Chapter 234 Winter Hunt
"Husband, things are not what you think. Please listen to my explanation..."
As soon as Xiao Yechen left, Chunxi couldn't wait to speak, but was interrupted by Shen Qingyuan: "I didn't misunderstand, I know who he likes."
Chunxi was startled at first, then asked, "I just saw a little bit of the clue today. When did you know it?"
"I knew it when he came to see me the first time you went to Wuyou Pavilion."
"Why didn't my husband tell me if he knew about it so long ago?"
Chunxi felt that he had missed a lot.
Shen Qingyuan glanced at her and said quietly, "I've been hinting to you, Madam, both openly and covertly, for so long, but you couldn't sense my feelings. Even if I did, would you believe me?"
Chunxi: “…”
Well, she was indeed a little slow in this regard. To avoid Shen Qingyuan bringing up the past, Chunxi quickly changed the subject: "Didn't my husband say he would be busy these few days? How did he still have time to pick me up today?"
"The Queen sent someone to inform you today that she wants you to participate in this year's winter hunt."
Chunxi's eyes suddenly lit up: "Can I go?"
When Chunxi was young, her father took her out hunting. She was not interested in hunting, but she heard that all the envoys were excellent riders and brave, so she wanted to see with her own eyes whether Wei Lingze could win in the competition.
Chunxi's face was filled with excitement and anticipation. Shen Qingyuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Madam, aren't you afraid?"
"Don't be afraid, my husband will be there too. I'm not afraid at all with him by my side."
"But the winter hunt is a big deal, and I may not be able to look after you all the time."
"I'm not a child, so why would I need my husband to look after me all the time? Besides, I've already met the Queen and the Queen Mother, and they're both very nice people. My husband is now a high-ranking official, and as his good wife, it would be great for me to appear more often at events like this and make friends with some of the nobles."
When she agreed to marry Shen Qingyuan, Chunxi said that she would be a good wife to Shen and help him settle down in the harem. Now she has not forgotten her original intention.
Shen Qingyuan's eyes darkened slightly, and he grabbed Chunxi's hand and said seriously, "I hope that Madam can live a carefree and happy life by marrying me. If Madam doesn't like it, there is no need to force herself to go out and socialize."
Chunxi showed a touched expression, then shook Shen Qingyuan's hand and said firmly: "Don't worry, my husband, I really like interacting with people."
With winter hunting as an excuse, Chunxi went to the Xiao family every day to practice riding and shooting with Xiao Qinghe and Xiao Qingyue.
Both of them were quite delicate, but when they saw Chunxi riding a horse as fast as a man, their eyes lit up.
Xiao Qingyue was braver and was able to get on and off the horse by herself very quickly, but Xiao Qinghe was unable to master the technique.
But repeated failures did not discourage her. She listened carefully to Chunxi's corrective suggestions, and then continued to sum up her experience. Finally, at sunset on the first day, she finally got on the horse on her own.
Xiao Qinghe was sweating from exhaustion, her hair stuck to her face, and she looked a little disheveled, no longer as dignified as usual. However, her eyes were surprisingly bright, as if they were filled with flames.
My aunt is right, the scenery you see from a high place is different.
After the practice, the three of them went to Mrs. Xiao’s Songheyuan for dinner, and Mrs. Xiao also came with them.
The first day was very tiring. Xiao Qinghe and Xiao Qingyue's hands were shaking from fatigue, and it was difficult for them to pick up food. However, their faces were flushed and their appetites were better than usual.
Mrs. Xiao was happy to see Xiao Qinghe eat a lot.
Although there will be many difficulties in breaking off the relationship between the Xiao family and the Wei family, she is more worried that He'er will be too sad and unable to get over this bad relationship.
But now He'er can eat and drink, and is not depressed, so she feels relieved.
Chunxi is a very patient and resourceful teacher. Xiao Qinghe and Xiao Qingyue's riding skills have improved rapidly, and she herself has improved a lot.
Wei Lingze didn't come to the Xiao family these days to bother himself. After finishing his shift every day and returning home, he would practice for an hour or two before going to bed. On his day off, he would practice from morning to night.
Soon, the day of winter hunting arrived.
This year, with the presence of an envoy delegation, the winter hunting expedition was much larger than in previous years. Many wives of officials were allowed to accompany them, and with the addition of royal guards, the team was quite grand.
Shen Qingyuan was about to meet up with the ministers from the Censorate, so he just watched Chunxi's carriage merge into the women's convoy and then left.
The royal hunting ground was more than ten miles outside the city, and no one arrived until the afternoon.
The Imperial Guards had already set up their rest tents. Chunxi had just found her tent under the guidance of the palace maids when Princess Hengyang came over and said, "Ah Xi, why are you so late? I've been looking for you for a long time."
Winter hunting was nothing new to Princess Hengyang. The ladies and young ladies from the aristocratic families accompanying her were each more reserved and quiet than the other. They were desperately trying to win first place and be recognized and valued by her brother, but they were not as pleasing as the young prostitutes from Wuyou Pavilion.
Princess Hengyang walked into the tent and sat on the bed, watching Chunxi packing her things. She kept saying, "For some reason, my husband has gone on a winter hunt this year. What about your husband, Shen? Is he joining?"
Although Princess Hengyang's tone was still indifferent, the way she addressed her son-in-law had changed from "dog thing" to "the one from her family."
Chunxi immediately looked up and asked curiously, "Can the prince consort also ride and shoot?"
Princess Hengyang couldn't help but roll her eyes. "After all, the Prince Consort is a third place winner in the same year as your old Shen. Do you think he got into the palace exam solely based on his looks?"
Isn’t it?
Chunxi quickly reflected on her mistake and admitted her fault: "Princess, please forgive me. It is really because your husband's beauty is so strong that I, as a minister, have unconsciously judged him by his appearance."
Princess Hengyang burst out laughing. In fact, she often said that her husband was a vase. If her husband had not taken the initiative to propose to participate in the winter hunt this time, she would have almost forgotten that he was once a handsome man in fine clothes and riding a horse.
Princess Hengyang wasn't really angry. She quickly brought the topic back to where it was before. Chunxi said truthfully, "My husband will also be participating in the winter hunt, but he's a civil servant, so he's probably just making up the numbers."
As soon as Chunxi finished speaking, Princess Hengyang poked her head hard several times: "What do you mean by making up the numbers? Your old Shen was the top scholar back then. Did you know that only those who have mastered the six arts of a gentleman can be the top scholar?"
Chunxi didn't quite understand.
She had not received much education, and the imperial examination was a far cry from her. She only knew that the number one scholar was very powerful, but she did not know how powerful he was. Moreover, she had seen Shen Qingyuan fighting with others before, and he did not look like the peerless master described in the books.
Chunxi looked bewildered, but Princess Hengyang smiled and said, "Xuanyuan Lang from the envoys' group is going to compete with Wei Lingze again. And your old Shen is also joining the winter hunt. It looks like this year's hunt will be very exciting."
“…”
Princess, why do I feel like you sound like you want them to fight?
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