The most dissolute couple in the capital

Under a clear autumn sky, banners filled the royal hunting grounds of the Great Ning Empire. Bright yellow dragon flags fluttered in the autumn wind, and the continuous sound of horns added to the majestic and solemn atmosphere of the autumn hunt's opening.

On the viewing platform, the Empress Dowager and the Empress sat under layers of canopies, while the women of the household took their seats in order of rank.

On the training ground below, the young masters from various families were putting on a grand "peacock display" in order to show off to the royal family, especially to impress Princess Li Zhao.

"Your Highness, look over there." Aunt Guan leaned slightly forward, her eyes seemingly drifting towards a corner of the audience.

Cui Qingyi followed her gaze and saw Zheng Wenhan sitting on a tall horse. In this dusty hunting ground, he was dressed in a spotless, flamboyant white robe, with a fine mutton-fat jade pendant hanging at his waist. He kept glancing to the other side, where Princess Li Zhao's carriage was located.

Cui Qingyi almost burst out laughing.

Hunting in white? Is Zheng Wenhan afraid that the prey in the hunting grounds won't see him, this walking block of white tofu? He's willing to risk anything to appear as a refined and otherworldly scholar in front of the princess.

Just then, Zheng Wenyuan, who was next to Zheng Wenhan, seemed to notice the gaze from the platform and turned his head slightly.

His gaze darted precisely through the crowd, finally settling on Cui Qingyi after passing through layers of colorful decorations. Today, he was dressed in a black riding outfit, exuding the air of a refined gentleman.

Looking at the smiling woman on the high platform, whose back wasn't even fully straight, Zheng Wenyuan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a complex and unreadable emotion flashed in his eyes.

This Cui woman, who almost became his wife, now has none of the dignity and restraint that a noble family should have. She has willingly fallen into depravity and feels perfectly at ease marrying the useless Prince Liang, who is known throughout Chang'an.

Cui Qingyi keenly caught Zheng Wenyuan's "heartbroken" gaze.

Thanks for the invitation. Don't look at me, even if you do, I'm still the Princess Consort of Liang, whom you can't possibly reach.

Cui Qingyi rolled her eyes in an extremely elegant and subtle way, calmly took a sip of tea, and completely ignored her ex-husband.

Turning around to look for his prince, he searched for a long time before finally spotting a familiar prince's casual clothes near a bush on the edge of the hunting grounds.

Li Chengjing wasn't riding a horse at all; he was squatting in front of the grass with his buttocks sticking out, holding some wild grass that had come from who-knows-where in his hand.

"Wang Chengyuan, come and take a look. Isn't the vein of this leaf a bit purplish?" Li Chengjing called out to the person behind him.

Standing beside him, Wang Chengyuan, dressed in an extravagant riding outfit embroidered with gold thread, backed away in disgust: "Your Highness! Your Highness! These Shu brocade boots of mine cost three hundred taels of silver to make. With the soles covered in mud, these boots are ruined! I don't care about these tattered straws; I'm here for the autumn hunt!"

On the other side, He Li was looking at a wild rabbit darting around in the distance with teary eyes, sobbing as he said, "Boss, do we really have to stay here? Look at that little rabbit, it's so pitiful, the way it looked at me just now was full of survival instinct... Waaah..."

Li Chengjing couldn't hold back any longer and gave He Li a playful kick: "Are you out of your mind? Did you only find out a minute ago that this is the autumn hunt?"

The commotion caused by the "Three Wastes of Chang'an" was so great that even the emperor, sitting in the center of the high platform, noticed it.

The emperor was listening to the Minister of War report on the autumn hunt when he caught a glimpse of his good-for-nothing younger brother digging for grass in the mud. He rubbed his temples in anger and glared at Li Chengjing several times.

Cui Qingyi remained calm despite the various gazes around her, her mental state a hundred years ahead of the Great Ning Dynasty.

"Your Highness," Aunt Guan said softly, seeing that Cui Qingyi was in a good mood, as she handed her a plate of peeled pine nuts. "The second young master of the Zheng family seems determined to marry the princess. However, I heard that the Wang family of Taiyuan and the Yan family of Langya have also sent their most outstanding members this time."

Cui Qingyi said casually, "Let them choose what they want. Her Highness doesn't just pick whoever is dressed in white."

Her gaze fell on a young man in a light blue robe with arrow-sleeved sleeves not far away.

His expression was focused and peaceful, truly embodying the image of a gentle and refined gentleman.

Aunt Guan was a perceptive person. Following Cui Qingyi's gaze, she said, "This is the eldest son of Minister He, born out of wedlock. Although he is born out of wedlock, his talent and character far surpass those of his legitimate brothers. Minister He values ​​him highly."

It turns out to be the He family, the same family that had argued with the Zheng family before.

"Given such exceptional talent, why would she be willing to marry a master?"

Aunt Guan lowered her voice: "Your Highness, you may not know this. The matriarch of the He family is a formidable character. Those sons born of the main wife are of mediocre talent, yet they have access to the best resources in the clan. Even though Young Master He is very learned, he will hardly have a chance to stand out in the He family. On the contrary, he is suppressed and guarded against by his stepmother at every turn. If he shows any interest, he will bring trouble upon himself."

Cui Qingyi understood instantly.

So what if his career path is limited? Once he becomes the imperial son-in-law, everyone in the He family will have to kneel and pay their respects when they see him.

Just then, a soft but rhythmic sound of horses' hooves caught Cui Qingyi's attention.

The Second Prince, Li Han, was slowly entering the venue with a group of entourage. He was politely exchanging pleasantries with several senior officials.

But Cui Qingyi's gaze passed over Li Han and landed on the guards behind him.

Although those people were dressed in ordinary guard uniforms of the Second Prince's residence, their steps were extremely steady and their eyes were indifferent, unlike ordinary guards who guard the house.

Cui Qingyi's heart skipped a beat.

"It seems that some of the guards around the Second Prince are unfamiliar faces."

Aunt Guan followed the gaze, a hint of wariness flashing in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it and whispered, "Perhaps it's because a thief broke into the Second Prince's residence a few days ago, and His Highness recruited new experts for safety reasons."

"That's true, a son of a wealthy family wouldn't sit under a dangerous roof," Cui Qingyi smiled and didn't continue the topic.

Some things are best left unsaid. The royal court is a bottomless pit; all she needs to do is ensure that her little boat, the "salted fish," with Li Chengjing doesn't capsize.

The horn sounded again, and the emperor stood up, raised a bowl of strong liquor to offer as a sacrifice to the heavens, then smashed the bowl on the altar, and loudly proclaimed: "The autumn hunt begins!"

A stampede of horses, dust billowing. The young masters of each family charged into the depths of the hunting grounds like arrows released from a bow, all vying to be the first to enter before the Emperor.