Chapter 751: Chapter 713: Singing in Harmony

Yang Xueru’s wound wasn’t actually very deep, but because she was used to staying indoors and it was her first time encountering such a situation, she was so frightened that she fell into a deep sleep.

Dong Han sent someone to fetch Powder for Anesthesia, medicinal powder, and bandages from the Imperial Physician. After removing the arrowhead and carefully cleaning the wound, she applied medicine and bandaged it. Only then did Yang Xueru slowly wake up.

Her personal maid saw her mistress awake and showed joy on her face. She quickly asked if she was feeling uncomfortable anywhere, if she was thirsty or hungry, and what she wanted to eat.

Yang Xueru’s gaze fell on Dong Han, "Why are you here?"

Dong Han put the lid on the porcelain bottle containing the medicinal powder and glanced at her, "Does Miss Yang remember how that arrow struck you?"

Yang Xueru was a bit dazed, then shook her head, "The situation was urgent at the time, I didn’t have time to see clearly before I fell down."

Dong Han’s eyes moved slightly, and she said calmly, "His Highness is outside. If you have anything to say, you can tell him."

Hearing that Zhao Xi was outside the tent, Yang Xueru’s heart raced a bit. She tried to hide her emotions and appeared as weak as when she first woke up. With the help of her maid, she sat up half-reclined against the bedhead and said to Dong Han, "Thank you, sister."

Dong Han smiled, "Actually, I’m older by a few months, so calling me that makes you sound older."

Yang Xueru looked embarrassed.

She wasn’t really addressing her based on age, just relying on her future status as the Crown Princess Consort to assert her position in front of the concubine.

When Dong Han exited the tent, the Yang Family had already rushed over. Chief Minister Yang, Yang Huan, and several of the Yang Family’s younger members were all with Zhao Xi.

Wen Wan hadn’t left yet.

Chief Minister Yang’s face looked dark and displeased.

Dong Han stepped forward, bent her knees to them, and said slowly, "Miss Yang’s injury is not serious and will heal with some rest."

Chief Minister Yang snorted coldly, "A person in good condition gets shot by an arrow, and it just so happens to be His Highness’s arrow. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?"

Zhao Xi remained silent; he knew clearly that of the six arrows he had shot, all hit their targets. He knew if any had hit a person.

Wen Wan chuckled and interjected, "Chief Minister Yang is right. There were so many noble daughters at the hunting ground this year, and all those who stayed in the tents were unharmed, but Miss Yang got injured. What is the truth? Shouldn’t we ask her if someone tied her up and dragged her into the woods? Otherwise, how could a lady be present in the hunting grounds when the Emperor Uncle has explicitly forbidden it?"

Her words, both spoken and smiling, made Chief Minister Yang’s face turn even blacker, with anger even emanating from his nostrils.

The atmosphere reached a stalemate.

Zhao Xi, who had been silent for a long time, spoke, "I will go see her."

...

Inside the tent.

Personal maid Cai Xiu softly asked Yang Xueru, "Why didn’t Miss Yang tell her it was Miss Qi who harmed you?"

Qi Xuan had been infatuated with Zhao Xi for years, so much so that she secretly learned some archery to match him, although her skills were inadequate.

As soon as she arrived at the hunting ground today, she went to meet Zhao Xi to explain that nothing happened with Yang Huan at the Yang family banquet.

Out of familial consideration, Zhao Xi didn’t scold her but told her to wait in peace for marriage and asked Eunuch Sanbao to escort her back.

Out of love turned hate, Qi Xuan blamed Yang Xueru for her predicament, thinking if not for this woman who invited her to the birthday banquet, none of this would have happened. So when she saw Yang Xueru enter the woods, she followed, pulled an arrow from one of Zhao Xi’s hunted prey, and seized an opportunity to strike at Yang Xueru.

Recalling Qi Xuan’s hateful gaze, Yang Xueru clutched the thin quilt around her and closed her eyes, saying, "Enough, don’t mention this matter again, otherwise..."

Before she could finish speaking, the sound of welcoming the Crown Prince came from outside.

Yang Xueru immediately stopped speaking, quickly lay down, slightly opened her eyes, and appeared weak all over.

Paired with her bloodless lips, she truly appeared grievously injured.

She had no intention of saying Qi Xuan did it, for her own reasons.

As long as Qi Xuan didn’t admit it, and she remained silent, the arrow could only have been from the Crown Prince.

Back then, Chief Xue took an arrow for him, leading him to call Xue Yinhuan into the palace in remorse. Now he had personally harmed his yet-to-be-wedded wife, wouldn’t he feel a trace of guilt?

Yang Xueru wanted Zhao Xi to feel guilt and remorse.

Only in this way could she hold a special place in his heart. No matter how many concubines he took in the future, to him, she had to be the most important.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Yang Xueru instantly hid all her emotions and slightly lifted her eyes.

"Your Highness..."

She made a gesture to rise but winced in pain as it pulled on her wound.

Zhao Xi stood three feet away and didn’t approach further, "Since you are injured, stay in bed and rest without unnecessary courtesy."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xueru’s eyes filled with tears and she looked guilty, "It’s all because this subject was restless and ran around to get hit by a stray arrow. This subject doesn’t blame Your Highness; Your Highness need not feel burdened."

Zhao Xi looked at her, "There are still a few days left of the hunt before we return. The wind at the hunting ground is not suitable for convalescence. I will have someone send you back to the capital."

Yang Xueru was anxious, "No..."

"What?"

"What I mean, Miss Dong said that I have just been injured and should not be moved immediately. If I return to the capital now, it could worsen my injury."

Zhao Xi did not force her, "Then take good care of yourself and do not move around."

Seeing him about to leave, Yang Xueru weakly spoke, "Is Your Highness angry with me?"

"No."

Zhao Xi’s answer was straightforward.

Yang Xueru finally breathed a sigh of relief, a smile emerged on her lips, "I will definitely listen to Your Highness, take good care of my injury, and not go anywhere."

...

During the bonfire banquet, Emperor Guangxi finally learned about this matter from Mr. Cui.

Mr. Cui frowned, "There are many stray arrows on the hunting grounds, the women should not run around."

Emperor Guangxi merely held his wine cup and let out a cold laugh, "If truly hit by the Crown Prince, that girl’s life would have long been gone."

Mr. Cui was dumbfounded, "This..."

The amount of information was overwhelming!

Emperor Guangxi no longer spoke and turned his attention to the dancing girl.

According to the rules, except for Emperor Guangxi and the Crown Prince, everyone who participated in today’s hunt was counted; whoever hunted the most could receive a promise from Emperor Guangxi.

The little eunuch who did the counting had already reported the results; the one with the most game was Ye Rong, the third son of the Cloud General Mansion.

After a song and dance, Emperor Guangxi called him forward and asked what he wanted.

Ye Rong was deeply conflicted inside.

He knew what a promise from the Emperor meant and how precious this opportunity was for him. However, the relationship between him and Xu Jia seemed impossible to progress further. If he forced an imperial marriage decree, they might not even be able to remain as senior and junior disciples in the future.

After much deliberation, Ye Rong chose to request an imperial decree for his sister, Ye Ling.

Emperor Guangxi looked at him quite unexpectedly, "What decree?"

Ye Rong glanced in the direction where Song Yuanbao was seated and loudly said, "I assume Your Majesty has heard, Song Yuanbao and my sister Ah Yao are already betrothed, but Song Yuanbao is naturally flirtatious. I worry that one day he will abandon his wife and child. So I take this opportunity to request an imperial decree for Ah Yao, one that orders Song Yuanbao never to divorce her."

As soon as Ye Rong finished speaking, the crowd was in an uproar.

Song Yuanbao nearly spat out his wine, then rolled his eyes.

A rare golden opportunity for an imperial promise, what on earth was Ye Rong asking for?

Even without the decree weighing on him, he would never divorce his wife anyway!

Besides feeling speechless, Song Yuanbao had no other thoughts.

For the first time, Emperor Guangxi heard such a request. With a laugh, he immediately instructed Mr. Cui to draft it.

Song Yuanbao set down his wine cup, approached, kneeled, and accepted the decree, quietly asking Ye Rong beside him, "Brother-in-law, were you drunk and speaking nonsense?"

Ye Rong simply gave a cold snort in response.

Song Yuanbao was not angry, "You’ve wasted an opportunity that could bring you great success, sure you won’t regret it?"

"If you treat Ah Yao well, I will thank the heavens and have nothing more to wish for."

Song Yuanbao chuckled, accepted the decree, and returned to his seat.

As the future Crown Prince Consort, Yang Xueru’s injury could not be ignored by Emperor Guangxi. Even though he knew there was something behind it, Emperor Guangxi still looked toward Zhao Xi and asked what happened.

Zhao Xi said, "It was my carelessness that injured her."

"How is the injury?"

"Miss Dong has examined it. The arrow has been removed and the wound treated. A period of rest will lead to recovery."

Emperor Guangxi narrowed his old eyes, "You have always been precise with your archery. How could you be so careless today? You must know she is the future Crown Prince Consort, the grandchild of Grand Secretary Yang. If truly seriously injured, you would be in great trouble."

"It is all my fault..."

The father and son echoed each other, causing Grand Secretary Yang to lose his composure and had to stand up, "I have already inquired carefully. Ruru at that time was accompanied by her maid into the woods to change clothes. The accident was purely coincidental, and furthermore, Your Highness has already personally checked; it is nothing serious."

Emperor Guangxi’s expression shifted to calm, "It’s fine if it’s nothing serious."

If it truly were serious, the Crown Prince and the Yang family would have an irreconcilable conflict. Still, someone needs to investigate who exactly is behind all this.