Chapter 500

"I wasn’t aware Your Highness was visiting, so we weren’t prepared. Please forgive us!"

Xia Ruqing just waved her hand dismissively.

"There’s no need to fuss. I’ll just sit for a moment and then leave!"

After all, they were to become her brother’s Parents-in-law’s Family.

Xia Ruqing just wanted to come and meet them. Besides, it was convenient at the moment.

It was all within the bounds of propriety, nothing untoward!

Not wanting to sit inside, the three of them settled down in the small pavilion in the courtyard.

With tea and pastries served, they chatted while partaking in the refreshments.

The conversation undoubtedly revolved around topics like life in the palace, how things were outside, and Lady Ni’s health.

It was just like modern people discussing the weather when they meet.

Xia Ruqing also indirectly inquired about her brother’s injury.

Miss Ni, her face flushed red, kept her head down and said very little.

It was Lady Ni who roughly narrated the events.

Naturally, she omitted all the harrowing details, leaving only the inconsequential parts.

Xia Ruqing listened, her heart completely unmoved, and decided not to inquire further.

After some more idle chatter, she took her leave.

Upon returning, she sent Xiao Xizi to find out the real details.

By that time, the news of the affair had spread everywhere outside the palace.

Nowadays, the Servant boys and Maids were all from officials’ households in the Capital City. While their masters couldn’t be easily approached, the Servants were not so particular. As long as it wasn’t too outrageous, the masters didn’t usually interfere much.

Thus, by evening, Xia Ruqing knew the truth—all of it, every detail.

Of course, there were truths and falsehoods mixed in, but the gist of the story was certainly hair-raising.

After hearing it, Xia Ruqing’s tears streamed down uncontrollably.

She looked at Xiao Xizi.

"So you’re saying my brother was missing for half a month, and the Xia Family didn’t even search for him? It was Miss Ni, a young lady on her own, who went looking for him?"

Xiao Xizi, both panicked and helpless, quickly tried to console her.

"My lady, it’s all in the past. Commander Xia is fine now, isn’t he?"

Xia Ruqing glared at him fiercely.

"I’m asking you if that’s true!"

Xiao Xizi’s legs trembled.

"Yes!"

Xia Ruqing wiped away her tears and continued her questioning.

"The Xia Family took a sum of condolence money from the Emperor, tried to deny it, and in the end, my brother had to go and claim it back himself?"

That sum of money was later donated by Xia Tingfeng!

Xiao Xizi nodded again.

"Yes!"

He might as well give up struggling; he didn’t dare lie anyway. What else could he do? He felt utterly helpless!

Xia Ruqing wiped away another tear and pressed on.

"Because of my brother, Miss Ni became the laughingstock of the entire Capital City, with everyone saying she’s shameless, right?"

This, Xia Ruqing didn’t even need to ask; she could guess it herself. For an unbetrothed young woman to do something like ’searching hundreds of miles for her husband’—the Capital City’s sharp-tongued, mean-spirited idlers, who loved drama and delighted in making things worse, would surely have a field day. Their words would be as nasty as could be. Moreover, while it might be acceptable for a young lady from a good family to show her face in public during the day, given the relatively open social customs, to also spend nights away from home, and for several days at that... this... She could hardly imagine what Miss Ni’s reputation had become in the mouths of these people. It had to be said, for an unmarried girl to go to such lengths, her love must have been incredibly deep and true.

Xiao Xizi affirmed once more.

"Yes!"

Xia Ruqing wiped her tears, a sense of relief washing over her.

Firstly, her brother had found such a wonderful person. Secondly, her brother was alive—alive! Miss Ni was undoubtedly his great savior!

Xia Ruqing was still unaware of the matter concerning Miss Ye.

This was a secret shared only by Xia Tingfeng and Miss Ni. Besides Miss Ni, only her personal Maid knew about the encounter with Ye Tang. But let’s set these aside for now.

Having cried her fill, Xia Ruqing wiped her tears and called for Zi Yue to bring water for her to wash her face.

Zi Yue tried to comfort her, "Master, these things are all in the past. Even in your sorrow, you must take care of your health!"

Xia Ruqing clenched her jaw and said fiercely, "Of course! Some people haven’t met their downfall yet, so I will definitely take good care of myself! I won’t do anything that would grieve my loved ones and delight my enemies!"

She spoke with a sharp glint in her eyes.

Now, she truly viewed the original owner’s bizarre parents as if they were her mortal enemies.

Zi Yue stood by, not daring to press her too hard.

The room was quiet when, suddenly, a cry came from the inner chamber.

"It’s Little Bun!"

Xia Ruqing’s expression instantly softened.

Zi Yue breathed a sigh of relief and followed her into the inner room.

「Outside, on the hunt」

Zhao Junyao led the Military Generals out from the temporary imperial residence early in the morning.

After riding for over three miles, they arrived at the foot of a mountain.

Xia Tingfeng said, "There’s a river on the other side of this mountain, and the forest within is dense. There are likely wild beasts in there!"

Large prey indeed favor such places—dense, deep forests with both mountains and water!

Zhao Junyao was delighted. "Let’s start here!"

With that, he dismounted.

The others also dismounted one after another.

Everyone prepared their waterskins, dry rations, and Quivers, along with handy weapons like daggers and swords.

In groups of three or five, they set out on foot into the mountains.

The largest group of people followed Zhao Junyao.

After all, in such unfamiliar territory, the Emperor’s safety was paramount.

Zhao Junyao was excited the entire way.

Even though there were more people with him than usual, it didn’t affect his mood in the slightest.

After all, this was the first truly meaningful hunt of his life. Previous hunts had felt like slaughtering sheep in a pen—ultimately unsatisfying, at best merely scratching an itch. To truly hunt, one had to come to a place like this.

Zhao Junyao grew increasingly excited.

He took the lead, heading towards the densest part of the forest.

Xia Tingfeng dared not slacken his pace and followed closely behind.

Suddenly, there was a FLUTTERING sound up ahead, as if something had been startled into flight.

Zhao Junyao, quick-eyed and deft-handed, drew an arrow and loosed it in an instant.

A mournful cry was heard from ahead, and something fell from the tree branches.

A guard quickly ran over to retrieve it.

When he brought it back, everyone saw it was a plump wild pheasant!

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"Congratulations to Your Majesty on a successful first shot!"

"Your Majesty’s archery skills are superb!"

Zhao Junyao chuckled, enjoying everyone’s flattery.

In truth, others had likely spotted it first, and they could have shot it down as well. But... he was the Emperor, after all! Zhao Junyao’s Horseback Archery skills were indeed top-notch, but he certainly wasn’t invincible. Otherwise, what need would there be for the Imperial Forest Army? He might as well protect himself! Speaking of the Imperial Forest Army, there were quite a few experts among them. But when accompanying the Emperor on a hunt, who would dare to show off?

The further they ventured into the forest, the denser it became, and Zhao Junyao’s spirits soared ever higher.

One moment it was a wild pheasant, the next a wild hare.

There was also smaller game, like quails and sparrows, which they didn’t bother to retrieve.

Others in the party also made successful shots.

After all, the more dangerous the place, the more plentiful the game.

After two or three Shi Chen, the pile of game was quite substantial.

Zhao Junyao laughed. "I thought I might return empty-handed!"

After all, in these deep mountains and ancient forests, there were hunters who relied on their catch for a living, so game wouldn’t be overly abundant.