The thrilling "accident" during the archery competition was like a drop of cold water falling into boiling oil, instantly splashing the seemingly enthusiastic atmosphere of the hunting ground with oil droplets labeled "danger."
Although Emperor Xiao Che pardoned the general who had "accidentally" made the mistake with imperial magnanimity, an invisible sense of tension spread rapidly like a spider web, enveloping the minds of every perceptive person.
Lin Wanwan sat on the throne, holding a cup of warm fruit tea to dispel the chill that rose from the bottom of her heart. She knew that the warning [skull.gif] was not only Xiao Che's inner anger, but also a signal of the highest level of combat readiness sent to her.
The probing is over; now comes the real killing blow.
The long horn blast sounded again, this time not for the sake of the competition, but the order to officially begin the hunt.
With all the officials in place, the Emperor and Empress moved their carriages. Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che changed into horses that were easier to ride, and accompanied by a group of imperial relatives and imperial guards, they set off in a grand procession towards the hunting grounds deep in the Western Hills.
The sounds of horses' hooves and the clamor of voices seemed no different from the autumn hunts of previous years. However, Lin Wanwan could clearly sense that the number of imperial guards protecting them today was more than double that of usual, and their formation was much tighter, almost completely enveloping the emperor and empress in the very center.
This impregnable defense, which should have given people peace of mind, now seemed more like a signal, a signal that a storm was brewing.
"Your Majesty, my sister, the Empress."
A soft, timid voice came from the side.
Lin Wanwan glanced to the side and saw Consort Xian, Su Jinxiu, cautiously approaching on a gentle white mare. Her riding skills seemed rather poor; even this simple act of riding side by side made her appear somewhat nervous, her pretty face slightly pale, making her look pitiful.
"Your Majesty, I am not a skilled rider, and the procession is moving so fast. I am truly afraid that there may be a collision." Su Jinxiu's eyes held just the right amount of fear and dependence as her gaze shifted between Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan. "I wonder... I wonder if it would be permissible for me to stay by Your Majesty's and my sister's side, so that I may feel at ease?"
Her words were reasonable and she adopted an extremely humble posture. Anyone who read them would only think that she was a weak and helpless younger sister seeking protection from her older brother and sister.
Lin Wanwan sneered inwardly.
They've arrived.
The other protagonist of this grand drama finally couldn't hold back any longer and took the initiative to appear.
“Sister, don’t panic,” Lin Wanwan immediately showed a concerned and gentle smile. She even slowed down her horse and reached out her hand to Su Jinxiu to comfort her, “Just stay by my side. Although this forest is large, there will be no danger.”
"Thank you so much, sister!" Su Jinxiu was moved to tears and immediately spurred her horse closer, riding almost side by side with Lin Wanwan's mount, creating a harmonious scene of sisterly affection.
Xiao Che didn't glance at her once, as if she were nothing more than an insignificant wisp of air. But the black flames of the burning skull above his head surged even more fiercely beneath his indifferent expression.
Lin Wanwan knew that Xiao Che's "radar" had already marked this approaching "danger source" as a red alert of the highest level.
The team continued onward and officially entered the forest area.
Tall trees blocked out the sky, and the sunlight was cut into dappled patterns that fell on everyone. The air in the forest was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees and the dampness of the earth. Every now and then, startled birds would flutter their wings and take flight, or the distant roars of wild beasts could be heard.
Su Jinxiu perfectly portrayed the image of a "weak and harmless" younger sister.
She kept glancing at Xiao Che with a look that was a mixture of adoration and love. Whenever Xiao Che drew his bow and shot a running hare or accurately hit a flying pheasant, she would let out a perfectly timed, delighted gasp, her beautiful eyes sparkling as if Xiao Che were the only god in her eyes.
She showed extreme dependence and closeness towards Lin Wanwan.
"Sister, look at those maple leaves over there, they're so red, so beautiful."
"Sister, what should we do if we encounter a bear later? I'm so scared."
She chattered on, her tone concerned yet innocent, her conversation always revolving around the mundane matters of a young woman and her fear of the unknown, vividly portraying the image of a naive and dependent younger sister who was completely dependent on the Emperor and Empress.
On the surface, Lin Wanwan was very caring towards her and patiently answered all her questions, but in her heart, she was sneering.
With acting skills like this, it's a waste that he doesn't deserve an Oscar.
While she was giving Su Jinxiu a perfunctory reply, she kept a close eye on the burning skull above Xiao Che's head out of the corner of her eye. She noticed that the hellfire in the skull's eye sockets showed no signs of extinguishing over time; on the contrary, it burned brighter and brighter as the group went deeper into the territory, almost solidifying and bursting forth from it.
This means that danger is approaching at an extremely rapid pace!
As the group ventured deeper, the terrain became increasingly complex. The flat grasslands disappeared, replaced by rugged and narrow mountain paths. Towering ancient trees rose from the ground, their dense foliage blocking out the sun and dimming the light within the forest. On both sides of the path, impenetrable thickets and jagged rocks stretched the large group into a long line.
This is undoubtedly the best place to set up an ambush.
The atmosphere in the air grew increasingly heavy in this oppressive terrain. The Imperial Guards gripped their sword hilts tightly, each of their nerves stretched taut like a string about to snap.
Lin Wanwan's heart was in her throat. She knew that the other party's patience was almost exhausted.
Just as the group was traveling on an extremely narrow mountain path that could only accommodate two horses side by side, Su Jinxiu, who had been acting weak and timid, suddenly had a very subtle and resolute look in her eyes, which was completely different from her weak appearance!
That look flashed by in an instant, so fast it was almost an illusion, but Lin Wanwan, who had been watching her intently, caught it perfectly!
Immediately afterward, Lin Wanwan saw Su Jinxiu's seemingly relaxed hand, which was holding the reins, suddenly tighten its grip on the reins without anyone noticing! Her knuckles turned slightly white from the excessive force!
Lin Wanwan felt a chill run down her spine.
She's about to make her move!
In that instant, Lin Wanwan immediately gave a wink to her trusted maid Ruolan, who had been keeping a close watch on her.
Her gaze was calm and sharp, silently conveying the command: "Hold on tight, the show is about to begin!"
Ruolan's heart tightened, but she nodded without showing any emotion, and her hand holding the reins also tightened quietly.
A meticulously planned "accident" is about to unfold in a bloody manner in the next second!
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