Yun Huang nodded, and Hua Yun Dan retreated.
"Your Majesty, did I say something wrong again?" Li Chen Xi scratched his head. He felt that Hua Yun Dan's state was a bit off.
"Deep affection is often wounded by indifference. I wonder when Yun Dan will truly let go of the stone in his heart."
Li Chen Xi shook his head, indicating his lack of understanding.
Exiting the tent, Hua Yun Dan breathed a sigh of relief. He extended his hands from his sleeves and discovered that he had clenched his fists so tightly without realizing it.
Xue Zi Ning? He shook his head and gave a wry smile. He thought he had forgotten, but found that everything that reminded him of her would come flooding back.
Returning to his tent, Cheng Fei and the guard Ning were still sparring outside. They seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.
Xue Zi Ning saw Hua Yun Dan return and sheathed her sword, saying, "Your mission is complete."
Cheng Fei was startled, "Guard Ning, what are you talking about?"
"No need to play dumb. Please leave, Guard Cheng!" With that, Xue Zi Ning turned away from Cheng Fei and returned to her position, continuing to stand guard.
Cheng Fei thought to himself that this person was truly extraordinary, knowing that he had deliberately come to spar with him.
The next day, in the hunting grounds, Prince Jing rode alongside Yun Huang. Prince Jing said, "Your Majesty, you are not hunting animals today."
Yun Huang heard this and asked, "Does Prince Jing have a good suggestion?"
Prince Jing's eyes flickered as he said, "Hunters, how about that?"
Yun Huang's hand gripping the reins tightened slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. "Prince Jing, hunters? How shall we hunt?"
Prince Jing waved his hand, and from a carriage, about ten people alighted. They wore ankle and wrist chains. "Your Majesty, these are the prey."
Yun Huang's gaze slightly sharpened. "How does Prince Jing intend to hunt?"
Prince Jing said, "Set them free."
The guards unlocked the ankle and wrist chains of the dozen people. Suddenly, a guard drew his sword and severed the arm of the closest person. The others were greatly alarmed and scattered wildly.
Prince Jing asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
"Prince Jing, this method is too brutal. I will not participate in the hunt," Yun Huang said coldly.
Prince Jing replied, "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. These people are all death row inmates. Even if I didn't have them hunted, they would be executed in the autumn. If any of them can survive until the end, I will set him free and give him a chance to live."
Yun Huang remained silent.
Prince Jing continued, "Since Your Majesty finds it a bit cruel, perhaps you would like to watch me hunt?"
Without waiting for Yun Huang's reply, Prince Jing spurred his horse forward.
Yun Huang's gaze chilled. At this moment, Li Chen Xi walked up from behind and whispered, "Down there, those prisoners are wearing the same clothes, and their faces are branded. I can't tell who they are."
"Let's go." Yun Huang spurred his horse in the direction Prince Jing had gone.
Meanwhile, Xue Zi Ning also rode out, searching for Song Jiang and Hei Yin. Although she suspected that Prince Jing might not include Song Jiang and Hei Yin among these people, she couldn't be absolutely certain.
After all, Prince Jing's schemes were not something an ordinary person could fathom. It was better to be cautious.
"Prince Jing." Just as Prince Jing drew his bow and aimed at a prisoner, Yun Huang suddenly spoke.
Prince Jing turned around and, seeing it was Yun Huang, said with surprise, "Your Majesty, didn't you dislike this method of hunting?"
Yun Huang replied, "I've thought about it, and I think it's quite good."
"If that's the case, shall I give this person to Your Majesty?"
Yun Huang looked at the frightened prisoner not far away. After a long pause, he nodded. "How wonderful!"
Raising his bow, Yun Huang closed his eyes and shot the arrow. The arrow went off course and missed the prisoner. He smiled and said, "My archery skills cannot compare to Prince Jing's."
Prince Jing suddenly raised his bow and shot an arrow, which struck the prisoner in the chest.
"Your Majesty, how is my archery skill?" Prince Jing asked Yun Huang with a smile.
Yun Huang's gaze flickered, and he said, word by word, "Not bad."
Upon hearing this, Prince Jing laughed heartily. "To receive Your Majesty's praise is truly a life well-lived."
"Prince Jing is too humble," Yun Huang replied.
"Your Majesty, it seems you don't quite believe the prisoner is dead?"
Yun Huang looked up at Prince Jing and said, "Shot through the heart by Prince Jing's arrow, how could he possibly survive?"
"Your Majesty thinks I am being cruel." Prince Jing narrowed his eyes and said slowly.
"How many of those in positions of power are not cruel?" Yun Huang said lightly.
Prince Jing heard this and burst into laughter. "Your Majesty speaks the truth. If one is not cruel, who will obey?"
Seeing Yun Huang remain silent, Prince Jing continued, "I have already hunted one. Your Majesty, please proceed."
Hua Yun Dan was about to speak when Yun Huang interjected, "Alright, I shall try as well."
Hua Yun Dan looked at Li Chen Xi, who was blocking his path, and said coldly, "Move aside."
Li Chen Xi did not move, but instead said, "Prime Minister, His Majesty ordered me to stop you."
Hua Yun Dan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Stop me? Why?"
"You know the reason," Li Chen Xi replied.
"Do you think I would prevent His Majesty from hunting?"
Li Chen Xi looked at Hua Yun Dan as if to say, "Isn't it obvious?"
Hua Yun Dan said, "I am not that great. I wouldn't anger Prince Jing over a mere prisoner."
Li Chen Xi was taken aback. "Then you..."
"Is it safe by His Majesty's side?" Hua Yun Dan asked Li Chen Xi, word for word.
Li Chen Xi trembled. He looked up to see Yun Huang riding away, with no guards around him.
"You mean... Prince Jing's ultimate goal is His Majesty?"
"Since you know, then move aside," Hua Yun Dan said coldly, pushing Li Chen Xi aside with one hand.
Yun Huang did not immediately hunt the prisoners. He moved closer and noticed that they were all unfamiliar faces. Song Jiang and Hei Yin were not among them, which brought him a slight sense of relief.
"Li Chen Xi, come here," he said.
After a long silence with no response, he finally looked up and realized Li Chen Xi was nowhere to be seen. He remembered that in the morning, he had asked Li Chen Xi to protect Hua Yun Dan, as he felt Prince Jing seemed to be taking a particular interest in Hua Yun Dan.
Thinking of Hua Yun Dan's appearance, he felt he had to be cautious. Suddenly, he heard faint footsteps and instinctively looked up to see the prisoners approaching him with a murderous glint in their eyes.
A murderous glint? They were prisoners, how could they have a murderous glint? Could he be mistaken?
He tightened his grip on the reins and retreated, but the prisoners, without him noticing, had already formed a circle, enclosing him.
"You... are not prisoners. Who exactly are you?" Yun Huang said coldly. Prisoners should be fleeing everywhere, not surrounding him. Could it be that they had other motives?