Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 254

When Zhao Xingjin returned, it was almost noon.

Having been cooped up in the palace for so long, Zhao Xingjin was in high spirits to finally get out and ride a horse.

She's only in her early twenties, still at an age where she loves freedom and adventure.

Of course, he didn't forget his promise to Xie Jiu that morning. Sure enough, his horse galloped and stopped right in front of Xie Jiu. He dismounted, his robes fluttering, looking quite spirited.

"Have you been waiting long? Come see what little trinkets I brought back for you!"

"I'm having roasted venison today?" Xie Jiu asked with a smile.

Zhao Xingjin shook his head and ordered someone to come forward.

Then I saw that the guard was carrying a cloth bag, inside which was a round ball bulging.

Xie Jiu leaned closer to peek inside and was immediately stunned. "What, what is this?"

"Your Majesty, it is a bronze thorn beast!" the guard replied. "This is a small one. His Majesty encountered it while chasing deer. It seems to have been injured, so we brought it back."

"What is a bronze-spiked beast? I've never seen one before," Xie Jiu said, still puzzled.

Having been raised in seclusion since childhood, she really didn't know anything about these little things in the mountains and fields. The animals she usually saw were cats, dogs, or various birds and fish, and the only things she had heard of were wolves, tigers, and leopards.

Zhao Xingjin walked over and said, “It’s a hedgehog. In the north, this little thing is called ‘White Fairy.’ It’s said that it can protect people’s safety and wealth. I’ve never seen one before. I encountered it today. Normally, people wouldn’t catch it. I saw that this little thing seemed to have injured its leg and couldn’t move, so I brought it back to see if the imperial physician could find a way to treat it.”

This is how people are when they're in a good mood; they feel an overwhelming surge of compassion when they see an injured animal on the roadside.

"Speaking of Bai Xian'er, I have indeed seen her in a book." Xie Jiu suddenly realized, and then smiled gently, "That's quite a coincidence. Your Majesty met a Northern Immortal today, and I just exchanged a few words with the talented scholar from the North."

Zhao Xingjin looked at her. "Who?"

"The newly appointed top scholar in the autumn imperial examination," Xie Jiu said. "Congratulations, top scholar, you're from the North."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xingjin remembered this person and nodded.

"Yeah, that's true."

Suddenly, he instructed, "Yang Zhian, give this hedgehog to Scholar He and tell him to take good care of it. If it can be saved, it will be a blessing for him."

"Yes!" Yang Zhian replied.

He stepped forward, took the cloth bag from the guard, and quickly left.

Xie Jiu wasn't surprised by Zhao Xingjin's behavior; it was just a test.

Regardless of whether the little hedgehog can recover from its injury, as long as Zhao Xingjin asks about it after some time and He Anshi can answer well, he will naturally gain appreciation.

This matter serves as a bridge.

However, Xie Jiu also felt sorry for the chubby little thing. After thinking for a moment, she instructed Qingfang to take some medicine to He Anshi.

After all, it would be best if it could be cured.

When He Anshi first received the order, he was a little confused, but he quickly realized that the Emperor had ulterior motives. Needless to say, he would first treat this little hedgehog like a true deity.

He was just thinking of going to find some medicine when Qingfang brought it to him, and He Anshi was very grateful.

Because he was really poor. Although he had become the top scholar, he still had no income. The cost of living in the capital was high. If it weren't for his good friend who had taken the imperial examination with him and lent him some money, he probably wouldn't have been able to afford even a decent set of clothes to wear for the autumn hunt.

"Lord He, Her Majesty said we must seize this opportunity. If you need anything, you can come to me." Qingfang bowed and then discreetly slipped a purse into He Anshi's hand.

After Qingfang left, He Anshi opened the package and found a bag of silver beans and a folded silver note with a face value of one hundred taels.

Looking at the things in his hand, He Anshi's pursed lips trembled slightly.

He really needs it, he really needs it.

Renting a place in the capital is very expensive. Now that he has a certain status, he can't afford to rent a bad place. After looking around, he rented a small, semi-new courtyard for two taels of silver a month. His friend lent him ten taels of silver. After paying two months' rent and deposit, he spent six taels. He had four taels left. He bought a new set of clothes and some daily necessities, which cost him a lot more. He was really short of money.

That's why they say offering help in times of need is a heartwarming gesture.

For Xie Jiu, this amount of silver was nothing, perhaps not even worth as much as a random hairpin in her hair, but for He Anshi it was a considerable fortune, enough to make him go from nothing to something and transcend social classes.

This made He Anshi even more determined to cling to Xie Jiu, this golden thigh.

Half an hour later, the luncheon began. From a distance, He Anshi bowed to Xie Jiu, but Xie Jiu just smiled and didn't look at him again.

"Your Majesty's horsemanship and archery skills are as good as ever. I still remember when we were in the Prince's Palace, Your Majesty hunted a deer as a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager. The deer antlers were even made into ornaments by craftsmen, which the Empress Dowager liked very much. They are still on display in Fukang Palace today."

Sitting next to Zhao Xingjin, the Empress smiled and began to play the emotional card.

Mentioning the old stories did indeed bring a touch of nostalgia to Zhao Xingjin's face.

"Yes, my riding and archery skills were personally taught by Father." After saying that, he turned his gaze to Prince Heng sitting at the table below and laughed, "Second brother, your riding and archery skills have deteriorated. You used to be on par with me. How come you missed when hunting deer today?"

Prince Heng looked embarrassed. "Your Majesty, you flatter me. I have indeed been a bit lazy these past two years. As you know, I don't like swords and spears. Now that life is peaceful, I only want to raise some flowers, plants and birds. I have indeed become rusty."

This isn't the two brothers being bureaucratic; Prince Heng is different from Zhao Xingjin. He truly has no ambition or drive.

Otherwise, the two brothers wouldn't be so harmonious.

"You, you really need to pick up those skills again. Not just for the autumn hunt, but also for your health. Tomorrow you'll come hunting with me, and I need to give you a good lesson in riding and archery!" Zhao Xingjin said, acting like an elder brother and father.

Prince Heng laughed and nodded in agreement.

At this moment, the Empress suddenly interjected, "Your Majesty, I remember that Consort Guo's father and brothers also came to the hunting grounds, right? The Guo family is a military family, so their martial arts skills must be excellent. I wonder if Consort Guo is skilled in riding and archery?"

When her name was called, Guo Cairen stood up, showing no stage fright.

"I'm sorry to disappoint Your Majesty. I did learn some basic skills from my father and brothers when I was young, but I haven't touched any of these things since I turned fifteen. It's been almost three years since I last touched a bow and arrow or rode a horse."

"It's normal for young women to learn needlework and calligraphy." The Empress smiled and then looked at Zhao Xingjin. "Your Majesty, I think that we women don't know how to ride and shoot. It's quite boring to stay in the hunting grounds all day. Your Majesty must be tired after hunting for half a day. Why don't you rest in the afternoon and do something else for fun? We women can also participate."

As she said this, the Empress glanced at Xie Jiu out of the corner of her eye, and Xie Jiu couldn't help but frown.

He thought to himself, "As expected, they sent someone to keep an eye on her."