The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Li Jiangui arrived with Empress Wang and the Imperial Concubine, followed by princes and princesses.

The invited ministers and their families knelt down to pay their respects, creating a grand spectacle that surprised the young people who were participating in the spring hunt for the first time.

"Everyone, get up."

Lee Geon-kyu sat down, and the others followed suit.

Today, the spring sunshine is bright and warm, and a breeze is blowing in the hunting grounds.

Shen Hanyu tugged at her outer robe and tightened the belt, but suddenly felt someone looking at her.

She looked up and met the gaze of the woman in gorgeous clothes next to Li Jing.

It is Crown Princess Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu nodded slightly to Shen Hanyu, then looked away.

Shen Hanyu breathed a sigh of relief. Judging from that brief exchange of glances, the Crown Princess meant her no harm, but she could not let her guard down.

Liang Ruoxue and Liang Ruoyan both focused their attention on Li Jun; all the members of the royal family had arrived today.

Li Jiangui has three sons and two daughters. One of his sons, Li Sheng, committed a serious mistake a few years ago and was demoted to a commoner. He is not present here. Only the two sons and two princesses are here.

Li Jing was born to the Imperial Concubine, while Li Jun and Princess Yongning's mother did not come to the hunting grounds with them.

Besides Yongning, there was another princess, Li Huaijiang, who had no title. She and Li Sheng were siblings, both born to the Empress, and she was the youngest of the five.

Li Huaijiang's face was pale, and she coughed lightly. A maid stood to her side to shield her from the wind.

Zhao Yu stood beside Li Jing, who was already dressed in riding attire, and poured him a cup of wine.

"Wishing Your Highness every success and the best of luck."

Li Jing laughed and finished the drink in one gulp.

Li Jiangui looked over and said, "Jing'er, you did a great job preparing for this spring hunt. You're becoming more and more responsible."

Li Jing humbly declined, showing neither arrogance nor impatience, which greatly pleased Li Jiangui.

Empress Wang beckoned, and a maidservant came over with the prize money.

"The situation in the forest has been checked, and it's not dangerous. Why don't we let the girls go along and bring back some trinkets? I'll pay the prize."

On the tray lay a finely colored cloisonné enamel bracelet and a jade bracelet, with two gold hairpins beside them, shimmering in the sunlight.

The prizes for the man were a bow and a gleaming sword.

Li Jiangui nodded and said, "That's true. Let's go together then. Yongning, do you want to join us?"

Princess Yongning stood up.

“Since Father has spoken, I will naturally participate. However, it has been a long time since I have practiced riding and archery. If I do not perform well, Father must not laugh at me.”

Li Jiangui kindly said no, and let Princess Yongning go instead.

Li Huaijiang stood up and said calmly, "Father and Mother, I am not feeling well, so I will not participate."

Li Jiangui looked at her, and then, as if thinking of something, said, "It's windy outside. Your illness has been recurring since the beginning of spring. Go to the tent and rest first. If you feel unwell, please go to see the imperial physician."

Li Huaijiang thanked them and left the banquet.

Empress Wang felt a pang of sadness. "When did this child become so polite?"

Lee Geon-kyu didn't say anything, he just drank a glass of wine.

Those below were completely unaware of the undercurrents surging above.

Meanwhile, Shen Hanyu was being pulled onto a horse by Ji Yuxiu, ready to go hunting.

Wei Ming looked on with envy, but Yang Yueying held her down.

"Let's talk about it when you're feeling better."

Ji Yuxiu mounted her horse, "Ming'er, let me win the prize for you!"

Wei Ming pouted.

"Just take good care of Hanyu for me."

Ji Yuxiu looked at Shen Hanyu.

Have you ever practiced mounted archery?

Shen Hanyu shook her head awkwardly. She was good at polo and arrow-throwing, but unfortunately she had never tried riding and archery. In her previous life, she had always stayed obediently by Liang Fangrong's side during the hunting grounds.

Liang Fangrong opened her mouth as if to say something, but Ji Yuxiu's official rank of fifth grade made her afraid to utter a sound.

"Hanyu is very good at polo and pitch-pot," Wei Ming said.

Ji Yuxiu perked up.

"Horseback archery is similar to pitch-pot. You just aim at the prey. It's very simple. I'll teach you on the way."

She tossed the bow and arrows to Shen Hanyu, and then set off with Shen Hanyu.

Liang Ruoyan and Liang Ruoxue rode horses. Their horsemanship was average; they were more skilled in embroidery and calligraphy.

If they hadn't seen Li Jun enter the hunting grounds, the two of them probably wouldn't have followed her.

Liang Ruoxue glanced at Liang Ruoyan, gave a soft snort, and rode off on her horse.

Because of the Queen's lucky draw, many girls went into the woods.

The forest is teeming with deer and rabbits. They didn't dare let any of the more ferocious animals in, fearing something might happen. There were also people protecting them near the forest, which greatly reduced the risk of accidents.

Shen Hanyu glanced at it, still unable to figure out how those people had managed to sneak in.

Miao Cui, who couldn't ride a horse, didn't follow, but stood behind Liang Fangrong with Jian Xia.

Ji Yuxiu was teaching Shen Hanyu how to shoot arrows when a rabbit appeared in her field of vision. She drew her bow, nocked an arrow, and with a whoosh, pinned the rabbit to a tree.

"See, you're quick enough. You just need to predict where they're going. It's very simple."

Shen Hanyu tried it, but before she could shoot the arrow, it fell off the bowstring.

"Hurry up."

Ji Yuxiu demonstrated it to Shen Hanyu again from horseback.

Shen Hanyu tried again and successfully launched it, but it still lacked power. However, she found it quite interesting.

"I'll get used to it a bit more; there's still plenty of time."

Shen Hanyu wasn't there for the prize; she just wanted to have fun for a while.

Ji Yuxiu wasn't in a hurry; with her abilities, winning a prize was quite easy.

"Miss Shen."

Lin Yucheng rode over on horseback. He was very happy that the Lin family had been invited by the Imperial Concubine. When he saw Shen Hanyu leave, he quickly followed.

Ji Yuxiu sized up the newcomer.

"Who is this?"

"Lin Yucheng, the eldest son of the Lin family of Yucheng."

Shen Hanyu gave a brief explanation, and Ji Yuxiu understood.

Lin Yucheng gripped the reins, taking each step with great care, not at all like someone who knew how to ride a horse.

Shen Hanyu was afraid that something might happen to Lin Yucheng, and then the old lady Lin would lash out at her, so she kept a little distance.

"Miss Shen, Lin Yun will be attending the girls' school. Would you be so kind as to take care of her?"

Seemingly to start a conversation, Lin Yucheng mentioned Lin Yun's trip to the girls' school.

Shen Hanyu waved her hand: "Lin Yun's matter has nothing to do with me. I don't usually have any interaction with her. I'm not a kind-hearted person. Young Master Lin, you should find someone else."

She wouldn't do anything that would cause her trouble, and besides, she knew Lin Yucheng's intentions, so she avoided him at all costs.

Ji Yuxiu saw through Shen Hanyu's thoughts and called out, "Let's go, it's time to go hunting. Look, everyone else has already gone far away."

Shen Hanyu nodded and rode away on horseback with Ji Yuxiu.

Lin Yucheng wanted to give chase, but due to his poor horsemanship, he was quickly left behind, and his expression changed repeatedly.

Liang Sihan suddenly appeared out of nowhere, chuckled, and then rode off on her horse, leaving Lin Yucheng even more confused.

Xu Zhun and Pei Du, on the other side, witnessed everything that had just happened.

"Sigh, Pei Du, look how direct others are, and look at you, hiding your true intentions."