Chapter 149

Chapter 149: What He Asked for Her

Sheng Zhi Wan spoke in such a casual tone, and there was not the slightest jealousy on her face.

Meng Yang studied Sheng Zhi Wan’s expression carefully. How was that possible?

Watching her own husband do these things for another woman, how could Sheng Zhi Wan be so calm and detached?

What Meng Yang hated most was Sheng Zhi Wan’s steady, unhurried look, no matter the situation.

Why did Sheng Zhi Wan deserve that?

Meng Yang stepped closer and lowered her voice. “If the Heir Apparent stays with me tonight, Princess will not care?”

Meng Yang had already learned from the Third Prince that, although Sheng Zhi Wan was favored by the Empress Dowager, Emperor Chong Sheng’s attitude toward Sheng Zhi Wan was strange.

Maybe it was because Sheng Zhi Wan’s Birth Mother had only been a Palace Maid who climbed into the Emperor’s bed.

In any case, Emperor Chong Sheng was not as doting as the rumors claimed. If anything, there was a faint, hidden dislike.

A Princess who was not loved by the Emperor, who had angered her husband’s family, and who had no real ability of her own – where did Sheng Zhi Wan get such confidence?

Sheng Zhi Wan gave Meng Yang a half smile. “I do not care. As long as the Heir Apparent is willing, he can dress you, wash your feet, carry your chamber pot, and wipe your urine. I will not care either way.”

The moment she heard those words, Meng Yang’s face turned green, then white.

Just then, Qi Shu Xian came out of the room. Qi Shu Xian went to the carriage to fetch his own things and walked toward Sheng Zhi Wan.

“Heir Apparent…” Meng Yang bit her lip and tugged at Qi Shu Xian’s sleeve.

Qi Shu Xian paused and looked toward Sheng Zhi Wan with a troubled expression.

Sheng Zhi Wan let out a soft laugh. “I understand. The Heir Apparent will stay with Concubine Meng tonight. Concubine Meng is pregnant and cannot be left alone.”

Qi Shu Xian frowned. “You misunderstood. It is that Yang’er has something to do tonight and needs me with her.”

“Heir Apparent does not need to explain,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, giving a small nod. “Go ahead.”

Sheng Zhi Wan turned and entered the room.

Qi Shu Xian stared at Sheng Zhi Wan’s back, sighed, and in the end did not chase after her.

In any case, once the hunt began tomorrow, Sheng Zhi Wan would understand that Qi Shu Xian had always held Sheng Zhi Wan in his heart.

The next day, the court officials each brought their families, and under the Palace Eunuch’s guidance, they arrived at the Drill Ground.

When Sheng Zhi Wan and the others entered, they drew many gazes.

Meng Yang lowered her eyes and followed close beside Qi Shu Xian. Meng Yang looked small and pitiful, like she could crumble with a breath.

Many people recognized Meng Yang as the famous Lady Meng who had brewed Jiao Niang Wine.

They just had not expected Qi Shu Xian to bring Meng Yang here as well.

Many noble Madams and Misses looked at Sheng Zhi Wan, wanting to see her reaction, but they only saw calm stillness.

On Sheng Zhi Wan’s peerless, stunning face, Sheng Zhi Wan did not even spare a glance for the two people at her side.

For a moment, the women who had been ready to gossip and pity her found that they could not quite do it.

No matter what, Sheng Zhi Wan was still a Princess. More than that, Sheng Zhi Wan had married Qi Shu Xian, a Heir Apparent with a bright future and a handsome, capable presence.

And if they talked about Qi Shu Xian having a Lady Meng at his side, then they only had to look at their own husbands… How many of them had only one pretty concubine?

Forget it. Better not to bring it up.

Their pity and prying quieted. Many Madams and Misses stepped forward to greet Sheng Zhi Wan, and Sheng Zhi Wan greeted them all in turn.

Then, under the Palace Eunuch’s guidance, Sheng Zhi Wan took her seat for watching.

But Sheng Zhi Wan’s seat was not placed with the imperial clan Princesses.

Instead, it was arranged according to the Duke residence’s noble rank, together with Qi Shu Xian.

Sheng Zhi Wan sat down at ease.

Sheng Zhi Wan truly was at ease. With Meng Yang clinging to Qi Shu Xian right beside her, Sheng Zhi Wan did not need to speak at all.

Sheng Zhi Wan only watched the people and glanced at the distant scenery.

Soon, the Northern Di envoys entered the Drill Ground.

The leading Fourth Prince was someone Sheng Zhi Wan recognized at a glance.

He was very young, with handsome features that looked clean and refined. His brocade robes made him seem even more elegant, like a bamboo stalk in the wind.

The only flaw was his thin frame and pale complexion.

Especially compared to the two Northern Di Commanders behind him, both of them heavily muscled, the Fourth Prince looked even weaker.

It seemed those two Commanders had been sent to “protect” the Fourth Prince.

Sheng Zhi Wan watched them for a moment but could not see anything unusual.

Soon, Emperor Chong Sheng arrived with the Empress, Noble Consort Qi, the Crown Prince, and several other Princes. They took the main seats.

The officials and their families rose to bow, and the Northern Di envoys also bowed in Northern Di fashion.

Only then did everyone sit.

Next came Emperor Chong Sheng introducing the Hunting Lodge and explaining the origins and history of Sheng Kingdom’s hunting meet.

Sheng Zhi Wan listened quietly.

But Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze fell on the subtle clash between the Empress and Noble Consort Qi.

Sheng Zhi Wan had three elder Imperial Brothers and two younger Imperial Brothers.

The Crown Prince, Sheng Yuan Jun, was the Empress’s son. He was also the Eldest Princess’s full brother, and he had been weak since birth.

In front of their Imperial Father, Sheng Yuan Jun always looked respectful and obedient, but behind the scenes, Sheng Yuan Jun was cruel and violent.

The Second Imperial Brother, Sheng Yuan Qi, was Noble Consort Li’s son. Sheng Yuan Qi was the one who fought the Crown Prince most fiercely, and he was also the loudest and most high profile.

How to describe Sheng Yuan Qi? Sheng Yuan Qi had big ambition, but Sheng Yuan Qi was very foolish.

The Third Imperial Brother, Sheng Yuan Hao, was Noble Consort Qi’s son.

Noble Consort Qi was the late Consort Yuan’s sister.

While Consort Yuan had lived, Consort Yuan had been the Imperial Father’s beloved. After Consort Yuan died, the Imperial Father brought Noble Consort Qi into the palace because she resembled Consort Yuan, and he had favored her without end for years.

Even on this trip to the Drill Ground, the Imperial Father only brought the Empress and Noble Consort Qi. That alone showed his bias.

The Imperial Father favored Sheng Yuan Hao as well, because Sheng Yuan Hao resembled Consort Yuan in both appearance and temperament.

Sheng Yuan Hao loved wine and painting, and he carried himself with elegant taste.

But beneath that elegance, Sheng Yuan Hao naturally hid a fierce ambition.

The Fourth Imperial Brother, Sheng Yuan Yu, had become a fool after an accident and a burning fever when he was young.

The Fifth Imperial Brother, Sheng Yuan Hui, was Consort Xian’s son. Sheng Yuan Hui was only ten this year and had neither the strength nor the courage to contend for the throne.

“Princess, what are you looking at?” Meng Yang’s voice came from the side.

Sheng Zhi Wan only glanced at Meng Yang and did not answer.

Soon, after Emperor Chong Sheng finished speaking, the hunting meet truly began.

Anyone with eyes could tell the hunt was meant to intimidate Northern Di.

The question was who Emperor Chong Sheng had chosen to do the intimidating.

Very quickly, twenty Northern Di elite warriors entered the field. Each of them was tall and strong, seated on horseback as they stared at Sheng Kingdom’s finely dressed young men with open provocation.

Among the Princes, only the Second Prince, Sheng Yuan Qi, stepped forward.

The rest were all young military officers or sons of famous generals, all of them clearly skilled.

Shang Xiu Yuan was Shang Tian Hao’s son, and Shang Xiu Yuan’s martial skill was decent, so Shang Xiu Yuan was naturally among them.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze drifted across the direction they came from, as if by accident.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not see Shang Xing Yu.

Had Shang Xing Yu not come?

“Zhi Wan,” Qi Shu Xian said at that moment as he stood. “I promised to hunt a red fox for you before. This time, I will definitely give it to you!”

Qi Shu Xian walked out.

Meng Yang was stunned when she heard that. A red fox? How could there be a red fox in the capital?

The red fox was a kind of fox unique to Cang Nan. It was small and nimble, and it ran so fast that it was said to be ten times faster than the swiftest horse.

It was also rumored to be the hardest prey to hunt.

But the capital was unimaginably far from Cang Nan. There might be wild foxes, but there could never be a red fox.

Unless someone had released one ahead of time.

But this was the Imperial House Drill Ground. What kind of person could release a red fox here?

Could it be the Emperor…?

When Meng Yang thought that, she felt disbelieving.

Sheng Zhi Wan pressed her lips together slightly.

Qi Shu Xian’s gaze also crossed the crowd and landed on Sheng Zhi Wan.

Last time, Qi Shu Xian had not given Sheng Zhi Wan the red fox.

But this time, that red fox was something Qi Shu Xian had specially asked the Emperor for, on Sheng Zhi Wan’s behalf.