During this trip to Xingzhou for the autumn hunt, Ji Zihuan, as the emperor, presided over the grand ceremony of sacrificing to heaven for the autumn hunt, while the empress dowager stayed in the court to supervise state affairs.
Ji Lingchuan was responsible for safeguarding the safety of this autumn - hunt trip, especially the safety of the emperor.
He always rode his horse closely beside the emperor's carriage without leaving for a single step. His eyebrows were slightly knitted, and his face was tightly drawn, looking solemn and cold.
But no one knew that at this moment, his heart was filled with the face of a delicate and beautiful woman with tear - filled eyes.
Unconsciously rubbing the reins in his hand, Ji Lingchuan's eyes became even more profound.
Because of what Ji Zihuan had said on the outskirts of the capital city, Song Yihuan and the Ding'an Marquis Mansion had become the hottest topic during this autumn - hunt trip.
Inside the carriage of the Prince Ning's Mansion, Song Yixuan sat obediently opposite the Princess Ning. With a curious look on his face, he asked, "Goddess of Mercy, will my step - mother not be called a vixen anymore in the future?"
The Princess Ning was twirling the Buddhist beads in her hand. She stroked his soft hair and said, "Yes. The Ding'an Marquis has personally admitted that your step - mother is a kind - hearted woman and has nothing to do with the death of the old madam of the Ding'an Marquis Mansion. In the future, no one in the marquis mansion should talk nonsense to you and your sister anymore."
Song Yixuan smiled happily, his eyes extremely bright. "That's great! In this way, Sister Si won't have to work so hard in the future!"
In the carriage behind, Song Nanxin was tearing the cloth in her hand out of jealousy and hatred to vent her anger.
"Slut! Why! Why can she be praised by His Majesty!"
Cui Muyuan held down her hand and said, "Come on, it's already like this. It's useless to be angry anymore. Calm down."
There was still the remaining medicinal power of the beauty - preserving pill in Song Nanxin's body. She just felt extremely manic, and Cui Muyuan's comfort didn't work at all. She retorted sharply, "Isn't it all because of you?! If you hadn't bumped into me in the Duobao Pavilion and insisted on talking to me in the Xiyang Tower, how could I have relaxed my control over that little bitch and let her save that child?!"
Cui Muyuan stared at her steadily. That look made Song Nanxin feel goosebumps for no reason. Her manic emotions gradually calmed down, and even a trace of fear emerged.
When Cui Muyuan reached out his hand towards her, she subconsciously closed her eyes. Who would have thought that the other person just stroked her temple hair and said very gently,
"I know you're angry, but now she and her step - mother have cleared their bad reputations and have become brave and kind women in the emperor's heart. What you should think about is what to do next and what to use to control her so that she can continue to serve the emperor and give birth to children for you."
Song Nanxin was stunned for a moment and then completely sobered up.
Gritting her back teeth, a trace of viciousness flashed across her eyes. "I originally planned to let her give birth to the child safely and then deal with her. But now it seems that this little bitch is still an unruly one. Since that's the case, I can't keep her any longer."
Cui Muyuan smiled, pulled her into his arms, and whispered something in her ear. After hearing this, Song Nanxin's eyes lit up and she said, "You're really resourceful! Let's do it like this!"
Inside the carriage of the Ding'an Marquis Mansion, Mrs. Meng looked gloomy and stared fixedly at the Ding'an Marquis sitting opposite her. "Well done! With your words, that little bitch can finally hold her head high in front of me from now on. Are you satisfied now?"
"What can I do? In front of His Majesty, can I still admit the family scandal of the Ding'an Marquis Mansion?" the Ding'an Marquis snorted.
"I think you're just a woman with short - sightedness. What good can it do for the marquis mansion if you ruin Huan'er's reputation? Now that Xin'er is already married and Xi'er has a birthmark on her face, Huan'er is the only unmarried girl left in the marquis mansion. You'd better think about what kind of family you can marry her into to stabilize the current status of the marquis mansion."
Thinking of the things between Song Nanxin and Song Yihuan, Mrs. Meng's face stiffened for a moment and she said, "I have my own measure in this matter."
The motorcade moved forward like this. Since the emperor was in the team, the speed of the motorcade was neither too slow nor too fast. Every two hours, the motorcade would stop to rest in place, and the people in the carriages could get off and walk around to stretch their bodies.
When they stopped to rest by a green lake, Ji Lingchuan sat on a rock. His sharp eyes looked towards the lake, and the beautiful scenery of the blue water and the long sky was reflected in his dark eyes.
Someone walked up beside him and sat down. Then this person nudged his shoulder, and the somewhat youthful voice of Ji Zihuan rang in his ear:
"Cousin, what are you looking at? Let me guess. You're looking at that Miss Song Si, right?"
Ji Lingchuan's secret was exposed, but he didn't show the slightest bit on his face. He withdrew his gaze from the light - green figure by the lake and looked at the person beside him.
With the empress dowager not around, Ji Zihuan seemed extremely relaxed. He quietly changed into a set of clothes, put on an ordinary mask, and disguised himself as an ordinary black - armored soldier.
"I'm protecting everyone's safety," Ji Lingchuan replied.
"Come on. We grew up together. How can I not know what's on your mind?" Ji Zihuan sneered. Then he stroked his chin and raised his eyebrows at Ji Lingchuan.
"Cousin, I've cleared the names of that Miss Song Si and her mother as you said. How are you going to thank me?"
Ji Lingchuan said, "I will always be loyal to Your Majesty and do anything for Your Majesty."
"By the way, this Miss Song Si is outstanding both in appearance and character. Even I'm a little tempted. Didn't you see just now that when the Ding'an Marquis publicly cleared her biological mother's name, the look in her eyes when she looked at me was full of gratitude. Cousin, aren't you afraid that she'll fall in love with me because of this and insist on climbing up to me and becoming my concubine in the palace?"
Ji Zihuan leaned close to Ji Lingchuan and whispered in his ear, smiling wickedly.
Ji Lingchuan looked at the figure that was protecting the young brother in her arms and feeding him water, and said, "She won't."
"She won't?" Ji Zihuan looked surprised. "Cousin, you're so sure?"
Ji Lingchuan lowered his eyelashes and didn't answer Ji Zihuan's question anymore.
Ji Zihuan stroked his chin and said with a smile, "It seems that cousin really treats this Miss Song Si very differently. However, cousin, you have to be careful. Now that Miss Song Si has made a splash and earned a good reputation, on the autumn - hunt field, I'm afraid it won't be peaceful around her. I'm really looking forward to seeing who will win the heart of the beauty."
By the nameless lake, Song Yixuan leaned against Song Yihuan and took small sips of water from the water bag in her hand. Hooking his finger around Song Yihuan's hand, he whispered, "Sister Si, we don't have to be afraid of being bullied anymore in the future, right?"
Song Yihuan slightly raised her eyes and looked at the figure sitting on the huge rock not far away, and replied in a low voice, "Yes, we won't be bullied anymore."
I'm afraid that from now on, the Ding'an Marquis Mansion will flatter her and Song Yixuan.
However, there was always a sense of uneasiness in her heart.
"Xuan'er, after walking for so long, how do you feel? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Song Yihuan asked.
Song Yixuan shook his head. "Don't worry, Sister Si. Xuan'er doesn't feel uncomfortable anywhere."
Song Yihuan felt relieved. At this time, a timid voice came from behind.
"Miss Song Si, can I sit next to you?"
She turned around and saw Cao Jinyu, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, standing behind her.