During this autumn hunt, many officials brought their children along, hoping to gain recognition from the princes and princesses, especially the crown prince who was favored by the emperor.

If they could be on good terms with the Crown Prince, not only would they have no worries about their children's future, but they might even have no worries about their own future.

Judging from the arrangement of the accommodations at this imperial palace, it is clear that His Majesty values ​​the four attendants of the Crown Prince highly, placing them closest to the Beichen Palace.

Beichen Palace is the palace surrounded by stars in the Western Hills Palace, and only emperors, concubines, princes, and princesses are qualified to reside there.

The emperor hosted a grand banquet at the imperial palace, which was very lively. However, none of the princes or princesses were present. Not only were the princes and princesses absent, but even the four attendants of the crown prince were not at the banquet.

This leaves many people feeling empty inside.

After all, they had prepared for so long and taught the children for so long, but they didn't even meet the person in front of them, which made all their plans fall through. How could they not feel empty inside?

But they dared not ask why His Highness the Crown Prince had not attended the banquet.

Many people with ulterior motives knew that the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess's birthdays were coming up soon, and that this autumn hunt was likely organized by His Majesty to celebrate his beloved son and daughter's birthdays. However, knowing this was one thing, but if His Majesty did not intend to celebrate the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess's birthdays openly, then all their calculations would be meaningless.

The emperor, high above, sipped his wine casually.

He really disliked the Western Hills Palace, especially during the autumn hunt.

In the past, when he was still the crown prince, the late emperor enjoyed autumn hunting and would come to the Western Hills Palace with great fanfare every year.

Back then, every autumn hunt, he and his brothers would become like actors on a stage, while the late emperor and court officials were just spectators.

Every autumn hunting competition is a battle of wits and intrigue, and it's never just about simple archery and horsemanship.

Moreover, it was also at the Xishan Hunting Grounds that he set up a trap to lure those纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who have no power or influence) there to avenge Xie Shaoling, intending to teach them a lesson. However, Xie Shaoling came to stop him and broke off relations with him.

This place is his shame.

Therefore, after ascending the throne, he never came here once.

However, as he sits here today, in the very spot where the late emperor once sat, watching the performances of his ministers and their families, each with their own agendas, he begins to understand why the late emperor enjoyed coming here.

They started competing and scheming against each other at a banquet, each with their own agenda and ulterior motives. Who knows what kind of open and covert struggles will unfold during the autumn hunt?

The banquet continued, but the emperor left first.

"What is the Crown Prince doing?" he asked Zhang Shunde.

He was very fortunate that, unlike the late emperor, he had an excellent successor, so he didn't have to raise his child like the late emperor had raised poisonous insects.

Chen'er is capable of shouldering the heavy burden of Dayuan, and even has the energy to cultivate relationships with his brothers and sisters, and the energy to be filial to his father.

A loving father and a filial son——

Chen'er made him feel those four words that he never dared to even think about before.

So now he especially wants to see his crown prince and his children.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince and the others are having their meal in the side hall," Zhang Shunde replied.

"Let's go take a look." The emperor said, and walked towards the side hall first, with Zhang Shunde quickly following.

Even from a great distance, the emperor could hear the children's voices coming from the side hall.

"Yun Pangpang, don't you also dislike reading? Let's go for walks together from now on. As the Crown Prince said, 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.' I think walking is perfect for the two of us!" Ye Jingyu sat down next to Yun Shu and extended the invitation with great sincerity.

Although Yun Pangpang's reasons for disliking reading were different from his, the result was the same: since traveling ten thousand miles and reading ten thousand books had the same effect, why did they still need to read?

"Then it's settled. From now on, we'll travel together, just like in the storybooks, upholding justice and roaming the martial world with our swords!" Yun Shu said with great enthusiasm.

"You want to roam the martial world with a sword? Then wouldn't we have to learn swordsmanship first? If we don't know how to wield a sword, we won't be able to roam the martial world!" Ye Jingyu pondered seriously.

"Even if we don't know swordsmanship, we can still hang a sword at our waist to scare others! Besides a sword, we also need a jade fan. How can a dashing swordsman be without a folding fan?" Yun Shu imagined, a look of intoxication on her face.

"Yun Pangpang, you like jade bone fans? I've seen one in my mother's storeroom. I'll give you one another day!" Ye Jingyu said generously.

“Then I’ll be in charge of preparing two swords!” Yun Shu wasn’t the kind of person who would only take advantage of her friends, so she quickly said.

"Once we're all ready, we can set off—"

"What are you going to do? You haven't even been drinking, so how did you get drunk? The two of you are probably not even as tall as the sword, yet you want to roam the world with swords like others. Can you even lift the sword?" Ye Jingshu mocked them mercilessly.

"Everyone should have dreams!" Ye Jingchen said with a smile.

These two little brats were speaking so seriously; he could already picture it in his mind.

"What kind of dream? A prince and a marquis's son, do they consider wandering the martial world their dream?" Upon hearing this, the emperor finally couldn't help but push open the door and walk in, saying irritably.

"Father, what brings you here!" Ye Jingchen stood up from his seat and ran to the emperor in a few quick steps.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Xie Chang'an and the others immediately knelt down to pay their respects to the emperor upon seeing him.

Yun Shu panicked especially and knelt down very quickly, with a loud "thud" that sounded painful.

Ye Jingyu was right next to him and heard it most clearly, showing a pained expression on his behalf.

"Get up, all of you." The emperor also heard the voice and glanced at Yun Shu.

Fortunately, Yun Shu kept her head down and dared not look at the emperor, otherwise she might have been frightened again.

The other three got up calmly, while Yun Shu got up with a grimace.

"Yun Pangpang, are you alright?" Ye Jingyu asked with concern.

This is his future companion, someone he'll be traveling the world with, so he can't afford to break his legs kneeling.

Without legs, how can one roam the world with a sword?

"I...I'm fine..." Yun Shu wanted to rub her knees, but didn't dare. She endured the pain and said bravely.

"Father, we're still having dinner. Have you eaten? Would you like to join us?" Ye Jingchen invited.

The door is open now, and you can faintly hear the sounds of string and wind instruments and noise from afar. It seems that the banquet is not over yet, but the emperor, the protagonist of the banquet, is here. What has happened?

The emperor glanced at the few remaining dishes on the table, his lips twitching. How dare they invite him to join them on such a sparse spread of leftovers?

"I've already eaten, so I came to see you all," the emperor said.

"What did you two little devils mean just now? Instead of studying properly, what do you want to do?" the emperor asked, pointing at Ye Jingyu and Yun Shu.

Yun Shu's chubby face turned pale with fright. She slowly moved her body behind Ye Jingyu, trying to use Ye Jingyu's body to block him.

His Majesty's expression was terrifying!