The hunting had been arranged, and the teams remained the same as before.
However, Lin Yuan ignored Yi Zhici.
Half an hour had passed since the hunting started. All Lin Yuan did was shoot one arrow after another at the prey.
Yi Zhici wanted to speak to him several times, but each time she was intimidated by Lin Yuan's intense determination when he was about to shoot.
Yet, at the wrong moment, Yi Zhici thought that a man focused on his task was really handsome...
On the hunting ground, servants followed each group. The servants would carry back the hunted prey. The group that hunted the most prey in the end would win.
The servants following Lin Yuan and Yi Zhici's group were already exhausted after just half an hour.
When Lin Yuan nocked another arrow, Yi Zhici couldn't hold back anymore.
"General Lin."
Lin Yuan ignored her and shot an arrow at a tufted deer a hundred meters away.
Yi Zhici still didn't give up. "General Lin."
Lin Yuan turned a deaf ear. He seemed angry or perhaps avoiding her. In any case, he was about to ride away.
"Lin Yuan!"
This time, Lin Yuan stopped.
Yi Zhici was really afraid that Lin Yuan would just ride around all day without saying a word to her. She quickly rode over and said, "Wait. I have something to tell you."
Lin Yuan sighed and got off his horse as if giving up resistance. "Your Highness, please speak."
The two led their horses and sent the following servants back. They walked to a nearby tree.
Yi Zhici couldn't understand Lin Yuan's attitude at this moment. She didn't know where to start asking. Asking too much would make her seem strange. So she lifted her arm and pointed at the bracelet. "Did you give this to me?"
"Yes."
Yi Zhici nodded. "Ah, thank you. It's very beautiful. I like it very much."
Then there was another silence.
Yi Zhici had never been in such a situation before. She was usually chatty, interested in everything from the birds in the sky to the fish in the water and the steamed cakes in the pot, and could always say something about them.
But at this moment, she really couldn't say a word.
There were too many questions she wanted to ask but couldn't.
There were too many feelings she wanted to express but couldn't.
After a moment of silence, Lin Yuan spoke first, as if giving up struggling. "Your Highness, if you marry the Marquis's heir in the future... I will attend your wedding."
Yi Zhici was stunned.
Lin Yuan's tone was more bitter than ever. "I thought that by staying by Your Highness's side and showing myself as reliable, Your Highness would gradually depend on me... But I didn't expect that Your Highness already has someone in your heart..."
"Wait a minute," Yi Zhici interrupted him. "Is there some misunderstanding between us?"
"...Misunderstanding?"
Yi Zhici rubbed her temples. "Wait. I don't have feelings for the Marquis's heir, and there's no talk of me marrying him. Who did you hear this from?"
Lin Yuan started to list the so - called evidence. "In Tianbo Village, Your Highness invited the Marquis's heir to go on an outing. On the way to Longming Mountain, you were always with General Yan. You often went to the Marquis's heir, and last night when Your Highness was drunk, you... you confessed your feelings to him. This morning, the Marquis's heir came out of Your Highness's tent..."
"Wait! Last night, wasn't the person I saw you? I remember it was very dark. I recognized the cloak, and I'm sure I saw your face..."
Now it was Lin Yuan's turn to be stunned. "Your Highness thought... the person you saw was me?"
Only then did Yi Zhici realize. "Ah, I knew our conversation didn't make sense. There really is a misunderstanding! You've always thought I like the Marquis's heir?"
Lin Yuan was completely stunned and didn't say a word for a long time.
Yi Zhici thought it was incredible. No wonder Hou Chen was so strange this morning. It was because she had mistaken him for someone else last night?
After thinking for a long time, Yi Zhici felt something was wrong again. Confused at first, then she secretly felt happy. With a mischievous smile, she said, "What did you mean by those words before? And how did you know when I went to see the Marquis's heir?"
Lin Yuan's ears gradually turned red. "Your Highness..."
Yi Zhici became even more pushy. "General Lin, do you like me? Is it also Your Highness that you wrote on the wish list?"
After a moment of silence, "Yes, it's Your Highness. I like Your Highness."
Yi Zhici didn't expect Lin Yuan to be so straightforward. But the corners of her mouth couldn't help turning up. "Hey, I won't marry Hou Chen. I like you."
Lin Yuan looked calm on the surface, with only his ears as red as if they had been soaked in hot peppers. But only he could hear how violently his heart was beating.
Yi Zhici leaned over. "Well, does this mean we understand each other's feelings... I want to do something a bit daring. Is that okay?"
Lin Yuan's mouth curved slightly. "As Your Highness wishes."
Then Yi Zhici threw herself into Lin Yuan's arms.
Lin Yuan also hugged Yi Zhici tightly, just like in Tianbo Village last time. But last time he hugged her so tightly that she could hardly breathe. This time, Yi Zhici could breathe a little easier.