Chapter 18: Silencing her. She came and saw it. She can go back now...
In the following days, Shen Zhiwei stayed in the East Palace to recuperate as instructed.
Xu Shu took her pulse daily, and herbal soups and medicated meals were delivered to the warm room like water. Xiao Lingjun would come over after finishing his official duties, sometimes sitting quietly beside her, reading a book with her; other times, he would dismiss his attendants and help clear her meridians to relieve the chest pain caused by her cough.
His movements were always just the right amount of gentleness, his fingertips carrying his inner strength to soothe the acupuncture points, bringing a soothing warmth.
Both of them tacitly stopped mentioning Miss Lin and the unresolved dispute.
Jingshu found various ways to entertain her and told her some interesting stories in the palace.
It is said that the Third Prince Xiao Wangqing has been staying indoors since returning to Lanhui Garden, concentrating on recuperating from his injuries. People from the Imperial Hospital come and go every day, and it is said that his injuries have recovered well.
It is said that after Xie Mingxu returned home, his father asked him to test his homework. He complained bitterly, but he still sent invitations from time to time, wanting to visit her in the Eastern Palace. However, Xiao Lingjun rejected them all on the grounds that Ah Wei should not be disturbed during her recuperation.
Time passed easily, as Xiao Lingjun never stopped her, but she seldom went out on weekdays and didn't want to trouble others.
The weather grew warmer, the snow melted, and new buds sprouted from the branches. Shen Zhiwei's complexion gradually improved under careful care. Although he still looked thinner and paler than an average person, his coughing fits had decreased significantly, and the weariness between his brows had faded somewhat.
That afternoon, Xiao Lingjun came over after reviewing the memorials. Shen Zhiwei was copying scriptures by the window. He had a calm demeanor, and his profile had a more rosy complexion in the spring light.
He stopped and looked for a while before walking closer.
"Awei, it's spring hunting season now, and my father intends to go to the Western Garden enclosure. Firstly, to practice riding and archery, and secondly, to pray for the country, praying for good weather and good harvests this year."
Xiao Lingjun picked up the last page she had written, looked at the neat and steady handwriting on it, and said casually, "I see that you are in better spirits recently. Ah Wei, do you want to go with me? It would be nice to relax."
Shen Zhiwei put down her pen and looked up at him. Spring hunting was a royal tradition, and Xiao Lingjun participated every year, often accompanying her in the past. The wide-open grounds of the Western Garden, with its budding vegetation, were indeed more conducive to recuperation than confined within the palace walls.
"If Your Highness has given the order, I will follow." She nodded slightly.
Xiao Lingjun smiled, his fingertips brushing over the lighter bite mark on her wrist. "Several adult princes, royal family members, and children of meritorious service will be joining us for this hunt. I'm afraid Xie Mingxu must be getting frustrated and will definitely pester you. And..." He paused, his tone normal, "My third brother has just recovered from his leg injury, and the imperial physician said moderate exercise will be beneficial for recovery, so he'll be going too."
Shen Zhiwei's eyes moved slightly and he nodded.
She still remembered Xiao Wangqing's strange avoidance all the way back to Beijing from Huai'an, but now that she thought about it, it seemed a little vague. Perhaps that night at the post station, he really just had an old injury that was causing him unbearable discomfort.
Three days later, the emperor set out for Xiyuan Paddock.
Flags fluttered, and the procession was magnificent. Shen Zhiwei's carriage followed the Eastern Palace procession. As expected, Xie Mingxu rode over early in the morning, dressed in a fiery red riding habit that made his face look like a crown of jade, his eyebrows and eyes flying, and he spoke to her through the carriage window.
"Little Master Shen! You're finally out. You've been kept in the East Palace these days, and I'm afraid you've been bored. When we get to the enclosure, I'll hunt a fox for you and make you a new scarf."
Shen Zhiwei leaned against the wall of the carriage and smiled when he heard it: "Your Highness, I appreciate your kindness. I am not good at riding or shooting, so I am afraid I can only cheer you on from the sidelines."
"Hey, that's no big deal! Just watch!" Xie Mingxu waved his hands nonchalantly, in high spirits.
The Western Garden Enclosure, west of the capital, was a place of rolling hills, deep forests, and lush grass. When the royal procession arrived, advance officers had already set up camp, with tents lined up and flags fluttering.
On the first day of the spring hunt, as usual, the emperor went hunting first to demonstrate his majesty. After the drums and trumpets sounded, the ministers and the royal family members rode into the forest.
Shen Zhiwei, draped in a slate-gray cloak, stood quietly on the side of the hunting platform. She didn't want to strain her body, which creaked with the slightest movement, so she didn't wear riding gear today, wearing plain, everyday clothes.
When other ministers invited him, he would decline on the grounds of illness, and his sword and bow would be hung on his saddle like decorations.
Xie Mingxu was wearing a bright red riding suit and sitting astride a white horse. He was waving excitedly in her direction, with a smile so bright that it seemed to burn people's eyes.
Shen Zhiwei nodded in response to him somewhat helplessly, meaning that she saw it.
Her gaze passed him and fell on something a little further away.
Xiao Wangqing sat upright on the back of an exceptionally docile brown mare, dressed in a dark riding habit. His expression was much brighter than before. His injured leg clearly prevented him from controlling the horse freely, and the reins were firmly held by a burly guard beside him. He lowered his head slightly, concentrating on adjusting his arm guard, not meeting her gaze.
Xiao Lingjun was not far from Shen Zhiwei, wearing a silver-white riding uniform, with a golden crown tied in his hair. He stood as straight as a pine tree, sitting on his horse and chatting with several close ministers.
As if noticing her gaze, he turned and smiled at her, his eyes as clear as those of the little prince many years ago.
Shen Zhiwei saw him mouthing silently, “Wait until I come back.”
So she smiled and replied, "Okay."
Drums thundered and trumpets blew.
The emperor personally shot an arrow, which pierced the hanging colorful ball, causing thunderous cheers of "Long live the emperor".
The emperor was so old that he could barely draw the bow, and the ball was so close that it almost hung on the tip of his nose.
The ceremony is complete and the hunt officially begins.
Horse hooves kicked up grass and dust as a group of noble sons and royal relatives rode their horses into the dense forest, chasing the prey that had been driven out.
Xie Mingxu led the way, and the red quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest. Xiao Wangqing, led by the guard, also followed the crowd into the edge of the forest, but his pace was not very fast.
Xiao Lingjun didn't set off immediately. He checked his bowstring, then lightly saddled his horse and, leading the East Palace guards, walked at a leisurely pace toward the denser woods.
When he passed in front of Shen Zhiwei, he leaned down slightly: “Awei is in good health and not wearing protective gear, so don’t run around today.”
"……I see."
This means that he wants to take action against other princes. His Highness rarely lets her get involved in such matters now because it takes too much energy.
The din of the hunt faded into the depths of the forest, and the area around the viewing platform fell silent for a moment, save for a few eunuchs and the remaining civil officials. A spring breeze swept through the grass, bringing with it the faint sounds of horse hooves and shouts, sometimes near and sometimes far.
Shen Zhiwei gathered her cloak and found a sheltered corner to sit down. Sunlight streamed through the newly sprouted leaves. She felt a little tired; the days of recuperation hadn't fully restored her energy, and the warm sun now made her feel even more drowsy.
Time passed slowly and her eyelids almost closed.
Suddenly, a distorted roar came from the depths of the dense forest. It was definitely not the sound of an ordinary prey.
Shen Zhiwei suddenly opened his eyes.
Almost at the same time, even noisier and more chaotic voices came from the other direction, coming from far away and getting closer.
"Oh no! The horse is frightened! The Third Prince's horse is frightened!" A man who looked like a guard crawled out from the edge of the woods, his face full of horror, his clothes torn by the branches.
"The horse suddenly went mad, broke free from control, and rushed towards the cliff carrying the Third Prince!"
Xiyuan Enclosure was the imperial hunting ground, with a gently sloping terrain. How could there be a cliff? Even if there were steep slopes, they would not be considered cliffs.
The scene suddenly became chaotic.
The officials who stayed behind were panicked and stood up to look around.
Shen Zhiwei stood up suddenly, her vision darkened for a moment because of the rapid movement. She held onto the wooden pillar beside her to steady herself and reacted.
Oh, her highness took action.
Right now.
In broad daylight, in full view of everyone.
Like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, a near-numbing calm descended upon her. She watched the guard shouting at the top of his lungs, and the officials around her panicked, their true or false expressions indistinguishable.
Xiao Wangqing...finally came to this point.
She should go. She should go. She should go and see what the young man with the startlingly bright eyes in Huai'an and the prince with trembling fingers drinking ginger soup at the post station looked like in the end.
Not to save, just to observe. To confirm an ending, to resolve a worry that is not really a worry.
She walked silently to the tethering post and untied the reins of her docile mare.
"Lord Shen? What are you doing..." A civil servant tried to stop him.
"Go and have a look." Her voice was calm.
The movement of jumping onto the horse was a little slow due to long-term illness, but with a flick of the reins, the horse trotted away and headed towards the direction of the old cliff in the west that the guard pointed to.
No one really stopped it.
Maybe someone got a hint, or maybe they just didn't dare to block Donggong's way.
The further west we went, the sparser the forest became, but the terrain didn't become more precipitous, but rather gradually opened up. The so-called Old Cliff was just a slightly steep slope of earth, with rocks and dead grass at the bottom.
Not fatal at all.
Shen Zhiwei rode his horse closer and saw from a distance that several guards from the Eastern Palace were gathered at the foot of the slope. The atmosphere was tense and there was no rush to rescue them.
When they saw her coming, they silently made way for her.
A dead horse lay prone among the rocks at the bottom of the slope, its neck twisted and blood gushing from its mouth and nose. Beside it, Xiao Wangqing lay motionless, his riding clothes stained with mud and grass, one leg bent in an unnatural position.
There was no blood on his face, his complexion was pale, and his eyes were closed, as if he had just fainted.
But Shen Zhiwei knew it wasn't.
She reined in her horse and stopped a few steps away. The wind blew her hair around her temples, and she smelled the stench of blood and earth at the bottom of the slope.
"Get rid of it."
She came and saw it.
You can go back now.
Just as she was about to turn her horse around, an extremely sharp sound of breaking through the air suddenly sounded from the dense forest behind her!
That wasn't shot at Xiao Wangqing at the bottom of the slope.
The force, the angle, and the cold murderous intent it carried.
It came straight at her back.
In a split second, Shen Zhiwei only had time to instinctively lower his body to the side of the saddle.
"puff."
A muffled sound.
The expected piercing pain did not come from the back, but instead a huge impact force hit her left waist and abdomen hard.
The force was so powerful that it nearly threw her off the horse's back. Her vision went dark, and a strong, sweet, and fishy smell instantly surged up her throat, and all her breath was abruptly cut off.
She fell heavily to the cold ground, her internal organs seemed to be grasped and crushed by an invisible hand. The intense pain came over her like a tsunami a moment later, drowning all her senses.
The waist and abdomen quickly became wet, sticky and warm, and blood gushed out, soaking the blue-gray robe.
In her blurred consciousness, she heard the sound of hurried horse hooves in the distance and Xiao Lingjun's unprecedented shouts of fear and anger.
“Awei!!”
There were chaotic footsteps running towards her.
Someone carefully picked her up, their arms trembling.
She struggled to open her eyelids, her vision blurred by the severe pain, and she could only see Xiao Lingjun's bloodless face and the fleeting metallic reflection in the deep forest behind him.
It's a crossbow arrow.
It's not a hunting bow at all.
She opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but only coughed up a mouthful of hot blood foam.
Ah...I see.
It's not an accidental injury.
It's to silence someone.
After all, His Highness... could not tolerate anything that might know his secrets, might be soft-hearted, or might... no longer completely belong to him.
Including her.
As my consciousness became hazy, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger at being betrayed.
Before the cold darkness completely swallowed her consciousness, the last thing she saw was Xiao Lingjun's scarlet eyes.
It was the panic that had never been shown to anyone.
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