It turned out that just before the wolves began devouring the black bear, they started calling out, and a nearby wolf pack quickly arrived. Now surrounded by over a dozen wolves, Moyu and Sui Axi were immediately encircled.
"Meow, meow!" Duanming struggled in Moyu's arms, seemingly eager to leap down and challenge the alpha wolf alone.
Moyu pressed its head down and drew her long sword. Sui Axi, who also knew some martial arts, prepared to fight the wolves alongside her.
Bu Shulin stood up, ready to jump down and join the battle, when a piercing cry tore through the sky, reaching the sun and moon.
The wolves immediately showed signs of retreat but were reluctant to abandon the feast before them.
The figure of Haidongqing grew closer from above, its grayish-white wings gradually emerging from the shadow.
Duanming lost interest in the alpha wolf and turned to howl at Haidongqing: "Meow, meow!"
Sui Axi raised a hand to cover his eyes, unable to bear the sight of his master's cat behaving this way.
Moyu remained expressionless and vigilant, even with Haidongqing's appearance.
One wolf, intent on provoking Haidongqing, lunged toward them. Moyu grabbed Sui Axi to pull him aside, but before she could act, a gust of wind swept past, and the wolves retreated in unison.
Looking up, they saw the lunging wolf snatched into the air by Haidongqing's talons. With a cry, Haidongqing released its grip, and the wolf plummeted directly into the center of the pack, reduced to a bloody pulp.
Duanming froze for a moment before slowly tucking its head into Moyu's arms, curling into a ball with only a bit of fluff visible.
Not just Duanming, but even Bu Shulin and the others were stunned. This Haidongqing stood as tall as a three- or four-year-old child, with a wingspan of over ten feet, yet they had never imagined it could be so ferocious.
This was because none of them had witnessed Haidongqing confronting the black bear, the Snow Leopard, or the Giant Serpent.
The wolf pack quickly retreated. Bu Shulin's tense nerves relaxed, and she slid down from the tree. Sui Axi immediately stepped forward to examine her. As he checked her pulse, his expression shifted briefly before he composed himself.
It was only then that he understood why the princess treated Worldly Son Bu with such familiarity, without any concern for propriety between men and women.
Having served the princess for some time, he knew that Shen Xihe was someone who, once she trusted someone, trusted them completely. Thus, she never avoided them when interacting with Bu Shulin, Xie Yunhuai, and others. Shen Xihe treated Xie Yunhuai with warmth but maintained propriety, keeping a measured distance.
But her treatment of Bu Shulin was different—because Worldly Son Bu was actually a woman.
He quickly treated Bu Shulin's wounds, using acupuncture to stop the bleeding and bandaging her injuries. Then, kneeling before her, he said, "Worldly Son Bu, my apologies."
Bu Shulin had remained conscious throughout. In these wild, treacherous mountains, who knew what danger might appear next?
She didn't know if Haidongqing had been sent by someone, but she felt that even if it helped them once, it might not help them again.
She leaned onto Sui Axi's back, allowing him to carry her down the mountain. With Haidongqing clearing the way, their descent was remarkably smooth.
Liu Sanzhi waited for the Crown Prince to awaken, only to receive news that Bu Shulin had been injured in a fall. He closed his eyes: a missed opportunity.
Bu Shulin also had a medical expert by her side—a Tibetan physician she had brought from Shu Nan. Without him, her true gender could never have remained hidden all these years.
"The heir is seriously injured, but the princess's physician treated her appropriately." She won’t suffer any lasting effects," the Tibetan physician said with relief."I owe this to my sister Xihe's good fortune." Otherwise, this hunting trip would have been a one-way journey for her.
"Wasn't the Young Master's misfortune also caused by the County Princess?"
Before the subordinate could finish speaking, Bu Shulin cast a stern glance his way: "Jinshan, thirty lashes."
"Acknowledged."
"Wait." Shen Xihe arrived just in time to hear these words. While she appreciated Bu Shulin's defense of her, she couldn't allow Bu Shulin to become estranged from loyal subordinates because of her.
This subordinate likely didn't truly blame her but was feeling sorry for his master, inevitably venting some emotional resentment.
"Youyou." A glimmer of light returned to Bu Shulin's pale face. She signaled to Jinshan with her eyes, "Little sister, no need to plead for him. He doesn't know what's good for him. I don't want such subordinates around me."
With a sharp gaze, she addressed all her trusted aides: "Today's Giant Serpent incident gives His Majesty a pretext for failing to protect me. He definitely won't let slip this golden opportunity. This has nothing to do with the County Princess.
If we must assign blame, then it's because I invited the County Princess out yet failed to take proper care of her, endangering her. I'm the one who failed her. Anyone who disagrees may take it up with Father. If I discover anyone sowing discord between our two households, they won't be spared!"
After this reprimand, her cold eyes fell upon the punished subordinate: "Do you accept these thirty lashes?"
"This subordinate accepts wholeheartedly. I spoke out of turn." The subordinate knelt with a thud, responding firmly.
At this point, Shen Xihe couldn't intervene further. This was Bu Shulin reestablishing authority and preempting any attempts at provocation.
"Everyone withdraw. I wish to speak with the County Princess." Bu Shulin waved them away impatiently. These burly, rough men were nowhere near as pleasing to the eye as her Youyou.
Injured so severely yet still acting shamelessly - her eyes curved into crescents when looking at Shen Xihe, sparkling with light. Who could doubt Bu Shulin was actually female? Shen Xihe asked exasperatedly, "Does it not hurt anymore?"
"Owwww" Bu Shulin immediately let out a weak cry of pain, followed by a couple of moans, "I'm in so much pain, Youyou. If you just touch it, I'm sure it'll heal right away."
"His Highness the Crown Prince confessed his feelings to me." Shen Xihe's lips curved slightly.
Bu Shulin listened blankly, failing to notice the mischievousness in Shen Xihe's smile. Still clutching her body: "So much pain, so much pain. Youyou doesn't even feel sorry for me. Just let me die from the pain already."
Shen Xihe quietly watched her theatrical performance. If not for her injuries preventing it, Bu Shulin would probably be rolling around on the ground: "That Haidongqing that saved you all is raised by His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Let me die from pain, I'll just live—"
Bu Shulin's singing abruptly cut off. Her mouth formed a perfect circle, eyes blinking once, then twice before she finally reacted with delayed comprehension, asking softly: "You're saying... that Haidongqing that snatched the wolf into the sky and dropped it to smash into pulp... is raised by His Highness the Crown Prince?"
After speaking, she couldn't help but swallow hard.
Seeing her so awestruck, Shen Xihe couldn't resist showing some disdain: "Is smashing a wolf really that astonishing?"
"You didn't see that wolf - whoosh, it was grabbed into the sky, then bang, smashed down into a pool of blood and flesh. The whole wolf pack ran off in terror." Bu Shulin's eyes widened as she gestured with both hands.
"Oh, have you seen the snake in the water pool?" Shen Xihe asked.
Though the topic jumped abruptly, Bu Shulin still nodded honestly: "I've seen it.""That snake, even Your Majesty's Godly Crossbow Unit couldn't restrain it, was torn open by the Crown Prince's Haidongqing with a single claw." Shen Xihe smiled faintly.
Upon hearing this, Bu Shulin rolled her eyes: "I'm fainting, you should leave quickly. I don't want to become minced meat, nor do I wish to be gutted."
OpenNovel