several spirited horses were lined up and waiting.
At this time, everyone, men and women, including Xuan Yuanmingqi, were dressed in smart riding attire and took their seats. Murong Wei climbed up a big tree behind the tent and watched everything from afar, watching them raise their cups to toast, watching them laugh and chat, watching them compete to show off their skills, enjoying the limelight.
The excitement was all theirs. After watching Yelü Lingrong's archery performance, she slowly climbed down from the tree. Xuan Yuanli was right; it was indeed extremely boring. Anyone with eyes could see that the performers were holding back, going through the motions with ease, and it wasn't exciting at all. Xuan Yuanche didn't even ride a horse; he only shot one arrow.
Murong Wei walked alone to a small lake not far away. On the plains in late autumn, desolation and loneliness were everywhere. She sat by the lake, took out a sword manual from her bag, and studied it carefully, occasionally making marks with her pen.
She didn't have her Ice Blue Sword with her. On a whim, she wanted to practice swordsmanship, so she picked up a tree branch and moved with great precision. The movements in the sword manual and Bai Wushang's tips kept flashing through her mind. She swung, chopped, and hacked at the small branch, and soon it broke into three pieces!
She laughed breathlessly, looking for a large tree branch, when a folding fan was thrust in front of her, startling her so much that she immediately stepped back. Looking up, she saw it was Ren Fan!
Despite his young age and handsome features, his gray-white robe was rather old-fashioned, failing to accentuate his good looks and showing no trace of aristocratic bearing.
"Here, use the fan as a sword," Ren Fan said with a smile, very politely.
"No need, thank you," Murong Wei replied politely.
"Is your injury healed?" Ren Fan asked curiously.
"It's mostly fine. What are you doing here?" Murong Wei asked, noting that he had just been sitting next to Xuan Yuan Lie.
"The banquet was too stuffy. I don't like drinking, so I came out for some fresh air," Ren Fan said.
"Big businessmen have so many social engagements; it must be a headache if they don't like drinking," Murong Wei said.
"Yes, yes, so outside of social engagements, it's best to avoid drinking as much as possible. Getting drunk can easily lead to mistakes!" Ren Fan said.
Murong Wei smiled, took her leave, and was about to depart when Ren Fan called her back, handing her a bottle of medicinal powder, saying, "Doctor Murong, this medicine was obtained by chance in Shang Kingdom before, and it is very effective. If you don't mind, you might as well give it a try."
The word "mind" left Murong Wei with no choice but to accept, "Then I won't be polite, thank you all, Young Master Ren."
“Doctor Murong, I wonder if you would be interested in… joining my school? You are a master of strategy and a talent for bidding. If you were to…” Ren Fan hadn’t finished speaking when Murong Wei humbly said, “Young Master Ren, you flatter me…”
However, just as she was about to refuse, she changed her mind and hesitated. This guy had a silk painting in his possession, which was closely related to the Eightfold Treasure Box. It seemed like a good opportunity! She smiled and changed the subject, “Weiwei has already joined the Thirteenth Master’s school. It’s a pity that Young Master Ren is a step too late. If Young Master Ren doesn’t mind, you can treat Weiwei as a friend and come to spar with her often so we can learn from each other.”
“Excellent! Excellent! Doctor Murong’s medicine is truly effective. Remember to apply it.” Ren Fan was overjoyed, and his hearty smile was quite handsome.
Murong Wei didn't return to camp. Instead, she moved to another spot to continue practicing her swordsmanship. To truly establish herself in this world, martial arts were more indispensable than money. To avoid being a burden, she had to become strong.
Hunting deer here wasn't just about riding and archery skills! Martial arts were naturally essential too.
She picked up a branch and continued practicing according to the moves she remembered. The rhythm of her steps, the strength, the point of force in her arms, the accuracy of her movements, the coordination of her hands and feet, the adjustment of her breathing, the application of internal energy—everything had to be perfected.
The autumn hunting feast in the distance continued into the night, with singing and dancing, a lively scene indeed. Alone, even though the autumn night was cool as water, she was already drenched in sweat.
With a turn, her footwork changed instantly. Unconsciously, she combined it with her well-known ninjutsu, and she seemed to move with the wind. As her toes touched the ground, the branch thrust forward, not stopping, but suddenly spinning, sweeping to the right and slashing to the left, the two semi-circles creating a fiery red sword aura!
She was astonished, yet unable to stop. She didn't know when it had started, but a burning heat had been coursing through her body, coursing through all her acupoints. She had only one thought: continue, continue, and continue!
Her figure grew swift as the wind, her swordplay swift as a shadow, already closing in on the large tree ahead. If she dodged, she wouldn't be able to complete the swordplay in one fluid motion; if she continued, she couldn't afford to walk on air—she would surely fall. What to do
? Just as she hesitated, a familiar white figure appeared out of nowhere!
It was him!
He wrapped one arm around her waist and grasped her sword-wielding hand, leading her step by step up the straight tree trunk, guiding her through the moves, leading her effortlessly to the top of the tree, where he suddenly flipped backward, slowly descending from the air.
Upon landing, the swordplay was completed. She lost her balance and fell backward, and he, still holding her waist, leaned in to catch her.
Their eyes met. This was the second time she had seen this man so closely—his breathtakingly beautiful face, his deep, cold eyes like an icy pool.
It was him, Xuan Yuanche!
"You cultivate the Blazing Qi?" he asked casually, helping her up before letting go.
"Just some small sparring, Your Highness, please forgive my rudeness," she said lightly, taking a step back to keep her distance. She held grudges; she remembered everyone except Ye Bao.
"Your lightness skill is lacking. I see your steps are quite good. Learning lightness skill isn't difficult; a quick start, sinking your strength to rise, and using leverage are key. Try using the same footwork to speed it up," Xuan Yuanche said, seemingly not hearing her words, or perhaps completely forgetting the unpleasantness of yesterday.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I have important matters to attend to and must take my leave," Murong Wei bowed, preparing to leave, then hesitated and turned back. "Your Highness, is the Prince's injury alright?"
"It's fine," Xuan Yuanche replied casually.
"That's good. I apologize for my offense yesterday," Murong Wei said deliberately.
"It's alright..." Xuan Yuanche said calmly, looking at her as if he had more to say, but ultimately didn't.
"Then this humble subject will take his leave." Murong Wei bowed again before leaving, unaware that Xuan Yuanche was standing alone under the large tree in the wasteland, watching her departing figure.
Murong Wei pondered as she walked. The few steps Qi Wang had led her along, the strength of his feet as he climbed the tree, the force he used while on the tree, and the backward somersault—it seemed she could learn a great deal from him.
However, besides that, she didn't know why she had once seen a hint of tenderness in his eyes. They were so cold, so why was there warmth?
Had she misread it again? Had she misunderstood?
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but shake her head. Perhaps, it was Qi Wang who was ambiguous, his attitude unclear, making it difficult to tell whether he was friend or foe. Bai Wushang was much more endearing; at least he would openly tell her things like, "I like you, my lord," "I care about you, my lord," and "I really care about you, my lord."
If Ye Bao absolutely had to have a father, Old Bai seemed the most suitable, but to this day, she still didn't know what that cunning fellow was really up to!
When she returned to the camp, Xuan Yuanli had already returned and was searching for her all over the tent.
Shen Zui was holding a large pile of medicine bottles and was waiting outside the camp. As soon as he saw Murong Wei, he greeted her warmly and said with a smile, "Weiwei, is your injury healed? These medicines are all very good blood-activating ointments, try them on."
Weiwei?
Murong Wei was stunned. When did she become so familiar with him? Only Bai Wushang and Xuan Yuanli would call her Weiwei. She smiled back, "I appreciate Young Master Shen's kindness, Thirteenth Master, you have so many medicines."
"This one is from Shang Kingdom, this one is from Liusha, and this one is from our Nanzhao Kingdom, this one is from Han Kingdom, and there are also a few bottles from Xuan Yuan. The effectiveness of these blood-activating and stasis-removing medicines varies from person to person, you should try them all, they will be beneficial and harmless!" Shen Zui said hurriedly.
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Shen, but I'm almost fully recovered." Murong Wei continued to refuse. At this moment, Xuan Yuanli, who had heard the commotion, rushed out. He was about to speak, but upon seeing that Shen Zui was alright, he said without any politeness, "Young Master Shen, it's getting late. Shouldn't you be heading back to camp?" Shen
Zui chuckled, very gentlemanly, "Greetings, Thirteenth Master. I've come to deliver medicine to Weiwei. I'll leave after I put it down."
"Then put it down!" Xuan Yuanli said, raising an eyebrow.
Murong Wei almost burst out laughing, only to see Shen Zui's handsome face instantly contort.
"Someone, take away the medicine Young Master Shen brought." Xuan Yuanli said loudly, pulling Murong Wei into the camp. This was the royal hunting grounds, not his Shen residence; Young Master Shen couldn't put on airs here.
"When did you become so familiar with him?" Xuan Yuanli asked.
"I've seen him as many times as you have. I don't know either," Murong Wei answered truthfully.
"This guy is strange, be careful." Xuan Yuanli said, taking out a letter. Before he could even wave it, Murong Wei snatched it away. It was a letter from Ye Bao!
She quickly opened it and saw that it was still Ye Bao's crooked handwriting. It even started with "I hope Mother is well." The letter was nothing more than a rambling account of his life at sea, but it made Murong Wei grin from ear to ear.
At this moment, Xuan Yuanli brought over another set of clothes, clicking his tongue in admiration, "Murong Wei, is Bai Wushang deliberately trying to make you the object of everyone's jealousy and envy? Such a grand gesture!"
Murong Wei turned her head and saw that it was the ice-blue riding outfit she had kept in her bedroom!
"Weiwei, wear this backstage, it'll overwhelm them with its imposing presence!" Xuan Yuanli said, not caring at all that the red riding outfit was being discarded; why not use a better one?
"No, that's too flashy and will only cause trouble," Murong Wei declined.
"How about wearing it on the last day?" Xuan Yuanli really liked this blue riding outfit, especially the mask.
Murong Wei hesitated for a moment, but her heart still fluttered slightly, "Alright, anyway, Lao Bai won't see it!"
"What do you mean?" Xuan Yuanli asked, puzzled.
"I was just saying..." Murong Wei shrugged, not knowing why she had blurted it out...
Last night, a pile of medicines was laid out before her, and Murong Wei didn't know which one to use. She grabbed a bottle at random, made sure it wasn't poisonous, and used it. Surprisingly, it worked! This morning, she woke up completely pain-free and could walk normally.
She was overjoyed and quickly put away all the ointments; good things should be kept for future use.
After breakfast, a loud bugle call sounded.
"Let's go! Let's draw lots!" Xuan Yuanli was very excited. Sharing a tent, Murong Wei slept in the inner room while he guarded the outer room; he had been sleeping exceptionally well these past two days.
"How many people will participate?" Murong Wei asked as they walked.
"Those who scouted the terrain that day, unless there are special circumstances, most will participate," Xuan Yuanli replied.
"What about the Emperor?" Murong Wei asked again.
"Hehe, he's the referee. If he's in a good mood, he might show off a bit, but with Prince Qi present, he probably won't interfere!" Xuan Yuanli said.
"Has Princess Qixi woken up?" Murong Wei asked again.
"I haven't heard any news, but it's agreed you can participate!" Xuan Yuanli said domineeringly.
Murong Wei smiled, calculating how many people were skilled in riding and archery as they walked, and soon they arrived at the drawing site.
It was a wide-open plain, far from the main camp. Xuan Yuanlie sat high on a platform temporarily erected the night before, flanked by the Empress Dowagers of the East and West Palaces. In the center of the platform was a huge bronze cauldron, taller than a person, with a small iron ladder supporting it.
Two neat rows of people stood below the platform, all dressed in riding attire early to create a spectacle. As they discussed among themselves, Xuan Yuanli pulled Murong Wei to the front, facing Xuan Yuanche. Murong Wei immediately spotted Consort De and Yelü Lingrong; these two women were also participating.
An old eunuch swept his whisk, and the entire place fell silent.
He announced loudly, “Attention everyone! This year’s horseback archery competition, like in previous years, is divided into three events: riding, archery, and horseback archery. However, due to the larger number of participants this year, instead of two teams, you will be divided into three pairs. In the brocade box inside this bronze cauldron, there are three colors of ribbons: red, green, and purple. To ensure fairness, after the competition begins, starting from Prince Qi’s side on the right, five people in each pair will come up and draw lots. Each pair will be of the same color. When the competition starts tomorrow, you will tie the ribbons to your bodies to indicate your pair, so that the two empress dowagers won’t make a mistake. Do you understand?”
“Understood!” everyone answered in unison, eager and excited.
Xuanyuan Lie slowly rose, and everyone immediately fell silent. He loudly proclaimed, "Remember, once you receive the brocade box, open it immediately in public. No private exchanges are allowed. This time, the winning group will receive a surprise from me. Any instances of cheating or bribery will be severely punished!"
"We obey Your Majesty's command!" everyone replied in unison. Murong Wei wondered what might happen during the competition, given its seemingly fair format. She was also filled with anticipation; from this moment on, the real challenge had begun!
Xuanyuan Lie swung his sword, cleaving the ribbons on the bronze cauldron, signaling the start of the draw.
The first group to enter consisted of Xuanyuan Li, his two concubines, and two ministers Murong Wei was unfamiliar with.
Without anyone's intervention, all five personally retrieved their brocade boxes from the bronze cauldron. The Prince of Qi did not linger and slowly opened the boxes.
A hush fell over the entire hall. All eyes were fixed on them. Several noble ladies held their breath, their hearts pounding. If they could be paired with Prince Qi, they would gladly die, let alone win!
Murong Wei and Xuan Yuanli remained silent, waiting patiently.
However, it was Yelü Lingrong who raised her veil before Prince Qi—it was red! Consort De, not to be outdone, raised her silk handkerchief—it was green.
"This is going to be interesting. I heard Consort De is not someone to be trifled with; even Gu Xihe was outmaneuvered by her."
"I heard she's been claiming illness, saying it's an allergy, but her face is already ruined. If it were me, I wouldn't go out and embarrass myself. What if a strong wind blows her veil away? I'd like to see how she faces people afterward!"
"Yelü Lingrong is someone to be trifled with. The princess from Liusha Kingdom, her riding and archery skills are not to be underestimated!"
...
Low murmurs arose, but most people were concerned about the color Prince Qi had drawn. He slowly took out a light, fluttering purple silk handkerchief, causing an uproar.
Now, the whole family was on opposing sides; how could the competition continue?
No one cared what the other two drew. Amidst the commotion, the second and third groups went up on stage
one after another. Murong Wei and Xuan Yuanli were in the last group, both silent, their hands clenched tightly, their palms probably sweaty.
If Prince Qi and the two consorts could draw such results, what if they weren't in the same group? Only the winners can participate in the final deer hunt!
Unless they can each win a round!
At this moment, Ren Fan appeared on the stage, slowly taking out a brocade box from the bronze cauldron.
"This guy is a talent!" Xuan Yuanli whispered.
"Do you want to be in a group with him?" Murong Wei asked.
"No way, stingy people are usually slow. He's a strategist, not a soldier! I might consider Chen Zui, though, that guy is very skilled!" Xuan Yuanli said.
"A good strategist, good strategy, reasonable layout, that's how you fight easily and beautifully!" Murong Wei said.
"Damn, haha, he's in a group with Consort De! And the newly appointed Grand Councilor, Old Li!" Xuan Yuanli said excitedly.
"Consort De is alright, but I don't know about Lord Li." Murong Wei said.
"Didn't you see how old Old Li is? He's a former subordinate of the late Emperor, just transferred back to the capital from the northern frontier. He's old and useless now. As for Consort De, don't you think she's the kind of person who stirs up trouble? Who knows what kind of mess she might cause halfway through!" Xuan Yuanli said, leaning closer and whispering, "Besides, I guarantee she'll protect Prince Qi out of wishful thinking and feign defeat!"
"Master, can you guarantee you won't be in her group?" Murong Wei looked suspicious. When did this guy become so gloating?
One sentence was like a bucket of cold water poured over Xuan Yuanli, completely extinguishing all his excitement. He pursed his lips and turned to look at the stage. The vigorous Prime Minister Gu and the veteran archer Xiao entered, drawing red and purple respectively.
Immediately, the audience below started discussing again.
"Prime Minister Gu has encountered Yelü Lingrong, won't he take the opportunity to avenge Gu Xihe?"
"Both sides are enemies. Yelü Lingrong has taken the position of principal wife, and Consort De has taken the position of left principal wife. Who knows, the old prime minister will probably side with Prince Qi. It's better to please Prince Qi than anything else. Prince Qi has the final say in his own household!"
"Hehe, I'm curious about Lord Xiao. He's the head of the Ministry of Personnel, and he holds so many official positions in the court. I heard that the emperor relies on him heavily, but Prince Qi seems to have been dissatisfied with him several times!"
"Prince Qi is dissatisfied with him? Where did you hear that? Prince Qi has never interfered in politics!"
"What kind of place is the Ministry of Personnel? It's the place where bribery is rampant. Prince Qi doesn't interfere in politics, but he has defended many honest officials!"
...
While listening to the gossip, Murong Wei watched as Chen Zui, dressed in flowing white robes, ascended the high platform with a handsome and dashing air. Xuan Yuanli immediately became nervous and said, "Purple, it must be purple!" "
Why?" Murong Wei asked.
"He and Ren Fan are just here for fun, there's no faction involved. If he sides with Prince Qi, and we both draw purple ribbons, the outcome of the competition will be basically decided!" Xuan Yuanli said seriously.
Murong Wei rolled her eyes at him and said, "You'd better pray you're not in a group with Consort De! I really don't intend to let her off this time!"
Just then, the results were announced on stage. Unfortunately, Chen Zui drew a red ribbon and was grouped with Yelü Lingrong and Prime Minister Gu.
"That's great!" Murong Wei was delighted. Chen Zui and Prince Qi were on opposing sides, so there would definitely be a chance to see the two of them spar. Prince Qi's martial arts were mysterious and unpredictable, so he must be a man of many talents...
After waiting for a while, it was finally their turn.
Murong Wei was lost in thought when Xuan Yuanli suddenly realized something was wrong. There were exactly five people left, and Murong Wei was left alone!
"Weiwei, what should we do? You're last!" Xuan
Yuanli frowned. "It's okay, you go first. If I'm lucky, I'll definitely draw a group with you." Murong Wei smiled.
"You go first, I'll go last." Xuan Yuanli was vaguely uneasy, always disliking Murong Wei being alone.
"Go on, don't delay!" Murong Wei pushed him, and under everyone's gaze, Xuan Yuanli reluctantly went on stage.
Murong Wei appeared relaxed, but her heart was clenched. If she could be in a group with Xuan Yuanli, she would focus solely on winning; if they weren't in the same group, she would have to find a way to tie all three groups, which would be even more difficult given the complicated relationships behind the scenes!
She clutched her collar, watching intently as Xuan Yuanli took out the brocade box and slowly descended the iron ladder.
The four people in front of him opened their brocade boxes, showed the colors, and then went down the stage, but Xuan Yuanli still hadn't made a move.
"Thirteen, what are you dawdling for?" The Empress Dowager spoke coldly and impatiently.
Xuan Yuanli turned around, glanced at the Empress Dowager Dong but ignored her, and said to Xuan Yuanlie, "Only Weiwei hasn't drawn a lot yet. Let's open the brocade box together when she comes up!"
Xuan Yuanlie smiled playfully, about to speak, but the Empress Dowager Dong spoke first, "Emperor, when did imperial physicians become allowed to participate in the archery and horsemanship competition?"
"Qi Xi brought her. She's Qi Xi's friend. My brother said that since there aren't many members in the royal family, they're allowed to bring friends!" Xuan Yuanli hurriedly explained.
"Is that so? I didn't hear Qi Xi mention that?" The Empress Dowager Dong asked calmly, glancing casually at the lone Murong Wei below the stage, a sneer on her lips.
"Qi Xi mentioned it yesterday. Weiwei also rode in the hunting chariot yesterday! You can ask my brother if you don't believe me!" Xuan Yuanli said, his heart pounding, easily agitated.
"Is that so? I don't seem to have noticed?" Xuan Yuanlie looked thoughtful.
"Just call that girl over and ask her. Someone, summon Princess Qi Xi!" Xuan Yuanli said coldly.
Empress Dowager Dong laughed, "She was beaten the day before yesterday and is still unconscious!"
Xuan Yuanli's face turned pale, and he looked at Murong Wei, who was frowning below the stage...
Murong Wei, sitting below the stage, had already heard all sorts of murmurs and discussions.
In the past, she would have scorned this competition, but this time was different. What she wanted was on the final day, and she had to persevere.
She remembered all the comments; these bored women had better not come to her for treatment next time, or she wouldn't hesitate to show no mercy!
She didn't retreat, but instead walked onto the platform, respectfully bowed to the two empress dowagers and Xuan Yuan Lie, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, since you insist on Princess Qi Xi as a witness, please wait a moment. This humble subject can wake Princess Qi Xi."
"There's no need for that. Even if Qi Xi wakes up, she can't participate. You may leave!" the Eastern Empress Dowager said coldly, looking at Xuan Yuan Li with a frown and a sharp voice, "Thirteen, when did you become so slow and indecisive?"
Just then, the rapid clatter of hooves approached from afar.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xuan Yuan Qi Xi riding a horse, her bottom not even touching the saddle, galloping towards them.
"Wait for me! Brother Emperor, wait for me!"
"Mother, you promised me! I must participate this year!"
...
As she drew nearer, her anxious cries were heard. She came rushing towards the platform, stopping abruptly before the platform, nearly crashing into it. She tumbled off her horse, landing heavily on the platform.
The entire arena was silent except for the sound of the wind. Murong Wei's heart pounded wildly, but she managed to resist rushing down to pull Xuan Yuan Qi Xi up.
In the silent crowd, Xuan Yuan Qi Xi calmly got up, clutching her bottom, and limped onto the platform, showing none of the demeanor of a royal princess or a proper young lady.
The Empress Dowager's face darkened considerably. She said coldly, "What are you doing?"
Xuan Yuan Qi Xi stopped abruptly, glancing at Xuan Yuan Li and Murong Wei before timidly saying, "I came... to draw lots... Mother... Mother promised me that this year I could bring... bring... bring friends to the autumn hunt, just like my brother... I... I... the person I brought is... is... is... Murong Wei..."
Murong Wei felt a surge of warmth. From the halting nature of Xuan Yuan Qi Xi's reply, she could clearly see the princess's fear of the Empress Dowager. Yet, she still spoke, despite her injuries and the fact that she had even tripped and fallen in her haste.
"You're injured like this yourself, how can you bring friends on a hunt? Go back to camp and rest!" the Empress Dowager said coldly.
"Mother..." Xuan Yuan Qi Xi was incredibly cute, even acting coquettishly in public, "Mother, you promised me, I didn't participate last year... Mother, the competition doesn't start until tomorrow, I'll rest for another day, I promise I'll be fine! Don't let people say that I, a princess of a nation, couldn't participate in the autumn hunt twice due to injury, where would that leave my face, the face of the royal family!"
However, the Empress Dowager was unmoved, coldly saying, "You've already embarrassed yourself enough, someone, take the princess back to camp!"
Xuan Yuan Li frowned, finally unable to resist stepping forward, but Murong Wei quickly stopped him, whispering, "Don't be silly, if you can participate, I have a way!"
Xuan Yuan Li's brows furrowed, his hand gripped even tighter by Murong Wei, before he stepped back, looking indignant.
"Thirteen, let me see what you drew." Xuan Yuan Lie spoke calmly.
Xuan Yuanli opened the brocade box with great displeasure, pulled out a green ribbon, and didn't even glance at it. Murong Wei was slightly startled; it was green! This meant she was in the same group as Consort De, Ren Fan, and Grand Councilor Li!
Weren't these the very people he had just dismissed as worthless?
Xuan Yuanli didn't care about anything else; his handsome face was extremely sour. He pulled Murong Wei away from the stage, but Murong Wei remained calm. Even if she didn't participate openly, she could find a way in secret. Perhaps, every cloud has a silver lining!
However, just as they were about to leave, the Empress Dowager, who had been silent all along, lazily spoke up, "Murong Wei, I do have a spot. I haven't found a suitable candidate to participate this year, so I'll just give it to you."
"Bang!" The Empress Dowager immediately slammed her hand on the table, but not out of anger. She could only be angry, not speak. The Empress Dowager of the Autumn Hunt couldn't participate, but she did have a spot and could invite people she valued to participate, regardless of gender or status.
"Your Majesty, do I have a vacant spot?" The Empress Dowager Cixi completely ignored the Empress Dowager Dong's obvious anger, raising an eyebrow at Xuan Yuanlie.
"Yes!" Xuan Yuanlie replied, his face full of displeasure. This was perhaps his greatest hatred; the late Emperor had been dead for many years, yet this mother and son could easily strip him of his supreme authority and dignity with a single word!
"Weiwei, hurry up and let me see which group you'll be assigned to! I'm quite interested in watching this year," the Empress Dowager Cixi said coldly. As expected of the Prince of Qi's birth mother, her aloof temperament was as if molded from a single piece.
Murong Wei was overjoyed and quickly went to retrieve the brocade box. Without even picking and choosing, she grabbed one at random, exchanged a glance with Xuan Yuanli, and then decisively opened it.
However, the color in the brocade box left her feeling helpless—it was red. This meant she was grouped with Yelü Lingrong, Chen Zui, and Prime Minister Gu; Xuan Yuanli with Consort De, Ren Fan, and Grand Councilor Li; and Prince Qi with Gu Xizhi and Minister Xiao of the Ministry of Rites. She roughly recalled that her group consisted of noble ladies, Xuan Yuanli's group was half men and half women, and Prince Qi's group had more young gentlemen.
This meant tomorrow's first battle would indeed be difficult!
Ensuring a tie among the three groups would be even harder!
Looking at the smiling Empress Dowager, she felt a mix of emotions. She smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I drew a red ribbon." The Empress Dowager
nodded, saying nothing more.
The old eunuch registered the members of the three groups, dividing Murong Wei's group into one group, Xuan Yuanli's group into another, and Prince Qi into the third. He also explained the time and procedure for tomorrow's competition, after which everyone dispersed. The discussion about the draw results had only just begun. After
a short rest, preparations for tomorrow's competition began. Murong Wei and Xuan Yuanli returned to their tent, both looking solemn.
"Weiwei, Prime Minister Gu will definitely go after Yelü Lingrong. Let's go find Chen Zui. You must win tomorrow!" Xuan Yuanli said earnestly.
"Definitely?" Murong Wei asked, puzzled.
"Yes! As long as Chen Zui is on our side, I can guarantee to disrupt everyone in our group. Talk to Gu Xizhi later. You're responsible for keeping an eye on Yelü Lingrong and Prime Minister Gu, making sure their internal strife doesn't affect Chen Zui. Tomorrow is the horse race, a four-person relay. As long as Prince Qi's side is also in chaos, I guarantee you'll win!" Xuan Yuanli said in a low voice.
"Easier said than done. What exactly are Yelü Lingrong and Prime Minister Gu planning? What is Gu Xizhi planning? And Prince Qi, are you sure Chen Zui can defeat him?" Murong Wei asked, frowning. Xuan Yuanli covered
his forehead with one hand and turned away. "Too chaotic, I'd better take a nap!"
Murong Wei, still frowning, found a large sheet of paper, stuck it on the wall, took out a pen, and listed everyone's names one by one, connecting all the relationships and conflicts of interest!
With her arms crossed, she studied intently. At this moment, she seemed to have returned to the days when she was on missions, simply focusing on one objective and then breaking through the people around him one by one!
She circled the three characters "Xuanyuan Che," and there was no doubt that the target this time was Xuanyuan Che!
After lunch, Xuan Yuanli was first invited over by Consort De, and then Yelü Lingrong sent someone to invite Murong Wei.
Murong Wei arrived as expected. Seeing that the key members, Chen Zui and Prime Minister Gu, were already present, Yelü Lingrong said nothing of importance, only polite words, such as everyone should unite, help each other, put aside past grievances, and strive for victory.
Murong Wei kept her eyes down, her mind filled with the relationship chart pasted in Xuan Yuanli's tent. She needed to figure out how to get along before tonight and act quickly, otherwise, if she missed tomorrow's opportunity, ensuring the three pairs were evenly matched would be even more difficult.
"Alright, now, I want to say that I hope that in our group, regardless of status, age, or gender, everyone is equal. Does anyone have any objections to what I just said?" Yelü Lingrong asked seriously, displaying the demeanor of a big sister, yet pretending to be a well-behaved girl.
Everyone shook their heads, having no objections.
"Then everyone should go back and rest. See you on the battlefield tomorrow!" Yelü Lingrong said with a smile.
"Farewell, Consort Rong!"
"Farewell, farewell, see you tomorrow..."
Everyone was being polite. Murong Wei hid behind Prime Minister Gu's tall figure, avoiding Shen Zui's uncomfortable admiring gaze, and turned to slip away.
"Weiwei, wait!" Shen Zui still caught up, his figure flashing as he blocked her way.
"Young Master Shen, is there anything else?" Murong Wei asked with a smile.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask you, why do you insist on participating in this competition?" Shen Zui asked, his hands behind his back, his black hair flowing, looking very handsome.
"Just because I like it." Murong Wei replied.
"Do you want to win?" Shen Zui asked.
Murong Wei was taken aback and hesitated. Could this guy be trying to curry favor with her? Before she could answer, Shen Zui said, "I will do my best to let you win, win all three matches!"
"Weiwei can't accept that." Murong Wei lowered her head, a calculating glint in her eyes.
"I'll do everything I can for you, as long as you're willing, until one day you're willing to marry me!" Shen Zui said earnestly, placing his hands on Murong Wei's shoulders.
"Young Master Shen... Weiwei can't accept this. Weiwei's child is already six years old. Why do you do this?" Murong Wei looked helpless. "
Perhaps... it was because of that scolding you that I fell in love. Liking you is my business and has nothing to do with you, until the day you nodded, it became related to you." Shen Zui spoke softly, his voice full of affection.
Murong Wei slowly raised her head, meeting his clear eyes, and sighed helplessly. She subtly pushed his hands away, turned around, and hurriedly left, not noticing that Prince Qi was standing at the camp gate, taking everything in, his brows slightly furrowed.
"I've never failed to get what I want. This time, I want your heart!" Shen Zui's voice turned cold as he watched Murong Wei's figure disappear into the tent before leaving.
As soon as Murong Wei entered the gate, ignoring the suspicious gaze of Xuan Yuanli who had returned early, she leaned against the door, shuddering several times, goosebumps all over her body, her face filled with horror!
"What's wrong?" Xuan Yuanli asked .
After a while, Murong Wei recovered and said, "Nothing, I haven't encountered such a madman in a long time."
"Madman?" Xuan Yuanli asked, puzzled.
"Chen Zui, he really thinks I'm a naive young girl, trying to seduce me!" Murong Wei sneered, then hurriedly went to the inner room.
"How did he seduce you?" Xuan Yuanli hurriedly followed.
"Or you could say bribery, he promised me he would definitely win." Murong Wei said, while Xuan Yuanli stared dumbfounded at the relationship diagram on the wall, which was more complicated than a spider's web. Almost every line was covered with writing, densely packed, making it dizzying to look at.
Murong Wei took out a pen and immediately slashed off Chen Zui's name.
Just as she was pondering who to start with, a report came from outside the door, "Doctor Murong, the Emperor has summoned all the imperial physicians to Consort De's camp. I heard that the young prince is in trouble!"
"In trouble?" Murong Wei was startled.
"Wasn't Consort De perfectly fine just now? She was rambling on and on about unity and love," Xuan Yuanli said.
"Why would he summon all the imperial physicians? It must be for a consultation. Something really must have happened!" Murong Wei said, and hurried out.
She followed the eunuch to Consort De's camp. The area in front of the tent was already crowded. Murong Wei and Xuan Yuanli rushed inside. Inside the tent, Prince Qi was holding the unconscious Xuan Yuanmingqi, his face grim. Consort De was silently wiping away tears, her grief so intense that she didn't even care that her veil was about to fall.
Both empress dowagers were there, standing with Xuan Yuanlie. The imperial physicians were kneeling on the ground, and the head physician, Lin, was trembling as he took the pulse.
From afar, Murong Wei could tell the child's complexion was bad. Medical conditions in ancient times were extremely poor, and infant mortality was common.
"Doctor Murong, come and take a look! The high fever won't go down; it's caused by a wound infection," Imperial Physician Li said sternly, handing Xuan Yuanmingqi's hand to Murong Wei.
Murong Wei glanced at the Prince of Qi, gently taking his pulse. Her brows furrowed; the child's pulse was completely disordered. She felt his forehead and was even more alarmed; indeed, a high fever.
"How long has this been going on?" she asked, frowning. "
It started last night. Imperial Physician Li diagnosed it as a fever, prescribed medicine, and said he'd be fine by this morning. I checked on him this morning, but he was still unconscious. I just went to check on him, and it's even worse!" Consort De said, choking back tears.
"How could it be a wound infection?" Murong Wei looked at Imperial Physician Lin with suspicion.
"The medicine used to treat the wound on the young prince's knee is Bai Xun. Last night, Physician Li prescribed the medicine without asking clearly. One of the ingredients in the prescription is called Hei Li Zi, which is incompatible with Bai Xun. As soon as he took the medicine, the wound became infected again because of the persistent high fever," Physician Lin explained.
Murong Wei frowned. If it weren't for Physician Li's reminder, she wouldn't have thought of this. Although Bai Xun was a topical medicine, it could penetrate the body through the skin, which would counteract the effects of the internally ingested black cherries.
She examined Xuan Yuanmingqi's knee and, sure enough, the wound showed signs of ulceration! How cruel this was for a five-year-old child!
"Murong Wei, is Physician Lin's statement true?" the Empress Dowager asked sternly.
"Yes! It is indeed a case of two incompatible medicines!" Murong Wei replied.
"Do you have a way to treat it?" the Empress Dowager asked again.
"From last night until now, it's too late..." Murong Wei replied calmly. She was telling the truth; without any medicine, bringing down a fever wouldn't be easy. By the time a medicine was found, it might be too late to save him. "
Indeed, Your Majesty, the results of our consultation... are also the same!" Physician Lin said calmly.
Suddenly, the entire room fell silent, except for the child's heavy breathing, growing heavier and heavier...