CMWKSD -Chapter 165 Consort Rong

Everyone began to cluster together.

The guards from the camp and the hunting grounds, along with the attendants each official had brought, started performing their respective duties.

The hunting grounds gradually returned to a calm state.

Jiu Yue listened to the faint, drifting, and ethereal music.

Her footsteps didn’t falter at all as she swayed gently in that direction.

Some guards spontaneously carried torches and lit them on the ground.

Row after row of torches soon filled the camp with the scent of burning wood.

There were many of these things, but with just one torch, how many would have to burn to death!

Jiu Yue walked toward the tents, where there was still some disorder, but the interior of the tents was clearly crowded.

There were also guards stationed outside.

Jiu Yue slightly furrowed her brows. This place…

Didn’t it feel a little like the Empress’s tent?

Jiu Yue had only seen the Empress from afar once. Later, when she entered the palace to receive rewards, she had not crossed paths with her again.

But even that brief glimpse had left an impression.

For the first time, Jiu Yue concretely realized what it meant to be graceful and majestic, what it meant to embody the virtues of a mother of the nation.

The Empress really possessed that kind of presence—just sitting or standing there.

Words like gentle, virtuous, elegant, and dignified could all be thrown at her without limit.

The Emperor, Emperor Fengyuan, held great respect for the Empress.

After all, many policies concerning women could be efficiently implemented with the Empress’s support.

Originally, the Empress came from a military family and would not have entered the palace.

Later, Emperor Fengyuan’s father secretly negotiated with the Empress’s father. Then, after another discussion with the Empress, she entered the palace for the sake of Daqi.

Jiu Yue’s impression of the Empress was quite good.

To be precise, Jiu Yue’s impression of the entire Emperor Fengyuan family—father, mother, and son—was quite positive.

A ring of fire burned around the tent, but the number of people outside had clearly decreased significantly.

Jiu Yue sneaked closer in the darkness.

She only saw the Empress’s guards outside, who were extremely tall and imposing.

Jiu Yue remembered that Ji Yiqing had once said that palace guards, because they served directly in the presence of the Emperor, had strict requirements for appearance and height.

Most were outstanding talents from various households, excelling both in literature and martial skills.

But these rough-looking guards, some with thick beards…

It was almost as if they were saying to Jiu Yue: “We aren’t guards, we’re the bad guys!”

Jiu Yue had intended to quietly sneak past, but because the smell on her body was rather strong…

The moment she approached the tent, several guards simultaneously turned their heads and stared at her.

Jiu Yue: …

The guards frowned. “What is that smell? Who are you? What are you doing here?”

As they spoke, the curtain of the tent was lifted.

In that brief moment, Jiu Yue saw the Empress sitting upright inside.

She didn’t seem to be in any trouble, though faint sobbing could be heard at the edges of perception.

The Empress looked at Consort Rong, who was already terrified, with a helpless expression. Emperor Fengyuan had informed her of Consort Rong’s unusual behavior.

So the Empress remained cautious.

Just as she noticed someone approaching outside, she was about to rise.

Consort Rong flung herself into her arms. “Your Majesty, I’m really scared! There are so many big tigers outside!”

Following Emperor Fengyuan, another victim was added.

The Empress actually wanted to say to Consort Rong: “How old are you now? Your behavior really frightens me more than those bugs outside.”

Jiu Yue remained silent for a moment, unsure of the Empress’s exact state.

She looked at the guards. “The Emperor has ordered me to bring Your Majesty to the viewing platform. There are protective measures there—you won’t be bitten by insects.”

The guards exchanged glances.

Everyone inside the tent heard this.

The Empress’s eyes brightened. She forced herself to push away Consort Rong’s hands and said firmly, “The Emperor cares for us. Let’s go to him.”

Consort Rong glanced at her maid, then nodded and followed behind the Empress toward the outside of the tent.

Soon, the Empress led Consort Rong outside.

She immediately saw Jiu Yue, and apart from Jiu Yue, there was no one else?

Emperor Fengyuan would never have sent only one person here.

The Empress was about to speak when she noticed all the guards outside her tent had been replaced.

Cautious as ever, she subtly observed her surroundings.

Where were her guards? What was going on?

Jiu Yue stepped forward from the shadows. Her face, illuminated by the torchlight, looked inexplicably obscure and unreadable.

Seeing Consort Rong’s group, she licked her lips slightly, excited, as if sensing kindred spirits.

Consort Rong, walking at the rear, shivered suddenly.

The once-tense atmosphere inexplicably calmed the moment the Empress noticed Jiu Yue.

Even Emperor Fengyuan had certified Jiu Yue’s abilities.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor has ordered me to escort you over.”

The Empress approached Jiu Yue calmly. “Very well.”

Consort Rong hurriedly followed, with her maid trailing close behind.

Jiu Yue’s lips curled slightly.

She glanced at the maid at the very end, who was still wearing the lace-up shoes from her earlier performance on stage—somewhat resembling modern lace-up footwear.

The fair skin exposed from the shoes was very different from typical Daqi women’s attire.

Truly, success came effortlessly.

Knowing they were headed to the Emperor, Consort Rong said no more, only occasionally glancing at the maid behind her.

Most of the bugs in the camp had been killed.

Though it appeared that the Empress was being supported by Jiu Yue, she was actually gripping Jiu Yue’s hand tightly, with too many questions and concerns racing through her mind.

But now was not the time.

As they walked, the Second Prince suddenly appeared, looking rather disheveled.

Consort Rong screamed, “Zhen’er!”

The Second Prince seemed terrified: “Mother!”

But when Jiu Yue looked closely, she realized that the Second Prince had not been touched by any insects at all.

Not just the Second Prince—Consort Rong had also remained unharmed.

The Empress occasionally held her breath; after all, Jiu Yue’s body odor was quite strong.

Consort Rong spoke with the Second Prince for a while, then quickly joined the group.

It seemed as though they were determined to reach the Emperor.

Jiu Yue had considered dealing with them here, but one was the Second Prince, the other Consort Rong—both the Emperor’s people.

She was uncertain whether to question them first.

Moreover, Jiu Yue intended to handle them in front of Emperor Fengyuan.

She wanted the Emperor to remember this lesson: fishing by trickery carries significant risk.

Who knew how many people had been bitten tonight? Would any of them die from it?