"Damn it," Xie Jingxing suddenly turned around and instructed Mo Qing and the others, "Escort the Royal Consort out of the outer grounds. Tie Yi, come with me."
Shen Miao asked, "Are you heading to the inner grounds now?" The sense of unease in her heart grew heavier, so much so that she almost had the impulse to grab Xie Jingxing and stop him from leaving.
Xie Jingxing gave her a deep look, his eyes darkening for the first time. "The plan has changed."
Shen Miao clenched her fists and said, "I'll wait for you to return."
Without another word, Xie Jingxing turned his horse around, cracked his whip, and galloped off, with Tie Yi close behind. The two gradually disappeared into the dust kicked up by their horses' hooves.
Shen Miao sat stiffly on her horse, gripping the reins tightly. At this point, she had no mood left to wander the outer grounds alone. Mo Qing said, "Royal Consort, let's head back."
Shen Miao nodded, and Mo Qing, along with the other guards, escorted her away. Despite this, her heart continued to pound uncontrollably. She tried her best to calm down, carefully considering every detail of the situation.
Today's events seemed fraught with hidden dangers. The Yongle Emperor's position in the Great Coolness court was not as secure as imagined. The Lu family's military faction, in particular, harbored rebellious intentions. Most importantly, the Lu family had previously served the late emperor.
Could there have been discord between the Yongle Emperor and his predecessor? Just as some emperors were unwilling to pass the throne to certain sons, perhaps the Yongle Emperor's ascension was not entirely legitimate—perhaps he had employed some underhanded means, earning the late emperor's resentment. Even after death, the late emperor might have laid a trap to one day drag him down.
Xie Jingxing and the Yongle Emperor must have made some preparations for this, but for some reason, before the signal was given, the Yongle Emperor had entered the inner grounds alone and headed toward Hualuan Peak. There were only two possibilities: either someone in the Imperial Guards had coerced the emperor into entering early, or this was the emperor's own decision—one he had made without consulting Xie Jingxing.
Shen Miao suspected the latter. After all, there were still ministers and others moving about the outer grounds. Even if there were traitors among the Imperial Guards, they wouldn’t act here. They would wait until the emperor was alone in the inner grounds.
But why had the Yongle Emperor entered early? And what decision had he made that left Xie Jingxing so tense? Shen Miao had never seen such a grave expression on Xie Jingxing's face before.
Lost in thought, she followed the rhythm of her horse's gait when suddenly, a hawk's cry pierced the sky. A jolt ran through her, and an unbelievable idea flashed through her mind.
But she quickly dismissed it, shaking her head and pressing a hand to her chest.
As they exited the outer grounds, she spotted Ji Furen. Unlike her husband, Ji Furen had not joined the hunt and had stayed outside. Since Shen Miao had few acquaintances in Longye, she approached Ji Furen to greet her.
"Royal Consort, why have you returned so early?" Ji Furen smiled. "I thought you'd stay longer. The outer grounds are full of foxes—sometimes, if you're lucky, you might even catch a rare black one. Their pelts make lovely, warm scarves."Shen Miao smiled faintly. "I'm just tagging along with them for some fun. I won't be hunting." Then, turning to Ji Furen, she added, "There's no need to address me as Royal Consort. Since we're family, you can call me Jiaoniang. And I'll take the liberty of calling you Aunt."
Ji Furen was momentarily taken aback before her smile grew even warmer. "So Jingxing has already told you. In that case, I won't stand on ceremony and will call you Jiaoniang."
Shen Miao smiled. Luo Xueyan had no sisters, only brothers, so Shen Miao had uncles but no aunts. Having an aunt now felt rather novel. Ji Furen appeared dignified and proper, yet also straightforward in speech—clearly a sensible person. Shen Miao mused that this must be why Ji Yushu had turned out the way he was.
Ji Furen took Shen Miao's hand and led her away, saying, "Today, Jingxing and Xingzhi have gone hunting in the inner grounds. You and I will wait outside. When evening falls, they should return, and then the two of you can come to the Ji residence for dinner. Come to think of it, Jingxing hasn't visited our home for a meal since his return this time."
Shen Miao agreed with a smile, but thoughts of Xie Jingxing soon brought a trace of worry. She asked, "Aunt, how dangerous is the hunt in the inner grounds? A lion must be difficult to take down."
Ji Furen sighed. "This tradition has been around since the founding of the dynasty. It was almost abolished years ago, but the late emperor—" She abruptly stopped and looked at Shen Miao, smiling again. "Don't worry. They have the Imperial Guards with them. Though the beast is fierce, those guards aren't to be trifled with. Besides, both brothers are skilled in martial arts—they're no weaklings. They have more than enough ability to protect themselves."
Shen Miao smiled in response, though inwardly she considered that Ji Furen must be unaware of the true situation. If she knew, she wouldn't appear so relaxed. Those Imperial Guards weren't as reliable as they seemed. Since Ji Furen wasn't someone she could confide in, Shen Miao began to regret not bringing Pei Lang along—at least then she'd have someone to discuss matters with. She had no acquaintances in Longye and knew nothing of Xie Jingxing's arrangements. Acting rashly now might only make things worse.
At the far edge of the outer grounds, near the thickets, temporary pavilions had been set up. Since today's attendees were all nobles, large quantities of ice had been brought in, making the area pleasantly cool. The ladies and noblewomen sat inside, sipping tea and nibbling on pastries. Occasionally, when their family members returned with game, they would cheer and rush forward to show off.
To them, this was merely an entertaining diversion.
But Shen Miao's heart grew heavier as she gazed at the distant Hualuan Peak, its jagged cliffs shrouded in mist, stretching endlessly beyond sight. While everyone here chatted and laughed merrily, who knew what deadly struggles or fierce battles might be unfolding within? Was the prey truly just a lion—or perhaps a golden dragon soaring the heavens?
As she pondered, someone approached from the opposite side. Shen Miao looked up to see the shrewd and inscrutable Madam Ye. Madam Ye took a seat beside Ji Furen and asked with a smile, "Why haven't you gone in?""I wouldn't know the first thing about hunting—I'm just here to watch," Ji Furen laughed along. Though the Ji and Ye families had little interaction, maintaining appearances was still necessary. After all, Ye Maocai's official rank was nearly on par with Ji Zuotu's, if not slightly higher. Ji Furen asked, "Madam Ye, aren't you going in either?"
"I won't be joining," Madam Ye waved her hand dismissively. "This old body of mine can't handle the jostling on horseback." Her gaze settled on Shen Miao as she remarked, "Why isn't the Royal Consort participating? I saw Prince Rui accompanying you earlier—why not stay a while longer?"
Shen Miao's heart stirred. Madam Ye's words seemed probing—did she know something about today's events in the inner grounds? The Lu and Ye families held delicate positions in Longye, making them worthy of attention. She replied, "The sun was too strong, and the outer field made me dizzy, so I returned early." She feigned mild distaste. "Besides, I can't bear to witness the killing."
Ji Furen chuckled. "Prince Rui's Consort is truly tenderhearted. But then again, even ordinary young ladies would rather not see rabbits or such being slaughtered." Perhaps to divert Madam Ye from further questioning, Ji Furen deliberately changed the subject. "Speaking of which, I heard Young Master Ye suffered from pain recently—has he recovered?"
Young Master Ye, of course, referred to the child born of Ye Maocai's concubine but raised as Madam Ye's legitimate heir. Madam Ye responded indifferently, "Well enough. It's an old ailment—acts up whenever it rains. There's been no cure all these years." Her tone was frosty.
Shen Miao later learned from Bajiao that while Young Master Ye was treated with outward respect as the Ye family's heir, the servants privately regarded him as having little future. Madam Ye maintained appearances but never truly cared for him.
Shen Miao couldn't help but pity this unseen Young Master Ye.
Ji Furen continued making strained small talk with Madam Ye, likely to divert her attention. Eventually, Madam Ye seemed to grow impatient and took her leave.
Shen Miao and Ji Furen sat together, waiting.
The sun gradually set, yet there was still no sign of the Yongle Emperor or Xie Jingxing.
Shen Miao instructed Mo Qing, "Go and inquire—see if there's any news of them."
Ji Furen smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. This has happened before. Hunting requires patience—time can slip away unnoticed. The paths of Hualuan Peak are too steep to navigate safely after dark, so they might wait until morning to return." Despite her words, a flicker of unease in her eyes didn't escape Shen Miao's notice.
Shen Miao wondered if she was being overly sensitive. Had she not known of Xie Jingxing's hidden struggles, she might have been reassured. But with her earlier foreboding and awareness that this venture wasn't as simple as it seemed, her heart remained tightly clenched.
After sunset, darkness slowly fell. The emperor had yet to return. While some young ladies and female relatives had already left, the officials remained around the hunting grounds. When Shen Miao asked Ji Furen if this was the first time such a delay had occurred, Ji Furen replied, "Not exactly, though it's been rare in the past."Some officials had already set up makeshift camps, using long cloths to create tent-like shelters. Even in summer, the nights were prone to dew, and they feared catching a chill. The Ji family had also erected such a tent.
Shen Miao had been walking outside when she spotted Lu Wan'er standing not far away, speaking to a middle-aged man. She seemed to be either pleading or coaxing, but the man remained unmoved. Soon after, Lu Wan'er was forcibly pulled onto a carriage and escorted away by a group of guards.
It was likely that Lu Wan'er had wanted to stay, but the man wouldn’t allow it. Just as Shen Miao was about to leave, the man seemed to sense her gaze and abruptly turned around, revealing a face full of ferocity. He was burly like a bear, his expression dripping with bloodlust, as though his temper was equally violent. His eyes were dark and menacing as they fixed on Shen Miao. Bajiao whispered, "That’s the head of the Lu family, General Lu Zhengchun."
Shen Miao suddenly understood—this was Lu Wan'er’s father, the military leader of the Lu family. Yet she couldn’t help but feel surprised. Though Shen Xin was also a military man and equally valiant, he didn’t carry the same aura of brutality. Lu Zhengchun seemed barely able to suppress the killing intent in his heart, as if he were a natural-born slaughter god. Shen Miao had previously wondered how the Lu family maintained their reputation and status in Longye, given that Madam Lu, Lu Wan'er, and Consort Jing all seemed rather dull-witted. But now, seeing Lu Zhengchun, she understood. With such a fearsome figure at their helm, no wonder the Yongle Emperor couldn’t easily move against the Lu family.
Lu Zhengchun’s presence here made Shen Miao wonder—was he also waiting for an outcome from Hualuan Peak? Her gaze lingered on him briefly before she turned and walked away.
The Lu family remained here, as did Madam Ye. Ye Maocai had also returned and was speaking with Madam Ye. With both the Lu and Ye families gathered, if anything were to happen to the Yongle Emperor here, would they seize the opportunity to commit some act of treason?
Glancing around, Shen Miao noticed that some ministers had already retreated into their tents, chatting with their wives by night. They treated this hunt as nothing more than an entertaining game, merely waiting for the Yongle Emperor and Xie Jingxing to return with a lion as the sacrificial offering for the ceremony.
Shen Miao paused and looked up at the sky. The stars were serene, and the summer night breeze brushed against her face, refreshing and pleasant.
But was this peaceful night truly as calm as it seemed?
Ji Furen called out to her, "Jiaoniang, it’s cold outside. Come into the tent."
Shen Miao smiled and stepped inside. Ji Laoye wasn’t in the tent. The ministers had gathered in small groups, drinking and chatting freely, enjoying this rare moment of leisure.
Ji Furen poured Shen Miao a cup of hot tea and said, "Don’t worry. They’ll be fine. But if you catch a cold and Jingxing blames me, I won’t be able to bear the responsibility."
Shen Miao laughed. "He wouldn’t dare." Then, hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, "Was His Highness’s relationship with the late emperor… not good?"
At this, Ji Furen froze. She forced a smile. "Why bring up the late emperor all of a sudden?"
Despite her efforts to conceal it, Shen Miao could still sense the flicker of hatred in Ji Furen’s eyes.Shen Miao had always been curious about the role the late emperor played in the court of Longye and in the lives of Xie Jingxing and the Yongle Emperor. Since Ji Furen was the sister of the late empress, she must have some understanding of the late emperor. Perhaps she could glean some information about him from Ji Furen.
Shen Miao decided not to hide her curiosity and said, "I’ve heard His Highness mention it once or twice, but his words were unclear, so I found it rather strange."
Ji Furen looked at her in surprise before replying, "I didn’t expect him to have even told you about this." Then she smiled and added, "But after all, this is Jingxing’s family matter. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to speak of it. Another day, when you sit down with Jingxing and have a heart-to-heart, you’ll naturally understand the details." With that, she refused to say more.
Yet it was precisely Ji Furen’s attitude that further confirmed Shen Miao’s suspicions. It seemed the late emperor indeed had some unresolved issues with Xie Jingxing and his brother. Judging by Ji Furen’s reaction, the late emperor likely hadn’t treated the late empress’s family well either.
As Shen Miao pondered these thoughts, Ji Furen also fell into deep reflection. After a long silence, she finally snapped out of it and said to Shen Miao, "Ah, let’s not dwell on such matters. Jiaoniang, you should rest for a while. If they return tomorrow morning and you’re exhausted, what will happen if you fall ill?"
There was no way Shen Miao could sleep now, her mind entirely preoccupied. She replied, "I’ll sit for a while longer. I won’t be able to sleep anyway."
Seeing her stubbornness, Ji Furen didn’t press further. After chatting a bit more, Ji Furen herself grew tired. Unlike the younger Shen Miao, she couldn’t stay up late and soon dozed off in the tent. Shen Miao draped a cloak over her and remained seated inside.
Who would have thought she would sit there the entire night?
As dawn broke, the distant mountains echoed with the calls of birds and beasts. Ji Laoye, who had been drinking with colleagues elsewhere the previous night, had sobered up and was heading toward the tent when he happened to meet Shen Miao stepping out. Startled, he paused. Shen Miao smiled at him and said, "Aunt hasn’t woken yet—she’s still asleep. Uncle, please keep your voice down."
Ji Laoye nodded and said to her, "You should go and have something to eat first."
Shen Miao agreed and walked out.
Outside, some of the noblewomen had already awoken, their faces showing signs of fatigue. Accustomed to luxury, they couldn’t endure roughing it in tents. The most delicate among them had already returned to their mansions the previous night. Those who remained were either trying to curry favor with the Yongle Emperor or seeking a taste of this rare leisure.
Huixiang brought Shen Miao a bowl of porridge. Since the Yongle Emperor was present, several imperial chefs had been brought along to prepare meals for the ministers and their families. As Shen Miao sipped the porridge, she asked Bajiao, "Still no news from His Highness?"
Bajiao shook her head.
Shen Miao glanced toward the distance. The sun had already risen above the mountain peaks. In another hour, the sky would be fully bright. Even if Xie Jingxing and the others had spent the night in the mountains, they should have returned by now. There was no precedent for hunting expeditions lasting two full days.
Though, of course, they weren’t merely hunting.
"Doesn’t your Ink Feather Army have any signals?" Shen Miao asked. "For this mission, didn’t your master arrange a signal to notify you once the task was accomplished?"Bajiao and Huixiang were both taken aback. They exchanged glances before shaking their heads in unison. Huixiang said, "For this plan, our mistress didn't inform either of us."
Shen Miao had no choice but to say, "I don't even know what the current situation is." She glanced at Lu Zhengchun stretching lazily in the distance and Ye Maocai on the other side, feeling even more of a headache coming on.
Just as she was thinking this, she spotted a familiar figure walking by from another direction. Shen Miao froze, forgetting about her porridge. She thrust the bowl into Bajiao's hands and hurried forward to catch up with the person.
When the person turned around, it was none other than Ji Yushu. With countless thoughts swirling in her mind, Shen Miao pulled Ji Yushu into a secluded corner where no one could see them and asked, "Why have you come back?"
Ji Yushu responded, "Sister-in-law, what do you mean?"
Shen Miao frowned. "Aren't you supposed to be with Xie Jingxing?"
Ji Yushu looked surprised. "No, I was at the outer grounds. Only members of the imperial family can enter the inner grounds. Although I'm half-related to the imperial family, I'm still not qualified enough."
Shen Miao found this strange. She had thought Ji Yushu came back to assist Xie Jingxing. Now that Ji Yushu wasn't there, were Xie Jingxing and the Yongle Emperor facing things alone? She asked, "Tell me honestly, what exactly is Xie Jingxing planning this time?"
Ji Yushu rubbed his nose in frustration. "Sister-in-law, you're really asking the wrong person. Third Brother never includes me in his big plans—the more dangerous it is, the less he lets me get involved. Back in Ming Qi, I was only in charge of food and drink at Fengxian Pawnshop, and nothing else. Yesterday at the hunting grounds, Gao Yang was with him. Third Brother always brings Gao Yang along for important matters. I wanted to follow, but he wouldn't let me."
"Gao Yang?" Shen Miao asked. "Gao Yang is also a court official. How did he go?"
"Gao Yang disguised himself as Third Brother's personal attendant," Ji Yushu explained. "He's quick-witted and knows medicine. If anything happens, he can help."
Shen Miao's heart tightened. Gao Yang knew medicine, so Xie Jingxing brought him along? But had the situation already become so perilous? She looked at Ji Yushu again and understood. Though Xie Jingxing had a sharp tongue, he was fiercely protective of those close to him. Ji Yushu was, after all, his cousin. Just like how he had treated Su Mingfeng in the past, the best way to protect Ji Yushu was to keep him out of it—perhaps to preserve the Ji family as well.
Seeing Shen Miao's expression, Ji Yushu suddenly became perceptive. He asked, "Sister-in-law, has something happened to Third Brother?"
Shen Miao replied, "No, I was just worried because he hasn't returned yet."
"Impossible," Ji Yushu said firmly. "You're not someone who would panic over nothing. You were acting very strange just now. Yesterday, when I went to find Gao Yang, he was acting secretive too. They always act like this when something's going on. Back in Ming Qi, it wasn't so bad, but ever since returning to Longye, they've been cutting me off even more. Is he planning to do something alone?"
Shen Miao observed Ji Yushu's agitated demeanor and sighed inwardly. Xie Jingxing was accustomed to pushing aside those around him and bearing everything alone—just like how he had treated Lin'an Hou, Rong Xin Princess, and Su Mingfeng back in Fixed Capital. Now it was Ji Yushu's turn. But in some cases, ignorance truly was bliss.
She said, "I'm sorry, but I can't answer that because I don't know what he's planning either.""In the inner hunting grounds, only members of the royal family are allowed to enter. Could there be danger inside?" Ji Yushu said. "Third Brother and His Majesty are always acting strangely. Sister-in-law, do you really not know?"
"Not know what?" Before Shen Miao could answer, a woman's voice came from behind. It was Ji Furen, who had walked over. It was unclear how long she had been listening. She looked at Ji Yushu, then at Shen Miao, her expression turning peculiar. She asked, "What about Xingzhi and Jingxing? What did you two just mean by that?"
Ji Furen had originally intended to call Shen Miao over to return to the city together, but unexpectedly saw Shen Miao dragging Ji Yushu along. Bajiao and Huixiang were busy keeping an eye on Lu Chunzheng and Ye Maocai, failing to notice Ji Furen, who overheard the conversation between Shen Miao and Ji Yushu.
Ji Yushu said, "Mother, it's nothing. I was just playing around with sister-in-law."
"Don't try to fool your mother," Ji Furen glared at Ji Yushu angrily. "Back then, I sent you to Ming Qi to find Jingxing, but you never returned. Who knows what you were doing there? I don’t care what you were up to—you’re still the young master of the Ji family. Tell me, what do you know? Why did you say those things? Are Jingxing and Xingzhi in danger?"
Ji Yushu was left speechless by his mother's words and looked at Shen Miao for help. Shen Miao quickly intervened, "Aunt, you’ve misunderstood. Yushu and I were just joking. It’s just that His Highness hasn’t returned yet, and I was feeling anxious, so I asked Yushu about it. He doesn’t know anything—I was just overthinking. Please don’t blame him."
Ji Furen turned her stern gaze to Shen Miao and said, "Jiaoniang, this is no trivial matter. I—"
Before she could finish, Bajiao suddenly rushed over, not even minding Ji Furen’s presence, and exclaimed, "Madam, they’re back! The Emperor has descended the mountain!"
Ji Yushu felt as if he had been granted a reprieve and quickly said to Ji Furen, "See? I told you Third Brother is fine! Stop worrying, Mother. Come, let’s go see the lion Third Brother and the Emperor hunted!" With that, he dashed off.
Hearing that the Yongle Emperor and his party had returned, Shen Miao also sighed in relief and smiled at Ji Furen. "Let’s go over too."
Ji Furen still wanted to say something, but after glancing at Shen Miao’s calm expression, she swallowed her words and sighed, allowing Shen Miao to lead her forward.
They saw a group of Imperial Guards emerge from the outer grounds, led by the Yongle Emperor. Strangely, the Emperor was not on horseback but walking on foot. Those with sharper eyes noticed faint traces of blood on the sword at his waist.
During an Imperial Hunt, though it was said the Emperor participated, it was merely ceremonial. The guards would handle the actual hunting, with the Emperor merely giving orders. But now, it seemed the Yongle Emperor had taken action himself.
The Yongle Emperor’s expression was as inscrutable as ever, revealing neither joy nor anger. Consort Jing, who had been waiting in the ornate carriage for a long time, immediately rushed forward with affection and cooed, "Your Majesty, you’ve finally returned. This concubine has waited all night, my eyes red from exhaustion."
The Yongle Emperor merely glanced at her indifferently and did not respond. Shen Miao noticed that while Ye Maocai appeared unperturbed, Lu Zhengchun’s expression was dark and brooding.
Several Imperial Guards behind them dumped the contents carried by the horses onto the ground with a loud thud, causing gasps among the surrounding women. It was none other than the corpse of a massive lion, covered in blood and riddled with arrow wounds on its back and belly—evidence of a fierce battle.
Immediately, courtiers stepped forward to flatter, congratulating, "Your Majesty’s divine prowess is a blessing to Great Coolness’s prosperity." The others followed suit, kneeling and singing praises.
Shen Miao also knelt, and the Yongle Emperor gestured for everyone to rise.
Yet, Shen Miao did not see Xie Jingxing among them.After everyone had risen, Lu Zhengchun suddenly spoke up, "Your Majesty, why do we only see you alone? Where is His Highness the Prince?"
It seemed only then that the crowd realized Prince Rui was absent.
The Yongle Emperor fixed Lu Zhengchun with an icy stare as cold as winter frost and said, "Prince Rui was injured and has already returned to the city through another route for treatment."
A wave of murmurs swept through the assembled officials.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Officially entering the sweet-turned-bitter plot today ╮╯╰╭
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