Chapter 137
After the trip to Fujian Mountain that day, Yan Qizhen brought over a bowl of thick medicinal soup, claiming that he had found a century-old medicinal herb.
After Bai Chuning took the medicine, the poison did not flare up again as it had in the original storyline.
It seems that Yan Qizhen has the antidote.
After that, Ying Ning accepted Yan Qizhen's invitations several times. Their lively conversation was relayed by "the person beside them," which gradually made some rumors in the capital true.
Two days before the imperial hunt, Yingning received an invitation from Empress Sun.
"Royal sister, why did the Empress invite us to participate in the royal hunt?" Bai Chuning was flipping through a book, but her attention was on the person next to her.
Bai Chuning glanced at it briefly, a sense of pride welling up inside her.
The woman beside him wore a dark purple dress with rhombus embroidery along the hem and a string of silver bells tied around her waist.
His elder sister truly looked good in any dress.
Yingning closed a book of opera scripts and noticed the gaze of the young man in the eagle robe.
Today, Bai Chuning's forehead ornament is adorned with a silver beast pattern.
His complexion was much better than before, which must be due to the effect of Yan Qizhen's "miracle drug". His brown eyes still retained a few traces of vitality.
"Her Majesty the Empress's invitation this time is probably not what Her Majesty wished."
Yingning touched Chu Ning's forehead, leaving a red mark, before continuing to speak:
"We are from the Western Regions. Although we cannot be on the battlefield or in the military camp to assess their strength, the royal hunt is indeed a very good opportunity."
Bai Chuning's eyes lit up: "So this matter is the will of the Emperor of the Min Dynasty?"
"Ah Chu, you've become smarter."
"Royal sister, A-Chu is not stupid." Bai Chuning pretended to be angry and turned a page of the book, deliberately no longer looking at Ying Ning.
Yingning handed him a piece of pastry, thinking he would still pretend.
Unexpectedly, the young man beside her immediately took the candy and began to savor it.
Ying Ning smiled faintly and looked at Bai Chuning.
The royal hunting expedition was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the majesty and bravery of the Min Dynasty's royal family.
The emperor of the Min Dynasty also understood this principle, so the invitation was not because Empress Sun favored him, but because of their identity as people from the Western Regions.
.........
On hunting days at the royal hunting grounds, countless flags flutter in the wind.
The cold wind only subsided considerably when the sun was high in the sky.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
........
The sound of drums echoed incessantly in my ears, stirring my heart and instilling in me a strange sense of struggle.
Yingning glanced around and noticed several familiar faces in the seats: the Fourth Prince Yan Qizhen, the Crown Prince Yan Dingjun, and the Sixth Prince Yan Jingxu.
The other people dressed in fine clothes around them must be the other princes.
Further away were some court officials and their families.
Empress Sun, who was on the side of the main seat, saw Ying Ning and spoke in an extremely friendly tone.
"Zhaoning, you must have a great time today."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I, Zhaoning, have been looking forward to today's hunt for a long time," Yingning replied after bowing.
"That's good."
"If there is any inconvenience, please speak directly to me," Empress Sun said with a smile, then turned her head and saw Yan Jingxu sitting in his seat.
"Xu'er, why haven't I seen you come to the palace these past few days?"
Empress Sun had not seen her youngest son for several days, and she was concerned when she saw him.
"Your Majesty, I recently went to Songzhou and paid my respects to an old general," Yan Jingxu explained.
Empress Sun did not ask any further questions. Knowing that Yan Jingxu was fond of military matters, she let him be.
The hushed whispers at the seating area never stopped.
...
"His Majesty has arrived!" The chatter abruptly ceased only when the shrill voice of the eunuch rang out.
Everyone immediately realized what was happening:
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Everyone at the table bowed upon hearing the sound, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.
"Rise," Emperor Minchao commanded, and the people on the seats slowly rose.
The emperor wore a bright yellow breastplate with a five-clawed golden dragon baring its fangs and claws on its chest. The bronze bell and dragon pearl were quite majestic, and with a wave of his hand, he seemed to command the submission of the entire world.
The chief eunuch beside the emperor spoke in a somewhat shrill voice, beginning his opening remarks:
"Gentlemen, today is the hunting day of our Min Dynasty for decades."
"Today, rank and background don't matter!"
"Whoever comes out on top will be rewarded with a pearl as bright as the moon over the sea."
"His Majesty's grace is boundless, and he appreciates those skilled in martial arts."
"The top three will all receive generous rewards!"
......
Upon hearing the name "Canghai Yuemingzhu" (meaning "Pearl of the Bright Moon Over the Vast Sea"), a considerable gasp suddenly arose from the seats in the distance.
Everyone knows that the "Moonlight Pearl of the Vast Sea" is a material used to make phoenix crowns. Each pearl is about the size of an almond, and it shines brightly at night and becomes lustrous when it comes into contact with water.
Only one out of thousands of clams might be found.
Pearls are rare, like the bright moon over the vast sea, so they are all offered to those who are revered.
The winner of today's prize will receive a pearl as bright as the moon over the sea!
Such news was enough to make all those in the seats eager to try their luck.
The chief eunuch then read out the rules of the hunting grounds, which stated that the wild animals in the hunting grounds today had been released for a period of time in advance and possessed a certain degree of wildness.
All warriors should act according to their abilities.
......
The emperor, seated on the main throne, scanned the various expressions of the people in the seats, but at this moment he noticed an empty seat next to Ying Ning.
"Princess Zhaoning, why isn't the young prince here?" the emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, my younger brother has been feeling unwell these past few days. The physician advised him to avoid exposure to wind."
"I was unable to come hunting today," Yingning replied.
Upon hearing her words, Yan Qizhen, sitting opposite her, smiled.
He knew perfectly well that Yingning was lying.
Bai Chuning had taken a medicine a few days ago to temporarily slow down the onset of the poison, so why shouldn't she be exposed to wind and coolness now?
Upon hearing this, the emperor's gaze deepened considerably, and he seemed somewhat disbelieving of Yingning's words.
“Father, I visited Princess Zhaoning a few days ago, and the young prince was indeed unwell.”
"I suppose the young prince is also saddened by his inability to participate in the hunt today," Yan Qizhen said with a smile when he noticed the emperor's expression was somewhat off.
The emperor glanced at Yan Qizhen.
I don't know what came to mind, but he spoke again:
"The young prince was unwell and missed out on a fun event."
"I remember that the young prince has been unwell since he came to the Min Dynasty. I will have someone from the Imperial Hospital take a look at him tomorrow." There was a hint of probing in his words.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty." Ying Ning nodded slightly, and when she looked up, she saw Yan Qizhen looking at her.
A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and the hazy, misty beauty between his brows was comparable to that of an immortal.
The red mole on her earlobe resembled a drop of fresh blood.
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