The Changchun Palace team travels back in time to Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

In the afternoon, the emperor, accompanied by Yonghuang, Yonglian, Yongzhang, and a group of Manchu and Mongol nobles and ministers, went hunting on the grasslands.

Yongcheng and Yongqi were still young, and Yongqi was anemic, so he would get dizzy as soon as he rode a horse. Therefore, he had never learned riding and archery, so Rongyin let the two of them stay.

Ruyi and Hailan felt that this way they wouldn't have to show off in front of the emperor and incur the jealousy of the other princes, and they secretly agreed.

The group watched the hunting party depart before dispersing.

Yanwan was a little excited—Ao Deng said he would accompany her to pick out a horse.

When the two arrived at the stables, the staff of the Imperial Stables had already prepared several different horses for Yanwan to choose from.

Yanwan was still somewhat timid and didn't dare to get too close.

Ao Deng said, "Ling Niangniang, horses are intelligent. If you show any fear, the horse will sense it and feel uneasy." He then handed her a handful of grass and asked her to try feeding it to the horse in front of her.

Yanwan mustered her courage and stepped forward, extending her hand.

But the horse in front of her didn't eat the grass in her hand. Instead, it lowered its head, sniffed her boots, then pursed its lips and turned its ears back.

The other horse also pouted and snuggled into Yanwan's boots.

Ao Deng's expression immediately changed, and he protected Yan Wan as they retreated.

The bailiff leading the horse was startled and quickly pulled the horse back.

Yanwan was puzzled when she saw the group suddenly become so alarmed. Then she heard Ao Deng shout, "What kind of nonsense is this? How dare you present a stallion that hasn't been properly castrated to the Imperial Concubine?"

Although she was only fourteen years old, her sharp features, made by her fierce expression, appear even more stern. The servant immediately knelt down: "Your Highness, please understand! If this horse is not gelded, it will not be docile. How dare we let Your Highness ride such a horse!"

Ao Deng said, "This horse is pouting because it smells something strong, or it's in heat. This bunch of grass doesn't smell at all! It's clearly because you guys were careless!"

The constable replied, "Your Highness, some horses, even after being gelded, will still exhibit such behavior. Moreover, it is already autumn, long past the time for gelding. Even without gelding, they wouldn't behave like this! Why is this horse behaving this way? This servant has no idea!"

Yanwan had been hearing about gelding and spring passion since earlier, and now she realized what the two were talking about.

Not being familiar with horses, she could only say, "Never mind, perhaps the Emperor went hunting today and many horses came and went, making this horse a little excited. Let's choose another day."

Ao Deng said, "Empress Ling, if this stallion is in heat, it is very dangerous. It will run around and is difficult to control. It may even cause the rider to fall off. This matter cannot be taken lightly. We must report it to Father Emperor and Mother Emperor!"

At this moment, Rong Yin's voice rang out: "What is it?"

Yingluo originally planned to secretly protect Yanwan in the vicinity for the next few days, but today Yanwan came looking for a horse, and Yingluo has been somewhat afraid of horses since falling from a horse in her previous life, so Rongyin decided that it would be best for the two of them to act together.

After exchanging greetings, Ao Deng and Rong Yin stepped aside and, somewhat shyly, whispered the whole story, also explaining the signs of a horse in heat and the dangers that come with it.

Yingluo thought for a moment: "The Princess Consort said that both horses came close to the Imperial Concubine's boots? The Princess Consort has been with the Imperial Concubine all morning. Could you please tell me where the Imperial Concubine passed by today, and whether there was anything unusual?"

After recalling the events, Ao Deng reported to Rong Yin: "Your subject, along with your elder sister-in-law and Lady Ling, went to the shooting range. Then, we encountered that unruly servant. Afterwards, your subject, along with your elder sister-in-law and Lady Ling, went into the tent and we drank tea together."

Rongyin and Yingluo exchanged a glance, then called Yanwan over and led her into a nearby tent, where she was asked to take off her boots.

Rongyin handed the boots to Ao Deng. Ao Deng looked at them carefully, then suddenly frowned in disbelief, held the boots up to his face, and sniffed the soles.

A look of surprise flashed across her face: "This, this boot smells of mare's bodily fluids!"

Yinglu scraped some dirt from the sole of her boot, and Rongyin let the servant in so he could smell it.

The constables also said that the soil contained the bodily fluids of a mare.

Rongyin asked, "After a horse is gelded, will it still pout if it smells a mare's bodily fluids?"

The officer said, "After a horse is gelded, it can no longer mate with a mare, but some horses will still try to recognize the mare's scent, though they won't be as excited as ungelded horses."

Ao Deng said, "That servant yesterday was leading a horse, could it be...?"

Her expression was solemn as she said to Rongyin, "Your Majesty, please allow me to report this privately."

Rongyin said to everyone, "You may all leave now."

A moment later, the two emerged from the tent. Rongyin gave the order: "Yingluo, take men to search the residences of those horse-riding servants, as well as the place where Consort Ling met Ling Yunche yesterday. If anything is found, immediately seal the evidence in my name and investigate all those involved. Consort Ling, there may be treacherous individuals in this hunting ground. I now grant you the authority to assist in this matter. Immediately order all female relatives, accompanying palace maids and eunuchs, as well as Yongcheng and Yongqi, to wait in the main tent. No one is allowed to leave."

Yanwan was somewhat surprised: "Then you..."

A servant had already brought over the horse. Rongyin said, "I'm afraid something big is about to happen. I need to go with the Princess Consort to find the Emperor and the princes."

The hunting party galloped across the grassland in a grand procession. The horsemen displayed their skill in driving the horses, the archers boasted their prowess in catching and releasing the horses, the hawks and hounds took advantage of the situation and ran rampant, the foxes and rabbits fled in fear, and where the bows rang out, blood and flesh were scattered everywhere, and feathers flew everywhere the arrows flew.

The group had hunted some sheep and deer, but they were not satisfied. Just as they were slowing down their horses in a daze, they suddenly heard a horse neigh, and then a tall and strong wild horse seemed to appear out of thin air.

The emperor was overjoyed: "Where did this wild horse come from? It is truly a fine steed!" He then spurred his horse to give chase.

Yonglian advised, "Father, wild horses are spirited; it's best not to chase them!"

The emperor, in high spirits, scolded, "You could hunt deer when you were six, but now you're getting worse as you grow older! This horse is a fine steed; watch how I tame it! None of you follow!"

With that, he spurred his horse forward, quickly putting some distance between himself and the others.

Cherdenjab disapproved of this behavior, but the emperor insisted, so he had no choice but to order his guards to follow at a distance.

Before long, the emperor disappeared into a dense forest.

Yonglian was still worried, so he also rode his horse into the forest.

Yonghuang followed him inside.

Yongzhang also wanted to enter the dense forest, but Cherdenzabu advised him, "Third Prince, you are still young. This forest is difficult to traverse and not suitable for large groups of people to enter. If something happens, it will be difficult to take care of you. Please wait outside."

After saying this, he ordered most of the imperial guards to stand guard outside the forest, while he led a few guards into the dense forest.

Fuheng and Maqing'a led their men to wait in the forest. A moment later, they saw four riders galloping towards them. Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was the Empress, the wife of Prince Duan, Jiya, and Jinbao.

The group dared not be careless and hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects. Rongyin raised her hand and asked, "Where is the Emperor?"

Upon learning that the Emperor had entered the dense forest in pursuit of a wild horse, and that the Second Prince and Cherdenzabu had followed, Rongyin took a deep breath and informed everyone that someone might be carrying the mare's bodily fluids. She then said, "This matter concerns the Emperor's safety, and I dare not entrust it to anyone else. I have to come myself."

Fu Heng pondered: "Mare bodily fluids... I have heard some legends in the northern desert. In the past, during battles, sometimes mares in heat would be driven onto the battlefield to harass the enemy's warhorses."

Everyone suddenly felt something was wrong.

Fu Heng knelt down and said, "This servant understands. Please, Your Majesty and the Princess Consort, return first. This servant will immediately send more men into the forest to search for the Emperor."

Rongyin thought for a moment and comforted Ao Deng, "Don't worry, Abu is brave and nothing will happen to you. Go back with the Empress Dowager first."

Ma Qing'a, accompanied by several guards, prepared to escort the two away. When the two turned around, they saw that what should have been a field behind them had turned into a pine forest.

The Third Prince and the guards who were escorting him were nowhere to be found.

Everyone was shocked, but Rongyin knew that this was a spatial anomaly, so she remained calm: "A forest has formed from flat ground. This place is truly strange. At this time, my wife and I cannot leave alone, otherwise it may be even more dangerous."

Fu Heng regained his composure from his surprise, pondered for a while, and then said, "That's right. Guard Ma Qing'a, have everyone gather together, protect the Empress and the Princess Consort of Prince Duan in the middle, and walk forward together."

Deep in the forest.

Yonglian did not find the emperor. Seeing that the pine forest blocked out the sun and the surrounding light was dim, he dismounted, took a pine branch, struck it with a flint and steel, and led his horse, holding a torch to light the way ahead.

He examined the road surface closely and saw a series of hoofprints. He thought to himself that this must be his father riding a horse past, so he followed the tracks forward.

He walked for a while, then suddenly realized something was wrong: the tracks didn't seem to be from just one person riding a horse, but from another person leading a horse, with the two sets of tracks overlapping.

He sensed something was wrong and quickened his pace, finally spotting the emperor riding slowly on horseback in the distance.

He strode over and called out, "Father Emperor."

The emperor turned around, his expression a mixture of surprise and impatience: "Didn't I tell you all not to follow?"

Yonglian said, "I am really worried. At least let me stay with you until we find that wild horse."

Before the emperor could speak, a horse's neighing was heard from afar.

The black horse appeared before them without warning, flicked its tail, and galloped forward.

Just then, the emperor's horse suddenly neighed and galloped away.

The emperor panicked and tried to tighten the reins, but the imperial horse seemed to be possessed and galloped all the way until it suddenly stopped in a relatively open area.

Before the emperor could even catch his breath, the horse tripped on its reins, and with a "click," a cold arrow flew towards the emperor.

The imperial horse was hit by a stray arrow and immediately fell down. The emperor had no time to react and fell straight off the horse.

The outskirts of the dense forest.

The guards escorted Rongyin and Ao Deng along a dimly lit road. Fu Heng suddenly realized that there seemed to be fewer people. After counting, he found that five riders were missing.

In just a short distance, five people and their horses got separated without a sound, which was too strange, and everyone was very worried.

Fortunately, they finally reunited with Cherdenzab, Yonghuang, and others.

Cherdenzab led his men to follow Yonghuang closely. After traveling for a while and seeing the familiar scenery again, he suddenly felt something was wrong. He marked a tree, spurred his horse to gallop for a while, and then saw the same tree again.

Only then did he realize that he had been going around in circles. Ancient legends from the grasslands flooded his memory, and even though he was brave, he felt a little uneasy.

Each of them shared their findings, their expressions grave.

At this moment, Fu Heng truly wished he had learned some magic from Master Dongmen.

Rong Yin had already finished communicating with Yuan Yi in her mind and said, "If it's something supernatural or bizarre, I've heard before that black dog blood or something like that can be used?"

Fu Heng said, "Now that things have come to this, perhaps we can only try anything as a last resort."

At this moment, Ao Deng suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Her rhinoceros horn thumb ring, inlaid with gold and silver wire and kui patterns, suddenly emitted a faint light, looking like a wisp of fire in the ashes.

The light shone straight in one direction, and Rongyin suddenly saw a winding path behind the dense pine forest.

Yuan Yidao said, "Legend has it that rhinoceros horn can ward off evil spirits, and since she and Miracle were shooting arrows together this morning, Miracle may have come into contact with this ring."

Rong Yin had no more hesitation and raised her whip: "Rhinoceros horn to ward off evil, follow this light!"

Ao Deng spurred his horse forward.

Rongyin, Fuheng, and Cherdenzabu followed closely behind. Yonghuang and the other guards were about to catch up when the scenery in front of them suddenly turned into grassland again.

Yonghuang saw Yongzhang and several guards who remained, with Songlin behind them.

Deep in the forest.

The emperor fell off his horse, his legs and back throbbing with pain, and his mind went blank.

He felt dizzy for a while before he vaguely heard Yonglian calling his name.

Seeing that the emperor was conscious, Yonglian was slightly relieved. He helped the emperor up, then immediately became vigilant, handing the torch to the emperor, taking out his bow and arrows, and focusing his attention on guard.

He had assumed that the presence of this trap indicated an assassination attempt, and that the assassin might still be in place, waiting to deliver a fatal blow to the emperor.

But to his surprise, what appeared before him was not an assassin, but that elusive black wild horse once again.

The wild horse had just fled, but for some reason, it turned back.

Even more bizarrely, wild animals should be afraid of fire, but at this moment the horse seemed to have gone mad, foaming at the mouth, and charging towards the emperor and Yonglian without regard for anything else.

Yonglian had been holding the bow and arrow in a drawn position. When he released the arrow, the horse was hit but did not fall down. Instead, it disappeared into thin air.

On the ground, only half of the broken arrow remained.

Yonglian felt a chill run down his spine. Just then, he heard his wife's voice: "Father, Second Prince, watch out behind you!"

Behind you?

Yonglian turned around in alarm and saw a magnificent horse with a coat as white as frost galloping out and neighing as it charged towards him.

There were two wild horses?

Without thinking twice, he immediately lunged forward and pinned the emperor to the ground with his right hand.

With another click, a cold arrow flew in. Yonglian tilted his head, and the arrow grazed his neck and embedded itself in the ground. Yonglian felt a sharp pain in his neck, but he didn't care. He grabbed a torch, immediately rolled over, and began to wave it.

The white horse, fearing the firelight, leaped up, crossed over the two men, and disappeared into the forest. In an instant, it galloped out again, charging towards them.

Suddenly, a man rushed out from the side, swung the rope in his hand at the wild horse, and grabbed it by the neck.

the place Beyond the Pines.

When Yongzhang saw Yonghuang come out, he excitedly stepped forward: "Big brother, you're finally out!" He looked behind Yonghuang: "Father, where are Mother, Second Brother, and Second Sister-in-law?"

Yonghuang was still in a daze when he suddenly heard the fluttering of birds' wings behind him, followed by a mournful cry, and then a scattering of horses' hooves.

A black horse, with half an arrow stuck in its neck, foaming at the mouth and bleeding from its wound, stumbled over and then collapsed to the ground.

Ma Qing'a stepped forward to examine the arrow and asked in surprise, "Although the arrow went deep, it won't be fatal for the time being. The horse seems to have died from exhaustion. But why did the arrow break?"

Yonghuang recalled the strange events from earlier and pondered, "In the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the horse corresponds to Gengwu, which represents metal and fire. This horse was hit by an arrow, with the iron arrow embedded in its body, which signifies fire refining metal, a sign of prosperity. Just now, birds flew up, which means the horse surpasses the dragon and sparrow, greatly increasing its fortune. Could this be a scheme set up by someone to borrow fortune?"

Yongzhang asked curiously, "What are you saying, brother?"

Yonghuang had some suspicions in his mind, and instructed his guards, "Go to the game and get a deer, and some deer blood."

After obtaining the deer blood, Yonghuang drew his sword, cut open the black horse's neck, collected some of the horse's blood, and mixed it with the deer blood.

He splashed the mixed blood into the pine forest.

"Deer blood enhances yang energy, and the fire of noon (午火) overcomes wood. Zhao Gao pointed at a deer and called it a horse, leading to the Qin Dynasty's demise after only two generations. I, Your Highness, will now cut off your path to borrowing the true dragon's fortune!"

Deep in the forest.

After discovering the trap in the forest, Ling Yunche waited there, hoping to make a name for himself by rescuing the emperor.

Seeing the black horse mysteriously disappear and another white horse galloping towards the emperor and the second prince, he threw out a lasso in an attempt to subdue the horse.

Unexpectedly, a pool of warm, foul-smelling liquid suddenly fell from the sky and splashed on him.

His vision was filled with bright red, and he realized that the liquid was blood.

Blood soaked the noose, and he lost another finger; the rope slipped from his grasp.

Almost at the same time, Cherdengzab, who had just arrived, also jumped off his horse, threw out a rope, put it around the horse's neck, and pulled it back with such force that the white horse reared up on its hind legs.

With a whoosh, a sharp arrow pierced the horse's eye, its tip emerging from the horse's skull.

The horse let out a mournful whinny and collapsed heavily to the ground.

A bolt of lightning struck from the sky, igniting a pine tree, followed by a muffled clap of thunder.

Ao Deng put away his bow and knelt down with Cherdenzab: "Your subjects (servants) have arrived late to save Your Majesty, and deserve to die!"

Just as Ling Yunche was about to step forward, Fu Heng, who had arrived at the scene, pinned him to the ground by twisting his arms behind his back.

Rongyin jumped off her horse and rushed over without stopping: "Your Majesty, Yonglian, are you both alright?"