Chi Yan has been busy preparing for the autumn hunt lately, often not returning home until late at night.
As Shen Tangning drifted off to sleep, she sensed someone lying down beside her and embracing her from behind in an almost imperceptible embrace. The familiar scent washed over her. She didn't turn around, only murmuring something indistinctly:
"You're back?"
Chi Yan sighed softly, his voice still tinged with weariness: "Have you seen our sister-in-law? What do you think of her?"
She regained some consciousness and opened her eyes: "I can't quite put my finger on it, let's observe for a while longer."
Putting that matter aside for the moment, she reminded him, "Right now, the most important thing is the autumn hunt. His Majesty has entrusted you with security, so we can't be careless..."
At first, Chi Yan would respond softly from time to time, but then he gradually fell silent. She could hear even breathing behind her, and realized that he had fallen asleep. She turned over very gently to face him.
Chi Yan's sleeping posture with her eyes closed exuded a quiet and obedient charm. Her lips were slightly pursed, and her drooping eyelashes cast a shadow. A hint of weariness could be seen between her brows.
She unconsciously raised her hand to trace his outline with her fingertips, her heart overflowing with tenderness:
She could feel the pressure on Chi Yan's shoulders. After entering the Hanlin Academy, he had always been complacent and did not care much about fame and fortune. It was clear that he did not actually like court intrigue.
What made him make that change?
She had a vague idea that it was because of her.
With a glimmer of light in her eyes, Shen Tangning carefully observed his appearance, thinking to herself:
She would do everything in her power to protect someone who treated her so wholeheartedly.
Perhaps feeling itchy, Chi Yan's nostrils twitched. He pressed down on the back of her neck and pulled her into his arms, his voice muffled: "A-Ning..."
Pressed against his chest, hearing the strong beating inside, she slowly closed her eyes: "Huaizhi, I'm here."
*
On the seventh day of the ninth lunar month, the autumn hunt arrived as scheduled.
Due to safety concerns, Mr. and Mrs. Chi did not travel with them but stayed at home instead.
Chi Yan went to the hunting grounds early in the morning, while Shen Tangning went alone with Xue Qing and a few guards.
The journey to the royal hunting grounds takes at least an hour, and the road ahead is blocked halfway there. Xueqing lifts the curtain, her voice filled with surprise:
"Miss, the Crown Princess's carriage is ahead."
Shen Tangning's eyes flickered slightly as she climbed out of the carriage: "I'm going to pay my respects to the Crown Princess."
Upon reaching the carriage, Gu Qingxu heard her voice and lifted the curtain, a smile appearing on her face: "Ningning, come up and talk."
With many people around, Shen Tangning didn't refuse. She got into the carriage and sat down, not seeing Yan Huai's figure: "Cousin, aren't you with your wife?"
Gu Qingxu smiled and said, "Your Highness has some business to attend to and went to the hunting grounds ahead of time. You should be with your husband right now."
Her eyes flickered slightly, and Shen Tangning lowered her voice: "Did you carefully read the letter I sent before, cousin?"
Gu Qingxu's expression became more serious: "You kindly reminded me, but His Highness naturally cannot be careless. He has been living and eating at the hunting grounds for the past few days and has carefully checked the surrounding area several times. There should be no oversights."
She paused, a hint of worry on her face, "But I always feel uneasy. Since others have such thoughts, we have to be careful."
Shen Tangning then noticed that she had specially applied makeup today. She had been sleeping poorly these past few days because of this matter, and her face looked much more haggard. She couldn't help but hold her hand and said in a comforting tone, "Cousin has always been prudent in his actions. Since he has taken precautions in advance, he will not let those people get away with it so easily."
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