After returning from the hunting grounds, Chu Xinxin was preoccupied and couldn't sleep well that night.
Sister, if you're really worried, why don't we go to the Prince of Huainan's residence now? I'll eavesdrop for you.
Chu Xinxin sat up, clutching her blanket: "I can't even climb over someone's wall. I'd probably be kicked out as soon as I got close."
[Isn't tomorrow the spring outing? Most of them have already gone; let's take this opportunity to have Yun Gui bring them in.]
Chu Xin thought about it for a long time and felt that it was a good idea.
......
The southern barbarians are thousands of miles away, while the capital is still a scene of peace and prosperity.
As dawn broke, the spring outing began.
Emperor Zhou had the renowned physician Wang administer strong medicine, and forced himself to attend the spring outing despite his failing health.
The spring outing will last for two days.
The first day was for everyone to participate in regular horseback archery. The eldest prince and the third prince each selected ten people, and the second day they took these ten people to participate in the hunt.
The winner is the one who hunts the king of beasts; if not, then the winner is the one who wins by sheer numbers.
Such a grand occasion was rare, and the Empress and the four imperial concubines also came.
Zhou Huaichuan was granted a pardon and his period of self-reflection ended early. Yun Zheng found a wooden wheelchair somewhere and pushed him onto the stands.
In the archery competition, Su Shi took the lead and won the championship.
However, everyone knew that he was on good terms with Zhou Huaichuan, so neither the First Prince nor the Third Prince chose him, but instead favored the second-place candidate.
Su Shi didn't care. After handing the reins to a servant, he went up to find Zhou Huaichuan.
"How about it? My horsemanship and archery skills haven't gotten any worse, have they?"
Su Shi swung his folding fan open with a flamboyant flourish and smiled at the several noble ladies who had been peeking at him.
He was dressed in a clean and neat black riding outfit, looking quite like a handsome general, which made the noble ladies blush.
Zhou Huaichuan replied to him casually, "It's acceptable."
Su Shi said with a hint of smugness, "To get a 'not bad' from you proves it's really good, hehe..."
Immediately afterwards, Su Shi looked around and muttered in confusion, "Strange, why haven't I seen Miss Chu today?"
Su Shi's personal servant immediately stepped forward: "Young Master, Miss Chu is at home embroidering her wedding dress, how could she have time to come here?"
Su Shining frowned and sighed, "She's had a tough life..."
Before he finished speaking, Zhou Huaichuan took out a brocade box from his sleeve and tossed it to him.
"What's this?"
Su Shi opened it and found it was an apricot blossom jade hairpin.
Zhou Huaichuan: "Others have already found someone else, so you should keep these things to yourself from now on."
Su Shi was completely confused: "What do you mean by 'having someone you love'? No, what are you giving me this jade hairpin for?"
Zhou Huaichuan was taken aback: "This wasn't a gift from you..."
"Hmm? For whom?" Su Shi picked up the jade hairpin and looked at it. "Are you sure you're not mistaken? I've never given away something like this."
Zhou Huaichuan: ......
I've been scammed.
A moment later, another equestrian competition took place, and Su Shi's attention was diverted.
Zhou Huaichuan watched with him for a while, then couldn't help but ask again, "When did you become acquainted with Miss Chu? You seemed to be looking for her just now?"
Su Shi nodded: "We're not particularly close. It was just a misunderstanding at the last spring banquet. Later, I ran into her again in the garden and we chatted for a while."
Zhou Huaichuan turned his head slightly and glanced at Yun Zheng.
Yun Zheng resignedly spoke up: "Young Master Su, I think I saw Miss Chu give you a purse that day."
Su Shi frowned: "What purse... Oh, you mean this?"
Su Shi, who was wearing a purse embroidered with pine branches, said, "This was embroidered for me by my mother. I accidentally dropped it on the ground that day, and she picked it up for me."
After saying that, Su Shi suddenly realized: "Huaichuan, I feel like there's something wrong with you today."
Su Shi narrowed his eyes: "Huaichuan, this person already has someone else in their heart, could it be Miss Chu? And this jade hairpin... you don't actually think I gave it to Miss Chu, do you?"
Zhou Huaichuan glanced at him indifferently: "No, you're overthinking it."
Su Shi wanted to ask Zhou Huaichuan if he had taken a liking to Miss Chu, but then she thought about Miss Chu's appearance... and Zhou Huaichuan's inability to be around women, so she decided not to ask.
Su Shi turned around and continued watching the equestrian performance.
Zhou Huaichuan lowered his head, looking at the apricot blossom jade hairpin, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
The spring sunshine shone on him, giving him a golden glow.
His features were more defined, and he looked like a god, mysterious and noble. Sitting in a wheelchair, he exuded a fragile and pitiful aura.
I was stunned by Su Shi and those noble ladies just now.
"Your Highness Prince An... is far too handsome."
......
On the other side.
With Yun Gui's help, Chu Xinxin struggled to climb over the high wall of the Prince of Huainan's mansion.
Suddenly hearing the system announce that Zhou Huaichuan's favorability had increased by 5, she was so frightened that she fell off the wall.
"Miss!"
Yun Gui quickly drew his sword and shielded her behind him, nervously observing his surroundings, fearing that someone might come.
Chu Xinxin: "Yun Gui, come help me up. It's okay, there's no one here."
The system created a real-time infrared map of the human body for Chu Xinxin, making it immediately clear whether someone was there or not.
Yun Gui glanced back and saw that Chu Xinxin had fallen face down, which was quite a painful sight.
"Miss, where is the Prince of Huainan's study?"
Chu Xinxin waved her hand and said, "Come with me."
With the help of the system, the two of them found the study of the Prince of Huainan without any surprises.
The system scan was completed as soon as Chu Xinxin stepped into the study of the Prince of Huainan.
[Sister, this study is probably just for show. The real reason we need to move that painting is...]
After Chu Xinxin moved the inconspicuous painting on the wall, the wall behind it was completely smooth.
"System, there's no way around this."
Sister, this painting is a light switch; the door is...
"Holy crap!"
Suddenly, Chu Xinxin's feet slipped and she slid down with a "thump".
"Miss!" Yun Gui jumped down as well.
The floorboards slowly closed again.
Chu Xinxin fell twice, her whole body aching terribly: "System, would it have killed you to tell me sooner?"
I told you sooner or later that you were going to come down anyway, so don't worry about this little thing.
"Then quickly check if there are any of his secret documents or anything here."
The system searched diligently.
Yes, it's in the third cabinet from the left.
Chu Xinxin received the letter, but before she could even unfold it, she heard a strange noise coming from it.
"You will both stay in the study for the next two days and are not allowed to leave even for a moment."
"yes."
The system glanced at the report and returned, saying: "There are two bodyguards up there."
Yun Gui and Chu Xinxin exchanged a glance, sensing something was wrong.
Chu Xin wanted to comfort Yun Gui and tell her not to be afraid, but Yun Gui shook her head at her, signaling her not to speak.
The guards above her were far more skilled in martial arts than her.
Chu Xinxin took out the all-purpose prop—the sleeping incense—and gestured to Yun Gui to seal his six senses.
The fragrance of intoxicating incense wafted upwards, and soon after, Chu Xinxin heard the sound of two bodies hitting the ground.
It's done.
Yun Gui carefully lifted the earthen door and pulled Chu Xinxin up only after confirming that there was no danger.
Just as the two were about to push open the door to leave, the system suddenly said: "Sister, we're surrounded."
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