In the blink of an eye, the day of the autumn hunt arrived.
Emperor Chenming was in a cheerful mood. With the Crown Prince and both princes at court, he rarely felt inclined toward recreation and amusement. He brought over a hundred people from the palace and dozens of carriages, departing in grand procession toward Xianyou Temple to hunt and relax.
Sitting in the official carriage, Qun Qing sat opposite Zheng Zhiyi and Li Xuan.
Though winter had not yet arrived, Li Xuan had already wrapped himself in thick fox fur and was resting with closed eyes. Zheng Zhiyi kept lifting the painted side curtain of the carriage, sticking her head out.
Ahead were the Emperor’s and consorts’ carriages. The weather was fine. Under the azure vault, blue-black mountain shadows undulated. The green wheat shoots gleamed with golden light. The wind blew in, stirring Qun Qing’s hair strands. She felt much more relaxed.
After Zheng Zhiyi had lifted the curtain five times, she suddenly noticed Qun Qing’s silence and said with concern, “Why is your complexion so pale?”
Li Xuan opened his phoenix eyes to look. Qun Qing said, “It’s nothing. Perhaps I feel a bit stuffy.”
Actually, the carriage interior was quite spacious, with not only soft cushions and footrests but also incense. It was just that Qun Qing had rarely gone out as a child. Sitting for long periods in a bumpy carriage or boat would make her want to vomit.
Zheng Zhiyi quickly had the young eunuch roll up the carriage curtain and hold it with his hands, forbidding him to lower it. “Miss Qing, in your condition, you probably can’t ride a horse either.”
Qun Qing paused. “This servant doesn’t know how to ride horses.”
“That’s such a pity. Then you won’t be able to participate in the hunt. Actually, horseback riding is so much fun. How about I take you along and you try it?”
Li Xuan said, “The Crown Princess should enjoy herself. Must she have someone accompany her even for horseback riding?”
Zheng Zhiyi shot him a glare and continued on her own, “I love riding horses the most. You don’t know—I’ve been in the palace for over a year, hoping for today to come out. Fortunately, Father Emperor showed mercy, or I’d truly suffocate to death.”
Li Xuan closed his eyes. Since he couldn’t get a word in anyway, he stopped talking.
Qun Qing looked at Zheng Zhiyi’s excited profile, but her heart held some trepidation.
Now that Zheng Zhiyi had become Crown Princess, she would be Great Chen’s empress in the future, with few opportunities to leave the palace. Qun Qing didn’t know if her help had changed Zheng Zhiyi’s fate.
The carriage jolted twice, passing over a large expanse of forest. Qun Qing pressed her chest, her face even paler. “Crown Princess, you go ahead. Let this servant get down and walk a bit.”
Zheng Zhiyi quickly ordered the carriage to stop. Li Xuan tilted as Zheng Zhiyi grasped his wrist. His gaze slowly became calm. He leaned back indifferently, watching Qun Qing jump down from the carriage.
Qun Qing leaned against a large pine tree and vomited for a while, feeling the stuffiness in her chest disappear. While wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, she reached into the tree hollow and felt out a wax pill.
The discomfort was real, but so was the mission. An Lun had sent an urgent message, which must mean Nan Chu had major operations planned. Qun Qing roughly scanned it—it was similar to Nan Chu’s actions in her previous life’s memories.
Zen Master had selected two hundred elite troops to specifically take rarely traveled deep mountain paths, preparing to infiltrate Chang’an.
Looking at it this way, Lin Yujia’s actions and Nan Chu’s deployment were coordinated relationships. If they could severely injure Emperor Chenming and the Crown Prince during the ceremony to receive the Buddha’s bone relic, these people could take advantage of the chaos to infiltrate the palace city and launch a palace coup.
In her previous life, her rank had been too low to accompany the autumn hunt. She only knew this mission had been discovered, but didn’t know the specific details of how it failed.
However, based on Qun Qing’s understanding of Zen Master, Lin Yujia certainly wasn’t the only one who received the mission. Other spies would definitely make their move in these few days.
In her ears were the sounds of creaking wheels, jingling silver bells, and palace maids laughing and playing. Qun Qing couldn’t help but sympathize with Emperor Chenming. He had finally come out to relax—how could he anticipate that Nan Chu was plotting in the shadows again?
But none of this was something she needed to worry about. Having advance knowledge, what she needed to do was hide herself well and, when necessary, exploit the chaos.
Qun Qing was thinking when someone patted her right shoulder.
She turned around and saw a young man wearing a purple cloud crown and round-collared robe with a face beautiful as a woman’s. That person was also startled upon seeing her attire clearly. Qun Qing bowed. “Prince Zhao.”
“You recognize this prince.” Li Pan took two steps but walked with a limp. “I thought you were some family’s concubine. The palace has added such a high-ranking palace attendant and this prince didn’t even know. Are you from the Empress’s side? If you’re unwell somewhere, rest in this prince’s carriage.”
Li Pan smiled very deeply, his speech also gentle, yet his gaze held a kind of cruel air that made Qun Qing very uncomfortable.
The Emperor’s second son, Li Pan, was born of the same mother as the Crown Prince. Born with a lame foot, this defect directly destroyed his possibility of being an heir to the throne. He had known this from childhood, so he was unrestrained and dissolute—wearing women’s clothing and foreign dress, patronizing famous actors, beating people, keeping mistresses—he did every scandalous thing.
The Crown Prince and Prince Yan each had only one consort, yet Li Pan already had four concubines. Moreover, his debauchery had reached lawless extremes. Even at critical moments in battle, he dared summon prostitutes into camp.
“This servant is a palace attendant by the Crown Princess’s side,” Qun Qing said. “When you were fighting in Xifan, this servant had been serving by His Highness the Crown Prince’s side for some time.”
Li Pan’s expression changed slightly.
Li Pan was not the Crown Prince’s equal in civil matters, nor Prince Yan’s in military. His only way forward was to cling tightly to his elder brother Li Xuan. It just so happened that Li Xuan was in poor health while he could ride and shoot, which could serve as a complement.
He absolutely could not afford to offend the Crown Prince. But having a palace attendant dare use this point to intimidate him displeased Li Pan. He pulled up the corner of his mouth. “Imperial Brother’s carriage left long ago. If he cared about you, he would have stopped to wait. This prince will advise you—you’re just a servant. Don’t forget your place because your master showed you favor for a couple of days.”
“The road ahead is still four or five miles. If you won’t get on this prince’s carriage, walk there yourself.”
At this moment, silver bells tinkled lightly as Prince Yan’s carriage passed by. Something flew out from between the curtains and thudded against the back of Li Pan’s head, making him grasp his head in bewilderment. Qun Qing saw clearly what had rolled to the ground.
It was a tangerine.
Qun Qing looked forward. Prince Yan’s carriage had long since left, though there seemed to be faint laughter from young gentlemen.
On the other side, another white and spacious Seven Fragrance carriage stopped. The curtain pulled open, revealing a refined and gentle face—it was Han Wanyi. “Miss Qing, why are you waiting by the roadside?”
Li Pan knew this was Emperor Chenming’s favored consort and didn’t dare be negligent. “Mother Consort.”
Unexpectedly, Han Wanyi completely ignored him and smiled at Qun Qing. “The Crown Prince’s carriage jolts quite a bit. Because this consort is pregnant, the Emperor specifically instructed the carriage to move slowly and steadily. If Miss Qing rides in my carriage, you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable.”
Li Pan hadn’t expected Qun Qing to have such standing that Han Wanyi’s serving palace maid would personally come down to help her board the carriage. Not knowing what had happened in his absence, he could only watch as Qun Qing picked up the tangerine from the ground, wiped it, and entered Han Wanyi’s carriage.
“Er’lang,” Han Wanyi said, “you failed to hold the battle situation at the Xifan border earlier, and the Emperor’s anger hasn’t subsided. You’re such a grown person now—rein in your temperament.”
Li Pan smiled sheepishly. “Yes, thank you for the guidance, Mother Consort.”
—
Inside Prince Yan’s carriage, Juan Su said, “You only brought one tangerine. Chief Clerk, even throwing a pebble would be better than a tangerine.”
Lu Huating was focused on wrapping his bow, the glue between his fingers tightening as he wound it round and round on the bow limb, making creaking sounds.
Li Huan said, “Should I have split his head open? But Er’lang really is absurd enough—couldn’t even behave for these few days.”
In Lu Huating’s mind appeared that glance Qun Qing had cast over. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyelashes held moisture—she seemed very uncomfortable, yet her eyes were still cool and spirited.
Carrying a long blade wouldn’t diminish her spirit, yet sitting in a carriage for a stretch had reduced her to that state—it was somewhat amusing. Only thinking this game was about to end, his smile slowly faded, and he actually felt somewhat bored.
Juan Su said, “But didn’t His Highness do the same for Princess Bao’an?”
Li Huan saw Lu Huating pause and quickly gave Juan Su a look, saying, “I’m nothing like Er’lang. What’s shameful about a man in his prime liking women? It would be strange not to have a woman he likes. Since ancient times, haven’t men conquered territories precisely to have all people submit to them, to pluck the flower from the mountaintop and gather it at their pillow?”
Lu Huating put down the bow and looked at him. After a long moment, he smiled slightly. “This isn’t liking—this is a dog seeing meat.”
Juan Su’s expression changed. Li Huan choked, but fortunately Lu Huating’s speech had always been unrestrained. “Are you looking for a beating? Come discuss with me who’s a dog after you’ve married a wife.”
“A wandering ghost in the night, coming to the mortal world to claim lives—should I marry a ghost wife?” Lu Huating scoffed and nocked an arrow on the bow to test it.
Seeing his face was still pale, Li Huan couldn’t help but reach out to steady the arrow. “Your health is poor yet you won’t practice more. Won’t learn other things I teach you—only practice archery. Half of each day is spent sleeping. Oh, but there is something else you’re good at.”
Juan Su and Zhu Su leaned in to listen. Li Huan said, “Spearing fish—one spear, one hit.”
Amid the laughter, Lu Huating also smiled.
“You know my health isn’t good.” Lu Huating said matter-of-factly, “Other martial arts waste energy. Only practicing three arrows is best—using the smallest effort to achieve the greatest result.”
Having spoken, an arrow shot out through a gap in the carriage curtain, pierced through the forest, and embedded in a tree trunk.
Leaves fell from the vibration, showering the people below. Over a dozen Nan Chu spies crouching in the grass broke out in cold sweat, revealing expressions of alarm and fear.
—
In the carriage, Qun Qing peeled the tangerine but didn’t eat it, placing it on the table.
She had known since childhood the wonderful properties of tangerines. She assumed Lu Huating throwing this object was just coincidence. Though the tangerine’s scent was sour and pungent, smelling it could stop nausea.
Han Wanyi’s carriage was extremely spacious. A table could be placed in the middle, and on it were various washed fruits—cherries, and even lychees.
“This consort’s spleen and stomach aren’t good. Miss Qing, please eat as you like.” Han Wanyi fanned herself with a small fan. “Shouxi just came running to remind me. This consort naturally must do His Highness a favor. Even if he hadn’t reminded me, this consort would have intervened. After all, you and I should be on the same side.”
Qun Qing’s gaze fell on Han Wanyi’s abdomen. She couldn’t help but remind her, “Your Ladyship, your belly is too large—it doesn’t match the months.”
Han Wanyi’s expression tightened. Resentfully and aggrievedly, she pulled her belly back in a bit. “Don’t forget our wager. If I fail, you won’t fare well either.”
Qun Qing took a few lychees. Even Zheng Zhiyi didn’t have these—she could take them to her to taste. “I know.”
“To be able to come on this autumn hunt, this consort used every means at my disposal with Her Majesty the Empress.” Han Wanyi said, “Do you really have such confidence?”
Qun Qing didn’t, but she couldn’t let Han Wanyi see that, so she simply ate a lychee.
She sat upright in the carriage, calm as a wisp of blue smoke. Only the lips pressed against the lychee were bright red, quite imposing.
Han Wanyi reclined on the couch watching her for a long while, not daring to act rashly, actually developing a sense of awe. “I had quite a reputation for talent at home, yet in the palace I must rely on your help. I wonder, Miss Qing, what are you seeking in the palace?”
Qun Qing’s face was pale. “To stay alive, for affection.”
“Stop joking. Where is there affection in the palace? Look at you, so young yet quite skilled in scheming. Saying such naive things—do you think this consort will believe it?”
“I am in the palace for power.” Han Wanyi smiled. “Power is the Seven Fragrance carriage you’re sitting in, the lychees in winter. You should have seen Consort Chen De earlier. With the Fourth Prince gone, she sits in a shabby, drafty carriage with no one paying her attention. Noble Consort Lü now holds the Emperor’s utmost favor—her younger brother is courted by everyone outside. If you leave the palace, you’ll be like tumbleweed. With the realm in turmoil, you won’t even have the strength to protect yourself.”
“No matter where I am, it’s for affection. That’s the kind of person I am.” Yet Qun Qing looked at her with clear eyes. “If people wrong you, it’s because those people aren’t worthy. The blade should point outward, not inward. If I can’t even protect myself, that would be my incompetence.”
This girl was as firm as a stone. Han Wanyi was momentarily speechless, yet felt something had been touched within her.
—
Though Xianyou Temple was called a traveling palace, it only had many meditation rooms. Compared to palace halls, it was indeed crude. Qun Qing followed Zheng Zhiyi in settling down. She hadn’t even finished a night’s sleep when she was awakened by commotion outside.
Qun Qing hurriedly got up. A young eunuch outside reassured her, “There were Nan Chu spies lying in ambush to assassinate people. Your Ladyship, rest assured—they’ve already been captured by Prince Yan’s mansion’s people.”
So quickly? She hadn’t even arranged Han Wanyi’s matter yet.
Qun Qing couldn’t sleep anymore. After dressing, she went out. She wanted to confirm whether Nan Chu had any other operations planned.