Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

In an open area of the courtyard, night fell and the firelight danced.

The guards were busy moving around the fire. They were busy setting up a simple barbecue grill. The flames licked the charcoal, sizzling the skewers of meat on top, and the air was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of animal fat.

"Your Majesty." Zhang Tianai's voice was soft and gentle, and she called Murong Shuo softly again.

Murong Shuo turned to look at her with a hint of confusion in his eyes, as if he didn't remember her name.

"Is barbecue the only thing we have to enjoy tonight?" There was a hint of curiosity in Zhang Tianai's words. Her eyes fell on the group of busy guards. The fireworks swayed in the evening breeze, but did not drift towards where they were. They stood in the corridor of the courtyard, as if they were in a quiet highland.

"If you want to try other delicacies, just let me know," Murong Shuo replied calmly, glancing at the maidservant standing beside him. The maid immediately understood and whispered her agreement.

Someone mentioned that the emperor had a good hunting haul today, with a wide variety of prey. However, the hot weather meant that the prey would not last long, and only grilling would maximize its flavor. Therefore—

Zhang Tianai suddenly realized something. She cast her gaze towards the emperor again, curious as to what rare animals the emperor had hunted today. She was about to ask when Murong Shuo had already taken the lead.

"Why are you staring at me? Didn't I tell you? Just tell me what you want to eat. The kitchen has already prepared it." Murong Shuo's gaze fell on her again with a bit of teasing.

"I'm just curious about what prey the emperor has hunted today. Why is he so busy until now?" Zhang Tianai asked with a smile. At the same time, Nanny Li and Chunmei also looked curiously at the guards beside them.

The guards all looked towards the emperor. Murong Shuo smiled softly, "They are just some ordinary things."

Before he finished speaking, he listed today's prey: pheasants, hares, and even wild boars.

"Wild boar?" Zhang Tianai opened her mouth in surprise. Nanny Li and Chunmei also looked at each other with an expression of disbelief.

"What's the big deal?" Murong Shuo smiled indifferently, and the guards echoed him.

Zhang Tianai thought that the emperor was not alone when hunting, and was surrounded by many guards, so hunting wild boars was not difficult. The guards added that today's harvest was indeed quite good, and even found foxes, wolves and other ferocious beasts.

This……

Only tigers, lions and leopards are missing. The emperor's hunting trip today can be said to be a complete success.

Zhang Tianai secretly admired in her heart: "The emperor is so powerful." Her eyes flashed with admiration.

Murong Shuo seemed to want to say something, but he didn't. The guards, Nanny Li, and the others watched the scene in silence.

Zhang Tianai waited for a moment before calling out again, "Your Majesty."

"Are you planning to stay here or..." Murong Shuo suddenly changed the subject and asked her.

Zhang Tianai replied without hesitation: "Wherever your Majesty goes, I will go there."

Murong Shuo heard this and a helpless smile appeared on his lips: "..."

Later, Murong Shuo suggested taking a bath, after which he could enjoy dinner. When he returned, despite having bathed, he still felt a bit stuffy. Zhang Tianai, also feeling unwell, ordered someone to prepare hot water.

After taking a shower and changing her clothes, she put on light clothes and walked out of the bathroom. She saw the man sitting leisurely by the window, staring through the window lattice at the night view outside.

She walked gracefully to his side, and Murong Shuo turned to look at her when he heard her voice.

Zhang Tianai instinctively wanted to bow, but Murong Shuo gently held her back. "What kind of bows?" he whispered, his tone a mixture of reproach and fondness. He stood up, pulled her over to him, and sat down together.

"Your Majesty, is the barbecue ready?" Zhang Tianai secretly laughed in his heart, and there was a hint of mischief in his eyes when he looked at Murong Shuo.

Nanny Li, Chunmei, and the others were still bowing. Murong Shuo glanced at them calmly and said, "It will be soon."

After Nanny Li and the others stood up, Zhang Tianai spoke again: "The emperor is finally willing to pay attention to me." Her voice was soft and lingering, like a spring breeze blowing through her heart.

Nanny Li, Chunmei and the other palace maids all looked at them sideways.

Murong Shuo raised his eyebrows slightly: "When did I ignore you?" He also turned to look at her.

"Before, on the way to the farm, the emperor was silent. After arriving, he left for hunting as soon as he said he would. I was very worried, afraid that something might happen to you. Are you okay?" Zhang Tianai looked him up and down with concern, as if she wanted to check him personally.

Murong Shuo held her hand and gently comforted her, "I'm fine." He secretly sighed in his heart that this woman could always easily touch his heartstrings.

"Oh." Zhang Tianai responded softly, with gratitude and relief flashing in her eyes.

"Oh what?" Murong Shuo asked curiously.

"Are we really not going back to the garden today? Your Majesty, tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, tomorrow night..." There was some hesitation and reluctance in Zhang Tianai's words, and her eyes were always on Murong Shuo.

Murong Shuo smiled helplessly: "At this point, it's useless to think about these things. What's the point of you saying these things now? If you wake up earlier, maybe you can still make it back."

Everything he did was for her! Zhang Tianai felt a surge of guilt and quickly apologized: "It's all my fault, my concubine..."

In fact, the emperor could have gone back first! Besides, the emperor also said that it would be almost dark when he returned.

"We have to get up early tomorrow morning." Murong Shuo reminded her again and gently pulled her.

Zhang Tianai responded softly and returned to her original seat. Their eyes met, and it was as if the whole world had stopped.

Soon, the roasted meat was brought over, placed on an exquisite plate, with grease still dripping from it. Zhang Tianai smelled the rich aroma of barbecue. The meat was large, not sliced thinly, but with a sharp knife, as if to let them cut it themselves?

Before she could open her mouth, Nanny Li and Chunmei had already stepped forward to take the plate and gently placed it in front of her and Murong Shuo.

As expected, they needed to cut the meat themselves. Murong Shuo first asked her what she thought, and after she nodded in satisfaction, he picked up the knife and began to cut skillfully, and slices of meat as thin as cicada wings appeared before his eyes.

Zhang Tianai saw it all and secretly admired it in her heart: "Your Majesty, you cut it really well!"

Murong Shuo raised his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. After the meat was cut, Nanny Li and the others brought clean plates. Murong Shuo divided the meat into two portions, placing the smaller portion in front of Zhang Tianai, while the larger portion naturally belonged to him.

"Let's eat, this piece is the most tender. But it's not good to eat too much barbecue, and you can't eat too much either. Just try a little bit of each." Murong Shuo said with concern.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Tianai glanced at Murong Shuo gratefully. She hadn't expected the Emperor to give her the tenderest piece and even cut it for her personally. A warm feeling welled up in her heart, and she felt that the Emperor was truly considerate.

She didn't feel any discomfort or nausea as she sniffed the alluring aroma of the barbecue. She had tasted this kind of barbecue in her previous life, but it had a completely different flavor compared to the game she was eating now.

She couldn't wait to taste the delicious barbecue. Madam Li came forward to serve her, but she declined. She confidently picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of barbecue and put it into her mouth.

Although the meat was a little tough and not as tender and juicy as she had imagined, the taste was very unique, with a wild aroma and chewy texture.

Compared to modern domestic barbecues, these wild game meats truly possessed a unique flavor. Though a bit tougher, the more you chewed, the more delicious it became, making it irresistible. She couldn't help but pick up another piece, savoring this rare delicacy.

Everyone watched her actions. Nanny Li and Chunmei wanted to speak up to dissuade her, but in the end they didn't say anything.

Murong Shuo smiled and reminded: "Bite slowly, don't eat too fast."

"Yeah." Zhang Tianai responded softly, with a smile of satisfaction and happiness on her face.

After that, her eyes fell gently on Nanny Li and the maids, and she thought to herself that she might no longer need their meticulous service. Besides, they probably had not tasted the delicious barbecue for a long time. The charcoal fire over there was burning brightly, and the aroma of barbecue was everywhere.

Before he could finish his thoughts, Murong Shuo's voice rang out, and he told Li Ma and others to enjoy the roasted meat as well.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianai subconsciously looked towards the emperor, while Murong Shuo's gaze was also on Li Ma and others, with a bit of gentleness.

"Let's serve the master and the emperor first." Nanny Li and Chunmei responded in unison, with respect in their tone.

"No need," Zhang Tianai was about to speak, but was interrupted by Murong Shuo. He shook his head slightly, indicating that there was no need to rush and it would be fine to wait until they had finished enjoying their meal.

Seeing this, Zhang Tianai said no more and just picked up a few more slices of barbecue, thinking about the hot soup in her heart.

Seeing this, Nanny Li and Chunmei respectfully withdrew. Soon, they brought back hot soup and water. The soup was clear, with a hint of sourness that seemed to dissolve the greasiness in the mouth. Even more surprising, the soup was mixed with juice, carefully squeezed from fresh grapes.

After Zhang Tianai finished drinking, his eyes involuntarily looked at the emperor, but he saw that the emperor was just quietly tasting the soup without saying a word.

"Who ordered the preparation of this juice and soup?" Zhang Tianai asked curiously.

Nanny Li and Chunmei smiled at each other and said, "The Emperor specifically ordered this."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianai turned his gaze to Murong Shuo again and asked doubtfully, "Your Majesty, when did you give this order?"

Murong Shuo smiled slightly and said, "When I come back."

After everyone finished their meal, more barbecue was served. This time, it was chicken and other game, all hunted by the emperor himself, and roasted to a fragrant aroma. The emperor said that everyone in the courtyard could enjoy this delicious barbecue tonight.

Zhang Tianai only tasted it briefly, while the emperor ate it with gusto.

Nanny Li, Chunmei and others were finally able to enjoy it. They walked towards the yard where many people had already gathered. They sat around the charcoal fire and enjoyed the fun of open-air barbecue.

Zhang Tianai waited quietly until the emperor finished his meal. The two of them drank water together and admired the bright moon that was almost full.

The moonlight tonight is exceptionally bright, and the stars are exceptionally numerous, foretelling good weather tomorrow. And the moon tomorrow night will be even fuller.

The yard is full of flowers and fruits. The breeze brings bursts of faint fruity and floral fragrance, as if even time is intoxicated by this beautiful night.

Zhang Tianai turned her head to look at the emperor, and Murong Shuo was also looking at her quietly. Their eyes met at this moment, and it seemed as if the whole world stopped.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Tianai called softly, "We still have two live foxes. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I'd like to keep them. As for those skins, the ones I got this time weren't very good. Your Majesty, please give them to me during the next autumn hunt."

Murong Shuo's eyes flashed with surprise when he heard this, then he smiled and said, "Okay, if you like it, keep it. As for the skin, I can give it to you at any time, and it doesn't matter if I don't give it to you at all."

Zhang Tianai felt a surge of warmth in her heart upon hearing this, and she stood up and saluted the emperor. Murong Shuo also stood up, and the two stood side by side, enjoying the quiet night.

Soon after, the commotion on the farm gradually died down, and all returned to tranquility. Zhang Tianai went inside, relieved herself, washed her hands, and left, only to find the emperor nowhere to be found. Upon inquiry, no one knew where the emperor had gone.

Where could the emperor go? Zhang Tianai wondered to herself. After a while, she finally learned from the guards that the emperor had gone to the roof.

Rooftop? The Emperor actually went up to the rooftop? Zhang Tianai was filled with astonishment. She hurried to the center of the courtyard and looked up at the rooftop. Beneath the bright, round moon, Murong Shuo sat quietly, a ladder beside him. Did he get up there?

Zhang Tianai felt an urge to go up and sit beside the emperor. However, she couldn't help but feel a little scared when she thought about her pregnancy.

Murong Shuo seemed to sense her feelings and quickly came down from the roof. He walked to her side and asked softly, "Do you want to go up?"

Zhang Tianai nodded gently, but her hand involuntarily rested on her stomach. Seeing this, Murong Shuo smiled slightly, reached out and took her into his arms, carefully carrying her to the roof. He was extremely careful along the way, fearing that anything might go wrong.

Zhang Tianai felt his care and concern, and her heart gradually calmed down.

Sitting on the rooftop, Zhang Tianai felt as if she were in another world. There were no obstacles blocking her view, the sky was high and the clouds were light, and the view was expansive. She could see everything around her and feel a sense of freedom and exhilaration.

Murong Shuo sat beside her, looking at her quietly, his eyes full of tenderness and doting.

He gently put his arm around her shoulders to help her sit more steadily, then kissed her softly on the lips. Zhang Tianai responded to his kiss, and the two of them embraced and kissed passionately on the roof.

Finally, they lay down, and Zhang Tianai discovered that the roof was flat, as if it was a place specially prepared for them to rest.

She softly recited a few poems, while Murong Shuo kept kissing her, as if he wanted to merge her into his body.

When the sun shone again, Zhang Tianai sat in the carriage, her heart still immersed in that beautiful night. She looked at the emperor beside her, her heart filled with gratitude and happiness.

They returned to the garden, not seeing many people along the way. After arriving at Shaojingxuan, they rested for a while.

After Zhang Tianai woke up, she learned that the emperor had already returned to the palace with the queen and others, and those who wanted to return to the palace had already left.

Zhang Tianai chose to stay in the garden and spent the Mid-Autumn Festival with Concubine Xian Wanwan. Together they admired the moon, ate mooncakes, and admired the sweet osmanthus flowers, enjoying this rare tranquility and beauty.

The garden was still bustling with people laughing and talking, as if the air was filled with the festive atmosphere.