From cute to empress

Chapter 300 Hunting Song

The morning light streamed into my bedroom through the window lattice, and I woke from a blissful dream. Yesterday's scene was still vivid in my mind: Zhen Youcai's ardent gaze, his sincere words, and the jade bracelet that represented his promise. All of them made me smile.

"Your Majesty, it's time to get up and prepare for the morning court." The voice of my personal maid brought me back to reality.

"Hmm," I replied softly, sitting up and letting the maids dress me. Today's morning court was destined to be extraordinary. I had an important decision to announce.

In the vast Golden Throne Hall, civil and military officials were already standing solemnly on either side. I walked steadily up the steps, my gaze sweeping across the crowd, finally landing on the Prime Minister. "My dear ministers, I have an announcement today."

"Since I ascended the throne, I have diligently governed the country and reformed corrupt policies. Now, the country is peaceful and the people live and work in peace and contentment. To reward you all and to demonstrate the power of Great Xia, I have decided to hold a royal hunting event at the hunting grounds outside the capital on the fifteenth day of next month!"

As soon as I finished speaking, a burst of discussion erupted in the hall. The Royal Hunt, a grand ceremony held by emperors throughout history, hadn't been held in a full decade since the previous emperor's passing.

"All civil and military officials are welcome to sign up for this hunt. The winner will be generously rewarded!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" The ministers shouted in unison, their faces full of excitement.

I watched all this with satisfaction, but I secretly pondered in my heart: this hunt may seem like a mere entertainment, but it actually holds a hidden agenda. For the past decade, various factions have been vying for power, each vying for an opportunity to seize greater power. This hunt would be a perfect opportunity to test their strength.

In the evening, a fast horse galloped into the city and headed straight for the general's mansion.

"General, His Majesty's order!"

Zhen Youcai took the letter, unfolded it, and frowned slightly. The letter contained only a few lines, but it revealed an unusual atmosphere.

"Come here, prepare the horses!" Zhen Youcai's eyes flashed with a gleam, and he gave the order in a deep voice.

He jumped on his horse and galloped towards the palace, with only one thought in his mind: to protect Mengmeng's safety no matter what!

As the night deepened and the palace was brightly lit, I stood in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, gazing at the twinkling stars in the night sky, but my heart could not calm down.

"Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?" A familiar voice came from behind.

I turned around and saw Zhen Youcai standing in front of me in military uniform, looking heroic, with a hint of fatigue on his face.

"Why are you back?" I asked in surprise.

"Your Majesty is in danger. How can I stay at the border with peace of mind?" Zhen Youcai looked at me firmly, his tone full of worry.

My heart warmed, I held his hand, and whispered, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I've made all the necessary preparations for this hunt."

"Your Majesty, be careful of Prince Jia..." Zhen Youcai hesitated to speak.

"I know," I interrupted him, a meaningful smile on my face, "Anything can happen on the hunting ground..."

In the Golden Throne Hall, Prince Jia, dressed in a purple brocade robe and wearing a jade pendant carved with dragons at his waist, exuded an air of royal nobility. He stepped forward and bowed to me. "Your Majesty's hosting of a grand hunting ceremony is truly a blessing for Great Xia! I am willing to lead the vanguard and capture the prey to congratulate Your Majesty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd echoed his words. I noticed that Marquis Yi's expression changed slightly, and then he stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that a rare white tiger has appeared in the North Mountain Hunting Grounds. I am willing to hunt this tiger for Your Majesty as a token of my loyalty!"

The two echoed each other, superficially complimenting me, but in reality, they were secretly competing, each hoping to use this hunting opportunity to outdo the other and gain more political capital. I sneered inwardly, but kept my composure on the surface. I said calmly, "You two, my dear ministers, are both pillars of our Great Xia. I look forward to your performance during this hunting trip."

To prepare for this hunt, I specially recruited an experienced local hunter as my guide. He was called Hunter C. He had dark skin and a lean build, but his eyes were bright and sharp, revealing the shrewdness and experience of a hunter.

"Your Majesty, the terrain of the Beishan hunting ground is complex and there are many wild animals. You must follow me closely and never act alone." Hunter C pointed to the map in front of him and introduced me in detail the various areas of the hunting ground and the habits of common wild animals.

"This place is close to the water source, where deer and wild boars often appear; and this piece of forest is the territory of wolves and leopards. The risk factor is relatively high, so we try to avoid it..." As he spoke, he marked on the map with his rough fingers, looking very serious.

I listened attentively to his explanation, occasionally raising questions, which Hunter C patiently answered. His words were filled with a familiarity and awe for this forest, which also made me more excited and cautious about this hunt.

"Your Majesty, I know you are a martial arts expert, but in the hunting grounds, swords and knives are merciless. I hope you will be careful and pay attention to safety." Before leaving, Hunter C reminded again.

I nodded to show that I understood.

As night fell, the entire hunting ground was shrouded in a silent darkness. I stood in front of the tent, gazing at the dark forest in the distance, a sudden sense of unease welled up in my heart... My hand slowly tightened around the dagger at my waist.

The night was chilly, and I tightened my cloak. The distant forest resembled a giant, inky beast, silently crouching in the darkness. Its features were indistinct, yet it exuded a palpable sense of oppression. Hunter C's words still echoed in my ears, and a sense of unease, like the night itself, enveloped me.

I gently stroked the dagger at my waist, a gift from Zhen Youcai. Its cold touch brought a hint of warmth. His resolute face and the promise he made, "When I come back, we'll get married," came to mind.

My thoughts drifted away, and I recalled the moment I first met him. Back then, I was a young, innocent girl, newly arrived at the imperial court, full of curiosity. It was he who protected me from crisis after crisis, taught me to discern conspiracy and schemes, and helped me rise to the pinnacle of power.

"Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?" The voice of Hunter C brought me back to reality.

I shook my head, hiding the longing in my eyes, and smiled faintly, "Nothing, I was just thinking about what good things I can hunt tomorrow."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I have made all the arrangements and you will return with a full load tomorrow." Hunter C said confidently.

I nodded and turned to walk into the tent.

Yet, no one noticed that, deep in the dense forest not far from the camp, a pair of cold eyes peered through the leaves, intently staring at my tent. Assassin Ding, clad in night clothes, moved nimbly through the trees, seemingly blending into the darkness. In his hand, he clutched a sharp dagger, its faint, cold gleam betraying its owner's murderous intent.

At dawn, the sound of horns echoed through the mountains and forests, officially marking the beginning of the royal hunt. I rode my steed, surrounded by guards, and slowly rode out of the camp.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a dappled light across the forest. The chirping of birds, the clatter of horses' hooves, and the barking of hounds intertwined, bringing the once silent forest to life.

I took a deep breath, feeling a long-lost excitement and nervousness. My bow was fully drawn, my eyes as sharp as a hawk's, searching for prey.

"Gee!" I shouted softly and galloped towards the depths of the dense forest...

"Your Majesty, be careful!" At this moment, Hunter C's face suddenly changed and he exclaimed.

My heart trembled, and before I could react, I heard a low roar coming from the front...