"Giddy up!"
The moment Mu Qinglan mounted the horse, Xiao Ye released the reins.
"Prime Minister Xiao..."
The Empress's expression changed slightly, before she could say anything.
Their horse galloped into the hunting grounds' woods, disappearing from the ministers' sight.
Because the Empress had just mounted, and Xiao Ye was riding very fast.
Her body couldn't sit steadily. She heard Xiao Ye's low reminder, "Your Majesty, please be careful."
Mu Qinglan still held her bow and arrows, her weight tilting slightly.
She couldn't help but place her hand on Xiao Ye's waist, her legs pressing firmly on the horse's back to steady herself.
Entering the woods, countless animals roamed.
Xiao Ye pulled back on the reins, slowing the magnificent horse.
Once her agitated emotions calmed, Mu Qinglan frowned and said coldly, "Why did this horse go mad for no reason?"
The horses for this hunt were all vetted by Prime Minister Xiao.
Mu Qinglan suspected that Xiao Ye had tampered with something.
Normally, the divine horses the Empress kept were not too wild and had been thoroughly tamed by her.
However, upon entering the hunting grounds, they were inspected by Xiao Ye.
"This is my oversight, Your Majesty. Please punish me."
Xiao Ye's demeanor was composed, appearing as innocent as could be.
His tone carried self-reproach, as if seeking punishment from the Empress.
However, Mu Qinglan could see how unconcerned Xiao Ye was!
His attitude had angered the Empress. Killing intent surged within her, wishing she could shoot an arrow at Xiao Ye's head.
Yet, the Empress suppressed her temper, knowing she had to remain calm.
"It's not entirely Prime Minister Xiao's fault; it's my horse that had an issue."
Xiao Ye did not turn to look at the Empress's expression, nor could she see his gaze.
A wild rabbit was not far away. He said, "It's fortunate Your Majesty was merely startled. I will not let this hunt end in disappointment."
"Prime Minister Xiao, you truly are my good minister."
Mu Qinglan's voice was flat, but her expression was akin to gritted teeth.
Seeing Xiao Ye's tall figure, she imagined ways for him to die.
The Empress would not let the hunt be canceled; she wanted this treacherous minister to perish here.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly.
Xiao Ye shot an arrow, piercing a roe deer!
The Empress's heart gave a slight jolt as she saw Xiao Ye's posture as he drew his bow.
Xiao Ye, who had dismounted, tied the fallen roe deer to himself like a trophy.
His dark eyes were gentle as he glanced at the Empress seated on the horse.
"Your Majesty, you may now hunt."
Seeing Xiao Ye pierce the roe deer, she inexplicably felt a chill.
The roe deer, the prey, was not dead. It struggled feebly, its movements becoming smaller and smaller.
Xiao Ye, appearing calm and indifferent, pulled the arrow from the roe deer.
It died on the spot!
The entire hunting ground seemed to lay a trap for Xiao Ye, yet he appeared like a hunter, shrewdly emerging as the prey.
It seemed that trying to trap Xiao Ye was sheer fantasy.
She felt something was wrong...
What exactly was wrong?
Everything seemed to be under control; she was the so-called prey.
The Empress narrowed her eyes, a deep wariness hidden within them.
Disturbed, Mu Qinglan drew her divine bow.
She paced nearby and keenly spotted an eagle in the sky.
The Empress's gaze fixed, her steps halted.
She drew her bow, and the eagle suddenly plummeted.
Xiao Ye saw the inviolable majesty on the Empress's person. At this moment, she was the master of the hunting grounds.
He smiled.
Xiao Ye strode towards where the eagle had fallen.
Mu Qinglan stood in place, watching him carry over both an eagle and an owl.
He said, "Your Majesty, your archery is peerless; you've shot two birds with one arrow!"
The Empress hadn't expected her luck to be so good, hitting two prey with one arrow!
Accompanied by Xiao Ye's praise, the Empress's mood improved considerably.
Mu Qinglan's expression was natural, and her interest was piqued.
"I will collect a few more prey."
She mounted her steed, Xiao Ye's body moving in sync with the Empress's.
Mu Qinglan's archery was indeed excellent. She hit rabbits and hyenas in the hunting grounds, acquiring numerous prey.
Xiao Ye praised her beside her, seeming genuinely impressed by Mu Qinglan's prowess.
"Hurry, Prime Minister Xiao, hurry."
The Empress was having great fun in the hunting grounds, which gradually evolved into Xiao Ye riding the horse while she did the shooting!
Xiao Ye chuckled softly. He saw a cheetah hiding in the grass.
He spoke up to remind her, "Your Majesty, look to your left."
Mu Qinglan also locked onto the cheetah and drew her bow, preparing to shoot.
Just then, a dangerous gust of wind swept towards them!
Bang.
A stone appeared from a certain direction. This was the signal for the assassins' arrival!
Mu Qinglan's body stiffened. Seated behind Xiao Ye, she noticed the impending danger.
"The cheetah is about to escape, Your Majesty..."
Hearing the low reminder, Mu Qinglan looked at the unsuspecting Xiao Ye.
She paused her hand drawing the bow, countless thoughts surging through her mind.
During the hunt, they had developed a tacit understanding.
Xiao Ye and the Empress were very close. She could see the man's heroic bearing as he handled the horse!
In this short time, the Empress was happy.
However, this did not mean she would let Xiao Ye off the hook.
"Prime Minister Xiao..."
Mu Qinglan saw him turn his head in confusion. Her voice held a hidden meaning.
"It's alright if the cheetah gets away; we'll have another chance to find it."
At this moment, she dropped her formal address, her tone carrying a hint of complexity.
"Then where does Your Majesty think we should search?"
Xiao Ye's gaze swept around as he asked for the Empress's opinion.
The Empress now knew where the assassins were. The signal just now was a precursor to action.
"Over there."
Xiao Ye heard Mu Qinglan's words and looked at a small stone lying quietly in the deep grass.
Mu Qinglan saw the smile at the corner of Xiao Ye's lips. He steered the horse in a different direction.
It was precisely towards where the hidden assassins were!
Mu Qinglan's heart sank as she gazed at Xiao Ye's profile.
Her hand gripping the bow tightened. This hunting trip with Xiao Ye was the happiest day for the Empress.
Not only because she could kill Xiao Ye, but also because Prime Minister Xiao had accompanied her for the entire day.
It was like in her youth, when she was just learning to ride a horse...
Prime Minister Xiao, sent by the late Emperor as her teacher, had stayed by the Empress's side until the end.
If... Xiao Ye hadn't turned into what he was today, Mu Qinglan wouldn't have insisted on his death.
However, Mu Qinglan could now see her younger brother's face with her eyes closed.
His eyes were bloodshot, his face filled with pain.
She had merely done what any Emperor would do!
Mu Qinglan opened her icy eyes and gazed at Xiao Ye's face, which was almost overlapping with the youth in her memory.
Traitorous minister Xiao Ye, if you die in my hunting grounds, I will surely give you a grand burial!