The Princess Consort of Ning seemed to know about Ji Lingchuan's request for someone to serve him last night. On the way, she inquired about Song Nanxin with great concern, "I heard that Chuan'er drank too much last night. How is he? Is he feeling better?"
Following what Song Yihuan had told her, Song Nanxin replied calmly, "The Heir Apparent is fine. I wiped his face last night, and then he went to sleep."
The Princess Consort of Ning nodded and said, "Thanks to you. You know Chuan'er's character. He never wants to trouble others. He specifically asked you to go last night. It shows that he has you in his heart."
Song Nanxin blushed shyly and smiled, "Mother, don't tease your daughter-in-law. Your daughter-in-law is just looking forward to having a child soon and enjoying family happiness with the Heir Apparent."
Song Yihuan walked to the back and listened to the conversation between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law with a calm expression.
The camp where they were stationed was not far from the hunting ground. They could reach it by walking a few miles forward.
As the Xuanjia Army entered the hunting ground, all the people who had come with them from Xingzhou were led to the high platform. Song Yihuan led her younger brother up the steps, and the whole picture of the hunting ground gradually unfolded before their eyes.
The royal hunting ground of the Yu State was semi-open. In the middle of the hunting ground was a flat and open grassland, and at the end, it was connected to a forest, which was the last peak of Yangjing Mountain.
The royal hunting ground covered a vast area, about a quarter the size of the capital. Below, the green grass was lush, the reeds were overgrown, and groups of horses were galloping. It was so beautiful that people could not bear to leave.
Song Yihuan also noticed that there were many cages placed around the hunting ground. There seemed to be wild animals moving inside, and they let out low growls from time to time.
Song Yixuan hugged Song Yihuan tightly. His eyes were as bright as stars. He was scared but also wanted to look outside. He kept asking, "Fourth sister, what are those running animals?"
"Fourth sister, what's in those cages?"
Song Yihuan patiently answered his questions one by one. The Princess Consort of Ning stood close to her and was very surprised to hear her name the birds and beasts below as if she were counting treasures.
"Miss Huan is really well-informed. She can recognize these birds and beasts."
Song Yixuan was very proud, "Goddess of Mercy, my fourth sister is very smart. She has read a lot of books!"
"Oh? Really? Where did Miss Huan read about these birds and beasts?" The Princess Consort of Ning asked with great interest.
Song Yihuan answered seriously, "I saw them in a book called Strange Creatures several years ago. I have a good memory, so I remembered them after just one look. Now I can finally see the real ones."
The Princess Consort of Ning remembered that Song Yihuan had a photographic memory. She smiled and said, "No wonder little Xuan'er said that his fourth sister likes those smarter than her. With your intelligence and knowledge, you are much better than other women and are not inferior to men."
The smile paused for a moment. The Princess Consort of Ning looked at Song Nanxin imperceptibly and asked, "The Heir Apparent's Consort seems a bit quiet. Does she not like such occasions?"
Song Nanxin really didn't like these birds and beasts. She didn't want to watch a group of people chasing wild beasts either. She would rather go back to the tent in the camp and sleep for a while. Since she took the so - called "Eternal Youth Pill" given by Cui Muyuan, she had felt more and more sleepy.
She held back a yawn and said, "Your daughter-in-law likes it. It's just that I served the Heir Apparent until the middle of the night last night..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the Princess Consort of Ning understood what she meant. Just then, the sound of drums and bugles rang out. The emperor, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, was surrounded by guards and many ministers as he climbed onto the altar. Everyone on the platform knelt down together.
Ji Zihuan read the sacrificial words on the altar, performed the sacrificial ceremony, and then walked to the edge of the altar. He looked out at Yangjing Mountain not far away and shouted the order.
"On the ninth day of the eighth month of the fourth year of Taichu, the autumn hunt will begin. Release the Ominous Birds!"
The guards around blew their bugles. A huge cage was pushed out and stopped in front of the altar. A man stepped forward to open the cage door, and then several black birds flew out of the cage, flapping their wings desperately and fleeing into the sky.
"Call for the sharpshooter to drive away the omens!"
At this moment, a man rode a horse galloping in from the entrance. His figure was tall and straight, his shoulders were broad and powerful, and his long hair was tied up behind his head, fluttering in the air.
Song Yihuan unconsciously took a step forward and placed her hand on the railing.
It was Ji Lingchuan!
From the moment Ji Lingchuan rode his horse onto the field, everyone's attention was drawn to him. They gathered around the railing to watch.
Ji Lingchuan carried a huge bow on his back. The shape of the bow looked very similar to the jade bow that Song Yihuan had received last night, but it was much larger.
He should be the "sharpshooter" the emperor had mentioned!
The black birds that had flown out of the cage had already scattered and fled into the sky. The horse's forward gallop did not slow down at all. Ji Lingchuan leaped up and stood firmly on the horse's back. He took the bow off his back, drew five arrows from the quiver, and placed them on the bowstring.
His strong arm pulled back, and the bowstring was bent into an arc by his strength. He let go of his hand, and the five arrows left the bowstring and shot straight at the five black birds flying in different directions in the sky!
His movements were smooth and seamless, almost without any hesitation, as if he had done it countless times. And the scattered black birds in the sky were all hit by the five arrows he shot at the same time. They all fell from the sky, causing exclamations from the people on the scene.
Ji Lingchuan was indeed the war god that the Yu State had produced once in a hundred years! No wonder he could take the head of the enemy leader from a thousand miles away in the border battle, dominate the whole battle situation, and win decades of peace for the border of the Yu State.
Song Yihuan watched the heroic figure and felt her heart warm up.
At this time, everyone's attention was on Ji Lingchuan, so no one noticed that Song Nanxin quietly took two steps back. She called Fuling aside and hid her figure behind a big pillar.
Song Nanxin leaned over and whispered something in Fuling's ear. She also stuffed something into Fuling's hand. Fuling's expression suddenly changed, and her body trembled.
Song Nanxin brushed the dust off Fuling's shoulder and smiled,
"Good girl Fuling. Now it seems that you are much more obedient than Baizhi. I think you should know what to do. As long as you do things for me, I will tell you where your long - lost sister is."
Fuling lowered her head and replied almost inaudibly, "Yes, Miss."
All the birds shot down by Ji Lingchuan were picked up by the guards. Ji Lingchuan sat back on his horse, rode back to the front of the altar, and knelt on one knee in front of Ji Zihuan on the altar.
"The Ominous Birds have all been removed. All bad luck will disappear. Next year, the Yu State will surely enjoy good weather and national peace. Long live Your Majesty!"