The wicked imperial concubine is courting death again; the comments section teaches her how to win w

Haitang Weichang covers several thousand acres, with continuous mountain ranges and dense forests and grasses.

The prey is scattered, and as long as you don't deliberately follow them and each goes its own way, you will basically not run into each other once you enter.

The hunt lasts for four days. Skilled generals will venture deep into the mountains and forests, set traps, and hunt large prey.

Some civil officials would simply hunt small animals like badgers, rabbits, and pheasants in the surrounding areas, just for the fun of the wild.

Xie Ling chose a more secluded path.

The dense forest was deep and the branches and leaves intertwined, almost blocking out the sky.

Li Fengyao followed half a step behind the emperor. "Your Majesty, since I started following you, I've been through thick and thin. If I get hurt anywhere, the cost of medicine will be doubled."

After leaving Qi Yitang, Xie Ling's demeanor became cold and aloof, exuding an imperial aura.

"You'll definitely get your share of the funeral expenses."

"That won't do," Li Fengyao said with a grin, "I haven't even seen the Third Prince yet, I can't let it happen so early—"

Before he finished speaking, Xie Ling suddenly raised his hand, drew his bow, and shot an arrow into the grass.

The guard parted the grass and found a half-grown wild boar.

The group continued on their way when suddenly there was a rustling sound in the grass ahead, and a beautiful red fox darted out.

Xie Ling's heart stirred slightly; if she made a scarf for Tangtang, she would probably like it.

Another arrow struck the fox's calf, pinning it to the spot.

The guards stepped forward and took the prey. Li Fengyao clicked his tongue in amazement, "His aim is perfect, I admire him."

As you walk further in, you can faintly hear the sound of mountain streams, but apart from the sound of water, the surroundings are unusually quiet.

The instincts of the beast made Xie Ling's mount paw at its hooves uncomfortably.

He suddenly reined in his horse, "Stop!"

Everyone held their breath and immediately became alert.

A few breaths later, a voice came from the forest, "As expected of His Majesty, so perceptive, he noticed it at a glance."

More than a dozen masked assassins dressed in black suddenly leaped out from the thick grass all around, their blades flashing in the forest.

Xie Ling narrowed her eyes slightly. "It really was you."

The man at the head of the group was tall and slender with a cold and stern face—none other than Qin Yuanchao, who had been exiled.

Xie Ling had suspected many people of being the assassins on the night of the New Year's Eve palace banquet.

If it were simply about assassinating him, there would be countless possibilities for suspicion. But since the assassin was shouting "tyrant and wicked queen" and was targeting Tangtang first, the scope of suspicion narrowed considerably.

Qin Zhenxiong is dead, and Qin Lianyue has committed suicide. How could Qin Yuanchao not avenge his father and sister?

Xie Ling originally intended to eliminate the root of the problem so that his good uncle wouldn't be alone underground without his son's company.

But the Empress Dowager threatened to kill herself.

Although Xie Ling was not very filial, he did not want to bear the infamy of killing his mother, so he made an exception and only sentenced the Qin family to exile.

His good mother was full of concern for the Qin family, but she was completely unaware that letting a tiger return to the mountain would lead to endless troubles.

Given the current situation, does she favor her nephew or her son more?

"Qin Yuanchao, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Qin Yuanchao sneered, his eyes surging with deep-seated hatred. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

"Xie Ling, you murdered my father, forced my grandparents to their deaths, and are unworthy of being a king! Today I will make you wish you were dead!"

"Your ambitions are certainly grand," Xie Ling said sarcastically. "But with such a good opportunity, sending so few men to assassinate the emperor—should I say my cousin is arrogant, or simply foolish?"

"Such a few people are naturally not enough."

Qin Yuanchao smiled. "Your Majesty is so intelligent, why don't you guess where the rest of the manpower went?"

Li Fengyao's expression changed drastically. "This is bad! It's a diversionary tactic!"

Her Majesty the Empress is in danger!

……

From the moment Xie Ling rode away from the main tent in the hunting grounds, Qi Yitang had been listless and dejected.

The Empress Dowager asked her several times, but she was absent-minded and gave irrelevant answers.

The Empress Dowager was too lazy to say anything more.

Every now and then, guards would carry out game outside, and eunuchs would loudly announce the numbers: "So-and-so hunted a few roe deer," or "So-and-so shot a wild deer." The sounds carried far into the tent.

It was lively and bustling, but Qi Yitang couldn't hear a single word.

"What, your soul has flown away with your brother now that he's gone?"

Princess Anping changed into riding clothes but didn't go into the hunting grounds. Instead, she sat to the side, leisurely sipping tea. "Who was it that swore back then that they would never die for a man? Now look at them, they have no backbone whatsoever."

Qi Yitang leaned closer listlessly, "Royal Sister, I'm worried about him..."

"Don't worry, your emperor is skilled and tough; very few people can hurt him."

Before the words were finished, a sharp scream suddenly erupted outside, "Ah—"

"Run!"

Princess Anping raised an eyebrow. "You should worry about yourself first."

This is why emperors throughout history have needed to sever all emotional ties and love; even if they had a beloved person, it was best to have a target for them.

Because once you have a weakness, you have a vulnerability.

If you can't deal with the emperor, then deal with his women; it'll be just as effective.

Qi Yitang's heart tightened. "What's going on outside?"

The Empress Dowager's expression also changed slightly. She stood up, supporting herself on the armrest beside her. "What happened?"

A eunuch, looking flustered, scrambled in, crying, "Your Majesty, many assassins have suddenly appeared outside!"

With a "whoosh," Princess Anping drew her longsword and stuffed Jiahe and Jiasui into Qi Yitang's arms, saying, "Stay inside and don't come out."

Qi Yitang has no fighting skills, but he is very obedient.

She pulled the two little ones into her arms, one in each hand, and said, "Okay, be careful!"

Chi Zheng, Mei Shu, Wu Shuang, and Yuan Shu had already gathered around. Chi Zheng drew her sword, her tall figure steady and reliable. "Your Majesty, don't be afraid. We will protect Your Majesty with our lives."

Xie Changqing also drew his sword and stood in front of Qi Yitang.

With so many people protecting her, Qi Yitang wasn't so panicked anymore, but she was more worried about Xie Ling.

If there are so many assassins lying in ambush here, the situation on his side is probably even worse.

Screams erupted outside, the sounds of clashing swords and spears mingling with screams and the clashing of horses' hooves, like a pot of porridge boiling over.

Qi Yitang couldn't go outside and could only learn about the situation outside through the live chat: [Princess Sister is so cool! One sword, one kill—it's like cutting melons and vegetables!]

[Holy crap, the person behind it all is the second male lead?!]

Has the gentle second male lead also turned evil? The plot has completely fallen apart.

Hearing the commotion outside, the Empress Dowager made a quick decision, "Empress, we can't stay here any longer. Come with me immediately, and take Jiahe and Jiasui back to the palace!"

Li Degui also said anxiously, "Yes, Your Highness, you should go first!"

But the outside was in chaos, and Qi Yitang couldn't leave even if she wanted to.

Before the words were even finished, two assassins in black slashed through the tent flap and rushed in, their blades pointed directly at Qi Yitang. "Kill the Demon Queen!"