What he thought was alarmist talk before was actually already in Yan Ting's mind. This damned Yan Ting actually wanted to sell his daughter!
"See? See? They are all so bad, you might as well marry me. Let me list the benefits. First of all, I will treat you very well, even better than I treat myself. I will cherish you like a treasure. Although I'm not handsome, I'm very cute. You also feel I'm very good, right? Also, I will earn money for you to spend. I'll earn a lot, a lot of money. We can eat whatever we want and do whatever we want. You don't like frivolous men, so I will definitely not spare a glance for anyone else. I'll pass my days by your side...."
Yan Yan was in a daze. Hearing the still teenaged boy in front of her making these promises, it would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. Actually, his words matched her thoughts completely.
For example, she had always hated how men had harems. Often times when she thought about marriage, she would be at a loss. She knew her own temper and knew that she wasn't someone who was likeable. She wasn't able to adapt herself to others and didn't know how to flatter. Her temper was awful enough, and it was harder to have her speak gently to someone than it was to peel off her skin.
She also had a prickly nature, and there would definitely be endless arguments in the future. She would either tear her husband's household apart or they would get rid of her.
She knew she had her shortcomings and would occasionally hate herself. However, she never considered changing who she was. Her mom had said several times that she would suffer after marriage if she didn't change her personality.....
He actually knew what was in her heart. Actually, he had always known, right?
Hearing him chatter on made it seem that marrying this little fatty Luo was also pretty good.
At least he knew her temper. Every time she lost her temper and beat him up, he would accept it with exaggerated suffering and scream his head off.
However, he would always sidle up with thick skin when she was feeling nervous and coax her into a better mood.
However....
"The Zhenguo Duke Estate doesn't marry into the royal family. My mom and my grandfather definitely wouldn't agree to this. His majesty wouldn't either."
Yan Yan didn't dare look at his startled expression anymore. Her emotions were very complicated at the moment. She picked up the whip by her side and went to switch out with Shen Qi.
She struck back pouncing wolves one whip at a time. Yan Yan had trained for a long time and the whip was already an extension of her arm. Her hands never shook when she used it. However, only she knew that her hands were currently shaking.
The Zhenguo Duke Estate never married into the royal family?
How did he not know about this? Then how did the little consort get married to him in his past life?
It seemed there were many things that were still a mystery in his past life. It actually made Luo Huai Yuan's emotions unusually chaotic.
**
Liu Shu Yi's group finally reached the campsite.
Because they were prepared, they had tidied up their appearance and erased all suspicious signs before slowly approaching the gates.
Looking from afar, the camp seemed to be normal.
Liu Shu Yi was about to head over when she was grabbed by Chu Ming Chen.
He considered some more and told her a few things before letting her ride Black Jade and approached the gate with a guard. The other guard stayed behind with the other two horses. One was Luo Huai Yuan's and one was Shen Qi's.
There were four or five soldiers guarding the gate, all seeming bored. The nobles had all gone hunting, and only they had to remain vigilantly guarding the gates.
Soldier X spoke quietly to soldier Y: "What do you think our leader meant earlier?"
"How should I know?!"
"Wanting us to keep an eye out for people without any reason. There wasn't even a description so what do we look for!?"
"If he wants us to keep an eye out then we'll keep an eye out. Don't talk so much rubbish. Careful not to let our leader overhear."
At this moment, they saw three people approaching from the distance. One was trotting ahead on a horse. The young girl on the horse didn't seem very experienced and the horse wasn't going fast. The soldiers knew their horses, and they all sighed at how this fine vegetable was eaten by a pig. Such a fine steed had actually fallen to a little girl with poor horsemanship.
Behind her was a fair-skinned delicate teenager. He yelled as he ran: "Cousin, don't be angry anymore. I won't dare to do it again."
The lovely person on the horse ignored him, and instead started going faster. They kept up the pursuit as they approached the gate before the teen finally caught up and blocked the horse.
He panted from exhaustion and leaned on his knees. "Cousin, don't be angry with me. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have lost control and tried to kiss you. I won't dare to do it again!"
"You're still going on about it! Keep talking and I'll beat you to death!"
The little girl's face was flushed and she was pouting with anger. Her eyes were teary and she spurred her horse into the camp. The teen didn't dare block her and could only let her pass while continuing to chase and apologize. The person dressed as a guard followed behind looking helpless.
The soldiers at the gates watched the show happily.
This noble household's delicate young master was really daring. He actually wanted to kiss that young girl. Tsk tsk. However, the relationship between cousins was always complicated. They might suddenly become lovers someday.
The soldiers all chuckled ambiguously.
A person dressed as a soldier walked over. "Some people just entered. Did you guys see clearly who they were?"
A short soldier said: "We did. It was a pair of little lovers, and they were even cousins. The two of them were arguing. We watched them with wide-open eyes. They weren't suspicious people."
"What horses were they riding? Was there a greenish white one?"
"There was only a black horse. That girl was riding...."
As he spoke, the soldier also realized something was wrong. This was the hunting grounds. To leave the campsite, there were very few who weren't riding a horse. Three of them only had a single horse....
He cried out in alarm and looked inside, but unfortunately the people had already vanished without a trace. He hurriedly brought up his suspicions.
The leader cursed quietly. He raised his hand and wanted to speak, but stopped and scolded instead: "Few successes and plenty of failures. This daddy merely went to the bathroom and you guys were able to screw up so much!"
After speaking, he hurriedly turned and headed inside.
.......
In the center of the campsite, inside the empress's tent.
Empress Xiao's tent was naturally extraordinary. It was like a simplified version of a small palace. It was fully furnished with seats and tables. Everything was luxurious.
The bedraggled crown prince was slumped in a chair. The empress stood in front of him scolding: "What should this seat do with you? To actually make such a careless mistake. This situation was originally something that could be used, but now it can no longer be disclosed. Instead, there's a mess to deal with...."
"Mother empress, your son also didn't want this. Things were just truly too desperate."
Empress Xiao naturally understood this. But this matter had wide-reaching implications that made the usually steady empress unable to maintain her calm.
Her expression was very stern. "This seat has already ordered people to go clean up the mess. You just shut your mouth tightly for me. This seat will have someone send you out later. You continue hunting, and return around the right time. This seat will handle things here...."
At this moment, a palace maid walked in urgently. She stepped forward and whispered something in the empress's ear. Her expression immediately changed.
The crown prince urgently asked what the matter was.
Empress Xiao slowly let out a long breath and spoke with a frown: "That side has sent someone back for reinforcements. They have already entered the camp. Now, you must hurry and make a trip with this seat to the Zhenguo Duke's tent. Although he's gone out with his majesty, the Zhenguo madam is still there."
"Didn't we have our people watching the gates?"
"It's too late to wonder about it. Come with this seat first."
The crown prince was currently a mess and needed to tidy himself up. Empress Xiao swiftly gave him a slap.
Her gaze was burning and she said severely: "Things have already gotten to this point and you're still worried about your appearance? If this matter gets out of hand, it's uncertain if you can still remain the crown prince."
The crown prince was panicking now.
Empress Xiao calmed herself down. "The Zhenguo Duke Estate's people have always been tactful. Hopefully they will be tactful this time as well. Don't put on airs as a crown prince after we head over. Act as pitiful as you can for me."
After speaking, she ordered that palace maid to have someone get the people she had sent off earlier to return.
........
By the time Empress Xiao arrived, the Zhenguo Duke Estate's tent only had the Zhenguo madam and some servants. There weren't any strangers present.
But she no longer dared rely on a fluke at the moment.
She called out "aunt" and covered her face with her handkerchief as she teared up. She kept apologizing that her child had caused a disaster. The crown prince stood with his head lowered, looking remorseful and unsettled. The palm mark on his face was plain to see.
The Zhenguo madam was completely confused but didn't reveal any expression. She then heard from the empress what had happened.
Empress Xiao spoke extremely honestly and didn't change anything at all. The only thing she kept hidden was what they were going to do initially that ended up failing.
"You've watched the crown prince grow up and should know he isn't a bad child. He just did something muddleheaded due to shock. He hurried over and told this seat the moment he got back. This seat has already scolded him ruthlessly, and brought him here to apologize."
The Zhenguo madam panted urgently and fainted.
A servant on the side hurried over and pinched her central acupoint. The empress also urgently called for an imperial physician.
The Zhenguo madam suddenly awoke, her face deathly pale. "Then where's my Qi'er? Hurry and have people go save Qi'er!"
The empress stood up looking annoyed with hereself. "Right away. This seat was muddled from panic." She then said sternly to the crown prince: "You caused this mess, go clean it up yourself. Bring the people back unharmed. If they are missing a single hair, we'll see how you explain things to your royal father and the Zhenguo Duke."
The crown prince's face was sorrowful. "Your son will go at once, and will definitely bring them back. If anything happens to young master Shen, your son will atone to the realm with his life!"
He cupped his hands and lowered his head before leaving the tent, looking rather bleak and desolate.
Empress Xiao sobbed urgently. "Which evil person harmed my crown prince so? They're forcing this mother and son pair to die."
The empress calling her "aunt" was just out of respect. The Zhenguo madam naturally wouldn't be so shortsighted. She forced herself to sit up and comforted: "Empress shouldn't be upset. This misfortune will definitely turn to blessings."
What was up with this? She should clearly be the most upset, but instead the empress was more upset than she was. She even had to turn around and comfort her.
Having been the Zhenguo Duke's wife for so many years, the Zhenguo madam naturally wasn't stupid. Of course she understood what the empress was trying to do.
As expected, Empress Xiao started reminiscing with her about how very very very cute the crown prince was when he was young, and how he was praised by the imperial tutors after growing up. She fell just short of saying her son was outstanding and also the crown prince, so if anything happens to your grandson don't even dream about having him compensate with his life.
Of course that wasn't all. Empress Xiao was merely feigning weakness. No one wished harder than her that nothing had happened to the Zhenguo Duke's grandson. It was even fine if the fourth prince died as long as Shen Qi was fine. If Shen Qi didn't die, they could avert disaster. If Shen Qi died, then they would be surrounded by enemies.
Like the crown prince guessed, Empress Xiao seemed to have also understood who was responsible for this. She could almost imagine Senior Concubine Xu laughing wildly at this moment.
~~~~~~
Outside the tent, Shen Yi Yao's face was filled with worry. An equally worried-looking young girl stood next to her. A maid was in the middle of speaking with her.