Chapter 106: The Startled Horse Reappears
On the first day of the winter hunt, the weather was fine. Although it was bitterly cold, the sunlight shone on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light and adding a touch of grandeur to this royal event.
After the emperor presided over a brief opening ceremony at the hunting grounds, the horns sounded, and the hunt officially began. Nobles, skilled archers, and other young men spurred their horses, accompanied by hunting dogs and attendants, and surged into the vast hunting grounds like a tidal wave. The sounds of hooves, shouts, and barking dogs blended together, creating an impressive spectacle.
The hunting platform was built high up, offering excellent views. It was covered with heavy curtains to keep out the wind and cold, and had a heater inside. It was reserved for the emperor, empress, members of the royal family, and noblewomen and civil officials who were unable to participate in the hunt. Gu Yangui, who had to accompany the emperor as a guard and was mindful of Su Wanrou's pregnancy, did not participate in the hunt but instead sat with her on the platform.
He sat upright beside Su Wanrou. Although he wasn't in military uniform, his black casual clothes embroidered with gold cloud patterns still made him look dignified and extraordinary. His gaze was mostly on the distant, dusty hunting grounds, keeping an eye on the progress and safety of the hunt, but he would occasionally turn back to Su Wanrou, asking in a low voice if she felt cold, or pushing a warm bowl of milk pudding in front of her.
Such thoughtfulness and consideration naturally aroused envy and jealousy among the surrounding noblewomen. Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Yongting, sat not far away, nodding and smiling at Su Wanrou with a hint of good-natured teasing in her eyes. Su Wanrou blushed slightly, but felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
The hunt lasted for over an hour and yielded a bountiful harvest. Guards were already carrying back the deer, roe deer, and hares, piling them in the designated area, drawing cheers from the viewing platform. The emperor was in high spirits, occasionally offering his comments to the high-ranking officials beside him.
Just then, a eunuch hurriedly stepped onto the stage and whispered a few words in the ear of the chief eunuch. The chief eunuch remained expressionless and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, a rare white fox has been discovered in the North Garden Forest. Tracks have been found, and the princes and young masters have already gone after it."
White fox pelts are rare and precious, making them an excellent tribute for winter. Upon hearing this, the emperor became even more interested and laughed, "Oh? White foxes are rare indeed. It seems that whoever wins today will be richly rewarded!"
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere among the crowd grew even more enthusiastic. Gu Yangui, however, frowned slightly. The terrain of Beiyuan Forest Farm was complex, with dense trees and unclear conditions under the snow, making it an unsuitable hunting ground, especially for chasing extremely fast white foxes, posing considerable risks.
Sure enough, a moment later, another guard came to report that during the chase, Prince Kang's horse had accidentally stepped into a snow pit. Although the prince was unharmed, the horse had injured its leg, and the scene was somewhat chaotic.
The emperor frowned and looked at Gu Yangui beside him: "Yangui, take some men and go check it out. Make sure it's safe and don't let these juniors cause any trouble in their quest for credit."
"Your subject obeys the decree." Gu Yangui immediately rose to accept the order. This was an imperial command, and he had no choice but to comply. He turned to look at Su Wanrou, a hint of barely perceptible worry in his eyes.
Su Wanrou immediately gave him a reassuring look and whispered, "Husband, go quickly. I'm right here. It's safe."
Gu Yangui nodded and quickly instructed Qingdai and Wang Mama, who were standing behind him, in a low voice: "Take good care of Madam. I will be back soon." He then gave Su Wanrou a deep look before striding down from the hunting platform, ordering a squad of guards, and riding his horse towards the North Garden.
After Gu Yangui left, Su Wanrou remained quietly watching the hunt. However, for some reason, as time passed, a vague unease crept into her heart, a feeling that something was about to happen. She touched her chest, trying to suppress the inexplicable palpitations, telling herself it was just that her husband wasn't around and she felt a little uneasy.
About half an hour later, the atmosphere on the hunting platform remained lively. Suddenly, a series of rapid hoofbeats and shouts arose from below. A guard, his face filled with panic, ran up the platform, rushed straight to the Emperor, and knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! The Duchess of Zhenguo's... the Duchess's carriage has sprung a fright!"
"What?!" The emperor, who had been sitting upright, suddenly stood up, his expression changing drastically. All eyes on the stage instantly focused on him, filled with shock and disbelief.
Su Wanrou felt her mind go blank, as if it had just gone completely blank. A startled horse? Another startled horse? How could this be…
The guard, panting heavily, hurriedly reported, "Madam said she felt a little stuffy and wanted to return to Tingxue Pavilion to rest for a while. We escorted her carriage back to the palace, but we hadn't gone far from the hunting platform when the horse pulling the carriage suddenly went berserk for some reason and dragged the carriage towards the western woods! The coachman has been thrown off, and the brothers are chasing after it, but... but that horse is too fast!"
The wild forest to the west! It's even more remote than the Beiyuan Forest Farm, with rugged mountain roads, deep ravines, and much deeper snow, making it extremely dangerous!
Su Wanrou's face turned deathly pale instantly. She instinctively covered her lower abdomen, her body turning ice-cold. Fear, like a chilling tide, overwhelmed her. The same unexpected tragedy had struck again while she was pregnant!
"Useless!" the emperor roared in fury. "Send more men to pursue her immediately! Ensure the safety of the Duchess of Zhenguo! If anything happens to her, I will hold you all accountable!"
"Yes! Yes!" The guard scrambled down to relay the order.
Chaos erupted on the stage. The noblewomen gasped in alarm. Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Yongting, rushed to Su Wanrou's side, took her cold hand, and comforted her repeatedly, "Madam Gu, don't worry, don't be afraid. His Majesty has already sent people to rescue her. Everything will be alright!"
Su Wanrou's lips trembled, unable to utter a single word. Her mind was a complete mess, gripped by overwhelming fear. She wasn't afraid of getting hurt herself; she was afraid of the child in her womb… the child she and Yan Gui had longed for…
Just then, a figure as swift as black lightning rushed up from below the stage—it was Gu Yangui, who had returned! He had clearly heard the news and rushed back at top speed. His face was ashen, veins bulging on his forehead, and his usually deep and calm eyes were now burning with terrifying flames, filled with unprecedented panic and rage.
He didn't even have time to bow to the emperor. His gaze shot like a sharp arrow to the guard who brought the news, and his voice was hoarse and low, like a wounded beast: "Which direction did they go? Speak!"
"West, west! Wild forest!" The guards were so frightened by the menacing aura emanating from him that their legs went weak.
Without saying a word, Gu Yangui turned around and was about to rush down from the hunting platform.
"Return from the banquet!" the emperor called out to him. "I have already dispatched the Imperial Guards..."
"Your Majesty!" Gu Yangui turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, directly interrupting the emperor's words. His voice was filled with a despair that was almost on the verge of collapse. "I must go in person! Wanrou... she is pregnant!" The last few words were almost squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with heart-wrenching pain.
Upon hearing this, the emperor's pupils contracted, and he instantly understood why Gu Yangui had lost his composure. He no longer stopped him and said in a deep voice, "Go quickly! Call upon whatever you need!"
Gu Yangui didn't even have time to express his gratitude. He rushed down the platform like a gust of wind, snatched a fine horse led by a guard, lashed the horse's rump hard with the whip, and shot off like an arrow towards the western woods! He had only one thought in his mind: Wanrou, wait for me! You and the child must not be harmed!
On the hunting platform, Su Wanrou watched her husband's disappearing figure. His resolute and frantic speed tore at her heart. The tears she had been holding back finally streamed down her face, not from fear, but from heartache. She knew that at that moment, her husband was enduring a hundred times, a thousand times, more fear and pain than she was.
She closed her eyes and prayed silently in her heart: God, Buddha, please bless our family with peace, bless my child... and bless my husband with a safe return...
At this moment, the carriage, pulled by the frightened horse, was lurching wildly across the rugged snow-covered ground, hurtling headlong towards unknown dangers.
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