Page 496

Xuetuan let the person in black hold him, lifting his furry head to stare at the person, as if curious.

The person in black lowered his gaze to look at the cat in his arms: pure white all over with deep blue eyes, with every look it seemed more like Xiao Jinyan’s pet, just much larger.

If it was Xiao Jinyan’s pet, did it mean not only was Xiao Jinyan safe, but it was also possible that he was here?

The long absence of any clue about Xiao Jinyan had left the person in black disheartened, but now hope ignited in his heart once more.

The person in black, unable to wait, hurried off to find someone with the cat in his arms.

At this moment, from deep within the forest, a nimble figure was quickly sprinting towards them.

Chu Zhao saw his master and stepped forward to greet him with a fist and palm salute.

"Master, what brings you here?"

The person in black, upon seeing his subordinate, happily lifted the cat in his hands and said, "Do you think this cat looks like Xiao Jinyan’s pet?"

Chu Zhao took a careful look at the cat in his master’s arms, "It does resemble it, but this one is too big, could practically be its father."

Before he had even finished speaking, he received a knock on the head from the person in black.

"After so many years, couldn’t it have grown up?"

Hearing this, Chu Zhao quickly nodded and admitted his mistake, "The master makes sense, I did not think far enough."

Xuetuan looked at the master and servant before him with a bewildered face: I mean, shouldn’t you be sending me home by now?

The person in black looked down at the cat in his arms, then raised his head to Chu Zhao and said, "I’m going to look for someone."

Chu Zhao asked in confusion, "Where are you going to look for someone?"

The person in black did not bother with Chu Zhao and left nimbly with the cat.

Chu Zhao sighed, who are you looking for? These past two years, the Imperial Palace had been searched countless times without finding anyone; instead, often going to visit Concubine Xu.

After all, she is a married woman!

He did not dare to voice these thoughts in front of his master, for fear of a beating~

The noonday sun was harsher than in the morning, and after walking a while, one could sweat profusely.

Shen Chuwei and the others also returned to their seats, having had a scare, and drank tea together to calm their nerves.

Qin Xiao, upon learning that Concubine Xu was safely back, called back the guards who were searching for her.

To be cautious, Qin Xiao had the guards stay nearby in case another unexpected event occurred.

Shen Chuwei peeled a banana and handed it to Concubine Xu, "Have a banana to calm yourself."

Concubine Xu was also hungry by then; she took the banana and bit into it.

Lady Tao picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Concubine Xu, "Here, drink some tea."

Concubine Xu held the teacup in one hand and the banana in the other, first taking a sip to moisten her throat and then biting into the banana to sate her hunger.

"Do you want to go horseback riding?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "Riding a horse makes my backside sore; I don’t want to ride."

Concubine Xu turned to look at Lady Tao after hearing this.

Lady Tao shook her head, "I don’t know how to ride, and I’m too lazy to learn."

"Well, I actually kind of want to ride," said Concubine Xu while biting into her banana.

"Let’s ride tomorrow. The Emperor and the rest should be back soon, and when they return, we can have Grilled Meat," Shen Chuwei said, getting excited. Xiao Jinyan would surely bring back a lot of game; the forest was teeming with wild game.

At the mention of roasting game, stars lit up in the eyes of Concubine Xu and Lady Tao.

"The Imperial Chefs in the palace can’t roast as deliciously as Chun Xi," Conciubine Xu said softly.

Lady Tao agreed, "I think so too."

Shen Chuwei also felt the Imperial Chef’s meat was a tad underwhelming and suggested, "When His Highness returns, let’s roast it ourselves and eat."

Concubine Xu raised her hand in agreement, "Good idea."

Lady Tao glanced at Miss Han and Wanxin not far away, "What do you think the Emperor has Wanxin here for?"

Concubine Xu glanced over, "Who knows? Maybe to pick out a husband."

Shen Chuwei also looked over curiously and saw Miss Han holding a very small grey rabbit, the spitting image of Yuan Gungun in his younger days. It’s no wonder they were all wild rabbits.

Meanwhile, deep in the forest.

The Empress watched the doggedly pursuing Dog Emperor, wherever she went, he followed, impossible to shake off.

Finally, the Empress could not help but speak, "Your Majesty, what kind of hunt is this with us together?"

The Emperor said, "Empress, you haven’t left the palace in a long time; hunting with me is better."

Empress: "..." Who wants to hunt with you?

Just then, the Emperor, bow in hand, spotted some movement in a thicket not far away and drew his bow to shoot.

The Empress also saw it and thought, since you’re always following me, I’ll compete with you for game. She drew her bow and released an arrow, aiming at the same target as the Emperor.

Almost simultaneously, two arrows flew toward the prey hiding in the thicket.