The sun began to set in the west.
The sky gradually darkened.
Yun Yueyin couldn't sit still, constantly peering into the forest.
It was so late, and quite a few people had already emerged, all with bountiful harvests.
Why hadn't Zhen Xu appeared yet?
And where were Zhen Lin and Princess Ningde?
Please, let nothing unexpected have happened!
She had waited here all day, her sole anticipation being Zhen Xu becoming the most dazzling presence today! The man she married had to be the most formidable!
Only then could she make the women of Xixia envious of her!
Her gaze eagerly scanned the returning horse riders.
Still no sign of Zhen Xu.
Hong Ling asked with some confusion, "Why hasn't the Second Young Master returned yet?"
So many people were back, and the Second Young Master was so skilled in archery, he shouldn't have made any mistakes. So why wasn't he back yet?
She didn't voice the rest of her thought, afraid it would upset her mistress.
Yun Yueyin's brow furrowed slightly. "Indeed, he's taking a bit long to return. He should be out soon."
Beside them, many people had already begun to cheer.
After all, the more people returned, the more prey there was.
Even the Emperor wore a faint smile.
"His Highness Prince Jin has returned!"
Someone exclaimed in a hushed tone. Many had already noticed Zhan Tianye's return and turned their attention to him.
The last rays of the setting sun bathed Zhan Tianye, making his countenance even more captivating.
Such resplendent beauty.
"His Highness Prince Jin has so much prey!"
Several guards followed behind him, and the horses they led were laden with numerous kills.
At a glance, it was clear that among the returning participants, Prince Jin had the largest haul!
"His Highness Prince Jin is too amazing!"
"How did His Highness Prince Jin achieve this?"
Amidst the exclamations of many women, Yun Yueyin, suppressing her fear, looked over. Her eyes were momentarily dazzled, and her heart trembled uncontrollably.
Even after so many years, and having experienced Zhen Ming and Zhen Xu in between, she still couldn't forget Prince Ye!
In truth, Prince Ye was the man who had first captured her heart! The man who could make her swoon! The man who could make her forget everything around her!
But why had he become crippled back then!
If he hadn't become crippled, she would have already been his woman!
Yun Yueyin felt a deep sense of resentment. Looking at the infatuated women, she desperately wanted to tell them that he was Prince Ye of Dongning!
She was supposed to marry Prince Ye!
However, these cries could only remain buried within her heart, unknown to anyone. She was now Zhen Xu's woman, and her identity was no longer Yun Yueyin.
She tightly pursed her lips, her thoughts so complex that even she didn't understand them.
Just then, more people were returning!
And quite a few of them.
Yun Yueyin glanced over.
She only gave a cursory glance, noticing someone slumped on their horse. Were they injured? Accidents were common during hunts; it was understandable.
However, it seemed like they weren't very skilled, otherwise, how could they have gotten injured?
Yun Yueyin indifferently withdrew her gaze, thinking that Zhen Xu was taking so long to return because he knew Prince Ye had a larger kill count, and he wanted to surpass Prince Ye, thus delaying his return to secure a victory over him.
She had actually overlooked Prince Ye. If she had known, she wouldn't have let Zhen Lin waste his time with Ning Ruan during the hunt.
Just as she was regretting it, Hong Ling beside her exclaimed in alarm, "Mistress, Mistress! That's the Second Young Master!"
"The Second Young Master is injured!"
"Oh my! Isn't that the Second Young Master from Prince Pingyang's estate? Why does he look so badly hurt!"
"He's fainted! Young Master Zhen has fainted! He's covered in wounds!"
"Quick, imperial physicians, come quickly!"
Numerous gasps and exclamations reached her ears.
Yun Yueyin, who had not yet fully swallowed her tea, heard these cries. They exploded in her mind like thunder.
Her eyes fell upon Zhen Xu, who was being helped off his horse like a puddle of mud and then carried over!
He was covered in bloody wounds, and his face was also bloody.
And the prey on his horse was pitifully few.
Yun Yueyin froze on the spot, completely motionless.
Hong Ling covered her mouth and cried, "Mistress, Mistress, the Second Young Master is injured! Mistress!"
The repeated calls of "Mistress," drawing nearer and nearer, finally registered. Her face pale, she stumbled to Zhen Xu's side and asked with a trembling voice, "What happened?"
Wasn't he supposed to be the champion today?
The first place winner?
Hadn't he made grand promises to her?
His vows were so clear in her mind, so why had everything changed?
Why had he returned so wretchedly, like a dead man?
The unconscious Zhen Xu naturally couldn't answer Yun Yueyin's question. The people standing nearby shook their heads and replied, "We don't know either. We encountered Zhen Xu midway. He was already slumped on his horse, unconscious! It looks like he rolled somewhere, which is why he's so seriously injured."
"Imperial physicians, the imperial physicians are here!"
Yun Yueyin's mind roared. She felt as if all her fantasies had turned to dust.
She had tried so hard to appease Zhen Xu for days, only for this to be the result!
Yun Yueyin felt like she was going to vomit blood!
"Is our Second Young Master going to be alright?" Hong Ling, seeing Yun Yueyin's ashen face and her silence, as if she were terrified, quickly asked the imperial physician.
After taking Zhen Xu's pulse, the imperial physician said, "He has only sustained some external wounds and some internal injuries. Nothing too serious, but the wound on his face may leave a scar."
Hong Ling's expression also changed.
The others looked at each other, then at Yun Yueyin.
A scar on his face later would mean Zhen Xu was disfigured. However, for a man, disfigurement might be acceptable. Fortunately, he wasn't a woman. But the wife of Zhen Xu might not think so.
Look at how Zhen Xu's wife had turned deathly pale with fright.
The outside world spoke of the deep affection between Zhen Xu and his wife. Now, it seemed the rumors were true.
"I happen to have some wound medicine with me. Let's apply it first, and then have someone carry Young Master Zhen back for proper treatment of his wounds in his room," the imperial physician added.
"Yes, yes, yes," Hong Ling could only agree on behalf of her mistress.
Her mistress was always so composed; why was she so distraught today?
Even if the Second Young Master was injured, Mistress shouldn't have lost her senses like this.
Could it be because the Second Young Master was so badly hurt?
Just then, a new voice reached the ears of the dazed Yun Yueyin.
"Is that Young Master Zhen?"
"Young Master Zhen... has actually hunted so much prey?"
"And Princess Ningde, Princess Ningde also has quite a lot of prey!"
Yun Yueyin stiffly turned her head towards the direction of Zhen Lin and Princess Ningde.