Li always gave a low chuckle, but it was devoid of any warmth.
"What are you laughing at?" she asked.
"I am unwilling to do those things."
"Mr. Li, why do you stay by the Prince's side?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Li stood up from the stone. At this moment, she felt he was lofty and unattainable.
"For someone," Mr. Li stated, word by word.
Xue Zining was taken aback, looking at Mr. Li. At this moment, Mr. Li was unfathomable, somewhat mysterious and unpredictable. For some reason, her heart skipped a beat upon hearing Mr. Li's words.
"Waiting for whom?" she blurted out involuntarily.
After saying it, she felt a little surprised. Why had she asked that question?
"No comment!"
She subconsciously looked up and saw his cold gaze.
Like the depths of winter, it made her tremble uncontrollably.
"I have overstepped my bounds!" she quickly said.
She saw his gaze linger on her for a moment before retracting. "It's getting late, get some rest!"
With that said, the figure on the stone had already vanished.
The evening breeze swept in, carrying away the last trace of his presence.
It was as if he had never been there.
Xue Zining turned and walked back the way she came. Suddenly, a faint sound not far away caught her attention.
She leaped into the air, landing on a nearby tree. After a while, someone walked over from not far away.
She focused her gaze and saw Sun Hao. What was he doing here?
Sun Hao looked around to see if anyone was there, then waited there with peace of mind.
Soon, someone approached, and Sun Hao hurried over. The person said a few words to Sun Hao. Unfortunately, she was too far away to hear their conversation. She only saw Sun Hao nod and then leave.
Xue Zining felt something was amiss and followed him.
Sun Hao arrived at the royal hunting grounds and, in the depths of it, dug several pits and set some traps. After completing these tasks, he quietly left.
After Sun Hao left, Xue Zining appeared and went to the pits Sun Hao had dug. She opened the loose soil on top and saw iron rods about a foot high, with sharp points. They clearly weren't for catching prey, but rather seemed like...
Xue Zining's eyes chilled. At the royal hunting grounds, apart from Prince Jing's hunting, it would only be opened when distinguished guests arrived. Sun Hao setting these traps was likely on Prince Jing's orders, as Sun Hao wouldn't dare to do such things on his own.
What did Prince Jing intend to do? Xue Zining's body stiffened. Could it be?
If Prince Jing were to invite the Emperor to the hunting grounds tomorrow for a hunt, then...
Thinking of this, she felt a pang of fear. She removed the traps from the pits and covered them with some straw.
She left the place.
After she left, someone landed where she had just been standing. He looked at the tampered traps with a thoughtful expression.
The next day, as Xue Zining had predicted, Prince Jing invited Emperor Yun to the royal hunting grounds for a hunt.
Although she had dealt with the traps in the hunting grounds yesterday, she was still a little worried. She didn't know if there were other traps before Sun Hao's, so she had to stay close to Hua Yun Jin.
However, what shocked her was that Mr. Li had also come. He was still wearing his black cloak, covering almost his entire face, but his clear, cold eyes could be seen through the black cloak.
Even without standing beside him, she could feel the chill radiating from his body.
"Mr. Li, I have long heard of your name. Meeting you today is indeed extraordinary." Emperor Yun looked at the rumored Mr. Li with considerable surprise. This Mr. Li seemed different from what he had imagined.
This Mr. Li was too mysterious.
The large black cloak covered his entire person, making it impossible to see his features, or even his expression.
"Your Majesty flatters me. I am just an ordinary person," Mr. Li said, bowing slightly.
"Mr. Li is too modest. In Yun Country, Mr. Li's name is also widely known, especially since Mr. Li has accomplished several unbelievable deeds," Emperor Yun said meaningfully, looking at Mr. Li.
"Your Majesty's praise leaves me with nowhere to hide. I merely assist the Prince," Mr. Li replied.
"I would like to ask, Mr. Li..."
"Your Majesty, the hunt has begun," Mr. Li said coolly.
At this moment, Prince Jing rode over. He looked at Emperor Yun and Mr. Li and said, "I wonder if I have disturbed Your Majesty and Mr. Li?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yun looked up at Prince Jing and smiled, "Where did you hear that, Prince Jing? I have merely heard of Mr. Li's great reputation and find him most agreeable upon meeting him. I wish to seek Mr. Li's counsel on a few matters."
Prince Jing said, "Whatever questions Your Majesty has, Mr. Li will surely answer them."
"I have already asked. Prince Jing, has the hunt begun? It has been a long time since I last hunted, my skills may be a bit rusty." Emperor Yun changed the subject.
Prince Jing said, "Your Majesty, please proceed."
"Then I shall not be polite." With that, Emperor Yun rode off into the distance.
Prince Jing watched Emperor Yun's retreating back with a thoughtful expression. He looked at Mr. Li and said, "Mr. Li, just now, Your Majesty and you..."
"Your Highness, I did not speak with Emperor Yun about anything. The hunt has begun, are you not going to hunt?" Mr. Li asked Prince Jing.
Prince Jing was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "I am going hunting. Mr. Li, you shouldn't fall behind either."
Mr. Li bowed slightly. "Naturally, I will not disgrace Your Highness."
Watching Mr. Li's departing back, Prince Jing called someone to him. "Go and keep an eye on Emperor Yun."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Prince Jing suddenly called out to the guard again. "And send someone to follow Mr. Li."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Have Sun Hao follow Mr. Li," Prince Jing said before riding away.
Xue Zining followed Hua Yun Dan. She hadn't expected Hua Yun Dan's horsemanship to be so good.
"Go hunting, you don't need to follow me anymore," Hua Yun Dan said to Li Chenxi, who was following him.
Li Chenxi replied in a low voice, "That won't do. His Majesty specifically instructed me. If yesterday's incident happens again, I will be punished."
Hua Yun Dan was stunned. He had drunk too much last night and couldn't remember what had happened. However, he had dreamt of Princess Changning, dreaming that she held his hand.
This was the first time he had dreamt of her since Xue Zining left half a year ago.
If possible, he truly wished this dream would not end.
But alas, a dream is just a dream, and there will always be a moment to wake up.
"Go, aren't I being protected by someone?" Hua Yun Dan said.