The teacup in Chao Hua’s hand had never been set down. Hearing Wei Qiang’s words, her hand trembled and tea spilled all over him.

“Your Highness, please forgive this transgression.” Chao Hua knelt down, lowering her head and staring fixedly at the ground to conceal the raging fury in her eyes.

He was actually comparing Miss Luo with the Princess!

Was this because her beauty had faded, so he could no longer think of the Princess through her?

He spoke of his deep devotion to the Princess, but if after the Princess’s death he had remained chaste, she might have looked upon him more favorably.

Yet he couldn’t help but reminisce about the Princess while marrying wives and taking concubines, enjoying the honor of being Crown Prince.

He had it all.

At this, Chao Hua could only sneer inwardly.

Wei Qiang looked at Chao Hua prostrate on the ground, brushed off the water stains on his body, and said coolly: “It’s nothing. Rise.”

Chao Hua silently stood up.

“Yu Niang, you still haven’t answered my question.”

Chao Hua raised her eyes to meet Wei Qiang’s gaze and asked softly in return: “Why does Your Highness feel Miss Luo resembles the Princess?”

Wei Qiang looked toward the entrance of the golden tent and said in a low voice: “I just suddenly felt they were somewhat alike.”

“This humble one feels they are not alike at all.” Chao Hua’s tone was firm in refutation.

Regardless of what kind of person Miss Luo was, she was unwilling to see this man bring harm to another.

“Not alike?” Wei Qiang murmured, revealing his disappointment.

“Of course not alike.” Chao Hua met his gaze, enunciating each word: “The Princess was one of a kind.”

Wei Qiang’s whole body shook, the color draining completely from his lips.

Yu Niang was right—Luo’er was one of a kind.

If it weren’t so, these past years wouldn’t have been such torment for him.

“Yu Niang, I want to rest for a bit. Massage my forehead for me.”

“Your Highness should change your clothes first.”

“No need. My head aches terribly right now. Help me massage it first.” Wei Qiang rested his head on Chao Hua’s knee and closed his eyes.

Cool fingertips fell upon the man’s forehead, gentle and slow, the movements practiced.

Yet Chao Hua’s heart was far from as calm as her surface.

It seemed this man had indeed gone to Miss Luo’s place just now.

Why did he feel Miss Luo resembled the Princess?

Had he seen something?

Just thinking of Wei Qiang comparing Miss Luo with the Princess made Chao Hua feel furious.

The Princess was already dead—didn’t he find such self-deception laughable?

But thinking of Xiu Yue, she felt somewhat puzzled.

That day, Xiu Yue’s attitude toward Miss Luo had been very respectful.

Not superficial respect, but respect from the heart. Even though Xiu Yue tried her best to restrain it, it couldn’t escape her eyes.

That was the manner one would have when facing the Princess.

Chao Hua bit her lip hard.

She couldn’t let her thoughts run wild anymore. The Crown Prince had unsettled her mind…

The next day, Chao Hua drank two sips of porridge and set down her chopsticks.

“Why not eat a bit more?” Wei Qiang, who seemed to have returned to normal, asked with concern.

Chao Hua raised her hand to fasten his cloak ties and said unconcernedly: “This humble one has always eaten sparingly. Your Highness need not worry.”

Eaten sparingly?

Wei Qiang couldn’t help but think again of that large blue-and-white bowl filled with sour soup noodles.

“If you feel bored, have the palace maids accompany you for a walk around the area and wait for me to return.” Wei Qiang squeezed Chao Hua’s hand and strode out.

This day’s hunt was no different from the first day.

It was still those same people riding fine horses, carrying long bows, galloping across the boundless grassland.

As the horses thundered past, they startled countless birds that swept across the vast blue sky.

The deer herds, rabbits, and fierce beasts that had been chased on the first day began fleeing in all directions.

No wait, there was still something different.

Emperor Yong’an sat upright on his horse with a strange expression.

He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but why did he feel that today the court officials participating in the hunt were turning a blind eye to the deer running before their eyes?

Turning a blind eye to the rabbits as well.

As for tigers and leopards—well, ordinary people couldn’t handle them, so they could only turn a blind eye.

Then what was with these people aimlessly riding around on their horses?

Emperor Yong’an grew suspicious and watched coldly.

Suddenly a wild boar burst out from somewhere, charging into everyone’s field of vision.

“A wild boar!” This cheer came from no fewer than seven or eight people.

Emperor Yong’an was far away, yet he still found the sound ear-splitting.

Then something even more astonishing happened.

Those who had originally been riding aimlessly all raised their bows, and feathered arrows flew forth.

Though wild boars gave the impression of being clumsy and awkward, they were actually agile and nimble fierce beasts.

However, no matter how agile or fierce, it couldn’t withstand a rain of arrows descending upon it.

The poor wild boar that had just emerged was instantly turned into a pincushion, convulsing as it fell to the ground. The dense mass of arrows covering its body made even Emperor Yong’an’s heart skip a beat at the sight.

This wild boar… was too pitiful.

“I hit it!” Someone shouted, and the fine horse beneath them charged toward the wild boar like lightning.

The others’ expressions changed.

Not good—the shameless one wanted to steal the spoils!

Seeing the Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud rush to the wild boar, the others all called out: “Minister Wang, wait! The wild boar was my catch!”

Soon everyone had surrounded Minister Wang and the wild boar.

Want to take the wild boar away? In his dreams!

Minister Wang looked warily at the crowd trying to steal his spoils: “I shot the first arrow.”

Someone laughed: “What good is shooting the first arrow? Minister Wang, with your skills, hunting a wild boar would be quite difficult, wouldn’t it?”

Minister Wang was so angry his beard trembled.

Wasn’t this stating the obvious? If he could hunt a wild boar by himself, why would he have rushed over?

Unfortunately, his official rank was low, so he lacked the confidence to curse back. He could only retreat a step: “Then I should at least get one pig leg—”

This immediately reminded quite a few people.

Everyone drew the long knives at their waists and began hacking away at the thoroughly dead wild boar.

Not far away, Sheng Sanlang, who was watching the excitement, stroked his chin and murmured: “This scene looks strangely familiar…”

Emperor Yong’an took in everything and called out to his trusted eunuch: “Zhou Shan.”

Zhou Shan, who was staying close by Emperor Yong’an’s side, immediately responded: “This servant is here.”

“Go ask what exactly is going on.”

Had these ministers gone mad?

Before long, Zhou Shan returned.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, according to several ministers, it’s because there is a head chef skilled at making beggar’s pork knuckle, and they’re preparing to send some ingredients over to request the chef’s help in preparing them.”

Emperor Yong’an frowned: “How does the Crown Prince not know which imperial chef excels at this dish?”

“This head chef is not an imperial chef, but a cook brought by Grand Commander Luo’s daughter, Miss Luo.”

Emperor Yong’an’s eyebrows moved.

That day when they stopped to rest along the way and Prince Kaiyang and Luo Chi were nowhere to be seen, the Crown Prince had said they had gone to Miss Luo’s place right at mealtime.

Again it was because of a cook brought by Miss Luo?

Emperor Yong’an’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued, and he instructed Zhou Shan: “Go tell Luo Chi to send over one beggar’s pork knuckle at mealtime.”

Having received his instructions, Zhou Shan hurried off to find Grand Commander Luo, only to discover that Grand Commander Luo was currently drawing his bow in pursuit of a wild boar.

“Grand Commander Luo—”

Grand Commander Luo rode his horse to Zhou Shan: “What matter does Eunuch Zhou have?”

Hearing Zhou Shan explain the purpose, Grand Commander Luo was stunned.

The reputation of the head chef Sheng’er brought had reached His Majesty’s ears?

This was bad—what if His Majesty ate the beggar’s pork knuckle and got the idea of appointing the chef as an imperial chef?

Then wouldn’t Sheng’er’s tavern have to close!