On the second day of the second lunar month every year, the royal family would hold a spring hunt.
This was also the first grand event in the capital in the new year, extremely bustling.
Many eligible young men from noble families were eager to show their prowess in the spring hunt.
When Xiao Wang and Ruan Jiu arrived at the hunting ground, most people had already been there.
Ruan Jiu was dressed in a crescent - white glazed brocade dress, looking radiant.
With her big, round eyes, she kept looking around.
She had pleaded with Xiao Wang for a long time before he agreed to bring her. This was the only chance for her to meet Xie Jingchu alone.
Since it was a royal hunting ground, Lan Yu couldn't enter.
In the crowd, Ruan Jiu immediately spotted that straight and tall figure in a black riding suit. He was so eye - catching.
Her A Jing was always as elegant and noble as the moon on a clear day, no matter where and when.
Just then, the princess suddenly walked over.
There was a look of confusion on her face. She looked at Ruan Jiu suspiciously and asked, "A Yu, why are you here?"
In the past, she had invited Song Qingyu to participate every year, but Song Qingyu had always declined politely.
After all, Song Qingyu only liked poetry and literature and had no interest in horse - riding and hunting.
Ruan Jiu nervously glanced at Xiao Wang, hoping he could come to her rescue.
But Xiao Wang remained calm, his expression seemed to say, "You insisted on coming, so you should figure out an excuse yourself."
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips and said softly, "Maybe I've been lying in the mansion for too long and feel a bit bored, so I want to come out and get some fresh air."
"But your health has just improved a bit," the princess said worriedly.
"It's okay. I also want to see His Highness's valiant appearance," Ruan Jiu said, then she glanced at Xiao Wang guiltily.
Hearing this, the princess covered her mouth and giggled, "Only Crown Prince Brother dotes on you and would bring you here."
Ruan Jiu thought to herself that it wasn't that Xiao Wang doted on her; it was she who had been pestering him.
Then, as usual, the emperor said some inspiring words, and the hunt officially began.
Before leaving, Xiao Wang took off his cloak and put it on Ruan Jiu. He said softly, "You stay here. I'll bring it back for you."
Ruan Jiu was first confused, then quickly nodded, "Okay."
She was so focused on Xie Jingchu that she had forgotten that she had told Xiao Wang that she wanted a white - fox fur coat, which was why Xiao Wang had brought her to the hunting ground.
Xiao Wang tightened the cloak on Ruan Jiu, then mounted his horse.
Seemingly still a bit worried, he instructed, "If someone bothers you later, just say you're not feeling well and don't have to pay attention to them."
Seeing Ruan Jiu nodding obediently, Xiao Wang was finally relieved and whipped his horse towards the depths of the forest.
With the rising dust, everyone followed Xiao Wang and galloped away.
"A Yu, I never thought you and Crown Prince Brother were so reluctant to part before," the princess said.
Hearing the princess's voice, Ruan Jiu then noticed that the princess hadn't gone into the forest with them.
Frowning, she asked, "Why didn't you go?"
The princess pouted and said dejectedly, "It's all because of someone who values his lover more than his sister. He was afraid you'd be bullied here, so he asked me to stay with you."
Hearing this, a hint of secret joy flashed in Ruan Jiu's eyes.
She had been worrying about how to secretly meet Xie Jingchu.
Wasn't this the opportunity?
"Yongning, do you want to go in?"
"Of course I do!" the princess blurted out, but then she looked at Ruan Jiu and said helplessly, "Forget it. I'll go next year."
"How about I go in with you?"
"Really?" the princess said in surprise, but then quickly shook her head, "No, it's too dangerous inside."
Ruan Jiu persuaded, "There won't be any danger. If there were, why would they hold the spring hunt every year?"
The princess thought about it.
That was true. Although this was on the outskirts of the capital, it was all royal territory.
Over the years, there had never been any problems in the hunting ground.
But the princess still frowned, "But if Crown Prince Brother knows I brought you in, he'll surely scold me."
"Then you can just say you brought me in to find him. He'll be very happy," Ruan Jiu said.
Seeing that the princess was wavering, Ruan Jiu continued to persuade, "Yongning, the spring hunt only happens once a year."
Hearing this, the princess felt as if there were many ants crawling on her body.
She was extremely eager.
She only had a hobby of horse - riding and archery.
She looked forward to the spring hunt more than anyone else every year.
Moreover, she had made a bet with Xiao Qi this year that she would surely hunt a better prey than Xiao Qi.
After much thought, the princess gritted her teeth, "Okay, I can take you in, but you have to follow me closely and not run around."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu immediately raised her hand, held up three fingers, and nodded seriously.
But in her heart, she thought, God, I just made a gesture. It doesn't count as a vow!
After entering the hunting ground, Ruan Jiu found that the royal hunting ground was much larger than she had imagined.
Now, how to find Xie Jingchu had become a difficult problem.
"A Yu, what are you thinking about? Hurry up and get off the horse!"
Only then did Ruan Jiu know that in order not to startle the prey, they had to walk on foot after entering the depths of the forest.
Reluctantly, she got off the horse.
Choosing to secretly meet Xie Jingchu in the hunting ground was really a bad idea.
Then, Ruan Jiu accompanied the princess wandering around in the hunting ground like a headless fly for a long time.
They not only didn't see any prey, but Ruan Jiu was also almost exhausted.
She waved her hand repeatedly, "I can't do it anymore. I need to take a rest!"
After saying that, she directly found a big tree, leaned against it, and gasped for breath.
But the princess still looked eager. She quickly went over and pulled Ruan Jiu's hand, "A Yu, we haven't found any prey yet. How can you rest?"
Ruan Jiu said with a bitter smile, "I really can't walk anymore."
The princess shook Ruan Jiu's arm and pleaded, "My A Yu, just hold on a bit longer. After I hunt a prey, we'll go back immediately, okay?"
"I don't want to."
"Come on."
"No."
After several rounds of pushing and shoving, Ruan Jiu suddenly saw a mark carved on a big tree not far away.
The mark looked very familiar.
She immediately rubbed her eyes and looked carefully.
Suddenly, she was overjoyed. She wasn't wrong.
She remembered that mark. It was Xie Jingchu's unique mark.
Xie Jingchu was just ahead!
The princess saw Ruan Jiu staring blankly in one direction, but when she looked in that direction, she didn't see anything.
So she asked, "A Yu, what are you looking at?"
Ruan Jiu came back to her senses, pursed her lips, and said, "I just saw a white fox running over there."
"Really? Where?" the princess said in surprise.
White foxes were very cunning. Every time she came to the hunting ground, she couldn't find any traces of white foxes.
It was A Yu who was lucky. She saw a white fox on her first visit.
If she could hunt a white fox, she would surely outdo Xiao Qi.
"It ran in that direction," Ruan Jiu said, pointing in another direction.
Hearing this, the princess immediately prepared to chase after it.
But after running a few steps, she looked back at Ruan Jiu, looking embarrassed.
Ruan Jiu waved her hand, "Go quickly. Don't let the white fox get away! I'll just sit here and wait for you!"
Hearing this, the princess finally felt relieved and chased in the direction of the white fox.
Ruan Jiu stretched her neck until she saw the princess running far away.
She stood up, patted the dust off her clothes, and the tired look in her eyes had completely disappeared.