Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

She didn't say anything, but Xiao Heng immediately defended her.

I wonder what Xiao Heng's expression would be if he knew that Shen Mingxiu's beloved might not be him at all.

Thinking of this, someone's face appeared in my mind again.

That day, he deliberately created an air of mystery, asking how he and Shen Mingxiu met, and how Shen Mingxiu always looked so sorrowful and melancholy whenever she saw him.

"What can I do? Your Majesty protects her so closely. Besides, even if I were to do something to her, it would surely be because she broke the palace rules first. Would I target a concubine for no reason?"

She addressed him as "your humble servant" repeatedly, leaving Xiao Heng speechless.

He forgot that Wei Rong came from the Wei family, and that Wei Beimu was once a figure in the Southern Frontier who could make the enemy surrender without a fight simply by using his words.

Like father, like daughter.

Compared to these, Shen Mingxiu was indeed just an ordinary young lady.

Xiao Heng couldn't continue her conversation with Wei Rong, so she ordered her subordinates to prepare for departure and returned to Shen Mingxiu's place.

Having successfully driven away the crowd, Wei Rong was very satisfied with herself.

But just as she got back into the car, Xiao Xuanfeng arrived again.

"..."

The little flower wreath is missing this time. I don't know if it lost itself or if someone removed it.

It immediately nestled into Wei Rong's palm and raised one leg, chirping "Chirp chirp."

Wei Rong touched its leg and found another piece of paper.

Curious about what it was this time, Wei Rong opened it and was surprised to find it was another painting.

This time, I drew a little phoenix, tilting its head with a curious expression, and wearing a flower wreath woven by Wei Rong around its neck.

His expression was exactly the same as when he was in Wei Rong's hands.

"This person's painting skills are comparable to those of the Empress."

Everything he draws is incredibly lifelike.

But to be honest, Qiaoyu felt that the way the brushstrokes and lines were written did indeed have some of the Empress's habits.

However, her mistress doesn't like coloring; she prefers sketching.

Even Xiao Xuanfeng herself looked at herself in the painting with a puzzled expression.

"Chirp?"

Wei Rong pointed to the painting and explained to it, "This is you."

"Chirp chirp!"

She lifted the curtain to look at the carriage that had been following behind.

No one got off the carriage when it stopped earlier; I wonder what the owner was busy with inside.

They don't feed the birds, nor do they let them run wild.

Wei Rong was reading a book when she casually slipped the drawing between the pages.

Putting everything else aside, the phoenix in this painting is clever and cute, and her wreath is also perfectly outlined, so the person who painted it must have some skill.

The large group set off again.

The remaining journey didn't feel long or unbearable because of the little black phoenix chattering in their ears.

Halfway through the book, we arrived at the place where Qiuyun Mountain was set up camp.

The troops that were setting up camp had arrived long ago. When Wei Rong arrived, she saw that the lush foot of the mountain was dotted with tents of all sizes.

Within a radius of ten miles, the Imperial Guards stood by.

Long plumes of smoke rose, and her queen's tent stood at the head of the women's tents.

Since this was a hunting trip, the women were just accompanying the men to relax, while the men, as is customary, had to participate in the hunting competition.

To avoid being disturbed by the smell of blood, the women chose to stay overnight.

Banners fluttered in the wind. According to custom, the first step in the spring hunt was to offer sacrifices to the mountain spirit, so as not to disturb the mountain god and anger him.

The ritual of worshipping the mountain spirit is similar to that of worshipping the heavens; both involve the emperor and empress holding incense and leading the officials to kneel and worship heaven and earth.

Wei Rong followed beside Xiao Heng and kowtowed three times skillfully and gracefully.

As I got up, some incense ash that had burned a bit fell off and landed on the back of my hand.

As before, she merely frowned slightly, brushed away the incense ash, and told Qiaoyu to apply some ointment when they returned to the tent.

But for some reason, Xiao Heng noticed her this time and immediately came over to hold her hand. He saw that her fair, delicate hand had quickly turned red.

"Summon a royal physician," Xiao Heng ordered, then asked Wei Rong in a soft voice, "Does it hurt?"

His sudden change of personality left Wei Rong somewhat bewildered.

But right now, all the officials are watching, presumably to show off his magnanimity in front of everyone.

After all, they had already argued to the point of physical violence, and this time they would be spending every day together during the hunt, so it wouldn't be good for things to remain at odds.

Wei Rong tried to pull her hand back, but to no avail. She could only smile and say, "I'm not that delicate. Look how nervous Your Majesty is. I'm fine."

"They've all turned red."

For some reason, Xiao Heng couldn't help but feel a strange emotion when she saw Wei Rong's outfit today and the patch of red on her flawless white skin.

This burn is too unsightly; it shouldn't have appeared on Wei Rong.

But she never complains of pain.

That day, I pinched her with eight-tenths of my strength. After that, I don't know how long Wei Rong was in pain.

Mingming—when he first ascended the throne, he had thought of ensuring that Wei Rong would remain in her position as empress and live a peaceful life.

Wei Rong pulled hard again, finally regaining her hand: "It's just red, Your Majesty, the court officials are watching."

It turns out she was just shy.

Xiao Heng hesitated, feeling that Wei Rong's attitude towards him had changed a long time ago.

He hadn't felt that kind of care and consideration in a long time.

Despite their arguments and quarrels, he never considered abandoning Wei Rong.

Arguments between husband and wife are inevitable, aren't they?

Or was it because he had suppressed the Wei family too much that Wei Rong was angry?

After thinking for a moment, he decided that it wouldn't hurt to take this opportunity to coax Wei Rong: "Rong, is there anything you want from this hunt? How about I hunt a red fox for you to make a fox fur coat?"

Wei Rong had no idea what was wrong with him.

They glanced at Shen Mingxiu, who was looking at them nervously.

She smiled gently: "I'll hunt a red fox for myself, but what about Consort Xian?"

She really was jealous.

If Wei Rong is jealous, then all these little quirks and temper tantrums can be explained.

Xiao Heng couldn't help but smile as well: "You don't need to consider her. Just tell me what you want, and I can hunt it all for you in this ten-mile hunting ground."

If she repeatedly refused the opportunity offered by His Majesty the Emperor, it would seem ungrateful of her.

Wei Rong pretended to think for a while, then shook her head: "I have a fox fur coat. If Your Majesty wishes to give it to me, then I do have something else I would like."

"you say."

Her flying hairpin swayed gently, and with the mole on the tip of her nose, she looked as graceful as a fairy in the sunlight.

Xiao Heng's heart started beating faster.

He wanted the moon in the sky, and he could think of a way to help Wei Rong right now.

However, Wei Rong did not want the moon: "The laws of Dajing have never stipulated that women cannot participate in hunting. I have been watching Your Majesty hunt and am itching to join in. Would Your Majesty allow me to participate?"

Before she got married, she would go hunting with her father or Wei Jin every year.

Horse riding is the best way to relieve stress. When the wind rushes past your ears and you breathe in the crisp air, it makes you feel refreshed and invigorated.

Whether or not we catch any animals is secondary.

The law did not actually stipulate this, but women were implicitly expected to accompany their husbands on the annual hunts.

However, since Wei Rong rarely asked for anything, Xiao Heng hesitated and said, "It's very dangerous for women to go on the field. If their swords and arrows are indiscriminate, you could easily get hurt."

"I am surrounded by guards and imperial soldiers, and I am not ignorant or incompetent, so I am not worried."

She just wanted to have fun, so Xiao Heng coaxed her, "Then I'll teach you. You just need to stay by my side at all times."

We'll discuss that later. Once it's on the horse, who cares about you anymore?