Longming Mountain was the place where the annual hunting took place. It was the imperial hunting ground with beautiful scenery, whether natural or man - made. In short, it was a great place for hunting.
Since Gu Jing had sent a message back, Gu Weifeng and the large group of people arrived quickly. They were only three days behind Yi Zhici and her group.
He Weining had a weak constitution. As the season changed, she fell ill, so she didn't come for the hunting. Yi Junshi was very worried. He pulled Yi Zhici over and checked her several times. Only after confirming that she was okay did he feel relieved. But Gu Weifeng was cold to her, as if still harboring hostility towards her.
Yi Zhici felt a bit uncomfortable. After all, she had almost been assassinated for Gu Yue! Why did the emperor of Gu Yue still treat her like this?
Yi Zhici was very unhappy.
After everyone had rested, the hunting started the next day.
The hunting was divided into two sessions. Those led by Gu Weifeng, who were of or above the age of twenty, would just go through the motions in the outer field, hunting small game like rabbits and deer. The younger people who were under twenty would be paired up according to the previous lottery and go to the inner field to hunt wild game.
Among the younger generation, whoever could hunt a fierce animal like a tiger or a bear would be considered extremely lucky.
But considering the safety of the female guests, they were not allowed to enter the field in the first session. Yi Zhici leaned against Yan Sijin's shoulder dejectedly.
The sleeved - up outfit she had prepared in advance to hunt with Lin Yuan was useless!
Yan Sijin laughed, "Come on, don't be unhappy. Today is just to get a good omen. Hunting a fierce animal is a good sign. Tomorrow is free - style hunting. By then, the emperor won't participate, so you can do as you like."
Yi Zhici nodded, "But won't they be in danger?"
Yan Sijin tapped her forehead, "You worry too much. Those who dare to hunt fierce animals must know what they're doing. Those with poor martial arts skills won't dare to get close."
Yi Zhici stopped talking.
Yan Sijin paused and said, "A Ci, I want to ask you something."
Yi Zhici said, "Yes, what is it?"
Yan Sijin hesitated for a long time and then gritted her teeth and asked, "What does it feel like to have a crush on someone?"
Yi Zhici lifted her head from Yan Sijin's shoulder and looked at her with interest, "Sister Yan, did something happen to you in the illusion?"
"Well... Just answer my question."
Yi Zhici thought for a while and said mischievously, "No, you have to tell me first. Then I can help you figure it out. Otherwise, if I just vaguely tell you the feeling and you misunderstand and ruin a good match, what should I do?"
"I can't argue with you," Yan Sijin said with a helpless smile, "I'll tell you."
"When I was a child, I was saved by Wei Xing."
Yi Zhici said, "That playboy Wei Yuansi could actually save a female general like you?"
Yan Sijin smiled, but there was a bit of bitterness in her smile. "At that time, my martial arts skills were not good. I was surrounded and bullied by a group of young masters from noble families. They said I was an outcast and that girls should stay in the boudoir embroidering handkerchiefs."
Yi Zhici patted her on the shoulder to comfort her. Yan Sijin smiled, "It's okay. It's all in the past. As you guessed, it was Wei Xing who drove them away. He even said, 'I'll protect her for the rest of my life. Whoever dares to come again, just try it.'"
"To be honest, from then on, Wei Xing was like a god in my heart."
"But that year, the right prime minister was demoted. His whole family moved to the southern border, and Wei Xing left too. When they moved back two years later, it seemed that he had forgotten about me."
Yi Zhici carefully picked up the conversation, "So, on that wish - list, you wrote Wei Yuansi, but in the end, you were paired up with the marquis's heir by accident. But Sister Yan, the marquis's heir is a popular choice among the young ladies from noble families. There must be noble - family young ladies who chose him, but in the end, you two were in a group. Have you ever thought that maybe... Hou Chen has feelings for you?"
Yan Sijin nodded, "I've thought about it, but... but I just want to protect Wei Xing, just like he protected me when I was a child. I never thought about the young marquis..."
Yi Zhici nodded, "Then... Sister Yan, why do you still ask me what it feels like to have a crush on someone?"
Yan Sijin covered her heart, "Because in the illusion, when the marquis's heir protected me, my heart was beating very fast, and my head was buzzing. I was so confused."
"What did the illusion look like?"
"I was sitting in a sedan chair. Outside was a desolate mountain. There was a man with deep purple eyes and unusually long ears who wanted to pounce on me. The marquis's heir saved me."
Yi Zhici pondered for a moment. This should be the part when Xiaoyuer was offered to the mountain god. What Hou Chen experienced was Bai Sang's lingering obsession.
Yan Sijin frowned, "I saw the marquis's heir fall in front of me. At that moment, it seemed that my blood stopped flowing. I... I remember very clearly. I was... very sad."
Yi Zhici picked up a chopstick of asparagus for Yan Sijin and comforted her, "Sister Yan, in my opinion, children don't understand love, but they do have feelings. Maybe your feelings for Wei Yuansi are just gratitude?"
Yan Sijin was silent.
Yi Zhici added, "I don't know what happened between you and the marquis's heir or what you've been through together. But that illusion can only appear in front of people who have someone in their hearts. I asked Wei Yuansi the day before yesterday. He said he won hundreds of gold in the illusion, and it had nothing to do with Xiaoyuer's story."
Yan Sijin lowered her head even more dejectedly.
"I need some time to think it over."
Yi Zhici nodded, "Okay, Sister Yan. Don't worry. Take your time. Just don't be too hard on yourself."
Yan Sijin lowered her head, frowned, and said nothing.