The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 228 Autumn Hunting Crisis (2)

The next day.

Although Jing Anle didn't have to participate, she still wore a black riding outfit for convenience, with a red belt around her waist. Her hair was piled up high, and her pretty face was both beautiful and stubborn. Because of the cold weather, she also wore a cloak of the same color.

Jing Anle looked aloof, noble, and incredibly beautiful in the mirror. Afang couldn't help but praise her, "Princess, this riding outfit suits you perfectly."

Jing Anle nodded. "Not bad."

Just then, a palace servant came to report, "Princess, Princess Laili has arrived."

Jing Anle's eyes turned cold, and then he said, "Please come in quickly."

A moment later, Riley walked in quickly with a smile, "Sister Anle!" She was also wearing a red riding outfit, her long hair tied into a thick braid. Compared to her cuteness when we first met, she was now radiantly beautiful, with an undisguised desire in her eyes.

"The princess has arrived?" Jing Anle did not go to greet her, after all, she was the master.

Lai Li had assumed Jing Anle would be very close to her, but she keenly noticed Jing Anle's change. However, the smile on her face remained unchanged as she stepped forward and said, "Sister Anle, you won't mind Lai Li bothering you, will you?"

"How could that be?" Jing Anle smiled sweetly.

"You've come at the right time. The carriage is ready. Let's go together."

After all, the Empress Dowager said yesterday that she should take good care of Laili, and her coming here today was also at the Empress Dowager's behest.

"Then thank you very much, Sister Anle." Lai Li smiled brightly, but eyes don't lie, and Jing Anle always felt that Lai Li had some kind of conspiracy.

……

Saihan Hunting Ground.

The area was already surrounded by guards. Jing Anle alighted from the carriage and entered the tent that had been set up. It was fully equipped, with not only a bed, a table and chairs, but also some small gadgets to keep him entertained.

Lai Li, on the other hand, went into another tent. According to her status, she could only live with Jing Rou.

At this moment, the thick curtain was lifted, and it turned out that Mu Ping had arrived. She had gone to the General's Mansion yesterday and had only returned this morning.

"Have you told your uncle everything?" Jing Anle asked as she took off her thick cloak.

Mu Ping nodded, "I have already told the general to keep an eye on Prince Qing and Princess Yongping's recent movements, and also..."

"what?"

"The general said that Prince Qing went there that day in order to win over the people and make the general submit to him."

Jing Anle cracked her knuckles and said coldly, "Prince Qing, are you already in such a hurry?"

Then… Jing Anle was suddenly startled. Did the Prince of Qing in his previous life also try to win over Qin Xu, but Qin Xu refused, so… Jing Anle suddenly dared not think about it; it was too terrifying.

"What did your uncle say?"

Mu Ping looked towards the door, then suddenly shook her head and made a shushing gesture, indicating that someone was outside. Jing Anle immediately understood and deliberately said loudly, "The environment here is so simple, it's really not as good as the palace."

Afang, quick-witted as ever, hurriedly said, "Princess, you are of noble birth, it is indeed a pity to stay here, but the hunt later will surely be exciting."

The master and servant then put on a show, singing and responding in unison.

After a moment, once she was sure the person outside had left, Mu Ping continued, "Princess, it's not safe here either; we need to be even more careful."

Suddenly, a palace servant's voice rang out outside the tent, "Princess Anle, His Majesty requests your presence at the Stirrup Platform to watch the hunt."

"Understood, I will be there shortly," Jing Anle said.

After the people outside the door left, Jing Anle said, "Mu Ping, I think this Lai Li is not simple. We must be more careful today since we are out of the palace."

Mu Ping and A Fang exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Yes."

……

Stirrup platform.

To better observe the hunt, Emperor Jing ordered the construction of a high platform years ago. Built against the mountain, the platform offered a wide view, allowing a clear view of the many men riding horses below.

Jing Anle looked around and saw several foreign princes, including Jing Fengyao, Qin Xiuyuan, Qi Zhi, Yelü Yuanxiu, and Xia Tingfu, as well as many young masters from noble families.

Seeing Jing Anle staring intently, Emperor Jing asked, "Why are you so mesmerized?"

To avoid arousing Emperor Jing's suspicion, Jing Anle said coquettishly, "I was just wondering who would hunt the most prey?"

Looking into Jing Anle's bright eyes, Emperor Jing laughed heartily. This daughter always made him feel an unconscious tenderness. He looked down and saw that the young noblemen had already drawn their bows and arrows and were riding their horses into the forest, like heroes vying for supremacy, with danger lurking everywhere. In an instant, Emperor Jing's eyes were filled with doubt and deep sorrow.

Jing Anle could see Emperor Jing's worry. She wanted to tell him everything and fight alongside him, but there were so many people standing there.

Not only Jingrou and Laili were there, but also many noble ladies and palace servants. They were standing here today to watch the young men of noble families gallop across the hunting grounds.

After the noblemen had all rushed into the forest and disappeared, Emperor Jing was invited by his ministers to a meeting. Now, only some noble ladies remained. Some of them were sisters of the noblemen, some were betrothed, and some were completely unrelated.

"The ceremony was quite lively!" Riley exclaimed. "It's just a pity that only the men competed." Her tone was tinged with regret.

"Judging from Princess Lai Li's words, does that mean women in the Southern Frontier can also engage in martial arts and hunting?" It was Fang Wanrong who spoke. She was wearing a green riding outfit and was following Jing Rou.

Although women in the Jing Kingdom had a high status, there was still no precedent for them hunting with men.

Jing Anle listened quietly, not intending to speak. But the wind wouldn't stop, and Lai Li's voice rang in her ears again, "Sister Anle, why don't we go hunting together?"

"Hunting is so dangerous, and it is really inappropriate for a princess of noble birth."

This was tantamount to a direct rejection of Riley's offer. She didn't seem annoyed; instead, she looked at the speaker with interest and asked, "Who are you?"

Jing Anle, also curious, turned around and saw Zhao Yayi standing not far away. She was dressed in a dark purple riding outfit, her hair piled high. Unlike the pampered young ladies of the capital, she had a solemn and dignified appearance, calm and composed, truly possessing the air of a daughter of a military family. At the last gathering at the General's Mansion, she had won the favor of Old Madam Qin.

"This humble woman is Zhao Yayi, the daughter of the Grand Secretary." Her voice was neither humble nor arrogant, and she did not seem intimidated.

The noble ladies around her remained silent, but they were all there to watch the spectacle, since she dared to contradict Princess Lai Li to her face.

Just as Princess Laili was about to step forward to say something, Jing Anle interrupted, saying, "Princess Laili's suggestion is excellent, but I am not skilled at riding horses and I am afraid I cannot accompany the princess to her heart's content."

“It doesn’t matter if you can’t ride a horse. We just need to fence off a small patch of forest and have a competition to see who can shoot the most prey.” Riley seemed to have regained her interest.

It seemed that Laili was determined to drag Jing Anle away. Jing Anle narrowed her eyes. She wanted to see what Laili was up to. Suddenly, she smiled and said, "In that case, why don't we go down and have some fun?"

Jing Rou, who was standing not far away, unconsciously curled the corners of her mouth, as if she was brewing something.