Wu Linxuan had never been fond of people who lacked composure or dignity—let alone seeing such traits in himself. Yet, in the presence of his princess consort, he always found himself led astray, indulging in the youthful exuberance befitting his age.
But after every bout of mischief, he would grow sullen and uneasy, afraid that if he let himself "lose control" too often, it might lead to carelessness at a critical moment and ruin everything.
Thus, he was always the one who started the playful antics, only to withdraw afterward, sulking in silence. When Xin Ya caught him in such a state, she was promptly dismissed, and Wu Linxuan would realize his behavior was unbecoming.
Lu Meng, finally freed, immediately downed a large bowl of medicinal soup to ward off a cold. If she had any other choice, she wouldn’t have shared a bed with Wu Linxuan tonight.
Fortunately, Wu Linxuan soon retreated into his usual brooding, keeping his distance. Lu Meng had no idea what erratic mood had seized him this time, so she paid him no mind.
The bite on her back hadn’t been hard—just a tingling sensation.
Lu Meng had always been lively and fond of laughter. Her past boyfriends had been sunny, athletic types—playing sports, hiking, singing together—all simple joys.
None of them had been as somber or prematurely serious as Wu Linxuan, who twisted himself into knots like a coiled rope.
The overcast sky brought an early dusk.
Lu Meng dawdled through her bedtime routine, and by the time she returned, Wu Linxuan was already lying down, his back turned to her, curled up in silent defiance.
The dim lamplight cast flickering shadows over the young man’s broad yet lean back, his entire posture screaming, "Come and coax me."
This played right into Lu Meng’s hands. She even went so far as to ask Xin Ya for an extra quilt, folding it into a long barrier between them—a clear "no trespassing" line.
Coaxing him was out of the question. Dealing with her step-siblings from her parents’ remarriages had taught her that discipline was the only way to raise decent kids.
They might not understand now, but they’d learn eventually.
And what exactly they’d learn didn’t matter to Lu Meng. As long as they grasped one ironclad rule: "Big sister might seem easygoing, but she’s actually short-tempered, hits people, steals snacks from kids, and puts on an act in front of the parents—so stay away."
Satisfied with her quilt barricade, Lu Meng turned her back to Wu Linxuan and closed her eyes peacefully.
Men in ancient romances had their pride. If they were angry and no one coddled them, they’d never cross the line.
The medicinal soup Lu Meng drank must have contained some sedative herbs, because she fell asleep unusually early.
The lack of entertainment in ancient times was her biggest frustration. Reading novels meant stumbling over characters with three heads and six arms compared to the ones she knew, forcing her to guess their meanings—exhausting work.
Going to bed early spared her dark circles and the risk of sudden death, but it also meant waking up too soon, her sleep light in the dead of night.
So when she felt someone undoing her clothes, she jolted awake, catching the culprit red-handed—Wu Linxuan!
Still groggy and utterly bewildered, she mumbled, "What are you doing? A midnight ambush? I already told you, no intimacy while sick. Control yourself..."
Wu Linxuan loomed over her, half-propped on one arm, his body pressing against the "no trespassing" line. In the flickering candlelight, his gaze was dark and unreadable.
Her mind was a jumble, unsure what it was even thinking about.
Lu Meng rubbed her eyes and met his gaze, his fingers still fiddling with the sash of her robe.
"Your Highness, proper sleep is crucial for the growth and development of adolescents. Not sleeping well can lead to baldness. And you're already sick, you..."
"This prince is not as lustful as you. I just wanted to look at your back."
Lu Meng fell silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a soft, scoffing laugh. "Don't try to fool me. What do you want to see my back for in the middle of the night? After looking, are you going to say 'I'll just rub, I won't go in'?"
Wu Linxuan: "..." He decided to skip the talk and just act.
He untied the sash, pulled her collar down past her shoulders, pushed Lu Meng to turn over, and leaned in close to examine her back.
The bites he'd given weren't hard at all. On Lu Meng's back, only some red marks remained, a few just small, round red dots from his canine teeth. They'd probably fade before dawn.
Wu Linxuan reached out and touched them. His fever had broken, his palm back to its normal temperature.
He pulled Lu Meng's clothes back up but didn't retreat to his own side. Instead, he asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Lu Meng glanced back at him, unable to make out his expression clearly. She was still sleepy and couldn't be bothered to rub her eyes again.
She shook her head and said, "It doesn't hurt. Wasn't it just fooling around? It was you, Your Highness, who got angry. I wasn't angry. Your Highness's energy is too vigorous; this humble consort can't compare. In the dead of night... let's just sleep."
"If you weren't angry, why did you put that quilt barrier between us?" Wu Linxuan turned Lu Meng's face, which she had averted, back towards him, looking at her as he said, "You refused to face me the entire night."
Lu Meng thought to herself, You're a walking contagion right now. Just sharing a tent with you is proof of our 'deep marital affection.'
Too lazy to think of an excuse, Lu Meng told the truth directly: "I already said I was afraid of catching it. Don't breathe on me; I don't want to get a high fever..."
"I'm already better," Wu Linxuan said to Lu Meng. "What's a fever to this prince? My fever broke half an hour after I took the medicine."
“Didn't you say you wouldn't live if I died? Now you're starting to dislike me?”
Lu Meng was utterly speechless.
Wu Linxuan's tone right now was genuinely making Lu Meng feel a bit disoriented.
She felt like some scumbag boyfriend who had fallen asleep mid-argument and was now being woken up by his girlfriend in the middle of the night to continue the fight. With her previous boyfriends, Lu Meng had never really argued. If they weren't suitable, they broke up. There were so many boys in the world, why force something that wasn't right?
But with Wu Linxuan, there was no option for a clean break.
Lu Meng hadn't been arguing with him either. Theirs was a relationship of mutual use from the start, something Lu Meng had always been clear about.
But now Wu Linxuan was acting like a big, resentful fool.
Lu Meng couldn't help but respond to Wu Linxuan with a classic modern "boyfriend" retort: "What are you even making a fuss about in the middle of the night?"
"Making a fuss? You're the one who put a quilt between us. Why did you put that quilt there? If you have the nerve, go move to the women's quarters. This is my tent."
Lu Meng: "How can you be so unreasonable?"
"Where is this prince being unreasonable? Wasn't it you..."
"Okay, okay, okay, okay! I was wrong. I was wrong, alright?"
Lu Meng put on an expression of pleading yet perfunctory surrender: "I was wrong. Wrong about everything, really. Let's sleep, Your Highness."
"What are you sleeping for? Explain yourself clearly. Why did you put a quilt between us? Do you want to separate from me?"
"Let me tell you, don't even think about it," Wu Linxuan said coldly, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Don't think I didn't hear your conversation with Xin Ya."
Lu Meng: "..."
"So what do you want then? I only mentioned separation because you weren't coming back, and I thought you were tired of me." Lu Meng looked at Wu Linxuan, feeling somewhat roused from sleepiness by his fussing.
If she had known it would be like this, she would have coaxed him before going to sleep. Why is he so difficult to handle?
Wu Linxuan's expression was dark and inscrutable, his handsome face taut. He couldn't bring himself to argue about those petty, narrow-minded matters again, yet he was unwilling to remain in this awkward state—he just wanted to be appeased.
In his entire life, no one had ever spoken to him without being careful, no one had dared to leave him hanging like that and just go to sleep, and no one had dared to show such blatant disdain toward him.
Wu Linxuan felt his consort was utterly unreasonable.
He gripped Lu Meng's shoulders, just staring at her without a word.
As Lu Meng drowsily closed her eyes, she felt the hands on her shoulders tighten, jolting her awake again.
In the end, Lu Meng truly had no other choice. Her soul's age was indeed eight years older than Wu Linxuan's. She might as well consider herself as having found a young, fussy lover.
"Alright, Your Highness, I know I was wrong," Lu Meng reached out to touch his face, but he turned his head away to avoid it. She tried to loop her arms around his neck and hug him, but he remained stiff and unmoving.
Angered, Lu Meng directly grabbed his ear and gave it a hard tug downward.
Wu Linxuan hissed in pain.
Lu Meng pressed her lips to the tip of his nose, then to his lips, nuzzling lightly as she said, "Is that enough? Not afraid of catching it anymore? If we die, we die together."
Lu Meng squinted her eyes, holding Wu Linxuan's face. They say looking at someone by lamplight adds three points to their beauty. Wu Linxuan was already exceptionally handsome, and in this dim, hazy light, he truly appeared even more dreamlike and illusory, like the "Fair Face" from the pages of a book.
With a face like this, he was indeed worth coaxing a little.
Lu Meng wrapped her arms around his neck, softening her voice as she leaned close to his ear and said, "Don't be angry with me anymore, alright? I'll take the quilt away right now and hold you while we sleep, okay?"
"Do you think this prince cares for that?" Wu Linxuan snorted coldly, pushed Lu Meng away, returned to his side of the bed, and lay down with his back to her.
Lu Meng glanced at him, her lips moving silently as she cursed him, "damned tsundere."
Then she took the quilt folded between them, piled it at the foot of the bed, and wriggled like a worm across the bed until she was right behind Wu Linxuan.
She lifted her arm, wrapped it around his waist from behind, and gave a gentle bite on his back.
Wu Linxuan flinched, then, with not very firm resolve, removed Lu Meng's hand from his waist.
Lu Meng chuckled softly against his back and wrapped her arm around him again.
It was removed again.
She put it back.
It was taken down again, and even given a slight shake.
Lu Meng put it back once more, lifted the hem of his inner robe, placed her hand flat on his stomach, and gave it a few light pats.
Saying, "Alright, sweetheart, let's sleep now,"
Wu Linxuan had initially reached for her wrist again, wanting to shake her off completely. What did she take him for?
He refused to admit he wanted to be coaxed, yet he felt ashamed of his own behavior, and somewhat unable to control it.
In short, he felt he wasn't himself anymore, so unsettled that he couldn't sleep. How could she sleep so soundly?
However, Lu Meng had called him "baobei." In this world, only elders call their beloved children that, or someone who deeply loves another might use endearments like "sweetheart" or "baobei" during the most intimate, private moments in the bedchamber.
As for the way clients in pleasure houses address courtesans or male entertainers, it carries more contempt. How could those people be called "baobei"?
In his consort's tone, he hadn't heard any trace of contempt, only a gentle warmth laced with amusement.
Wu Linxuan had never been anyone's "baobei" in his life, not even his own mother. Imperial families lack true affection; the Yan'an Emperor had too many sons, and he was nothing special. Wu Linxuan's mother doted on him, but she wished more for him to become a dragon—to achieve greatness—so she never indulged or spoiled him.
Hearing this term of endearment for the first time, Wu Linxuan stiffened all over. Such an address was utterly unsuitable for him. Who in this world would dare call him that?
Yet, in the end, he didn't move. He kept gripping Lu Meng's wrist, frozen in that position.
In her drowsy state, Lu Meng snuggled closer, burying her entire face against Wu Linxuan's back.
His back was warm, not feverish anymore, but radiating a comforting heat.
Lu Meng hugged him tighter, truly not wanting to fuss anymore—she was sleepy.
She patted Wu Linxuan's waist, which was tense and rigid. She patted it several times before he finally relaxed. Then Lu Meng opened up her own quilt and drew him inside.
This was the first time the two of them truly shared a quilt.
Under the covers, Lu Meng embraced him again, slinging a leg over his, found a comfortable position, and fell asleep.
Wu Linxuan remained stiffly in that posture. He was lying in a warm quilt, with warm breaths occasionally puffing against his back.
It was a very comfortable environment, yet he felt as if he were on a cliff's edge, sleeping on a narrow coffin. The slightest movement would send him and the coffin tumbling into the abyss.
He didn't know how long he lay there rigidly. The bean-sized lamp flame gradually dimmed. Wu Linxuan closed his eyes and slowly placed his hand over Lu Meng's, which was resting on his waist.
The autumn night was cold, but its chill couldn't penetrate the quilt where the two lay entwined.
In the deep silence of the night, Wu Linxuan didn't know when he finally fell asleep.
The next morning, Lu Meng woke first. The mountain nights were quite chilly even bundled up, but last night she had slept exceptionally warm. Her complexion was rosy in the morning light as she lay buried in Wu Linxuan's embrace, only the top of her hair visible above the quilt.
Upon waking, Lu Meng opened her eyes and stared blankly for a moment at Wu Linxuan's half-bare chest before remembering they had ended up together in the middle of the night.
Usually, even if they had been intimate, they wouldn't sleep under the same quilt afterward. It was just that last night, this "Wu Big Dog" had gotten some strange idea into his head.
To placate him, Lu Meng had ended up sharing his quilt and hugging him to sleep.
How it had turned into him holding her, Lu Meng had no memory. But she had indeed slept very soundly last night. Even now, her foot was still resting on Wu Linxuan's calf.
Thirty-seven degrees... no, last night Wu Big Dog might have been a bit warmer than thirty-seven degrees. Anyway, a constant-temperature heater at that warmth was quite comfortable.
As Lu Meng stirred slightly, Wu Linxuan's eyes snapped open immediately.
Clarity returned in just a moment.
He felt deeply ashamed of everything that had happened since his high fever began the night before.
So, Wu Linxuan pushed Lu Meng away, slightly furrowed his brow, quickly got up from the bed to sit on the edge, and began dressing with a solemn and serious expression.
Lu Meng felt her arms empty and was pushed aside. She couldn't be bothered with him and lazily rolled over, wrapping herself in the blanket and moving to the other side of the bed.
Tsk, this side's cold.
Then she rolled back again, bumping right into Wu Linxuan's back.
"Is there still a competition today? Although the rain has stopped outside, the mountain paths should still be difficult to travel, right?"
Receiving no answer to her two questions, Lu Meng yawned and fell silent.
She planned to go back to sleep. Once Prince Jian'an left, Xin Ya would bring food in.
Wu Linxuan swiftly fastened his clothes, but he didn't stand up immediately. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed frowning, hands on his knees as if in deep meditation... trying to regain his composure.
Lu Meng wanted to sleep but couldn't, having gone to bed too early the previous night. She yawned again, watching Prince Jian'an sitting motionless by the bed like a chanting Buddha. She craned her neck to glance at his front.
Her voice carried a hint of laughter as she said, "Is there a possibility... that if Your Highness just relieves himself, it'll be fine?"
Could he not tell the difference between needing to relieve himself and... other things?! And how could one relieve themselves like this? Pointing at the sky?!
Wu Linxuan turned his head and glared at her angrily. Lu Meng quickly raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, smiling as she said, "Let's make up. I really don't want to be at odds with Your Highness. Isn't it exhausting?"
Since they weren't breaking up for now, Lu Meng naturally hoped to enjoy this period properly.
At her core, she loved peace and disliked all the back-and-forth drama.
Wu Linxuan snorted coldly, stood up from the bedside, threw on his cloak, and left the tent.
"Always so sarcastic and moody, like a proper drama queen!" Lu Meng grumbled to herself, rolling over. Unable to lie still any longer, she simply called her maid in to help her get up.
Later, after Prince Jian'an had somehow resolved his issue and returned, the two of them sat together at the table eating breakfast.
It was another overcast day; the sun hadn't come out yet. Even if there were to be a hunting competition, they would at least have to wait for the sun to dry the paths a bit.
So, both ate leisurely, and Wu Linxuan was in no hurry to leave.
Having received no response when she spoke to Prince Jian'an in the morning, Lu Meng now remained silent, her mouth also occupied with food, leaving no time to bother with him.
Wu Linxuan was also quiet, glancing at Lu Meng from time to time. He drank a bowl of porridge without touching much of the side dishes, as if using Lu Meng herself as a condiment for his meal.
Lu Meng could feel his gaze. Although she was used to it and it didn't bother her much, could plain porridge without side dishes even taste good?
"Your Highness, being a picky eater isn't good, is it?" Lu Meng paused and looked at Prince Jian'an. The morning meal was plain porridge with small side dishes. There were several kinds of side dishes, all made by Xin Ya, and they were quite delicious. Two of them were even wild vegetables from the mountains.
Wu Linxuan had only taken a few bites of the dishes near him and then kept drinking his porridge. Lu Meng didn't want to understand his peculiar habits, but after being together for so long, she knew them whether she wanted to or not.
So, watching Prince Jian'an only drink porridge, Lu Meng reached out and swapped the plates in front of them.
The high-maintenance prince's old habits were acting up again. He would only eat from the few dishes right in front of him and would never stretch his arm for anything out of reach. He had already sampled everything near Wu Linxuan, and eating more would reveal his preferences.
Tch. Lu Meng felt a wave of disdain in her heart.
But she still used her own chopsticks to pick up some shredded pork stir-fried with pickled vegetables and placed it in his bowl.
Wu Linxuan's movements paused.
Lu Meng said in a gentle tone, "Your Highness, you've only just recovered from your illness. You should eat more, otherwise where will you get the strength for the hunt?"
Wu Linxuan lowered his head, stared at the food in his bowl, and frowned again. He disliked himself for being like this.
He truly hated himself for being like this!
But after staring for a moment, Wu Linxuan continued eating.
Just as Lu Meng had guessed, if there was something he wanted to eat but couldn't reach, he wouldn't touch it himself. However, if it was within reach or someone served him, he would eat it.
Wu Linxuan hadn't eaten properly for days. What decent food could there be in the mountains?
Lu Meng occasionally served him another bite of food. Wu Linxuan ate three large bowls of porridge and two coarse grain pancakes as big as a face.
That was the normal appetite for a young man.
After finishing, Wu Linxuan didn't allow himself time to dwell in awkwardness; he directly mounted his horse and left the camp.
As soon as he was away from his princess consort, he became much more like his usual self.
By late afternoon, the participants of the hunting competition had entered the mountains again. In recent days, Wu Linxuan's results had been far ahead. For this final entry into the mountains, everyone was giving it their all, pushing for a last surge in scores.
The competition was exceptionally fierce. Even before evening, two young masters from noble families had been carried out.
It was said that because the mountains were too muddy and they were pushing themselves too hard, they had fallen into a tree pit and been thrown from their horses.
The competition would conclude tomorrow evening. The scoring involved tallying the quantity and variety of game, along with statistics for both team and individual hunts, combined with the previous archery results for a comprehensive score.
Xin Ya explained the hunting rules to her, but Lu Meng didn't pay much attention. She wasn't concerned about who would win or what the rewards were afterward.
She just knew that the MVP would definitely be that big dog Wu.
All she knew was that the hunting competition would end tomorrow night, and the day after they could leave the hunting grounds and return to Prince Jian'an's Mansion.
Therefore, Lu Meng was in high spirits all day. Even before leaving, she had already started having people pack their things.
In the afternoon, she went to the stables again to feed the horses and rode for a while.
That night, the big dog Wu still didn't return. A light rain started again in the evening. This time, however, it didn't halt the competition, though people kept withdrawing or being carried out injured from the mountains.
The autumn drizzle fell for most of the night. The womenfolk were all worried about the young masters and princes hunting in the mountains.
Large tents were set up on the hunting grounds, and most of the women waited there anxiously, both for the hunting competition to end and praying that it wouldn't be their family's men being carried out.
Lu Meng didn't want to go and wait. That big dog Wu was the male lead; he had plot armor. Even if he fell off a cliff, he wouldn't die, and might even stumble upon some peerless martial arts manual instead.
But if everyone else went and only the Princess Consort of Jian'an didn't, it would really seem inappropriate.
Besides, the hunting competition would be over soon. There would be no sleep tonight, but she could grit her teeth and endure it; it would pass.
So, Lu Meng gritted her teeth, fighting against the instinct to just collapse onto the bed. She put on layer after layer of clothing, wrapped herself in a thick cloak, and was slowly escorted by her maids towards the direction of the hunting grounds' martial arena.
The martial arena was exceptionally, exceptionally large. Every time Lu Meng came here, she couldn't help but marvel. In this society where imperial power reigned supreme, anything touched by the word "royal" was extraordinarily grand and magnificent.
She walked for a long time. Even before reaching the area where the ladies were gathered, she could already hear the sound of chattering voices drifting over.
The ground was wet and slippery. Several maids surrounded Lu Meng, and she was seriously considering whether she could pretend to faint and be taken back to her tent if she "accidentally" slipped on this ground.
However, the ground was simply too dirty, and the autumn night was too cold. Falling and getting covered in mud, then going back to bathe and go through all that trouble, would make it very late anyway.
Most importantly, Lu Meng had been lucky not to catch the cold from Wu Linxuan. She couldn't go looking for illness herself; lying on the ground in this weather was most unwise.
Thus, Lu Meng had no choice but to continue slowly towards the gathering, her mind racing about what to do if that little hot pepper (the princess) came looking for trouble.
Even though that big dog Wu had said he wouldn't marry the little hot pepper anymore, Lu Meng didn't believe a word he said.
What attitude should she adopt when dealing with Princess Yin Yue? Was it possible that if she explained to the Princess her only wish was to laze about in the inner residence, the two of them could coexist peacefully and without incident?
Before Lu Meng could sort through these thoughts, before she could even step into the temporary tents where the ladies were gathered, a series of frantic shouts came from the distant mountains: "Summon the imperial physicians! Quickly, summon the imperial physicians! The Second Prince and Prince Jian'an are gravely injured—"
"Summon the physicians quickly—"
Immediately, chaos erupted in the arena. Lu Meng thought she was hearing things. She turned her head and asked Xin Ya, "What is that eunuch shouting? Is our Prince injured?"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Xin Ya's expression turned anxious. She said to Lu Meng, "This servant will first escort you to where the ladies are, then I will go and see!" Lu Meng grabbed her hand instead. Glancing towards the ladies' tents, she thought to herself, if that big dog Wu was fine, she might be okay going in there. But if something had happened to him, stepping into those tents might be like entering a dragon's den or a tiger's lair!
She couldn't give anyone a chance to take advantage of the confusion.
So, Lu Meng said to Xin Ya, "I'll go with you to see what exactly happened. How could the Prince be injured?"
Genuine anxiety tinged Lu Meng's voice as she thought to herself, the plot deviation was getting too severe. How could that big dog Wu possibly get injured?
Was the halo over his head not shining because it was cloudy?
While mistress and maid were speaking, a large group of people had already descended from the mountain. Among them were several young nobles from prominent families who looked utterly disheveled, their bodies and even faces smeared with mud and blood. They stumbled out of the woods, their minds clearly elsewhere.
Behind them, several guards who looked very familiar to Lu Meng were rapidly carrying two people towards the arena.
Without exception, they were all covered in mud and blood. As they drew closer, all the ladies emerged from their tents, most rushing towards those dazed young nobles.
Lu Meng did not step forward to intercept the guards or ask questions. Instead, supported by her maids, she followed at a distance, keeping pace with the group.
By the flickering, dim light of torches in the autumn rain, a familiar profile, caked in mud, could be vaguely seen among those being carried. It was Wu Linxuan.
Lu Meng was genuinely a bit frightened. Wu Linxuan was bundled in a cloak, only his head visible as he was carried, hanging lifelessly.
Just then, the rain intensified. A flash of lightning split the sky, followed by a rumble of thunder that seemed to beat like frantic drums upon everyone's hearts.
"The mountain slope collapsed due to the continuous autumn rains. Many people were down there, surrounding a tiger... so many were buried!"
Lu Meng faintly heard a young noble who had narrowly escaped explaining the situation from the direction of the crowd. Soon, female family members, unable to find their men, began to cry in anxious despair.
Their sobs mingled with the increasingly heavy autumn rain, striking the face with a chill that seeped into the soul.
"All personnel, heed my command! Follow me into the mountains for rescue!" The guard captain from the hunting grounds began organizing men to enter the mountains.
With two imperial princes involved in an incident, and reports of young nobles buried in the mud... this autumn hunt was destined to be cut short.
Lu Meng, followed by a large retinue of servants, headed towards the tents where the imperial physicians were stationed.
The rain grew heavier, the ground too slippery. Lu Meng, dressed too heavily and cumbersome today, simply couldn't walk fast.
Lu Meng had been stunned at first, but after catching snippets of conversation, her anxiety grew. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Xin Ya's hand.
Compared to man-made disasters, natural calamities were even more unpredictable and often impossible to resist.
As she walked towards the tents, Lu Meng called out in her mind to the system: "Quick! Quick, check Wu Linxuan's condition! Tell me, if the male lead dies, will the world collapse? If the world collapses, can I still go home?!"
The system replied: "Don't panic. It's not a big problem."
The system said: "He's playing dead."
Upon hearing this, the panic that had been spreading through Lu Meng's limbs came to an abrupt halt.
Her footsteps immediately stopped. A small accumulation of water on her cloak dripped onto her face, carrying a cold, wet sensation that slid down her elegant nose bridge and landed on her lovely, rosy lips.
She slowly turned her head towards the chaotic area where the female family members were gathered. Just then, another flash of lightning streaked across the sky, turning the world bright as day for an instant.
A booming clap of thunder drew near, a sharp crack that seemed to strike right beside one's ear.
Having confirmed Wu Linxuan was fine, Lu Meng, in the moment the lightning illuminated the sky, saw Old Madam Cen and her cousin, Cen Qiushu, weeping and calling out.
Lu Meng immediately changed direction and headed back towards the area where the women were. It was much closer than going to the physicians' tents.
It didn't take long for Lu Meng to reach the vicinity of the women's tents. Here, aside from those weeping in their families' arms after a narrow escape, there were only those utterly distraught—either anxiously crying, pleading with, or ordering the eunuchs maintaining order to send people into the mountains for rescue—still calling out in panic.
"Please rest assured, Madams. All guards from the hunting grounds have already gone into the mountains."
This eunuch's voice sounded remarkably gentle and steady, without the piercing sharpness that could be uncomfortable. Even while being pulled and jostled, he remained very composed, repeatedly soothing the crowd.
Lu Meng glanced at him, and the eunuch naturally saw Lu Meng as well.
He immediately approached Lu Meng, bowed respectfully, and asked, "Why is the Princess Consort here? Prince Jian'an has already been taken to the medical tent staffed by the imperial physicians. This place is too chaotic. This servant will arrange for someone to escort the Princess Consort..."
The eunuch leaned in a little closer and said to Lu Meng, "The road is too slippery in the rain. Please follow this servant, Princess Consort. There is a sedan chair behind this tent. It would be best for you to return and wait."
Lu Meng recognized Xiang Yunhe. She usually steered clear of such supporting male characters, but after looking around and not seeing the two women of the Cen family, she had no choice but to step forward and ask Xiang Yunhe, "Have you seen the two ladies of the Cen family? Why aren't they in this tent?"
Xiang Yunhe looked up at Lu Meng and said, "It is said that the Second Young Master of the Cen family was buried in the mud. The Cen family didn't bring many guards this time. When they heard about going into the mountains to rescue people and that there were landslides, several of the servants had already run off."
"Old Madam Cen and Miss Cen were simply too worried and insisted on personally leading the few remaining servants into the mountains. We servants couldn't stop them. They have headed into the hills."
"This won't do!" Isn't that just going into the mountains to die?
But at this moment, it was almost impossible to return to the imperial city to seek reinforcements. The hunting grounds' guards were also limited. Deciding who to save first and who not to save, those guards now became like the King of Hell wielding a blade.
The Cen family had always remained neutral, offending far too many people throughout the entire court.
Lu Meng had heard Xin Ya speak a lot about the Cen family these past few days and understood why Old Madam Cen was so desperate to rush into the mountains to her death.
Being a pure minister who showed no favor to anyone was not an easy role.
In the current situation, they had no other choice. When the Cen family was doing well, no one dared to touch them, but at a moment like this, it was all too easy for others to take advantage of their misfortune. The Second Young Master of the Cen family was famously ruthless, severe, and impartial in the imperial city, and he was also the most prominent young master of the Cen family currently serving openly in the Ministry of Justice.
If no one hurried into the mountains to keep watch, Cen Xishi might very well be conveniently done away with.
Lu Meng immediately grew tense and said, "Do you know which direction they went? Quickly, take me there!"
"This servant knows, but the Princess Consort must not go! This servant will take some men immediately to bring Old Madam Cen and Miss Cen back! Please wait here for a moment, Princess Consort."
After saying this, Xiang Yunhe turned and left the tent. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky. His figure was tall and slender, his back ramrod straight, and he appeared remarkably composed, without a trace of the cowering servility typical of a servant.
"Follow me, a few of you!" He quickly pointed out several young eunuchs and then, without the slightest hesitation, headed off in a certain direction.
It was clear he knew exactly where Old Madam Cen had gone and hadn't sincerely tried to stop her. After all, what did it have to do with him?
Their duty as servants was merely to maintain order in the hunting grounds. The responsibility of rescuing people didn't fall on their shoulders. If someone wanted to throw their life away, Xiang Yunhe was content to watch coldly from the sidelines.
He was not a merciful soul by nature. Someone could die right in front of him, and he might not even blink.
But the Princess Consort of Prince Jian'an had asked. She was anxious. So, naturally, Xiang Yunhe set off without delay to chase after them.
Seeing Xiang Yunhe leave, Lu Meng immediately exited the tent as well. She raised her hand to summon her little mercenary team and instructed, "Du Long, take Little Hong and the others, follow behind Xiang Yunhe."
"Watch him bring Old Madam Cen and Miss Cen back. Then, you all take the Cen family's people into the mountains to keep watch. Bring Cen Xishi back, whether he is alive or dead."
"Your Highness, the hunting grounds are in chaos right now. I will take some men to rescue the Second Young Master Cen. Let Du Long stay behind with one person to accompany you."
The speaker was Little Hong. Lu Meng did not argue and nodded in agreement.
Little Hong swiftly led men to chase after Xiang Yunhe. At that moment, a figure like a shadow in the rainy night drifted down and landed lightly beside Lu Meng.
He half-knelt in the muddy ground, bowing his head, then looked up. His handsome face, smeared with mud, held a desolate coldness.
In a tone that was not panicked but urgent, he said to Lu Meng, "The Prince's condition is critical. The hunting grounds lack the necessary medicinal ingredients. We must depart for the imperial city immediately. The Chief Imperial Physician has already reported the reason to His Majesty. This subordinate is here to escort Your Highness to leave with the Prince!"
Lu Meng's expression changed. Before she could even ask the system in her mind, the system said, "Don't panic. The big dog is faking it."
Lu Meng immediately let out a sigh of relief. Tonight was far too thrilling.
She truly wasn't suited for this kind of heart-pounding excitement.
Lu Meng glanced in the direction Xiang Yunhe and the others had run off. There was still no sign of anyone returning. Presumably, those two ladies of the Cen family, worried about Cen Xishi, had run quite far and wouldn't be back so quickly.
She had originally thought to wait for their return to offer a few words of comfort. Adding flowers to brocade is commonplace, but sending charcoal in snowy weather is most precious.
However, since Wu Linxuan was in such a hurry to return to Prince Jian'an's Mansion, he must have his reasons.
He had even notified the Emperor. Lu Meng had no reason to linger here.
With the hunting grounds in such disarray, staying longer would certainly bring no good. Lu Meng didn't even ask about the specifics of his condition. She directly asked Xin Ya, "Have all our things been packed?"
"Replying to Your Highness, they have been packed. We can leave as soon as the carriage is hitched. However, the horses, 'Treading Snow' and 'Seeking Plum,' will need to be sent by the hunting grounds later..."
"Your Highness," the person kneeling on the ground suddenly interjected, "Your Highness must come with this subordinate now. The carriage is waiting. The Prince's condition is critical; there is no time to delay. All the belongings can be left for the maidservants to pack here."
"Yuehui, rise first," Lu Meng said, having Yuehui stand up. He had been speaking while kneeling in the mud.
Lu Meng didn't know why Wu Linxuan was in such a hurry, but she knew to be obedient at a time like this. She said to Xin Ya, "Then you stay here and wait for Old Madam Cen and Miss Cen. Be sure to comfort them properly and reassure them. Xiuyun and Xiuli, go back to finish packing and have the carriage hitched. I will leave first with the Prince."
After making these arrangements, Lu Meng followed Yuehui. Du Long followed with one person, along with the other guards Wu Linxuan had assigned to Lu Meng, all trailing behind her.
The ground was still too slippery. Lu Meng couldn't walk quickly at all. The wind picked up again, a slanting, fierce rain that kept whipping open her cloak. Lu Meng held onto it tightly with her hand.
After walking only a few steps and not getting far at all, Yuehui, who was leading the way, stopped. He looked down at Lu Meng from his height, then cupped his hands and said, "The matter is urgent. I must beg Your Highness's pardon!"
Lu Meng was just wondering, pardon for what? Then Yuehui suddenly bowed towards her, wrapped an arm around her waist, hoisted her over his shoulder, and with a tap of his toes, began leaping and flying forward.
Lu Meng let out a cry of surprise. Even Du Long, following behind her, was stunned for a moment.
"Hey!" Du Long shouted and immediately flew into pursuit.
Du Long had crossed paths with Yuehui before, and not just once. He always said that Prince Jian'an's death warriors were trained into fools – who would just hoist a person over their shoulder like a sack of grain!
Lu Meng's stomach pressed right against Yuehui's shoulder. In her panic, she grabbed at something to steady herself and ended up clutching his hair.
But Yuehui showed no reaction whatsoever, as if he had lost all sensation. His speed as he flew through the air was incredibly fast, and the slippery ground seemed to have no effect on him at all.
Death warriors were always exceptionally skilled in lightness martial arts. Du Long and another companion gave chase from behind, while the remaining guards couldn't keep up.
Lu Meng hardly knew how to describe it. Flying through the air on someone's shoulder was far more thrilling than any rollercoaster ride, and the main difference was that a rollercoaster had never made her feel this nauseous.
Fortunately, Yuehui was extremely fast. It wasn't long before he had reached the edge of the hunting grounds, where a carriage stood waiting. Yuehui simply deposited Lu Meng onto the carriage's footboard before finally releasing the arm tightly clamped around her waist.
He then dropped to one knee and said, "I beg your forgiveness, Princess Consort."
Lu Meng couldn't be bothered to argue. Suppressing the urge to dry heave, she waved a hand to signal for him to rise.
Before she could utter "It's fine," another arm wrapped tightly around her waist. This arm was smeared with mud and blood, the veins bulging on the back of a hand covered in fine, dense scars. It swiftly pulled her into the carriage.
"Go!"
A low voice sounded by Lu Meng's ear. She crashed into a fiery-hot chest as the carriage immediately lurched forward—
