Pei Zhi expressionlessly pulled out the gold hairpin, and the Fourth Prince slowly knelt down.
Emperor Pei nodded in satisfaction, "Well done, I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
Pei Zhi lowered his head respectfully, but inwardly he sneered.
The fourth prince asked with difficulty, "Father, why are you treating your son like this?"
The fourth prince truly didn't understand; he simply wanted to perform well in the hunt and let his father see his abilities again.
As a result, he was too radical and got lost.
Fortunately, the fourth prince noticed that some of the tree stumps had red ribbons tied to them.
The fourth prince naturally followed the red ribbon and walked over.
From beginning to end, the fourth prince had no idea what he had done wrong.
The fourth prince raised his hand, trying to grab Emperor Pei's sleeve to explain.
Pei Zhi shielded Emperor Pei, shouting, "Father, be careful of hidden weapons!"
After Pei Zhi finished speaking, she inserted a golden hairpin into the Fourth Prince's throat.
Blood splattered on Pei Zhi's face. The Fourth Prince stared at Pei Zhi intently, struggled for a moment, and then breathed his last.
Pei Zhi then collapsed to the ground in a panic, "Father, are you alright?"
Emperor Pei shook his head, about to say something, when the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.
Pei Zhi immediately stepped in front of Emperor Pei, and only when they saw that the newcomers were a group of guards and the Second Prince did the two of them feel relieved.
The second prince dismounted and looked at the fourth prince lying on the ground, the injured Emperor Pei, and Pei Zhi covered in blood.
The second prince didn't ask any further questions, and knelt down to beg for forgiveness, saying, "Your subject is unfilial, for not being by Father's side at all times."
Emperor Pei's face was dark from excessive blood loss: "Let's go back first."
The guards lifted Emperor Pei and carried him forward.
The second prince lagged two steps behind and handed Pei Zhi a handkerchief.
"Is my royal sister alright?"
Pei Zhi took it and wiped the blood off her face. "It's alright."
The bloodstains had dried, and some of them couldn't be wiped off.
The second prince kicked the fourth prince, who was lying on the ground, and asked, "What's this?"
Pei Zhi shrugged. "I don't know either. Let's see what Father Emperor has to say."
The Second Prince raised an eyebrow. Pei Zhi had been staying with Emperor Pei the whole time. Pei Zhi said she didn't know? She was just trying to fool him.
The fourth prince is dead, and the emperor is seriously injured; this matter will not end well.
The second prince didn't ask any more questions; knowing too much was not a good thing.
Upon returning to the tent, the imperial physicians immediately went to treat Emperor Pei.
Pei Zhi slipped away quietly while everyone was distracted.
Yuan Chengyu and the others asked anxiously, "Princess, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Xie Qi wrung out a warm handkerchief and gently wiped Pei Zhi's face.
Pei Zhi said indifferently, "The fourth prince is already dead, and Father Emperor has lost an arm. Now we have to see how the second prince is doing."
Pei Zhi had no deep-seated grudges with the second prince.
But Emperor Pei was crippled, and someone still had to take care of the affairs of the court.
If the Second Prince were to try and take the fruits now, Pei Zhi would not spare his life.
Xie Qi said calmly, "There were many accidents during the hunt today. The death of one more prince is not a big deal."
Pei Zhi's clothes were also stained with a lot of blood, and her wounds had reopened.
"I'll have someone prepare water for the princess. Please wash and groom yourself first."
Pei Zhi shook her head, "I still need to go see my father."
Before Yuan Chengyu could say anything, Xie Qi said, "Princess, you should go first. His Majesty probably has some suspicions about you, so it's better if you're a little embarrassed."
Emperor Pei was the Son of Heaven, so naturally he was also suspicious.
Why was Pei Zhi right beside him when he was in danger?
If Pei Zhi were to wash up and bandage herself before going to see Emperor Pei, it would only arouse his suspicion even more.
Yuan Chengyu understood as well. "If you won't change your clothes, let me bandage your wound first?"
Pei Zhi was also in great pain from her wound, so she did not refuse.
While Yuan Chengyu was bandaging his wounds, Xie Qi said, "His Majesty is seriously injured, and someone will surely take over the reins. If the princess seizes this opportunity, everything will be fine."
Once the opportunity to seize power is in hand, it is never relinquished.
Emperor Pei was only seriously injured, not dead.
If you ask Emperor Pei to hand over power to the princes, Emperor Pei will worry that you are making the princes too ambitious.
Pei Zhi is capable and a woman, so Emperor Pei has no need to worry about her future achievements.
"I see."
Yuan Chengyu helped Pei Zhi pick up her clothes, saying, "Princess, be careful."
"I know."
Pei Zhi left the tent alone, leaving Xie Qi and Yuan Chengyu staring at each other.
Pei Zhi arrived at the emperor's tent, where many ministers were standing outside.
As everyone knows, Princess Chang Le always stays with His Majesty.
Upon seeing Pei Zhi arrive, the ministers immediately surrounded him and inquired about the situation.
Pei Zhi remained silent, only saying that her father would surely be blessed by heaven.
From inside the tent came Emperor Pei's cries of pain, and palace maids carried out basin after basin of bloody water.
A moment later, Pei Zhi was summoned inside.
Emperor Pei leaned against the pillow, his breath barely audible.
Pei Zhi immediately knelt before Emperor Pei and asked with concern, "Father, are you alright?"
Emperor Pei opened his eyes and saw that Pei Zhi was still in a disheveled state, with red eyes.
Emperor Pei shook his head. "I'm fine."
"How's it going outside?"
Pei Zhi quickly wiped away her tears with her sleeve, "Many ministers are waiting outside."
Emperor Pei snorted coldly, "They're waiting for me to ascend to heaven."
“Father, please don’t talk nonsense.” Pei Zhi hurriedly said, “Father is the Son of Heaven, he will surely live to be a hundred years old.”
"By imperial decree, depart for the capital in a quarter of an hour."
Pei Zhi: "Father, you are still injured. Why don't you rest for a few days before returning to the palace?"
"This wound won't heal in a few days. This place is too dangerous. We should go back as soon as possible."
"Your subject will go and deliver the imperial decree immediately."
Emperor Pei stared at Pei Zhi's retreating figure, his wounds causing him to break out in a cold sweat.
Emperor Pei pondered what he should do after returning to the capital.
In his current state, he certainly won't be able to attend the morning court session.
Then we'll have to let the prince do it.
The fourth and fifth sons are dead, the eldest son is gone, and the third son is no longer on the royal family genealogy.
Right now, the only one we can use is the second son.
After Pei Zhi loudly proclaimed the imperial decree outside the tent, the ministers whispered among themselves.
"Lord Xie, what is your opinion on this matter?"
Grand Secretary Xie said, "How can I see it? His Majesty is alive and well, so naturally His Majesty's decree takes precedence."
"My sister, I want to go in and see Father."
Pei Zhi hesitated for a moment, "Father is injured right now and doesn't want to see anyone."
The second prince persisted, saying, "How do you know that Father doesn't want to see me without asking him, my sister?"
“If Your Majesty wishes to see Father, it is not too late to wait until we return to the palace.”
The more Pei Zhi tried to dissuade him, the more the Second Prince wanted to see Emperor Pei.
Just now in the forest, the second prince realized that his father's injuries were not serious.
The second prince needed to see his father's injuries with his own eyes so he could prepare for what would happen next.
Pei Zhi tried to stop him, but the Second Prince pushed her aside and rushed into the tent first.
Pei Zhi followed behind, while the Second Prince had already squeezed into the tent.
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