It turned out that before the few wolves started feasting on the black bear, they had already been calling out. A wolf pack from nearby responded, and suddenly there were over a dozen wolves surrounding Mo Yu and Sui Axi.

“Meow— Meow—” Duanming struggled in Mo Yu’s arms, taking the stance of one ready to jump down and duel the wolf king.

Mo Yu pressed down on its head and drew her sword. Sui Axi knew some martial arts as well, and the two prepared to battle the wolf pack.

Just as Bu Shulin was about to jump down to fight alongside them, a piercing cry rang through the sky, reaching the sun and moon.

The wolf pack immediately showed signs of retreating, yet was reluctant to abandon the feast before them.

The gyrfalcon’s silhouette drew closer from high above, its gray-white wings gradually emerging from the black shadow.

Duanming lost interest in the wolf king and turned to yowl at the gyrfalcon instead: “Meow— Meow—”

Sui Axi raised his hand to shield his eyes, finding it hard to watch his master’s cat anymore.

Mo Yu kept her cold expression, remaining vigilant even with the gyrfalcon’s appearance.

Sure enough, one wolf intent on challenging the gyrfalcon leaped toward them. Mo Yu grabbed Sui Axi, trying to pull him away, but before she could act, they felt a blur before their eyes and a gust of wind as the wolf pack retreated.

Looking up, they saw the wolf that had leaped at them now in the sky, caught in the gyrfalcon’s talons. After a screech, the gyrfalcon released its grip, and the wolf crashed down precisely in the middle of the pack, reduced to a bloody mess.

Duanming froze for a moment, slowly tucking its head into Mo Yu’s embrace, curling into a ball with just a bit of fur still visible.

Not just Duanming, but Bu Shulin and the other two were also dumbstruck. This gyrfalcon looked to be as tall as a three or four-year-old child with a wingspan of ten feet, but they hadn’t expected it to be so ferocious.

That was because they hadn’t seen the gyrfalcon battle the black bear, snow leopard, and that giant snake.

The wolf pack swiftly retreated. Bu Shulin’s taut nerves relaxed, and she slid down from the tree. Sui Axi immediately went to examine her, his expression changing briefly when he took her pulse before quickly composing himself.

Only then did he understand why the Princess treated Young Master Bu with such familiarity, showing no concern for the proper distance between men and women.

He had been with the Princess for some time and knew that once Shen Xihe trusted someone, she trusted them completely. That’s why she never worried about propriety when associating with Bu Shulin and Xie Yunhuai. While she was close but respectful with Xie Yunhuai, maintaining proper boundaries, it was different with Bu Shulin. So that was it – Young Master Bu was female.

He quickly treated Bu Shulin’s wounds, using acupuncture to stop the bleeding, then bandaged the injuries before crouching before her: “Young Master Bu, please forgive the offense.”

Bu Shulin had never lost consciousness – in these wild mountains full of dangers, who knew what might happen next?

She wasn’t sure if the gyrfalcon had been sent by someone, and while it could help them once, it might not help a second time.

She lay across Sui Axi’s shoulders, letting him carry her down the mountain. With the gyrfalcon clearing the way, their descent was particularly smooth.

Liu Sanzhi waited for the Crown Prince to wake, only to receive news that Bu Shulin had been injured in a fall. He closed his eyes: they had missed their opportunity.

Bu Shulin had someone knowledgeable in medicine by her side, a Tibetan doctor brought from Shu South. Otherwise, she couldn’t have concealed her female identity for so many years.

“The Young Master’s injuries are serious, but thanks to the Princess’s physician’s proper treatment, there won’t be lasting effects,” the Tibetan doctor sighed in relief.

“This is all thanks to Sister Xihe’s good fortune.” Otherwise, this hunting trip would have been one of no return.

“Young Master’s misfortune was also because of the Princess…”

Before the subordinate could finish speaking, Bu Shulin’s cold gaze landed on him: “Jin Shan, thirty lashes.”

“Yes…”

“Wait.” Shen Xihe arrived just in time to hear these words. While touched by Bu Shulin’s defense of her, she couldn’t let Bu Shulin alienate loyal subordinates because of her.

This subordinate wasn’t necessarily truly blaming her, but rather feeling distressed for his master, inevitably displacing some emotional blame.

“Youyou.” Bu Shulin’s pale face gained a hint of color as she gave Jin Shan a meaningful look. “Sister, no need to plead for him. He’s thoughtless, and I don’t need such servants by my side.”

Then, with a piercing gaze, she addressed all her confidants: “Today with the giant snake, His Majesty had an excuse for not being able to look after me, and he wouldn’t miss such a rare opportunity. This has nothing to do with the Princess.

If we must speak of connections, it’s that I invited the Princess out but failed to take proper care of her, causing her to face danger. I am the one who failed her. If anyone objects, take it up with my father. If I learn of anyone trying to sow discord between our houses, I won’t be lenient!”

After this rebuke, her cold gaze fell on the punished subordinate: “Do you accept these thirty lashes?”

“This servant accepts wholeheartedly. I spoke out of turn.” The subordinate fell to his knees with a thud, answering forcefully.

At this point, Shen Xihe couldn’t intervene further. This was Bu Shulin reasserting her authority and stopping any attempts at provocation.

“Everyone withdraw. I wish to speak with the Princess.” Bu Shulin impatiently watched them leave – all these rough, burly men, how could they compare to the pleasing sight of her dear Youyou?

Despite being so seriously injured, she still didn’t forget to act shamelessly, her eyes curved into crescents and sparkling as she looked at Shen Xihe. Who could suspect Bu Shulin was female? Shen Xihe said irritably: “Not hurting anymore?”

“Aiyoo…” Bu Shulin immediately let out a weak, miserable cry, then began to moan. “I’m in so much pain. Youyou, pat me, surely that will make it better…”

“The Crown Prince has expressed his feelings to me,” Shen Xihe’s lips curved slightly.

Bu Shulin heard this with confusion, not noticing Shen Xihe’s mischievous smile, and continued clutching herself: “It hurts so much, so much… Youyou doesn’t even care about my pain, I might as well die from the pain…”

Shen Xihe quietly watched her theatrics. If not for her injuries, she probably would have been rolling around: “That gyrfalcon that saved you belongs to the Crown Prince.”

“I might as well die from the pain, I’m alive and—”

Bu Shulin’s singing cut off abruptly, her mouth forming a perfect O, blinking several times before asking hesitantly in a small voice: “You’re saying that gyrfalcon that grabbed the wolf into the sky and dropped it to smash into meat paste belongs to the Crown Prince?”

She couldn’t help but swallow after speaking.

Seeing her loss of composure, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but look down on her: “Is smashing one wolf worth such amazement?”

“You didn’t see it – the wolf went whoosh into the sky and then bang down to the ground, just a pile of meat. The whole pack ran away scared.” Bu Shulin’s eyes were wide as she gestured with both hands.

“Oh, have you seen that snake in the pond?” Shen Xihe asked.

The topic shifted, but Bu Shulin still nodded honestly: “I have.”

“That snake? The one His Majesty’s Divine Crossbow Corps couldn’t subdue? The Crown Prince’s gyrfalcon gutted it with one talon.” Shen Xihe smiled slightly.

Bu Shulin’s eyes rolled back: “I’m fainting. You’d better go, I don’t want to become meat paste or get gutted.”