Chapter 919 Going Down the Mountain (6)
"Impossible." Ji Yushu said firmly, "Sister-in-law is not such a tactless person. You were really strange just now. I went to see Gao Yang yesterday, and Gao Yang was also mysterious. He is like this every time something happens to them. It was fine when they were in Mingqi before, but after returning to Longye, he has become more and more disassociated from me. Is he trying to do something on his own?"
Shen Miao looked at Ji Yushu's furious expression and felt a sense of regret. Xie Jingxing was used to ignoring those around him and letting his only son take on everything, just like he did in Dingjing against Marquis Lin'an, Princess Rongxin, and Su Mingfeng. Now it was Ji Yushu's turn, but there were some things where ignorance was truly bliss.
She said, "I'm sorry, I can't answer that because I don't know what he's going to do."
"Only members of the royal family can enter the inner hunting grounds. Is there any danger there?" Ji Yushu said, "Third brother and the emperor are always acting strangely. Sister-in-law, do you really not know?"
"I don't know what?" Before Shen Miao could answer, a female voice came from behind. It was Madam Ji who came over. She didn't know how long she had been listening here. She looked at Ji Yushu, then at Shen Miao, and her expression became strange. She said, "What's wrong with Xingzhi and Jingxing? What did you mean by what you said just now?"
Madam Ji had originally intended to ask Shen Miao to go back to the city with her, but she happened to see Shen Miao grabbing Ji Yushu and going over. Ba Jiao and Anise were busy being wary of Lu Chunzheng and Ye Maocai, and hadn't been on guard against Madam Ji, who overheard the conversation between Shen Miao and Ji Yushu.
Ji Yushu said, "Mom, it's nothing. My sister-in-law and I were just joking."
"Don't try to fool your mother." Madam Ji looked at Ji Yushu and said angrily, "I asked you to go to Mingqi to find Jingxing, but you never came back. I don't know what you are doing in Mingqi. I don't care what you do. After all, you are the young master of the Ji family. I want to ask you, what do you know? Why did you say those things? Are Jingxing and Xingzhi... in danger?"
Ji Yushu was speechless after being told this by her mother. She looked at Shen Miao for help. Shen Miao hurriedly said, "Aunt, you misunderstood. Yushu and I were just joking. It's just that His Highness didn't come back at this time, and I was a little anxious, so I asked about Yushu. Yushu doesn't know anything. I'm just overthinking it. Aunt, please don't blame him."
Madam Ji looked at Shen Miao again, her eyes were a little stern, and said: "Jiao Niang, this is not a trivial matter, I..."
As he was speaking, Bajiao suddenly ran over, not caring about Madam Ji's presence, and said, "Madam, they are back! The emperor has come down the mountain!"
Ji Yushu was as if he had been pardoned, and hurriedly said to Madam Ji: "See! I told you that my third brother was fine. Don't think too much, mother. Let's go and see the lion that my third brother and the emperor hunted!" After that, he ran away.
Shen Miao heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that Emperor Yongle and his party had returned. She smiled at Madam Ji and said, “Let’s go over there too.”
Madam Ji wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back after taking a look at Shen Miao's calm expression. She sighed and let Shen Miao hold her arm and walk over.
Then, a group of imperial guards emerged from the outer court, led by none other than the Yongle Emperor. Strangely enough, he wasn't riding a horse, but walking instead. Those with a keen eye could see that the sword at his waist seemed to be tinged with blood.
However, the royal hunts, although they said that the emperor himself would come to hunt, were actually a beastly etiquette. How could the emperor risk his life to go? It was just the guards pointing arrows at him and the emperor was giving him orders.
And what this means now is that Emperor Yongle took action personally?
Emperor Yongle's expression remained the same as always, revealing no emotion. Concubine Jing, who had been waiting in the imperial chariot for a long time, immediately approached him, coquettishly saying, "Your Majesty is finally out. I've been waiting here all night, my eyes are red from all the hard work."
Emperor Yongle just glanced at her indifferently without saying anything. Shen Miao could see clearly that Ye Maocai looked normal, but Lu Zhengchun looked a little gloomy.
Several guards behind him dumped something pulled by several horses onto the ground with a thud, causing the surrounding women to gasp in surprise. It was none other than the carcass of a giant lion, stained with blood and riddled with arrow holes from its back to its abdomen. It must have been the site of a fierce battle.
Immediately, court officials came forward to flatter the emperor and congratulated him, saying, "Your Majesty is wise and brave, and it is a blessing to our country of Daliang." Everyone followed suit, kneeling down to chant and sing in praise of him.
Shen Miao also knelt down, and Emperor Yongle gestured for everyone to stand.
But Shen Miao did not see Xie Jingxing.
After everyone stood up, Lu Chunzheng suddenly said, "Your Majesty, why is it that only you are here and no sign of His Royal Highness the Prince?"
It seemed that everyone just then remembered that Prince Rui was not there.
Emperor Yongle stared at Lu Zhengchun, his eyes as cold as ice, and said, "Prince Rui is injured and has returned to the city from the other side for treatment."
Everyone was in an uproar.
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