Chapter 464 - 242: Just Great, Stewed in One Pot

Chapter 464: Chapter 242: Just Great, Stewed in One Pot

The Emperor, now in an even sweeter mood, found everything Yun Zhao did delightful.

Song Yunzhao was also very pleased with the Emperor’s tact. ’A young couple out for a stroll is a classic date, after all.’

It was the perfect end to their outing.

The two strolled from one end of the market to the other, and just as they were about to turn back, Zhang Maoquan arrived, his face beaded with sweat.

"Your Majesty, there’s been an incident!"

Song Yunzhao’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively glanced at Feng Yi.

Seeing Yun Zhao’s face turn pale, Feng Yi first took her hand before turning to Zhang Maoquan. "What’s the rush? Get in the carriage and tell us."

Feng Yi helped Yun Zhao into the carriage, his arm around her. He thoughtfully placed a soft cushion behind her lower back before sitting down and telling Zhang Maoquan to come aboard and report.

The first thought that crossed Song Yunzhao’s mind as she sat down was, ’Thank goodness I got away quickly today!’

’I knew it,’ she thought. ’Even though I feel like the book’s original plot has been derailed, what good can ever come from a bunch of supporting characters getting together?’

’They’re bound to stir up trouble!’

"Speak. What happened?" Feng Yi asked, looking at Zhang Maoquan.

Kneeling inside the carriage with his head bowed, Zhang Maoquan said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, during the hunt today, the young lady from the Duke Dingguo Mansion’s horse spooked and ran into Young Madam Yue. Miss Xie, in her haste to help, was carried down a slope by the panicked horse. Lord Ji jumped down after her to rescue her. Princess Ming’an... disregarded all attempts to stop her and went down to help, with Duke Qin following right after. There has been no word from any of them since."

Song Yunzhao’s face drained of all color. ’Why is everyone involved one of my people?’

She looked at Zhang Maoquan. "What about the others?"

Zhang Maoquan paused for a moment before replying, "Many people were there at the time. The spooked horse didn’t just run into Young Madam Yue. Miss Wang and Miss Yao are also unaccounted for. Commander Chu and the Heir of Marquis Yongjia have organized a search party and are looking for them."

Song Yunzhao: ...

’Are they trying to catch them all in one net?’

’Miss Wang must be Princess Consort Zhuang’s sister, Wang Yunhua, and Miss Yao must be Princess Consort Wan’s sister, Yao Roujia. Lu Zhixue was just talking about them the other day.’

’I can’t believe they all got into an accident today.’

’But the unluckiest one has to be Huang Mingxiu. Her allergies finally cleared up, so she rushed to join the hunt, and now look what happened. Everyone is in this mess because her horse panicked.’

’Huang Duo is busy with the rescue, probably trying to make amends and help his sister out of this jam.’

’The Marquis Yongjia Mansion’s bad luck is starting to rival my own.’

Worried about Xie Linlang, Song Yexi, and Princess Ming’an who had gone down the mountain to help, Song Yunzhao could no longer keep her composure. She urged the Emperor to hurry back.

Feng Yi squeezed her hand, feeling the sweat on her palm. Knowing how worried she was, he quickly reassured her, "Chu Donghui is on it. He’ll bring everyone back, don’t worry."

But how could Song Yunzhao not be worried?

’Song Yexi was only slightly injured, so at least he was safe.’

’But Xie Linlang and He Lan Yun both went down that slope, and Ji Yunting jumped down after them to play the hero. In the book, one of those women becomes his concubine, and the other spends her life chasing after him, desperate to be his wife.’

’And now, they’re all in one big stew together! Perfect.’

’I worked so hard to pull those two out of the fiery pit that is Ji Yunting, and now, in a single day, all that effort has gone down the drain! It’s enough to make me spit blood!’

’How could I not be anxious?’

’It’s not just their lives I’m worried about, it’s their uncertain futures!’

Feng Yi knew Yun Zhao was close to these people, but he hadn’t expected her to be so distraught. Her face was alarmingly pale, which made him frown.

"Zhang Maoquan said the slope isn’t very steep. The heavens watch over the good. They’ll be fine," Feng Yi reassured her.

Yun Zhao nodded, her face stiff. ’I’m just afraid of Ji Yunting playing the hero rescuing the damsels, and them falling hopelessly devoted to him as a result.’

The carriage returned to the tents at the foot of the mountain. Song Yunzhao insisted on going up the mountain with Feng Yi.

Feng Yi refused. "You wait here. Trust me, I’ll bring everyone back for you."

Song Yunzhao instinctively touched her stomach. She knew he was right. Suppressing her unease, she forced herself to nod and watched as Feng Yi headed into the mountains.

The imperial guards followed close behind, their torches illuminating the forest. The reddish glow of the flames brought a flicker of warmth to Yun Zhao’s anxious heart.

"Song Zhaoyi."

Song Yunzhao turned at the sound of the voice to see Princess Fuke striding toward her.

"Princess Fuke, what brings you here?" Song Yunzhao was surprised; she hadn’t expected the princess to seek her out.

"I knew you would be worried sick about Princess Ming’an and Miss Xie falling down the slope, so I came to tell you personally. As soon as I heard the news, I sent guards from my Princess Mansion up the mountain to help with the rescue."

"Thank you, Princess." Song Yunzhao was genuinely grateful to Princess Fuke in that moment. Whatever the princess’s motives, as long as it helped rescue her friends, she was willing to owe her this debt.

Princess Fuke was rather surprised. The worry on Song Zhaoyi’s face was clearly genuine. It seemed Song Zhaoyi was not at all like the rumors portrayed her; she truly cared for her friends and family.

"Zhaoyi, you should return to your tent and rest. Otherwise, when they bring everyone back, I imagine things will get quite busy," Princess Fuke advised.

Song Yunzhao was feeling tired. She looked at Princess Fuke and said, "If Your Highness is not otherwise occupied, perhaps you could come inside and wait for news with me."

"Then I shall impose," Princess Fuke said without hesitation, following Yun Zhao into the tent.

"Please have a seat, Your Highness. I must go change my clothes."

"Please, Zhaoyi, feel at ease."

Song Yunzhao went behind a screen, where Xiangxue and Shizhu quickly helped her change. Qingfeng and Yulu brought combs and hairpins to redo her hair. Once she was presentable again, they helped her emerge.

Taking her seat, Song Yunzhao looked at Princess Fuke across from her. "I apologize for the wait, Your Highness."

Princess Fuke shook her head. "It was nothing. In fact, I’ve heard some news regarding the incident that I thought I should share with you."

Song Yunzhao had been intending to ask Princess Fuke for details anyway, so she was surprised when the princess brought it up first. She quickly said, "His Majesty and I rushed back, so I’m still not entirely clear on what happened. All I know is that the Sixth Miss Huang’s horse spooked and caused an accident involving several people."

At this, a peculiar expression crossed Princess Fuke’s face. She looked at Song Yunzhao and said, "This Sixth Miss Huang certainly has dreadful luck. Perhaps the Marchioness Yongjia ought to take her to a temple to pray for better fortune."

Song Yunzhao’s expression grew tense. "Someone tampered with the Sixth Miss Huang’s horse?"

’Just as I thought. Huang Mingxiu has neither the brains nor the guts to orchestrate something like this. She was definitely set up.’

"There’s something you may not know, Zhaoyi. The Sixth Miss Huang hadn’t planned on going into the mountains today at all. She only went out because Miss Yao invited her. And as ill luck would have it, on the way there, her horse was struck by a stray arrow, so a guard gave her his."

’There were many people hunting in the mountains today, so a stray arrow wasn’t unusual. But for it to happen to Huang Mingxiu, of all people... that was highly suspicious.’

"Have they found that guard?" Song Yunzhao asked.

’If the problem was with the horse from the guard, then finding that guard is the first step to getting to the bottom of this.’