That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

By the fourth day of the autumn hunt, Song Shuangning had fully recovered. Perhaps because of her good mood, her recovery was much faster than expected.

Li Fuquan presented a set of riding and archery attire, bowing and smiling obsequiously, "Your Highness, the Emperor is waiting for you at the archery range."

Song Shuangning happily changed into the tent. She had been in the hunting grounds for three days, spending every day in the tent, which was completely different from the autumn hunt she had imagined.

When she arrived at the archery range, Xiao Yan was holding a bow and shooting an arrow. The jade arrow shot out of the air and landed steadily in the center of the target ten meters away with a "whoosh".

Song Shuangning immediately raised her hand and clapped, "Your Majesty's archery skills are superb, so amazing!"

Xiao Yan slowly put away the bow and handed it to the guard beside him.

"It's just ordinary archery," he said.

Song Shuangning subtly curled her lip. "Just ordinary archery skills," she thought, "what's with that smirk that practically reaches your temples? You're clearly gloating, but you won't admit it."

Men naturally possess pride and self-esteem, and this is especially true for emperors, who hold the highest position in the land. A few words of praise that please them are more pleasing than anything else.

Xiao Yan looked up at her.

Her light purple riding and archery uniform gave her a remarkably heroic and awe-inspiring air, like a female general, a blend of gentleness and strength.

A crimson jade belt cinched her waist, hugging her slender figure and making her waist appear incredibly thin. The belt buckle was a delicate, openwork jade fox. A row of pearl buttons adorned the front of her dress, gleaming warmly in the sunlight.

She pulled all her long black hair back and tied it into a neat high ponytail, revealing her smooth, full forehead and sharp jawline.

"Your Majesty has excellent taste; I love this riding and archery outfit."

Song Shuangning noticed that he was staring at her, so she deliberately walked up to him, turned around, and said to him with a smile.

Xiao Yan said, "Ningning is like a female general."

"What female general doesn't know how to ride and shoot..." Song Shuangning blinked her clear eyes, "Would Your Majesty be willing to teach this concubine archery?"

"Since Ningning has spoken, I will naturally grant your request."

Afterwards, Xiao Yan had his guards bring the Moon-Waning Bow. The Moon-Waning Bow was a light-stringed soft bow specially made for women, named for the crescent moon shape when the bow was drawn.

Xiao Yan stepped forward and gently supported Song Shuangning's wrist as she held the bow with his left hand.

"Grip the bow firmly, with your thumb gripping the handle and the other four fingers naturally encircling it, but don't use too much force."

He leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear. In this position, Song Shuangning could clearly feel his steady heartbeat.

"Extend your left arm straight, keep your elbow straight, like supporting an invisible beam, so that it won't sway. Use skill to draw the bowstring, not brute force. Hook the arrow's fletching with your fingertips, and let the force sink down your arm to your waist and abdomen."

Xiao Yan grasped her fingers as she drew the bowstring with his right hand and slowly pulled them back. "Keep your eyes focused on the bullseye. Three points in a straight line—the tip of the bow, the arrowhead, and the bullseye. Don't get distracted."

"Whoosh—" The arrow flew steadily to the center of the target.

Song Shuangning's eyes lit up, and she turned her head happily, her lips brushing against Xiao Yan's. Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and teased, "Ningning, are you so happy?"

"Your Majesty, please don't tease your concubine..." Song Shuangning's cheeks instantly flushed red, and she gave Xiao Yan a coquettish glare.

"Try it yourself." Xiao Yan released her hand.

"Hmm!" Song Shuangning pulled back the string, biting her lip and concentrating.

As she released the bowstring, the arrow flew out, landing shakily on the target, still some distance from the bullseye.

Song Shuangning sighed in disappointment.

Xiao Yan clapped his hands and said, "To have such accuracy on your first shooting practice is already quite remarkable."

"Really?" Song Shuangning's hope was rekindled.

"Of course." A guard whispered a few words to Xiao Yan, who patted her shoulder and said, "Practice on your own, I'll be right back."

"Yes." Song Shuangning nodded.

Her gaze followed the Emperor's figure, when she suddenly caught sight of the Prince of Chu strolling leisurely, a gossipy smile on his face, his eyes shifting back and forth between her and the Emperor.

What a juicy piece of gossip…

Xiao Yan and the King of Chu spoke in hushed tones, and she could not hear a word he said, but occasionally she could see the King of Chu's eyes, which were full of amusement.

The two talked for nearly fifteen minutes.

King Chu stared at Song Shuangning's profile as she shot the arrow, and suddenly hissed, thinking to himself: This profile when shooting arrows looks like someone else, no, it's exactly the same.

Seeing him staring intently at Song Shuangning, Xiao Yan's eyes darkened, and he said in an annoyed tone, "Why are you staring at her like that?"

The King of Chu snapped out of his daze and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Your Majesty, I only glanced at Consort Song's shooting because I saw how seriously she was taking it."

Xiao Yan said directly, "Stop having those inappropriate thoughts."

King of Chu: "My brother is innocent!"

How could he... dare to have such thoughts about Consort Song?! He wouldn't dare even if he had a hundred lives.

Xiao Yan ignored him and told him to get lost.

He then walked over and glanced at the crooked jade arrows on the target and the woman's serious profile.

He still offered a compliment: "Not bad."

"Ningning, you should go back now. The hunt will start in half an hour. Be a good girl and wait in your tent."

Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning immediately put down her bow and arrows, moved closer to Xiao Yan, and pleaded with him, "Your Majesty, please take me with you! I've never seen a hunting ground before, and I really want to see it for myself. Please grant my request!"

"No way." Xiao Yan refused decisively.

"Your Majesty, I beg you."

Xiao Yan said helplessly, "The hunting grounds are dangerous; there are even tigers roaming around."

Song Shuangning tugged at his sleeve, "Your Majesty~ I will stay by your side and behave myself. With you here, nothing will happen."

Xiao Yan couldn't resist her persistent pleading and coaxing, and finally nodded in agreement.

"Go and choose a gentle and docile steed for Consort Song."

He then looked at her and said seriously, "Once we enter the hunting grounds, you can only stay by my side and cannot leave my side for even a moment. Otherwise, if danger arises, I will not be able to protect you."

Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning immediately jumped up with joy, tiptoed and quickly kissed him on the cheek, "Your Majesty is the best to your concubines."

Xiao Yan's face darkened. "Song Shuangning."

This is still outside, with many people watching. If lipstick gets on his face, wouldn't he be branded a tyrant?

"I haven't applied lipstick today," Song Shuangning said with a smile.

The moment Song Shuangning stepped into the hunting grounds, her face was filled with novelty. She had only ever seen the grand spectacle of royal hunting in TV dramas before, and now she was one of them. The TV dramas were still too conservative; the hunting grounds before her were far more magnificent and grand than she had imagined.

The deeper you go, the denser the trees become.

Xiao Yan reined in the horses and turned to Song Shuangning beside him, asking, "Aren't you afraid?"

"With Your Majesty here, I am not afraid." Song Shuangning looked up at him, her eyes showing no fear, her voice soft yet firm.

After saying that, Xiao Yan deliberately teased her, pointing his whip at the bushes ahead and saying, "There's a tiger over there!"

Song Shuangning gasped in fright and quickly moved closer to the Emperor's horse.

Meeting Xiao Yan's amused gaze, she realized she had been deceived.

Song Shuangning coughed lightly: "I'm not afraid, I'm... I'm excited!"

Xiao Yan held out his hand. "Come here."

"Look how scared you are, ride a horse with me."

Song Shuangning offered him her hand and said softly, "Your Majesty, please don't expose me."

Xiao Yan laughed loudly.

At first, they could still see a few rabbits hopping by, and occasionally a fox or a deer. Xiao Yan held her hand and shot a few rabbits and deer.

But if you go deeper into the dense forest, the branches and leaves will block out the sky and make it dark and eerie.

Looking at the quiet woman in his arms, Xiao Yan began to regret his decision. He shouldn't have been so soft-hearted as to agree to bring her in.

"Guards, escort Consort Song back."

"I am not afraid."

"Listen to me." Xiao Yan said seriously.

After Xiao Yan jumped off his horse, he carried her off with him.

With a sharp "whoosh," a cold arrow suddenly shot out from the dense forest. The arrow grazed the emperor's shoulder and embedded itself in the tree trunk behind him, trembling slightly.

The guards reacted instantly, forming a circle around him: "Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!"

The branches overhead shook violently, and a dark figure leaped swiftly between the trees, so fast that only a blur remained.

Song Shuangning couldn't help but exclaim: Good heavens, her luck is incredible! On her first visit to the Royal Hunting Grounds, while others hunt deer and rabbits, she actually ran into an assassin. It was truly an eye-opener.

Her gaze followed the shadowy figure closely as the second arrow pierced the air, aimed straight at the emperor's heart.

"Your Majesty!" Song Shuangning didn't think twice and rushed to Xiao Yan's side. At that moment, she had only one thought in her mind: The Emperor cannot be harmed! If something happens to the Emperor, she will lose her life too!

Xiao Yan quickly grabbed her waist and dodged to the side.

But the arrow still grazed Xiao Yan's arm, drawing a string of blood beads.

Arrows continued to rain down, but Xiao Yan snatched a sword from a nearby guard and used it to deflect all the arrows to the ground.

At the critical moment, the King of Chu arrived with his men and shot an arrow that struck the dark shadow in the tree.

The assassin fell instantly after being shot by the arrow, then bit down hard on the poison between his teeth and died instantly.