Chapter 239: Much Ado About Nothing

"Your Majesty, I want to marry you."

Xu Xingchen looked at Xiao Yang and calmly, directly, spoke his mind.

The topic the courtiers had raised only to be shut down, the profound discretion of Rong Yin and Mu Yunlian—none of that existed for Xu Xingchen.

He had attended the wedding banquet at Prince Jing Mansion. After going home and thinking it over for an entire night, he came to one conclusion: he wanted to marry the Emperor.

She was the Emperor; he couldn’t hide her away and claim her for himself alone. And the Emperor had no desire to hide him, either.

Even though he had given himself to the Emperor, he still felt insecure, always feeling that something was missing. Then, just yesterday, he had suddenly realized what it was.

’Between a man and a woman who belong to each other, there should also be a formal title.’

’They would sign a marriage contract—a pact for life and death.’

’That way, when he died, he and the Emperor would be a married couple and could be buried together.’

’He could commission a large, double coffin and be with the Emperor for all eternity.’

Xiao Yang: "..."

’This blunt boy always managed to shock her when she least expected it.’

The worst part was that it was noon, and Rong Yin, Mu Yunlian, Xiao Lv, Xiao Lan, Xiao Hong, Xu Ling, and Xiao Ziling... had all been called over to join her for a meal.

He had spoken so abruptly, and by sheer coincidence, the group had just appeared at the door. They heard everything. Now, all eyes were on her, staring intently.

Xiao Yang felt her vision go dark. She reached out and tapped him on the forehead. "Shut up."

Throughout the meal, Xiao Yang could hardly taste her food, feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

Xu Xingchen hadn’t expected to be overheard by so many people. Realizing he had caused trouble, he kept quiet and didn’t dare say another word.

Rong Yin, due to his status, didn’t dare bring it up on his own, no matter how much he might want to. Mu Yunlian had entertained the idea, but he could sense Xiao Yang’s resistance and planned for a more gradual approach. Before he could even act, that simpleton Xu Xingchen went and ripped the paper-thin veil of silence.

The atmosphere was a bit strange for the next few days. They didn’t mean to pressure Xiao Yang, but she wasn’t blind.

They didn’t voice their thoughts, but it was all written in their eyes.

One by one, they looked at her with such earnest expectation, their gazes filled with longing.

Xiao Yang could endure blades and shoulder an empire, yet she was being crushed by their gazes, utterly drained of her strength.

’They weren’t forcing her. It was simply the natural course of their affection. Her inability to accept it, the feeling of suffocation—that was her own problem.’

Xiao Yang left an imperial decree for Xiao Lv and Prince Jing, then departed the palace in the early hours of the morning with Xiao Ziling, Xiao Lan, and the Black Dragon Guards.

Just as they passed through the city gates, Li Wei, having received the news, rushed to meet them.

"Where is Your Majesty headed?"

Xiao Yang replied, "Hunting."

The autumn hunt was scheduled for five days’ time, but Xiao Yang didn’t want to be with *them*. She just wanted some fresh air. She needed to think things through.

’And Li Wei... she didn’t want to bring him along, either.’

Their eyes met, and Li Wei seemed to read her thoughts. "Your Majesty’s safety concerns the entire empire; it is not a trivial matter. I request to remain by Your Majesty’s side to ensure your protection."

He paused before adding, "Your Majesty can rest assured, I will not overstep my bounds in the slightest."

He lowered his gaze, masking his thoughts and adopting the perfect stance of a subordinate.

He had confessed his feelings, yet he neither vied for her attention nor made any demands.

Xiao Yang was getting truly weary of all these romantic entanglements she had accumulated. She let out a heavy breath and spurred her horse on.

The hunting grounds were not close; it took half a day’s ride to get there.

Since notice had been given of her arrival in a few days, the hunting grounds were already prepared. Xiao Cheng had even brought men over several days early to arrange the defenses, and preparations were now more or less complete.

By the time they reached the hunting grounds, Xiao Yang was a little tired. She was in no hurry to rush in and hunt. Instead, after bathing and changing her clothes, she had a meal set out on the grass.

She dined out in the open, enjoying the breeze and the view.

Xiao Yang was too tired. After only a few bites, she put down her chopsticks and ended up lying down with her head in Xiao Ziling’s lap, staring up at the sky.

Xiao Ziling gently stroked Xiao Yang’s hair. "Does Your Majesty have something on your mind?"

Xiao Yang scoffed. "There are no troubles in the world, only fools who stir them up for themselves."

Xiao Ziling replied, "But Your Majesty is no fool."

Xiao Yang said, "We are all human. We can’t escape our passions and desires, nor can we escape the cycle of life and death. If that doesn’t make me a fool, what does?"

Xiao Ziling looked down at Xiao Yang, whose brow remained slightly furrowed even with her eyes closed. She reached out and gently massaged the spot, trying to smooth it away.

"Would Your Majesty like to tell me about it?"

Xiao Yang’s brow twitched, but she remained silent.

Xiao Ziling asked, "Is it about Mr. Mu?"

Her directness made Xiao Yang’s evasiveness seem rather petty in comparison.

"I just don’t wish to marry, that’s all."

’It was about Mu Yunlian, but not only him.’

"I don’t want to marry... but I can’t bear to disappoint them."

’Her fear of marriage was her own psychological issue, but she couldn’t pretend not to see their passionate, sincere feelings.’

’A cold-hearted person isn’t afraid of getting hurt, but they are terrified of a sincere heart.’

’Especially Mu Yunlian. In this life and the last, he had pledged his very life to her. How could she possibly ignore such devotion?’

’In the end, her own heart was too small, wrapped tightly in a shell of cold indifference. She was like a clam, terrified that if she opened up even a sliver, she would be wounded beyond recovery.’

’She, who feared neither heaven nor earth, was a complete coward when it came to matters of the heart. The very thought was humiliating.’

Xiao Ziling couldn’t solve Xiao Yang’s troubles, because she, too, now seemed to be caught in a strange loop of her own.

She stroked Xiao Yang’s brow and the ends of her hair again and again, hoping to dispel some of her melancholy.

’A part of her resented those damned men for making the Emperor worry so much. How detestable of them.’

’But... the way the Emperor was sleeping so peacefully in her lap, she looked so adorable!~~~’

Li Wei also seemed to sense something, but he couldn’t get any closer. He could only watch the scene from a distance.

After a night’s rest, Xiao Yang was full of vigor the next morning and immediately led her people into the mountains.

They were fully equipped and staffed, and had brought along dry rations.

Xiao Yang was full of confidence, but after walking for half an hour, all she had seen were a few pheasants.

They weren’t a rare sight, so Xiao Yang stopped after bagging two.

Fortunately, she wasn’t obsessed with the number of kills. She hunted and enjoyed the scenery, treating it as a leisurely pastime.

"Your Majesty, a deer!"

A sika deer suddenly broke into view. Xiao Yang’s energy surged in an instant as she spurred her horse and drew her bow.

"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"

After loosing several arrows in a row, she finally brought down the deer.

"Your Majesty is mighty!"

’It was a little awkward, but she had heard so much flattery over the years that she was used to it.’

As they ventured deeper into the mountains, the game became more plentiful: river deer, sika deer, rabbits, pheasants, mountain birds, foxes... all sorts of prey emerged.

Xiao Yang hunted to her heart’s content. On a whim, she also gathered a basket of mushrooms and collected a good number of bird eggs. She even unexpectedly found several stalks of superb-quality Lingzhi.

Past noon, everyone grew tired. They decided to eat a meal in the mountains and then head back, as it would be unwise to go deeper and risk being caught after dark.

The group cleared an open space, set up a pot to cook, and used a nearby stream to wash the ingredients.

Xiao Yang found a thick tree branch, climbed up, and lay down. As she was drifting off, she suddenly felt an intense gaze fixed upon her. A dangerous, deadly presence enveloped her entirely.

She simply opened her eyes, not daring to move. Across from her, Li Wei’s muscles were completely tense, his gaze filled with killing intent.

In an instant, he lunged toward Xiao Yang, leaped directly over her, and slammed into the attacking beast, sending it crashing to the ground.

"ROAR!"

The sound was deafening, a ferocious roar full of menace. It was a massive, adult tiger.

Its powerful body radiated strength from every inch.

"A tiger!"

Everyone was terrified and hurriedly nocked their arrows.

But the tiger lunged madly for Li Wei. Man and beast were instantly locked in a fierce struggle, preventing anyone from daring to shoot.