Parents are often especially tolerant toward their children—this is almost an instinct of blood ties.

But what if this son wasn’t one’s biological child, yet was to inherit such a vast family fortune?

Inherit his power, his throne, his realm…

Then becoming picky and exacting wouldn’t be strange at all.

Being charged by wild boars during a hunt originally wasn’t a big deal. In an ordinary household, after a few jokes it would pass. But leaving a trace of dissatisfaction in the Emperor’s heart—the loss from that couldn’t be measured by common logic.

After Zhou Shan offered condolences in the Emperor’s name, this was precisely what vexed Wei Qiang.

This nominal father-emperor of his, actually his uncle, had deep thoughts and showed neither joy nor anger on his face. He surely wouldn’t find him endearing and adorable just because he got charged by wild boars, would he?

And then there was Zhaohua’s death…

This trip to Beihe could be called extremely unsuccessful.

However, there were still some gains.

A bright face flashed through Wei Qiang’s mind, and the depression in his heart eased slightly.

Grand General Luo followed Luo Sheng directly back to the tent where she was staying.

Xiu Yue was standing in front of the stove, using a long-handled ladle to stir a pot of broth.

Grand General Luo quietly sniffed the aroma, then belatedly remembered something: “Sheng’er, how did you end up hunting together with the Crown Prince today?”

He had noticed that in the past, it was always Prince Kaiyang who approached his daughter.

Although this made him want to hack Prince Kaiyang whenever he saw him, considering the difficulty of marrying off Sheng’er, he could only endure it.

Nothing was more important than his daughter’s lifelong affair.

But the Crown Prince wouldn’t do!

His precious daughter would never become someone’s concubine, no matter who that person was.

Grand General Luo’s determination wasn’t without reason.

He was unrestrained when it came to women—his household had a whole group of concubines.

Fine clothes and food, servants at their beck and call—the concubines could be as comfortable as they wanted, but if they dared mistreat his daughter, he would be the first to not spare them.

Because of this, Grand General Luo was accustomed to seeing concubines kneeling on算盘 boards.

Being a minor wife was just too miserable…

His concubines were either born as maids or sent to him by people trying to curry favor. Their backgrounds weren’t good to begin with—such women becoming concubines had no other choice.

His daughter, the daughter of a First-Rank Grand General, becoming someone’s concubine?

He’d rather support her for life.

Luo Sheng explained calmly: “Haven’t seen the Crown Prince in several days. When I saw him today, I was curious and asked about Court Lady Yu’s matter, so we naturally ended up hunting together.”

“So that’s how it was.” Grand General Luo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as the Crown Prince had no designs on his daughter.

Just as he relaxed, Grand General Luo suddenly thought of an even more serious problem: What if his daughter took a fancy to the Crown Prince?

Just as this thought made his heart race with alarm, he caught sight of Wei Han walking this way.

Grand General Luo had a sudden inspiration and blurted out praise: “This father suddenly realizes Prince Kaiyang is quite handsome.”

He was met with his daughter’s completely calm gaze, making him seem like he had ulterior motives instead.

Grand General Luo smiled awkwardly: “This father will go greet Prince Kaiyang.”

Watching Grand General Luo go to meet him, Luo Sheng stood in place, silently gazing at that crimson-robed figure.

Today’s events weren’t something she had planned in advance, but rather because she truly couldn’t suppress the hatred in her heart. After discovering the group of wild boars, she decided to collect some interest first.

She just hadn’t expected Prince Kaiyang to intervene.

Luo Sheng felt she understood this man less and less.

They were originally in opposing positions, yet whether it was her targeting Prince Pingnan or the Crown Prince, not only did he not obstruct her, he seemed to help instead.

What was Prince Kaiyang really thinking?

Could it be—Luo Sheng thought of a possibility.

Could it be that Prince Kaiyang harbored great ambitions and wanted to become the master of this Great Zhou realm?

If that were the case, then their goals were temporarily aligned.

Luo Sheng’s gaze at that crimson figure softened somewhat.

Whatever happened in the future, at least in this current moment of isolation and helplessness, having one less threatening enemy was a good thing.

Grand General Luo was making small talk.

“Your Highness is dressed very smartly today.”

“I dressed the same way yesterday.” Wei Han said flatly.

He was someone who, once accustomed to something, didn’t want to change it casually.

Like the color and style of his clothes, like the meals Miss Luo made.

However, Shi Yan had once reminded him that always wearing similar clothes would make young ladies mistakenly think he didn’t like bathing and changing clothes.

Regarding this, he couldn’t be bothered to care.

Miss Luo was so observant—how could she not see that he changed clothes every day?

As for young ladies other than Miss Luo, he didn’t eat their cooking anyway, so how they thought had nothing to do with him.

Grand General Luo was choked by this response. For a moment, he forgot about the tolerance he had developed toward Prince Kaiyang from picking the taller among the short between the Crown Prince and Prince Kaiyang. He said in surprise: “Your Highness didn’t change clothes!”

Usually it would be fine, but sweating so much from hunting every day—was it appropriate not to wash?

Grand General Luo secretly shook his head.

He had originally wanted to ask why Prince Kaiyang hadn’t been with his daughter today, but now he didn’t want to ask anymore.

Forget it, better find an opportunity to ask Sanlang instead.

Looking around, Sanlang was still the best.

Wei Han noticed Grand General Luo’s attitude cooling down, which suited him just fine.

If they continued talking, the soup Xiu Gu was ladling out would get cold.

“If the Grand General has no other business, I’ll go over now.”

“Uh.”

Watching Wei Han walk over, Grand General Luo bit his teeth.

In front of someone’s father—how could this boy who didn’t like bathing so naturally mooch food and drink?

Grand General Luo angrily flicked his sleeves and left. Only after walking far away did he realize: he hadn’t eaten yet.

“What soup is it today?” Wei Han stood beside Luo Sheng, asking naturally.

“Pork bone soup.”

Wei Han nodded: “Several wild boars were hunted today.”

The most unfortunate was the wild boar that Miss Luo shot with an arrow—because it attacked the Crown Prince, its end was too horrible to look at.

“To be able to peacefully drink pork bone soup, I must thank Your Highness.” Luo Sheng spoke meaningfully, subtly expressing her gratitude.

If others heard this, they would think she was thanking Prince Kaiyang for saving the Crown Prince so everyone could continue eating and drinking as usual.

If something happened to the Crown Prince, that would be a major matter shaking the foundation of the nation.

“Miss Luo doesn’t need to thank me.” Wei Han looked at her, his eyes filled with gentle, scattered light. “Is Miss Luo’s mood a bit better?”

Luo Sheng was silent for a moment, then curved her lips: “At least it hasn’t gotten worse.”

She gently turned the gold bracelet on her wrist, as if with that arrow’s release her emotions had been vented and her mind became even calmer.

“Will Your Highness have some soup?”

Wei Han nodded without hesitation: “Yes.”

Luo Sheng showed a faint smile, took the pork bone soup Xiu Yue had ladled out, and handed it over.

Perhaps the Crown Prince’s experience left the officials with lingering fear—the following days of hunting seemed to become quite uneventful.

Nothing else to say, but at least wild boars were never seen again among the prey.

Spending the remaining autumn hunt time in this bland manner, they finally set off to return to the capital.

Upon receiving news that the autumn hunt party was returning, the civil and military officials who had remained in the capital all gathered outside the city to respectfully welcome the imperial carriage.

After receiving his subjects’ greetings, Emperor Yong’an was astonished to discover quite a few elderly officials with reddened eyes.

Among them, Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Justice was the most emotional and had even lost a circle of weight.

Emperor Yong’an was momentarily moved.

Old Zhao and these people truly had loyal hearts.