Xishan is located on the outskirts of the capital. The mountains are rolling and have become a natural barrier to the capital.
The palace is at the foot of the Western Mountain, and the spring hunting grounds extend to halfway up the Western Mountain.
Every year when spring hunting comes, a large number of royal guards go up to the mountains to drive the birds and animals in the mountains to the hunting grounds. There are royal guards patrolling around the hunting grounds constantly.
However, spring hunting requires riding a horse to shoot prey, which is inevitably a bit dangerous. The emperor and the princes are surrounded by many forest guards.
Empress Yu led a group of concubines and girls from the Lotus Pond Academy, riding a docile mare and wandering slowly in the pasture at the foot of the mountain.
There are not many trees here, it is easy to ride a horse, and there are no ferocious beasts. They are just pheasants, rabbits and the like, so there is no danger.
Occasionally, one or two taller and stronger goats jumped by, which was enough to attract exclamations from the concubines and excited cheers from the girls.
Queen Yu personally drew her bow and shot an arrow, and shot a goat. Everyone praised her.
Empress Yu smiled faintly and ordered someone to carry the prey down. She lost interest in hunting. She waved her hand and told the concubines and girls to move around for half a day.
The concubines were still restrained, but the young and joyful girls were in high spirits and divided into two groups to go hunting. There were more than a dozen royal guards accompanying them to protect them.
Gu Shanchang shot two rabbits, but refused to use his bow and arrow again. He went to sit under the temporary tent and chatted with Queen Yu.
"It's rare to come out to relax, why don't you go around more often?" Queen Yu asked casually with a smile.
Gu Shanchang asked calmly: "It's rare for the empress to leave the palace to relax, so why is she in a bad mood and lacks interest?"
Queen Yu: "..."
Queen Yu was dumbfounded for a moment, and finally smiled helplessly: "Xianzhi, you are always so upright."
In fact, who could not see that Queen Yu was in a bad mood today? However, no one would tell her face to face, they would just pretend to be dumbfounded.
The only person who can speak out without restraint is Gu Shanchang.
Chief Gu's expression was indifferent, but his words were very sharp: "In the past, no concubine dared to be presumptuous in front of the empress. Today, Concubine Duan dared to provoke her in person. The empress should not be unaware of the reason."
Queen Yu smiled.
…
Of course she knew the reason.
Because Emperor Jianwen had an affair with Xie Mingxi, she was extremely angry and disappointed with Emperor Jianwen. Although she had never refuted the explicit statement, it was an indisputable fact that she and Emperor Jianwen had become increasingly estranged over the past two years.
Facing Emperor Jianwen, she could no longer show any tenderness and sweetness, she just tried to deal with it.
Emperor Jianwen was equally keen, how could he not notice it?
Emperor Jianwen's visits to Jiaofang Palace became less and less, and his visits to Concubine Mei Duan's palace became more and more frequent.
Yes, there were many concubines in the palace, and all of them were willing to be courteous and docile. Emperor Jianwen could enjoy all the tenderness elsewhere, so why did he need to come to Jiaofang Palace to be silent with her?
The concubines have been staring at Jiaofang Palace all day long, and all the concubines have noticed the subtle changes in it. I am afraid that someone has already wanted to test it.
The young and energetic Concubine Duan took the lead today. She also tested Emperor Jianwen's reaction on behalf of other concubines...
It is conceivable that after Chun Xie returns to the palace, the harem will be in trouble again.
Gu Shan looked at the dim-looking Empress Yu intently, and said a thousand words, but in the end they only turned into one warning: "No matter when, where, or what the situation is, the empress must take care of herself."
Looking at the concerned Gu Shanchang, Queen Yu felt warm in her heart. She subconsciously opened her mouth: "Mingxi is also thirteen years old!"
Mentioning his proud disciple, Chief Gu immediately frowned: "Yes, it seems like she has grown up in the blink of an eye. I have taught her for more than two years, and I have passed on almost everything I have learned to her. There is nothing to teach her anymore."
It’s her fault. She’s really useless as a teacher.”
Queen Yu: "..."
It’s a bit too much to be so proud!
Gu Shan looked like a young girl and raised his eyebrows at Queen Yu with a proud smile.
Queen Yu couldn't laugh or cry.
…
After taking a few sips of tea, Chief Gu Shanchang smiled casually and said: "Ming Xi has been summoned to the palace frequently in the past two years, and this time she was summoned to accompany the spring hunt. There are many rumors outside that the emperor and the empress are together.
I intend to choose her as the princess."
As he spoke, he glanced at Queen Yu with a smile.
Of course, Gu Shanchang was not just talking nonsense. He was deliberately trying to probe Queen Yu's tone of voice.
Queen Yu felt confused and hard to express.
Emperor Jianwen did indeed fall in love with Xie Mingxi, but not as a daughter-in-law, but as a concubine... She couldn't open her mouth about this matter to her friends, and kept it secret.
No wonder Gu Shanchang misunderstood.
With Xie Mingxi showing off in such a limelight, no one else would think so.
"Don't always believe the rumors." Empress Yu cheered up and said with a smile: "You usually don't like to pry, but today you have changed your behavior."
Chief Gu Shanzhang said confidently: "Mingxi is my only disciple. As a master, how can I not worry about her life-long events?"
"Today, I will tell you clearly."
"Although all the princes are outstanding, I am not happy to see her marry into the royal family."
"When it comes to getting married, it's all about your own free will. Even the Heavenly Family cannot force anyone to become a prince's concubine. There are many outstanding girls in the world. I will let my disciple go and let her live a peaceful and comfortable life."
Chief Gu Shanzhang expressed his thoughts so openly.
Queen Yu was silent for a moment, then responded with a smile: "Okay, I have taken note of everything you said."
Xianzhi, you live a glorious life, calm and casual. You don’t know the bad nature of men, let alone how the man who holds the imperial power and the supreme power in the world can do whatever he wants.
Emperor Jianwen was determined to win Xie Mingxi.
He couldn't even wait for Xie Mingxi and Hairpin, and was already ready to make a move.
Don't worry, I will do my best to protect Xie Mingxi.
…
Xie Mingxi stared closely at the treetops.
The treetops moved slightly.
Xie Mingxi quickly raised her bow and shot an arrow.
The bow string sounded softly, and the sharp arrow came out from the string. With a whoosh, it hit the bird that was about to fly. With a snap, the emerald green bird fell to the ground.
Lin Weiwei happily went to pick up the prey and came back, grinning: "Thank you sister, your eyesight is really accurate."
"The branches and leaves are lush and green. It's really amazing to be able to capture the movements of this kingfisher!" Fang Ruomeng was also full of admiration.
Xie Mingxi breathed out slowly and smiled at her two friends: "This is nothing. If Yin Xiaoxiao or the Sixth Princess were here, they would be better than me in archery."
Lin Wei smiled and said cheerfully: "I don't care about that. In short, you are the most powerful in my eyes. I am not good at archery, so today's prey will depend on you two."
Xie Mingxi pursed her lips and smiled softly.
Fang Ruomeng straightened his back and patted his chest: "Don't worry, we will put what we have hunted together, and then the three of us will share it equally. You won't be embarrassed or embarrassed."
While they were talking and joking, a thin sound of strings suddenly came from behind them.
