Hearing this, Helian Rong was first startled. He didn't expect Dongfang Yi to offer to go with him voluntarily. But deep down, he couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement. Immediately, he nodded heavily and replied, "I'm honored, Your Highness!"
So she joined Helian Rong. Along the way, they hunted some prey. Meanwhile, Helian Rong told her about his plan to return to the border.
After hearing this, Dongfang Yi felt a twinge of melancholy. She recalled that she had known him for quite a while. Although they didn't meet often, he was Helian Qi's younger brother after all. Moreover, she knew how dangerous it was to go out on a military campaign. No matter how excellent one's martial arts were, one could hardly avoid the unpredictable danger of swords and arrows.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help frowning and saying, "You must pay attention to your safety when you're out. If you encounter difficulties, come back to the palace. This will always be your home."
Hearing this, Helian Rong threw his head back and let out a loud laugh. But a bitter feeling welled up in his heart. How could he not know why he was leaving?
It was precisely because he was aware of his own feelings that he realized he had improper thoughts about his elder brother's woman, and he couldn't control them at all. So he had to leave the capital and go to the war - torn place to keep himself busy. Maybe only in that way could he find peace in his heart. Otherwise, he would be sorry for his elder brother and even more sorry for the woman in front of him.
After thinking this through, he gave her a deep look.
Dongfang Yi also sensed his sadness, but she didn't know the exact reason. She knew it was inappropriate for her to ask further, so she could only console him, "All things are like fleeting clouds. If you can let go, you'll feel your mind broad and everything clear."
This was a sentence she often said in modern times to relieve her obsession with gain and loss, because being too obsessed with it would always make one live a tiring life.
As an ancient saying goes, "Good things in the world are not firm. Colorful clouds disperse easily and glass is fragile."
Hearing this, Helian Rong's expression suddenly froze. His eyes widened slightly, as if he couldn't believe these words came from her. But then he calmed down, and a look of relief appeared in his eyes.
At this moment, he felt that the woman in front of him seemed to have seen through his mind. But he didn't feel embarrassed. Instead, he felt relieved, as if everything was predestined and he was destined to return to the battlefield.
After thinking this, he showed a smile, then slapped the horse's rump and said, "Come on, let's continue hunting!"
On the other side, Concubine Lian finally met Concubine Chu.
Concubine Chu looked kind - hearted and said to the woman in front of her, "Sister Lian, I just saw an extremely precious white fox over there. I heard that the emperor likes white foxes the most. If we can hunt it down, we'll surely win the emperor's favor."
After saying that, she lowered her head and laughed softly, as if sharing a wonderful thing.
But her appearance made Concubine Lian feel disgusted. She also understood what the woman in front of her was up to. Just now, Yaoji had told her everything, and they had made a better plan together.
After thinking this, she pretended to be eager and said, "Really? That's really great. Your Highness, why don't you take me there quickly!"
Hearing this, Concubine Chu sneered inwardly. The woman had finally taken the bait.
After thinking this, she walked in front and led Concubine Lian to the bushes.
"This place is too narrow. I can hardly get in. The fox is inside. Sister Lian, you go in by yourself. If you get the fox and report it to the emperor, all the credit will be yours." Concubine Chu said like this, then pointed to the bushes.
Concubine Lian pretended to be surprised and immediately bowed slightly to the woman in front of her and said, "Then I thank Your Highness Concubine Chu!"
After saying that, she got into the bushes without hesitation.
After getting through, she saw the white fox lying not far away. She sneered inwardly and walked forward warily, constantly probing the ground in front with her foot.
As she expected, she felt the ground was soft. She realized that this was the trap set by Concubine Chu.
Just then, a voice from outside asked, "How's it going? Have you seen the white fox?"
Concubine Lian sneered and replied, "Yes, I have!"
Then she lay down beside the trap and carefully reached for the white fox inside. After grabbing it, she found that it was just a fake fur. She casually picked up the fur and hid behind the bushes on the other side. Then she shouted, "Ah——!!!"
Hearing this, Concubine Chu was overjoyed, thinking that her trap had worked. Immediately, she pushed aside the bushes and looked inside. There was no sign of Concubine Lian, and the fox fur was also gone.
Now she completely believed that Concubine Lian must have fallen into her trap. The stone in her heart finally dropped. The thing that had always threatened her was completely resolved. She threw her head back and laughed a few times, then left.
Concubine Lian, who was hiding in the dark, was quietly watching her. After seeing her figure completely disappear from her sight, she walked out of the bushes. She took another look at the trap on the ground and then let out a cold laugh.
What a vicious woman! She actually wanted to kill her with such a despicable means. Fortunately, she had been on guard.
While she was thinking, Yaoji rushed over, leading a white fox behind her. After seeing the fake fox fur in the woman's hand, she sneered and said, "That Concubine Chu is really stupid. She actually thought she could deceive you to death with just a fur."
After saying that, she led out the fox behind her and said, "This is a tamed fox. It's very obedient. Later, we'll rely on it to lead Dongfang Yi here."
Immediately afterwards, the two women looked at each other and smiled. They put the fox outside the bushes and waited for their target to appear.
Before long, Dongfang Yi appeared in their sight. To their surprise, Prince Nanping Helian Rong was right behind her. Seeing the two of them together, the two women hiding in the dark were a bit shocked. They thought that with Prince Nanping protecting her, it would be very difficult for them to succeed.
On the other side, Dongfang Yi also saw the pure - white fox not far away. Immediately, she thought that Helian Qi liked fox fur the most. Now that it was cold in winter, this fox fur would be just right to make a hat for him.
After thinking this, she said to the man beside her, "Can you let me have this white fox?"
Then she drew an arrow from behind and aimed it with her bow.
Seeing her so serious, Helian Rong agreed in a deep voice and observed from the side.
Dongfang Yi released the arrow, but unfortunately the fox was too cunning. She missed the shot, and the little thing ran to the other side of the bushes.
Seeing this, Dongfang Yi immediately dismounted and chased after it. Helian Rong frowned a bit worriedly when he saw this.