The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 63
The next day, everyone entered the forest early once again.
As before, Xiao Beitang headed straight for the depths of the woods. In the early hours, deer often roamed the inner forest, and just as she had expected, she successfully hunted a stag.
When she returned at noon, Xiao Beitang had already made a bountiful harvest, drawing envious admiration from the others.
In the afternoon, many began to feel eager and inspired to venture deeper into the forest as well.
Zhang Dingqing noticed Song Qingqian’s eyes lingering on the snow fox draped across Xiao Beitang’s saddle and said, “Why don’t I accompany Your Highness? That way, we can take a look deeper in.”
Song Qingqian replied, “No need, Aqing. You’re a general—you probably enjoy this kind of activity. Don’t mind me. Go and enjoy yourself.”
Zhang Dingqing looked slightly disappointed. Apart from staying by her side, nothing else really mattered. After a pause, she said, “Precisely because I enjoy it, I want to go in. Just look at how much Her Highness
has already hunted—she’s outdone us all.”
Song Qingqian considered this for a moment and said, “Very well.”
As they entered the forest, they saw guards picking up arrows marked with the character Tang—Xiao Beitang’s signature.
There were faint holes in the tree trunks, dried bloodstains on the ground, and some patches of grass had been completely flattened.
From the depths of the woods came the occasional neighing of horses. In the distance, Xiao Beitang could be seen, immersed in the hunt and thoroughly enjoying herself.
Even Yuwen Yan followed Yuwen Yue deeper into the forest. The previous day, she had only dared to linger on the outskirts. But seeing that most had ventured in today, she thought it might be safe and decided to explore as well.
Yuwen Yue smiled and asked, “What spoils has Your Highness gathered today?”
“I managed to catch a few small animals. Princess Yuwen Yue, on the other hand, seems to have had quite the haul.”
“Not bad,” Yuwen Yue replied, glancing toward Xiao Beitang. “Still, it doesn’t compare to Her Highness. Look at the guards behind her—they’re already returning fully loaded.”
Zhang Dingqing sighed. “I never expected Her Highness to be so skilled with a bow.”
Indeed, no one would have expected it unless they had hunted alongside her. Her archery skills were a point of pride even for Emperor Jing himself—one of the few things Xiao Beitang took seriously.
Xiao Beitang urged her horse further into the depths. Wild boars and deer were mere appetizers for her. What she truly sought was the wild bear. But deeper inside lay a restricted area, long off-limits to all.
Unknowingly, the others began to follow her. Xiao Beitang turned back and said flatly, “Any farther, and it becomes unknown territory. This area is forbidden. You should not follow.”
Zhang Dingqing glanced at the warning sign and paled. “Your Highness, you’re going in? That’s absolutely forbidden! The beasts inside are unusually ferocious. If something were to happen to you, how could we answer for it?”
Xiao Beitang smiled. “The Empress Mother isn’t here today. It’s a rare chance—I must go.”
Yuwen Yue asked, “If it’s so dangerous, why risk it?”
“To come all this way and not venture in—what’s the point?”
Hearing she was about to take such a risk, Song Qingqian grew alarmed. “You mustn’t, Your Highness. If it’s dangerous, don’t act on impulse.”
“No need to say more.” With that, Xiao Beitang spurred her horse and entered the restricted area with her guards.
Song Qingqian, worried, turned to Zhang Dingqing. “Aqing, is it really that dangerous in there?”
Zhang Dingqing nodded gravely. “That’s the black bear’s den. General Li Lin lost his life in there. Since then, the area has been sealed off.”
Song Qingqian’s heart clenched. She looked at Xiao Beitang’s receding figure, filled with anxiety.
Just as she was about to summon a squad of soldiers to go after her, Xiao Beitang emerged—safe and sound.
Yuwen Yue asked, “Your Highness, why did you return so soon?”
Xiao Beitang replied with some disappointment, “I had hoped to hunt the black bear, but alas, it was already nothing more than a skeleton.”
Song Qingqian let out a long breath of relief.
The group soon dispersed again to search for prey.
In a dense patch of undergrowth, the atmosphere suddenly turned eerie. The surroundings grew unnaturally quiet. Yuwen Yan sensed something was off and became immediately alert.
From behind a tree, a head poked out. Baring its fangs with a menacing glare, it stared directly at Yuwen Yan and her party.
“Wolves!” Yuwen Yan exclaimed.
She immediately assumed a defensive stance but dared not act rashly. Wolves never travel alone—if she fired one arrow, the entire pack would attack. This was not Beiliang; she hadn’t been able to bring many guards.
The wolves remained still for now, seemingly waiting for the right moment to strike. Their breath steamed from their nostrils, throaty growls rumbling ominously.
One of them crouched low—ready to pounce. Yuwen Yan tightened her grip on her sword hilt.
“Don’t move!”
Just as the wolf sprang, a cold arrow whistled through the air and pierced its throat.
The beast struggled for a moment and then fell still.
Yuwen Yan turned to the source of the arrow—it was Xiao Beitang, who had arrived with her men.
Yuwen Yan steadied her nerves and bowed. “My thanks, Your Highness.”
“It’s fine. Just be careful—this lone wolf may suggest a nearby pack. Best not linger here.”
With that, Xiao Beitang rode off without further word.
No sooner had she spoken than cries of alarm came from farther off. Xiao Beitang spurred her horse and rushed over.
Song Qingqian, Yuwen Yue, and the others had been surrounded by a wolf pack. Zhang Dingqing stood protectively before Song Qingqian, while the guards fought valiantly. Half had already fallen. The lead wolf was organizing the attack with surprising cunning.
Xiao Beitang drew three arrows and loosed them simultaneously. The wolves hadn’t anticipated the strike—three dropped dead on the spot.
The wolf king howled in rage, and the pack turned toward Xiao Beitang, charging at full speed.
Seeing the wolves racing toward her, Song Qingqian broke into a cold sweat.
But Xiao Beitang’s gaze was unwavering. Calm and composed, she gave the command. Her guards released a volley of arrows—wolves fell one after another.
Only a few strong ones remained. Led by the wolf king, they sprinted forward, dodging arrows and leaping at her.
“Protect Her Highness!” a guard cried out.
The guards closed in, shielding Xiao Beitang and clashing with the wolves in brutal combat.
Whether to eliminate the strongest or avenge their fallen kin, the wolves fought desperately to reach Xiao Beitang.
Amidst the chaos, she remained poised. Drawing a single arrow, she aimed at the wolf king and pulled her bow taut. The arrow soared through the air, piercing its throat and bringing it down with a heavy thud—dead before it could even howl.
Her guards, equally skilled, brought down the last of the wolves—one even collapsing beneath her horse’s hooves.
Song Qingqian felt as though her heart had been torn open. Facing danger herself hadn’t frightened her as much as seeing Xiao Beitang in peril. Though the wolves were all dead, she still couldn’t calm down.
“Send word—we have wounded here,” Xiao Beitang ordered.
On the ground nearby, soldiers writhed in pain.
“If not for Her Highness’s timely intervention,” Yuwen Yue said with lingering fear, “we might not have made it out in one piece.”
Xiao Beitang surveyed both her group and the wolves’ corpses, frowning. “There have never been wolves in this forest. I don’t know where this pack came from—but a group this large couldn’t have gone unnoticed until now.”
After a long moment of silence, she said, “Xiao San, bring the wolf king’s body back with us.”
The guard who had earlier demonstrated excellent archery bowed and complied.
Xiao Beitang glanced briefly at Song Qingqian, who also looked back at her. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Beitang averted her gaze.
“You’ve all had quite the fright. Let’s return to camp—it’s clearly not safe here.”