"If you believe me, find a way to bring me along on the day of the Spring Hunt," Wu Caiwei said, though she held no hope for him.
The Third Prince hesitated before nodding again. He found that when he was with Wu Caiwei, he would unconsciously follow her line of thought, and willingly so. He wasn't sure if her desire to attend the Spring Hunt was to protect him or to see Sun Guotang. The thought made him pause. Given her martial arts skills, and how she had followed Sun Guotang to the outskirts of the capital today and discovered something unusual, it was likely, as she had said, that she wanted to avenge herself on Sun Guotang. Su Dan Novel Network
The Third Prince slapped his forehead in annoyance, feeling he had gotten stuck in a rut, believing her past deep affection for Sun Guotang meant she was here to reconcile with him. Perhaps, at times, investigations and reality differed; only those involved truly understood their own matters.
However, he didn't fully trust her. What if she was indeed a spy sent by the Second Prince? But the Third Prince genuinely had no intention of refusing Wu Caiwei's request to accompany him to the Spring Hunt, as he also wanted to test her and see if she could truly be used to his advantage.
When Wu Caiwei had forgotten about it, the Third Prince sent a messenger, asking her to enter the palace in a few days. She was to disguise herself as his bodyguard and accompany him to the hunting grounds on the outskirts.
Wu Caiwei knew the hunt would be dangerous. While past events might not repeat themselves, preparation was still necessary. Thus, on the eve of their departure, she concocted various medicines and chose a few particularly important ones to carry with her. She knew that a thorough search would be conducted upon entering the royal hunting grounds, and some items would be confiscated.
The Third Prince found it somewhat unsettling to have Wu Caiwei following him, her presence masked and her head bowed. He couldn't forget the nobility and authority she exuded that day in the teahouse, making one believe she was the true Son of Heaven.
However, her docility and discretion were ultimately beneficial to him. When she entered the palace, she had instructed him not to let anyone know she was accompanying him, as there might be moles among his advisors.
The Third Prince nodded in front of her, but those who needed to know, knew. After all, he wasn't completely convinced of Wu Caiwei's loyalty. Wu Caiwei couldn't help but sigh, realizing she wouldn't change his perception of her without achieving something substantial.
On the day of departure for the hunting grounds, the streets of the capital were heavily guarded. The princes, ministers, and servants accompanying the Emperor moved from morning till afternoon. Every year, at this time, the citizens of the capital would gather along the streets to watch. It was their only chance to catch a glimpse of the princes' faces, allowing them to steer clear if they encountered them on the street, lest they offend them.
Wu Caiwei, accustomed to such scenes, found the Emperor's extravagance rather boring. She lowered her head, trying to avoid drawing attention. Since leaving the palace that morning, she had felt countless ill-intentioned gazes directed at the Third Prince.
To facilitate her actions at the hunting grounds, Wu Caiwei deliberately kept her distance from the Third Prince. Firstly, she didn't want to be noticed. Secondly, if someone were to suddenly appear by the Third Prince's side and gain his favor, it would undoubtedly draw everyone's attention, and her every word and action would be under their scrutiny.
Everyone rested at the hunting grounds for a night. The next morning, the Emperor, in high spirits, gathered everyone to announce the prize. Looking at the incredibly sharp sword, even Wu Caiwei felt tempted. The princes, naturally, were eager to compete, not only for the prize but also for the Emperor's and the ministers' favorable attention.
The Third Prince was no exception. Unfortunately, he had accidentally stepped into a pit the previous night and sprained his ankle. He had limped when he walked, and although the imperial physician had examined and massaged it, he couldn't move it at all this morning.
The Emperor looked at him with a look of regret. The sword was a rare item, a tribute from the Western Regions. He wouldn't have easily parted with it if it weren't for his sons competing. It was a shame the third one lacked the fortune. Seeing his son's dejected expression, the Emperor's heart softened. After all, he was his son, and he couldn't bear to disappoint him. Thus, he quietly instructed the head eunuch by his side to present him with a painting by a famous artist of the previous dynasty that he had collected.
The Third Prince looked at the item in the head eunuch's hand, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked up at the Emperor. Once he comprehended, his face immediately lit up with joy. Everyone knew the Third Prince had a passion for painting and enjoyed sketching whenever he had the chance. This gift was exactly to his liking. While weapons were rare, he preferred this gift over them. He caressed it gently with love, afraid of damaging the painting.
The Emperor watched him, smiling and stroking his beard, then turned his gaze back to the hunting grounds. Soon, the princes' figures disappeared into the distance, entering the forest.
In an unobserved corner, Wu Caiwei also quietly departed. Her heart pounded. She had a strong feeling that something was about to happen today, and that it would involve her. She couldn't recall how many years it had been since she felt such unease. Unconsciously, she thought of the filled golden water and touched her suddenly aching heart. The premonition grew stronger.
Unbeknownst to her, someone else at the hunting grounds was also anxious: the Second Prince. He had made all his arrangements the previous day. That night, upon hearing that an imperial physician had been summoned for the Third Prince, he quickly sent someone to inquire. He was surprised by the methods the other used to make the physician lie, claiming it was indigestion and that a little medicine had helped.
At the time, he hadn't paid much attention, as such situations occurred every year, and everyone would eventually enter the hunting grounds. They all wanted to prove themselves with the Emperor and many ministers watching. This morning, standing before the Emperor, he saw the Third Prince's foot swollen like a steamed bun and suddenly felt the surroundings go silent, his mind going blank.
Before arriving, he had secretly sent someone to find out what arrangements the Third Prince had made. To his surprise, the latter had given up this golden opportunity. He had initially thought the Third Prince was naive, but it turned out he had been waiting for him here. Truly brilliant! At that moment, he even doubted how the Third Prince's leg had been injured last night.
Thinking about it now was useless. He had to rush to stop what was about to happen. Everyone could see the Second Prince's urgency and looked at him questioningly. They all shook their heads. The Crown Prince motioned for his guards to stay close. He had been too prominent recently, incurring the Emperor's displeasure, and dared not make any moves. As long as he behaved himself and avoided mistakes, it would be fine.