Return of the Pearl

Chapter 129 Arrival at the Hunting Ground

Qianlong and Xiao Yun held hands and slowly came to the familiar hunting ground. This was the place where they first met. Now when they stepped into it again, ripples seemed to spread in their hearts, and a different kind of tender feelings surged.

Qianlong held Xiao Yun's hand tightly, the warmth of his palm conveying endless love and care. They strolled side by side in the hunting ground, the grass under their feet was green, the breeze blew gently, bringing a hint of fresh air, and the sunlight shone on them, outlining a warm and beautiful picture, as if time had become especially gentle and slow at this moment.

Qianlong gazed at Xiao Yun affectionately, with a gleam in her eyes, which was an interweaving of happiness and sweetness. Xiao Yun also looked back at Qianlong with a smile on her lips. That smile was like a blooming spring flower, brilliant and charming. Their footsteps were light and tacit, leaving a trail of footprints in the hunting ground, and every step seemed to be telling of the deep attachment and love between them.

When they turned back, neatly arranged tents had already been erected in the hunting grounds. Qianlong gently escorted Xiao Yun into the tents. His eyes were filled with concern and love as he whispered softly, "Yun'er, just stay here and rest assured. I'll be back soon."

Xiao Yun naturally knew in her heart that this hunting was actually an important test for the heir, aimed at examining the martial arts and riding and archery abilities of the princes. However, she was now pregnant and it was indeed not suitable for her to participate in the hunting with them. Fearing that some unexpected situation might occur, Xiao Yun nodded slightly to indicate that she understood, and Qianlong then walked out of the tent alone with peace of mind.

His figure gradually disappeared at the door of the tent, leaving Xiao Yun in the tent with a thousand thoughts in his mind, including his concern for Qianlong and various considerations about this hunt.

Qianlong was galloping across the hunting ground with great vigor. He was as agile as a cheetah and his movements were as swift as lightning. The veins on his arms were bulging as he steadily pulled the bowstring. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, locking onto a fox.

In an instant, the arrow shot out at an astonishing speed like thunder breaking through the air, hitting the target accurately. The fox fell to the ground and died before it could even escape.

Qianlong did not stop at all and continued to gallop forward. After a while, he found a wild goose flying freely in the sky. He drew his bow and arrow again without hesitation. The arrow cut through the sky like a meteor and flew away with an indomitable momentum.

The wild goose let out a mournful wail, plummeting from the sky like a kite with a broken string. Qianlong spurred his horse to a gallop, quickly reaching the spot where the goose had fallen. He dismounted, bent down, and picked up his prey. His face was filled with the joy of victory, and his radiant expression was as if he were the master of the hunting grounds, a true king! He stood proudly in the hunting grounds, majestic and awe-inspiring, displaying the power of an emperor.

Qianlong was deeply worried about Xiao Yun, and his heart was full of concern and anxiety, so he just used his superb skills slightly and quickly shot two arrows.

The two arrows were like arrows that pierced the air, precise and powerful, fully demonstrating his extraordinary skills. Afterwards, he allowed the princes to perform freely and solemnly promised that the one who came out on top would receive an extremely generous reward.

When the princes heard Qianlong's words, they were filled with boundless fighting spirit and heroic spirit. They waved their whips, urged their horses, and rushed into the dense woods like a gust of wind. For a moment, dust flew and the sound of horse hooves resounded through the sky.

Qianlong rode his horse back to the camp anxiously. Xiao Yun was the only one in his heart. He just wanted to return to her as soon as possible to see if she was safe. His eyes were full of anxiety and worry, and his handsome face was full of deep affection for Xiao Yun. He galloped on his horse like a whirlwind, leaving trails of flying dust wherever he went.

After Qianlong left, Xiao Yun suddenly felt an inexplicable panic in her heart. The uneasy feeling surged into her heart like a surging tide, making her feel a little at a loss for what to do, as if she was in the vast ocean and couldn't find her direction.

Just as she was feeling uneasy, a palace maid came in slowly with a bowl of steaming hot soup. The maid lowered her head with a respectful look on her face and said softly, "Your Majesty, this is the tonic stewed for you by the Emperor's order."

When Xiao Yun heard this, she had no doubt in her heart and happily reached out to take the bowl of soup. She gently touched the wall of the bowl with her hand and felt that the soup was still emitting boiling heat and was a little hot.

So, she decided to put the soup aside and wait for it to cool down before drinking it. The palace maid stood aside, not daring to say much, but just looked at Xiao Yun quietly, with a barely perceptible viciousness flashing in her eyes.

After the temperature of the soup dropped a little, Xiao Yun gently picked up the bowl. Just as he was about to bring the bowl to his mouth and prepare to put the soup in his mouth, Qianlong suddenly appeared like a swift whirlwind, opened the tent at lightning speed, and strode in.

In that split second, the palace maid's body began to tremble involuntarily, like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind. Her heart was filled with fear, afraid that the lie she had carefully woven would be seen through by Emperor Qianlong. The panic expression was clearly visible on her face.

At the same time, Xiao Yun also noticed the abnormality of the palace maid. She frowned slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes. Then, she slowly put down the spoon in her hand and looked at the palace maid quietly, as if trying to find some clues from her expression.

Xiao Yun looked at Qianlong quietly, her eyes clear and bright, filled with doubt. Her watery eyes sparkled with a myriad of emotions. She gently opened her lips and asked in a gentle and slightly worried voice, "Hongli, have you asked someone to stew some tonic for me?"

Her voice was so mellow and melodious, as beautiful as the sound of nature, that people couldn't help but be intoxicated by it. Her slightly furrowed brows revealed her inner uneasiness, as if she was waiting for Qianlong to give her an answer.

When Qianlong heard this, he immediately realized that there must be something fishy going on. His eyes became sharp and he stared at the palace maid like an eagle.

The maid, realizing her plan was exposed, panicked and tried to flee. However, how could Emperor Qianlong let her escape so easily? In a flash, he charged forward like a cheetah, his movements so swift and lightning-fast that it was almost impossible to discern his presence.

Qianlong stretched out his powerful arm and grabbed the palace maid. He held the palace maid's wrist tightly, making her unable to move. The palace maid was under his control and had no power to resist.

Afterwards, Qianlong kicked the palace maid to the ground fiercely. The palace maid fell heavily to the ground with a dull sound, as if the earth was shaking. The palace maid fell to the ground in a mess, her face full of fear and despair.

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