Shen Wei was startled and quickly left the tent to inquire about the situation.
It turned out that during the hunting expedition, the hunting party had been attacked by a group of wild boars. Prince Yan's horse had been spooked, causing him to become separated from the main group, and there had been no word of him since.
The imperial guards immediately informed the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince's face was cold as ice, and he calmly ordered the imperial guards to conduct a thorough search. A portion of the guards remained in the camp to protect the Crown Prince, while the rest, along with the servants of the officials, were mobilized to join the search.
"Wild boar attack?" Shen Wei raised her eyebrows slightly, a bad premonition rising in her heart.
Looking at the noisy crowd around her, Shen Wei spoke in a low voice to Cai Lian, "Let's go. We should also head into the mountains to search for His Highness."
Cai Lian shook her head, trying to dissuade her, "The mountains are full of wild beasts, Mistress. It's better for us to wait in the camp for His Highness."
Shen Wei pursed her lips, her eyes revealing a resolute expression. "No, I must go."
She wouldn't venture too far, only pretending to search near the camp while secretly observing the situation.
If Prince Yan died, Shen Wei would find a cliff to "jump" off, faking her death to escape and leave Yanjing far behind. With Prince Yan gone, she would lose her greatest protector, and staying in the palace would surely lead to a terrible fate.
If Prince Yan returned safely, Shen Wei's "brave" search for him in the wilderness would surely move him.
Shen Wei took Cai Lian with her and left the tent to begin the search.
The mountain breeze was gentle, and in the distance were rolling green hills and clear waters. Shen Wei deliberately separated from Cai Lian.
She strolled leisurely through the remote wilderness alone, with three gold bars in her pocket for escape, a sachet to ward off insects and snakes, and a sharp dagger hidden at her waist for self-defense.
Fully prepared, she was ready to flee at any moment.
If news of Prince Yan's death arrived, Shen Wei would mournfully cry out "Your Highness!" in front of everyone, then run to the edge of a cliff, cut off a corner of her dress, and leave it on the ground to create the illusion of her "suicide for love."
The scenery in the wilderness was beautiful. Shen Wei found a lush tree and sat beneath its green canopy to rest. The refreshing mountain breeze rustled the leaves, and the soothing sound made Shen Wei drowsy. She leaned against the tree trunk and gradually fell asleep.
From noon until dusk, in a half-asleep state, Shen Wei suddenly heard strange footsteps. She opened her eyes abruptly and saw a brownish-black wild boar approaching.
The boar wasn't large, and its tusks hadn't fully grown yet. Its eyes glowed with an eerie red as it charged fiercely toward Shen Wei.
Any other woman would have screamed and cried in fear. Shen Wei was only startled for a moment before she sprang to her feet, bent down, and picked up a large stone from the ground.
The frenzied boar charged at her. Shen Wei clicked her tongue and hurled the stone at the boar's head with a loud thud.
The boar let out a ferocious cry, its head covered in blood. Shen Wei drew the dagger from her waist and swiftly slashed its throat.
Blood splattered everywhere.
The boar was dead.
Shen Wei wiped the sweat from her forehead, her heart still pounding. "Thankfully, it was just a small boar, and thank goodness I exercise daily."
If it had been a fully grown boar, she might not have survived. Shen Wei quickly wiped the blood off her dagger with some leaves and tucked it back into her waistband.
Just as she was about to find another spot to rest, Shen Wei suddenly sensed someone watching her. She looked up and saw Prince Heng on horseback not far away.
Prince Heng rode a white steed, with the rolling green hills behind him. The mountain breeze fluttered his red robes, and his handsome face was filled with astonishment.
The scene of Shen Wei killing the boar with a stone and slitting its throat had been witnessed by Prince Heng, who happened to be passing by.
Prince Heng was dumbfounded.
This concubine... she... she actually killed a wild boar! Without batting an eye, she swiftly ended the boar's life!
The way she wiped the blood off her dagger was so natural and practiced, more skilled than a butcher with ten years of experience.
"Greetings to Your Highness, Prince Heng," Shen Wei said calmly, bowing without a hint of emotion.
Prince Heng, seated high on his horse, scanned Shen Wei's slender figure with his fox-like eyes. "Did you just kill a wild boar?"
Shen Wei blinked, feigning innocence. "Your Highness must be mistaken. The poor little boar accidentally ran into a tree and killed itself."
Prince Heng: Do you think I'm blind?
Prince Heng's lips parted slightly, and it took him a moment to speak. "Second Brother is missing, and you were sleeping under a tree!"
Shen Wei's eyes grew even more innocent. "Your Highness must be mistaken again. I was searching everywhere for His Highness and certainly wasn't resting under a tree."
Her ability to lie with a straight face left Prince Heng utterly amazed.
He thought he was thick-skinned, but compared to Shen Wei, he was a mere amateur.
Shen Wei didn't linger. It was getting late, and she planned to return to the camp to check on the situation. She hoped Prince Yan would return safely; otherwise, she would immediately change her plans and flee.
Of course, Shen Wei, who had nothing left to lose, wasn't afraid of Prince Heng exposing her. Who would believe that a delicate concubine had killed a ferocious wild boar?
Just as Shen Wei was about to leave, a black steed appeared in her line of sight. Shen Wei's eyes lit up—it was Prince Yan's horse!
"Is His Highness back?" Shen Wei took the reins of the black horse, mounted it, and eagerly rode back to the camp.
The black horse galloped swiftly, her green dress fluttering in the wind, her silhouette bold and unrestrained.
Prince Heng's mind was in turmoil as he stammered, "She... she can ride a horse!"
Prince Heng distinctly remembered that just two days ago, Prince Yan had personally taught Shen Wei how to ride. Shen Wei had been a complete novice, stumbling and struggling to learn.
Yet in just two days, Shen Wei's riding skills had become masterful, surpassing even seasoned riders.
What did this mean? It meant Shen Wei had always known how to ride but had deliberately pretended to be a clueless concubine in front of Prince Yan!
Such cunning!
What a peculiar woman!
Having grown accustomed to docile and charming women, Prince Heng found Shen Wei's talent for deception utterly fascinating. It was as if he had stumbled upon a hidden treasure. He had never imagined he would be intrigued by a lowly concubine.
He spurred his horse and caught up to Shen Wei.
When they arrived outside the camp, Shen Wei saw the banners fluttering in the air, the golden character for "Yan" proudly displayed.
Prince Yan had returned safely.
Shen Wei breathed a sigh of relief. She skillfully tightened the reins, slowing the black horse's pace. She used a small knife to tear her clothes slightly and smeared mud on the soles of her shoes, pretending to struggle with riding. She looked clumsy, as if she might fall off the horse at any moment.
Riding clumsily back, Shen Wei spotted Prince Yan in the distance, speaking with Cai Lian. Cai Lian's eyes were red from crying, and she kept saying something to Prince Yan.
Prince Yan's expression was cold and stern.
"Your Highness!" Shen Wei called out joyfully as she rode over.
Prince Yan stiffened and turned sharply.
The black horse carried Shen Wei forward at a steady pace. Shen Wei, eager to dismount and greet Prince Yan, pretended to be a "novice" rider. She fumbled with the reins and, in her haste, simply rolled off the horse.
Prince Yan rushed forward and caught Shen Wei as she fell.
Shen Wei's nose tingled, and hot tears instantly streamed down her face. She anxiously examined Prince Yan, checking that his arms and legs were intact. Aside from a few light scratches on his face, he wasn't seriously injured.
Once she confirmed he was safe, Shen Wei sobbed and threw herself into Prince Yan's arms. "Your Highness... You're finally back... I... I..."
She cried bitterly, her words incoherent.
She played the part of a worried wife to perfection, her performance utterly convincing.
