After quickly wearing the second male lead who was rejected

Chapter 257 Deer Hunting Chapter (11)

After completing the basic etiquette procedures, Emperor Tu Yanqing got off the imperial carriage and was the first to walk onto the high platform.

The five-clawed golden dragon on his chest sparkled in the sunlight, and his whole body seemed to be bathed in golden light.

Tu Yanqing reached out and picked up the golden bow on the shelf. The eunuch chief, Eunuch Chen, presented the bow and arrow with a golden tassel at the end to Tu Yanqing.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Tu Yanqing shot this special bow and arrow.

Then, Eunuch Chen's shrill voice rang out, "Your Majesty has added two new rules to this Deer Hunting Festival. Anyone who can find the arrow Your Majesty shot will receive the second-place prize, the Xuanyuan Bow. The second rule is that you cannot ride a horse."

"The prize for first place remains the same as usual, but we'll keep it a secret for now. To claim first place, you must hunt the heaviest spotted deer at the Qiongshan Hunting Ground. The competition begins at the beginning of the morning and ends at noon. You can form teams of two and hunt spotted deer together. During the competition, you may not use bows and arrows to harm others. Any violation will result in your elimination. Remember! You must return here before noon and place your hunted spotted deer on this table!"

After Eunuch Chen finished speaking, Gu Chang pondered that there was still half an hour until the beginning of the morning. During this half hour, the participants could gather their supplies. Horseback riding was not allowed at this Deer Hunting Festival, meaning this competition was purely a test of physical strength and endurance.

Gu Chang stood in the crowd, looking around. When he first arrived, he hadn't dared to look around, lest he cause trouble. When the emperor arrived, everyone bowed their heads and knelt in obeisance. Now, while Eunuch Chen finished explaining the pre-game rules and most people were discussing how to proceed with the Deer Hunting Festival, Gu Chang was able to take in the surroundings.

Gu Chang looked around and found that he didn't recognize the people standing next to him. The people he knew were standing opposite him. When Gu Chang looked at Nie Qingxue, he found that she had abandoned her usual pink outfit and was wearing black this time, giving off an oppressive feeling of a heroine.

Nie Huaili, who was standing next to Nie Qingxue, was still wearing a plain white dress, and her beauty was so pitiful that it made people feel pity for her.

Nie Qingxue obviously saw Gu Chang as well, but she just glanced at him and then looked away.

Seeing this abnormal behavior, Gu Chang felt that the real Nie Qingxue had returned.

As for how he got back, Gu Chang thought about asking again when he had the chance.

At this time, the Seventh Prince Tu Mingyuan and Prince Duan Tu Weizhi walked towards Gu Chang together. Their appearance also attracted the attention of many people.

Gu Chang also saw Nie Qingxue and Nie Huaili walking towards him.

System: "Oh no, the Shura Field is here."

Gu Chang: That’s not necessary.

"Mr. Gu, please join me in this Deer Hunting Festival." Tu Mingyuan still had white gauze tied around his eyes. The clothes he wore this time showed off his broad shoulders and narrow waist, which was eye-catching.

Gu Chang smiled and said, "It should be me who is bothering Your Highness."

"Mr. Gu, do you want to team up with His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince?" Nie Qingxue happened to hear the two people talking when she walked over. Her eyes were cold and her words were a bit chilly.

Just as Gu Chang was about to speak, he heard Tu Weizhi say, "What about you? Xue'er, who are you going to team up with?"

System: "Player Tu Weizhi is inviting player Nie Qingxue to form a team."

Gu Chang: "System, did you take the wrong medicine?"

The system chuckled twice. "Host, I've recently been watching a TV show where the heroine travels to a world of exciting gunfights in a game. In the game, four people form a team. I see that the current situation is similar to the plot in the TV show, so I couldn't help but act as a narrator."

"Your Highness Prince Duan, I'm talking to Young Master Gu. Everything has a first come first served basis. Huaili, what do you think?" Nie Qingxue said in a calm tone. As she spoke, she turned her head to look at Nie Huaili who was standing beside her.

Yesterday, after learning she was pregnant and would be marrying Tu Weizhi, Nie Huaili had become much more obedient. Now that Nie Qingxue had the upper hand, she naturally didn't dare to go against her.

"That's right, sister." Nie Huaili lowered his head slightly and spoke in a soft voice.

Tu Weizhi, “…”

Gu Chang stepped forward to help, "Yes, who does Miss Nie want to team up with?"

Nie Qingxue curled her lips and smiled slightly, she turned sideways to look at the person walking towards her.

It was Crown Prince Tu Ming'en, with two princesses following behind him.

"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Her Royal Highness the Fifth Princess, and Her Royal Highness the Sixth Princess." Except for Tu Mingyuan, everyone else said in unison and bowed at the same time.

Crown Prince Tu Ming'en smiled gently. He spoke softly, "Everyone, please don't be so polite. This Deer Hunting Festival doesn't have many etiquette rules. Everyone, please relax."

"Brother, that being said, the royal dignity must be maintained," his sister, Tu Minyin, said with some resignation. Tu Minyin wore a formal suit embroidered with silver patterns of clouds and geese on her chest, and a layer of silver soft armor strapped to her forearms. Her facial features bore a striking resemblance to Tu Ming'en, though Tu Minyin's eyebrows were more heroic, giving her a more stern look compared to Tu Ming'en's.

The Sixth Princess, Tu Minlan, had willow-like eyebrows, clear eyes, red lips, and white teeth. She looked cute and well-behaved, and so did she speak. "Sixth Sister has been in the palace for too long, and it's hard for her to change her bad temper. Everyone, please don't think that Sixth Sister is difficult to get along with. She is a very kind-hearted person."

"You are the only one who talks nonsense." Tu Minyin curled her lips and smiled. She raised her hand, bent her index finger and gently scratched the tip of Tu Minlan's nose.

"Sixth sister, let's go get the things first. If we stay here and talk, we will be behind when the first day of the lunar year arrives." Tu Minlan grabbed Tu Minyin's wrists with both hands and shook her arm coquettishly.

"Don't worry, I'll go with you." Tu Minyin raised her other hand and gently patted Tu Minlan's arm, then looked at Gu Chang and the others, "Everyone, this princess and Minlan will go and prepare first. Don't forget the time."

"Farewell to the Fifth and Sixth Princesses." After Gu Chang and the others finished their greetings, Crown Prince Tu Ming'en waved to Nie Qingxue.

"Sister Xue'er, are you willing to come with me?"

Nie Qingxue agreed readily, "Of course, Prince."

The smile on Tu Ming'en's lips deepened, and he extended his hand, motioning Nie Qingxue to leave with him.

Seeing this, Nie Huaili blinked and looked at Tu Weizhi, whose jaw was tense. "Your Highness Prince Duan..."

"Don't worry, Li'er. I will definitely choose you." Tu Weizhi noticed Nie Huaili's grievance and reached out to hold her in his arms.

Then Tu Weizhi left with Nie Huaili.

Now only Gu Chang and Tu Mingyuan are left there.

"Then Your Highness the Seventh Prince, let's go get some dry food and water." Gu Chang took the initiative to speak, breaking the silence.

Tu Mingyuan smiled slightly, "Yes."

Emperor Tu Yanqing and Empress Leng Yanqu, who were sitting on the round platform, watched the scene below.

"I didn't know Ming'en and Xue'er had such a good relationship." Tu Yanqing narrowed his eyes slightly. His temples were gray, and although he was in his twilight years, he was still full of energy.

Imperial Consort Yang Ruiyue gave a sweet laugh. Though nearing forty, she maintained herself impeccably. Her eyes were wrinkle-free, her skin smooth, and she resembled a ripe peach, exuding an alluring fragrance. "Your Majesty, the love between men and women is inherently unpredictable."

Leng Yanqu half-closed her eyes, her gaze fixed on the gold bracelet on her wrist, and she did not participate in the topic.

Until Eunuch Chen came over and after paying his respects, he said to Leng Yanqu: "Empress, the Eighth Princess has woken up and is looking for you."

"The little princess is really clingy to her sister. She starts crying after not seeing her for half an hour." Yang Ruiyue spoke in a soft and gentle voice, like a sweet candy.

The emperor Tu Yanqing happened to like this kind of candy. He laughed and said, "Ruiyue, don't be jealous. The queen likes the princess, and I like you. It's okay. Hahahaha."

"Your Majesty has such a sweet mouth." Yang Ruiyue stretched out her white and tender hand and pressed it gently on Tu Yanqing's shoulder.

Leng Yanqu didn't want to stay here any longer. She stood up, saluted Tu Yanqing, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I will go take care of the princess first."

"Well, go down." Tu Yanqing said casually, then shook hands with Yang Ruiyue and talked about other things.

Leng Yanqu's face was expressionless. When she wasn't smiling, she gave off a serious vibe. As she grew older, she began to acquire the dignity of a queen. Because of this, Tu Yanqing particularly disliked Leng Yanqu's often sullen expression.

But Leng Yanqu came from a century-old family and was a woman who received strict education. Tu Yanqing also knew that Leng Yanqu would not obey his ideas. Apart from two fixed days each month, she often went to the Imperial Noble Consort Yang Ruiyue.

"Empress, please walk carefully. The roads here are not as smooth as those in the palace." Eunuch Chen followed behind Leng Yanqu. When he saw that Leng Yanqu was walking too fast, he reminded her.

Leng Yanqu still maintained her pace, "Thank you, Eunuch Chen, for reminding me, but I am worried about Ai Ai. If she doesn't see me when she wakes up, she will definitely be very sad."

As time went by, it was already the beginning of the Si month.

Everyone who participates in the Deer Hunting Festival has already chosen their teammates.

Gu Chang and Tu Mingyuan were standing at the end of the team. In a sense, both of them were unpopular.

Gu Chang's current identity is that of a merchant's son. Although his ancestors were also from an aristocratic family, they had fallen on hard times. If other people came to make friends with him, they would only think that they were lowering their status.

Not to mention the unfavored seventh prince Tu Mingyuan. His biological mother was the princess of Tianyao Kingdom. The emperor originally disliked Tianyao Kingdom, and there was another reason why the emperor disliked Tu Mingyuan even more.

An unpopular prince and a businessman of little status.

With a team like this, no one else felt that they had any chance of winning the championship.

Their attention was focused on the prince's group.

You have to know that the prince's archery skills are among the best, not to mention his skills on horseback, which are even more amazing.

After the race started, the people in front rushed into the woods and then dispersed.

Seeing that there were so many people in front of them, Gu Chang and Tu Mingyuan waited there for a while before setting off.