Song Yihuan lowered her eyelashes to hide the hatred in her eyes. She let go of Song Nanxin, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and looked utterly dejected.
"Fuling followed me into the mountains for the hunt. But we were out of luck. As soon as we entered, we ran into a huge python. Fuling was walking in front of me. Before she knew it, she was swallowed by the python. If it weren't for Fuling, I would have been killed by the snake by now."
She looked at Song Nanxin. "Fuling was the maid you assigned to my courtyard. I failed you, elder sister, for causing her death in the mountains."
Song Nanxin felt relieved that Song Yihuan didn't mention her order to Fuling to assassinate her. Then she frowned tightly.
Fuling had been given a mission by Song Nanxin when she followed Song Yihuan into the mountains. The goal was to quietly kill Song Yihuan with a poisoned dagger in the forest.
Cui Muyuan had told Song Nanxin that he suspected Fuling had betrayed her and wanted to go into the mountains with them. If Fuling had indeed defected, he would eliminate both of them.
The real Baishao had been disguised by Cui Muyuan as a servant when they left the capital for Xingzhou and mixed among the servants of the Prince Ning's Mansion.
After they exchanged disguises, Cui Muyuan quietly entered the mountains. Not long after, the hunting ground was attacked. The real Baishao was captured by the enemy, and Cui Muyuan hadn't returned yet.
Song Nanxin actually knew nothing about what had happened in the forest.
In this situation, she naturally couldn't expose her order to Fuling to kill Song Yihuan. So she also put on a shocked expression.
"Fuling has been with me since she was ten. It's been five or six years. I never thought she would end up like this..."
Song Yihuan held Song Nanxin's hand and comforted her, "Don't be too sad, elder sister. The dead cannot be brought back to life. On the way back, I also heard from Floating Boat that the maid named Baishao by your side also lost her life. It's just the way of fate. Things are unpredictable."
What a way of fate. Things are unpredictable.
Song Nanxin's face tightened, and she gritted her teeth in hatred.
At this moment, a eunuch's voice suddenly came from behind, "His Majesty the Emperor is coming—"
No one expected the emperor to come here. Everyone was shocked. Before Ji Zihuan stepped forward, they all knelt down together. "Greetings to Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be in good health!"
No one expected that Song Yihuan's return would actually attract the emperor's attention!
When Ji Zihuan walked up to everyone, his tone was very amiable. "Alright, alright. Rise."
After Song Yihuan stood up, she met Ji Zihuan's half - smiling face. She didn't dare to look directly into the emperor's eyes and quickly lowered her head again.
Ji Zihuan smiled and said, "I heard that Miss Song, the fourth daughter of the Song family, who had been missing for three days, has returned, so I came to take a look. How have you been in the mountains these days, Miss Song?"
The Princess of Prince Ning saw that he was very concerned about Song Yihuan and squinted her eyes slightly. She took the initiative to answer, "This girl was just telling us about her experiences in the mountains. I heard that as soon as she entered the mountains, she encountered a python. She must have suffered a lot."
Ji Zihuan rolled his eyes and said with a smile, "I don't know if Miss Song's luck is good or bad. If it's good, it's better to meet a python than a killer who wants your life. If it's bad, a wild beast is no better than a killer."
Song Yihuan didn't know how to respond to this, so she simply lowered her head and remained silent.
At this time, Ji Zihuan noticed the horse that Song Yihuan had ridden back. He was surprised and said, "Hey, why are there so many prey hanging on this fat horse? Miss Song, did you hunt all these in the past three days?"
Song Yihuan finally spoke up. "Your Majesty, it's true that I hunted them all. During these days in the mountains, to survive, I didn't dare to let down the jade bow Your Majesty bestowed on me, so I practiced my skills on the prey in the mountains."
Ji Zihuan smiled and said, "This really surprises me. Someone, go and count the prey Miss Song brought back. Although there was a disturbance during this autumn hunt, the three - day hunting period still counts. All these can be counted as part of the results."
This was exactly what Song Yihuan had in mind.
Ji Lingchuan had said that they were attacked soon after they entered the mountains, and everyone had withdrawn from the forest and returned to the camp. This meant that everyone had hunted very limited prey. Maybe she could get some more rewards with these prey.
At Ji Zihuan's order, someone immediately stepped forward to remove the strings of prey from the horse's back. Song Yihuan was weak, but she had a special bow and arrow in her hand, and Ji Lingchuan had assisted her. Although the prey were small in size, the quantity was quite impressive.
Mountain rabbits, mountain chickens, marmots, red foxes... After counting, there were actually as many as seventeen pieces of prey that she had brought back!
The news of Song Yihuan's return was already very eye - catching. When people learned that this weak girl had not only survived in the mountains for three days but also hunted so much prey, they all changed their views of her.
Ji Zihuan publicly announced Song Yihuan as the first - place winner of this autumn hunt. He said to Song Yihuan with a smile, "I've said that whoever wins the first place in this autumn hunt can make a request to me. Miss Song, now this opportunity has fallen to you. What do you want from me?"
For a moment, countless people looked at Song Yihuan with envious eyes.
The Marquis of Ding'an looked at Song Yihuan greedily, wishing he could step forward and make this request to the emperor on her behalf.
The first place in the autumn hunt! Making a request to the emperor! This was the best opportunity for promotion! With this opportunity, the Ding'an Marquis Mansion could surely rise higher. They might even be promoted from marquis to duke!
Song Yihuan lowered her eyelashes, thinking about how to make the most of this opportunity that she had earned.
She thought for a long time, and Ji Zihuan didn't urge her but waited patiently.
After a while, she looked up and knelt down in front of Ji Zihuan. She said, "I want to ask Your Majesty for an imperial edict for my late mother. I beg Your Majesty to allow my late mother, Lady Rou, to be removed from the slave register, be expelled from the Ding'an Marquis Mansion, and regain her freedom."
What?!
The Marquis of Ding'an and Lady Meng were both stunned. Lady Meng couldn't care less that the emperor was in front of them and said anxiously, "What are you talking about, girl?!"
The Marquis of Ding'an's eyes were bulging with rage, and he pointed at Song Yihuan, too angry to speak.
Ji Zihuan looked at the determined Song Yihuan and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He remembered that three days ago, before the autumn hunt's sacrifice ceremony began, Ji Lingchuan had told him.
"No matter what, I will get the first place in this autumn hunt for her. But I guess that if she gets this opportunity, she will surely ask Your Majesty for an imperial edict for her biological mother. At that time, please Your Majesty grant her a gold medal for avoiding death. I'm willing to exchange it with my tiger tally."
His cousin knew this Miss Song very well and had really gone to great lengths for her.
Ji Zihuan said, "Marquis of Ding'an, I always keep my word. I never go back on what I say. I grant Miss Song's request."
The Marquis of Ding'an felt like dying. He had a mouthful of old blood stuck in his throat and couldn't spit it out. He had to kneel down and reply, "Your servant obeys the order."
"However..." Ji Zihuan spoke again, and hope rose in the hearts of the Marquis of Ding'an and Lady Meng.
"Miss Song's filial piety has touched heaven and earth. I'm deeply moved. I hereby specially bestow a gold medal for avoiding death on Miss Song."
Song Yihuan was stunned. She didn't expect this request to also earn her a gold medal for avoiding death. Her eyes were moist, and she kowtowed respectfully.
"Your servant thanks Your Majesty for the great kindness."