Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The bright red blood of the toad
Zhou Yiheng was sweating profusely.
"Your Highness, please forgive me." Su Min'er was the first to kneel down.
"Kneel, kneel..." Zhou Yiheng said, but his legs were too weak to kneel down, and he collapsed and sat down at the roots of the tree.
His turban tore apart with a crackle, and a small piece of cloth fell on the arrow, fluttering in the wind, looking so pitiful.
"Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me!" He couldn't get up, so he just knelt and kowtowed. "Your humble servant is talking nonsense! Your humble servant has lost his mind!"
Shen Qingchen nonchalantly weighed the dragon tongue bow in his hand, put on another arrow, and aimed at Zhou Yiheng's lower body.
Zhou Yiheng hurriedly tried to stand up, but couldn't. He lay on the ground, kneeling tightly together, and then he knelt down, "Your Highness, spare my life!"
“Kneel, Princess.” Shen Qingchen threw the feather arrow back into the quiver.
Zhou Yiheng turned to Jiang Hexue, trembling, "Princess, spare my life!"
Jiang Hexue then withdrew her gaze from Shen Qingchen and glanced at Zhou Yiheng: "This princess and Mr. Zhou are just casual acquaintances. I hope Mr. Zhou will think twice before speaking in the future."
"Sure, sure." Zhou Yiheng responded quickly.
"Zhou Su." Shen Qingchen stopped Jiang Hexue from wanting the two to stand up.
"Your Highness is here." Su Min'er bowed her head.
"My surname is Shen."
Su Min'er understood the hidden meaning in his words and broke out in a cold sweat.
He is not a member of the Su family and will no longer be tolerant of the Su family.
-
When they reached a deserted place in the deep forest, Jiang Hexue stopped his horse and opened his hand towards Shen Qingchen.
The latter understood and carried her onto Zhuixue's back, but he didn't hug her from behind. Instead, he faced her and held her loosely.
"Are you frightened?" he asked. "Are you wronged?"
Jiang Hexue shook his head: "Even if you don't come, I can still deal with them."
only……
The corners of her lips rose slightly, her eyes curved into two crescents, and she looked at the man in front of her with a smile. Without saying a word, she smiled and snuggled into his arms, snuggling close.
She wanted to bury herself in his chest, but also wanted to look at him, hesitant, and the furry top of her head made Shen Qingchen itchy.
He was helpless: "What's wrong?"
"I like you so much." Jiang Hexue hugged him clingingly.
Only at this moment did she understand why storybooks loved to write about the "hero saving the beauty, love at first sight" plot.
When he was shooting arrows, his peach blossom eyes were slightly narrowed, his jaw was cold and arrogant, and the blue veins on the back of his hands were clearly visible when he exerted force, which made people think of the sexy texture deep in his body when he exerted force.
But what is more attractive than his exquisite appearance, and the most charming thing about the hero who saves the beauty, is his unconditional preference.
There is someone standing firmly behind you, telling you that you are not alone.
Shen Qingchen's earlobes turned red because of her coquettishness, but he was unwilling to stop her at all, and soon he was filled with "like" in his ears.
Jiang Hexue kissed his chin and the corners of his lips, then hooked him down and kissed the tip of his nose and eyelashes.
Shen Qingchen held her indulgently, holding the restless Zhuixue with one hand, and only stopped Jiang Hexue's actions when he inadvertently met the dark eyes of Xiao Ma beside him.
The girl pursed her lips with a hint of unfulfilled satisfaction.
"It's only four years old." Shen Qingchen glanced at the pony walking alone and said with red ears.
Jiang Hexue laughed out loud and pinched his burning ears: "You are so cute."
She climbed back on the pony, rubbed its mane soothingly, and asked again, "When did you come?"
"He said when the toad was born."
"Do you care?" Jiang Hexue asked, looking up.
"Who to ask?" King Heng'an or Shen Qingchen.
“Chen Qingchen.”
"I don't care about the uterine bleeding." He said. "I care about the other things."
He tilted his head, his gaze gently falling into her eyes.
"After escaping death, being able to survive is the greatest blessing."
“Chen Qingchen cares more about how much suffering and grievances Jiang Hexue has suffered over the years.”
"And that insignificant mark, if you care," he stared at her and rolled up his sleeves. "I have it."
On Leng Bai's arm, the toad's blood is bright red and dazzling.
-
The winter hunting season was in the palace tent, with the royal family sitting in a circle.
Emperor Hengshun had seven sons and three daughters. Except for the sixth prince who died young and the youngest son, Prince Xiang Chen Zeshu, who never returned from the Northern Expedition, the other princes were all present and gathered around the campfire to share the prey.
However, the female relatives, Princess Changning Shen Churong, who was marrying in western Yunnan, did not arrive, and Princess Rouyang Shen Chutang, who was pregnant, also did not arrive.
Princess Rongchang, Shen Chuning, went south to visit her relatives. Princess Qianle, Ruan Yueyi, was not present because she was not aware of what she was doing.
The only one who has a family is Prince Jin Chen Zeyuan, and his wife Xie Junyi is still accompanying her tired aunt, Queen Xie.
So Jiang Hexue looked around and was greeted by the prince one by one as "Auntie Emperor". She inevitably asked Shen Qingchen awkwardly: "Why am I the only woman here?"
"Blame me for not thinking it through." Shen Qingchen gently touched the top of her head. "Use less, shall we go back?"
"Zhaohua, it must have been three or four years since I came hunting and roasting meat with you." Emperor Hengshun suddenly smiled brightly. "Today is a rare opportunity, we must drink and chat happily!"
The emperor's order was difficult to disobey, so Shen Qingchen responded with "yes" and lowered his eyes at her with regret.
Jiang Hexue whispered to him, "You keep busy, I'll go and find some fun later, okay?"
"Okay." Shen Qingchen also whispered. "I don't want you to go."
"I know, but I miss you so much during the day." Jiang Hexue glanced at Emperor Hengshun without rubbing his ears. "When will you come back?"
"Just before going to bed." Shen Qingchen pursed the corners of his lips.
He had been staying in the palace for two days and had not held her to sleep.
Jiang Hexue responded, and seeing that the servants had already sorted and skewered the venison legs and tenderloins, he took the tray and smiled, "Two more bowls of sour cream, some chopped wild onions and Sichuan peppercorns, and a large bowl of deer oil."
The servant brought it over very quickly. She dipped the deerskin in sour cheese, mixed it with chopped wild onions, and spread it evenly on the venison.
"Are you tired?" Shen Qingchen saw her busying around, unable to help, and after thinking for a moment, he took out a roasted chicken leg and handed it to her. "It's a good meal for you first."
Jiang Hexue shook his head, glanced at the sizzling chicken drumstick, and whispered helplessly, "How could I eat this in front of a bunch of young people?"
Shen Qingchen reacted for a moment, tore off a small piece for her, and handed it over again.
"Hot." Jiang Hexue glanced at the steam rising from the chicken.
He was truly proud and arrogant, and it was obvious at first glance that he had no experience in serving others. She complained inwardly and quietly turned her gaze away to look at him.
He held the piece of chicken between his fingers and was blowing gently. His cold brows reflected the silvery moonlight, and he looked incredibly gentle and patient.
Their eyes met, and he brought it to her lips again.
Jiang Hexue opened her mouth and took it in, letting the fresh and juicy taste spread between her lips and teeth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction.
"My teeth are sore!" It was the cry of the fourth prince, King Jing Chen Zelan.
"It's so sad that you also want to marry a concubine." Prince Jin Chen Zeyuan smiled faintly.
"Which wife is willing to follow me all over the world?" Shen Zelan was a bit of a geographer. He sighed and saw Shen Zeyuan stand up. He asked hurriedly, "Where are you going, Second Brother?"
"Looking for the princess." Shen Zeyuan responded.
Shen Zelan's face wrinkled. He looked at his eldest brother who also didn't have a concubine, then at the third and fifth princes who he didn't know well, and finally looked at Emperor Hengshun: "Father——"
"I think Chuan'er is right." Emperor Hengshun stroked his chin and looked lovingly at the couple on his right. "Zhaohua's personality has changed a lot since she got married."
"You two should also put having children on the agenda," he urged. "Zhaohua, Changning is one year younger than you, and Lingzhao is already four. Rouyang is six years younger than you, so she can give me a grandson or granddaughter next year."
"What about you? When will you give me a niece?"
Shen Qingchen instinctively glanced at Jiang Hexue. The moment their eyes met, the edges of their ears turned red.
Her bold and seductive words that night seemed to echo in my ears again.
"Royal brother." Shen Qingchen looked away. "This humble brother is not much older than the imperial nephews present here."
The aroma of roasting filled the air, indicating that Jiang Hexue's venison was ready.
"Authentic Mengzhou flavor." Shen Zelan sniffed and leaned forward to ask for it. "Uncle, a lamb leg for a deer tenderloin, is that okay?"
"He doesn't eat mutton." Jiang Hexue refused and handed him the deer tenderloin.
Shen Zelan's already round eyes widened even further: "Huh?"
The next sentence was stuck in his throat by Shen Qingchen's cold glance. He chewed the deer tenderloin and his eyes suddenly lit up.
He looked at the gentle and easy-going Imperial Aunt, and then at the aloof and unapproachable Imperial Uncle, fearing that Jiang Hexue would be in trouble and ask Shen Qingchen for his opinion: "A can of Xifeng wine in exchange for a deer leg?"
"He can't drink much, he can't handle strong liquor like Xifeng." Jiang Hexue refused again and handed him the deer leg. "Eat it, no need to change."
"Who, who can't drink much?" Shen Zelan stuttered.
Jiang Hexue was amused by his round eyes and open mouth: "Use yours."
Shen Zelan remained silent, carrying the deer leg back and sitting down.
"Don't drink too much," Jiang Hexue whispered. "Don't get drunk like on your wedding night."
The latter nodded as he was told, and with his eyelashes drooping, he looked quite innocent and well-behaved like a young boy.
When the meal was almost over, Jiang Hexue took a small box of venison and left the table to find Ruan Yueyi.
"You don't eat mutton and you have a poor alcohol tolerance?" The eldest prince, Prince Gong Shen Zeqian, handed a leg of lamb to Shen Qingchen, his stern face rarely smiling. "The emperor's aunt has a deep misunderstanding of the emperor's uncle."
When he said this, even Emperor Hengshun couldn't help laughing.
Shen Qingchen took the lamb leg and agreed.
"Tell me, how much alcohol can you drink at Hexue's place?"
Shen Qingchen made a "three" gesture.
"Three pots?"
"Three cups." Shen Qingchen corrected. "Light wine."
"You can't get drunk after drinking a thousand glasses of strong liquor, but you get drunk after drinking three glasses of light wine. Imperial uncle, oh imperial uncle!" Shen Zelan joked.
Shen Qingchen took a sip of wine, and the corners of his lips seemed to lift slightly.
The stars gradually dimmed, and the princes left one after another due to being drunk. Only Shen Qingchen remained with Emperor Hengshun.
After drinking a few pots of Gujing Gongjiu, he was the only person at the table who was as sober as Emperor Hengshun who had not drunk a drop of alcohol.
"I have never seen you disguised like this before. Tell me, why?"
"He Xue doesn't like mutton."
Emperor Hengshun clapped his hands and laughed: "Zhaohua is very attentive."
"Nian Jieqing originally came to the court to marry, has the emperor thought of a response?" Shen Qingchen changed the subject.
"speak."
"I believe that your Duke's youngest daughter, Su Ling'er, is the perfect choice."
"Since you are so deeply in love, why do you avoid the issue of having children?" Emperor Hengshun did not ask the reason, but simply asked. "You don't dislike children."
There was a tiny foam on the surface of the wine. Shen Qingchen lowered his eyes and stared, not knowing what he was thinking.
"I don't want to," he whispered after a long pause. "It's dangerous, and it's painful and tiring."
"She is enough for me."
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