After being reborn, her aloof ex-husband and her crazy deceased husband got into a fight.

Ding Peilan followed Dian Dai into the tent. She bowed respectfully to Cheng Yanran, while Cheng Yanran casually sat in the main seat, not even bothering to lift her eyelids.

"Miss Ding, what brings you to see me, the Princess?"

"I have long admired the Princess, and I have come here specifically to pay my respects," Ding Peilan said with a fawning smile.

"Heh, there are plenty of people who admire this princess. Do you think I need your admiration?" Cheng Yanran sneered disdainfully, her words full of sarcasm.

Ding Peilan's face suddenly flushed red, extremely embarrassed. Although she was the daughter of a fifth-rank official, she was always well-liked and popular in aristocratic circles. When had she ever been humiliated like this? For a moment, she was at a loss for what to do and stood frozen in place.

Even if a woman from a prominent family looks down on someone, she won't show it to their face; she has to observe basic etiquette. But Cheng Yanran is different.

The late emperor pitied her for losing her father at a young age and being a woman, so he was particularly lenient with her. Coupled with Consort Shu's doting, this fostered her domineering nature.

Originally, she was just a little arrogant and domineering, but later, after Gongsun Yi became the regent and held absolute power, he granted her every request, which made her even more lawless, disregarding everyone and becoming absolutely uncompromising.

Before becoming regent, Gongsun Yi, though the son of the empress, was often unlucky due to the discord between the late empress and the late emperor, and the fact that his elder brother was the crown prince. He was frequently punished without cause, a typical case of being unloved by his parents. On the contrary, Consort Shu and his elder sister Gongsun Ying showed him great care and protected him through his adolescence.

Gongsun Yi reciprocated all the friendship he had shared since childhood by giving it all to Cheng Yanran. Therefore, Cheng Yanran could be considered one of the most noble women in the Dayong Dynasty.

This is also why Ding Peilan came to find Cheng Yanran.

After her previous scandal, the aristocratic circles completely ostracized her, making it almost impossible for her to survive. If this continues, forget about finding a good marriage; even establishing a respectable position in Kyoto will be difficult.

She must climb up to the princess and, with the princess's influence, return to the circle of aristocratic families.

"Speak, what is it you want?" Cheng Yanran's brows and eyes showed impatience.

Ding Peilan gritted her teeth and knelt down with a "plop". She bowed to Cheng Yanran and said, "This humble woman is willing to serve the princess like a dog or a horse".

Seeing Ding Peilan suddenly kneel down, Cheng Yanran was first startled, then looked at her with great interest: "Heh, this princess has no shortage of cattle and horses. However, since Miss Ding is so sincere, then tell me first, what use are you?"

"Your Highness, I am very close to Madam Lan; she is her only friend in the capital..."

......

When Ding Peilan left Cheng Yanran's tent, she had an extra porcelain bottle and a brocade pouch in her hand.

The next morning, before the night had completely faded and the sky was just beginning to lighten, a loud horn sounded, breaking the silence. Everyone awoke with a start, quickly dressed, and prepared to participate in the grand hunting ceremony.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The large drum outside Emperor Jinghe's tent was struck. Gongsun Rui led the officials, and in time with the sound of drums and horns, they entered the hunting grounds.

At this time, the Qiulan Hunting Ground had already been fenced off according to the boundaries determined by the Yu tribe. The fence only enclosed the east, west, and north sides, but left an opening in the south, facing Luming Mountain, so that the animals could have a chance to escape, in order to show the virtue of cherishing life.

To the sound of drums, thousands of rabbits, deer, roe deer, and pheasants were herded into the arena, while countless pigeons, sparrows, and geese were released into the air.

Gongsun Rui rode out alone, bow in hand, nocked an arrow, and with a "whoosh," a sika deer fell to the ground. A deafening roar of "Long live the Emperor!" echoed through the pasture.

With Gongsun Rui's arrow, the summer hunt officially began.

Gan Cai'er wasn't skilled in riding and archery, so she didn't participate. She sat in the rest area by the hunting grounds, drinking tea, eating melon seeds, and watching the commotion on the ranch.

"Look at this, Prince Meng has killed three birds with one stone!!"

"The young master is truly brave and skilled in battle, he's really something else~~~"

"Madam Meng, it seems your young master is going to win first place this time, isn't he?"

"No, no..."

A murmur of conversation drifted from the surroundings. Gan Cai'er turned her head and saw a group of noblewomen surrounding a woman in a purple brocade dress, showering her with compliments. Gan Cai'er recognized the woman; she was none other than the old lady of the Duke of Wei's mansion, the mother of Meng Yan and Meng Yu.

Mei Wanqing stood meekly behind her, serving tea and water. Gan Cai'er couldn't help but sigh.

Madam Meng was strong-willed and extremely concerned with her reputation. She held Gan Cai'er, who had remarried, in very low regard. If Gan Cai'er hadn't given birth to Meng Yu's eldest son, she probably would have refused to let Gan Cai'er step into the Duke of Wei's mansion, even if it meant her death.

It's unclear whether Mei Wanqing can win her favor, since she treated Mei Wanyin very politely back then, simply because she was a daughter of the Mei family.

Gan Cai'er slowly withdrew her gaze.

"Miss, look, that's the young master!! He shot several rabbits too~~~" Xiao Hong pointed into the distance and said excitedly.

Gan Cai'er followed the little red hand and saw Lan Tingzhou dressed in a black outfit, sitting upright on a chestnut horse. He was tall and slender, holding a bow and crossbow, showing a youthful spirit that was different from before.

He didn't gallop at full speed, but instead rode slowly and steadily through the field. Well, although it seemed a bit unconventional, his arrows were incredibly accurate, and it didn't hinder his hunting at all! Following behind him, Mo Yun already had quite a few rabbits and pheasants hanging from his saddle.

Gan Cai'er knew that Lan Tingzhou was a skilled hunter. Back in Qingshui Town, whenever his paintings and calligraphy didn't sell, he would go into the mountains to hunt to supplement his income; he had even hunted bears. Although Lan Tingzhou wasn't very good at riding horses, his archery was first-rate. Now, hunting a few slow-moving, slow-jumping rabbits and pheasants was a piece of cake for him.

Gan Cai'er watched with a smile as he shot one arrow after another, as if strolling leisurely, and in the blink of an eye, he had harvested a large number of prey.

Unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred.

For some unknown reason, a black horse in the arena suddenly became startled, rearing up and charging wildly around the arena. The rider on the horse was completely out of control, and the guards responsible for protecting it rushed towards it from all directions.

But distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. The black horse, carrying its rider, charged madly towards Lan Tingzhou. Seeing this, Lan Tingzhou immediately turned his horse around and dodged to the side.

However, the crazed horse did not let him go. Amidst the huge neighing of the horse, Lan Tingzhou and another person were thrown to the ground together.

The man fell on his back and his horse fell over.

With a "whoosh," Gan Cai'er stood up and ran towards where Lan Tingzhou had dismounted.