Liu Qi: “Where are the master and the others?”

The guard replied, “I haven’t seen them in the Imperial Guard, so they should still be deep in the hunting grounds.”

Liu Qi nodded. With Hao San, Xu Si, and the elite soldiers from the Wangfu around, he wasn’t too worried about Cen Yan and his group’s safety. But just to be safe, he instructed the guard to stay on the outskirts. As soon as there was any news about Cen Yan and his group, he was to return immediately to report.

The guard took his leave.

Liu Qi looked at Zhuang Dongqing, only to find him lost in thought. After hesitating for a moment, Liu Qi suggested, “Young Master Zhuang, should we head back to the palace? If there really is a bear, it’s not very safe here. If I’m not mistaken, the Imperial Guard will soon escort the nobles away.”

Zhuang Dongqing was indeed thinking about something else, and he seemed a bit distracted. “How big is the little bear in the hunting grounds? A mother bear teaches her cubs to hunt and usually keeps them until they are three years old. Sometimes, they even keep them until they are four, at which point they look almost like adult bears.”

“How could there be a lone little bear?”

Liu Qi was taken aback by the question. “Bears are not commonly seen. Are you sure about these habits?”

Zhuang Dongqing nodded. He was a loyal enthusiast of the animal world. He could even recite the classic line “Spring has come.”

He had enrolled in medical school at university, but he had to drop out shortly after due to his aunt’s illness. He didn’t learn much, but the pressure of studying medicine was intense, with textbooks as thick as bricks. To relax, Zhuang Dongqing enjoyed watching videos of cute animals and delicious food.

Seeing his serious expression, Liu Qi sensed something unusual.

Looking around, Liu Qi whispered, “Do you think the sudden appearance of this bear is the mother of the little bear?”

“Not necessarily. Animals that take care of their young for a long time tend to have strong maternal instincts. If this mother bear recently lost her cubs, she might mistake this one in the hunting grounds for her own to raise.”

In the end, Zhuang Dongqing said, “I just feel that something is off.”

Liu Qi nodded, taking note of it. He planned to wait for Cen Yan to return and report back, then see what Cen Yan had to say.

In just a few moments, the guard returned with the latest news.

Cen Yan and his group were unharmed and had already returned from deep in the hunting grounds. The Emperor had ordered him to lead a team of Imperial Guards to join the hunt for the black bear.

All the princes and ministers were safe, except for the Third Prince, who had sustained minor injuries while hunting. The others were all fine and were gradually evacuating.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhuang Dongqing spotted the Wangfu’s cavalry in the distance. A group of people was galloping swiftly, appearing at the edge of the hunting grounds.

In no time, they approached on horseback, with Cen Yan leading the way, flanked by Hao San and Xu Si.

Zhuang Dongqing tugged at Liu Qi, signaling him to look.

When they were about two or three hundred meters from the tent, Cen Yan reined in his horse, and the cavalry behind him followed suit.

Having seen Cen Yan in his formal attire and casual clothes before, this was Zhuang Dongqing’s first time seeing him in riding gear.

Because riding requires movement, the riding outfit was fitted closely to the body, lacking the wide sleeves of a large robe. From a distance, he looked strong and upright, with long arms and legs, exuding an air of elegance.

His posture on the horse was relaxed, clearly someone who was used to riding. His movements were not flashy, but he effectively controlled the horse, moving as if he were part of it.

As the horse slowed down, Zhuang Dongqing accidentally turned his head and widened his eyes.

The usually solemn crown was removed, and to facilitate movement, he had tied his hair back into a high ponytail with a headband…

How should he put it? It added a youthful charm, and he looked really good.

If Cen Yan were born in modern times, it would be a shame if he didn’t become a model.

Zhuang Dongqing’s gaze was glued to his face, and at that moment, Cen Yan suddenly looked over.

The original body had slight nearsightedness, so Zhuang Dongqing wasn’t sure if they were making eye contact, but it felt like they were.

Liu Qi, worried that Cen Yan might not find their tent, raised his hand high to signal.

Cen Yan nodded from a distance, indicating that he saw them.

He saw them but didn’t come over. His gaze swept around as if confirming something, and suddenly he raised his whip and made a gesture.

Liu Qi: “The master wants us to go back.”

*

Once Cen Yan gave the order, the servants in the tent immediately sprang into action.

As Liu Qi led Zhuang Dongqing and the others toward the palace, Cen Yan remained on his horse, watching them from afar.

After walking for a while, Zhuang Dongqing inexplicably turned back to see if Cen Yan had left.

He hadn’t; he was still there, watching them leave.

It was too far away, and the figure in Zhuang Dongqing’s sight had become blurry. Suddenly, that blurry figure waved his hand.

Zhuang Dongqing felt inexplicably that it was a signal meant for him.

Telling him to hurry and not to look back.

*

Once they entered the palace, the atmosphere was noticeably different.

There were people coming and going everywhere, and the palace servants were not only numerous but also hurried.

Zhuang Dongqing couldn’t figure out what was going on and wasn’t curious. He just followed Liu Qi and Zhao Ye back to their side hall.

As soon as they entered the main door, the world fell silent.

Liu Qi said, “Everyone should return to their own quarters. Don’t go out unless necessary.”

The servants nodded in agreement, and the crowd dispersed.

Liu Qi looked at Zhuang Dongqing, who immediately assured him, “I’ll stay in my room. If there’s anything, I’ll find you.”

Liu Qi nodded, his expression serious. “I’ll be in the main hall. I’ll send someone out to gather news from the hunting grounds. If there are any new developments, I’ll report back to you, Young Master.”

“Okay.”

Zhao Ye said, “It’s just right; it’s time for the acupuncture treatment. Let’s do it now.”

He sent a medicine boy back to fetch the needles and followed Zhuang Dongqing to his room.

After finishing a set of acupuncture, it was time for lunch. Liu Fu went to the small kitchen to bring back some dishes and said to Zhuang Dongqing, “I saw some wild rabbits and a deer in the yard. They should be the game caught by the Wangfu today.”

Zhuang Dongqing asked, “So have the people returned?”

Liu Fu shook his head. “I only saw the game, not the people.”

He added, “It’s said that they originally planned to roast the game for lunch, all arranged in the hunting grounds. Fortunately, the Wangfu brought a chef, and we have our own small kitchen here, so cooking is not a problem. The nobles returned to the palace unexpectedly, and the big kitchen is busy, so the lower-ranking officials and their families might have to wait a long time for their lunch.”

This explained the hustle and bustle of the palace servants.

After lunch, they took a break, but still, no one from Cen Yan’s group had returned.

Zhuang Dongqing set up a lounge chair in the yard again, brewed tea, enjoyed the scenery, and idly watched the flowers.

Liu Qi was busy in the main hall, constantly giving instructions to the servants. The palace wasn’t very big, so Zhuang Dongqing could see Liu Qi, and Liu Qi could also see him.

Liu Qi came over twice during the day to update Zhuang Dongqing on the outside situation.

He mentioned that the Third Prince had sustained a bone injury and needed to rest quietly. The palace was built against the mountain, making it inconvenient to move around, and the situation was chaotic. To facilitate his recovery, the Imperial Guard had already taken him down the mountain.

Secondly, the progress of the bear hunt was still ongoing, and the nobles had temporarily withdrawn from the hunting grounds.

Thirdly, Cen Yan had sent word for them to stay in the palace and follow Liu Qi’s arrangements, advising them not to go out unless absolutely necessary.

Zhuang Dongqing asked, “So, did they see the bear?”

Liu Qi replied, “The news isn’t that precise. We’ll only know the exact situation when the master returns tonight.”

Zhuang Dongqing nodded.

“By the way,” Zhuang Dongqing asked, “I saw some palace servants delivering meals at the entrance. Can they eat while in the hunting grounds?”

Liu Qi explained, “Lunch was already sent to them. The Imperial Guard is unaware, but the Wangfu’s people are eating food from our kitchen, so they won’t go hungry.”

Zhuang Dongqing nodded again. “That’s good. They shouldn’t be working on an empty stomach.” That would be exhausting.

“The people from the Wangfu are all experienced in marching, so they can manage.”

They waited until dusk before Cen Yan and his group finally returned.

Everyone looked exhausted, suggesting they had been busy all day.

In the afternoon, Cen Yan had led the team deep into the hunting grounds, going far and off the beaten path. The Wangfu’s delivery people couldn’t find them, and on the way back, they were all hungry. Liu Qi had the table set up in the yard, and they didn’t bother with formality. Cen Yan, Hao San, Xu Si, and the guards from the Wangfu all sat in the yard to eat.

The servants were busy serving dishes, and Liu Qi poured them water. With so many people, it was a bit chaotic. Zhuang Dongqing happened to help out, placing the cups for Cen Yan and Hao San down.

Cen Yan held his bowl and glanced at Zhuang Dongqing, following the movement of his hand.

Zhuang Dongqing didn’t notice and casually served tea to everyone, placing it in front of each person.

After finishing the meal, they began to talk.

As for the bear, Cen Yan hadn’t seen it, but in the afternoon, a team of Imperial Guards had been injured, bringing bad news, and the commander was also hurt.

Liu Qi exclaimed, “What a coincidence?”

One commander was severely injured in the morning, and another was hurt in the afternoon. It was hard not to think too much about it.

Cen Yan nodded. “The Emperor is furious and has ordered more personnel to be dispatched. Tomorrow, we will continue the search for the black bear.”

“But…”

He seemed to think of something but didn’t explain clearly, only saying, “Tomorrow, I will request to see if I can bring the Wangfu’s personal soldiers.”

The next day, the request was not granted by the Emperor.

Cen Yan then proactively requested some of the Imperial Guards to ensure the safety of the Emperor.

The Emperor still did not agree, citing that this outing was meant for relaxation and didn’t want to burden Cen Yan.

The bear hunt lasted for three days, and in the end, a team of Imperial Guards discovered it, injuring the bear but not killing it. However, they managed to drive it out of the hunting grounds as a conclusion.

To ensure safety, the hunting grounds were enclosed overnight, completely sealing off the hunting area, and more Imperial Guards were dispatched around the perimeter.

The imperial edict announced that hunting would proceed as usual the next day, indicating that the storm had passed.

In these few days, people were on edge, and Zhuang Dongqing felt a bit anxious, not sleeping soundly.

Cen Yan returned early that day. After dinner, he summoned everyone to the study to discuss the arrangements for the next few days.

Zhuang Dongqing was also called in, and as soon as he entered, Liu Qi pressed him to sit down, likely just to let him listen.

Cen Yan tapped the table, his expression inscrutable. “If more personnel are dispatched to the hunting grounds tomorrow, the palace will be empty.”

Realizing something, Zhuang Dongqing sat up straight to listen.

Hao San, still holding his sword, hadn’t had a chance to put it down and complained, “They said they drove the bear out, but we didn’t see any severed limbs. Damn it, couldn’t they at least bring back a few hairs?!”

This raised doubts about the existence of the black bear.

Xu Si added, “The hunting grounds are enclosed on three sides, with only the mountain side open. If something happens, the only way out might be to climb the mountain.”

The mountain?

Zhuang Dongqing suddenly remembered something.

But he wasn’t entirely sure, so he quietly noted it down without rashly speaking up.

Zhao Ye said, “But the Emperor has made up his mind. Today, the master requested again for permission to guard the Emperor, but was denied by the Emperor.”

Hao San sighed, “So tomorrow, no matter what, the hunt will definitely proceed.”

Liu Qi added, “Not only will it proceed, but the princes and nobles must also actively participate. We can’t dampen the Emperor’s spirits.”

If the Emperor says it’s safe, then it must be safe. This outing for the Shengwu Emperor is meant for relaxation. At such a time, even if there are doubts, who would dare to say it’s dangerous? That would be tempting fate!

Cen Yan asked, “So, how will the personnel be arranged tomorrow?”

Hao San replied, “Most of the Imperial Guards are in the hunting grounds. Xu Si and I will follow the master into the field, while Liu Qi, Zhao Ye, and Young Master Zhuang will observe from the outskirts?”

Xu Si warned, “Both familiar commanders have been injured, and new ones have been assigned. If… something goes wrong here?”

The emphasis on “wrong” made Zhuang Dongqing feel that it wasn’t just a simple matter.

He was confused, but the others understood. Hao San irritably ran his hand through his hair. “In the end, the current situation is unclear, and we have to be on guard everywhere.”

They were all battle-hardened individuals and could sense that something was off, but the deployment of the Imperial Guards was not in Cen Yan’s hands. It felt as if someone had forcibly covered their eyes; they could sense something was wrong but couldn’t pinpoint the exact issue.

Cen Yan’s repeated requests to guard the Emperor had been rejected. Upon reflection, there was likely a reason behind it.

If more personnel were dispatched to the hunting grounds tomorrow, the palace would be empty. If chaos erupted, they would be the first to be subdued.

But there were also newcomers among the Imperial Guards, and not all of them could be guaranteed to be loyal to the Emperor. If something changed midway, the nobles surrounding the hunting grounds would be the first to be taken hostage, putting them in a dilemma.

Hao San angrily exclaimed, “Why didn’t they bring everyone? If the people from the fief were all here, what would we have to fear!”

Cen Yan doused his enthusiasm with cold water. “The Emperor won’t allow it. What can you do?”

Hao San fell silent.

Cen Yan suddenly asked, “Can he move now?”

Looking at Zhuang Dongqing, he was actually asking Zhao Ye.

Zhao Ye replied, “After a period of treatment, his health has improved a lot. During this time, I also inquired with doctors in the capital. They said that in their family, the men are very robust, and they have hardly ever heard of anyone not being able to carry on.”

Zhuang Dongqing remained silent.

So this was also one of the reasons the original body couldn’t be discarded?

Well, that made a lot of sense.

The plot connected.

After Zhao Ye finished speaking, he also looked at Zhuang Dongqing, asking if he felt uncomfortable after walking for a long time.

Zhuang Dongqing shook his head, honestly replying, “Just my legs are sore; nothing else.”

Zhao Ye looked at Cen Yan.

Cen Yan tapped the table again, furrowing his brows. After a while, he looked at Zhuang Dongqing and asked, “Do you want to go hunting?”

Zhuang Dongqing’s eyes lit up. “Can I go?”

But then he thought of something and wrinkled his nose. “But I can’t draw a bow, and I can’t ride a horse.”

Seeing his reaction, Cen Yan shook his head and chuckled. Among all the people in the room, he was the only one seriously thinking about having fun!

Liu Qi quickly added, “You don’t have to ride a horse. Many young masters bring their servants into the hunting grounds. You can just join in the fun, hunting some wild chickens, ducks, or rabbits for leisure.”

After that, everyone in the room realized something. Hao San slapped his thigh. “That’s a good idea! If Young Master Zhuang also enters the hunting grounds, we won’t need to leave anyone in the palace. If we don’t go deep, we definitely won’t encounter a bear. We can signal each other, and if something happens, the brothers can support each other!”

Cen Yan let out a breath but didn’t show any signs of amusement, only saying, “It’s a method of last resort.”

Afterward, everyone discussed personnel adjustments and arrangements.

It was decided that Liu Qi would lead a team to closely follow Zhuang Dongqing, and no Wangfu guards would remain in the palace during the day.

After a few discussions, they dispersed, leaving only Zhuang Dongqing with Cen Yan.

When it was just the two of them, Cen Yan suddenly said, “If you hadn’t asked me that day whether the former crown prince would be executed, I wouldn’t have thought of the deeper implications of the current situation.”

Zhuang Dongqing didn’t dare to speak, acting like a quail.

Cen Yan looked at him, puzzled. “Do you know something?”

Zhuang Dongqing quickly shook his head.

What could he possibly know? He was just an ordinary time traveler.

Moreover, Zhuang Dongqing was actually a bit startled. He had only mentioned it once, and Cen Yan had thought so far ahead. When he came here, he was still thinking about how to bring it up again. Now, it seemed unnecessary.

To be able to become a prince of a different surname, his political acumen was not something the Zhuang family could compare to.

Was this the kind of brain that could outsmart the original body? Zhuang Dongqing felt he couldn’t keep up.

Cen Yan stared at him. Zhuang Dongqing was unwilling to speak, and he didn’t press further.

In fact, he already had an answer in his heart.

When Madam Zhuang came to find him, she had mentioned that Zhuang Dongqing was a bit mysterious. At the time, he didn’t take it seriously, but now…

Cen Yan didn’t want to think about that. He returned to the main topic and reminded Zhuang Dongqing of some precautions for the hunting grounds.

Zhuang Dongqing nodded at each point.

At the end, Cen Yan instructed, “If something goes wrong, Liu Qi will ensure your safety. If it comes to a last resort, if he tells you to leave first…”

Zhuang Dongqing quickly assured him, “Then I’ll leave immediately!”

Cen Yan: “…”

That was a bit too decisive.

After saying that, Zhuang Dongqing felt it wasn’t right. He felt uncomfortable under Cen Yan’s gaze and was about to find a way to make it up.

But Cen Yan let it go first. “That’s good.”

“Remember what you said. You can go now.”

*

The next day, the spring hunt, which had been paused for a few days, resumed.

Zhuang Dongqing changed into his clothes and entered the hunting grounds with great enthusiasm.

The Imperial Guards noticed their group and looked over a few more times.

Once everyone was in the hunting grounds, one of them said, “Looks like there’s really all kinds of people here!”

“The young masters nowadays are precious. Not riding horses or drawing bows, letting the servants do the hunting is one thing.”

“I’ve never seen anyone bring a folding stool and snacks into the hunting grounds before~”

“Tsk tsk, what a life of luxury.”