Chapter 12 - I Want a Fawn

“OK, here it is.” Yun Cang forked a large piece of venison from the plate on the corner of the table with a knife. He put the meat in Qingxin’s plate, which embarrassed her a little, “No, not this. I mean fawn meat.”

“Sure, on that grill.” Yun Cang pointed at the grill near them.

“No, I don’t want to eat it. I want to raise one.” Hua Qingxin had intended to persuade him to hunt in the forest behind that wood the next day, but now he just kept fulfilling her needs. So, Hua Qingxin made a detour, “I… yes, I want to raise a fawn.”

Yuncang patted her hand and said joyfully, “That’s great. It’s lucky that we keep one fawn alive. You can keep it at the imperial garden.”

“Um, No, I…” Too many conincidences for tonight! Hua Qingxin could barely hold herself.

Damn, she didn’t know how to reply.

“Are you done yet? You are just making troubles for the emperor out of nothing.”

Li Zhuozhuo again tried to “help the emperor out”. Maybe because she sat too close to the grill; maybe she got mad with Hua Qingxin, her face was mildly red, and her bright eyes fixed on Hua Qingxin.

Hua Qingxin seized the opportunity and cuddled the emperor, deliberately saying with an intimate tone, “I just want to have more chats with the emperor. How does that saying go? ‘The emperor is resting at ease while who is excessively concerned?’”

Maid Meng recalled the saying and reminded, “Oh, the eunuch!”

Li Zhuozhuo was made fun of by Hua Qingxin and all the officials and military officers were amused.

“You…” Li Zhuozhuo’s face was red with anger while she didn’t know how to fight back, so she could only turn to the emperor, “Your Majesty, she just goes too far.”

“Stop messing around, Ronghua Hua.” Yuncang pocked her nose gently, “People are watching. What do you really want?” Hua Qingxin hesitated for a while and then pointed at the direction of Prince Yunhai, “There are several fawns behind that wood. Can you bring me here tomorrow and catch them for me yourself?”

Hua Qingxin observed his expression carefully while he agreed without any hesitation, “Sure, then we’ll go to catch some fawns tomorrow.”

Since he wasn’t suspicious at all, Hua Qingxin finally felt relieved.

However, Consort Ming suddenly asked, “How does Ronghua Hua know there are fawns in that forest?”

Hua Qingxin was baffled, and the skin of her cheeks tautened.

Li Zhuozhuo also echoed, “Yeah, you have spent your whole day in the camp, how do you know that?”

“I…” Huang Qingxin clutched her hands hidden in the sleeves and looked at Prince Yunhai. He was just drinking leisurely and didn’t have the intention to help her.

Hua Qingxin squeezed a smile from her grim face, “I just made a guess.”

“You made a guess?” Consort Ming imitated Hua Qingxin’s tone and repeated her words.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Li Zhuozhuo sneered, “I guess there are wild boars.”

“If there are, I’ll catch one for you to keep.” Hua Qingxin deliberately changed the topic and distracted others’ attention. She teased Li Zhuozhuo, “Then you can ride your wild boar to meet the emperor every day.”

“Ronghua Hua, don’t be so haughty because His Majesty likes you!”

As others were snickering, Hua Qingxin didn’t care about Li Zhuozhuo’s swearing anymore. She was a little bit relieved that she was not suspected. The next day after breakfast, Yun Cang rushed to take Hua Qingxin out for hunting.

Prince Yunhai and his men has waited outside the camp. The emperor had intended to send Eunuch Ling to lead her, but now he just walked into the camp and carried her on his shoulder. No matter how she shouted, he didn’t put her down.

That had been awkward enough, but now seeing Prince Yunhai standing outside there, she was so embarrassed. She knew Prince Yunhai well. Would such a proud man accept a woman who had given her chastity to his brother?

Somehow, Hua Qingxin just felt that Yunhai and her were getting more distant from each other.

They rode across the wood. All the way she pulled a long face and occasionally glanced at Prince Yunhai, who would never look at her. Even if he was talking with the emperor, he managed to avoid her eyes.

“Honey, do you like it?” Yun Cang held the rein and tried to talk with her.

Hua Qingxin replied sulkily, “Your Majesty, I know how to ride.”

Yuncang carried her up and took her out of the camp, threw her on his horse. And they rode the same horse all along the journey.

The more Yuncang showed off his favor of her, the more panicked she felt. Her future with Yun Cang and Yunhai just became more complicated.

Yun Cang didn’t know what this beauty in his arms was thinking about, but he was happy, as she finally asked him for something. So, he would spare no efforts to fulfill her demand.

Yun Cang, who was stiff and cautious when they first met, now acted like a child. He cuddled Hua Qingxin’s waist proudly and whispered with a determined tone, “No, I won’t let you go through any dangers alone. You have to be protected by me.”

Though Hua Qingxin was not in a good mood, she was amused by his words, “Your Majesty, does Consort Ming know that you’re really good at sweet talking?”

“About that…” Yuncang kissed her ear and whispered, “You’re the only one that can hear my sweettalk.”

A pleasure of numbness swept her body. She was somewhat touched but panicked.

Suddenly, Prince Yunhai, who was riding fast ahead, pulled his rein and shouted, “Your Majesty, look! Fawns!