novelraw Chapter 678 - 667: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 678 - 667: The Cuckolded Prince
Today, Emperor Xingwu was extremely lucky, catching two deer and a gray bear in just an hour. Remarkably, the bear was still nursing, indicating that its cubs were nearby. Emperor Xingwu refused to let them go despite the ministers’ advice and continued deeper, instructing everyone to keep their voices down to avoid startling the bear cubs.
"Little bear cubs? Where is your mother?" Emperor Xingwu heard a light, female voice and was surprised, then led his guards in the direction of the voice.
"Crying so fiercely, are you hungry?" The female voice spoke again, with a hint of pity.
"Who dares to roam in the hunting grounds?" the Guard Commander sternly shouted from atop an Imperial Horse.
"Ah!" The girl was clearly startled, tripping and falling to the ground, but she did not forget to protect the two young gray bear cubs.
"Hunting grounds?" She looked up bewildered, fear in her eyes brimming with Spiritual Energy, "Please spare me, sir. It is my first time in the capital, and I unintentionally entered the mountains after hearing that there are White Foxes here. I just wanted to catch one for my younger brother to play with. I really didn’t do it on purpose."
At first, Emperor Xingwu only noticed the two bear cubs in her arms, but when she looked up, he was shocked and stared at her, unable to regain his composure for a while.
"Your Majesty, what do you think?" Although Emperor Xingwu is not one to kill the innocent, and the girl did not seem to be acting deliberately, thus the Guard Commander asked for Emperor Xingwu’s opinion.
"What is your name?" Emperor Xingwu gazed intensely at her.
"My surname is Liu, with the single name Hui," Liu Hui replied softly, but since the scene was very quiet, Emperor Xingwu heard her very clearly.
"Hui?" Emperor Xingwu muttered, "Which ’Hui’ character?"
"Your Highness, it is the ’Hui’ from ’Hui quality and orchid heart’."
"So it’s that ’Hui’!" Emperor Xingwu suddenly exclaimed, but his gaze still did not shift from her, "What place are you from? Don’t you know this is a hunting ground? And how did you get in?"
Perhaps reassured by his calm voice, Liu Hui seemed less frightened now, stealing a glance at him before quickly lowering her head: "I am originally from Shangyuan. I moved to the capital with my family just a month ago and did not know this was a hunting ground. I only heard that White Foxes were spotted here, so I entered the mountain five days ago. Please forgive me, sir. I will leave immediately and will never set foot here again."
Emperor Xingwu did not immediately agree to let her leave but continued to ask: "Aren’t you afraid after being in the mountains for three days? Weren’t you afraid of the mother bear coming back when you saw the bear cubs?"
Kneeling, Liu Hui boldly looked up, her eyes filled with innocence and sincerity: "I am from a farming family. I used to swim and enter the mountains when I was young, so I am not very afraid. When I met the bear cubs, I just thought they were cute and didn’t think about that much. Only after you mentioned it, sir, did I start to feel scared. Thank you, sir, for saving my life."
Watching her bold gaze, Emperor Xingwu seemed to think of something, and was momentarily distracted.
By the time he returned to his senses, he caught Liu Hui’s admiring, grateful look, which piqued his interest: "How did you know I was someone important? And how did you know I could save you?"
A tint of shyness crossed Liu Hui’s fair face upon hearing this: "It’s obvious from your distinguished appearance, sir, and everyone here follows your lead, so you must be the highest-ranking among them. Moreover, the way you, with your esteemed status, speak so calmly to a common girl like me shows your kindness, so I knew you would save me."
"Hahaha..." Emperor Xingwu burst into laughter upon hearing this, then dismounted and approached Liu Hui with a tender question, "Are you... betrothed?"
Liu Hui blushed: "I had a fiancé before, but my father disapproved of his character, so the engagement was broken off."
"Do you have someone you fancy?" Emperor Xingwu leaned closer and asked again.
Liu Hui hastily glanced at him, her cheeks reddening even more, and said softly, "Not at all."
"What do you think of me then?" As soon as Emperor Xingwu spoke these words, the guards and ministers behind him were greatly surprised, yet none dared to step forward to stop or speak.
"I... I..." Liu Hui suddenly became flustered, then stamped her foot lightly, "How could you ask a girl such a question?"
Seeing her shy demeanor, Emperor Xingwu was even more delighted, his gaze intensifying: "Then I will take that as your agreement. Come with me, be my woman."
"How can you be so domineering? My parents haven’t even agreed!" Liu Hui said, a bit angrily.
Emperor Xingwu, paying no heed, pulled her toward him, his breathing heavier: "They dare not disagree."
"You..." Liu Hui stared at him blankly, as if frightened by him, unsure of how to react.
Emperor Xingwu then said compassionately: "Don’t be afraid, I am not a bad man."
Liu Hui immediately widened her eyes, unbelievingly said: "You... you are the Emperor?"
"Indeed, I am the Emperor. By following me, your family will become Imperial Relatives, enjoying endless wealth and luxury, as many White Foxes as you want." Emperor Xingwu thoroughly enjoyed her shocked expression, scooped her onto his horse, and then laughed heartily on their way back to the camp amidst her exclamations.
The guards and ministers behind exchanged glances, puzzled as to why Emperor Xingwu would suddenly take a fancy to a common girl. Only the two old ministers who had glimpsed Liu Hui’s appearance understood why, their hearts pounding like drums.
Upon returning to the camp, Emperor Xingwu immediately bestowed upon Liu Hui the title of "Concubine Hui". By the time the ministers realized, it was already too late.
Crown Prince Liu Zheng stood in his own tent, unable to understand why his usually wise Father Emperor would make such an absurd move, asking his Personal Eunuch: "What happened exactly? Have you looked into it?"
"Your Highness, according to what I heard, it was just a common girl who accidentally entered the hunting grounds, and somehow caught His Majesty’s favor," the eunuch cautiously replied.
Ye Zheng was still skeptical: "Has the woman’s identity been confirmed? Could someone have arranged this intentionally?"
"His Majesty’s people have already checked, the identity is indeed genuine, previously she was just a farm girl from Shangyuan, who recently came to the capital after coming into a small fortune. Her household registration all checks out, there’s no possibility of forgery," the eunuch explained.
Ye Zheng nodded, having trust in his Father Emperor’s capabilities, thus he hardly doubted, but sighed why his Father Emperor was so impulsive this time. What kind of beautiful women weren’t available in the palace? Was it necessary to act like this for a farm girl? Moreover, to bestow her as a concubine without even receiving favor yet? It was surely too irregular.
However, precisely because she was just a farm girl, Ye Zheng didn’t take much notice. She was just one woman, let the Father Emperor dote as he pleased.
But the next day, upon seeing the true face of Liu Hui, his thoughts changed.