Chapter 222 Hunting

"Your Majesty, don't let your body get damaged by anger. Your health is more important."

The chief eunuch knelt on the ground and trembled as he tried to persuade him.

"Where are the Imperial Guards? Go and surround the Fourth Prince's mansion. No, go to the Shen Mansion and capture Shen Wen for me. I want to see how tough she is."

"Your Majesty." The chief eunuch knelt a few steps forward and said, "You should consider the Buddha's favor instead of the monk's. The Fifth Prince is still in the hands of the Fourth Prince's wife. She is a reckless person who dares to do anything. You have to consider the Fifth Prince."

The emperor's face was filled with anger, and it took him a long time to calm down.

"The Fourth Prince's wife was so angry when she saw the Shen family's son being tortured that she made things difficult for the Fifth Prince. Your Majesty, for the sake of the Fifth Prince, how about..."

Let Shen Changhe go! !

The eunuch didn't dare to say this. After all, the emperor was the emperor. How could he admit defeat voluntarily?

But continuing the stalemate is not a solution, it will only result in both sides suffering.

The emperor narrowed his eyes dangerously, and after a long while he said in a cold voice, "Did the fourth elder send back any news?"

"They said they were training troops in East City, and it would take a few more days."

"Hmph, does he think I'm a fool?" Of course the emperor knew that he was going to look for Qi Jinping, but it didn't matter what he went there for, as long as he was not in the capital.

"Winter is over, and it is time for spring hunting. Announce the decree. The sun will be shining brightly the day after tomorrow. All officials above the third rank and royal relatives must accompany the emperor to Lingshan for hunting. No one is allowed to be absent."

"Yes, I will arrange it right away."

"By the way, did the people sent to Langyue Lake find any information?" the emperor asked immediately.

“Not yet.”

"Waste." The emperor cursed under his breath, frowning.

He also couldn't figure out who was behind the kidnapping of Qi Jinping. It was true that he hated the Qi family, but with the war at the border, he had to use him at this critical juncture.

"Tell those people to hurry up and find Qi Jinping as soon as possible. We cannot afford to lose anything at the border."

The court already has internal troubles, and must not have any external threats!

"Then the Fourth Prince...?"

There was a trace of struggle in the emperor's eyes, but he couldn't make up his mind. "Delay him for a few days and let him come back after the hunt is over."

——

"Hunting?" Shen Anan raised her eyebrows after listening to Qingfeng's report, "Are you sure the palace wants me to participate?"

When Xiao Yuan was not around, what could she, a woman who couldn't even use a bow and arrow, do? What was the emperor up to?

"The original words were that all the royal relatives and relatives above the third rank must attend and cannot be absent."

What is going on here?

Her heart suddenly lifted up, and her clear almond-shaped eyes became slightly gloomy.

"If the princess doesn't want to go, how about claiming to be sick?"

"Since we are not allowed to be absent, it means that it is not just about hunting. If we are absent, wouldn't we be in a more passive position if something happens?"

"But the master is not here, and I am really worried..."

"Don't worry." Shen Anan said confidently, "After what happened before, he won't do anything reckless."

She had a hunch that the emperor's real purpose was this spring hunt.

"Princess Consort," Mo Xiang said as she walked into the room quickly, "Miss Lin has sent someone to inquire about the eldest master's situation again."

"Tell her that the wedding date will remain the same and let her prepare for it."

Soon, she will bring her elder brother out of the Dali Temple prison.

In the evening of the second day, the night wind was still very cold, blowing into the house through the window lattice. Shen Anan was wearing an outer robe and standing by the window.

"Is Princess Consort worried about tomorrow's hunting?" Mo Xiang blew out the candle outside and walked into the house with small steps.

"no."

She was wondering what the current situation was in Langyue Lake. It had been three days since she asked Qingfeng to pass the message over, but not a single piece of news had been sent back.

She increasingly felt that Xiao Yuan's departure was actually the emperor's plan, with the goal being tomorrow's hunting. She was worried and afraid that she would not be able to hold on and protect the Shen family, the Lin family, and the Fourth Prince's Mansion.

The moonlight slanted onto the windowsill, and the floating dust could be clearly seen. She reached out and touched it, and in a trance she seemed to see that handsome and smiling face.

"When will you come back? I'm really... a little scared."

The emperor's hunting trip was a big event, and the official roads and city gates had long been heavily guarded. The imperial guards personally led the way and escorted the imperial sedan to Lingshan.

Following them came a group of ministers and royal relatives.

Ling Chenyi has finally recovered from his injuries, but he looks a lot thinner. "Xiao Yuan is not here, you can find a reason not to come."

Shen Anan lifted the car curtain and glanced at Ling Chenyi, "If he doesn't come, wouldn't he be in a passive position? By the way, where is the eldest princess? Why don't you see her?"

"My mother was too sad and fell seriously ill. Now she can't get out of bed." Ling Chenyi's eyes were filled with deep sadness again.

To outsiders, it was just a momentary surprise and regret, but to the Yongning Marquisate it was a heart-wrenching pain.

Apart from being busy with work these days, Shen Anan has been heartbroken for Hua Sheng every day.

After a moment of silence, she said, "When the hunt is over, I will go to the Yongning Marquis's Mansion to visit her."

Ling Chenyi said nothing, his eyes were deep and gloomy, "I'm afraid this hunt may have other purposes. Be careful. Li Huaiyan and I will take turns to guard you."

"Don't worry, I know my limits." Shen Anan glanced at the endless team ahead and coldly lowered the curtain.

Lingshan is located twenty miles away from the suburbs. It is designated as a royal hunting ground and no one is allowed to approach easily. It covers a large area and, of course, there are also many prey.

However, most of them were domestic animals raised by the people who guarded the hunting grounds to please the royal people. They were not sharp enough and their legs were not nimble enough.

It is a fun way for those dandies who are not good at archery to play, so that they don't return empty-handed and become a laughing stock.

However, there are ferocious beasts in the deep mountains, but no one dares to approach them.

Those who can come to participate in the hunting are not ordinary people. It is not worth risking their lives for the emperor's reward.

Lingshan had already set up tents, and Shen Anan, as the fourth prince's consort, was arranged not far from the emperor.

She was on tenterhooks the whole time, but until everyone was settled, everything went smoothly and without incident.

Am I overthinking it?

Shen Anan frowned and thought, Mo Xiang suddenly knocked on the door and walked in, frowning and said, "Princess, Liangpin sent someone to invite you over to have a talk."

Xiao Liangpin, Li Jing, also came to Lingshan to hunt. This was a treatment only for favored concubines.

She had no friendship with Liangpin, only a slight aversion and dislike for each other.

But she is a concubine after all. "I understand. Tell the person who comes. I will go there later."

Mo Xiang went out to reply, and Shen Anan picked out a hairpin with a very sharp pearl flower at the end from the makeup box and put it into her wide sleeve.

After packing up briefly, he got up and left the tent.

Mo Xiang immediately followed and said in a low voice, "I have asked Qingfeng to inform Prince Ling and Duke Li."

If only my uncle were here! ! !

She responded softly without saying anything more.