Chapter Twenty-One: Consort Zhang's Difficulties

In the autumn hunting grounds, banners and flutes flutter in the wind.

The annual autumn hunt has always been a silent battlefield for the power struggles among the elites of the capital. Young nobles show off their riding and archery skills, while court officials take the opportunity to curry favor and make connections. If they are lucky, they may even gain the emperor's favor.

When the Prime Minister's carriage arrived, the hunting grounds were already bustling with activity.

As the four figures stepped off the carriage one after another, the originally noisy place became eerily quiet for a moment, and countless gazes shot towards them like arrows.

"Is that the young master of the Li family? He truly has an outstanding figure."

"Who's the one in the dark red riding gear leading the way?" someone asked in a low voice.

The noblewoman beside her chuckled softly, covering her mouth: "Li Bao'er, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family. Strange, wasn't she said to be so ill she'd be blown away by a gust of wind? She looks quite well here."

"Have you heard? His Majesty has already betrothed Li Bao'er to His Highness Prince Jing as his Princess Consort."

Whispers spread throughout the room.

Li Bao'er glanced around the room. Since the Emperor hadn't arrived this year, she could relax a bit.

Just then, a purple figure suddenly rushed out from the crowd: "Sister Bao'er!"

Ye Yun rushed over, lifting her skirt, the golden butterfly hairpin at her temple fluttering wildly, just like a fluttering butterfly.

Li Bao'er smiled and reached out to catch her: "Yun'er, it's been a long time. Your voice has become even louder."

Ye Yun blushed and whispered, "Sister Bao'er is making fun of me again."

After speaking, she looked up at the figure standing to the side, looking around, and asked in a softer voice, "Brother Ayu, what are you looking for?"

Li Yu then withdrew his searching gaze, his brows furrowing slightly: "Have you seen Zhang Chi and Xiao Han?"

"I...I didn't see it," Ye Yun stammered, her face flushing as Li Yu stared intently at her.

Li Yu was secretly puzzled; the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice had a truly strange constitution.

Even though it was a clear and crisp autumn day, every time I spoke to her, her face would turn bright red as if she had been steamed in a sauna.

"Thank you," Li Yu replied politely, and then tried to pull Li Bao'er inside.

Li Bao'er sighed inwardly. Li Yu was such a blockhead; he just couldn't see Ye Yun's affection for him.

My heart aches for Ye Meimei for three seconds.

Li Bao'er waved her hand dismissively and said, "You go find them first, A-Yun and I will come later."

Li Yu scratched her head, puzzled. Why was her sister looking at her like she was a dumb goose? Before she could think further, her friend's whistle came from afar.

"Then, sister, please be careful. If anything happens, come find me," Li Yu hurriedly instructed before rushing off to the hunting grounds like an arrow.

Li Zhou came to Weichang with a purpose, and soon found his friends and they had a very pleasant conversation.

As they walked further in, Ye Yun linked arms with Li Bao'er and strolled slowly. Finally, she couldn't help but lower her voice and ask, "Sister Bao'er, I heard you're going to marry His Highness Prince Jing? Is that true? Don't you like the Third Prince?"

Feeling the curious gazes of those around her, Li Bao'er softly replied, "In the past, I mistook goodwill for love. From now on, I will be the Princess Consort of Jing."

The two were unaware of the figure following them closely. After hearing these words, the figure left.

Ye Yun beamed and whispered, "That's wonderful, Bao'er! I've always felt that the Third Prince is not good enough for you."

"However, His Highness Prince Jing seems a bit fierce."

Li Bao'er gently patted Ye Yun's hand, unsure whether to comfort her or herself, "He treats me differently."

Just as the two were having a pleasant conversation.

A commotion erupted in the hunting grounds, with a unified sound of kneeling and worship echoing from the entrance.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

A bright yellow canopy entered the arena, and the iron armor of the Imperial Guards reflected a blinding, cold light.

The emperor and empress walked slowly in, followed by the jeweled imperial concubine, Mu Yuan's birth mother.

The princes and princesses followed closely behind, while the crown prince was still imprisoned in the Eastern Palace.

Today, Mu Cenlin was dressed in a dark purple brocade riding outfit, looking exceptionally handsome.

The injuries on the Third Prince Mu Yuan's face have largely healed, with only faint bruises visible at the corners of his lips.

The fourth princess, Mu Yunshang, held the fifth prince's little hand and looked around curiously from time to time.

This year, almost the entire royal family was mobilized for the hunt. Li Bao'er knelt on the ground, her eyebrows twitching, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Sure enough, as the group passed in front of her, a delicate yet sharp voice suddenly rang out.

The person who said "Raise your head" was Consort Zhang, Mu Yuan's birth mother.

Li Bao'er sighed inwardly. This Consort Zhang always found a way to make things difficult for her whenever they met.

The power structure in ancient times was a nuisance; you had to kneel, or you'd be beheaded.

Li Bao'er slowly raised her head. As far as her eyes could see, the woman on the palanquin had her hair styled in a high bun, and her golden phoenix hairpin shone brightly in the sunlight. She was truly elegant and noble.

"Your humble daughter, Li Bao'er, pays respects to His Majesty, Empress, and Imperial Concubine." Her voice was clear and melodious, neither humble nor arrogant.

Consort Zhang gently tapped the armrest with her nail-painted fingertips.

Ever since she heard that Li Bao'er was going to marry that mad king, it felt like a thorn had been planted in her heart. When this girl was obsessed with Yuan'er, she found her an eyesore; now that she was going to marry someone else, it made her even more unhappy.

Yuan'er is the pride of heaven; it's only right that he doesn't want anyone else. How can he allow anyone else to abandon him first?

Moreover, Li Bao'er's marriage partner is the Second Prince, whom she dislikes the most.

Because of this, she smashed countless tea sets in her palace, causing the emperor to stay in the long-neglected empress's palace recently.

Today, the emperor brought the empress along for the autumn hunt, which is unprecedented for him. Isn't that a slap in the face to her?

Consort Zhang's red lips curled slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes: "I heard that Miss Li was chasing after Yuan'er to give him sachets just a few days ago, how come she's about to marry someone else in the blink of an eye?"

She lightly stroked the golden phoenix hairpin at her temple with her fingertips, and said meaningfully, "Such a fickle and promiscuous behavior is not good."

"Imperial Consort!" the Emperor suddenly interrupted, his dragon-patterned sleeves brushing heavily against the palanquin's armrests.

He gave Consort Zhang a deep, penetrating look, which startled her so much that she trembled in her hand holding the fan.

The emperor's voice, though not angry, carried an imposing authority: "The Li family is about to be included in my imperial genealogy. My beloved concubine, be careful what you say."

Consort Zhang's face turned pale.

She gripped the fan handle tightly in resentment; His Majesty hadn't humiliated her in public for many years!

The Empress looked at Consort Zhang with a smile, her lips slightly parted: "Sister, don't believe the rumors circulating in the streets. A woman's reputation is extremely important."

Consort Zhang forced a smile, but her nails dug into her palms. "It was my fault. I was just thinking that Prince Jing is cold-hearted and I was afraid that Miss Li would be wronged."

The emperor gave her a meaningful look: "Cen Lin's marriage was bestowed by me personally; it's not for you to question it."

After saying that, he turned to Li Bao'er and said in a gentler tone, "Get up, we'll be family from now on."

As Li Bao'er bowed her head to express her gratitude, she caught a glimpse of Mu Cenlin standing beside the imperial carriage out of the corner of her eye.

The scar under his right eye was eerily red, and he was glancing at Consort Zhang with a half-smile.