Chapter 913 Hunting (6)
Shen Miao was startled and couldn't help but look at Xie Jingxing. Lu Wan'er wouldn't lie in front of Xie Jingxing. Xie Jingxing had actually heard Lu Wan'er play the piano? And even praised Lu Wan'er's outstanding piano skills?
Seeing Shen Miao's suspicious look, Xie Jingxing raised his lips slightly and said with a wicked smile: "Oh? Are you unhappy?"
Shen Miao turned her head away.
Xie Jingxing shrugged, and when he looked at Lu Wan'er again, his expression had changed. He had handsome eyebrows and fine eyes, and he still spoke lazily, but his smile was gone.
"When I was chatting with my brother, I met Concubine Jing. She said Fourth Miss Lu was playing the zither in Jinghua Palace and asked my brother to go listen. I heard it that day and said it was comparable to the sound of crows and sparrows. Fourth Miss Lu, you can't even tell the difference between sarcasm and compliments? You really need a master teacher to guide your brain."
Shen Miao almost burst out laughing, she hadn't realized Lu Wan'er was so stupid. Xie Jingxing was never merciful when he spoke, so why would he care if there were people around?
Lu Wan'er's face immediately turned red.
In fact, back in Jinghua Palace, after she finished playing the zither, she was completely focused on Prince Rui. Her heart was pounding, and she was so enchanted by his handsome appearance that she couldn't even listen to what he was saying. She didn't hear clearly, thinking he was praising her. Now that he had pointed it out, she looked like a joke, and Lu Wan'er was stunned.
Xie Jingxing glanced at her slowly and said, "Also, I am the emperor's brother. Miss Lu, please don't mention things like going to the concubine's bedroom in the future. If someone doesn't know, they might think that Miss Lu is deliberately instigating things. I can't afford such a charge." After that, he pulled Shen Miao away and left Lu Wan'er alone.
Shen Miao felt that Lu Wan'er was rather foolish and pitiful, so she asked Xie Jingxing, "The Lu family is so powerful, why do all the young ladies they raise look like this?" Whether it was Concubine Jing or Lu Wan'er, they were almost the same as the former Shen Miao, but Shen Miao was deliberately raised to have that kind of personality by the second and third branches of the Shen family, while Lu Wan'er and Concubine Jing were Madam Lu's biological daughters.
Xie Jingxing said, "With all his thoughts on the court struggle, it's natural that he neglected to discipline his children. Besides, the Lu family has always been tolerant of their daughters, and they are just trying their best to cultivate their sons."
Shen Miao finally understood. With the wealth of the Lu family, any young lady in the family could be married off and would probably never have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of her life. Therefore, it didn't matter if she was spoiled and willful, as she would have her family's support behind her anyway.
As he spoke, Xie Jingxing had already led Shen Miao to the edge of the hunting grounds. There, the ministers and some women who wanted to join in the fun had already chosen their horses. As Xie Jingxing approached, Tieyi led two horses over. A tall black stallion, a slightly shorter chestnut pony. Xie Jingxing helped Shen Miao onto the chestnut horse, then mounted the black one himself.
Emperor Yongle also started to move, and the imperial guards were ready to follow Emperor Yongle inside.
The drummer began to beat rhythmically, as if playing some ancient music. The beats grew faster and faster, and finally an archer standing on the platform drew his bow and shot an arrow. The arrow flew straight and hit a golden fruit hanging in the distance. The drummer slammed the drum hard.
The hunt begins!
Xie Jingxing brought Shen Miao to the outer field to make a report, and Mo Qing and the others also followed. When entering the hunting ground, one can bring a few guards with them. However, the outer field was not dangerous in the first place, and it was broad daylight, so nothing would happen. They brought them just as a precaution.
"When will you enter the inner arena?" Shen Miao asked Xie Jingxing while riding. She hadn't ridden a horse in a long time, but the horse beneath her was quite docile, making it much easier for her to control it.
"Royal brother will give me a signal at the hour of Si. I will leave then." Xie Jingxing sat up straight: "I can still accompany you for a walk now. Do you want to hunt a fox?"
Shen Miao: “Fox?”
Xie Jingxing reached out and grabbed her reins: "Follow me."
Xie Jingxing was a skilled hunter. Shen Miao had no doubt that if he weren't the Prince Rui of Daliang, but an ordinary peasant, he could have made a fortune with his hunting skills. Shen Miao had always thought that the 100-step shot through the willow tree was just Shen Qiu's boast, but today she witnessed it with her own eyes. Xie Jingxing's accuracy was excellent, almost hitting the target every time. In just a short time, their horses' backs were already piled with prey. Although they were all small animals, they were still rare.
"Is there anything else you want to hunt?" Xie Jingxing smiled proudly: "I'll help you hunt it."
Just as Shen Miao was about to speak, she saw Cong Yang hurrying over from the other side. He breathlessly said, "Master, this is bad! The Emperor has entered the inner court! Tie Yi and I were searching just now, but we couldn't find any trace of the Emperor. We only saw horse hoof prints at the bottom of Hualuan Peak."
"Inner field?" Xie Jingxing frowned. "He went to the inner field without giving a signal." His eyes flashed, and he suddenly growled, "Oh no!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
