Chapter 288: Mind Your Image

Eunuch Sun's words had barely fallen when a group of palace maids entered in single file, each holding a tray of roasted meat with an enticing aroma.

These roasted meats came in a wide variety, with everything one could wish for, including tender and juicy roasted rabbit, firm-textured roasted wild chicken, and small exquisite roasted sparrows, and so on... none other than the results of those contestants' hard-earned hunting just now.

Qianqian gazed at the table before her laden with food, on which were placed a plate of appetizing roasted rabbit and a plate of golden, crispy roasted wild chicken.

She could no longer restrain her appetite, reached out and tore off a plump rabbit leg and devoured it heartily. The rich barbecue seasoning and the sizzling, oil-dripping rabbit meat perfectly blended together, emitting a mouthwatering fragrance. Qianqian ate with relish, even wishing she could swallow her own tongue along with it.

While she wolfed down the food in her mouth, she shouted indistinctly to the person beside her: "San Jie, Niangqin, come try some quickly, this roasted meat is really delicious!"

An Wangfei smiled with narrowed eyes seeing Qianqian eating happily, while Yan Shuang'er beside her picked up chopsticks and took a piece of rabbit meat; since she needed to pay attention to her image while outside, Yan Shuang'er put down her chopsticks after tasting just two bites.

An Wangfei naturally praised the delicious roasted rabbit without end, but like Yan Shuang'er she only tasted a little and stopped; however, Yan Wang, who sat at the same table as Qianqian, although he also loved this delicacy, his posture while dining appeared especially refined, noble, and elegant.

By contrast, Qianqian sitting beside was a completely different scene; only saw her devouring heartily, enjoying the satisfaction brought by the food without any scruple, that appearance simply formed a world of difference with Yan Wang.

Seeing Qianqian eating so boldly, An Wangfei couldn't help but frown and said: "Qianqian ah, you child, when outside you still need to pay some attention to image, otherwise how will you ever marry in the future!"

Unexpectedly, Qianqian while stuffing rabbit meat into her mouth, responded carelessly: "If I don't marry, can't Father support me?" Hearing these words, An Wangfei without thinking blurted out: "Not to mention one of you, even raising ten or eight of you is no problem!"

Qianqian upon hearing this, put down the food in her hand, and righteously retorted: "Since that's the case, then what does it matter whether I marry or not? Besides, how does it matter whether I eat well or not?"

Facing Qianqian's sophistry, An Wangfei was momentarily speechless, actually not knowing how to answer.

At this time, Yan Shuang'er beside seeing the atmosphere somewhat awkward, hurriedly smiled and smoothed things over: "Niangqin don't worry, Qianqian is still young now, when the day comes she meets a Mr. Right who makes her heart flutter, without you needing to remind her, she will naturally pay attention to her own image!"

An Wangfei after hearing this, helplessly shook her head, secretly sighing in her heart that this girl really made people worry to death.

And Qianqian seemed to not care at all about everyone's discussion, still doing as she pleased eating large mouthfuls of roasted rabbit, eating with relish, as if everything happening around her had nothing to do with her.

After the Emperor tasted a few small bites of food, he stood up and left the banquet first. Afterwards, everyone seeing the Emperor had already left, and they themselves had also eaten almost enough, thus they all stood up preparing to leave.

Just at the moment of departure, Qianqian lightly walked to Ai Jiao's side, reached out and gently patted her shoulder, and playfully said: "Although this time I won first place in the competition, but you must not forget to treat me and Si Ge to a meal!"

Ai Jiao without hesitation nodded and readily agreed: "Of course no problem! Where do you want to eat?" Qianqian blinked her eyes, tilted her head and thought for a moment then replied: "Let me think about it first, this afternoon I'll come find you to discuss specifically where to go." Ai Jiao smiled and said okay.

At this time, Guo Lanxin and An Wangfei bade farewell to each other, Ai Sheng also paid his respects to An Wang, indicating his intention to take leave. Afterwards, they each boarded their own carriages, slowly driving away from this place.

An Wang instead mounted his horse, whipped the horse, and the steed beneath him galloped out like an arrow, heading straight for the Imperial Palace. After all, today's matter was no small thing, he still needed to enter the palace to have an audience, and report to the Emperor in detail and make an explanation.

At the same time, Qianqian's group of four also boarded their carriage, the wheels rolling, heading toward the direction of An Wang Fu. Along the way, laughter and voices in the carriage never ceased, the atmosphere very harmonious.

On the other side, An Wang whipped his fast horse, speed extremely fast, not long after he arrived at the Palace Gate of the Imperial Palace. By contrast, the Emperor rode in a carriage, the travel speed naturally somewhat slower. When the Emperor's carriage finally arrived, only saw An Wang had already dismounted, respectfully standing at one side waiting.

The Emperor stepped down from the carriage, his gaze sweeping over An Wang, smiled slightly, indicating he need not stand on ceremony, and stayed briefly waiting for An Wang to catch up. Just like that, the two walked side by side, together heading toward Yudi. The Emperor had just stepped across the threshold when An Wang immediately followed him in, then promptly closed the room door tightly,

The Emperor had not yet spoken, only saw An Wang seize the initiative to kneel on the ground and say: "Subject brother is guilty!" The Emperor seeing this slightly frowned, and in a deep voice said: "Speak, what exactly happened today?"

An Wang took a deep breath, slowly recounted: "Today at dawn, subject brother as usual sent people to re-examine the safety of the hunting grounds, unexpectedly discovered at the northwest direction of the hunting grounds there existed a small hole that only one person could pass through.

After becoming aware of this matter, subject brother decided on the spot, immediately ordered people to comprehensively search the entire hunting ground. After a strict search, finally successfully captured six black-clothed persons.

Among them one black-clothed person confessed without reservation, stating that this time the black-clothed persons who came totaled seven, and their target this time was the lives of Qianqian and Yan Wang. If they could not smoothly deal with these two, then they could randomly kill others as well, anyway they must create a chaotic situation.

Because the security matters of this spring hunt were entirely under subject brother's full authority, therefore someone intended to take this opportunity to make Imperial Elder Brother blame me, so that you and I brothers would develop suspicion and become estranged from each other."

The Emperor after hearing this his expression became increasingly solemn, and asked: "Then has the interrogation found out who the mastermind behind these people is?"

An Wang hurriedly replied: "According to what those black-clothed persons confessed, they were all sent by Ouyang Qianqiu's instigation. However, subject brother doubts the authenticity of this, so subjected them to severe torture, but even so, they still insisted they were indeed people belonging to Ouyang Qianqiu."

The Emperor slightly nodded, indicating he already knew about this matter, but immediately his expression sank, and sternly said: "Although this matter is now clear, it is ultimately due to your negligence. If not punished, I fear it will be hard to convince everyone!" After a brief pause, the Emperor continued: "Just deduct your salary for half a year."