The sun was bright, the breeze gentle, and green mountains filled the eye.

The autumn mountain hunting grounds were vast beyond measure. Among the lush, dense woods, plump tents were pitched one after another; looking out, they resembled a white river stretching across golden mountains.

Upon the enclosed grounds, with the Emperor at the forefront, the princes and military officials lined up behind him in a wild goose formation. All wore light armor and carried longbows; the atmosphere was solemn, as if a sacrificial ritual were being conducted.

Lin Yuanjin stood on a platform not far away with the other female relatives, yet her attention was not on the women beside her, surrounded by drifting fragrant clouds.

But she had no mind to deal with others; there were plenty of people eager to test her.

Suddenly, a burst of commotion mixed with coquettish tones came from somewhere behind her.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is young and valiant, spirited and vigorous—he will surely take first place.” A crisp female voice rang out, her words even carrying a hint of pride.

As soon as the words fell, a surging cheer rose from the hunting grounds.

The youth sat upright upon his horse; in his quiver, conspicuously only one arrow was missing. A servant retrieving the prey dragged over a deer on a wooden cart.

Radiant light fell upon his calm brows, fully revealing a bearing of dragon grace and phoenix poise.

“Not bad!” The Emperor clapped his hands in praise, then forcefully tossed the longbow in his hand to Cui Yiyu, joking, “Full of youthful vigor—let the Crown Princess also see what you are capable of. If you lose face, then at tonight’s banquet, My daughter-in-law will have to go hungry!”

“Father Emperor jests.” Cui Yiyu caught the heavy bow; the lines of his shoulders and back grew tighter with the exertion. His gaze followed toward the viewing platform—looking from afar, it happened to meet Lin Yuanjin’s eyes. He withdrew his gaze, his words carrying composed certainty, “This son will not disgrace Your command.”

The Emperor noticed the tacit exchange of glances between the two. Thinking that the Crown Prince had changed his mind, his criticism of his improper conduct lessened by a few degrees. He said with satisfaction, “Very good!”

Having spoken, the Emperor waved his hand, signaling to Eunuch Li: “I see many girls dressed in riding attire; they must be no less capable than men. Do not have them hold back—let them display their skills to the fullest!”

“Yes, this old servant will arrange it.” Eunuch Li bowed to receive the order, holding his fly-whisk as he leisurely made his way toward the viewing platform.

As he went, by chance he ran into a confrontation among the noble ladies.

“Before the grand wedding, we all did not know what kind of woman could be worthy of His Highness the Crown Prince.” The woman in blue spoke with a smile. Lifting her beautiful eyes, she cast a meaningful glance at Lin Yuanjin. “Surely she must be accomplished in poetry and song, and skilled in mounted archery—able to ride side by side with His Highness—only then could she gain his favor.”

It must be known that before the Crown Prince’s wedding, many people did not even know that Lin Weiyin had a younger sister. Even if they did, it was merely an extra subject of idle ridicule in conversation. Yet who would have thought that in this smokeless contest, such an inconspicuous person would seize the crown.

The inner courtyard knew nothing of the sovereign’s mind, only assuming that Lin Yuanjin was a fool blessed with foolish luck. But after the banquet ended, when the noble ladies returned home, it was said that the Crown Princess was far from what the rumors described.

From then on, Lin Weiyin became a laughingstock, as though her eyes had been pecked by geese.

Lin Yuanjin sensed the obvious hostility and curiously turned her head.

Before her stood two women, clad in one red and one blue riding outfit. Perhaps having been pampered since childhood, they were dazzling beyond compare.

“Before leaving the boudoir, the Crown Princess kept a low profile. Though we had never met, one would imagine she was both talented and beautiful. Why now, dressed in a skirt, can she not compete on the hunting grounds?” The woman in blue continued, her face full of smiling brightness, yet hidden within it was an aggressive edge.

Lin Yuanjin’s gaze suddenly turned peculiar.

“His Highness was just looking this way—who knows which one of us has such fortune.” The woman in blue teased softly into the ear of the person beside her.

“What nonsense are you wasting words on with her.” The girl in red flushed; the slender ponytail behind her head flicked. She cast Lin Yuanjin a glance, unconcerned, tightening her grip on the riding whip as she looked toward the approaching Eunuch Li.

She had been waiting for the announcement; the dullness on her face vanished as she smiled, just about to speak.

Lin Yuanjin blinked, and spoke first: “This palace is dull-witted and has been weak since childhood; indeed, I have never dabbled in the art of riding and archery.”

Yet there was none of the shame others had expected. Instead, she smiled openly and gracefully, turning her eyes toward Eunuch Li, who was hurrying over. “It has been a few days since I last saw Eunuch Li—I happen to have something I wish to ask for guidance on.”

Eunuch Li’s expression changed drastically; he immediately stepped forward to bow, speaking with measured cadence, “Ah! Your Highness overpraises—how could this old servant bear such a thing!”

“This palace is merely curious what the names of these two are, and what their backgrounds may be.” Lin Yuanjin pressed her lips together, her smile carrying a trace of apologetic helplessness. “After all, they seem to be speaking with this palace, yet this palace knows nothing—truly discourteous.”

The expressions of the two immediately turned unsightly, alternating between green and red, disbelief clogging their throats as if something deliberately disgusting had been forced into them—neither able to spit it out nor swallow it down.

Lin Yuanjin raised her eyes innocently, her sleeve covering the lower half of her face, as if merely stating a fact.

Eunuch Li raised his brows slightly. Connecting it with the provocation he had just heard, he instantly understood the sequence of events. He cupped his hands and spoke kindly, “These two noble ladies must have grown impatient upon arriving at the hunting grounds, losing their sense of propriety and forgetting to salute Your Highness, thus granting this old servant and Your Highness the chance to converse.”

“This one is the Empress Dowager’s niece, the legitimate daughter of the Sheng family, County Lady Bingying.” Eunuch Li first pointed his fly-whisk toward the girl in red, then looked toward the woman in blue. “This one is the daughter of Minister Shen of the Ministry of Rites, Shen Qingci.”

The two who had been pointed out stiffly performed a salute. “This subject greets Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

They dared to mock the Crown Princess of the Lin family in secret, yet did not dare to show attitude before a favored attendant at the Emperor’s side.

“This palace believes they were merely momentarily impatient and misspoke.” Lin Yuanjin sighed lightly, hands folded before her, her smile sweet. “Otherwise, questioning this palace in full view of all—one might think they have objections to the marriage bestowed by Father Emperor.”

Lin Yuanjin did not care in the slightest about others provoking her because of the Crown Prince.

Toward the Crown Prince, she now held only simple disgust and hatred, but she did not like being bullied again and again by others.

Sheng Bingying clearly had not expected that Lin Yuanjin, knowing her identity as the Empress Dowager’s niece, would still dare to provoke so freely. She abruptly raised her head and met those dark eyes.

Strangely, Sheng Bingying saw within Lin Yuanjin’s gaze an utterly contradictory sense of tolerance and aversion, and could not help but be momentarily stunned.

Eunuch Li smiled without speaking, fully aware in his heart.

“It is this palace who rashly interrupted official matters. Has Eunuch Li come here to deliver a message?” Lin Yuanjin, seeing the two beginning to grow weak in the legs from kneeling for so long, smoothly changed the topic.

“Indeed.” Eunuch Li replied with a smile, raising his voice. “His Majesty says, ‘Women are no less capable than men’—all noble ladies and madams in the hunting grounds may freely display their skills.”

Having spoken, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

“Rise.” Lin Yuanjin turned her head slightly and smiled. Seeing the resentment faintly hidden in their gazes, she stood, preparing to depart. Resting her knuckles against her chin, she looked at their backs and said with interest, “But there is one more thing.”

The two paused in their steps.

“The meaning of ‘to explain profound ideas in simple’ is not to remain at home and seldom go out, but to refer to writing whose meaning is profound while its expression is simple and easy to understand.” Lin Yuanjin kindly reminded them.

This was one of the memorization test points.

From not far away, someone let out a “puchi” of laughter.

Shen Qingci, both embarrassed and enraged, shed her earlier gentleness, glared viciously at Lin Yuanjin, and strode away.

It was nothing more than treating others as they had treated her.

Lin Yuanjin smiled indifferently. Turning her eyes, she saw Nanny Zhang pushing through the crowd and walking quickly toward her.

“Your Highness!” Nanny Zhang looked at Lin Yuanjin with concern, sweeping a glance at the maids standing behind her, and asked, “This old servant was not here just now—did someone ignorant of their place give you trouble?”

“How could that be.” Lin Yuanjin raised her hand to press down on Nanny Zhang’s, teasing, “I am not a child who would shed tears just because of a few words.”

Lin Yuanjin’s image in Nanny Zhang’s mind was deeply ingrained; thus, what seemed like casual words were instantly translated in Nanny Zhang’s ears into—someone had verbally insulted the Crown Princess!

However, she was kind-hearted and unwilling to elaborate, but Nanny Zhang had plenty of ways to find out.

“You always wish to turn big matters into small ones, and small ones into nothing. Even when a servant breaks your things, you only punish lightly as a warning.” Nanny Zhang seemed to complain, yet in truth, it was concern.

Lin Yuanjin rested her hand on the railing of the viewing platform, watching the two mount their horses in one smooth motion.

They were born with advantages others did not possess, yet stood high above, using their own learning and skills as a raft to mock Lin Yuanjin for not knowing how to ride and shoot.

But if she had their conditions, she might not necessarily do worse than them.

Lin Yuanjin did not think further, and asked, “You came to find me—was there something the matter?”

Since arriving at the hunting grounds, Nanny Zhang had been busy arranging her tent, wishing she could personally handle every detail, determined to arrange everything down to the smallest measure, for fear that Lin Yuanjin, after the long journey, would not rest well.

“This old servant merely came to ask—if you still wish to watch the hunt, then watch; if you are tired, then return to wash and dress.” Nanny Zhang replied, lowering her voice with a soft smile as she reminded, “There will still be a banquet at the traveling palace this evening!”

Lin Yuanjin sensed the meaning-laden look in Nanny Zhang’s eyes. Looking again toward the hunting grounds, at the youth’s agile figure, she seemed to think of something; her cheeks flushed as she responded with an “Mm,” then turned and left.

As soon as she left, those nearby who had intended to strike up conversation also withdrew awkwardly.

Time passed slowly.

The boundless azure sky gradually darkened with ink, yet the flames upon the ground were lit, signaling that the night scene of the mortal world had only just begun.

Cui Yiyu had already removed his riding attire and changed into a round-collared black robe.

Golden woven patterns coiled upward along the loose sleeves, a restrained nobility emerging, unconsciously dispelling the impression of slaughter from the daytime in the minds of all.

“Elder Brother the Crown Prince has reaped abundant results today—truly astonishing all present.” The Second Prince, at Cui Yiyu’s side, cupped his hands and smiled in flattery. “This younger brother admits defeat.”

The Second Prince had truly not expected that the Crown Prince, who had been beaten by the Emperor half a month ago, would not only be entirely unharmed, but that his skills would even surpass those of previous years.

If in past years he and the Crown Prince had been evenly matched, then today he could clearly feel that between the two of them there now lay an invisible chasm.

It was as if what he faced was not the Crown Prince, but a military general who had honed himself for over a decade without pause.

The two walked along the path toward the main hall of the traveling palace, where fragrant blooms filled the grounds and people came and went.

“It is all merely to win Father Emperor’s favor.” Cui Yiyu lifted his eyes and spoke calmly. “In these troubled times, if someone again seizes on rumors and makes use of them, disturbing this prince would be one thing—if it provokes Father Emperor’s great anger, that would not be good.”

The Second Prince let out a light laugh and did not continue that topic. His gaze swept toward the jade steps, teasing, “Has Elder Brother kept Sister-in-law waiting long?”

Under the illumination of flames, the glazed lamps refracted colored patches of light, falling upon the face of the girl who lifted her head. Though she was clearly surrounded by people, she was quiet as if standing in a separate space, revealing a trace of strange loneliness.

Lin Yuanjin noticed the arrival and looked over. Upon seeing Cui Yiyu, a brilliant smile flickered in her eyes; the tassels in her hair swayed lightly. “Your Highness.”

The Second Prince noticed that fleeting radiance and, unexpectedly, felt a trace of envy.

He had always scorned matters of love, yet time and again he had witnessed Lin Yuanjin’s sincere heart toward the Crown Prince.

Cui Yiyu stepped forward toward Lin Yuanjin.

The Second Prince watched Cui Yiyu’s back, and within his heart arose a malicious desire to see something beautiful destroyed.

He wished to see how long Lin Yuanjin’s sincerity could last, and to what extent it would be trampled before it shattered.

“Roasted meat is heavy with oil and filling; the Crown Princess’s spleen and stomach are still weak—be careful in eating.” Cui Yiyu supported Lin Yuanjin’s wrist through his sleeve, guiding her toward the hall, softly reminding.

Perhaps due to the exertion of the day’s hunt, even Cui Yiyu’s voice now carried a slight hoarseness, as though a layer of matte covered silk, his warm breath brushing past Lin Yuanjin’s ear.

The young man’s body, having just gone through the hunting grounds’ exertions—even after washing, within the clean fragrance, seemed to carry a different scent.

Lin Yuanjin’s earlobes flushed red. Suppressing the improper closeness from the carriage that surfaced in her mind, she very deliberately avoided his gaze, carrying an air of upright virtue, entirely able to withstand the tests of worldly desire, as she stepped into the hall.

The moment they entered the hall, they attracted quite a few gazes.

Cui Xinyi sat among the unmarried female relatives and naturally noticed the interaction between them, unable to help but lose focus for a moment.

“Before, I thought it was a contest between you and me—who would have thought an unknown nobody would come and pick the peach.” Sheng Bingying scoffed lightly, tilting her head back to drain the fruit wine in one gulp.

Cui Xinyi did not respond to Sheng Bingying.

She was recalling that even though she had grown up together with her Crown Prince cousin since childhood, there had never been such intimacy that left no room for others to intrude… yet for some reason, what she cared about more was Lin Yuanjin.

With admiration in one’s heart, one could tell whether a person truly liked someone or not.

The Lin Yuanjin before her now was completely different from that day in front of Xuanyang Palace, when she had advised her not to marry the Crown Prince. It had nothing to do with whether she held resentment or any lingering grievance.

So liking someone… could it come in waves?

Cui Xinyi looked at Lin Yuanjin in confusion, unable to understand no matter how much she thought about it.

The sound of gongs and drums thundered, interrupting the low murmurs within the hall.

The Emperor, dressed in a bright yellow robe, strode into the hall, followed by a dense crowd of attendants, the atmosphere becoming solemn without reason.

But soon, palace maids poured in from the side doors, waving their flowing ribbons, dispersing the heaviness.

The Emperor paused briefly at the table where the princes sat. Lowering his head, he first looked at Cui Yiyu, then turned to Lin Yuanjin and laughed heartily, his mustache moving along with it. “I was just speaking of you two.”

After speaking, he did not linger, quickly ascending to the high seat and taking his place.

“Today, the Crown Prince has taken first place; I am greatly pleased and he should be rewarded.” The Emperor waved his hand, seeming somewhat dissatisfied. “Yet I have heard that the Crown Princess is unskilled in riding and archery. Now that she has come to the hunting grounds, she should not remain confined indoors all day.”

As soon as his words fell, someone’s expression turned unsightly, caught off guard—eyes reddening, wishing they could grind their teeth to pieces and swallow them down.

Cui Yiyu suddenly raised his eyes, somewhat unprepared.

He had been busy the entire day and was still unaware of what disturbance had arisen, but the Emperor would not concern himself with whether Lin Yuanjin could ride for no reason—something must have happened.

But what Cui Yiyu feared more was that he could almost guess what the Emperor was about to say. Just thinking about what it meant for a man to personally guide a woman in riding and archery made the hand holding his wine cup tighten involuntarily.

“As her husband, you must take on the responsibility of teaching your wife.”

The Emperor smiled. Noticing the trace of resistance the Crown Prince revealed unintentionally, his tone became even more unquestionable as he spoke with layered meaning.

“Then you shall be punished—by personally instructing the Crown Princess in riding and archery.”