Madam Xie was a cheerful person. Upon their first meeting, she took Mu Jin's hand in a very familiar manner. When Mu Jin readily agreed to go hunting with her, she smiled even more warmly.

Mu Jin couldn't help but laugh along with Madam Xie, infected by her hearty laughter.

"Although Miss Mu and I are from different generations, we feel like we've known each other for a long time. If Prince Yi's mother were still alive, she would surely be very happy to see you as her future daughter-in-law."

Mu Jin pretended not to know and casually asked, "Does Madam Xie know the mother of King Yi?"

Upon hearing Mu Jin's question, a trace of sadness appeared in Madam Xie's eyes: "The young prince's mother is the eldest princess of our Southern Shu Kingdom. Who doesn't know that? Who doesn't understand?"

"It's just that she and I were childhood best friends, and our relationship is closer than that of most people."

Mu Jin looked at Madam Xie with a surprised expression.

Madam Xie continued, "Since the princess was born, her mother has passed away, so the emperor has poured all his love into her. Generally speaking, someone who is so pampered is often spoiled into becoming arrogant and domineering."

"However, Princess, she was born with stunning beauty, like a fairy descended from heaven. What's even more precious is that she is also a kind-hearted person. Otherwise, how could she have been deceived by that beast in human clothing, Su Mu?"

Madam Xie was outspoken, and as soon as she spoke, she realized that she shouldn't have mentioned these things in front of Mu Jin, so she quickly apologized.

"Oh dear, look at my mouth, it's really too loose! I'm just so happy to see you, and as people get older, they become more talkative. I hope you won't take offense."

Mu Jin smiled and replied, "Madam Xie, you are too kind. I like your straightforward nature, your lack of pretense. To be honest, I really don't like that hypocritical scoundrel you mentioned either."

Madam Xie was taken aback for a moment, then realized what she meant. She laughed heartily a few times, said "good" several times, and then mounted her horse with Mu Jin, joining the noble ladies of the surrounding families in the hunt.

As expected of someone from a military family, Madam Xie, though over forty, possessed an exceptional demeanor that was in no way inferior to the noble ladies and young women of the aristocratic families present.

She was agile and swift, moving like the wind and a cheetah, and soon successfully hunted three rabbits and five pheasants.

Mu Jin had no intention of showing off in this setting, and in the past hour, she had only managed to collect a pheasant.

Ladies from noble families usually find it difficult to endure the scorching sun for long.

Some people were even eager to leave, but were concerned about their reputation, so they secretly instructed their guards to place some of the prey that had been shot in the grass beforehand, so that they would not lose face in front of others.

An hour later, all the ladies and young women from noble families returned to the outdoor pavilion where everyone could rest.

Inside the pavilion, there were many ice cubes, fruits, and refreshments to help people cool off and relieve fatigue.

The ladies and young women sat inside drinking tea and eating snacks, occasionally praising each other for the number of prey they had hunted that day, or showing off how many ranks their relatives had recently been promoted, or how valuable their own fabrics and jewelry were.

Mu Jin smiled as she watched the joyful sounds from afar, but her eyes kept glancing towards the inner area.

Madam Xie handed Mu Jin a cup of tea and said, "Miss Mu, are you worried about the young prince?"

Mu Jin smiled and asked, "What time do they usually come out?"

Madam Xie laughed and said, "Men are different from us women. We women are delicate and afraid of being exposed to the sun, sweating, or getting tired. We're just going on stage to have some fun."

“Men are different. They are very competitive. If they see one family hunting a deer, they want to hunt a tiger. If one family hunts a tiger, they want to hunt a bear and win the first prize.”

“In previous years, they were unwilling to go out into the field before the sun went down, so it was still a long time before they returned.”

Mu Jin looked surprised and said, "This black bear is probably not easy to hunt, right? I wonder if we will encounter any danger?"

Madam Xie turned to look at Mu Jin, a smile playing on her lips, and said, "Miss Mu, are you worried about the young prince? The dangers of hunting certainly exist, but you don't need to worry too much. Although the beasts inside are extremely fierce, as you saw, the young prince brought many people with him today."

"Moreover, the young prince is exceptionally skilled in martial arts, unlike those spoiled brats who only know fancy moves. His ability to protect himself is quite remarkable."

Mu Jin nodded, but still looked uneasy and asked, "But the inner area is so big, what if someone gets lost inside?"

Madam Xie smiled dismissively and said, "How could that be? There are always people to guide us on every hunt, and everyone is familiar with the route."

"What if an accident happens, such as someone getting injured? How can we notify the outside world in time?" Seeing that Mu Jin was still worried, Madam Xie smiled, took Mu Jin's hand, and patted it.

"Miss Mu, please rest assured. If anyone is injured, a signal flare will be fired, and the people outside will come to the rescue when they see it."

Upon hearing this, Mu Jin smiled and said, "With Madam Xie saying so, I am relieved."

Mu Jin smiled, but secretly thought to herself that Madam Xie was unaware of what was happening inside, otherwise why would she be chatting with her so leisurely?

Mu Jin was extremely anxious. She was a complete stranger in Bianliang and couldn't find anyone to talk to. Su Yi had helped her many times, and although they often bickered, she absolutely didn't want anything to happen to him.

The thought that Su Yi might be in danger made her only want to find a way to help him immediately. Mu Jin also considered rushing into the inner area regardless of the consequences, but she knew nothing about Su Yi's plan, and if she rashly broke in, it might disrupt his plans.

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