Gu Qingxu nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.
The carriage remained motionless. Shen Tangning lifted the curtain in confusion and looked up: "What happened up ahead?"
Gu Qingxu explained to her, her tone somewhat helpless: "It was the carriages of Consort Rou and Consort Li. They both wanted to rush through first, but the road was only so wide, so they started arguing."
Now that the Empress is claiming illness and not taking leave, she hasn't even stepped forward to oversee such a major event as the Autumn Hunt, instead entrusting it entirely to Consort Li and Consort Rou. These two are currently at the height of their power, and they're bound to compete whenever they meet.
Shen Tangning's mind stirred slightly: "How many months pregnant is Consort Rou now?"
Gu Qingxu replied, "It should have been three months."
With the road ahead finally cleared, Shen Tangning stopped talking.
Upon arriving at the hunting grounds, Gu Qingxu had to pay her respects to the two concubines and settle the noblewomen. Shen Tangning bid her farewell and went to her own tent.
The hunt will last for two days and one night, and we will have to camp here again tonight. Xueqing put away the clothes and other items she brought. Shen Tangning reminded her, "Don't bother with anything else. Go and find the young master. If you see him, tell him to come see me."
Xue Qing turned and went out the door. Shen Tangning couldn't stay still either, so she decided to go out for a walk.
This wasn't her first time here. The hunting grounds were heavily guarded, and entry wasn't permitted before they opened, so she didn't need to worry about encountering any danger.
There was no news from Xue Qing, but Shen Tangning spotted Shen Ci before her. He was talking to Pei Mingzhu from a distance.
The other person laughed heartily: "Don't forget, we still have a competition!"
Shen Ci hadn't wanted to bring this up, but seeing that she had brought it up herself, she couldn't refuse: "Of course I haven't forgotten."
Pei Mingzhu caught a glimpse of Shen Tangning out of the corner of her eye and greeted her with a smile: "Mrs. Chi, we meet again. Please have a chat."
As she turned to leave, she quickened her pace, noticing someone: "Brother, wait for me!"
Just as Shen Tangning was about to look over, her attention was drawn to Shen Ci, who was running over: "Sister, did you come to see me?"
She could only nod: "Come with me."
The two entered the tent, and Shen Tangning poured him a cup of tea: "Be careful these next two days, especially during the hunt, and do not act on your own."
Chi Yan had already given him prior notice, so Shen Ci wasn't particularly surprised. However, he wasn't entirely clear on the details, and his tone was somewhat hesitant:
"Will something really bad happen?"
"It never hurts to be a little more careful." Shen Tangning paused. "That Miss Pei wants to have a match with you?"
Shen Ci nodded and explained, "I promised her before, and it wouldn't be good to go back on my word now."
She smiled and said, "You know what you're doing. You have the right to make friends, and I won't interfere."
——
Pei Mingzhu looked up at the person in front of her, her tone listless:
"Brother, why did you give me that look just now?"
The young man was remarkably handsome, possessing an androgynous beauty. At this moment, his expression showed slight displeasure: "Didn't you say you could handle Shen Ci?"
Pei Mingzhu blinked and looked at her older brother: "Yeah, he's a simpleton, taking him down would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?"
Recalling the woman he had just seen, Pei Yunhe frowned and reminded her, "His sister is not someone to be trifled with."
"Shen Tangning?" Pei Mingzhu squinted and sneered, her tone disdainful. "Just a rigid and boring woman. I've seen plenty of people like her!"
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