Perhaps in the Second Prince’s view, the Crown Prince’s dethronement was already decided.

To avoid variables, he believed the Grand Prince, as the eldest legitimate son, must also be eliminated to secure his path to succession as the second son.

Xiaoying frowned slightly, knowing that if this plot succeeded, chaos would erupt at the western hunting ground three li away.

Though the mother wolf was fierce, His Majesty had guards for protection. Dealing with one wolf would be more than sufficient—there was no danger of the Dafeng throne changing hands.

However, with a wild beast not avoiding humans but actively attacking, it would directly correspond to the divination. Most likely, Feng Yuan would be driven back to his original state, returning to the desolate palace.

If he returned there, it wouldn’t matter much, but her brother was still under his control. If something happened to him, her brother’s fate would be uncertain.

Thinking of this, Xiaoying leaped onto a horse, pulled the reins, and headed toward the western hunting ground.

The youth’s agile mounting and whipping surprised the attendants—since when could the Crown Prince mount so skillfully?

While they doubted their eyes, the young Crown Prince, without even bringing attendants, disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Jin Zhong gaped, stammering to Jian Hu: “Am I… am I seeing things? It looked like the Crown Prince just rode away on horseback?”

Jian Hu looked at him disinterestedly, suddenly feeling how peaceful it would be if she could be as ignorant as this little eunuch!

When Yan Xiaoying reached the western hunting ground on horseback, His Majesty’s procession was directly ahead.

However, the procession suddenly halted, followed by cries of alarm.

Xiaoying guessed that the Second Prince’s people had released the wolf.

Thinking “this is bad,” she dismounted, seeing no one around, and climbed a tall tree. Upon reaching the high branches, she could see everything in the distance.

What she saw made Yan Xiaoying gasp.

Indeed, a fierce beast had charged at His Majesty’s procession, but it wasn’t the wolf the Second Prince had mentioned—it was… a nine-foot-tall bear!

…

Earlier, His Majesty’s party had been moving for quite some time without catching anything.

The Grand Prince, who had entered the hunting ground first, wasn’t hunting with the others but was killing game along His Majesty’s route, completely ignorant of protocol.

His addiction to killing disregarded those behind him, leaving His Majesty with almost no prey, completely stealing Emperor Chunde’s glory.

Though His Majesty said nothing, others couldn’t help but frown slightly, recalling the diviner’s prediction.

It was said this Grand Prince’s birth chart was inauspicious for His Majesty—it seemed there was indeed evidence of this!

If not for madness, who would behave this way? This Grand Prince had been confined in the desolate palace for too long and couldn’t be judged by normal standards!

General Yezhong, following beside His Majesty, frowned and sighed, quietly apologizing to His Majesty, saying he as an uncle had failed to properly teach his nephew.

Just as everyone was silently complaining, the rule-breaking Grand Prince startled the vegetation, unexpectedly disturbing a large bear.

The bear was remarkably rare, standing as tall as two men when upright, and with a violent temperament, not fleeing at the sound of hoofbeats but charging directly at the people.

Hunters know it’s better to face a tiger than provoke a bear.

Now with a ferocious bear inside the enclosure, the consequences were unimaginable…

This was certainly not part of the hunting ground’s arrangements; somehow there must have been a gap in the fence that allowed this dangerous creature to enter.

However, the bear lunged not at Emperor Chunde first, but at Feng Yuan, who was at the front!

After all, it was his horse’s hoofbeats that had disturbed the bear, causing it to emerge early.

Just as the other guards were drawing their bows to shoot the bear, the massive beast, carrying a foul wind, pounced toward Feng Yuan.

The guards became hesitant, fearing their arrows might hit the Grand Prince.

Yet the Grand Prince, who had been confined in the desolate palace for ten years, truly lived up to being the son of a female general. Even after wasting away for many years, his riding and archery skills bore the same natural talent as his mother’s.

He was seen leaping from his horse, thrusting his sword directly at the bear’s heart.

Such a fatal strike would have felled any other predator immediately.

However, bears are stubborn creatures that become more aggressive when in pain. Even with its last breath, it would fight to mutual destruction.

In this dying moment, fighting for its life, just as Feng Yuan pierced the bear’s heart, its paw struck his back, sending him flying. Then, with the sword in its chest, it opened its jaws to pounce.

Feng Yuan remained calm, drawing a dagger from his bosom, aiming at the bear’s throat, waiting for it to approach for a fatal strike!

At this critical moment, a short arrow flew from somewhere, striking precisely at the bear’s throat. The shot was so accurate that it shattered the throat bone, causing the bear to suffocate. It finally halted, swayed several times, and crashed to the ground.

But the process happened so quickly, and with the bear facing away from the crowd, no one noticed the arriving arrow.

Feng Yuan took a breath, steadied himself against a tree trunk, approached the bear, and pulled out the arrow from its throat.

This arrow bore the mark of the Ye family troops. One exactly like it had once grazed his face…

Feng Yuan discreetly tucked the short arrow into his sleeve and collapsed onto a stretcher amidst the arriving guards. His gaze fixed on a high tree in the distance, where an agile figure was rapidly descending…

In summary, the Grand Prince, possessing natural strength, valiantly killed the great bear and saved His Majesty, though he was unfortunately clawed by a bear paw.

Afterward, everyone realized that if Feng Yuan hadn’t taken the lead, His Majesty, riding at the front, would have encountered the bear.

After such an incident, everyone at the hunting ground was terrified. They immediately sent people to search the grounds for any other hidden dangerous animals.

This search revealed something serious—they found a large iron cage in the dense forest ahead, containing a drooling wolf.

Besides the iron cage, the searchers also detained two palace servants trying to escape. They had brought the iron cage to release ferocious beasts during the hunt to harm His Majesty!

The iron cage for the bear was also found. Though not placed with the wolf, it was their handiwork!

However, the two men hastily protested their innocence, claiming they never released a bear, and the wolf was only a backup in case the nobles weren’t satisfied with the hunt.

Such excuses were insufficient to soothe the emperor’s heart after being frightened by the vicious bear.

Upon returning to the resting pavilion, Emperor Chunde looked at the two men kneeling on the ground and coldly asked who had sent them.

How could those two dare speak? But they couldn’t help glancing at the Second Prince nearby.

The Second Prince now wished he had a sword to directly skewer these incompetent fellows!

Wasn’t it supposed to be a wolf? After all, wolves occasionally appearing in the hunting grounds had happened before.

Moreover, if it were a wolf, the guards could have shot it. How did it escalate to such a regicidal scene?

Emperor Chunde noticed darkly how the two men’s gazes shifted toward Feng Qiting and slowly moved his gaze to the Second Prince.

Feng Qiting, being glared at by his father, was so frightened that the wounds on his back nearly split open.

At this moment, the helpers he had arranged earlier all appeared, reciting their rehearsed lines, saying His Majesty’s luck had been poor lately, and the appearance of a fierce beast in the hunting grounds was inauspicious, coinciding with the divination phrase about “striking the third palace”!

Therefore, they urged His Majesty to reconsider, suggesting the need to invite a master to break the curse and remove the ill-starred person from the palace…

The Second Prince nearly wept listening to them.

What kind of useless people had he spent money to cultivate? Couldn’t they see this was vastly different from the original plan?

Feng Yuan now had the merit of saving the emperor—how could His Majesty allow him to be slandered?

Indeed, Emperor Chunde’s face darkened with each word he heard.

Looking at Feng Yuan’s bloody back as he was carried in, and seeing these ministers in concert, Emperor Chunde grabbed a fruit platter and furiously threw it at the leader of those speaking.

What nonsense about A’Yuan’s birth chart hindering the imperial family, being a disaster star striking the third palace!

Absolute rubbish! A’Yuan was just like his mother, Ye Zhanxue, always protecting the Feng family from calamities!

There had been enough vile slander in the first half of his life; how could he allow his son to be framed by treacherous shamans in the latter half?

And deliberately releasing ferocious beasts—this wasn’t about him being unlucky; it was someone with evil intentions! Attempting regicide!

Thus, His Majesty waved his hand, ordering these audacious servants to be dragged to the Office of Careful Punishment for severe torture, ensuring they revealed the mastermind behind this for strict punishment!

As for Feng Yuan, who was seriously injured saving his father, the emperor publicly shed tears and lavishly praised him.

That evening, back at the palace, some foolish consort, remembering the earlier rumors and fearing no death, reminded His Majesty that his luck had been poor lately, encountering such a ferocious beast even in the hunting grounds, suggesting they consult the Imperial Diviners.

His Majesty did summon the Diviner, but when they spoke similarly about someone in the palace being incompatible with His Majesty, suggesting removal to avoid great calamity, Emperor Chunde flew into a rage. He asked if the Diviner had foreseen today as his death day.

With that, he ordered the Diviner dragged away and beaten to death! Simultaneously, he strictly ordered the imperial concubines not to spread supernatural rumors.

They should know that the last person who manipulated supernatural matters was still raving mad in Fengming Palace. If anyone wished to join them, they could keep them company!

After returning from the hunting grounds, Xiaoying visited Feng Yuan at night.

“Tsk, tsk, you spared no expense! Just to break the birth chart rumor? Was it necessary to risk your life like this?” Xiaoying frowned, looking at Feng Yuan’s back, unable to resist mocking.

Feng Yuan lay on the bed, glanced at the small food box Xiaoying had brought, and asked her to open it and feed him.

There was no choice; his hands were also injured, bandaged, and immobilized.

Following habit, Xiaoying bit a honey date pastry to test for poison before feeding it to the one lying on the bed.

“Where did that bear come from? It wasn’t prepared by the Second Prince, right? If His Majesty had died now, he would have no hope left!”

Feng Yuan merely smiled, a rather meaningful smile.

Xiaoying immediately understood that there must have been his machinations involved. Somehow, he had acted before the Second Prince, allowing the vicious bear to enter first.

As a result, the Second Prince took the blame for Feng Yuan’s plot.

Most likely, the Western Palace was now in chaos, trying to find someone to enter the Office of Careful Punishment to silence those two servants!

But bringing such a large bear to break the birth chart prophecy—was Feng Yuan suicidal? Truly a madman!

Feng Yuan honestly replied: “Third Grandfather chose it. The old man said a real man should kill bears for glory—other fierce beasts didn’t meet his standards.”

Xiaoying couldn’t help rolling her eyes. Did Xiao Tianyang think everyone had his abilities? According to this old jianghu knight, probably only killing a dragon would be satisfying!

Fortunately, Feng Yuan hadn’t fallen into Xiao Tianyang’s hands before age three; otherwise, it’s questionable whether he could have been raised to adulthood!

Feng Yuan kept watching his fake Fourth Brother, a youth in his prime with a somewhat childish face, whose eye-rolling appeared especially lively.

He slowly exhaled and asked: “Why did you help me today?”

Xiaoying smiled: “Didn’t we agree to an alliance? Do I look like someone who would abandon an ally?”

After saying this, she deliberately blinked her large eyes, as if she wasn’t the one who had drugged Feng Yuan and escaped by faking her death.

Feng Yuan looked at her and smiled, raising his eyes to ask: “How was your chat with Elder Teng?”

Xiaoying considered: “Probably no problem. This time I’m not on assignment, just accompanying Elder Teng to Jiangzhe for sightseeing, learning about official matters, and experiencing common life. I won’t touch important affairs, so your father should grant Elder Teng this favor.”

Xiaoying then asked: “Have my brother and the others arrived safely in Jiangzhe?”

The Grand Prince had sent Xiao Tianyang’s disciples to accompany them, and these disciples used famous foreign carrier pigeons for messages, which seemed to transmit quickly.

So Xiaoying thought Feng Yuan would have more current information about her brother’s whereabouts.

Feng Yuan said, “They’ve reached Youma Town in Jiangzhe. Recently, there have been disturbances in the surrounding area, with several villages massacred by bandits. For safety, my people have asked them to stay put and remain there for a while.”

Hearing about village massacres, Xiaoying frowned, momentarily distracted.

Feng Yuan kept watching her until her brow remained furrowed, then asked: “What’s wrong?”

Xiaoying took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress the memories suddenly surfacing, and smiled slightly: “Nothing, just that as a child I also encountered some very bad people. Hearing about village massacres, I just…”

Xiaoying didn’t continue, suddenly remembering this man was not her confidant. She couldn’t reveal anything more about her origins and past to Feng Yuan.

As for her brother and the others, staying in Youma Town wasn’t bad. Beyond that was Ding Mountain, heavily guarded with troops securing key routes.

They couldn’t proceed forward even if they wanted to.

Thinking of this, Xiaoying still felt regret. What a pity the Crown Prince couldn’t command troops…

Teacher Ge had explained the principles long ago. If she could directly command troops, wouldn’t she immediately be able to break the Ding Mountain siege?

However, thinking about accompanying Elder Teng on this trip, Xiaoying’s mood lightened. Regardless, she finally had a legitimate reason to leave the palace.

Then, with the freedom of a bird in the sky, once she reached Jiangzhe and found her brother, she would help them escape from Old Xiao’s clutches. No matter what alliance she had formed with this madman, she would abandon everything and leave!

Thinking of this, Xiaoying felt particularly happy, even considerately blowing on Feng Yuan’s wounds, showing concern like a real sibling.

But Feng Yuan wasn’t appreciative, shifting his body somewhat uncomfortably.

The last time their secrets were revealed, Feng Yuan seemed quite resentful about Xiaoying drugging him. Xiaoying had to flatter and placate him to repair their broken relationship.

One good thing about Feng Yuan was that, although he held grudges, he could pretend otherwise.

So even though she had offended him by drugging him first, since they both had value to each other, they could barely maintain a surface-level friendship.

After feeding him the honey date pastry, Xiaoying poured a cup of fragrant tea for the Grand Prince.

Feng Yuan took a sip from Xiaoying’s hand and casually asked: “I saw that Mu Hanjiang caught many rabbits today and shared some with you. He seems to be very good to you…”

When he was being carried away, Mu Hanjiang was just returning with a group of young masters from another direction, his horse loaded with rabbits—he had certainly been attentive.

Xiaoying smiled: “Like you, Young Master Mu and I have some business cooperation. As they say, where there’s business, there’s friendship!”

Saying this, she brought the tea to Feng Yuan’s lips again, but he no longer drank, just coldly staring at Xiaoying.

Xiaoying wasn’t afraid of his cold face. She put down the teacup, pinched a piece of cake into her mouth, and said indistinctly: “Your grudge with Mu Hanjiang is between you two. Don’t be like a three-year-old child, demanding brotherhood while refusing to deal with others!”

Who was Mu Hanjiang? The head of the shadow guards! Without necessity, Xiaoying wouldn’t want to deal with that suspicious character either.

Social niceties were unavoidable!

Feng Yuan lowered his eyes and calmly explained: “There’s no grudge, just childhood discord. We used to fight a lot…”

Xiaoying raised her eyebrows upon hearing this. She had sent Jin Zhong, the “information gatherer,” to question palace servants from His Majesty’s previous residence.

The history between these two wasn’t as simple as Feng Yuan made it sound.

As a child, Feng Yuan had been an unlikable, unsupervised boy who had stayed with several worthy ministers assisting His Majesty, almost raised on charity. When Teacher Ge was busy for a period, he placed him with the Mu family.

As a result, Feng Yuan inadvertently saved the Mu siblings who had sneaked to the back mountain to play but had fallen into a trap.

Mu Yanyan was five at the time and fared better, just too tired to walk, while Mu Hanjiang had sprained his ankle.

Feng Yuan was only eleven then, but naturally strong. He carried one on his back and held the other, stubbornly bringing the siblings back to the residence.

From then on, Mu Hanjiang became Feng Yuan’s shadow.

From childhood to adulthood, Feng Yuan was questioned about his origins, seldom spoke, and had few peers. Having someone willing to be close to him, he naturally treasured this friendship.

If anyone mocked Feng Yuan, Mu Hanjiang would be the first to stand up for him. The two were as close as blood brothers.

Unfortunately, children’s friendships are fickle. Later, perhaps when Feng Yuan’s madness suddenly manifested, he allegedly attempted to assassinate Duke Ding Mu with a knife.

If not for Mu Hanjiang sacrificing himself to protect his father, taking the knife in his arm, Duke Ding might have perished.

Duke Ding was merciful, only telling His Majesty it was children throwing tantrums, needing better discipline, and the matter was dismissed.

Subsequently, Feng Yuan allegedly went mad and attempted to harm the Crown Prince, resulting in his ten-year confinement.

Now Xiaoying knew Feng Yuan didn’t have hysteria. The truth behind the assassination attempt was known only to Feng Yuan himself.

Feng Yuan and Mu Hanjiang had nearly formed an irreparable father-killing enmity. Sadly, their childhood friendship was thus suspended.

Now that these two had maintained their respective dignities, exchanging a few hypocritical pleasantries was already remarkable!

Xiaoying didn’t care about these old matters between the two, focusing solely on waiting for Elder Teng to secure her position.

Elder Teng’s persistence proved more formidable than Xiaoying had imagined.

When he proposed taking the Crown Prince to experience common life, Duke Jing Tang Hongsheng, who happened to be nearby, frowned upon hearing it.

At this crucial juncture, Jiangzhe was like a sewage ditch. His Tang family had sacrificed Tang Shi and her brother Tang Zhen to dissociate from the corruption case there. How could they allow an incompetent Crown Prince to enter Jiangzhe’s chaos?

Moreover, his illegitimate daughter had proven useless, so the Tang family had decided to send another Tang girl into the palace.

His legitimate granddaughter, Tang Mi, was of the right age, with broad knowledge and vision, so the candidate card had already been sent to His Majesty’s desk.

They were just waiting for His Majesty’s approval to let Tang Mi fill her aunt’s vacancy.

If Tang Mi entered the palace, she would need Feng Qiyuan’s support. The Crown Prince’s position in the Eastern Palace was proper and appropriate.

Just as Elder Teng proposed taking the Crown Prince to inspect the provinces, Tang Hongsheng immediately voiced opposition.