Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

Li Shimin led his men and ran wildly toward the direction from which the tiger's roar came.

This hunting ground has been cleared, and the only thing that can threaten Li Chengqian is this fish that escaped the net.

If the rebellious son isn't found on the other side of the big worm, then we can search slowly. Royal hunting grounds, no strangers allowed.

As long as you don't encounter wild animals, you don't need to worry about safety.

Therefore, although Li Shimin was worried, he remained unusually calm!

Deep in the jungle!

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness!!"

The calls of soldiers echoed through the woods.

Just then, a somewhat weary voice rang out from not far away.

"Stop shouting! I'm here..."

As soon as the sound faded, a soldier not far away quickly noticed the commotion.

When he parted the bushes and saw Li Chengqian, he was completely dumbfounded.

"General...! His Highness the Crown Prince has been found!!!"

The soldier looked at Li Chengqian in disbelief and called out loudly.

Soon, news of Li Chengqian's discovery reached Cheng Yaojin and his companions, who were not far away.

However, they were stunned when they arrived and saw the scene before them.

At this moment, Li Chengqian, dressed in both civil and military attire, was no longer the heroic figure he had been just moments before. He looked tattered and disheveled, like a beggar.

Covered in blood, with wounds of all sizes all over his body, he was in a terrible state.

And beneath his buttocks lay the carcass of a tiger.

Several arrows were stuck in the tiger's throat and abdomen, and next to the tiger's corpse was a hard bow that had been broken in two!

The scene was horrific!

Upon seeing this, Xue Rengui and Yang Zaixing immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"This humble general has arrived late to Your Majesty's rescue; please punish me!!!"

Upon seeing the two kneeling figures before him, Li Chengqian couldn't help but force a smile and said:

"Heh! This has nothing to do with you. I just didn't expect there to be big cats in this royal hunting grounds. Get up, all of you!"

Upon hearing this, the two men stepped forward with worried expressions, wanting to help Li Chengqian up, but Li Chengqian raised his hand to stop them!

"Don't move! Your leg is broken!"

After saying that, he turned to Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong behind them and said:

"Uncle Cheng! Uncle Yuchi!"

Upon hearing this, the two immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Highness! Are you alright?"

Li Chengqian shook his head weakly.

"My warhorse has been tampered with! Inform the old man about this. The tiger was killed by Xue Rengui and Yang Zaixing and has nothing to do with me. Don't tell anyone about my broken leg except the old man and the emperor."

Send two men to secretly bring me back to the Eastern Palace! Tell them I had to return due to unforeseen circumstances!

Li Chengqian's voice was calm, but it conveyed an undeniable sense of authority.

Even Yuchi Gong and Cheng Yaojin were startled by Li Chengqian's words.

They had only ever felt such imposing presence from their own emperor, how could His Highness the Crown Prince also...?

Moreover, this tiger weighed at least 400 kilograms. It couldn't even be called a tiger anymore; it was more like a mountain lord. The fact that His Highness the Crown Prince could kill such a ferocious beast all by himself speaks volumes about his courage and strength.

"Yes! Your Majesty, I obey!"

The two quickly bowed.

Moreover, both of them said they obeyed the imperial decree!

Generally speaking, only the emperor can issue an imperial edict!

However, the Crown Prince is the heir apparent, and the heir apparent is also a ruler. Even if it is a prince, even if the prince and the Crown Prince are brothers, they are still just subjects.

It's perfectly fine for the emperor to agree with their wishes; it represents their heartfelt respect and submission to Li Chengqian.

Regardless of status or identity!

"Then I'll have to trouble you two uncles!"

Li Chengqian smiled at the two people in front of him, and then gave Xue Rengui and Yang Zaixing beside him a look.

The latter immediately understood and carefully prepared to leave with Li Chengqian!

By the time Li Shimin and his entourage arrived, Li Chengqian had already left.

Upon seeing their own emperor and the retired emperor, Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong immediately stepped forward to pay their respects!

"This humble general pays his respects to Your Majesty and the Retired Emperor!"

"Alright! Where is the Crown Prince? Have we found him?"

Li Shimin asked anxiously, and Cheng Yaojin was also slightly taken aback upon hearing this, before calmly replying:

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is fine; he simply had to return to the Eastern Palace on urgent business!"

Seeing Cheng Yaojin's hesitant expression, Li Shimin immediately narrowed his eyes and understood.

He immediately nodded, looked at the large cat corpse beside him, and asked again:

"What's wrong with this big cat?"

"It was Xue Rengui and Yang Zaixing, who were close to His Highness the Crown Prince, who joined forces to kill him. Both of them have already returned to the Eastern Palace with His Highness the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this answer, not only Li Shimin, but also the generals following behind him couldn't help but show surprise.

This big cat was actually killed by two people. Does His Highness the Crown Prince have such a brave and fierce general under his command?

This big cat weighs at least 400 kilograms. Even a ten-person team working together wouldn't find it easy to kill!

They asked themselves if it would have been possible even if they had tried in their youth; perhaps only Qin Qiong at his peak could have accomplished this in the entire Tang Dynasty!

And yet, the Crown Prince has two such fierce generals under his command, suggesting that they have always underestimated him.

Li Shimin nodded subconsciously upon hearing what the two men said.

He couldn't help but let out a long breath and said:

"Phew~ Now that the Crown Prince is alright and the big cat has been dealt with, let's continue the autumn hunt."

Upon hearing Li Shimin's words, the crowd cheered loudly.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

……

Inside the large tent.

Li Shimin and Li Yuan sat in the main seats, with Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong standing below them.

Li Shimin calmly looked at the two people below and said:

"Tell me! What exactly happened to the Crown Prince?"

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince's warhorse was tampered with. The big cat was killed by His Highness alone. When I found His Highness, he had a broken leg and was covered in wounds. He has now secretly returned to the Eastern Palace under the escort of Xue Rengui and Yang Zaixing."

His Highness instructed that this matter should only be known to His Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus, which is why I spoke as I did just now!

As soon as Cheng Yaojin finished speaking, Li Shimin and Li Yuan sat down.

"What did you say? The Crown Prince is injured?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing Cheng Yaojin's affirmative answer, Li Yuan walked directly towards the door.

"You unfilial son! You take charge here; I'll go check on the Eastern Palace first!"

Without waiting for Li Shimin's reply, he disappeared from Li Shimin's sight.

Seeing his father's anxious and flustered state, Li Shimin couldn't help but smile wryly.

Damn it, I want to go too! I don't want to stay in this autumn hunt for even a second longer!

But he cannot leave now; he is the emperor and must continue to oversee the autumn hunt.

Seemingly noticing the worry in Li Shimin's eyes, Cheng Yaojin quickly offered words of comfort:

"Your Majesty! Apart from his leg injury, His Highness the Crown Prince's other injuries are all superficial!"

Hearing Cheng Yaojin's words, Li Shimin finally breathed a sigh of relief. It's good that he's alive! It's good that he's alive!