The most dissolute couple in the capital

Everyone stood up and craned their necks to look towards the entrance of the hunting grounds.

Under the bright autumn sun, a rider galloped through the woods, raising dust in the air. Li Zhao, clad in a gleaming silver light armor, stood ramrod straight, displaying exceptional horsemanship with clean and crisp rein control, exuding a truly dashing and heroic air.

Behind her, on the horse's back, was a huge male deer being carried sideways.

The male deer was extremely robust, with numerous forked antlers on its head, resembling withered trees coming back to life. Its fur gleamed glossily in the sunlight. Most astonishingly, the deer had only one wound—an arrow had pierced its right eye with pinpoint accuracy, penetrating its brain and killing it instantly.

Such domineering archery skills and such formidable wrist strength were actually wielded by a royal princess who was only eighteen years old.

"Excellent archery!" The speaker was General Xiao, a veteran of the army who did not participate in the hunt.

The Empress looked at Li Zhao and laughed, "Zhao'er is such a restless child. He makes such a commotion while hunting, as if he's afraid others won't know."

Although the words were meant to be reproachful, even a fool could hear the pride and arrogance in his tone.

After a while, Young Master He returned with his harvest.

A guard stepped forward and took the game from his horse, announcing loudly, "Young Master He has hunted three pheasants and five rabbits!"

Although they were all ordinary small prey, upon closer inspection, the fur of those rabbits was completely intact.

His archery skills are evident.

About half an hour later, the first round of the autumn hunt came to an end.

Li Zhao's stag is currently at the top of the list, followed closely by a lithe gray wolf with sharp fangs hunted by the Third Prince Li Ye.

The second prince was not good at riding and archery, but he still brought back some small game.

The fifth prince was still young and in poor health, so he did not participate this time.

Zheng Wenhan managed to hunt two wild rabbits, then dismounted with a livid face. Several gray stains appeared on his white clothes, making him look extremely disheveled.

His white horse, weighing eight hundred taels, was full of energy, snorting as if mocking its master.

Just then, three figures finally emerged unsteadily from the dense forest on the flank of the hunting grounds.

Li Chengjing, walking at the front and carrying the still-dazed pheasant, saw Cui Qingyi and waved the pheasant at her from a distance: "Your Highness! Look! I hunted a pheasant!"

Li Chengjing rushed to the foot of the platform: "Tell the cook to stew it for you! Add some goji berries and angelica root to replenish your qi and blood!"

Upon seeing the pheasant, the Empress couldn't help but laugh: "Chengjing's autumn hunt this year has been quite fruitful. What, with such a plump pheasant, are you only thinking about your princess consort? Don't you plan to share it with me and your brother?"

Li Chengjing's smile faltered for a moment, the hesitation in his eyes obvious to everyone: "This is the spoils of my battle after three hundred rounds..."

"I think it fought you for three hundred rounds and finally knocked itself unconscious, didn't it?" The emperor had somehow appeared beside the empress and was smiling as he looked at Li Chengjing below the stage.

"Your Majesty, that's not important! The process was tortuous, but the outcome was just! Did the chicken end up in my hands? Then it must be considered my prey!"

The emperor was amused by his shamelessness, pointed at him, and remained silent for a long time.

Seeing that he had gotten away with it, Li Chengjing rolled his eyes and put on a troubled expression, sighing as he said, "However, since my sister-in-law has spoken, it would seem petty of me to keep it for myself. It's a pity my hunting skills are lacking; I only got this one pheasant today..."

As he spoke, he solemnly counted on his fingers: "If I were to give some to my elder brother and sister-in-law, what about Zhao'er, and my other nephews and nieces? And what about Mother Empress? I am so filial, how could I possibly forget her?"

He spread his hands, his face full of innocence: "There's only one chicken, and so little meat in total, how can that be enough to share? How about this, I'll be generous this once and have the imperial kitchen cooks stew this pheasant in a big pot of soup, with plenty of water! Then we can each serve a bowl, so everyone can at least see some oil. That way, I can show you my brotherly affection and filial piety. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Was it stewing chicken soup, or was the chicken being washed in the imperial kitchen?

Why not just drop an egg into the irrigation canal in Chang'an and offer all the people of Chang'an egg drop soup? Wouldn't that make you seem more concerned about the world?

"You rascal, you think you can fool me and the Empress Dowager with just a bowl of water?" The Emperor was so angry that he laughed and grabbed a piece of fruit from the table, pretending to throw it at him.

Li Chengjing nimbly dodged to the side, chuckling, then quickly stepped forward, protectively pulling the pheasant closer to his chest, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I must make this clear from the start. This chicken was brought back by me personally, so those two chicken legs must be reserved for my Queen. Is that too much to ask?"

Cui Qingyi was slightly taken aback.

In front of all the civil and military officials, he placed the emperor and empress at the back of the list.

The noble ladies around her, who had initially looked on with amusement, now revealed a hint of envy that they themselves were unaware of.

Cui Qingyi curtsied slightly: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I happen to have brought some fine ginseng and mountain delicacies with me. Why don't we hold a banquet in the tent tonight and invite Your Majesty, the Empress, and all the princes to come and enjoy the fresh produce and join in the fun? It would also be a way to show your filial piety."

Upon hearing this, the Empress gave Cui Qingyi an approving look and smiled at the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, look at her, my sister-in-law is so sensible. Chengjing is truly blessed to have married Qingyi."

The emperor smiled and took back the fruit, pointing at Li Chengjing and saying, "I think so too. Since Princess Liang has spoken, I'll go to your place tonight to ask for a bowl of 'chicken soup,' but remember to leave me some dry goods."

"No problem! Your Majesty is so generous!" Li Chengjing immediately beamed and eagerly prepared to lead Cui Qingyi to his own tent.