After the emperor read her mind, the salted fish concubine effortlessly won the title of empress.

Chapter 60 The Enchantress Ruins the Country

The emperor, holding her hand, played along, saying, "How could I forget you? Stop thinking nonsense! Come closer to me in a moment, don't wander off. I'll allow you to look directly at my face and glance at me a few more times."

He squeezed Shen Shixi's hand.

"Your Majesty, I thank you. I enjoy seeing you!"

【Do you even need to tell me? I'll stick to you even if you don't! You'd better keep me hanging on your waistband, or I'll scratch you if I get hurt!】

"Is Your Majesty being biased, only allowing Consort Zhao to accompany you? We concubines also wish to be closer to Your Majesty!" Consort Shun gave Shen Shixi a provocative look and said coquettishly.

She has a stunning figure, is beautiful, and has a lively personality; she's the kind of woman no man can resist.

The emperor laughed and said, "I don't care if you like following me! But today's hunt will reward you all so that you can have a good time! According to the scoring rules of previous years, a black fox is worth 10 points, a white fox is worth 8 points, a wild boar or wolf is worth 7 points, and a pheasant or rabbit is worth 1 point."

"If you can hunt bears or tigers, that's a different story. I don't care how others reward you, you are my concubines, I will reward you extra!"

Small rewards are nothing to anyone; the rewards for promotion are the real prizes to be fought over.

Everyone was excited and eager to get started.

At the emperor's command, everyone rushed towards the hunting grounds.

Earlier, the emperor had already sent people to form an encirclement to gather the prey into a certain area. This area had already been screened once, so there would be no large wild beasts inside, making it relatively safer.

Today's main task is still to hunt the black fox; most people wouldn't be so reckless as to provoke creatures like bears and tigers.

Shen Shixi had no interest in winning the championship or anything like that. She followed closely behind Li Yuanke. She was surrounded by many guards, some of whom were her familiar secret guards.

The other concubines, some of whom were skilled and daring, such as Consort Shun, Consort He, and Consort Lin, charged forward relentlessly, while Xue Wanrong clung tightly to Shen Shixi.

Consort Rong's riding skills were actually quite good, but she was absent-minded the whole time, her eyes were glued to the emperor, and she looked like she was about to cry, which was a bit annoying to watch.

Wang Yuehuai seemed rather clumsy, and Shen Shixi saw her cautiously falling behind, gradually dropping a considerable distance, and felt that this was actually safer.

Li Yuanke wasn't fast either; even if he was in the mood, he wouldn't run very fast after shooting two arrows.

Before long, news of the black fox appearing in the southeast corner spread throughout the hunting grounds, and everyone headed in that direction.

The emperor was no exception. Consort Shun, Consort He, and Consort Lin were all vying to be first, so they were at the very front. For some reason, Consort Rong suddenly got excited and, with a shout of "Giddy up," rushed forward as well.

"Lady Xue, aren't you going to try and be the first?" Shen Shixi asked with a smile.

Xue Wanrong said, "Why isn't Consort Zhao making a move? It's a rare opportunity; if we miss it, who knows when the next one will come? A consort can't have children; does she have to stay in that position forever?"

Shen Shixi said, "There's nothing wrong with being a beauty, it's neither too high nor too low! Besides, I have the Emperor's heart, what use do I have for a rank? Or does Consort Xue think that the Emperor's heart is now with you, and I have already fallen out of favor?"

"I wouldn't dare!"

"Don't dare? What are you afraid of? You were very daring last time, weren't you?"

Shen Shixi was in the second tier. Her horsemanship was superb. She was not good at riding on the battlefield, but she was more than capable of chasing after the emperor.

Suddenly, the world became very quiet. Just as everyone felt something was wrong, an arrow pierced the sky and headed straight for Li Yuanke.

Li Yuanke parried the attack with his sword.

Immediately afterwards, someone shouted, "Protect the Emperor!"

"Xi'er, come here!"

Shen Shixi rushed over, only to be grabbed and placed in front of Li Yuanke. Li Yuanke held a knife in his right hand and gripped Shen Shixi's back firmly with his left hand, which was holding the reins. "Hold on tight to me!"

Shen Shixi faced him, encircled in his arms, her cloak covering her, so she couldn't see in front or behind.

All that could be heard were panicked cries, the whooshing of arrows, the clashing of swords and spears, and the splattering of metal into flesh, along with the stench of blood.

She couldn't bear to look, nor dared to look; she simply held tightly to his waist.

His waist swayed powerfully as someone charged into the encirclement. He took the initiative to attack, brandishing his sword to defend himself.

"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!" someone shouted.

The earth seemed to be trembling. Shen Shixi glanced around and saw that the rebels had surrounded them, and everyone was fighting back with all their might.

Just as the enemy was about to close in, the Xuanjia Army seemed to descend from the sky, unleashing a barrage of arrows. The gleaming blades reflected the sunlight, and the light spots danced in the crimson light.

"Don't be afraid, nothing will happen!" the emperor reassured the person in his arms.

[What's there to be afraid of! A few fleas think they can successfully rebel? They must be a bunch of idiots! After all that planning, I wonder how many Li Yuanke will be able to kill this time. It seems there aren't many princes left alive. Wouldn't it be better to be a carefree prince? Why do they have to go against the chosen one!]

Shen Shixi thought to herself, but instead wrapped her arms around the emperor's waist and snuggled into his embrace, "Your Majesty, I'm so scared!"

Li Yuanke found it amusing, patted her back, and played along, saying, "Don't be afraid, I'm here, no one will hurt you!"

The rebels met the Xuanjia Army, but were no match for them in either strength or weaponry. As their swords clashed, the Xuanjia Army easily cut through the rebels' weapons, as if slicing vegetables.

The Prince of Yidu, clad in full armor, was greatly alarmed upon seeing this scene; the weapons of the Xuanjia Army seemed extraordinary.

Knowing that there was no way to change the situation, he had no choice but to drop his weapon, close his eyes, and submit to execution.

"Capture him alive for me!" Li Yuanke ordered.

Xu Chun fought his way in and knelt before the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, I am late in coming to your rescue. Please punish me!"

"You've come at just the right time!" He made Xu Chun stand up, his indifferent eyes watching as the Prince of Yidu was bound and brought forward, while Zhang Xu, seeing that all was lost, had already committed suicide.

He was the emperor's study companion and grew up with the emperor since childhood. After Cen Yin became the commander, he was resentful and eventually met his end.

Li Yuanjian glanced at the people around the emperor and sneered, "Your Majesty, I am far less ruthless than you. To lower my guard, you even brought half of your harem. I am not as heartless as you, Your Majesty. I have not lost unfairly!"

This is an attempt to sow discord!

Li Yuanke didn't care about any of this. He smiled and said, "The victor is king, the loser is villain! This isn't the first time my fourteenth brother has lost! Treason? Are you tired of living? Xu Chun, take him back and investigate thoroughly! Don't let any of his remaining associates escape!"

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys!"

He turned his horse around and rode at the very front.

Before long, the Prince of Yidu shouted, "The wicked concubine Shen has ruined the country! The fate of our Great Zhou Dynasty is in danger! Father, if you were alive today, how heartbroken you would be to see the Great Zhou Dynasty in such a state of disarray, with hen crowing at dawn!"

Shen Shixi was completely stunned!

[What does it have to do with me if you two brothers seize power? You mad dog!]

But she felt things weren't that simple!

Shen Shixi struggled to get off, but Li Yuanke wouldn't allow it. He held her and turned the horse around, calmly looking at Li Yuanjian.

Shen Shixi laughed in anger, "Li Yuanjian, you've really made something of yourself! Your rebellion failed, so you're using me as a pretext. So, you've become a hero of the Great Zhou by purging the court of corrupt officials?"

Li Yuanjian was about to speak when she interrupted him.

"Li Yuanjian, you didn't lose unjustly back then! With your limited courage, vision, and sense of responsibility, it would be a miracle if Heaven let you sit on the dragon throne!"

Li Yuanjian was so angry he vomited blood. His finger trembled as he pointed at Shen Shixi. "You, you, you... witch! Today I am here to purge the court of corrupt officials! Witches ruin the country, wicked concubines ruin the country! Your Majesty, you must execute this witch, otherwise, the Great Zhou Dynasty will be doomed!"

"You spineless coward who dares to do something but not admit it! You wouldn't even look like a prince in a dragon robe! Am I a demon concubine? All I did was see through your poisonous stone, didn't I? And even reminded you, didn't I... No, stone? Xiling? Li Yuanjian... No, your face..."