Chapter 916: The Young Empress (53)

“Spread out and search.”

“Yes, Imperial Consort.”

Estimating where Tang Guo might have fallen, Jing Cheng moved farther and farther away from the others. He pushed aside layer after layer of thick undergrowth, searching inch by inch, unwilling to overlook even the smallest patch of grass.

He had originally thought that after falling from such a height, even if she survived, she would surely be gravely injured.

If not for the fact that he still had to find her, his mind would have been completely blank by now.

He only wanted to find her sooner.

The sooner he found her, the greater her chances of survival.

Unexpectedly, after passing through a narrow path, he saw the familiar figure sitting unharmed upon a smooth slab of stone.

“Your Majesty!”

Jing Cheng drew his sword and, with lightning speed, shredded the weeds blocking his path. In the blink of an eye, he had rushed to Tang Guo and pulled her tightly into his arms.

“It's good that you're alright.”

The smile on Jing Cheng's face widened. Only someone who had experienced the joy of recovering what they thought they had lost could understand the emotions surging within him.

Hearing his rapid heartbeat, Tang Guo smiled.

“I made you worry.”

“As long as you're safe, that's all that matters.”

Whatever ideas she had, whatever plans she wished to carry out, whatever she wanted to do—

None of that mattered to him.

What he cared about was only her.

As long as she stood before him safe and sound, smiling at him, he was happy.

“Your Majesty, shall we return to the palace now?”

“It's rare for us to come out into the wilderness. Why rush back?” Tang Guo said with a grin. “Imperial Consort, do you know how to hunt? I always watch you practice your sword, but I've never seen you put it to practical use. I want to watch you hunt.”

“Of course.” Jing Cheng immediately agreed. “What prey would Your Majesty like?”

He bent down and picked up the sword he had thrown to the ground earlier. The treasured blade was covered with dirt and mud.

Tang Guo smiled.

“Imperial Consort, don't you treasure this sword above all else? How could you just throw it onto the ground like that?”

“This sword was bestowed upon me by Your Majesty. It is precious to me.”

Love filled Jing Cheng's eyes.

“But no matter how precious it is, it cannot compare to Your Majesty.”

He truly cherished this sword.

He only used it to practice when the Empress was present.

When she wasn't, he used other swords.

Never had he imagined that one day he would use this treasured blade to cut through weeds, thorns, and branches, or casually throw it to the ground.

Before he fell for the person before him, he had loved swords to the point of obsession.

He had thought that swords alone would accompany him for life and remain the things he treasured most.

But after meeting her, after she entered his heart, he finally understood—

She was the treasure he should cherish for the rest of his life.

“Your Majesty, what prey do you want?” he asked again.

Tang Guo replied,

“Anything is fine, as long as it's edible.”

“Then please rest here while I go.”

He glanced toward the nearby river.

“There might be fish there. After I catch some game, I'll come back and catch fish for Your Majesty.”

“I want to watch you hunt.”

Tang Guo stood up and followed behind him.

Jing Cheng immediately turned around and took her hand.

“Then I'll hold Your Majesty's hand.”

Tang Guo did not refuse.

He liked holding her hand, so she indulged him.

After all, he was just too adorable.

She liked this straightforward temperament of his. Once he made up his mind, he committed wholeheartedly and always acted according to his own heart.

In front of her, he never thought of himself as beneath her. He interacted with her as an equal.

Being with someone like him was incredibly relaxing.

Clearly, he was a clever man who knew how to scheme.

Yet when facing her, all she saw was sincerity.

Even when he got jealous, he made no effort to hide it.

It was simply too cute.
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