Why watch Xiao Ji?

The wound hurt too much; I just wanted to hug Xiao Ji to recharge and feel better, that's all.

However, the occasion was inappropriate, and Emperor Mingde did not give her that opportunity.

With a wave of his hand, he instructed the eunuch in charge of counting the prey to announce the final winner of today's hunt.

"Princess Anguo!"

After uttering a lot of superfluous embellishments, the eunuch finally announced Shang Changge's title.

"Okay, okay!"

Emperor Mingde was overjoyed, clapping his hands with delight and a sense of pride.

He ordered someone to deliver the black iron used as a prize to Shang Changge, and exclaimed in admiration:

"Ge'er truly lives up to her reputation as the Empress's and Your Majesty's first child. She is more promising than your younger siblings. Your mother and I are proud of her..."

Emperor Mingde put on a very convincing act, after all, on the surface, Shang Changge was still Qingyan's most honored and favored princess.

Shang Changge cooperated fully, accepting her spoils of war, expressing her gratitude, and then turned around.

Facing the spotlight, showing no humility whatsoever, and maintaining the original owner's arrogant demeanor, slowly uttered four words:

"Gentlemen, please accept my humble offer."

That's just infuriating.

Starting with Crown Prince Shang Changze, congratulations poured in one after another.

Whether the envy is genuine or feigned, or whether it's jealousy, only each person knows the truth in their own heart.

As for Shang Changge, the feelings and thoughts of outsiders were unimportant.

The important thing is that she got what she wanted, and also unexpectedly gained an Emperor Shadow.

So she was in a very good mood at the moment, and even the waves of pain from her wound lessened considerably.

If it weren't for the occasion, she would want to sing a song, like "Today is a Good Day".

In the crowd,

Changsun Yanheng gazed at the woman who was always dazzling and flamboyant, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

At that moment, it was as if someone had thrown a pebble into his calm, still heart.

I still remember,

He used to be that kind of person, but in the end he had to restrain his sharpness and pretend to be the indifferent person he is now.

Besides the prize money

Of course, there are other rewards bestowed upon others, but that's none of Shang Changge's business.

So she paid no attention to it at all, and tossed the black iron to Qingyao, telling her to take it to their place for the next two days and keep it safe.

At three quarters past the hour of You (5:45 PM),

Bonfires blazed throughout the royal hunting grounds, the wood crackling and occasionally sending up orange sparks.

People sat around the campfire roasting meat, and the air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of grilled meat.

Because families were allowed to accompany the group, almost all the families huddled together around a campfire, including the royal family.

Since Xiao Ji was alone and a prospective imperial son-in-law, Emperor Mingde naturally invited him to sit with the royal family.

Everyone sat together, enjoying wine and meat, chatting and laughing.

"Father, please try this venison..."

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, please try some..." "The roe deer is also quite good..."

"Rabbit meat is tender..." "Brother! Rabbits are so cute, how could you eat them?! You're so cruel!"

None of these words were spoken by Shang Changge; she was focused on eating the meat.

Xiao Ji, who was arranged by the Empress to sit next to her, also remained silent and focused on cutting meat while grilling.

Whenever Shang Changge finished eating what he was holding, Xiao Ji would hand him a small plate of freshly grilled or sliced ​​food.

The two had a clear division of labor. To others, it appeared that Xiao Ji doted on Shang Changge, and that the two were deeply in love and had a very good relationship.

Some people are happy to see this happen, some remain silent, while others simply cannot stand to see it.

They have to stir up trouble for no reason to seek attention, and then they act like idiots.

Shang Rui: "I see that my elder sister and the general have a very good relationship. I'm sure the general has hunted something for my elder sister today."

What did they hunt? Could we see it and broaden our horizons?

After finishing what seemed like the umpteenth skewer of grilled meat, Shang Changge spoke up before Xiao Ji could, asking in return:

"Before we see what General Xiao gave me, shouldn't Third Brother show us what you gave Sister Xiangrong?"

Xiao Ji, the prospective consort, was invited over, and Yun Xiangrong, the prospective third prince's wife, was naturally invited over to sit together as well.

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiangrong glanced shyly at Shang Rui, and at Shang Rui's prompting, answered for him:

My cousin gave me a red fox with excellent fur, saying that the weather was getting colder.

The red fox pelt would be perfect for making a vest for me. If Your Highness wishes to see it, I will have Ping'er do it..."

Shang Changge didn't hear what Yun Xiangrong was saying at all. She was thinking about what Xiao Ji should give her later—a tiger? A bear? An eagle?

No, the wild animals in the hunting grounds had already been driven away before they arrived.

She didn't see any eagles circling in the sky today, so she shouldn't make things up.

"These two geese are what I hunted today to present to the princess."

Just as Shang Changge was deep in thought, Xiao Ji spoke up and, for reasons unknown, beckoned someone to bring over two wild geese.

The two geese were still alive, but they weren't flapping or making any noise while they were in the wooden cage.

I guess it was tired from calling and flapping around for too long, so it couldn't flap around or call anymore.

...

No one spoke around the campfire anymore; Shang Changge had no idea what the others were thinking.

Shang Changge was curious about how Xiao Ji managed to capture the two geese alive; it was impossible for them to fly up and catch them.

That could only be caught when the geese are resting on the lake. And there's a lake in the hunting grounds?

Thinking back to the map Xiao Ji gave me, it really exists.

It just so happens that it's in the opposite direction from the places she went to today. Perfect, we missed each other perfectly.

Shang Changge had no idea what the two geese represented, but Shang Changze did.

Shang Changze took the handkerchief handed to him by the servant and wiped his fingers, mentioning it casually:

"The wild goose symbolizes unwavering loyalty; the general has a kind heart."

A seemingly unintentional remark made the already silent atmosphere even more silent.

Nothing else,

Both are engaged, and everyone in the capital knows that Shang Rui now has a confidante by his side.

However, Xiao Ji publicly presented a wild goose today to show his unwavering loyalty to Shang Changge.

At once,

I accidentally made a sarcastic remark about Shang Rui, which was quite embarrassing.

The atmosphere was subtle.

Only Shang Changge was oblivious to the situation. As she picked up another skewer of grilled meat, she glanced at the man beside her and raised an eyebrow.

So sending wild geese had this other meaning?

Shang Changge genuinely didn't know; perhaps he had learned about it during his compulsory education.

But in the later days of the apocalypse, amidst the daily grind of killing zombies and searching for supplies, he forgot everything.

She was out of the loop, which is why she said something surprising.

Shang Changge: "General Xiao's gift is very good, I like it very much."

After expressing his satisfaction with the two geese, Shang Changge quickly finished the kebabs in his hand.

Taking the small plate of sliced ​​meat that Xiao Ji considerately and promptly handed over, he raised a question and offered suggestions:

"Will you send it again tomorrow? If you do, I'd like two geese, stewed in an iron pot, they're especially delicious."

...

...

The subtle tension in the atmosphere was dispelled by Shang Changge's words, "Stewed goose in an iron pot, it's especially delicious." Shang Rui, having been rebuffed, stopped his obnoxious behavior.

Following Emperor Mingde's example, they pretended that nothing had happened.

He smoothly changed the subject and continued to play the role of a good son who doesn't fight or compete.

Xiao Ji wanted to laugh, amused by his little rascal.

Her beautiful, thin lips curved into a smile, and under Shang Changge's expectant gaze, she gave a tender and loving reply:

"Alright, tomorrow I will catch a goose for the princess."

Shang Changze took in everything between the two of them, sipped his plum wine, and chuckled.