Chapter 48
**Chapter 48: Did You Just Kill a Wild Boar?**
Shen Wei was taken aback and hurried out of the tent to gather information.
It turned out that during the hunt, the hunting party had been ambushed by a herd of wild boars. The Yan Wang's horse had been startled and had strayed from the group, leaving him unaccounted for.
The Imperial Guards immediately informed the Crown Prince of the situation.
The Crown Prince's face was icy as he calmly ordered the guards to initiate a thorough search! A portion of the guards remained at the camp to protect the Crown Prince, while the rest, along with the officials and their servants, joined the search efforts.
“Wild boar attack?” Shen Wei raised an eyebrow, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
Looking at the bustling crowd around her, she said to Cai Lian in a low voice, “Let’s go into the mountains to look for the Wang Ye.”
Cai Lian shook her head, trying to dissuade her. “The mountains are full of wild beasts, my lady. We should wait for the Wang Ye here in the camp.”
Shen Wei pressed her lips together, determination shining in her eyes. “No, I have to go find him.”
She wouldn’t venture too far; she would only pretend to search nearby, keeping a close watch on the situation.
If the Yan Wang were dead, Shen Wei would find a cliff to “jump” off, faking her death to escape far from Yan Jing. With the Yan Wang gone, she would lose her greatest support, and staying in the Wang Fu would surely lead to a grim fate.
If the Yan Wang returned safely, her “reckless” search in the wilderness would surely touch him.
With Cai Lian in tow, Shen Wei left the tent to begin her search.
The mountain breeze was gentle, and in the distance, the lush green hills and waters rolled on. Shen Wei deliberately separated from Cai Lian.
Alone in the desolate wilderness, she strolled leisurely, three gold bars for a quick escape tucked in her pocket, a pouch of herbs to ward off insects and snakes hanging from her waist, and a sharp dagger concealed at her side for protection.
Prepared for anything, she was ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
If news of the Yan Wang’s death reached her, she would dramatically call out “Wang Ye” in grief before running to the cliff’s edge, tearing off a piece of her dress to throw on the ground, creating the illusion of her “tragic end.”
The scenery was beautiful, and Shen Wei found a lush tree to rest beneath. The mountain breeze was refreshing, and the leaves rustled in the wind, lulling her into a drowsy state as she leaned against the trunk and gradually fell asleep.
From noon until dusk, half-awake and half-asleep, Shen Wei suddenly heard strange footsteps. She jolted awake, her eyes widening as she saw a brown-black wild boar approaching.
The boar wasn’t large, its tusks not yet fully grown, but its eyes glowed a sinister red as it charged at Shen Wei.
Most women would have screamed and cried in fear, but Shen Wei was only startled for a moment. She sprang up, bending down to grab a large stone from the ground.
The crazed boar barreled toward her, and with a click of her tongue, Shen Wei hurled the stone at its head with all her might.
The boar let out a fierce squeal as it was struck, blood splattering from its head. Shen Wei quickly drew her dagger from her waist and struck.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
The wild boar was dead.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Shen Wei felt a lingering fear. “Thank goodness it was just a little wild boar. Good thing I exercise every day.”
If it had been an adult boar, her life would have been in danger. Shen Wei swiftly wiped the blood from her dagger with a leaf and tucked it back into her waist.
Just as she was about to find another spot to rest, she suddenly sensed someone watching her. She looked up to see Heng Wang on horseback not far away.
Heng Wang rode a magnificent white steed, the rolling green hills behind him. The mountain wind billowed his red robes, and his handsome face was filled with disbelief.
He had witnessed Shen Wei smashing the wild boar with a stone and slitting its throat with a dagger.
Heng Wang was dumbfounded.
This concubine—she, she, she actually killed a wild boar! Without batting an eye, she had swiftly dispatched a living creature!
The way she wiped the blood off the dagger was so natural and practiced; a butcher with ten years of experience couldn’t have done it better.
“Greetings to His Highness Heng Wang,” Shen Wei said, maintaining her composure as she bowed.
Heng Wang, perched high on his horse, scanned the slender Shen Wei with his fox-like eyes. “Did you just kill a wild boar?”
Shen Wei blinked innocently. “Your Highness must have seen it wrong. The poor little wild boar accidentally ran into a tree and killed itself.”
Heng Wang thought, Do you take me for a fool?
Heng Wang’s lips parted slightly, and after a moment, he spoke, “Your second brother is missing, and you’re just sleeping under a tree?”
Shen Wei’s expression turned even more innocent. “Your Highness must have seen it wrong. I was searching for the Wang Ye and merely took a brief rest under the tree.”
Her ability to lie so effortlessly truly astonished Heng Wang.
He thought his own skin was thick enough, but compared to Shen Wei, he felt like a mere amateur.
Not wanting to linger, Shen Wei decided it was getting late, and she planned to return to the camp to check on the situation. She hoped the Yan Wang would return safely; otherwise, she would have to change careers.
Of course, Shen Wei, who had already decided to throw caution to the wind, wasn’t afraid of Heng Wang exposing her. Who would believe that a delicate little concubine had killed a rampaging wild boar?
Just as she was about to leave, a black steed suddenly caught her eye. Shen Wei’s eyes lit up; it was the Yan Wang’s horse!
“Is the Wang Ye back?” Shen Wei grabbed the reins of the black horse, mounted it, and eagerly rode toward the camp.
The black steed galloped, her green dress billowing in the wind, her silhouette carefree and spirited.
Heng Wang’s heart was in turmoil as he stammered, “She… she can ride a horse!”
He distinctly remembered that just two days ago, the Yan Wang had personally taught Shen Wei to ride, and she had been a novice, struggling to learn.
In just two days, her riding skills had improved dramatically, surpassing even seasoned knights.
What did this mean? It meant Shen Wei had always known how to ride; she had merely pretended to be an ignorant little concubine in front of the Yan Wang!
What a heavy scheme!
What a peculiar woman!
Having grown accustomed to gentle and demure ladies, Heng Wang was intrigued by the suddenly cunning Shen Wei. It was as if he had stumbled upon a hidden treasure; he had never imagined he would find a humble concubine so interesting.
He spurred his horse to catch up with Shen Wei.
Arriving at the camp, Shen Wei saw the flags fluttering in the air, the golden character for “Yan” embroidered on them waving in the wind.
The Yan Wang had returned safely.
Shen Wei let out a sigh of relief, expertly tightening the reins to slow the black horse. She tore a piece of her clothing and smeared mud on the soles of her shoes, pretending to ride clumsily, looking as if she might fall off at any moment.
Riding back awkwardly, Shen Wei spotted the Yan Wang talking to Cai Lian from a distance. Cai Lian’s eyes were red from crying as she kept saying something to the Yan Wang.
The Yan Wang’s expression was stern and serious.
“Wang Ye!” Shen Wei called out joyfully as she rode closer.
The Yan Wang jolted, turning abruptly.
The black steed carried Shen Wei forward at a steady pace. Eager to dismount and greet the Wang Ye, she, being a “newbie” at riding, fumbled with the dismounting process and, in her haste, simply tumbled off the horse.
The Yan Wang rushed forward and caught her securely as she fell.
Shen Wei felt a rush of emotion, tears streaming down her face. She anxiously examined the Yan Wang, relieved to see that he was unharmed except for a few minor scratches on his face.
Once reassured, she sobbed in his embrace, “Wang Ye… you’re finally back… I… I…”
Her heart-wrenching cries were a jumbled mess of words.
She played the role of a woman who had been anxiously waiting for her husband to return to perfection.
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