"Yes, the newly promoted noble lady is titled Li Guiren. She is the concubine daughter of Concubine Xiao's family. She entered the palace through the selection a few years ago, but she never caught the emperor's eye. A few days ago, she suddenly won the emperor's favor, and today, Concubine Xiao was able to come to participate in the autumn hunt."
"So, Concubine Li is actually a pawn of Concubine Xiao?"
Pei Mingyue nodded: "Concubine Xiao has two more chess pieces like this in the palace."
She lowered her voice and said, "My father told me that in his early years, Earl Qingping took in several very beautiful concubines in order to give birth to beautiful concubines of the Xiao family to serve Concubine Xiao."
"Oh!"
Su Li sneered. Does this mean that Concubine Xiao will be the future empress dowager?
However, in the original novel, Concubine Xiao did become the empress dowager, but she was an empress dowager with no say and could not bring any glory or benefits to the Qingping Earl's Mansion.
As the team slowly walked out of the city gate, people knelt down on both sides of the road and saluted.
However, neither the emperor nor the concubines behind him got out of the carriage. After the team passed through the crowd, everyone stood up and got on the carriage or on horseback, and then followed the team, heading west in a mighty procession.
The autumn hunting site was on Xiping Mountain in the west, not far from the city gate. However, because the team was not moving fast, it took nearly three hours to reach Xiping Mountain.
Xiping Mountain is a forest formed by three not-so-steep mountains. The entire forest covers a very large area, and there is a large flat land at the foot of the mountain.
In order to facilitate hunting activities throughout the year, Emperor Jing had a small palace built on flat ground. Of course, only royal family members could live in the palace.
As for the ministers and their families from various noble families, they had to set up temporary tents.
When Su Li and his group arrived, tents had already been set up on both sides of the palace.
The tents were distributed on both sides of the palace, the left side was for men and the right side was for women.
Su Li came here as a member of the Duke's family, so the tent was arranged according to her title. Therefore, the tent she lived in was relatively close to the palace.
Madam Li was sitting a few seats behind her. She instructed, "Ah Li, if you have any questions, just come and see your great aunt."
Su Li nodded: "Grandaunt, I understand."
After Xiao Sanzi parked the carriage, the group moved their luggage to the tent.
The tent is not big and is very simple, but at least it is divided into an inner room and an outer room.
The inner room has a bed, a simple dressing table and a wardrobe, while the outer room only has a set of tables and chairs.
It was already noon when Xiao Wu and Xiao Ye finished packing. Palace servants came one after another to deliver lunch to the women in the tent.
After lunch, it is time to rest.
The autumn hunting activities did not officially begin until two o'clock in the afternoon.
Since it is autumn hunting, the main activity is hunting. Therefore, the first activity of autumn hunting is the hunting competition.
"This hunting competition is led by four princes and two young generals, with a total of six teams. Each team will set out. After two hours, the team with the most prey will be the winner. At that time, they will receive a reward from His Majesty himself..."
In the open space in front of the palace, the emperor and several concubines sat at the head, while a group of ministers and female relatives sat opposite each other on both sides.
In the middle stood six teams in a neat row. Probably to make them easier to distinguish, each team wore clothes of a different color.
A palace maid loudly announced the rules of the hunting competition beside the emperor.
Su Li was neither participating in the competition nor did he know anyone who was going to participate, so he naturally didn't care much about it.
What she was concerned about was whether the Taoist Kongxu behind her could see Prince Chun's face clearly.
She thought that she probably couldn't see clearly. After all, the venue was too big, and even if everyone sat together, the distance between them was quite far.
At least, she had not been able to see Prince Chun who was sitting opposite her clearly just now. Now Prince Chun was standing with a group of people who were preparing to participate in the hunting competition, and facing the emperor, so she could not see his face clearly.
"Hunting competition, begin!"
“??!”
Following the sound of a clear gong, six hunting teams set off at the same time, and in less than a moment they disappeared into the mountains and forests.
The hunting competition will not be decided until four hours later, so it is impossible for everyone to wait here in vain during this period.
At this time, the sword dance comes in handy.
As the dancers came on stage, everyone relaxed, watching the sword dance or chatting and laughing with their glasses.
Su Li was no exception. She drank and chatted with several ladies and young ladies she knew. From time to time, some ladies and young ladies she didn't know would come to talk to her. However, from the flattering tone of most of them, it could be known that they were probably trying to establish good relationships with her in advance because of her status as the young lady of the Duke's Mansion.
However, since he had no ill will towards her, she naturally would not respond with bad words, and would speak to him in a very polite and tactful manner.
Everyone couldn't help but feel very fond of her easy-going yet measured way of talking, and they also wanted to make friends with her sincerely.
While the results of the hunting competition are being announced, you can do whatever you want, besides watching sword dancing, drinking and chatting. After all, it's an afternoon, and you can't just sit and watch sword dancing the whole time.
Su Li felt that the time was about right, so she said to Old Madam Li, "Aunt, I'll be back soon."
"Go ahead." Old Madam Li thought she was going to change clothes or take a walk because she couldn't sit still, so she nodded.
When the group reached a deserted place, Su Li whispered to Taoist Kongxu, "How is it?"
Taoist Kongxu also replied in a low voice: "The distance is not close enough, I can't see clearly."
This answer was within Su Li's expectations.
She frowned and decided to find an opportunity to get close to Prince Chun.
Although there was a bonfire party in the evening, it was held separately for men and women, and even court officials could not get in touch with them, let alone the prince.
Of course, it was possible to go there specifically to find someone, but for a married woman to go to a prince with whom she had no relationship for no reason, and with so many people watching, given Concubine Xiao's hostility towards her, she would definitely make a big fuss about it, and she was not willing to give her a handle.
After thinking for a while, she said, "How about this, let's go up the mountain to enjoy the flowers, and then see if we can find a chance to go into the forest..."
Xiping Mountain is composed of three mountains connected together, that is, it has three peaks.
There are no trees on the hill on the left, but the whole hill is covered with wild chrysanthemums.
Wild chrysanthemums bloom in autumn, so every time there is an autumn hunt, going up the mountain to appreciate the chrysanthemums is a must-go place for almost every female family member who participates in the hunt.
Right now, many women have gone towards the hill on the left, and even many men have gone up the mountain. After all, loving flowers is not exclusive to women, right?
If they go at this time, they will definitely not attract attention.
Taoist Kongxu nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Poor, uh, I think it's okay..."
"Then let's go."
So, Su Li took the servant disguised as Taoist Kongxu, Xiao Sanzi, Xiao Wu and Xiao Ye to the mountain on the left.
"Hey! Isn't this Madam Pei?"
Halfway up the mountain, Zhang Ruying suddenly stopped in front of her, accompanied by Zhao Xingwen who was guarding her.
When Zhao Xingwen saw her, he did not greet her politely as he did in the past, as if he knew that Zhang Ruying did not like him, so he could not like her either.
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