Chapter 56 – 56 55 Can’t Block the Luck of the Koi Fish

Chapter 56: Chapter 55: Can’t Block the Luck of the Koi Fish Chapter 56: Chapter 55: Can’t Block the Luck of the Koi Fish “Picked it up?” Xiao Jinyu was astonished, “How come I didn’t find one?

I’ve been walking around for quite a few circles today and didn’t see such a tiny rabbit.”

“Your Highness is just lucky,” Shen Chuwei said as she sat down on the couch with a plop, then lay on her side, cushioned by soft pillows beneath her, feeling utterly comfortable after being well fed and watered.

“Of course, my brother is the future Crown Prince, protected by the real dragon; he can turn ill fortune into good and transform danger into safety,” Xiao Jinyu spoke of his brother with a face full of admiration.

Shen Chuwei nodded in agreement.

“You have no idea, when my brother was a hostage in another country, he almost lost his…” life.

Xiao Jinyu spoke too hastily and, realizing he had mentioned something he shouldn’t have, quickly clammed up.

Shen Chuwei glanced at Xiao Jinyu, “What happened to your brother?”

Xiao Jinyu leaned in, “How about you become my Guard, what do you think?”

Shen Chuwei indifferently said, “Not very appealing.”

Xiao Jinyu looked puzzled, “Why not?

I’ll double your pay.”

“It has nothing to do with money,” Shen Chuwei, sitting with one leg crossed over the other, thought that if someone offered her a carefree life just for eating and drinking without having to do anything else, she might have been tempted.

She almost forgot, she was Xiao Jinyan’s concubine; even if she felt tempted, it was pointless.

Xiao Jinyan lifted the curtain and entered, only to see Xiao Jinyu sitting beside Shen Chuwei.

He strode over with a stern face, grabbed Xiao Jinyu’s collar from the back, and hoisted him to the side.

“Stand properly.”

Xiao Jinyu’s eyes curved into a smile, “Brother, you’re back.”

Seeing Xiao Jinyan’s return, Shen Chuwei had to rise from the couch, for in the ancient palace, there were many rules; and as the Crown Prince was akin to her Master, how could she, a humble concubine, lie there while her Master stood?

Xiao Jinyu pointed at the grey little rabbit on the table, “Brother, where did you find such a tiny rabbit?

It’s quite cute.

Are you planning to give it to sister-in-law?”

Xiao Jinyan glanced at Shen Chuwei, who also looked toward him.

She blinked her beautiful, large eyes, wondering if it had anything to do with her.

Xiao Jinyan averted his gaze, “No.”

“If not for sister-in-law, then who are you giving it to?” Xiao Jinyu thought for a while, then suddenly realized, “Oh, I know, it’s for Lady Chang.”

Xiao Jinyan said coldly, “Go back and rest.”

Xiao Jinyu didn’t catch the dismissive tone in Xiao Jinyan’s voice, “Brother, I’m not sleepy yet.”

Xiao Jinyan stated, “This palace needs to rest now.”

Xiao Jinyu had hoped to chat more with his brother but, hearing that he wanted to rest, could only nod, “Oh, then I’ll go back first.”

Afterward, he left reluctantly.

Xiao Jinyan went over to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and while he took a sip, he saw the small rabbit cowering in the corner of the wooden cage, utterly terrified.

He looked up at Shen Chuwei, “Who made this cage?”

“Qin, Xiao.” The words ‘Big Brother Qin’ almost slipped out, but she was quick to catch herself.

Xiao Jinyan didn’t ask further, just stared at the grey rabbit for a while, then set down his teacup to bathe.

Early the next morning, Shen Chuwei heard the news that Lady Chang had returned to the capital to recuperate because of her injured foot.

After attending to Xiao Jinyan’s breakfast, Shen Chuwei was planning to go back to bed for a nap, only to hear Xiao Jinyan say, “Today, you will accompany me.”

Xiao Jinyan probably feared Shen Chuwei would wander off like yesterday, so he preferred to have her with him, within his sight, for peace of mind.

Fine, you’re the Crown Prince, you call the shots!

Shen Chuwei followed Xiao Jinyan out of the tent.

Today was the second day of hunting, and the Emperor commanded the eleven Princes to continue the competition, declaring that whoever could catch the Blood Phoenix would be the winner.

The legend said the Blood Phoenix was no ordinary creature of this world, with few ever having laid eyes upon it.

Its blood was more precious than millennium-old ganoderma or century-old polygonum.

It was said to be more beneficial for men than Deer Antler.

The specifics, however, only existed in ancient texts.

The Emperor clearly posed a challenging question this time.

Xiao Jinyu originally wanted to join Xiao Jinyan, but the Emperor forbade him, solely because of the Empress’s instructions to the Emperor.

The eleven Princes set off separately into the hunting grounds.

Shen Chuwei watched as Xiao Jinyan grabbed the saddle with one hand and mounted the horse, his posture graceful and efficient.

Xiao Jinyan stretched out his hand to Shen Chuwei, “Get on.”

“As you command.” Shen Chuwei placed her hand on Xiao Jinyan’s and was easily helped onto the horse.

Seated in Xiao Jinyan’s embrace for the second time, Shen Chuwei was now much calmer.

Xiao Jinyan wrapped one arm around Shen Chuwei’s waist and held the reins tightly with the other, spurring the horse into a run with a squeeze of its belly.

With nothing else to do, Shen Chuwei asked, “Your Highness, what does the Blood Phoenix look like?”

Xiao Jinyan: “I have never seen one, but it is said to resemble the Phoenix to some extent.”

Shen Chuwei nodded, “Oh, then it must be quite beautiful, right?”

Xiao Jinyan: “Perhaps.”

The horse ran for an unknown length of time, until they seemed very far from camp, and the sound of water reached their ears.

Xiao Jinyan gradually slowed the pace.

Curious, Shen Chuwei glanced around and spotted a beautiful bird in the bushes, with three spiritual whiskers on its head and red around its eyes.

She tugged at Xiao Jinyan’s sleeve and pointed towards the bushes, “Your Highness, look at that bird, it’s so beautiful.”

Following the direction of Shen Chuwei’s finger, Xiao Jinyan saw the beautiful bird she was talking about.

Its shape was somewhat similar to a Phoenix, though smaller in stature.

It matched the descriptions recorded in ancient books.

“It might be the Blood Phoenix.”

Shen Chuwei was somewhat incredulous, “Is that the Blood Phoenix?

Aren’t they said to be very hard to find?”

Xiao Jinyan said, “Sit tight and don’t move, I will catch it.”

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, “Your concubine understands.”

Xiao Jinyan used his lightness skills to dash towards the Blood Phoenix.

Sensing danger, the Blood Phoenix flapped its wings and flew away.

Xiao Jinyan chased after it and soon disappeared from view.

Shen Chuwei waited a while, and not seeing Xiao Jinyan return, she dismounted and started searching in the direction he had left.

She grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and cracked them while she searched.

After walking for about ten minutes, she didn’t find Xiao Jinyan but saw a bird flying towards her; it hit a tree trunk with a “thud” and then fell into the bushes.

The bird struggled on the ground for a few moments but failed to take flight.

Bending down, Shen Chuwei caught the bird by its wings, lifted it, and after a careful look, confirmed it was the Blood Phoenix Xiao Jinyan had spoken of.

Had she caught it just like that?

Xiao Jinyan had followed the Blood Phoenix for a while, but lost sight of it; the Blood Phoenix flew too fast, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

He didn’t dare continue the chase, fearing it was too dangerous for Shen Chuwei to be left there alone, and so he returned the way he had come.

Shen Chuwei took a cloth bag from her space and stuffed the Blood Phoenix into it, just as she looked up to see Xiao Jinyan flying towards her, stepping on the branches.

In just a moment, Xiao Jinyan landed in front of Shen Chuwei.

“Your Highness, your concubine has something to show you.”

Xiao Jinyan asked with curiosity, “What is it?”

Shen Chuwei untied the knot on the bag to show him.

Xiao Jinyan looked down to see a live Blood Phoenix inside the bag, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Just then, the sound of an object cutting through the air was heard.

Xiao Jinyan hugged Shen Chuwei’s waist and quickly dodged to one side, an arrow whizzing past his shoulder.

An arrow flew straight for Xiao Jinyan’s chest without missing a beat.

At that moment, Shen Chuwei suddenly stood up and blocked the swiftly approaching arrow for Xiao Jinyan.