The black bear charged recklessly, its bloodthirsty maw gaping as it rushed toward the nearest guard. The guard immediately leaped from his horse onto a tree, while the horse’s survival instinct drove it to gallop away. Simultaneously, over a dozen arrows shot toward the black bear.
“Whoosh!!”
Song Yao clearly heard the whistling of arrows brush past her ears, striking the black bear’s left eye with precision.
With its eye severely wounded and over a dozen arrows hitting vital spots across its body, even the thick-skinned bear couldn’t endure the assault. It let out a final, dying roar before collapsing to the ground.
…
Just like that, it was over. Everyone emerged unscathed—even the escaped horse returned at its owner’s whistle.
Song Yao: “…”
This was the first time Song Yao had witnessed Nangong Yi’s capabilities so directly, along with the disciplined training of his subordinates.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s dead.”
Her waist was encircled by a powerful arm, her back pressed against the man’s firm, warm chest. Every detail silently offered her a profound sense of security.
When it came to matters of emotion, Nangong Yi understood—and Song Yao understood even more.
It was true she wasn’t afraid, and it was true he could protect her. Yet, she delighted in playing this ambiguous game of push-and-pull between the domineering ruler and his delicate consort.
There was no other reason: while she pursued independence and self-reliance, she also admired strength. What appeal was there in loving someone weaker than herself?
She turned sideways, her affectionate gaze meeting Nangong Yi’s narrow, dark phoenix eyes. A faint smile curled at the corners of her lips:
“With Your Highness here, this humble servant naturally has no fear.”
As the two exchanged tender glances, those who had heard the bear’s roar elsewhere gradually arrived. At the sight of the black bear bristling with arrows like a porcupine, their faces paled in shock.
“Royal Brother! Royal Sister-in-law!”
“Crown Prince!” “Your Highness, Crown Princess—are either of you injured?”
“How… how could there be a bear in the hunting grounds? What was General Xu doing? What if His Majesty or the Crown Prince had been harmed?!”
Some were filled with terror, while others began to whisper among themselves, “Could it be…?”
Before they could speculate further, the Emperor and his retinue arrived. His expression darkened like ink at the scene, his authority palpable even without a word of anger.
“Xu Hongda!”
Xu Hongda, who had already dismounted and knelt before Nangong Yi’s horse upon arriving, turned and kowtowed heavily, his forehead striking the ground.
“Your servant is here! Such negligence warrants ten thousand deaths!”
After a round of accusations and reprimands, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation. The day’s hunt came to an abrupt end, and everyone followed the Emperor back to the palace.
On the return journey, the scenery along the way was beautiful, but Song Yao had no heart to appreciate it. Seizing a moment when no one was watching, she extended her pinky to hook Nangong Yi’s hand. When he glanced over, she asked plainly:
“Your Highness, will the true culprit behind this be uncovered?”
She said “true culprit,” not merely the outcome. Of course, there would be a resolution concerning the Crown Prince’s safety—scapegoats were plentiful. The real question was whether the true culprit would be shielded.
Nangong Yi opened his palm, allowing Song Yao’s finger to trace patterns on it. “Naturally.”
“Yao Yao, remember how that bear died. I will make his end just as gruesome, no matter who he is.”
Song Yao’s tracing finger paused. What did he mean? Was he indirectly telling her that the struggle for the throne was about to formally begin?
That was precisely what Nangong Yi meant—he knew she would understand.
He closed his palm, their fingers interlacing. His steady, resonant voice sounded above her head:
“No matter how the situation changes in the future, I guarantee that Furen will remain safe and sound, just as she is today.”
His tone was resolute, conveying to her in this manner:
He could protect her, so she need not fear. Whether it was sudden incidents like today’s or the struggles for the imperial throne in the future.
“This humble servant believes you.” Amidst the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats and the rustling of wind through leaves, Song Yao clasped Nangong Yi’s hand in return and slowly spoke these words.
Truthfully, Nangong Yi didn’t need to say these things to her. She had lived in this dynasty for over twenty years and understood its rules well.
From the moment she received the imperial edict of marriage, her fate had been irrevocably tied to Nangong Yi’s.
If Nangong Yi ultimately failed to ascend the throne successfully, the consequences would be catastrophic for them as a couple, their families, and all their followers.
Nangong Yi tightened his grip on Song Yao’s hand and let out a soft chuckle from his chest – a pleasant sound.
One could tell he was in good spirits.
When the main contingent returned to the Imperial Villa and the prey were tallied, Nangong Yi claimed today’s championship with an absolute advantage.
The Emperor’s prey traditionally weren’t included in the competition, since if they were, who would dare contend for the prize?
The prize was a dagger sharp enough to cut through iron as if it were mud, forged from rare Mystic Iron. After receiving it, Nangong Yi immediately gifted it to Song Yao, drawing envious glances from those who had coveted the dagger.
“What’s the point of giving it to her? She doesn’t even know how to use it.” As soon as the crowd dispersed, someone immediately voiced their sour grapes.
Bateer glared at his sister and scolded in a low voice: “Enough! Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?”
“Why are you always fixated on that Crown Princess? Could it be you’ve actually taken a fancy to Nangong Yi? Don’t forget who killed our third brother, and how many of our Mobei warriors died by whose hand!”
Jiya’s face paled as she gritted her teeth in defense: “I… I haven’t forgotten! I just wanted that dagger, what does it have to do with Nangong Yi? It’s you, Royal Brother, making wild assumptions! In my heart, he will always be our Mobei enemy!”She admitted she had felt a momentary thrill seeing the impressive array of Nangong Yi’s prey, but she swore it wasn’t from the heart.”
It was purely because Mobei people revered martial prowess and inherently respected warriors, nothing more!
“Better be that way.” Bateer sneered coldly before turning and leading his people away.
Inside Qingyun Hall.
According to tradition, numerous bonfires would be lit in the large open area before the Imperial Villa later in the evening, where the monarch and his subjects would celebrate together, preparing and roasting the day’s catch.
Therefore, Song Yao wasn’t in a hurry to bathe and change so early, instead sitting down to rest – even though she hadn’t tired herself at all during today’s hunt and had even gained a rare dagger for nothing.
“Knock, knock.” Two rhythmic knocks sounded.
Song Yao traced the patterns on the dagger’s hilt without looking up: “Enter.”
It was Ru Shuang who entered, the door opening and closing behind her.
Ru Shuang: “Mistress, it’s done. This servant personally watched Ruoxue consume it. She’s already fallen asleep by now.”
Ru Shuang’s feelings were complicated. The medicine’s only flaw was that it made the user drowsy shortly after ingestion, yet Ruoxue had truly acted just as her mistress predicted, showing no suspicion at all.
“Mistress, does Ruoxue… truly have a child in her womb?”
Song Yao set the dagger down on the small side table, lifted the teapot to pour herself a cup of floral tea, and parted her vermilion lips to speak with detached calm.
“What nonsense. It’s just a pipe dream she deludes herself with, clinging to the wish of bearing children for the man she loves.”
“When we rescued her back then, she had been submerged in the icy river during a heavy snowstorm in the dead of winter for nearly a full day and night. That person declared right then that Ruoxue would never be able to conceive children in the future. It was already a miracle her life was saved.”
Mentioning this only fueled Ru Shuang’s anger. She gripped the sword at her waist tightly. “If we had known it would come to this, our master should never have saved her!”
Song Yao chuckled softly and poured a cup of floral tea for Ru Shuang. “The human heart is hard to fathom. Calm down, there’s no need to get angry over someone like this.”
She’s not worth it.