Chapter 49: Stunning Everyone, the Hunt Begins

Lu Qiaoxiao came side by side with a group of tall martial artists, looking slender and petite.

Everyone had only heard that the eldest daughter of the Yong'an Marquisate had a bad reputation, but they didn't know that she was also capable of fighting and killing.

In everyone's perception, the world on horseback was conquered by men, and women should stay in the boudoir doing housework and things like growing flowers.

But when that heroic figure appeared in front of everyone, it quickly attracted everyone's attention.

"No wonder Prime Minister Shen was so anxious to marry her home. Turns out she's a beautiful and capable fighter!"

"Although its reputation is a bit bad, it's still beautiful. It would be very charming to put it at home as a vase!"

"Mr. Chen is aloof and focused on government affairs. I think he is just keeping him at home to protect the family. How could he care about a woman?"

Pei Jinxuan was sitting in the crowd, feeling uneasy.

After all, his official position was not high, and many officials in the court had recently impeached his father for forming a clique with Prince Pingyang.

Everyone is a flatterer and looks down on the weak, so naturally they won't care too much about his face when they say something unpleasant to him.

However, he was not thinking about these insignificant rumors.

The person who used to follow him and call him "Ah Xuan A Xuan" is now going to marry someone else.

A weak and sour feeling surged into my throat, like the dense thorns on the cocklebur, piercing into my heart bit by bit.

Pei Jinxuan recalled how he had been dismissive when Lu Qiaoxiao had shot a rabbit with a bow and roasted it for him to eat as if it were a treasure.

However, now Lu Qiaoxiao appeared in front of everyone riding a horse with the reins in hand, looking very high-spirited. He became the fool who did not know how to cherish the good things.

"The Emperor has arrived, Prince Pingyang has arrived, Prince Ding'an has arrived—"

"Princess Mingzhu has arrived—"

The young eunuch deliberately stretched out his shrill voice, and the originally noisy scene suddenly became quiet.

Everyone wants to see what Princess Mingzhu looks like now after so many years of seclusion.

Women always stand out among a group of men.

Wearing a bright red embroidered dress, Wei Mingzhu has a bright and elegant appearance, like a walking morning sun.

Her beauty is extremely aggressive. Her eyebrows are like rainbows on the rivers and seas, her eyes are like stars in the silent night, and her lips are curved, stirring up pools of spring water.

All you can see is that she is slender and her face is a little pale, which makes her look sick.

Wei Yan deliberately walked beside Wei Mingzhu and observed that she must have put on many layers of powder today to make herself look better.

"Eldest sister, you are truly dazzling today. No wonder the emperor pities you."

Wei Mingzhu coughed a few times and replied calmly, "If you also wander outside for seven years, when you come back, there will be people who will pity you."

After hearing this, Wei Yan felt somewhat happy. He thought that she was still angry with her father and was just throwing a tantrum.

After everyone was seated, the Minister of Rites personally took the stage and announced the list of people participating in the hunting this year.

When the name Lu Qiaoxiao from the Yong'an Marquis Mansion was called, a strange look flashed in Wei Mingzhu's eyes.

That girl, I heard from my aunt last time, is definitely not the absurd and brainless woman that others say she is. On the contrary, she is rough but meticulous and has some means.

How bad could the person Shen Yuheng likes be?

Soon, a young eunuch came to ask Wei Yan and Wei Wu to change clothes and go on stage. Wei Wu pursed his lips and smiled at Wei Mingzhu, and asked, "Sister, why don't you join us? Just to relax your muscles?" If she could go on stage, he would have made preparations in the woods, which would be enough to scare a sick woman.

Wei Mingzhu covered her lips with a handkerchief and coughed a few times, then said with a wry smile, "Brother Wu, do you think I don't want to? With my current health, I'm afraid even if I get on a horse, I'll be thrown off immediately."

A few laughs from the others drowned out the confusion. Wei Wu frowned. He had his own spies at the Lishan Palace. He knew Wei Mingzhu's health had always been poor, but was she really that bad? Even having trouble riding a horse?

Wei Junming frowned slightly and glanced around. "It's fine if Ming'er doesn't participate, but what's wrong with this Wei Ran? How can a man of integrity not participate?"

Wei Ran, who was mentioned, was the seventh prince. He had a very low presence and his mother was only a concubine. His status was not as noble as that of Wei Wu and Wei Yan's mothers.

Therefore, until now, Wei Ran has not been crowned king.

"Yes, fifth brother, since the emperor has said so, how can you not participate?" Wei Yan was getting impatient and waved his hand to call forward two guards, who almost helped Wei Ran stand up.

Wei Ran couldn't refuse, so he had to accept the order and participate.

Shen Yuheng saw the figure from afar and couldn't take his eyes off it.

The man's cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were brighter than the light of the sky. His hand holding the cup unconsciously closed.

Jiang Weimian was surprised and said, "Changjue, the banquet hasn't even started yet, and you're already drinking?"

Shen Yuheng glared at him fiercely, signaling him to be quiet immediately.

Lu Qiaoxiao was completely unaware of the unusualness of the banquet; her heart was beating extremely fast.

It was also her first time to participate in horse riding and archery on such a grand occasion.

I heard that if you perform well, you may even be rewarded by the emperor.

Even if I can't win, as long as I can kill some birds or animals, I can go back and make some soup for my younger brother to nourish him.

He has been busy with official duties recently and originally wanted to take some time out to go hunting, but Lu Qiaoxiao stopped him and told him to focus on his work.

People who are talented in both civil and military affairs are easily envied by others.

In his previous life, Lu Shiyou was targeted by someone with ulterior motives, who took advantage of every opportunity to harm him.

Before you grow strong enough, you should bide your time.

Somehow, Shen Yuheng's cold and Buddha-like face suddenly flashed through Lu Qiaoxiao's mind.

It seems that Lord Shen is very busy with official duties, and he also has to take care of A-di, a troublesome boy, so naturally he needs some nourishment.

——

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Rites, more than 30 people participating in the hunting have gathered and taken their positions.

At the command, everyone whipped their horses and rushed into the forest farm.

Lu Qiaoxiao did not rush to the front, but chose to stay in the middle and observe the direction in which everyone was running.

Prince Pingyang Wei Wu and Prince Ding'an Wei Yan were riding side by side at the front, refusing to give in to each other. Wei Ran, the ninth prince who had always been low-key, did not look strong, but his riding posture gave people a sense of stability and sophistication.

Lu Qiaoxiao whipped the horse's buttocks and rushed into the lush forest.

After running only a few dozen meters, Lu Qiaoxiao discovered an elk running in the woods. She skillfully pulled the bow, hooked the arrow on the string with a flick of her finger, and with a light push, the arrow shot out like a rainbow through the air.

With a loud roar, the elk fell to the ground, startling a flock of birds in the forest.

Lu Qiaoxiao frowned in confusion. The noise she made when shooting an elk shouldn't be that loud.

She dismounted and hung the elk's carcass behind the horse's butt. She followed the direction where the forest birds were circling, shot a lot of wild animals along the way, and walked leisurely into the woods.

"Miss Lu, what a coincidence." A mellow and deep voice came.

Lu Qiaoxiao looked over when she heard the sound and saw Wei Yan quietly coming up behind her, holding a rabbit with a broken ear in his hand.