"Swift—"

An eagle let out a piercing cry and swooped down after circling twice in the air.

The crowd was startled and looked in the direction the arrow came from, seeing a young woman riding a reddish-brown pony galloping towards them.

The woman put away her bow, confirming that the arrow was indeed shot by her.

"Great archery!"

A young gentleman’s eyes lit up, and he loudly praised her, but noticed the surrounding silence, with some even coughing quietly.

What... what does this mean?

He was puzzled, and a companion nearby quickly whispered, "She’s the one who lured His Majesty the Emperor at Huajing Pool earlier."

The man who praised her froze for a moment, muttering, "But she doesn’t seem as scandalous as they say, she looks very beautiful, and very graceful, with a heroic spirit of a strong woman. Are you sure this isn’t a misunderstanding? Could there be another story?"

The young gentlemen fell silent, indeed, there might be something hidden, but back then, it was clearly heard that His Majesty ordered this woman to be kicked out!

"Never mind, let’s not meddle in the Emperor’s affairs; more concern brings trouble!"

"Hmm!"

As they were discussing, they looked at Long Yue, who seemingly didn’t care about what they were saying and was already heading off with the fallen eagle.

What...

Did she ignore everything they just said?

"Brother Feng Ming, I feel there’s something mysterious about this matter, this woman is too proud, would such a proud person try to lure the Emperor?"

"I... I don’t know either..."

The young gentlemen were worried about Long Yue for some reason, while she had already run deep into the forest.

She was going in pursuit!

Li Qingmu entered earlier than her, and with his riding skills, he probably had gone far; she could only hunt and search along the way.

"Thud thud thud!"

A series of hurried hoofbeats suddenly came from the front, and someone shouted, "Quick, chase that spotted deer, don’t let it escape!"

"His Majesty has decreed, whoever catches this spotted deer will be heavily rewarded!"

"The antlers on this deer are exceptional, His Majesty has taken a liking to it. Go, catch it!"

In the midst of noisy shouts, a group of people on horseback chased a spotted deer. Long Yue saw her antlers were indeed outstanding, top-quality among deer antlers.

She wanted to join the chase but thought it over and turned her horse back to where they came from.

Li Qingmu was over there; her goal was to lure him, not the deer!

"Giddy-up, giddy-up!"

Long Yue ran for a while, and another group of riders appeared ahead, a striking tall figure stood among them!

Li Qingmu was indeed there!

He was surrounded by people who seemed to idolize him, and combined with his unmatched handsome features, he truly shone like the sun.

Long Yue was a bit far from him, and since he had his back to her, he didn’t notice her.

"Li Qingmu!"

Long Yue gritted her teeth as she looked at the man.

She slowly raised the bow in her hand, bending it and setting an arrow.

People around him kept leaving to hunt passing birds and beasts, while he quietly continued sitting on horseback, unmoving.

"Whoosh—" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

An arrow shot from the bow, heading towards Li Qingmu.

"Your Majesty, watch out!"

Someone shouted in alarm, yet Li Qingmu didn’t move.

"Swish—"

The arrow brushed past him and embedded itself in a large tree on the opposite side, precisely where a green snake was coiled.

The crowd froze, and then some people rushed towards Long Yue.

"Clang clang clang!"

Long swords gleamed coldly, and these trusted aides surrounded Long Yue.

"How bold you are, daring to assassinate His Majesty! Arrest her, let His Majesty deal with her personally!"

The aides moved to arrest Long Yue, who didn’t resist, just followed them meekly.

"Your Majesty, we’ve brought her, please instruct us on how to proceed! Kneel!"

"No need!"

Li Qingmu waved his hand, and the two aides immediately stepped aside.

This Emperor had high martial arts skills, and they didn’t believe Long Yue could harm him.

Just then, they all thought the arrow would hit Li Qingmu, but he didn’t even flinch, and the arrow was merely inches away from him as it passed.

This Emperor’s composure and calmness were truly admirable!

Long Yue stood quietly there, looking up at the handsome man on horseback; his eyes were still deep and captivating, yet now there was an added coldness.

His icy gaze fell on Long Yue, and shortly, he drew a thin smile: "If you intend to kill me, your archery is a bit lacking."

Long Yue raised an eyebrow: "Your Majesty is mistaken; my archery is excellent! My target wasn’t Your Majesty, but the snake behind you!"

"Oh? Or perhaps your aim was off?"

Long Yue pouted slightly and said with a coy smile, "If Your Majesty doesn’t believe me, you can try me!"

Li Qingmu looked at her, his gaze growing darker.

He wanted her to leave here, to escape this dangerous place of disputes, yet she refused to listen, even resorting to this method to coerce him.

Shooting arrows at an Emperor could either result in death or force him to accept her.

Yue’er, why are you so disobedient?

Li Qingmu was incensed, clenching his fist tightly until the veins on the back of his hand bulged, but when he met her bright eyes, all anger turned into helplessness.

"Since you claim to be skilled in archery, fine, allow me to test you myself!"

"Your Majesty, that is utterly inadvisable; what if this woman is truly an assassin..."

A minister nearby heard this, felt it was inappropriate, and urgently stepped forth to dissuade him, yet Li Qingmu merely cast him a cold glance, and the minister instantly dared not utter another word.

"Giddy-up!"

Li Qingmu tightened the reins and turned into the depths of the forest, and Long Yue swiftly mounted her reddish-brown pony, following him.

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

In the forest, the two horses, one large and one small, raced swiftly, Li Qingmu bending his bow and shooting towards a fleeing grey rabbit.

"Thud! Thud!"

Two sounds followed in succession; Li Qingmu’s arrow and Long Yue’s arrow simultaneously struck the rabbit’s heart.

Li Qingmu shifted his gaze slightly but said nothing, bending his bow again.

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

Again, two arrows shot simultaneously, hitting a bird perched on a branch.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

Arrows shot out wildly, each prey pierced simultaneously by two arrows.

Li Qingmu stopped, gazing at the small animals pierced by two arrows, his eyes growing darker.

Was Yue’er using this action to express "unity and togetherness" as a couple?

"You shouldn’t have come."

His voice was cool.

"But I came anyway!"

Long Yue’s voice was resolute, filled with her determination!

Li Qingmu advanced a step on horseback, and the person behind him suddenly said, "The child is waiting for daddy to come home and hold him."

This sentence pierced the softest part of Li Qingmu’s heart, causing him sudden pain.

"Giddy-up!"

He dared not look into her eyes anymore, only furiously whipping the horse, trying to flee from here.

"Li Qingmu, when did you learn to run away?"

Long Yue was irritated, angrily whipped her horse, chasing after him.

Yet, she hadn’t run far before her horse stepped into a rabbit hole, and it sank completely down.

"Ah—"

With a chaotic whirl, Long Yue fell off entirely.