Chapter 11 Do you have any prey you desire?

Jiang Shuifu went to the Empress's tent and stayed by her side. The Empress asked her to hunt a rabbit to eat, but she politely declined, saying, "The Crown Prince must have had a good harvest. Mother can just wait to eat."

Upon hearing this, the Empress touched her hand, smiled, and remained silent.

If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight.

Jiang Shuifu was very likable. She made the Empress laugh heartily with just a few words and even said she would personally grill meat for the Empress.

It was noon, and the first half of the hunt was over.

Smoke rose from the cooking fires at each camp.

Seeing that everyone's hands were full and they all returned with their loot, the emperor's imperial authority intensified.

They are from Dabei, and one day they will surely unify the four seas.

His gaze then fell upon Shen Jizhao.

Those who achieve great things must endure hardships, face life and death on the brink, and never regret their decisions.

Shen Jizhao changed out of his dazzling military uniform and into a deep purple robe, taking his seat to the emperor's left, exuding supreme authority. The empress and Jiang Shuifu sat on the emperor's other side.

Jiang Shuifu roasted the rabbit meat until it sizzled and the oil was overflowing. She handed one of the rabbits to the Empress.

The queen took a bite and kept praising her:

"Furkao's rabbit is so delicious, Mother wants to have one more."

Jiang Shuifu naturally obeyed, but her attention shifted as Shen Jizhao was coming over. The Empress saw her like this and jokingly laughed at her, then sat further away to make room for the young couple.

Jiang Shuifu quickly tidied the strands of hair that were sticking to her cheeks, revealing her face, which had lost some of its former beauty.

The rabbit meat in her hand was perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. She presented it to Shen Jizhao, who had just arrived beside her, as if to boast of her achievement.

"Your Highness, I have roasted some rabbit meat, which is my mother's favorite. Please try some."

When Shen Jizhao didn't make a move, Jiang Shuifu quickly added:

"It's not fishy. I've specially prepared it with cooking wine, ginger, garlic, and the like. It's edible, and Your Majesty likes it very much."

Shen Jizhao was reluctant to reach out, but he suddenly felt the Empress's gaze. The Empress gave him a stern look, meaning that he should get along well with her.

He turned his gaze back to the woman before him, who had a serene and beautiful appearance, as if she always had this expression.

After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke:

What do you want?

Jiang Shuifu thought she had accidentally offended him again, and that he misunderstood her as having impure intentions, just like last time. She quickly explained:

"I'm innocent! I was just worried that Your Highness was hungry. This rabbit, you don't have to eat it if you don't want to. I can finish it all by myself..."

Her voice trailed off. Shen Jizhao didn't want to see her looking so aggrieved, and since he wasn't blaming her, he simply interrupted her:

"I was saying that we're going deeper into the northern hunting grounds this afternoon. Do you have any prey you'd like to hunt?"

Jiang Shuifu was stunned. Was he asking about her preferences and then calling her specifically? She suddenly looked up, her eyes bright and sparkling.

"I like anything Your Highness shoots; anything Your Highness shoots is the best."

She continued talking for a while, some of it incoherent, until finally something important came to mind, and she said softly:

"However, I have heard that wild geese often circle in these mountains, but I have never seen one."

Jiang Shuifu cautiously made her request. She also had her own selfish motives. When a woman gets married, a thoughtful groom will catch a wild goose and send it to her. At that time, Shen Jizhao was always elusive and didn't have time to catch one for her.

She had been looking forward to it, but after the ceremony, there was no sign of the wild geese.

She wanted to make up for it; it was an important ceremony in her life because it was with Shen Jizhao, and she didn't want to have any regrets.

But her emotions couldn't warm Shen Jizhao's heart. He was too exhausted to listen anymore, and his gaze gradually drifted away. Someone was bound to make a move in the next few days.

"My husband, this is the only thing I want. Will you bring it back?"

Jiang Shuifu's words brought him back to his senses. The woman in front of him was full of hope, and he knew he shouldn't be distracted. He took the roasted rabbit that she had been holding for a long time.

"knew."

Shen Jizhao added:

"Your Highness is very kind."

Jiang Shuifu watched expectantly as he slowly lifted the roasted rabbit, but before the rabbit even reached his mouth, a sudden exclamation rang out.

"Wow, this rabbit smells so good!"

Tang Shan'er stopped in her tracks as soon as she approached them, staring intently at the roasted rabbit and swallowing hard.

However, since the roasted rabbit was in the Crown Prince's hands, she dared not act recklessly.

Madam Tang was utterly exasperated. She grabbed Shan'er's arm and dragged her in front of the Empress: "Shan'er, you mustn't be so unruly. Greet Her Majesty the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess."

The Empress smiled and told them not to stand on ceremony, praising Tang Shan'er in many ways, implying that Madam Tang should not scold her.

Shen Jizhao remained as wooden as ever, while Jiang Shuifu looked up and saw the young lady's greedy and eager expression. She recognized her; she had seen her at the celebration banquet last time.

Before Jiang Shuifu could speak, Madam Tang apologized repeatedly:

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness, Shan'er is just greedy and has become so fat. What noble lady is like her!"

Tang Shan'er pouted. She wasn't fat at all; her fat was precious, all from what she ate.

However, she dared not talk back to the Crown Prince in front of him; the Crown Prince was like an iceberg, and she was afraid.

Jiang Shuifu said some polite words, and then told Tang Shan'er that she could also bake and could give her some.

But she couldn't wait that long. Tang Shan'er's stomach rumbled, and she felt a little ashamed.

The awkward sound stunned everyone, and Shen Jizhao was the first to speak:

"Princess Consort, give it to her."

He handed the roasted rabbit to Jiang Shuifu, who took a moment to realize his meaning before immediately passing it to Tang Shan'er.

Tang Shan'er was very happy, and Madam Tang thanked her profusely. However, before they could exchange more than a few words, an uninvited guest arrived.

The second prince shattered this peace:

"Your Highness, it's so lively here! Oh, Madam Tang, my apologies, what brings you all here?"

Madam Tang calmly replied, and only then did the Second Prince notice that Tang Botong was reporting on court affairs before the Emperor, who was very pleased and full of praise.

"Oh, Minister Tang, you are joking. I remember your contributions."

Tang Botong waved his hands repeatedly, not daring to claim credit. His back was straight, and a hint of arrogance could be seen on his face.

The second prince pinched his hand.

"It seems this commotion isn't going to end anytime soon."

Everyone pretended not to hear this and had no reaction. Jiang Shuifu, in particular, put on airs as the Crown Princess and didn't give the Second Prince a friendly look.

After Tang Botong finished the conversation, he withdrew with his wife and daughter, and the Second Prince stepped forward:

"Father, I am very confident about the northern hunt this afternoon. I will definitely not lose to the Crown Prince this time. I will let the world know that Father's sons are all outstanding."

The emperor loved it when his sons were ambitious, and he nodded in agreement.

Shen Jizhao, standing to the side, raised his eyes. His intuition told him that this second prince was about to make his move. Sure enough, the second prince said again:

"However, in previous years it has only been held in the north, which has been rather boring. How about Father Emperor opens the forbidden area this year? Your subjects have been practicing martial arts for many years and want to prove themselves. What do you think, Father Emperor?"

The emperor's smile slowly faded, his eyes narrowed, and a sharp glint shot out as he pressed down on the second prince's back.

The second prince, refusing to back down, continued to persuade him:

There was a legend that there might be auspicious omens in the forbidden area.

The word "auspicious omen" is something no emperor can resist.

"good."

The emperor agreed, and he summoned Shen Jizhao to come forward:

"Ji Zhao, take the Full Moon Archery Bow that I have bestowed upon you. Go in with your brothers this afternoon."

Jiang Shuifu's eyes widened. Forbidden area! This place has always been off-limits to people; it's too dangerous, with countless ferocious beasts lurking around.

She instinctively wanted to speak up for Shen Jizhao, but he grabbed her wrist and wouldn't let her move.

She looked up at him; he always had that confident, nonchalant air about him.

He accepted the imperial decree, and that was all he could do.

The Empress no longer sighs. That's just how the imperial family is; even as Empress, she is powerless to change it.

The second prince's eyes gleamed slyly, and he subtly raised his eyebrows. Shen Jizhao really dared to take on this life-or-death situation!

In the end, Shen Jizhao ate Jiang Shuifu's roasted rabbit, and surprisingly, he finished it all.

Soon, the second round of hunting began. The morning was just a trial run; the main event was in the afternoon.

This hunt will cover the entire mountain forest, venturing deep into the wilderness, opening up forbidden areas, doubling the prey, including many rare and large creatures, while also increasing the danger.

Everyone in the garden bowed and stood in rows. Although the Empress appeared unmoved, her heart was in turmoil.

The emperor scattered the golden whistles, and the princes picked them up one by one. The emperor smiled and instructed them, "I believe you will all return with auspicious omens before dusk. Be careful."

The second prince clutched the golden whistle to his chest, inwardly scoffing. This golden whistle was meant for sending a distress signal. Now that the forbidden area was open for the first time this year, he was determined to ensure that Shen Jizhao would never return.

The Crown Prince of Dabei died in the forbidden area, and the Emperor could not say much. The Emperor's son could not be a useless person.

Jiang Shuifu's heart jumped when she saw that Shen Jizhao only hung the golden whistle on his waist.

Shen Jizhao seemed to see her gaze, turned around, pushed through the crowd to stand before her, and unusually bid her farewell:

"Be good and stay with your mother. I will return safely, and you will like the things I bring back."

Jiang Shuifu smiled and secretly slipped a jar of medicine into his pocket—the kind he had refused to bring yesterday—to gag him before Shen Jizhao turned away.

"Go quickly, my husband. Please be careful. I'm really looking forward to your gift. If you get hurt, use the medicine I gave you."

The emperor, seated on the throne, stroked his beard with satisfaction as he watched the two of them behaving intimately.

"The Crown Prince has really come to his senses; he's even learned to be affectionate and tender with his wife now."

Shen Jizhao then gave up, accepted her things, and took the lead into the forest.

Soon, all the men in the room followed and went inside. The Empress spoke gently to the Emperor, but her heart was cold. Then she took Jiang Shuifu's hand and asked them what they had been whispering to each other.

Jiang Shuifu simply brushed it off; if her mother knew she had asked Shen Jizhao for the wild goose, she would surely be laughed at.

On the other side, Shen Jizhao had already gone deeper into the area, but he did not fire an arrow; his prey was not there.

Following behind him was the Second Prince, whose arrows never missed their mark, and he shot down many prey.

He curled his lips into a smirk, his eyes gradually turning ruthless, and arrogantly drew back his bow and arrow, aiming it at the person in front of him.

"Ninth! Brother!"

Shen Jizhao did not turn around or dodge; his back remained straight, even though the intense hostility coming toward him was clearly amplified in his ears.

"Second brother, draw the bow fully, don't hesitate."

The second prince was provoked and increased his strength. He stared at that apricot yellow color with a sinister look, as if he was about to break the bow. Why, why was it Shen Jizhao!

"Whoosh!" The arrow was already released from the bowstring, its sharp tip spinning at high speed, locking onto the target and launching a powerful attack, destroying and exploding in an instant.

"jingle."

The golden whistle shattered. That's right, the Second Prince didn't dare to destroy it. He only dared to destroy Shen Jizhao's distress token, which would make his subsequent actions easier.

He curled his lips again, raised his eyebrows, and said with a wicked expression:

"The imperial bow is indeed extraordinary. It seems this auspicious omen has already been claimed. Second brother will not compete with you for it. However, it is not easy to come out of this forbidden area unscathed. Ninth brother, do you still want to go in? Second brother is really worried for you."

The Second Prince curled his lips sinisterly. If Shen Jizhao dared not go in, he would be disobeying the imperial decree and showing incompetence; if he went in, he would face certain death.

Shen Jizhao ignored him and rode his horse at breakneck speed. The upside-down willow branches were blown about by the strong wind. "Second brother, if you want my life, come and take it. I'll be waiting for you up ahead."

The second prince wasn't stupid; he had no intention of going to his death. He only planned to stroll around the entrance to the forbidden area.

Unexpectedly, he sped off at breakneck speed the next second.

Shen Jizhao's whip struck his horse unexpectedly, startling it and sending it charging straight into the forbidden area, forcing him to join the ranks of those courting death.

His roar echoed throughout the entire mountain forest:

"Despicable! Shameless!"

After entering the forbidden area, Shen Jizhao slowed down, carefully watching for any movement. He then released his bow and shot a wolf, achieving his first victory.

He didn't go forward, but stopped warily.

Something is very wrong with this forbidden area. Wolves always hide deep in the mountains, and this is only the outer perimeter. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be here.

This situation can only mean that there are animals in these mountains that are more dangerous and powerful than wolves, and that they have taken over the wolves' dens.

The law of the jungle prevails; it is the ultimate truth.

He walked a little further, and there were rustling sounds coming from the bushes, both very soft and very loud.

The lightest reaction is deliberately clenching your breath; the heaviest is the instinctive excitement of seeing food.

He instantly became alert, gripping the bow tightly. He could feel countless beams of light staring intently at his entire body.

Shen Jizhao hated such underhanded tactics the most, so he spurred his horse and galloped away. The wild beasts in the shadows wouldn't let him escape, and they followed closely behind him.

Every now and then, a dozen or so dark shadows gradually surrounded him, enveloping him and shrinking with each circle until they completely blocked him from all directions. Only then did they shake their long, thick, thorn-like hair, revealing their fierce fangs, and bloodily taunt him.

They were all black bears!

A note from the author:

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Here it comes! The next chapter is going to be a long one, so I'm giving my lovely readers a sneak peek: there will be some steamy content (hehe, I wonder if you guys want to read it).

Updates before the VIP chapter will be based on the rankings. Thank you for your support. The next chapter will be on Thursday (I can't exceed the word limit, X﹏X).