On the vast grassland, horses galloped with unbridled freedom.

The jujube-red horse, which had left the great white horse far behind, slowed its pace at its master’s signal.

Wei Han urged his horse to catch up and studied Luo Sheng’s expression.

The young lady’s eyes were deep and still, showing not a ripple—like a deep pool of water.

Very dark, very beautiful.

But compared to such eyes, Wei Han preferred to see how they had looked before.

Previously, Miss Luo’s eyes had also been calm, but not this heart-stopping calm. Rather, they had been like an autumn lake—serene and tranquil.

“Does Miss Luo wish to go anywhere else?”

“Return and await Your Highness’s news.”

“I’ll give Miss Luo an answer as quickly as possible.” After Wei Han spoke, seeing she made no move, he felt somewhat puzzled.

Could Miss Luo have other matters she was unwilling to tell him about?

Just as he was wondering, he heard Luo Sheng say, “I’m lost. Could Your Highness lead the way?”

In that instant, Wei Han’s lips curved upward slightly. Considering the person before him’s mood, he nodded seriously, “Alright.”

One red and one white horse galloped side by side, gradually catching sight of prey and pursuers.

These beasts driven into the hunting grounds—the number and types of fierce animals were all planned to ensure the safety of the noble guests.

In Luo Sheng’s view, a solitary wild deer was fleeing, pursued by a man on horseback.

She raised her bow, then lowered it again.

The man chasing the deer shot an arrow.

An arrow flew from beside Luo Sheng, swift as a meteor, deflecting the arrow the man had shot.

Both arrows fell to the ground one after another.

The man who had raised his bow first showed anger, but recognizing Wei Han, immediately transformed it into a smile, “Your Highness.”

Wei Han said coolly, “That deer just now is carrying a fawn.”

The man showed realization, “Your Highness has excellent eyesight. This official was rash.”

Wei Han nodded slightly, turning his head to say to Luo Sheng, “Let’s go.”

Watching the two depart, flames of gossip ignited in the man’s eyes.

Prince Kaiyang and Miss Luo were actually hunting together, though it seemed neither had caught any prey.

Perhaps… they were each other’s prey?

The man felt he had discovered something extraordinary and gazed at the arrow embedded in the ground with a knowing smile.

No wonder Prince Kaiyang couldn’t bear to hunt a deer carrying a fawn.

Luo Sheng rode for a while longer and encountered Hong Dou, who was running about aimlessly.

Upon seeing Luo Sheng, Hong Dou immediately urged her horse over, “Miss, where did you go? This servant searched high and low—”

Glancing at the crimson-robed man beside Luo Sheng, her remaining words stopped abruptly.

So she’d been spirited away by Prince Kaiyang—that wasn’t strange. Prince Kaiyang would do anything to eat food Miss prepared.

“Then I won’t disturb Your Highness further.” Luo Sheng turned her head to toss a parting remark to Wei Han, then rode off with Hong Dou.

Wei Han sat upright on his horse, watching that black figure gradually recede into the distance.

The person being followed by his gaze never looked back.

He gently shook the reins and galloped off in another direction.

The horn sounded to return to camp.

The day’s hunt wasn’t over—this was merely returning to the tents to rest, adjust, and take the midday meal.

Sheng Sanlang stood before the tent carrying several wild rabbits, looking around in confusion.

Where was Xiu Gu?

Spotting Luo Sheng dismounting, he hurried over, “Cousin, you had quite a harvest today—you actually caught so much prey.”

“My aim was good today.” Luo Sheng walked past Sheng Sanlang, her tone flat.

Sheng Sanlang noticed nothing amiss and quickly followed, asking, “Where’s Xiu Gu?”

Luo Sheng’s steps paused before she answered Sheng Sanlang, “Xiu Gu wasn’t feeling well today, so I had her rest in the room all day.”

“No wonder.” Sheng Sanlang looked at the wild rabbits in his hand, then at the dazzling array of prey on the horse’s back, and asked with a shameless smile, “Then for today’s midday meal—”

“Cousin.” The youth’s cold, sharp voice rang out, interrupting Sheng Sanlang’s words.

Sheng Sanlang returned to Luo Chen’s side, “What does Cousin want?”

“I want to roast meat myself. Help me, Cousin.”

Sheng Sanlang looked astonished, “Cousin wants to do it yourself?”

Would this be edible?

However, looking at the youth’s serious, solemn face, Sheng Sanlang could only nod, “Alright, doing it yourself is quite interesting.”

“Do the rabbit skins need to be removed?” Luo Chen asked.

Sheng Sanlang fell silent for a moment, then sighed, “Cousin, wait here. I’ll go to the stream to skin the rabbits…”

As for the meat his cousin roasted, he’d better not hold any illusions.

Xiao Qi chased after him, “Young Master Cousin, I’ll come too.”

Having dispatched the two, Luo Chen walked to Luo Sheng’s side.

Luo Sheng sat before the crude stove where no fire had yet been lit, lost in thought.

Luo Chen waited a while, but seeing the other party paid him no attention, pressed his lips together and asked, “You’re… in a bad mood?”

Luo Sheng glanced at him and denied it, “No.”

Luo Chen’s brow furrowed.

She was clearly in a bad mood—only Third Cousin couldn’t see it.

After another moment of silence, the youth asked, “Does it concern Xiu Gu?”

Luo Sheng glanced at him.

That glance made Luo Chen somewhat displeased, “I’m not a child anymore. Stop always treating me like an ignorant fool.”

“Isn’t thirteen years old still a child?” Luo Sheng said softly, her facial expression showing not a ripple.

“When you were thirteen, you were already abducting male attendants to bring home.” The youth struck straight to the point.

Luo Sheng stared at the cold stove, saying lightly, “Saying that makes my mood even worse.”

“So why are you in a bad mood?”

Luo Sheng’s eyelashes trembled.

Upon hearing news of Zhaohua’s death, she hadn’t cried before Grand Commander Luo. Before Xiu Yue she didn’t dare cry. Before Prince Kaiyang she couldn’t cry.

But facing this half-grown youth’s awkward concern, she felt like crying.

“Girls inevitably have times when they’re in bad moods for no reason.” Luo Sheng casually gave this answer and rose to head into the tent.

The youth’s brow remained tightly furrowed as he stood there for a while before walking toward the stream to find Sheng Sanlang.

The roasted meat meal was difficult to describe, to the point that none of them had the heart to continue hunting.

Catching prey was for eating—if the eating wasn’t good, what was the point of hunting?

Yet Luo Sheng punctually led out the jujube-red horse.

She was waiting for someone’s news, and waiting was too agonizing. Only by keeping herself busy could she feel less miserable.

And so she waited until nightfall.

The hunters either returned to the traveling palace or to separate residences.

At the mountain’s foot and halfway up the slope, scattered lights brightened, complementing the stars in the sky beautifully.

Once a year—this was when the Beihe hunting grounds were most lively.

Yet Luo Sheng’s courtyard was quiet and cold.

Luo Sheng hadn’t changed her clothes and had been reading in the west room.

Having run across the grassland all day and not eaten well, Hong Dou was rather drowsy, leaning against the screen and dozing.

“Hong Dou, you should go to bed first.”

“But Miss—”

“Go on, be good.”

Hong Dou acknowledged and went to the east room, rubbing her eyes.

Luo Sheng continued looking down at her book, though in truth she hadn’t absorbed a single word.

She had told Prince Kaiyang to notify her the moment he found Zhaohua. She didn’t know when that would be.

Tomorrow, the day after, or even longer?

The candle on the table suddenly flickered.