Harem Daily Life

Chapter 477 Freedom in the Mountains and Forests

Jiang Yingying hadn't seen Concubine Tao since she left the palace. Seeing her slightly bulging belly, she exclaimed after paying her respects, "I didn't expect that even though the queen is pregnant, her limbs are still slender and her figure is slim. Looking from behind, you can't tell that she is pregnant at all."

Tao Yanyan's morning sickness had just improved not long ago. She couldn't eat before and lost several pounds. Now only her belly has grown bigger, and the rest of her body is almost the same as before she got pregnant.

"Maybe I don't eat enough. When my appetite improves later, I might gain weight. By the way, I heard that you are going to marry General Qi. Congratulations to you in advance!" Tao Yanyan looked at Jiang Yingying and smiled.

Jiang Yingying blushed and muttered, "Hey, I'm so annoyed about this. I can't figure out if his head was stuck in the door and he chose me."

After saying that, he glanced at Tao Yanyan and gave her a look that said "you know what I mean".

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "Since you're engaged, just keep going. Maybe this is your destiny."

Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Jinan rushed in from outside and said excitedly: "Mother, mother, father is going hunting, father is so handsome!"

Qingfeng helped Tao Yanyan get up and walk out of the tent, and saw He Linzhang in military uniform, riding a horse with a heroic look not far away, followed by a group of princes and ministers who were eager to try.

He glanced in the direction of Tao Yanyan, waved his hand, and rode into the forest first. For a moment, the sound of horse hooves and horns intertwined, deafening.

Concubine De brought the eldest prince, and Concubine Gui brought her two daughters and one son to a safe area, watching the hunting scene in the distance.

"Mother, when can I go into the mountains to hunt like father?" Little Jin'an asked with his head tilted.

Tao Yanyan touched his round head and said, "When Jin'an is as tall as your father."

"Mother, I'm so tired. Can I go back to the tent and sleep for a while?" The eldest prince complained bitterly. He left the palace early in the morning and rode the carriage all the way here, and he was almost exhausted.

Concubine De was in a bad mood. She didn't need to come originally, but her son clamored to come after hearing that the other three children were coming. Otherwise, who would want to stand in this forest and wait?

Concubine De said unhappily, "If you had known this would happen, why did you come in the first place? I told you not to come, but you came anyway, humph!" After that, Concubine De turned around and went into the tent with the eldest prince, leaving Tao Yanyan and his group waiting outside at the stands.

Xinlan glanced at Concubine De, then at Concubine Gui, and said with a smile: "Concubine De comes from a family of military commanders, but I didn't expect her determination is not as good as yours."

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "She is just used to a life of luxury. I have been in the palace for a long time, and I feel at ease when I come out. Seeing more of the outside world makes me feel much better."

Xinlan really liked Concubine Tao's free and easy personality and couldn't help but get closer to her.

Not far away, Gu Yi and a group of people stayed behind to protect the women. He wanted to get closer but felt a little embarrassed, so he could only stand far away and glance over here from time to time.

Little Jinan was surrounded by women and was bored. Seeing his cousin not far away, he asked, "Mother, can I go play with my cousin?"

Not many people knew about the relationship between Tao Yanyan and Ningyuan Marquis Mansion, so when Xiao Jinan called him "cousin uncle", Xinlan was a little confused.

Tao Yanyan glanced at someone not far away and said with a smile, "Okay, go ahead, but don't disturb him."

Dong Fang and the others accompanied Xiao Jin'an over, and Xin Lan asked suspiciously, "My queen, why would the second prince call General Gu his cousin uncle?"

Tao Yanyan said: "I acknowledge Ningyuan Hou as my uncle, so General Gu is naturally my cousin, so the children call him that in private."

Xinlan suddenly realized what was going on and was very envious of Concubine Tao for having such a close relationship with General Gu.

"By the way, my second cousin, General Gu's younger brother, the second son of the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, I wonder if you have met him?"

Xin Lan thought for a moment and said, "I know some rumors in the capital that the second son Gu is one of the four most handsome men in the capital, but I have never seen him. My mother died young, and there is no elder in my family to take me to various banquets, so I don't know many people."

Tao Yanyan patted her hands to comfort her: "Although my second cousin is not as successful as my eldest cousin, his family education is still good. How about I introduce you two to each other?"

Xinlan felt sad inside, but she forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry about it. I..." She glanced in the direction of Gu Yi and saw him carrying the Second Prince onto the horse and riding with the child. She hid the sadness in her eyes and said, "I thought about it after I went back that day. Your Majesty is right. I am still young and there is no need to rush."

Seeing that Xinlan was not interested in her second cousin, Tao Yanyan didn't want to continue recommending him, so he changed the subject and talked about something else.

Suddenly, a frightened deer ran towards the women in panic, and the crowd was in chaos.

Gu Yi could no longer care about anything. He held Xiao Jin'an in one hand and held the reins in the other hand, and ran towards Concubine Tao. Seeing that the fawn was panicking and about to hit someone, Gu Yi swung out a sword with all his might. The sword seemed to have eyes, and it went straight towards the fawn, piercing into the fawn's body in an instant.

"Your Majesty, please leave!" Jiang Yingying was quick to help Tao Yanyan up and returned to the tent.

Xinlan also hurriedly took He Xuan and He Yue's hands and took them back.

The little deer was stabbed with a sword and fell to the ground dying. A strong smell of blood filled the air. Tao Yanyan had a keen nose and vomited as soon as he returned to the tent.

Qingfeng and Mingyue were terribly worried. Their queen had just recovered and was finally able to start eating normally. They didn't want her to go back to normal at this time!

Gu Yi sent someone to clean up the area outside and carried the dying deer down, then he went into the tent to visit Tao Yanyan.

"Is the queen frightened?" Gu Yi looked at Tao Yanyan leaning weakly on the side and asked worriedly, "Should we call the imperial physician?"

Tao Yanyan waved his hand: "I'm fine, I just need to rest for a while. By the way, is there anyone chasing us out of the woods?"

Tao Yanyan found it strange. These animals were all intelligent. It was impossible for them to just walk into an area with people, unless there was a scary hunter chasing them.

Gu Yi was so focused on killing the deer and saving people that he didn't really pay attention to whether there was anyone chasing the deer before it ran over.

"I'll go check it out." When Gu Yi heard Tao Yanyan's words, he became suspicious and turned to leave.

While the two were talking, Xinlan kept her head down and tried not to look at Gu Yi. After the others left, she breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, she felt even more wronged. Gu Yi didn't even care if she was injured or not, and didn't even say a word of comfort.