Chapter 86 Danger in the Hunting Grounds "I've done this before, but alas..."
A hint of surprise flashed across Chu Yueyuan's eyes: "Are you... sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?"
Jin Tong nodded firmly: "Just now in the woods, I heard the voices of a man and a woman talking. I thought it was a young master and young lady from some family having a secret rendezvous, so I went over to take a look out of curiosity. But I saw Lord Shen pulling on Princess Nianyi's hand, and the two of them seemed to be arguing about something..."
She was speechless for a moment, unsure how to describe the scene. Lord Shen was always gentle and refined, and this was the first time Jin Tong had ever seen him so angry; even his handsome face was slightly distorted in the moonlight.
"This servant wanted to get closer to hear more clearly, but I accidentally stepped on a branch on the ground, which startled Lord Shen. The two of them immediately fell silent and then left one after the other."
Chu Yueyuan's eyes flickered slightly. She turned her head to look at the dark forest, feeling vaguely that something was strange about the matter.
Why would Shen Zizhan and Xie Nianzhi, two people who seem to have nothing in common, meet in the woods?
Jin Tong overheard the two arguing. What could have caused two such calm and collected people to quarrel?
She couldn't figure it out for a while, and even after entering the camp, she was still preoccupied with the matter.
Knowing that Jin Tong was not feeling well, Chu Yueyuan told her to go back and rest first, and that she didn't need to be served to bed tonight.
The palace servants standing outside the tent lifted the heavy felt curtain, and Chu Yueyuan stepped into the tent. The candle wicks on the gilded lotus platform had long since burned out, and the tent was pitch black. Only a sliver of cold moonlight fell through the small window in the top of the tent, illuminating a corner of the brocade carpet at her feet.
Just as she was about to take out the tinderbox, she was suddenly enveloped by a strong aroma of wine from behind.
The man's thin lips landed on her neck. The darkness made her senses exceptionally acute, and the warm breath scorched her skin, sending a tingling sensation through her.
Chu Yueyuan was familiar with his scent and let him wrap his arms around her waist.
A low chuckle came from the darkness: "Your Highness thought you would first pull out the hairpin from your hair and stab me."
Chu Yueyuan removed the gold phoenix hairpin from her hair and placed it in front of the dressing table, lazily replying, "It's not like I haven't tried before, but Pei Qing's skin is too thick to penetrate..."
Pei Muwei gripped the woman's delicate chin, his lips and tongue swirling around, greedily devouring every last drop of her lips before slowly pulling back an inch. His voice was low and deep: "Your Highness's skin is as smooth and delicate as jade, making me not only want to plunge into it, but also want to stay inside it forever..."
The man's lips and tongue carried the pure aroma of wine, and even his explicit jokes seemed like strong liquor, burning Chu Yueyuan's cheeks red.
In such embarrassing conversations, she was never a match for Lord Jiaolong.
Chu Yueyuan quickly changed the subject: "When I left the bonfire banquet just now, wasn't Pei Qing drinking and chatting happily with the Great Khan? It ended so quickly?"
"Irkh has already gone back."
"It seems the Great Khan's alcohol tolerance is rather low..."
Pei Muwei stared at the woman's bright eyes in the darkness and explained, "Erhe is cunning and suspicious; he wouldn't indulge in drinking on someone else's turf."
Chu Yueyuan gave a soft "Mmm," her slender, pale fingers tracing circles along the embroidery on his robe as if asking casually, "Then... when Pei Qing came in, was anyone seen?"
The two golden tents where she and Xiao Yun lived were set up in the most conspicuous position, guarded by heavy guards. A hundred feet away was the large tent where the imperial relatives lived, and the outermost circle was the regular tents and small tents of the civil and military officials.
Unlike a palace, the campsite had no high walls to shield it. The campfires outside the tents blazed brightly, turning the night as bright as day, and the laughter of the guests returning from the bonfire feast could be clearly heard.
The thought of the regent walking into her golden tent in full view of everyone made her wonder how many curious glances she would attract tomorrow.
Sensing the worry in the young empress dowager's tone, Pei Muwei took out a tinderbox and lit the candles on the table.
The light inside the tent suddenly brightened, and Chu Yueyuan subconsciously squinted her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw the man's handsome face illuminated by the candlelight. The red lipstick remaining on his lips gave him a touch of carefree elegance, while also reflecting the entangled relationship between the two.
Pei Muwei pointed to the animal skin carpet on the ground and said casually, "Your Majesty, I had a secret passage built down there, which leads to my tent."
Chu Yueyuan: ....
The Regent's ingenious idea of digging a tunnel in the widow's room would make even the self-proclaimed libertines of the capital bow down in admiration.
Pei Muwei picked up the dazed Empress Dowager in his arms, his dark eyes fixed on her, his tone becoming more intimate: "Your Highness has had a long day. Why don't you let me help you bathe and change your clothes so you can settle down sooner?"
Chu Yueyuan was suddenly lifted into the air and had no choice but to hook her arms around his neck. Her cheeks were flushed, and she gritted her teeth and said, "With Pei Qing serving me, I'm afraid I won't have a chance to rest tonight. If you really want me to get some rest, then please go back the way you came."
The man lowered his eyes and smiled faintly, his dark eyes surging with undisguised greed: "Your humble servant is afraid I cannot comply."
The water in the washroom had already been boiled, and camellia petals, picked by the palace maids early that morning, floated in the sandalwood bathtub. The crimson, pinkish-white, and pale yellow petals swayed gently with the water, reflecting the woman's fair skin and delicate bones half-exposed above the surface, like a painting on plain paper, exquisite and charming.
The room was filled with steam. The man's forearm was submerged in the water, and the surface of the water, covered with flower petals, rippled with his movements, the splashing water wetting his rolled-up black sleeves.
Chu Yueyuan's pearly teeth sank deep into her red lips, her jade-like neck tilted back, her breath as fine and delicate as a kitten's. Water droplets mixed with a thin layer of sweat trickled down her temples, brushing across her fair and rosy cheeks, gliding over her well-defined collarbones, and finally disappearing into the water.
Fifteen minutes earlier, she resolutely refused the absurd request to bathe with a man.
Pei Muwei readily agreed and stood beside the bathtub to help her wash. He was extremely patient, washing her thoroughly, using scented soap to create a fine lather in his palms, cleansing her slender neck downwards, from the outside in, inch by inch.
Chu Yueyuan could no longer restrain herself from this meticulous care. She grasped his muscular forearm, her dark eyes brimming with moisture, and pleaded in a trembling voice, "I regret it. Now that I think about it, bathing together as ruler and subject isn't such a bad thing after all..."
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes, and through the petals swaying on the water's surface, he could glimpse the enchanting spring scenery hidden in the water. His eyes darkened, and his handsome face was flushed, but he still said in a serious tone, "Your Highness, please wait a moment, allow me to help Your Highness clean yourself up."
“Especially here, His Highness always cries and says that I have dirtied it.”
Chu Yueyuan's reserve was almost completely washed away by the other party, so she simply put half of her body out of the water, tilted her head back, and pressed her lips to the man's thin lips.
The woman was like a mermaid suddenly leaping out of the sea, using her beautiful face and graceful figure to bewitch the scholar on the shore step by step into the sea. Her shimmering eyes captivated his soul, her snow-white arms wrapped around his neck, and her delicate red lips nibbled at his heart, until he took off his robes and willingly succumbed to her charms.
The fragrant bathwater slapped against the sandalwood tub, each sway bringing out more of the fragrant water. The splashing water, carrying rouge-colored petals, flew out and meandered on the ground into streams of decadent beauty.
———
Inside another large tent, a hundred feet away.
Erhe took off his outer garment, revealing his strong back. In the candlelight, a purplish-blue bruise on his shoulder swelled up high.
He glanced down at the wound, then casually curled his lip.
What a selfish regent! He'd be so ruthless to him over a mere lamb. But... it did allow him to figure out the other's weakness.
Erkh put on a dark purple coat and came out of the inner room, sitting down behind the long table.
After the campfire feast at the camp, the Canglang generals, still quite intoxicated, felt that the fun was not over yet. So they selected several Hu (non-Han) dancers to come into the tent and ordered them to change into the silk and satin dresses of Daqi (Qi) women to dance and entertain the guests.
The graceful dancers, adorned in flowing robes from the Central Plains, exuded a unique charm as they danced with long sleeves.
"Nagur, you lost your bet. The Queen Dowager Chu is more beautiful than the 'Hidden Moon' on the grassland. Drink up!"
"Hmph, the people of Qi are so old-fashioned, treating widows like 'Khatun' (a high-ranking official in the state of Qi). A young and beautiful woman like the Queen Dowager of Chu should be sweating in her tent every night."
"Nisger is bragging again. Your scimitar is already embroidered; it's so fine that it won't make a woman sweat a drop."
"Ha ha ha ha..."
The generals of Canglang burst into laughter. Nisg, enraged by the jeers, immediately carried the dancer into his tent, while the others groped the dancer in their arms.
Erkh poured himself a cup of wine without expression. A true man of courage and spirit on the grasslands should not be bound by those ridiculous rules.
He tilted his head back and drank the wine, a movement that aggravated the wound on his shoulder, but it made the blood in his body gush and burn.
What can make the alpha wolf on the grasslands eagerly bare its fangs is an equally matched opponent.
"It's no fun for the Khan to drink alone; let me keep you company."
A bold dancer prostrated herself at Erkh's knees, her eyes filled with seductive allure, longing for the handsome man's favor.
Erhe lowered his eyes to the dancer's water-red silk dress. Her breasts, tightly bound by her bodice, seemed about to burst forth, and with her eager bowing movements, they appeared even more graceful. However, her meticulously drawn eyebrows and eyes revealed a fawning and humble air.
Suddenly, the image of the young empress dowager flashed through his mind. Her chin was slightly raised, her dark eyes held a mixture of arrogance and allure, and her tone was haughty:
"If the Khan is able to invite me to the grasslands as a guest in the future, then it will not be too late to bring out your set of rules."
If she were on his territory, would the young empress dowager still have that aloof and arrogant demeanor?
The dancer noticed that the man's cold and fierce expression had softened slightly, and she was secretly pleased. So she swayed her waist and moved closer to him.
Erkh's eyes darkened, and he suddenly reached out and grabbed the dancer's neck, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "What, just because you've put on a Qi woman's clothes, you think you can be the master?"
The dancer was being choked by the man until her eyes almost rolled back.
The generals of the Azure Wolf tribe inside the tent immediately stopped their frolicking. They looked at the gloomy-faced man in surprise, but none of them dared to step forward to stop him.
The Great Khan's temperament was as unpredictable as the weather on the grasslands.
Just as the dancer was about to be suffocated, Erhe finally released her and said coldly, "Get out and change back into your own clothes."
The dancer, having narrowly escaped death, ignored the burning pain in her throat and scrambled away.
Erkh coldly swept his gaze over the group of disheveled, pale-faced dancers in the tent, and said in a chilling tone, "Go and change your clothes back!"
After the dancers left, the atmosphere inside the tent fell into a slump.
Erkh summoned his deputy, slowly turning the bone ring on his thumb. His eyes gleamed with a sinister light as he said calmly, "Go and inform the people over there that I have changed my mind and will add another person to the conditions he promised..."
_____
The following day, the sky was clear and blue, and a long wind swept across the fields, making it a perfect day for hunting.
Xiao Yun was all dressed up early in the morning, wearing a bright yellow riding outfit embroidered with clouds and dragons, an overcoat of animal skin, and a dagger inlaid with gemstones at his waist. He sat upright on his fiery red horse, exuding the dashing and majestic air of a young emperor.
This small, fiery horse was selected by Pei Muwei from the Northern Territory horse farm. It was not particularly striking in appearance, but its endurance far surpassed that of other horses. It could run for hundreds of miles day and night without stopping, and even rugged mountain roads were as smooth as flat ground.
"Mother, are you really not going hunting with us?"
Xiao Yun felt a little disappointed. His archery skills had improved a lot, and he wanted to show off his skills in front of Chu Yueyuan.
Chu Yueyuan tiptoed and kissed Xiao Yun on the forehead, smiling gently: "I'm not used to sleeping in tents, and I didn't sleep well last night, so I didn't go with Your Majesty."
Xiao Yun nodded, clenched his little fist and patted his chest hard, declaring confidently, "Mother, please rest well. I will catch a wild boar for you to nourish your body."
"Very well, then I look forward to Your Majesty's successful return."
Knowing it was Xiao Yun's first time hunting, and worried he might get carried away, she added, "Your Majesty must stay close to the Regent and is not allowed to lead the way, nor may you leave the group without permission. Today, hunt some docile wild animals first. Don't be overly ambitious and venture deep into the mountains to hunt leopards, and..."
"Alright, alright, I've got it all!"
Seeing the mother and son's intimate interaction, Pei Muwei felt a pang of sadness. He gently tugged at the reins, and the black horse beneath him immediately sensed its master's thoughts. With a swift movement, it pushed Xiao Yun's fiery horse aside.
He lowered his gaze to the young empress dowager bathed in the morning light. A string of tassels, held by a gold hairpin with a phoenix beak in her dark hair, swayed gently in the wind, and glittering light shimmered in her eyes. Her tender cheeks were still flushed with the blush of last night's intimacy, like a crabapple blossom with dew, elegant and charming.
"Before your departure, does Your Majesty have any instructions for me?"
Chu Yueyuan looked up at the handsome and carefree man on horseback, recalling the mess he had made of the bathroom last night.
This morning, when Jin Tong brought the palace servants in, she almost slipped on the puddles on the ground. Several young palace maids whispered among themselves about the mess in the room, guessing that wild animals from the hunting grounds had sneaked into the tent in the middle of the night and splashed around in the bathtub.
Little did she know that before dawn, she had driven the wild beast off the bed by pushing and kicking it, and it went back to its den through the tunnel like a big black rat.
She pursed her lips slightly, turned her face away from his gaze, and hummed softly: "Pei Qing is a veteran of countless battles, and his arrows never miss. Dealing with the ferocious beasts in the hunting grounds is naturally a piece of cake for him. I won't waste any more words."
Pei Muwei had eaten her fill last night, and seeing her puffed-up face only made her look even more adorable.
He leaned forward, his tall figure shielded by the horse, creating a secluded space in full view of everyone. He pinched her chin with his long fingers, their eyes met, and he spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Be good and wait for me to come back."
The hierarchical relationship between ruler and subject was gone, leaving only the tender affection between men and women.
Chu Yueyuan met his burning gaze, her red lips parted slightly, but the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat. In the end, she only nodded lightly: "Yes... Remember to take good care of the Emperor."
Pei Muwei's phoenix eyes curved slightly, his voice filled with doting affection: "Your humble servant obeys the decree."
Outside the felt tent of the Canglang tribe, Erhe nimbly mounted his horse. His bronze skin, bathed in the blazing sunlight, made his deep-set features appear strikingly handsome, especially his dark green eyes, which were full of exotic wildness. The noble ladies in the camp couldn't help but steal glances at him through their fans.
Erkh's deep gaze lingered on the couple in the distance for a moment before shifting to the young emperor on the fiery steed. His pupils suddenly contracted, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his lips, as if he had discovered some extraordinary secret.
You couldn't even hold back on the first day, what an idiot!
The autumn hunting festival lasts for seven days, and participants from both tribes are allowed to hunt in the royal hunting grounds. The top three warriors will be selected based on the number, size, and ferocity of their prey.
At that time, the Emperor of Great Qi and the Khan of the Azure Wolf will personally bestow titles and honors upon the top three warriors, and reward them with imperial treasures such as the Cold Moon Sword, the Overlord Bow, and the Beast-faced Gilded Belt.
With the imperial honor bestowed upon them, the hunters from both tribes participating in the competition were full of fighting spirit. As soon as the horn sounded, they spurred their horses and charged into the woods, startling the birds perched on the branches into taking flight.
In contrast, the women in the camp were much more relaxed and comfortable.
Palace servants set up a row of sheltered tents by the lake. Mosquito-repelling incense burned in a gold-enamel nine-peach brazier. Several dishes of pastries and candied fruits were placed on the table, along with freshly picked autumn pears cut into small pieces and served on a plate.
On the lakeside, women sat in a row of rattan chairs, holding bamboo poles, chatting and laughing as they casually tossed bait into the lake.
"Your Majesty's idea is the best! Let those brutes wander around in the woods while we fish by the lake. We won't get covered in dirt or sweat. If we catch a few fresh fish, we'll have the cook make a pot of purslane and perch soup. It'll be a perfect way to enjoy this golden autumn season."
"Yes, I dislike riding horses the most. Now it's great that I can enjoy the wildness without the pain from being jostled around all over."
Chu Yueyuan cast her bait into the lake, then looked around at the noble ladies holding fishing rods, a faint smile playing on her lips: "I originally thought I'd steal a half-day of leisure, but I never expected to find myself so in sync with you all."
Waiting for the fish to bite is a long and tedious process, so chatting about everyday things is the best way to pass the time.
Madam Zhou, the Vice Minister of War, was always outspoken. She spoke first: "Have you all heard the news that the young master of the Tao family died after being attacked by bandits during his exile?"
Another lady chimed in with great interest: "This all happened months ago, why are you bringing it up again?"
Madam Zhou slowly picked up a piece of autumn pear and ate it. After piquing everyone's curiosity, she slowly said, "It's because Princess Anxian fell ill from excessive grief upon learning of the tragic news of Prince Tao's death. It is said that the princess's illness was so severe that not only did her eldest son, who was stationed in Yongzhou, rush back to the capital overnight, but even Princess Zhaohua specially returned to her parents' home to take care of her."
"No wonder the Prince Anxian's mansion only sent two illegitimate sons to make an appearance at this autumn hunt."
Chu Yueyuan listened silently to the discussions of the women around her, her expression unwavering. Suddenly, she felt the purple bamboo pole in her hand tremble twice. She immediately turned the reel, but after a long effort, the silver hook only stirred up a few ripples when it came out of the water. The bait had already been snatched away by a clever fish.
She smiled helplessly and baited the hook again.
"Your Highness, baiting the hook like that makes it easy for the hook to come off."
Chu Yueyuan turned her head and saw Princess Nianyi, who was sitting not far away, stand up and bow gracefully to her: "How about I help Your Highness set the bait?"
She smiled gently: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Princess."
Xie Nianzhi took the purple bamboo pole handed to her by the palace maid. With a deft twist of her index and middle fingers, she held the line and the silver hook was plunged into the bait.
"That will be safe. Your Highness can keep an eye on the float on the water. When it sinks, don't rush to reel in the line. Count to three silently in your mind. Wait until the fish has taken the bait firmly before slowly lifting the rod to avoid getting it off the hook."
Seeing her skillful movements, Chu Yueyuan sincerely praised her, "I have long heard that Prince Chun's fishing skills are unparalleled in the capital, and he never returns empty-handed. It seems that the princess often goes fishing with her brother."
Xie Nianzhi smiled faintly: "Brother doesn't like people around when he's fishing. I learned this skill from Chen Lang."
Chu Yueyuan's expression faltered slightly.
Clearly, the Chen Lang that Xie Nianzhi mentioned was her deceased husband.
Back then, Prince Chun led his clan to Jingzhou to avoid disaster. Xie Nianzhi was chosen by the son of Governor Chen because of her outstanding beauty. The Chen family, relying on their power, almost forced her into the marriage.
Chu Yueyuan originally thought that Xie Nianzhi would regard this marriage as a nightmare and keep silent about the man who hurt her.
But at this moment, the woman's expression remained unchanged, and there was not a trace of hatred in her eyes, which were clearer than lake water, as if she had completely let go of this past event.
She pondered for a moment and slowly said, "No matter who you learn the skills from, you will always benefit from them. Today, thanks to the Princess's guidance, I have made great progress in fishing."
Xie Nianzhi lowered her head, the white jade hairpin in her hair remaining perfectly still, and said in a soft voice, "I am deeply ashamed to have shown off my little tricks in front of Your Highness."
Her eyes were gentle, her tone respectful, and even the folds in her skirt when she bowed were perfectly placed, leaving no room for criticism.
It was precisely this flawless performance that gave Chu Yueyuan an indescribable feeling towards her, as if she were looking at a beautiful silk doll, whose flawless face concealed an unknown side.
She couldn't help but recall the time Jin Tong had witnessed Xie Nianzhi and Shen Zizhan having a secret rendezvous in the woods the previous night.
What could possibly happen between two people who have no connection whatsoever?
Chu Yueyuan was curious, but there were many women around, so she couldn't ask aloud. She could only keep the matter to herself for the time being.
Just then, the float on the lake trembled twice. She instinctively reached for the line, but Xie Nianzhi reminded her from the side:
"Your Highness, let's wait for the fish to bite the bait."
Chu Yueyuan held her breath and focused until the float was completely submerged in the water before slowly turning the reel. The other end of the purple bamboo pole bent heavily, the silver line gradually tightened, and the waves churning on the lake surface grew larger.
The commotion caused the women by the lake to stop talking. They all turned to look, clapping and exclaiming, "Wow, this fish looks quite big! Your Highness, give it your all!"
Chu Yueyuan experienced the force of a fish biting the hook for the first time. She was surprised by how strong the fish was when it struggled in the water. The bamboo pole in her hand swayed uncontrollably, making her hands go numb, as if it was going to drag her into the water.
After several struggles, she finally felt the pulling force on the other end of the fishing rod gradually weaken. She seized the opportunity to free her hand to reel in the line. Just as the fish was about to surface, the rod tip suddenly sprang upwards, all the force vanished abruptly, leaving only ripples spreading across the lake.
The crowd on the shore sighed in unison in disappointment.
Chu Yueyuan was covered in a light sweat, her cheeks flushed slightly. She took the handkerchief handed to her by a palace maid, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and smiled, "What a pity, but this feeling of being stuck and pulled is quite exhilarating."
Xie Nianzhi gazed at the gradually calming lake surface, his eyes utterly unmoved, a faint smile playing on his lips, and murmured, "The pleasure of being in control, especially for those in positions of power, is always exhilarating..."
Seeing that the young empress dowager had almost caught a big fish, the ladies by the lake stopped their chatter and asked Princess Nianyi for advice on how to bait the fish. Before long, one of the noble ladies successfully caught a bass.
When the autumn wind blows, the perch become fat.
Freshly caught bass have scales that haven't faded and flesh that's as white as jade, making them perfect for sashimi.
The imperial chef cleaned the scales and gutted the fish, slicing it into thin, snow-white pieces. He then added a touch of color with fragrant leaves, shredding them and placing them on top as a garnish. Finally, he drizzled a ring of wasabi sauce over the fish. Meanwhile, in a separate small pot, he simmered a pot of water spinach and perch soup with freshly picked water spinach. The soup was milky white and exuded a fresh aroma.
By the time the women had finished enjoying the delicious fish feast, it was already sunset.
Seeing that it was getting late, everyone returned to the camp. Chu Yueyuan left a little later, carrying a bamboo fish basket containing two bass that she had managed to catch with great difficulty.
On the uphill road, Jin Tong helped Chu Yueyuan up, saying, "The road is rugged, Your Highness, please watch your step. Please allow me to carry this fish basket."
Chu Yueyuan, carrying the heavy fish basket, looked up at the campfire in the camp not far away and said in a relaxed tone, "It's alright, I can carry it."
Jin Tong smiled and pursed her lips: "Is Your Highness worried that I'm clumsy and might knock over the fish basket, causing the Regent to go hungry tonight?"
Chu Yueyuan glanced at her sideways: "Smooth talker. He went with the emperor this time, and I'm afraid half the wild animals on the mountain will suffer. He will come back with a full harvest, so how could he be hungry?"
“That’s different. This fish was caught by His Highness himself. Even if there were all the rare and exotic animals in the mountains, they would be far inferior to this bass in the eyes of the Regent.”
Chu Yueyuan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she explained softly, "I only wanted him to try the seasonal perch soup because he accompanied the Emperor on the hunt."
Jin Tong smiled and followed the woman's words: "Amitabha, fortunately at the last moment, a foolish fish took the bait. If we had only brought one back, the Emperor and the Regent would have had something to fight over!"
"What do you mean 'the fish took the bait'? It's obvious that my fishing skills have improved!"
Although Chu Yueyuan was dissatisfied with Jin Tong's statement, she still secretly remembered the fish that was caught later and decided to have the imperial chef stew the stupid fish for Pei Ze to eat, so that the cunning and treacherous minister would be less scheming.
Less than a hundred paces from the camp, a commotion arose, as if something had gone wrong.
From afar, Chu Yueyuan saw two groups of people arguing fiercely, their swords drawn and their blades pointed at each other. The situation had escalated to this point, yet the Regent had not stepped in to quell the chaos.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, a sense of unease rising within her, so she quickened her pace and entered the camp.
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived!"
The officials and soldiers who were arguing in the camp immediately fell silent. Everyone looked serious and consciously made way for the young empress dowager.
Chu Yueyuan handed the fish basket to Jin Tong and walked into the source of the dispute. She saw that Chief Lin was holding a long sword with the blade against Anxian Wang's neck. The veins on his forehead were bulging and he looked furious, completely unlike his usual effeminate self.
Prince Anxian, confined to his wheelchair and unable to move, glanced up and saw the young Empress Dowager approaching. He quickly raised his voice and called out:
"Your Majesty, I only wish to help. The Emperor and the Regent are currently missing in the hunting grounds, their fate unknown. Sending another team to search for them will help them escape danger as soon as possible!"
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