With that one sentence from Imperial Concubine Wei, many others immediately voiced out their agreement.
She was the only concubine from the palace that the emperor had brought this time, so it was only natural that many ladies would want to curry favour with her.
Even outside of the spring hunt, there would occasionally be a polo match or two held in the palace. Besides, the spring hunt was such a good opportunity to play.
Since Imperial Concubine Wei had spoken, there would also naturally be people who volunteered to organise things.
Feudal Princess Anmin stood up and looked in Royal Princess Duanjia's direction with a smile. "I've long heard that Cousin Duanjia is skilled at polo, but I've never had the opportunity to see it for myself. Since a chance has presented itself, how about we each lead a team?"
Royal Princess Duanjia was indeed a great polo player. This was something that was well-known in the circles of the imperial family, and there was no need to hide it.
Before Princess Wei and Royal Princess Duanjia could reject the idea, Imperial Concubine Wei followed up.
"I've also heard about Duanjia's skill. Since a rare opportunity has presented itself, Duanjia should show these bumpkins what's what!"
Imperial Concubine Wei had spoken. It was very difficult to reject her at this point unless Royal Princess Duanjia had a real, physical excuse.
Chu Lian had read through half of the original story, so she was aware that Imperial Concubine Wei and Feudal Princess Anmin weren't easy to deal with. This was especially so for Imperial Concubine Wei. Since she had spent many years in the palace, she definitely possessed some wit, along with the power to wield it.
While all this seemed like nothing out of the ordinary, there might be a trap hidden somewhere.
With these kinds of people who plotted many steps ahead, if one wasn't smart enough, the best choice would be to keep a low profile.
But Imperial Concubine Wei seemed to have her sights locked on to Royal Princess Duanjia today. Just what was she intending to do?
Logically speaking, Prince Wei was the emperor's most favoured brother, and Prince Wei never involved himself in politics at all. If Imperial Concubine Wei had some brains, she would behave amicably to be in the good graces of the emperor. She wouldn't do something so stupid as to make things difficult for Royal Princess Duanjia, and she wouldn't dare to make Prince and Princess Wei her enemies.
Chu Lian looked towards Royal Princess Duanjia and blinked. Her intentions were obvious, she was warning Duanjia to be careful.
A slight smile surfaced on Royal Princess Duanjia's lips. She looked quite like Chu Lian when she smiled, and when put side-by-side, the two did indeed look like sisters.
When Princess Wei caught sight of the two, she nearly became entranced by them.
Royal Princess Duanjia stood up. "Since Imperial Concubine Wei has already said so, Duanjia has to step up."
"Great, we'll have an exciting polo match to witness today then. Since it's going to be a competition, there has to be a prize. I shall use this bracelet of South Sea pearls as the prize for the victor," Imperial Concubine Wei happily said.
The older princesses all took out an accessory or two to contribute to the prize pool, putting them on a silver dish held up by a palace attendant.
Soon, the silver dish was filled with a myriad of colours from the many accessories, giving off a dazzling shine under the sun.
"It seems like everyone's excited for the polo match, too. Look, even our miserly Princess Luo has offered up a phoenix hairpin. Duanjia, Anmin, the two of you have to put up a good match! Alright, the two of you, start picking out your teammates. As it's a battle between young ladies, let's keep it between the younger generation, so that us older ladies can rest our old bones," Imperial Concubine Wei joked with a playful smile.
Right after her words, someone immediately rebuked her and praised that she wasn't old at all-- she was only in her thirties, and had many years to go!
However, Imperial Concubine Wei's seemingly harmless words had unexpectedly brought a huge restriction to the formation of their teams.
They weren't allowed to choose older ladies for the polo match. In the Great Wu Dynasty, a girl was considered an adult woman once she hit twenty. Imperial Concubine Wei was only in her thirties, but she had described herself as old, so they were only allowed to choose among the ladies under twenty.
Looking around, the number of ladies under twenty who had come to the spring hunt was pitifully low.
The emperor's generation had vied fiercely for the throne, and many members of the imperial family had died at that time. Until now, there still weren't many members in the imperial family.
The blood relations were getting thinner and thinner, and people like Feudal Princess Anmin weren't even considered core members of the imperial family.
Now that there was an age restriction, the available choices for teammates had dwindled even further.
With that in mind, there were very few people who fit the requirements.
On the other side, Feudal Princess Anmin moved quickly, and managed to form a team in seconds!
Amongst them was the fifteen-year-old Royal Princess Nanzhang, Prince Hexi's twin daughters Dong'er and Nan'er, and Royal Princess Nanyin's youngest daughter, Honoured Lady Xincheng.
This immediately made Royal Princess Duanjia frown.
She looked through the whole shelter, but there were very few young ladies left.
Chu Lian was stumped. She suddenly had a bad premonition. She looked towards Feudal Princess Anmin and saw a faintly pleased look on her face. Chu Lian didn't know why, but she had the feeling that the one that they were actually scheming against wasn't Royal Princess Duanjia, but her.
The opponent's team was completely made up of members of the royal family, and the lowest position among them was still an Honoured Lady.
This move had blocked Royal Princess Duanjia from selecting anybody of lower statuses, such as maids.
She had to select ladies with proper backgrounds, or it would be disrespecting her opponents.
Dignity trumped over everything. If Royal Princess Duanjia failed to assemble her team, there would be no need to even compete. Her side would have already lost, and would be ridiculed.
Royal Princess Duanjia was competitive in nature, and she couldn't stand failure.
Once her competitiveness took over, even Princess Wei wouldn't be able to control her.
Royal Princess Duanjia looked around, and in the end, she dragged three young ladies into this.
One of them was Royal Prince Han's wife, Royal Princess Xu, who had come from a military family. She had already given birth to a daughter, and happened to be nineteen this year, barely making it past the requirements. In comparison, the other side's team was completely made up of royalty that had yet to marry, and the oldest was merely fifteen.
Next, Royal Princess Duanjia requested for Prince Luoyang's second daughter, Feudal Princess Minghui, and Prince Qing's granddaughter, Feudal Princess Xirou.
With that, there were now four people on the team including Duanjia.
However, there seemed to be no way for her to find her final team member.
There were still several ladies of suitable ages standing near Feudal Princess Anmin's corner, but their statuses were too low, and they didn't even possess any titles.
Right as Royal Princess Duanjia was starting to feel anxious, Royal Princess Nanzhang laughed out loud. "There's no difficulty in this at all; isn't Honoured Lady Jinyi a prime candidate? Duanjia, I see that you're pretty close to Jinyi, so why is it that you somehow forgot about her at this time? Could it be that the two of you have fallen out with each other?"
Royal Princess Nanzhang truly had the gift of the gab. Now Chu Lian had no choice but to go. If she insisted on not participating, then there would probably be rumours of a falling out between her and Royal Princess Duanjia once the polo match ended.
Royal Princess Duanjia was angered by Royal Princess Nanzhang's words. Her brows were tightly knit together, and she was about to argue with Nanzhang.
Chu Lian quickly tugged on her sleeves, and subtly shook her head at her. She then turned towards Royal Princess Nanzhang and Feudal Princess Anmin with a smile and said, "Since that's the case, I'll join in to fill the empty seat. However, I've never played polo, so please be gentle with me."
"Our game is just for some entertainment; you'll be fine as long as you can ride a horse, Honoured Lady Jinyi. The outcome doesn't matter at all." Feudal Princess Anmin's smile was incredibly gentle.
Royal Princess Duanjia hadn't thought that Chu Lian would really offer herself up and started getting a little antsy.
"Chu Liu, you fool! Can't you tell that they were just trying to make you jump into a trap?!"
A furrow formed between Princess Wei's brows. She was a wise person, and could obviously tell that Feudal Princess Anmin and the others were doing this on purpose.
However, just what were they trying to achieve?
"It'll be fine, I'll just be careful," Chu Lian softly consoled Royal Princess Duanjia.
Royal Princess Duanjia pursed her lips, determination and vigor shining in her eyes.
She understood that the reason Chu Lian had agreed despite knowing it was a trap was all for her sake. As they were close sisters, Chu Lian didn't want others to be making wild assumptions about their relationship and she didn't want Duanjia's honour to be sullied.
Since her childhood, Duanjia had never had a sister figure in her life. Whenever she attended banquets with her mother, she would witness girls from other families getting bullied, but there was always an older sister who would stand up for their little sisters.
Right now, Royal Princess Duanjia felt that Chu Lian was like her older sister.
This actually gave her a mysterious warmth inside.
Of course, Chu Lian didn't notice this. She just did what she felt was right. She didn't want to act as a coward just to survive.
She didn't know that her nonchalant gesture had touched Royal Princess Duanjia and Princess Wei's hearts.
Just like that, the lineup of both teams was already set.
The two teams entered their respective tents to prepare. They had to remove all of the hairpins in their hair along with the other accessories they were wearing, and they also had to choose a polo mallet and a horse suitable for them.
During the preparations, Royal Princess Duanjia made use of every second to explain the rules of polo to Chu Lian.
Chu Lian kept nodding as she listened. She had a great memory, and it wasn't like she knew nothing at all about polo. After all, polo was still played in modern times; the rules here were simply a little different.
She was now good enough at riding, but she wasn't expecting much from herself. She just had to make sure not to burden the team and keep herself safe, and everything else would be left to Royal Princess Duanjia.
Both Feudal Princess Minghui and Royal Princess Xu were adept at playing polo, while Royal Princess Duanjia was an amazing player. They had a good shot at winning.
Although there was quite a lot of time for them to prepare, it still passed very quickly for Chu Lian, who was still trying her best to commit the details of the game to memory.
Royal Princess Duanjia personally chose a horse and polo mallet for Chu Lian.
Very soon, the two teams entered the polo field, while Imperial Concubine Wei led the other ladies to a viewing platform.
All the members of Royal Princess Duanjia's team had a scarlet-red cloth on their arms, while Feudal Princess Anmin's side had tied a blue cloth on theirs.
The hunting grounds had its own referee. With a loud blow of the whistle, the competition officially began.
The polo ball was thrown up into the air. Royal Princess Duanjia twitched her reins, and her valiant white horse shot forward. When it arrived at the polo ball, it raised its hooves up high with a neigh. Royal Princess Duanjia lifted her hands up and stepped hard on the stirrups; this put her in a standing position with her butt floating above the saddle. Her arm was at a slight angle, and with a slight swing, she snatched the polo ball!
With this swing, the polo ball flew in Royal Princess Xu's direction.
The ball was already gone by the time Feudal Princess Anmin arrived. Since she had missed the chance to possess the ball, she was now at a disadvantage.
Feudal Princess Anmin angrily bit her bottom lip and glared at Royal Princess Duanjia.
Royal Princess Duanjia sat back down on the saddle with her chin slightly raised, wearing a subtle smile as she glanced at Feudal Princess Anmin with disdain.
Chu Lian guarded the left side of the field, watching as Royal Princess Duanjia lead Feudal Princess Xirou in a charge towards the opponent's side of the field.
The ladies raised their tender voices, constantly shouting out to each other, and the competition was abnormally fierce.
It was at this time that Feudal Princess Minghui suddenly charged out from the left, her body bent backwards at what seemed like an impossible angle. She swung her polo mallet, and she stole the ball in a shocking move! The ball was sent flying in an arc, and in two seconds, the ball entered the opponent's net with a 'pop'.
Royal Princess Duanjia's red team had scored a point!
Loud cheers immediately burst out from the ladies on the viewing platform.
Even Princess Wei had a wide smile on her face.
Following closely after that, the red team scored another point, making Honoured Lady Xincheng look at Royal Princess Duanjia in a different light.
The super amateur Chu Lian felt that she was actually going to be carried to victory.
At this moment, at an angle hidden to the others, Feudal Princess Anmin signaled at Prince Hexi's twin daughters Dong'er and Nan'er with her eyes.
Nan'er nodded.
This time, it was the blue team's turn to serve the ball.
Royal Princess Nanzhang landed a heavy hit on the polo ball, sending it flying up in the air and towards the red team's side of the field.
The midfielders, Nan'er and Dong'er, whipped their horses forward and wildly charged into the red team's territory.
In the middle of their charge, Nan'er and Dong'er glanced at each other.
The heads of their horses turned, and they started galloping towards Chu Lian instead.
Dong'er swung her mallet, which caused the polo ball to roll in Chu Lian's direction.
Nan'er twitched the reins of her horse, causing it to speed up.
At this point, Royal Princess Duanjia and the others were still on the other side of the field, and they didn't have any way of getting there before Nan'er and Dong'er.
When Chu Lian noticed that Nan'er and Dong'er were charging towards her, her brows furrowed, as she instinctively felt a sense of danger approaching.
If they wanted to hit her horse, then she just had to dodge.
However, it was right at this moment that the small polo ball coincidentally hit the butt of Chu Lian's steed.
The horse was startled badly, causing it to whinny and rear up. It started to run off without paying any heed to Chu Lian's commands.
Now that her opportunity to escape had been taken away, Nan'er and Dong'er rushed to Chu Lian's side.
In a seemingly accidental manner, they slammed into Chu Lian on both sides. They used their mallets to control the polo ball while Chu Lian was sandwiched between them and unable to move.
When Dong'er and Nan'er were fighting to snatch the polo ball on the ground, their mallets 'inadvertently' hit Chu Lian's horse.
After they galloped away, Chu Lian's horse suddenly flew into a rage, with every intention to fling its rider off.
Chu Lian was still an amateur at horse riding and she hadn't learned enough riding techniques yet. She didn't know how to calm the horse down and control it.
Princess Wei and the distant Royal Princess Duanjia felt their hearts stop. Princess Wei immediately ordered one of her servants who knew martial arts to rescue Chu Lian.
However, it was still too late. They were too far away, and they were about to witness Chu Lian being flung off a crazed horse.
In the end, Chu Lian was thrown off when she lost hold of the reins...
She cried out in alarm, but right at this moment, a majestic horse suddenly charged onto the field.
The horse leapt over the wooden fence surrounding the field easily, and the rider of the horse actually jumped off the horse's back without any regard for his own safety.
A tall and slender figure caught Chu Lian in mid-air, then embraced her tightly.
Moments later, there was the muffled sound of bodies hitting the ground'. The world seemed to go out of focus for Chu Lian as she rolled uncontrollably for a few rounds before coming to a stop.
An unfamiliar chilly fragrance surrounded her, and the embrace she felt wasn't one that was familiar to her.
Once she recovered from the shock, Chu Lian calmed her emotions, and slowly opened her eyes.
What entered her eyes first was a black robe, then fair skin, a prominent Adam's apple, and a clean and smooth-looking chin with slight traces of stubble.
The shape of the chin was very delicate-looking, and not at all what she was familiar with.
Chu Lian was immediately frozen from this. There was fear, shock, anxiety and other negative emotions in her heart.
This man who had suddenly appeared wasn't her husband, He Changdi!
Who was it!?
In the next second, Chu Lian felt the hold on her waist tighten and a stranger's hand impudently caressing her waist.
She then heard a familiar voice from above her head, "My dear Lian'er, are you alright?"
That… That was Xiao Bojian's voice!
Chu Lian sucked in her breath through her teeth. The shock of learning this made her push away the man embracing her with everything she had!
However, the difference between a man and a woman's physical strength wasn't so easy to overcome. Xiao Bojian's arms were like steel clamps locking her in place, she couldn't move at all.
When Chu Lian had been flung off her horse, the audience on the viewing platform was in an uproar. Many of them hadn't expected such an accident to happen in a simple game of women's polo.
Even Imperial Concubine Wei showed some semblance of shock.
Right now, it was already too late for anyone to save Honoured Lady Jinyi. It didn't matter how good their reflexes were.
Just as everyone had determined that Honoured Lady Jinyi was destined to be a cripple, someone from outside the field charged in, and even leapt off his horse to save Honoured Lady Jinyi without any regard for his own safety.
Someone on the viewing platform said with astonishment, "Is… isn't that Scholar Xiao?"
With that reminder, everyone immediately recognised the person who had saved Chu Lian. That person was indeed Xiao Bojian.
Xiao Bojian had been born with amazing features that were unforgettable to anyone he met. He was also the top scholar of the imperial examinations, which meant that he had left an incredibly deep impression in the minds of others.
Practically everybody in the capital knew of him.
It wasn't strange at all for someone to recognise him at this occasion.
Sir Xiao was a man overflowing with talent whose political prowess stood out even in court, gaining the admiration of many.
Although he was of humble origins, his features were beautiful and he had a great reputation. He was now in his early twenties and hadn't yet married. For the sake of respecting his future wife, he didn't even have a single concubine or maid in his home.
He was still a bachelor, but he was already considered a great candidate for a son-in-law in the eyes of the noble madams in the capital.
If the one who had been saved today was some unmarried Royal Princess or Feudal Princess, this could have turned into a fairy tale. All that would be needed was for Imperial Concubine Wei to betroth her to Xiao Bojian, and it would be absolutely perfect.
Unfortunately, the one who was saved was Honoured Lady Jinyi, the wife of Marquis Anyuan, a lady who was already married…
Now the situation was turning awkward…
Looking at them, Sir Xiao seemed to be hugging Honoured Lady Jinyi pretty tightly. The look in his eyes was filled with emotion too, it… it couldn't be that these two had feelings for each other before, right?
Otherwise, why would Xiao Bojian have chosen to risk a serious injury for the sake of saving Honoured Lady Jinyi at a critical situation like this?
Suddenly, everyone's thought processes turned a hundred and eighty degrees, with all sorts of guesses and gossip flooding their minds.
Princess Wei was the first to return to her senses. She angrily watched how tightly Xiao Bojian held Chu Lian, but before she could speak, there was suddenly a loud commotion coming from the rear of the polo field.
Everyone's eyes were drawn towards the direction of the commotion, and it was an incredible sight to behold…
The emperor had returned.
He was standing some distance away with his brows furrowed and his hands behind his back with a dignified expression on his face. He was an incredibly charismatic ruler, and nobody could guess at what was on his mind.
He stood in front of the others, all standing in that corner in a strange silence. Those on the viewing platform didn't know how long he had been standing there, and how much he had seen.
He Changdi was also there at one side. He had also seen what happened alongside the emperor, but they had happened to arrive right as Xiao Bojian was rolling on the ground with Chu Lian in his arms.
His phoenix eyes narrowed with a deep glare in Xiao Bojian and Chu Lian's direction. The air was heavy around him, and his dashing face couldn't get any darker. He even subconsciously held Royal Princess Leyao more forcefully.
Princess Leyao groaned, then with a teary voice, she said, "Brother Changdi, please be more gentle, you're hurting me."
It was this voice that seemed to break the mysterious silence.
Princess Leyao's leg had already been treated. It was now firmly secured by wooden planks.
Princess Wei's subordinate had finally reached Chu Lian's side. When the maid who had been tasked with saving Chu Lian saw how tightly Xiao Bojian was holding Chu Lian, her eyes narrowed. Acting as if she hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary, she said, "Honoured Lady, are you hurt anywhere? Please allow this servant to help you up."
Xiao Bojian finally released Chu Lian, and Chu Lian was supported to a standing position by the maid.
Other than her pale face from the fright and several tears on her clothes, she hadn't gotten any serious injuries and was pretty much fine.
The maid sighed in relief before finally helping Xiao Bojian up.
However, the severity of Xiao Bojian's injuries outclassed Chu Lian's by far.
When they had been rolling on the ground, he had held Chu Lian so tightly and acted as her shield without care for himself. His right leg was sprained and there were heavy bruises on multiple parts of his body. There were likely internal injuries hiding under those bruises as well. He would need some time to recuperate from this.
As the maid helped Xiao Bojian up, he stumbled due to his sprained ankle. Who knew if he had done it on purpose or not? He somehow fell in Chu Lian's direction.
Although Chu Lian didn't like Xiao Bojian as a person and even felt disgust towards him, it was still a fact that he had saved her when she had been flung off her horse.
Since he was going to fall, she couldn't push him away. Thus, she caught him.
However, Xiao Bojian rested his entire body on Chu Lian's shoulder, and his arms directly wrapped around Chu Lian's waist.
Chu Lian stiffened up. She was about to push him away in anger, but Xiao Bojian had already let go before that could happen. Chu Lian didn't speak a word of this, as his action had seemed unintentional.
Chu Lian suspiciously sized Xiao Bojian up, and asked with an unfriendly tone, "Are you badly hurt? Thank you for saving me back there."
Right as she was about to turn away from Xiao Bojian, she noticed the group of people who were in front of her and to the left.
The most conspicuous person, standing at the front was obviously the emperor, with He Changdi right beside him.
Chu Lian's pupils shrunk. She subconsciously opened her mouth with the intention of explaining everything to him.
However... when she looked at him properly, she noticed that there was someone in his arms…
From the size of that person, along with the clothes and hairstyle, it was obviously a lady…
It was at this moment that the woman in He Changdi's arms turned her head. At an angle that He Changdi couldn't see, she gave Chu Lian a wicked smile.
Chu Lian sucked in a deep breath. It was Imperial Princess Leyao!
Any woman would know what Imperial Princess Leyao's gaze embodied; it was a form of provocation, a declaration of war!
Chu Lian couldn't help taking two steps back. Her figure seemed like a swaying willow on the verge of collapse.
Her line of sight shifted to He Changdi, whose deep and chilly eyes stared right back at her. He had a grim expression, like he was an insurmountable statue of ice.
Chu Lian opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but it was then that He Changdi turned away, shifting his gaze elsewhere.
Suddenly, Chu Lian felt as if someone had stabbed her in the heart. Her hands hidden under her sleeves formed into tight fists, her nails digging into her palm, forming deep marks, but she couldn't feel it at all.
Chu Lian's mind fell into chaos.
She had no idea when he had come, and didn't know how much he had seen.
If he had arrived earlier, why hadn't he come to save her?
Was he misunderstanding the relationship between Xiao Bojian and her?
The emperor seemed to be deep in his thoughts. A moment later, he turned to look at He Changdi and said, "Marquis Anyuan, bring Yao'er to the imperial physician's tent first."
He Changdi couldn't reject an order from the emperor, but he still couldn't help but turn his gaze back to Chu Lian again. However, his wife had already lowered her head and was no longer looking at him. He Changdi felt as if something was crushing his heart and breaking it to pieces.
He somehow managed to make a strained noise of affirmation. After giving a reply, he turned around with Imperial Princess Leyao in his arms and left with the imperial guards.
With that taken care of, the emperor strode towards the direction of the polo field as he ordered He Lin to seek the imperial physician.
At this time, Imperial Concubine Wei also arrived with everyone.
Royal Princess Duanjia quickly rushed over, held Chu Lian's hand, and asked about her condition worriedly.
Chu Lian's complexion was as white as a piece of paper. She forced a smile and said, "Royal Princess, I'm fine. It's only a minor injury."
Upon hearing such a reply, Royal Princess Duanjia sternly shook her head. "No, we can't be certain until the imperial physician comes over to check. Chu Liu, you shouldn't move right now."
She personally helped Chu Lian up as she spoke. Then, she told Jinxiu to bring a cushioned stool over and carefully supported Chu Lian to sit down.
The image of He Changdi's back as he carried Princess Leyao away without even giving a second look was still lingering in Chu Lian's mind. She felt perplexed and dazed as Royal Princess Duanjia helped her sit down. Her originally pale face had instantly turned even more haggard.
The emperor and Imperial Concubine Wei came over at this time.
Chu Lian wanted to stand up to greet the emperor and Imperial Concubine Wei, but the emperor immediately stopped her.
A rare trace of concern emerged within the emperor's dignified voice as he said, "Since you're injured, the usual courtesies can be excused. You should get some proper rest!"
After observing the situation, Imperial Concubine Wei also treated Chu Lian in a friendly manner.
"His Majesty is right. You should take a rest. The imperial physician should arrive soon. It was such an unfortunate coincidence. I didn't think such an accident would happen, but we should thank Sir Xiao for his help this time."
Imperial Concubine Wei wanted to continue speaking, but the emperor suddenly gave her an icy look. She was stunned and immediately swallowed her next few words back down.
She had almost forgotten that the Marchioness Anyuan in front of her was no longer just Honoured Lady Jinyi, who she could casually abuse as she liked. Now that she was the child the emperor had with that bitch, she could be considered a legitimate descendant of the imperial family.
After receiving leniency, Chu Lian bowed her head towards the emperor, offering a greeting as much as she was able to.
The emperor looked at Chu Lian in a seemingly nonchalant manner, but he noticed that Chu Lian was in a trance and appeared dispirited.
He looked towards Xiao Bojian and Imperial Concubine Wei again, then slightly narrowed his eyes.
"Xiao Bojian, you have accomplished a commendable deed for rescuing someone this time. We'll keep this in mind for the time being and grant you a reward when We return to the palace. If there's nothing wrong after the imperial physician's examination, then the both of you can go back to your tents for an early rest."
Both Chu Lian and Xiao Bojian replied in agreement.
However, the expressions of the people beside them had all subtly changed.
What was going on? Why was the emperor suddenly favouring Xiao Bojian right now?
What great merit had he achieved? He had merely saved Honoured Lady Jinyi, who also happened to be Marchioness Anyuan. Moreover, he did it voluntarily. Why was he being rewarded for a commendable deed? Although Honoured Lady Jinyi had been conferred a title, she wasn't really a descendant of the imperial family. The emperor didn't need to grant a reward since this matter had nothing to do with him…
Everyone was confused about this situation.
However, they looked at Xiao Bojian and Chu Lian with even more complicated emotions in their eyes.
Imperial Concubine Wei promptly dismissed the audience of ladies.
The imperial physician came to take Chu Lian and Xiao Bojian's pulses respectively. As Chu Lian had insisted, she hadn't sustained any major injuries. She only had some minor scratches and bruises, and she had also suffered some fright. However, Xiao Bojian was heavily injured. He had not only sprained his ankle, but also sustained some internal injuries. It would probably take at least two to three months for him to recover.
Wenqing and Wenlan helped Chu Lian to walk forward. She turned towards Xiao Bojian and bobbed in gratitude.
Xiao Bojian noticed the cold and desolate look within her eyes. A corner of his lips tugged downwards and he whispered, "When did you become so distant from me, Lian'er? Didn't I just risk my life to save you? That was what I promised you earlier."
Chu Lian frowned and gave him a complicated look. She didn't say anything else, then turned around and left.
Xiao Bojian stared after Chu Lian's slender, delicate back until his line of vision was blocked by some tents. His formerly gentle and handsome face instantly turned gloomy and vicious.
He clenched his fists and kicked the cushioned stool that Chu Lian had been sitting on earlier.
Xiao Bojian couldn't control the rage within his heart. It was as if his entire body had been set alight with fire.
"Preposterous! She didn't believe me!"
The imperial physician was shocked by his abrupt actions and lost the ability to respond for a moment.
He couldn't believe that that handsome man, who had appeared so gentle in front of the emperor and Honoured Lady Jinyi earlier, had suddenly morphed into a devil from hell.
He couldn't help but shudder when he saw the infuriated expression on Sir Xiao's face.
Imperial physicians were just low-ranking officials working in a high-risk profession. They had already trained themselves to become sturdy and resistant to shock. Thus, he was only stunned for a few seconds when he saw this unexpected side of Xiao Bojian. After that, he continued to treat Xiao Bojian's injuries like a puppet.
One glanced at the imperial physician beside him, who was treating the wounds while half-kneeling. He whispered to Xiao Bojian, "Sir, you're already injured. Anger won't help your wounds to heal."
It seemed like Xiao Bojian had just wanted to vent out the resentment within his heart. He closed his eyes and suppressed his anger after hearing One's advice.
As soon as the emperor began to make his way back to his tent, he gave He Lin an order. "Find out what happened."
He Lin acted swiftly. After a moment, he had already reported the sequence of events in detail to the gloomy-looking Emperor beside him.
"Nanzhang? Prince Hexi's daughters? Anmin?" The emperor raised his voice as he said those names. He Lin couldn't help but tremble when hearing his tone.
He Lin vaguely knew that those noble misses were going to suffer the consequences, but he didn't dare say anything more.
A moment later, He Lin asked in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, Imperial Princess Leyao's injury…"
"Send someone to notify Imperial Concubine Wei. We're tired, so We're going back to my tent to rest."
"Yes, this servant understands." He Lin quickly left with two imperial guards.
Eunuch Wei had already come to greet the emperor when he arrived at the tent with his imperial guards.
The emperor glanced at Eunuch Wei and knew that he had probably already heard the news. "Don't ask. We'll talk after entering the tent. There's something We need you to handle."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This old servant understands."
Princess Wei and Royal Princess Duanjia followed after Chu Lian when she returned to her tent.
Princess Wei had even found a female physician with good medical skills to examine Chu Lian again. The female physician also inspected the wounds on her body that had been inconvenient for the male imperial physician to examine.
The physician left a high-quality ointment and prescription. Wenqing helped Chu Lian apply the ointment, while Wenlan went to brew the medicine.
Royal Princess Duanjia was sitting beside the bed. She held onto Chu Lian's hand, a tinge of fear still evident in her voice as she said, "Chu Liu, you really scared me. If anything bad had happened to you this time, I would have died of guilt."
Chu Lian forced a smile. "Royal Princess, you shouldn't say that. Who could have thought that such an accident would occur?"
Royal Princess Duanjia frowned. "I didn't have a chance to ask you at the polo field, so tell me more about what happened at that time. Why did those two brats, Dong'er and Nan'er, attack you? If I remembered correctly, you've never interacted with them before."
Chu Lian shook her head. She really didn't have any relationship nor conflict with Prince Hexi's Estate.
Furthermore, Prince Hexi's twin daughters had good reputations in public. They were known to be obedient, intelligent, and talented.
She didn't understand why Prince Hexi's daughters would harm her at this time.
"Maybe it has something to do with Anmin? Anmin is very close with Leyao, so was it Leyao's idea?" Royal Princess Duanjia made a guess.
Princess Wei tapped Royal Princess Duanjia on the shoulder. "Although Leyao is ill-natured and spoiled, she isn't someone who knows how to scheme. This wasn't something that she would think of doing."
Princess Wei was right. To put it bluntly, Imperial Princess Leyao was a brainless idiot. This was a detailed plan that had started with the mention of polo and evolved into an actual polo match among the noble ladies. There was also the limit to the selection of players for the match that had made them pick Chu Lian for the team. Lastly, they had targeted Chu Lian on the field. This was a plan with many linked parts. If any one part within this plan failed, then Chu Lian wouldn't be hurt.
In conclusion, this wasn't something that Imperial Princess Leyao could devise with that brain of hers.
Moreover, Imperial Princess Leyao hadn't been at the scene. Thus, it was even more impossible.
It also couldn't be Imperial Concubine Wei. During the process of Chu Lian being injured and rescued, her eyes were full of surprise and shock. Princess Wei was right beside her at that time. It wasn't something that she could fake.
"Who could it be then! I'll definitely find that culprit to avenge Chu Liu." Royal Princess Duanjia clenched her fist.
Princess Wei sighed helplessly. She patted Royal Princess Duanjia, and then Chu Lian. "Alright, don't be rash. This doesn't seem like a simple matter. We should give this matter some more thought before coming to a conclusion." After saying that, she looked towards her daughter. "Don't worry. I'll definitely find the truth and help you avenge Jinyi."
After hearing Princess Wei's words, Royal Princess Duanjia immediately drooped. Even her shoulders hung low.
Royal Princess Duanjia was guilt-ridden because she felt responsible for Chu Lian getting injured this time.
Princess Wei understood her daughter's feelings. "Alright, Jinyi is probably tired after suffering such a fright. We should leave and let her get some proper rest."
Royal Princess Duanjia helped Princess Wei stand up. She felt reluctant to part with Chu Lian and said, "Chu Liu, you should quickly lie down and sleep. I'll come over to see you tomorrow."
Chu Lian agreed with a voice filled with fatigue.
When Royal Princess Duanjia and Princess Wei arrived at the entrance of the tent, Duanjia abruptly stopped and asked with creased brows, "Where's Marquis Anyuan?"
The guard, who was standing at the entrance, just shook his head in reply.
Royal Princess Duanjia immediately clenched her fists. "That scumbag! Chu Liu is already injured and he's still not coming back!"
He Changdi couldn't possibly be accompanying the emperor because the emperor had already returned to his tent! How could He Changdi still be wandering around outside?!
Princess Wei's expression also turned slightly grim, but she wasn't as impulsive as Royal Princess Duanjia. However, she silently took note of this matter in her mind.
Chu Lian laid down with a soft and comfortable pillow behind her. She was also covered with a warm blanket. However, despite the comforts around her, there was a terrible expression on her face.
She couldn't help but recall the moment He Changdi had turned to leave with Imperial Princess Leyao in his arms.
She rang the bell beside her bed and Wenqing immediately rushed in.
"Third Young Madam, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Please bear with it for a little longer. The medicine will be ready soon."
Chu Lian shook her head and looked towards Wenqing, who was standing beside the bed, and asked, "Where's my husband?"
Wenqing was shocked, but she promptly answered with her head bowed, "Replying to Third Young Madam, Third Young Master hasn't returned yet. This servant also doesn't know where he is. Laiyue hasn't come back either."
After receiving Wenqing's reply, Chu Lian feebly waved her hand. "You're dismissed."
Wenqing looked worriedly at the back of the slender figure resting on the bed. She gave a light sigh and quietly went out.
After she exited the tent, Wenqing called over one of the Anyuan Estate's guards and told him to search for He Changdi.
The guard didn't dare procrastinate and swiftly left.
Chu Lian drank the medicine that the female physician had prescribed. The medicine contained medical herbs with a sedative effect, so Chu Lian promptly fell asleep.
She didn't know how long she slept, but the lanterns within the tent were already lit when she woke up.
Wenlan probably heard the movement behind the screen, so she hastily came in.
She walked over to the side of the bed and helped Chu Lian sit up, placing a soft pillow behind her to cushion her back.
"Third Young Madam, are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?"
Chu Lian looked around the tent. "What time is it?"
Wenlan handed a cup of warm water to her. "Just past eleven."
Chu Lian took a sip of warm water. She was slightly surprised since she didn't expect to fall asleep until it was almost midnight.
Wenlan didn't hear her reply regarding whether she wanted to eat something, so she decided to just go out and tell Wenqing to bring the food box in.
"Third Young Madam, we've prepared some shredded chicken and mushroom porridge. We also have the side dishes that we brought over from the estate. Third Young Madam should eat some."
Chu Lian nodded. Although she didn't really have an appetite, she was indeed hungry.
Wenqing and Wenlan were delighted by her willingness to eat.
They found a small side table to serve as a tray to put on the bed, then took the porridge and side dishes out of the food box.
Chu Lian ate half a bowl with much difficulty. After there was some food lining her stomach, she didn't feel like eating any more.
She waved her hand towards Wenlan. "Take them away. I'm already full. There's still plenty of porridge left; you can eat some if you're hungry."
Wenqing looked at the bowl of porridge which was still half-full and was thinking of persuading Chu Lian to eat a little more. However, before she could say anything, her young madam had already retreated back into the blanket, prepared to lie down again.
Wenlan looked towards her older sister and shook her head. All they could do was clean up everything as ordered.
They went out after confirming that Chu Lian had really fallen asleep again.
The sisters' eyes were filled with worry.
"Sister, Third Young Madam must be truly angry this time. She didn't even ask about Third Young Master's whereabouts."
Normally, if He Changdi wasn't at home and she had finished eating, Chu Lian would instruct them to save some food for Third Young Master, or ask when He Changdi would return.
However, Chu Lian hadn't said a word about He Changdi's situation just now. She also hadn't asked when he would be coming back. Moreover, she didn't even talk about whether He Changdi had eaten yet, as if He Changdi didn't exist anymore.
"Ah? Didn't you send someone to ask in the afternoon? How was it?"
Wenlan pursed her lips. "The guard said Third Young Master is in Imperial Princess Leyao's tent… He was stopped outside and wasn't allowed to enter…"
"What?"
Even Wenqing was angry now. Imperial Princess Leyao! Why was that little brat forcibly hogging their master?
"Sister, that Princess Leyao is already eleven this year… Could she possibly..."
Wenqing didn't like to view others in a bad light. She frowned and warned, "Wenlan, don't make rash comments. If it spreads out, it would not only dishonour House Anyuan, but it might also bring disaster upon us."
"Yes, Sister. I was wrong."
Even though Wenqing said that, on the inside, she was even more worried than Wenlan.
The children of the imperial family usually matured earlier. With all the fighting and scheming within the palace, they wouldn't be able to survive if they were too naïve. What actually were Imperial Princess Leyao's intentions? Did she really like their master?
The medicine that Chu Lian had taken in the morning was very effective, so she had already had enough rest. Thus, she laid in bed, unable to sleep for now.
She tossed and turned, but she couldn't fall asleep no matter how she tried.
She finally managed to fall asleep after struggling for an hour.
He Changdi came back after midnight.
Wenqing and Wenlan, who were guarding the entrance of the tent, were abruptly awakened by the soft sound of the tent's curtain being pulled open.
When they realised that it was a dew-laden He Changdi who came in, they finally set down the swords in their hands and stood to the side respectfully.
He Sanlang's cloak was soaked and even his hair was somewhat wet.
His entire body was covered with humidity, so there was also a bone-chilling quality within his voice when he spoke.
"Leave."
Wenqing and Wenlan couldn't help but tremble. Wenlan wanted to say something, but Wenqing pulled her sleeve and dragged her out.
After leaving the tent, Wenlan still felt upset. "Older Sister, what are you doing? I need to make things clear with Third Young Master. Third Young Madam is so pitiful. She suffered a fright in the afternoon and almost died. However, Third Young Master was still outside for the entire day. Let's disregard the fact that he didn't even bother asking about the situation, but he didn't come back until now! Does he even have Third Young Madam in his heart? If I was Third Young Madam, I would definitely complain to his face!"
Wenqing raised her hand and gave Wenlan a loud smack on her head.
"Stop speaking nonsense. What rights do you have to discuss the masters' matters? Don't forget about Third Young Master's temper and be careful of your little head. Third Young Master isn't as soft-hearted as Third Young Madam."
After being scolded by Wenqing, Wenlan unwillingly stopped talking and followed her older sister to rest in the smaller tent nearby.
He Sanlang was frozen to the spot. He had acute senses and was standing inside the tent. Moreover, it was such a quiet night. Thus, he could hear the sound of Chu Lian's gentle breathing from behind the screen.
He stood there, listened for a while, and confirmed that Chu Lian was asleep.
Next, he took off his damp cloak and casually placed it on the back of the chair beside him.
Following that, he quietly walked around the screen and arrived beside the bed.
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A dim hexagonal lantern had been lit. It was hung on a lampstand near the head of the bed.
Under the dim light, He Changdi could clearly see Chu Lian's sleeping face.
She was wearing a light pink nightgown embroidered with beautiful flowers, curled up in a fetal position with both of her hands in front of her chest. Her soft hair covered the entire pillow, while two stray locks of hair framed her face.
Her skin was porcelain-white, which should have been a beautiful colour on her. However, she appeared wan instead beneath that certain angle of light.
Her rosy lips were pursed slightly. There was a layer of moisture on her thick, curled eyelashes, which were still glistening.
He Changdi suddenly felt like someone had stuffed a large rock into his heart. It weighed down on him and made him feel terribly uncomfortable.
He reached out with one hand, wanting to touch Chu Lian's delicate face, but her eyebrows twitched. Still in the throes of sleep, she shook her head twice and tears streamed down her face again.
Based on this situation, Chu Lian was obviously having a nightmare.
As if something stung the hand that He Sanlang extended, his hand twitched and drew back.
When he recalled Xiao Bojian saving and embracing her this morning, veins on his forehead throbbed in anger. He couldn't control the jealousy and rage within his heart. He had seriously been fighting the urge to tear Xiao Bojian into pieces. After that, Chu Lian had smiled so sweetly and thanked Xiao Bojian, which was something even harder for him to endure.
He knew that the incident wasn't Chu Lian's fault and that she had to express her gratitude to Xiao Bojian. However, he still couldn't suppress the rage within his heart.
By the time he gradually calmed down, he became even more fearful. He was frightened by his own extreme possessiveness towards Chu Lian.
He couldn't even stand seeing her standing with another man, or even engaging in normal interactions…
She could only belong to him. No matter if she was smiling or crying, her face could only be directed at him alone!
When he thought of this, He Changdi covered his face of fatigue with a hand and rubbed it vigorously.
He Changdi stood beside Chu Lian's bed for a long time. However, when Chu Lian awoke again, he was already gone.
After opening her eyes, Chu Lian looked around the tent instinctively. She still didn't see the person who she had been thinking about for the entire day.
This time when Wenlan came in, Chu Lian couldn't help but ask, "Has He Changdi come back yet?"
Wenlan shot a cautious look at Chu Lian and nodded. "Replying to Third Young Madam, Third Young Master returned at midnight yesterday. He was called out early this morning. The emperor wants to go hunting today, so most of the officials were summoned to the hunt."
Chu Lian was usually a deep sleeper, but she hadn't slept very well last night. If someone had slept beside her, she would have definitely sensed it. Moreover, when she woke up this morning, the bedding beside her was still very neat. Nothing had been moved, so it didn't seem like someone had slept there.
Wenlan was attentive and noticed the look in Chu Lian's eyes. She summoned up her courage to explain, "When this servant brought hot water over this morning, I saw… I saw Third Young Master sleeping on the chaise behind the screen…"
Chu Lian narrowed her eyes. The light in her normally clear, bright eyes instantly dimmed. When Wenlan saw that, her heart felt like it was being crushed and it ached painfully.
She regretted telling Third Young Madam about that matter.
Chu Lian didn't ask any more questions after that. She rested against the bedframe for a while with dull eyes.
An hour later, she asked Wenqing to help her up for breakfast.
The breakfast was on the table in the middle of the tent, so Wenqing helped Chu Lian walk over to the table.
In the middle of the meal, Wenqing softly said, "Third Young Madam, this servant has something to report."
Chu Lian regained her focus and cheered up.
She lifted her head and looked at Wenqing. "Tell me."
"Third Young Madam, Imperial Princess Leyao's leg was injured after she insisted on going hunting in the woods yesterday. The imperial physician said that even after she recuperates, her leg would probably be crippled."
Chu Lian was slightly shocked after listening to Wenqing's words. Imperial Princess Leyao's leg was likely going to be crippled?
She looked at Wenqing again, and saw that she had lowered her head and stopped talking.
Chu Lian sighed helplessly as she understood the meaning behind Wenqing's words.
She was probably helping He Changdi explain. An explanation for him returning late at night and the reason he wasn't concerned about her injury.
However, it simply didn't make sense. Imperial Princess Leyao had only injured her leg. Even if she had injured her head, it still didn't have anything to do with He Changdi.
Why would he return late at night because of Imperial Princess Leyao?
It couldn't possibly be from the emperor's imperial order, could it? That is, unless the emperor had nothing better to do and wanted to make things difficult for him--he, a married young man who already had a legitimate wife.
It was true that Imperial Princess Leyao had feelings for him, but she was still young. Neither Imperial Concubine Wei nor the emperor would be so 'desperate' to choose a married man, who was nearly ten years older than Imperial Princess Leyao, for her.
After Chu Lian finished eating, she set down her chopsticks and stood up. "Alright, I understand. Wenqing, Wenlan, come with me for a walk."
Wenqing didn't think that Third Young Madam would react so calmly. She felt somewhat uneasy inside and didn't dare to speak up again.
Chu Lian pulled aside the thick curtains of the tent that kept out the wind. Then, she looked towards the wide horizon of the clear blue sky.
The imperial hunting grounds were surrounded by beautiful scenery, with mountains, waters, and forests.
Since Chu Lian was injured, the emperor allowed her to stay in her tent to rest. She didn't need to participate in any activities.
Those who were injured were probably the idlest within the entire camp.
Wenqing had informed her that, while she was still sleeping, some people had come to check on her situation, such as Old Duke Zheng, Sima Hui, and Captain Guo.
Sima Hui had also left behind a maidservant, who was skilled in medicine. Chu Lian walked to the lakeside nearby with Wenqing's support.
There was something that she couldn't understand. Why was her husband, He Changdi, whom she needed the most, still missing? Even people like Sima Hui, Captain Guo, and Xiao Hongyu had come to express their concern when they found out about her accident.
She took a deep breath of the refreshingly cool spring air to suppress the resentment in her heart.
If the emperor hadn't made arrangements for the officials who came, then she really wanted to rush to He Changdi and ask about his current thoughts.
She was seriously frustrated right now.
Even if he was dissatisfied with her, they still had to meet each other to make things clear. What was he trying to do by avoiding her?!
Chu Lian turned around and instructed Wenlan, "Go inquire about Imperial Princess Leyao's situation. Also, check if my husband is over at her side."
Just as Chu Lian finished speaking, she heard the sound of a woman's voice.
Chu Lian turned around and looked towards the direction of that voice.
She saw them at the lakeside about fifty to sixty meters away. A man in a black robe with an icy face and a sword strapped at his waist was walking beside a young girl sitting in a wooden wheelchair. There were five maidservant and court attendants behind the young girl.
Who else could they be other than He Changdi and Imperial Princess Leyao?
Chu Lian's clear eyes narrowed slightly. She stared at He Changdi and Imperial Princess Leyao, who were currently taking a stroll beside the lake.
Her mouth tilted upwards into a mocking smirk. The inner radiance on her beautiful face dimmed slightly.
So it turned out that He Changdi had been avoiding her because he was accompanying the injured Imperial Princess Leyao.
Well, she really learned something from that.
Wenqing and Wenlan, who were standing behind Chu Lian, also frowned when they saw the scene in front of them. They couldn't understand what Third Young Master was doing right now.
When had he became so close with Imperial Princess Leyao?
He Changdi had a cold expression on his face. With narrowed eyes and a bottomless gaze, it was hard to tell what he was thinking about. When looking carefully, he seemed to have two dark smudges under his eyes.
He suddenly sensed a familiar gaze on him. The moment he raised his head to look, he met with Chu Lian's astounded gaze.
He Changdi's eyebrows instantly furrowed and a flash of pain appeared within his eyes when he looked at Chu Lian.
He leaned forward slightly, wanting to run over to her immediately, but he suddenly thought of something and stopped himself from moving.
He took in a deep breath and suppressed the raging impulse within himself. Then, he turned his eyes away coldly.
Out of the corner of Chu Lian's eyes, she could see Imperial Princess Leyao revealing a jeering and proud smile.
Chu Lian controlled her emotions and forced out a faint smile. She bobbed a greeting toward Imperial Princess Leyao from afar, then resolutely turned around and left without looking back again.
Wenqing and Wenlan, who were following behind Chu Lian, were also infuriated. They positioned themselves on either side of Chu Lian so they completely blocked Chu Lian's figure, making sure that the people behind them couldn't see her at all.
When Chu Lian returned to the tent, she went back into the bed to sulk. She had originally wanted to go out to get some fresh air, but she hadn't expected that it would make her feel even more frustrated instead.
Damn it, He Changdi was seriously so toxic.
Shortly afterwards, Wenqing reported the information that she had found regarding Imperial Princess Leyao's situation.
When she mentioned Imperial Princess Leyao's injury, Chu Lian didn't feel any sympathy for her at all. There was even a faint sense of delight within her heart.
Imperial Princess Leyao had been hostile towards her since the first time she entered the palace.
Her hostility had become even more obvious nowadays.
She still didn't understand He Changdi's intentions. Although Imperial Princess Leyao was still very young, her intentions were clear. Did He Sanlang really want to become the emperor's son-in-law and marry a princess?!
The Great Wu Dynasty wasn't the same as the previous dynasty. A princess's husband wouldn't be given any actual power. If he married the emperor's daughter, then he would just become an idle plaything waiting for death!
Chu Lian's mind was in a jumbled mess. The hunting ground was located in the outskirts of the capital, the weather lagged slightly behind the capital. It was still pretty cold at night.
She had ridden all the way here, then suffered a fright yesterday. Thus, she hadn't gotten a good night's rest last night. Chu Lian had obviously become thinner.
She looked pale and haggard now. It seemed like all the previous nourishing for her body had been for naught.
Wenlan's heart seriously ached. She and her sister knew some martial arts, so they would usually be responsible for taking care of Chu Lian when she goes out. However, Xiyan was definitely the maidservant whom Third Young Madam trusted the most within the estate.
The night before they had departed, Xiyan had specially told them to take good care of Third Young Madam's health. Senior Servant Zhong had also left some words for them in particular.
After all, Third Young Madam's health had become better and the young couple had a loving relationship. It was entirely possible that there was already a young heir in her belly.
Well, look at what happened now. Not only Third Young Madam had not gained any weight, but she had even become thinner than before…
Chu Lian was so angry that she didn't even have an appetite. Over the past couple of days, she ate very lightly for all her meals.
Wenlan asked worriedly, "Third Young Madam, do you have anything that you want to eat for lunch? This servant will go prepare it for you."
Third Young Madam usually placed a lot of importance with regards to food, but she just waved her hand in disinterest now, "Just prepare a few simple dishes. I ate very little this morning, so prepare for lunch earlier."
Wenlan didn't understand Chu Lian's meaning and thought that Third Young Madam's appetite had recovered. With a happy expression on her face, she took two maidservants with her to pick out the ingredients.
Chu Lian really did have lunch a lot earlier this afternoon.
She ate about two hours earlier than usual.
However, she didn't eat as much as Wenlan had expected. Chu Lian only drank half a bowl of the fragrant old duck stew before saying she was full.
After that, she went behind the screen to take an afternoon nap.
When He Changdi returned at noon, Chu Lian had just gone to sleep an hour ago.
When he entered the tent and noticed that it was completely quiet, his expression became even more stern and cold.
"Your young madam hasn't eaten yet?"
Wenqing replied with her head bowed, "Replying to Third Young Master, Third Young Madam ate two hours ago. She's taking a nap right now." Though Wenqing's words sounded respectful, they lacked some emotion.
He Changdi could sense the changes within the entire tent.
He had been intending to mention having lunch with Chu Lian, but he decided to give up on the idea in the end.
He waved his hand at Wenqing, "You can go."
Wenqing left the tent without even looking back.
Laiyue was waiting outside and went up to Wenqing when he saw her come out.
Laiyue's face was full of anxiety, "My dear sister Wenqing, how's the situation inside?"
"What do you mean?"
Laiyue pulled Wenqing to the side and whispered, "Didn't you notice that Third Young Madam is quarreling with Third Young Master?! What do you think happened? They were fine earlier, but everything suddenly changed."
Wenqing was already angry at He Changdi, so her anger was instantly ignited when the tactless Laiyue began making false assumptions. It seemed like the saying that servants will act the same as their masters was true. This Laiyue wasn't a good person either.
"Open your damned eyes and have a good look! Is it Third Young Madam's fault? Or Third Young Master's fault? If you don't know the answer, then you're also not allowed to eat, just like your Third Young Master!"
Laiyue widened his eyes in shock and pulled on Wenqing's sleeve, "Ahhh, my dear ancestor. Please, I'm seriously begging you. Please give me a bowl of food. I've been running around for the whole morning and I haven't even had a sip of water!"
Wenqing sneered, "What? The snacks over at Imperial Princess Leyao's place wasn't enough to fill your stomach? Stop pretending to be so pitiful in front of me."
Laiyue felt pity for himself inwardly, "Sister Wenqing, please don't misunderstand me. I went out for an errand early this morning. I never went to Imperial Princess Leyao's side."
Wenqing was stunned, "You didn't go to Imperial Princess Leyao's tent?"
Laiyue shook his head and his face was scrunched up like an orange.
"So only Third Young Master went?"
"I'm not sure about that. That's not something I would dare ask Third Young Master about."
Wenqing gave him a fierce glare, "You're so useless!"
"Ay, No. Sister, I'm really innocent. Please spare me some food."
Laiyue really did look quite pitiful.
There were stains all over his green robe and stubble had grown on his chin. His hair was also in a mess. Just by looking at his appearance, he really looked like a random refugee.
Wenqing harrumphed, "Come with me. Third Young Madam has some leftovers from lunch. You got lucky!"
Laiyue smiled, flashing a mouth full of white teeth, "Alright. It's fine as long as there's something to eat. I don't mind."
The hungry He Changdi, who wasn't even in the mood to eat, would never have thought that his personal manservant had already abandoned him.
Each household was to take care of their own food and needs on the hunting grounds as the imperial family wouldn't care about their survival. Even if He Changdi was on duty every day, he still needed to have his meals in his own tent.
Chu Lian had purposely eaten earlier to avoid having to sit at the same table as He Changdi.
However, she didn't expect Wenqing and Wenlan to be even more harsh. They hadn't even prepared any food for He Changdi.
Regardless, He Changdi didn't have any appetite right now. His head and heart were in a complete daze. He tiptoed around the screen to check on Chu Lian.
Chu Lian was laying on her side with her back facing him. Her soft little body was curled up into a ball. He reached out, about to touch her, but he retracted his hand halfway through.
He closed his eyes, then walked around the screen and laid down on the chaise beside it for a while.
Chu Lian opened her eyes once he left.
Chu Lian stared at the ceiling and blinked furiously. She hadn't actually fallen asleep just now. After a long moment, she smiled at herself mockingly. It seemed like it would be impossible to get an explanation from He Changdi.
Forget it. If he didn't want to speak, then so be it.
Chu Lian angrily turned over, closed her eyes, and fell asleep for real.
He Changdi wasn't in the tent anymore when she woke up.
In the afternoon, the emperor took his men to the forest in the mountain to hunt. Royal Princess Duanjia sent someone to bring over some wild meat, including wild duck, pheasant, and a deer. There was supposed to be a bonfire banquet tonight, but Chu Lian used her ill health as an excuse to decline attendance.
However, Chu Lian felt bad for not doing anything at all when facing the game that had been sent over.
Wenqing brought a rocking chair over for her. She sat on the chair and directed the maidservants on how to roast the game.
After they finished preparing the wild meats, Chu Lian didn't even take a bite. She ordered people to send them to Old Duke Zheng, Royal Princess Duanjia, Prince Jin, and the others.