The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

As night deepened, candlelight flickered in the study of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Xiao Yu sat alone behind his desk, holding a list of people who had just been sent to accompany him on the autumn hunt.

His gaze lingered on the words "Consort Zhao" for a long time, his fingers tightening slightly.

I'm going to see her again.

The thought swirled uncontrollably in his mind, carrying a hidden tremor, but more so a deep sense of helplessness and bitterness.

He knew it was wrong, that he shouldn't, but he couldn't control his heart.

Every time he learns that he will be able to appear in the same place as her, even if it is just to catch a glimpse of her from afar, his calm heart will be stirred.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Xiao Yu quickly closed the list and casually placed it under a book.

The study door opened, and Shen Jingyan, dressed in a bright red nightgown, gracefully walked in, a bright smile on her face.

"Husband, it's so late, are you still busy with official duties?"

She naturally walked to Xiao Yu's side, snuggled affectionately into his arms, and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Xiao Yu's body stiffened for a moment, then he raised his hand and lightly put his arm around her shoulder, saying in a gentle tone, "Yes, it was just some trivial matter, I'll take care of it soon."

Shen Jingyan leaned against his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat, and felt very content.

Although my father has changed.

At least, her husband loved her very much.

She spotted a piece of paper hidden on the desk, with only a corner showing, and asked curiously:

"What were you looking at just now, my husband? Was it the autumn hunt plan? Can I see it?"

Xiao Yu lowered his eyes, looking at her beautiful face, but felt a sense of estrangement in his heart.

He raised his hand and gently stroked her hair. His voice remained gentle, but he refused her request: "It's a list of accompanying personnel. It involves court politics, so it's not appropriate for the women of the household to see it."

Shen Jingyan tilted her head back, her voice tinged with a coquettish tone: "I'm your wife, can't I even look at you?"

Xiao Yu reassured him, "His Majesty has entrusted this matter to me and the Duke of Su. I must be careful not to offend His Majesty."

"You'll know when we get to the hunting grounds."

Hearing his gentle tone and the mention of her father's trust, Shen Jingyan stopped pressing the matter. Instead, she felt that her husband was steady and dutiful, and she liked him even more.

She remembered that they hadn't been intimate for half a month, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she traced circles on his chest with her fingertips, her voice softening and becoming suggestive:

"My lord, official duties are never-ending, and it's already late..."

Xiao Yu sensed her deliberate provocation, but his gaze involuntarily swept over the closed list again.

It was as if he could see through the paper again those three words, "Consort Zhao," which were both dazzling and captivating to him.

He closed his eyes briefly to suppress the pounding in his heart, and when he opened them again, his eyes were calm.

Xiao Yu reached out and picked her up in his arms.

Shen Jingyan gasped softly, then shyly buried her face in his neck, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck, her heart filled with happiness.

Xiao Yu carried her and steadily walked towards the bed in the inner room.

Only he himself knows who he is thinking of at this moment.

-

The autumn air was crisp and clear, and the imperial hunting grounds on the outskirts of Beijing were already decorated with fluttering flags.

Xiao Yu and Shen Jingyan, as the officials in charge of handling the matters, had already arrived ahead of time.

In the distance, dust rose slightly as the royal procession slowly approached.

Xiao Yu and Duke Qi Rui of Su exchanged a glance, then immediately straightened their robes, stepped forward, and bowed their heads in respect.

Shen Jingyan quickly followed beside him, eagerly awaiting his return.

The bright yellow imperial carriage came to a stop, and Shen Wangxi was the first to get out.

He was not wearing a dragon robe today, but a dark blue riding and archery uniform embroidered with silver patterns. The waist-cinching design made his figure stand out even more, with long legs and a narrow waist.

Shen Wangxi did not immediately pay attention to the officials who came to greet him, but turned around and reached his hand into the carriage.

A slender, fair hand gently rested on his palm.

Immediately afterwards, he carefully helped a slender figure down.

Shen Qingruo was dressed in a moon-white belted riding outfit today, with delicate patterns embroidered in silver thread on the cuffs and hem, which was both neat and graceful.

Shen Jingyan's expression stiffened when she saw Shen Wangxi personally helping Shen Qingruo out of the car.

She quickly scanned the area behind the imperial carriage, but apart from the accompanying palace attendants and guards, she did not see the imperial carriage.

The Empress Dowager did not come?

Shen Jingyan was somewhat disappointed, as her father had only brought Shen Qingruo with him.

She instinctively wanted to get closer to Xiao Yu for comfort, but found that her husband's gaze seemed to be fixed on Shen Qingruo.

The moment Shen Qingruo appeared, Xiao Yu's breath caught in his throat. He forced himself to lower his head, not daring to look directly at Tianyan, much less at the girl who made his heart uneasy.

But his peripheral vision kept following her, and his heart began to beat faster in his chest.

Standing beside Xiao Yu, Duke Qi Rui of Su State keenly noticed Xiao Yu's focus on Consort Zhao, and even couldn't help but look up to steal a glance.

The smile on his face faded, and his brows furrowed.

Is that what he thinks?

Could it be that Xiao Yu, this lad, harbors feelings for Consort Zhao?

If that's really the case, then they're truly courting death.

What kind of person is His Majesty? How could he allow a subject to covet his woman?

Qi Rui immediately stepped forward, subtly blocking Xiao Yu's view to the side, preventing him from seeing Shen Qingruo, and bowed, saying loudly:

"Your subject Qi Rui welcomes Your Majesty and Your Highness the Imperial Concubine! The camp is ready; please come inside to rest."

His voice startled Xiao Yu from his brief daze.

Xiao Yu was immediately terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

How could he forget how perceptive His Majesty is?

If His Majesty had noticed his earlier loss of composure, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion would have faced annihilation and the extermination of his entire clan.

Xiao Yu dared not think any further and quickly lowered his head, bowing deeply along with the Duke of Su: "Your subject Xiao Yu respectfully welcomes Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine!"

Shen Wangxi's gaze swept lightly over the welcoming crowd, not lingering on Xiao Yu for long, and she calmly said, "Rise."

He held Shen Qingruo's hand tightly, leading her towards the main tent.

As Shen Jingyan watched their departing figures, and then glanced at Xiao Yu beside her with an unreadable expression, the inexplicable irritation in her heart grew even stronger.