The Second World in Ancient Times

A vast hunting party had already gathered in the palace square. Horses neighed, flags fluttered, and carriages lined up in neat rows, resembling a magnificent military procession. The king, seated in his magnificent carriage, sat at the center of the procession, while his concubines sat in their own carriages. I was among them, gazing out the window at the bustling yet solemn scene outside.

At the king's command, the procession slowly set off. Wheels churned, horses clattered, and we headed for the hunting grounds. Yet, a sense of unease lingered within me. I knew that behind this seemingly grand procession lay the machinations of the queen and the prince, and danger might be just around the corner.

As we neared a dense forest, we heard a sudden commotion ahead. My heart raced, and I quickly lifted the curtain to investigate. I saw a frightened horse bolting, its rider seemingly out of control, charging straight toward our group. The attendants around us panicked and dodged.

I immediately realized this might be a test from the Queen and the Prince's followers. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. Quickly thinking of a response, I glanced around and spotted a thick branch by the roadside. I acted decisively, leaping from the carriage, picking up the branch, and rushing towards the startled horse.

Drawing on some of the horse training knowledge I'd acquired in modern times, I positioned myself sideways in the horse's path, raised a branch high, and shouted. Startled by my sudden appearance and shout, the startled horse slowed slightly. Seizing the perfect moment, I gently tapped the horse's side with the branch, guiding it to change direction. With my effort, the frightened horse finally strayed from the group and dashed into the nearby woods, deftly averting a potential chaos.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the king sent someone to inquire about my situation. I respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I only used a small trick to prevent the horse from disturbing your carriage." The king praised me highly, but I knew this was only the beginning of the crisis.

Continuing on, we encountered several similar minor mishaps along the way. Once, the wheels of the chariot suddenly creaked, as if something had caught them. I dismounted to investigate and discovered vines tangled under the wheels, seemingly planted there deliberately. I calmly instructed my attendants to clear them away, but my vigilance grew even stronger. Another time, a flock of birds suddenly flew across the sky, interspersed with what seemed like a few strange, painted birds. Their shrill cries were unnerving. Knowing the enemy was trying to disrupt our minds, I instructed the concubines to remain calm, close the windows, and keep quiet.

After a long trek, we finally arrived at the hunting grounds. Surrounded by mountains, dense forests, and deep grass, it should have been a vibrant scene, but I sensed a subtle sense of unease. The air seemed filled with tension, and the rustling of the grass in the breeze sounded like the whispers of the enemy.

I got out of the carriage and looked around carefully. The ground beneath my feet looked disturbed, and some of the tree branches had been broken. These signs indicated that the Queen and the Prince's men might have set a trap or an ambush. However, the King was so caught up in the anticipation of the hunt that he didn't notice any of this.

I was anxious, but I couldn't think of a good way to alert the king. I knew that if I directly voiced my suspicions without solid evidence, it might be considered that I was deliberately disrupting the hunt, and it might even alert the queen and the prince, prompting them to launch an even more violent attack. I could only silently instruct the guards and maids around me to be extremely careful, to remain vigilant at all times, and to stay close to me.

I wandered around the camp, seemingly admiring the scenery of the hunting grounds, but actually searching for more clues. I came to a secluded corner and spotted some fresh footprints. The shape and size of the footprints didn't match those of a palace guard's boots, which further confirmed my suspicions. I followed the tracks and discovered they led deep into a dense forest.

I was about to delve deeper when I heard a voice behind me: "Sister Yufei, why are you here alone? It's out in the wilderness, be careful of wild animals." I turned and saw a concubine close to the empress. She wore a smile that looked like concern, but I could see a subtle smugness in her eyes.

I smiled slightly and replied, "Thank you for your concern, sister. I just wanted to see the scenery of the hunting ground. It's nothing serious." She stood beside me for a while, trying to chat with me and distract my attention, but I remained alert, responding to her words cleverly, but thinking about the purpose of her appearance here.

After a while, realizing she couldn't extract any useful information from me, she excused herself and left. I watched her retreat, knowing she was here to spy on me. This meant the Queen and the Prince's conspiracy was unfolding, and I needed to devise a countermeasure quickly. Otherwise, not only would my life be in jeopardy, but the entire hunting party would be in grave danger. I stood there, gazing at the forest, shrouded in countless dangers, lost in thought, wondering how I could find a way out of this crisis and protect everyone.