There was a special tent for the Empress in the hunting ground. Mei Qingxue watched Du Guqing's elegant and heroic bearing on horseback, her eyes filled with deep affection. Du Guqing had prepared a gentle mare for her beside her tent.
Du Guqing was afraid that Mei Qingxue couldn't handle other horses and might get hurt, so he carefully selected a gentle - tempered mare.
Mei Qingxue said she wanted to learn how to ride a horse, and Du Guqing even sent a riding instructor for her. At this moment, the instructor was standing outside the tent.
"Your Highness, didn't you want to learn to ride a horse?" The new maid, Xuanyue, looked at her mistress helplessly. Outside the tent, the sun was blazing. The instructor was standing there stupidly, with sweat dripping down his face.
"Tell him to lead the horse in and ask him to sit inside too," Mei Qingxue thought it might be the right thing to do. She didn't want others to know that she could ride a horse. Besides, if they saw her leading the horse into the tent, they would surely think this Empress was being foolish.
After entering this hunting ground, which was similar to what she had seen on TV, her uneasiness grew stronger, but she couldn't figure out why.
"His Highness asks you to lead the horse in," Xuanyue told the instructor.
"Yes," the instructor replied respectfully. Mei Qingxue could clearly see that he looked like a seventeen - or eighteen - year - old boy. "You may sit inside the tent. It's so hot outside."
"I dare not, Your Highness!" It was against the rules. He knew that the Empress was known for acting on her own will and even the Emperor indulged her, but he didn't dare to break the rules.
"If I say it's okay, it's okay. Under the broad sky and in full view of everyone, I don't want to be in the sun. I want to receive instruction in the tent. Who dares to say no?" Mei Qingxue knew the strict hierarchical concepts of the ancients and didn't force him. She just wanted him to come into the tent to avoid the sun.
"Then... I obey your order!" The instructor carefully sat at the entrance of the tent where the sun couldn't reach. "Tell me about the riding postures and what to pay attention to," Mei Qingxue wasn't really in the mood to listen. She just wanted some noise to cover up her inner panic.
"Ah?" Not only the instructor was stunned, but Xuanyue was also. Was this how the Empress learned to ride a horse? It was unheard of.
"Just tell me first. We'll go out to ride when the sun moves a bit," Mei Qingxue forced a smile. Something was going to happen today. How could she be in the mood to play? She could ride a horse, but it had been hundreds of years. She just hoped she wouldn't mess up at the crucial moment.
"Has the hunting started outside?" Mei Qingxue asked Xuanyue beside her. Why was her heart getting more and more flustered? It felt empty, boundless, and as if on fire.
It was like ten big drums were beating in her heart. She was extremely nervous. Her calmness was just a pretense. Even Du Guqing didn't believe her intuition, so she didn't expect others to either.
"I'll go and check," Xuanyue replied and went out. The instructor was telling Mei Qingxue the key points of riding as she asked. Although it wasn't hot inside the tent, the instructor was sweating nervously.
"Your Highness, the hunting has started. His Majesty has hunted a deer. They'll roast it tonight," Xuanyue reported with a smile. She knew her mistress's personality, so she didn't follow too many formalities.
Seeing the sweating instructor, Xuanyue covered her mouth and laughed, "Instructor, it's not hot in the tent, is it?"
"Xuanyue, the instructor is speaking," actually, Mei Qingxue still hadn't listened to a word. She was paying attention to the noises outside.
"Your Majesty, the sun is too strong today. Let's take a break," Mei Zhenguo was also suffering from the sun. Only Mei Haoxuan was standing in his position, sweating all over.
"Okay," Du Guqing really wanted to have a good time hunting, but seeing his father - in - law and other loyal officials suffering from the sun, he felt reluctant. The Dragon Gang Leader had already grasped the hilt of his sword tightly. He was waiting for Du Guqing to appear in a certain position so that he could launch a sudden attack. He could clearly hear the voices. They were almost there, but because of an old man's words, the Emperor led his men back. His palms were full of sweat.
The Dragon Gang Leader hesitated for a moment. He had a bad feeling, something he had never experienced in his career. But he couldn't refuse the order from that person. He had to complete the task even if it meant risking his life.
Now the Emperor was surrounded by a group of people. He had no chance to attack. If he missed the first strike, it would be the end of his life. As a professional assassin, he was not allowed to fail. Otherwise, it was a dead end.
"Your Majesty!" As soon as Du Guqing entered Mei Qingxue's tent, he saw a horse. He immediately understood what was going on. The instructor saluted him, and he waved his hand casually, "No need for formalities. Continue to tell Her Highness whatever she asked you. Let me listen too."
"Yes," the instructor didn't dare to disobey the Emperor's order. Besides, he had said a lot before and the Empress didn't object, so he assumed she was satisfied.
"I just asked him to teach me how to ride a horse," seeing Du Guqing return safely, Mei Qingxue's eyes were full of smiles. "Then continue," Du Guqing wiped the sweat off his face and walked behind the screen. There was a bed there, and he wanted to lie down for a while.
"What shall we do this afternoon?" Mei Qingxue asked. She hoped Du Guqing could change his mind.
"Go hunting. It hasn't really started yet," Du Guqing's words made Mei Qingxue's heart skip a beat. She always felt that something bad was going to happen today. Her premonition had never been so strong.
Suddenly, the purple butterfly on her chest started to heat up, as if it was about to burn. Her chest tightened, and the feeling was extremely intense.
"Instructor, that's enough for now. I see the horse's mane is a bit messy. Comb it for me," Mei Qingxue also walked behind the screen. Xuanyue watched the instructor combing the horse's mane.
"Can we not go hunting this afternoon?" Mei Qingxue grabbed Du Guqing's arm and whispered in his ear. Du Guqing turned to look at her face. "No, Xue'er. I know what you're worried about. The guards are so strict," seeing Mei Qingxue being so worried, Du Guqing found it a bit funny. He knew his wife was concerned about his safety, so he patted her arm to comfort her.
"Don't worry. Your husband's martial arts are peerless," after saying that, he closed his eyes. The sun was really strong today.
"Just be careful," Mei Qingxue didn't say much more. She looked at the gentle mare, and her nervousness eased a bit. As long as the mare was up to the task.
Although her riding skills might be a bit rusty, she believed in herself and that she could still ride a horse. For Du Guqing's sake, she had to give it a try.
After lying down for a while, Du Guqing got up. Avoiding the scorching sun at noon, the hunting activity would continue until night. Mei Qingxue watched him lift the curtain and walk out. She nervously grabbed the reins of the horse.
"Your Highness," the instructor thought Mei Qingxue wanted to get on the horse, so he got into position. Mei Qingxue waved her hand, "No need." She pricked up her ears to listen to the noises outside, listening to the sound of a group of horses' hooves gradually fading away.
"Xuanyue,"
"I'm here!" Xuanyue quickly stood in front of Mei Qingxue, wondering what her mistress's order was.
"Go and get some herbal tea," her heart was burning with anxiety. She just wanted something cold to drink. At this moment, she missed the cold drinks from her previous life very much. "Yes!"
"Horse, horse. When I need you, you must be up to the task," Mei Qingxue stroked the horse's head and murmured to herself. The instructor dared not make a sound seeing the Empress's strange behavior.
"Horse..." Mei Qingxue couldn't continue. The more this happened, the more nervous she became. Moreover, now she could no longer hear the sound of horses' hooves or the noisy voices.
The Dragon Gang Leader heard the sound of horses' hooves getting closer again. He grasped the hilt of his sword tightly again, ready to launch a sudden attack at any moment as long as the Emperor entered his attack range.
"Report to Your Majesty, there are still two brown bears,"
"Release the bears," Du Guqing waved his whip. The horse turned its head, deviating from the previous route. The Dragon Gang Leader, who had slightly raised his body, lay back down again.
The courage that had welled up in his heart faded again. Maybe it was the will of heaven.
The Dragon Gang Leader became more and more certain of this. For a moment, he even wanted to turn around and leave!
"The bears are scared and running away," Du Guqing raised his hand and shot an arrow. The brown bear let out a miserable howl. Many guards blocked the bear's way. "Nieminen, get out of the way. The brown bear is going to go crazy," Du Guqing waved his bow and arrow, and his eyes sparkled with determination. His prey had never escaped, and he had never missed a shot.
"Your Majesty, let me give it a try," Mei Haoxuan stepped forward. Du Guqing looked at his brother - in - law and gently shook his head, "Captain Mei, get out of the way."
"Yes!" Mei Haoxuan grasped his waist knife. If the situation got out of control, he would immediately take action. Earlier, his sister had sent a message saying that they must strengthen the defense in the hunting ground today. She had a bad premonition. Mei Haoxuan firmly believed in his sister's words.
So when he saw Du Guqing facing the crazy brown bear, he voluntarily stood out.
"Underestimating me?" Du Guqing let out a long roar and rode towards the brown bear. He shot arrows in succession, all aiming at the bear's vital parts.
It wasn't until the brown bear fell to the ground, covered in blood, that Du Guqing put away his arrows. The annual hunting. In the past, he was weak and couldn't participate in the hunting. So even though he had good martial arts, he had never taken part.
Even when he did participate, he was just a spectator. It was only this year that his health had improved and he was the Emperor, so it was his first time hunting.
"Long live Your Majesty!" Many people cheered. Du Guqing's voice came, "You should work harder. Don't let me win easily." These guys. His father - in - law was a civil official. It was already amazing that he could ride a horse. The other military officials were just hunting hares so as not to outshine the Emperor.
"I've done my best. It's Your Majesty who is mighty," the flattering voice of an official fell into the Dragon Gang Leader's ears. This wasn't the right time to attack.
The sweat on his palms made his hand slip when he grasped the hilt of the sword.
He felt an unprecedented sense of nervousness. He had to calm down to make a successful strike.
For the sake of his wife and children, the Dragon Gang Leader decided that even if he had a bad feeling, he would still take action.
"Xuanyue, go and see what His Majesty and the others have hunted," Mei Qingxue's hands began to tremble slightly. They seemed to have changed direction just now. Her heart didn't beat so fast in that direction, but now it started to race again.
Because it was a bit far away, it took Xuanyue some time to come back. "Your Highness, His Majesty has hunted a bear. Now they've gone to another place," Mei Qingxue slowly stood up, not knowing what she should do now.
"Your Majesty is really mighty," Xuanyue said admiringly. "I wouldn't even dare to look at such a big brown bear," listening to Xuanyue's admiring tone.
Mei Qingxue's heart suddenly rose to her throat.