Chapter 97 Encountering Danger Her delicate, boneless hand entwined around his fingertips, lightly…
Her soft, boneless hands wrapped around his fingertips, and with a gentle force, she helped him sit down.
A soft, almost imperceptible pressure came from her shoulder, and a warm, sweet scent brushed past her ear.
"How was it? What do you think of Ah Zhuo's cooking, my husband?"
It's like scratching an itch through a boot.
However, he had just punished her, and she had also suffered grievances last night. The man's thin lips parted slightly: "Very well."
"Really? I'm glad my husband likes it."
Jiang Zhuoying strained with all her might, but her two thin arms soon became too heavy to lift.
Qi Fan took the small hand on her shoulder at the right moment, led her to the front, and gestured for her to sit down.
Without thinking, Jiang Zhuoying wrapped her arms around his neck and sat on his lap.
The man paused for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing: "Last night..."
"Shh." Soft fingertips suddenly pressed against the protrusion on his throat, the touch trembling slightly.
The beautiful girl smiled gently and said in a soft voice, "I understand the Crown Prince's good intentions."
"Yesterday, Ah Zhu was indeed playful and failed to think things through. He will definitely not do it again in the future."
Qi Fan narrowed his eyes, knowing that something was wrong with the scene before him, but the girl's soft laughter made it difficult for him to think too much.
He remained silent for a few moments, his voice slightly hoarse: "Don't worry too much about what Father said yesterday."
The little girl obediently nodded: "Yes, Your Highness, I will obey."
It's only late afternoon, and we still have to go into the mountains later.
Qi Fan paused, then looked down at the dark hair that was gently resting on his shoulder: "Let's take a nap."
The hair on her shoulder moved slightly, and she suddenly leaned close to his neck, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe.
A soft, gentle voice spoke slowly: "...I have another nightgown, I wonder if my husband would be interested?"
As soon as he finished speaking, his previously deep and restrained dark eyes suddenly flashed with a scorching gaze.
The force placed behind Jiang Zhuoying's waist suddenly tightened.
The increasingly hot and short breaths had already answered her question.
...
It wasn't until late afternoon that Chu Yixin, who was waiting at the tent entrance, finally saw her master.
It's not entirely his fault; given the commotion just now, he really didn't dare to go into the tent to urge them on.
"Sir, Lord Gu has been waiting for an hour and has already gone into the mountains ahead of us, you..."
At this inconvenient time, he originally thought his master wouldn't go out again today.
The man glanced at him: "Prepare the horses."
...
Jiang Zhuoying felt much more at ease, with a sense of security that things were developing in the direction she had anticipated.
However, this sense of security only lasted until dinner time.
Suddenly a commotion arose outside the tent. This was the Crown Prince's tent, guarded by special personnel, so such an oversight would not have occurred.
There is only one explanation.
Another incident has occurred.
Without a second thought, Jiang Zhuoying got up and walked outside, determined to see for herself what had happened.
As soon as he reached the tent entrance, he saw Pei Yun walking briskly towards him, looking anxious.
A sense of foreboding rose in her heart for no reason, and she quickened her pace to meet him.
Pei Yun quickly walked up to her and knelt on one knee before her, saying, "Your Majesty."
"What happened?" Jiang Zhuoying asked directly, without any preamble or pleasantries.
"But Lord Gu just returned to the camp and was injured."
"Gu Yunci? How was he injured?"
When Jiang Zhuoying didn't have to face Qi Fan, her mind raced.
In Changlin Hunting Ground, apart from small prey that pose no real danger, the larger prey are all specially arranged by designated personnel.
We will never allow these people of high status to be put in danger.
But if the injury was just a normal injury, it wouldn't have caused such a commotion.
Pei Yun paused for a moment, then replied in a deep voice, "According to the guards who accompany Lord Pei, they... apparently encountered a grizzly bear as tall as a person by chance."
"What?" Jiang Zhuoying exclaimed in surprise.
Her pupils widened suddenly: "Where is His Highness?"
Pei Yun's expression darkened slightly: "We haven't found His Highness's whereabouts yet, but Your Highness can rest assured, His Highness is a lucky person and will be fine."
What does it mean that good people are always blessed by heaven?
She wouldn't listen to those comforting words.
She only believed what she saw with her own eyes.
"I'm in the camp, I don't need you here. Who else can I mobilize right now?"
Pei Yun lowered his head even further: "Your Highness is considerate of his subordinates. We set off late today and originally did not plan to go into the mountains. Apart from Eunuch Chu, I did not bring many people with me."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhuoying felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.
She stumbled slightly, but fortunately Xiangyue and Xiangxing reacted quickly and steadied her from behind.
"Your Majesty, please do not worry. His Majesty has already sent many people into the mountains to search for His Highness."
To be precise, apart from the Imperial Guards who were responsible for protecting the Emperor's safety, almost all the other guards that could be dispatched had been sent out.
Jiang Zhuoying steadied herself and said, "You and Chief Jiang will immediately lead the remaining Crown Prince Yi into the mountains to search for people."
Pei Yun heard this, and immediately accepted the order and turned to leave.
Jiang Zhuoying took a deep breath, turned around and instructed, "You two come with me to see Gu Yunci."
She needs to try her best to find out the whole story.
However, on the way, she unexpectedly encountered a familiar figure again.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
Jiang Zhuoying walked hurriedly and glanced at him briefly.
Xiao Wei also looked somewhat disheveled, his clothes and hair were a little messy, and he was protecting his left arm, perhaps because he was injured.
However, she didn't have the extra energy to care for or comfort them at the moment.
Jiang Zhuoying nodded slightly: "Lord Xiao, you may dispense with the formalities."
After saying that, she continued on her way, when a hoarse voice suddenly came from behind her: "Forgive my boldness, but may I ask if Your Highness is on your way to see Lord Gu?"
Jiang Zhuoying suddenly stopped in her tracks, then turned around: "How did you know?"
"Your Highness and I were together just now."
Jiang Zhuoying trembled slightly: "Then how is he?"
Her gaze swept rapidly up and down, her tone urgent and anxious: "Since you are injured, is His Highness also injured? Why wasn't he with you...?"
Xiao Wei endured the intense pain in his left arm, his eyes fixed intently.
She finally looked at me properly.
But all that worry on her face and those concerned words were for another man.
If it weren't for His Highness's interference, she would have been his wife long ago.
"Lord Xiao? Say something!"
Jiang Zhuoying became even more anxious. She had asked so many questions, so why was Xiao Wei's gaze so strange?
Could it be that Qi Fan...
No, it won't happen.
Almost uncontrollably, her eyes instantly reddened. How could it be possible that he had schemed for so long to get everything he had now?
The man's voice was hoarse, but he finally spoke: "Your Highness and I encountered a grizzly bear. To save my life, Your Highness led people to distract the grizzly bear."
Jiang Zhuoying stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning. A sudden pain shot through her chest, as if her heart had stopped beating.
"Your Highness, I still remember the place where we parted ways."
Jiang Zhuoying almost instinctively grabbed onto this straw, forcing herself to regain her senses.
Her voice trembled slightly: "Quick, quick...quick, Pei Yun and the others shouldn't have gone far yet, go find them quickly."
"No, I will go with you. Pei Yun and the others will all follow my orders."
"I want to see him..."
Xiangyue and Xiangxing hugged her, but Jiang Zhuoying turned to the side and pushed their arms away. She took a deep breath and tried to suppress her trembling voice.
"It's alright. I'll be fine until Your Highness returns safely."
She was indeed in a state of confusion just now, but once she remembered Qi Fan's words of "calm down" from yesterday, she miraculously calmed down a lot.
Although Jiang Zhuoying had only learned to ride a horse yesterday, she was very clear about her abilities and still rode on Jiaojiao's back with Xiangyue.
Xiangxing could only stay in the tent. Jiang Zhuoying, along with Wujiu, Xiao Wei, and a servant beside him, immediately set off to catch up with Pei Yun and the others.
Fortunately, she acted decisively. Pei Yun and Jiang Li were also experienced and meticulous people. When they spotted her, they immediately reined in their horses and waited.
After briefly explaining the situation, Pei Yun did not agree with Jiang Zhuoying going along.
“Jiaojiao is connected to Your Highness’s mount by blood. Having it will be beneficial in finding Your Highness.” Jiang Zhuoying’s eyes were calm.
Pei Yun's pupils widened slightly; after hearing these words, how could he dare to disagree?
"Let's not delay any longer. We must find His Highness before nightfall."
Jiang Zhuoying added that no one dared to object this time.
The group followed Xiao Wei's memories into the mountain, where he displayed his photographic memory.
Following his memory, the group quickly arrived at the location where Xiao Wei had been injured.
It's clear that a battle had recently taken place here.
"Your Majesty, if we encounter a grizzly bear later, you must leave immediately."
Xiao Wei was quite worried and gave Xiang Yue another instruction.
Jiang Zhuoying nodded, staring at the messy footprints on the muddy ground: "Don't worry, I'm not someone who doesn't understand the bigger picture."
The group shielded her and Xiangyue's horse in the middle, cautiously following the footprints.
There should be a pit or trap not far ahead.
These were Xiao Wei's words, and Pei Yun immediately chimed in: "Yes, this cave was dug by Lord Gu a couple of days ago, who said he wanted to use it as a base to wait for prey to come to them."
"That grizzly bear is still small. With Your Highness's wisdom, you will surely find a way to lure it into the cave before making any further plans."
There was nothing unusual around them along the way. When they finally arrived at the pit that Xiao Wei had mentioned, they indeed saw a dark, furry thing that remained still inside.
As darkness fell, Pei Yun and Jiang Li immediately ordered their men to take action...
The grizzly bear is inside the cave, but where is Qi Fan?
Jiang Zhuoying stroked Jiaojiao's fur, her voice weak: "Yesterday, even from so far away, you were able to recognize your child. Will you be able to find it again today?"
"Your Highness, now that the grizzly bear has been found, why don't you return to your camp? Your subordinates will do their utmost to find His Highness."
Pei Yun urged him in a low voice again.
Knowing that she might become a burden to them if she stayed here, Jiang Zhuoying frowned and called out again, "Jiaojiao?"
Whether or not Jiaojiao truly understood her words, it actually raised its head and let out a loud neigh.
"This?" Pei Yun frowned.
"Shut up." Jiang Zhuoying frowned and glanced at him.
Then she lowered her head and stroked Jiao Jiao's fur: "Jiao Jiao, don't be afraid."
The white-haired mare tilted her head back and neighed several times, each neigh louder than the last.
Everyone held their breath as Jiaojiao carried Jiang Zhuoying and Xiangyue slowly forward, its neighing echoing in the air.
Just as Pei Yun was about to raise his hand to stop this somewhat absurd scene, an echo suddenly came from the twilight sky.
Jiang Zhuoying's eyes suddenly lit up: "It's Your Highness! Jiaojiao has found Your Highness!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the horse beneath her began to gallop away.
The group behind her immediately spurred their horses and followed closely...
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