Chapter 168: Deny Existence

## Hunt Invitation

You find out the queen and her son, the Sixth Prince, both hold you to their promises.

The next day, the Sixth Prince sent his personal servant to escort you.

**MC:** Please inform him I am way too tired and simply not in the mood for hunting, so I shouldn't ruin anybody's fun.

**Little Eunuch:** It is still very early in the morning. Please get some rest and I shall visit again later. Hopefully, you will change your mind by then, my lady.

**MC:** I take it you come this early to urge me to get ready, not because the party is leaving now?

**Little Eunuch:** The Sixth Prince sincerely wanted you to attend, and instructed me to offer the invitation multiple times if necessary.

**MC:** We'll talk about this later. I got to get back to bed.

**Little Eunuch:** Yes, ma'am. I shall return later.

He bows but you stop him before he leaves.

**MC:** Who is going to the hunt?

**Little Eunuch:** Crown Prince, Sixth Prince, and several other princes.

**MC:** Really, the Fourth Prince too? Why do I get this feeling he's not in it?

## There are Secrets

Well... That is what the Sixth Prince told me. I do not know if he will join us or not.

Yin Zhen would tell you if he would come, but he didn't. Maybe the Sixth Prince is trying to trick you into going?

**Little Eunuch:** Oh, I just remembered, Miss Hu Ling should be present, as well.

**MC:** Miss Hu Ling? Doesn't she serve His Majesty?

**Little Eunuch:** [Smiles] She is interested in learning archery and His Majesty granted permission for the Crown Prince and Sixth Prince to teach her in spare time.

**MC:** I see.

Speaking of Hu Ling, it reminds you what the queen said about His Majesty has changed. Since he's practically and forcibly bound you to the palace, you should find out if there's anything behind that.

Maybe you can learn more about His Majesty's unpredictability from Hu Ling.

**Little Eunuch:** My lady? I'm taking my leave now.

**MC:** Hold on, please tell Sixth Prince I now have a sudden interest in the hunt!

## Fresh Autumn Days

Autumn is the best season for hunting.

Dressed in an equestrian outfit, you're so focused on picking out a horse that you don't even notice Sixth Prince standing next to you.

**6th Prince:** How about the black horse? It's impressively strong and out to be swift.

**MC:** Well, I'm not familiar with mounted archery at all, so just the smaller horses for me... Frankly, I'm here more for the social interaction than anything else.

**6th Prince:** It's okay, I can teach you.

* How come it's just the two of us?
* Let's wait till the others are here
**MC:** [Look around] What time is it? How come it's just the two of us?

**6th Prince:** The Crown Prince is probably still busy. As for Third, Fourteen and others, they're usually on their own time.

**MC:** No rush. We can wait till other get here.

**6th Prince:** We could be waiting for a while. They have no sense of time.

**MC:** Are they all coming?

**6th Prince:** It's hard to say. The Crown Prince is probably still busy. As for Third, Fourteen and others, they're usually on their own time and may not even show.
He explains as he picks out a horse. You're starting to worry.

**MC:** (Don't tell me it will end up just me and him!)

**MC:** Oh I heard Miss Hu Ling is coming too, Is that true?

**6th Prince:** [Chuckles] Why do you fret over who's coming? Wouldn't it be easier to teach you with fewer people around?

## Quaking with Fear

**MC:** But bigger the crowd, the more fun the hunt it!

The stableman brings you a pony. You rub its head gently to establish a rapport and refuse to glance in the Sixth Prince's direction.

However, you can always feel him standing next to you all this time, just staring. Then you hear a carriage approaching.

**6th Prince:** [Grins] Seven is here.

**MC:** [Shocked] The 7th Prince?

The 7th Prince's leg injury confines him to a wheelchair, so how could he ride, much less joining the hunt?

**6th Prince:** Seven isn't what he used to be, but horseback shooting is a skill you can never forget, and there's always a way if you looked hard enough.

A retinue carries the 7th Prince off the carriage, as the stableman brings him a specially equipped steed.

There's a special saddle obviously customized for the prince, who, however, seems to be irritated at it. The servants shudder at his gloomy countenance.

**6th Prince:** [Hustles over] You're finally here! The County Lady and I have been waiting.

The irked prince immediately turns your way.

**7th Prince:** County Lady? You're indeed alive?

## Guard Against Fear

All of a sudden, his perturbance and melancholy is replaced with fear and despair as if you were a genuine ghost.

Your suspicion and curiosity grow as you approach.

**MC:** Of course I'm still alive, 7th Prince? Would you like proof?

**7th Prince:** Don't come any closer! Stay away from me!

**MC:** His Majesty, the queen, the consort, they've all seen and spoken with me. They know I'm back so why is it so hard for you to believe and be so terrified of me?

**7th Prince:** [Shakes head vigorously] No, impossible, you can't be MC! Now tell me who you are!

He vehemently denies your existence with great caution and madness, all the while you remain still, baffled. Sensing something has gone horribly wrong, the Sixth Prince tries to defuse the situation the best he could.

**6th Prince:** What are you talking about, Seven? She is indeed MC! Do you know something we don't?

Seven doesn't respond except keeping his eyes on you, before suddenly barking out an order.

**7th Prince:** Get me out of here NOW! I don't want to see her!

## Very Suspicious

Seven is hoisted into the carriage and soon whisked away, leaving you to wonder.

**MC:** (What's going on? Is this all Sixth's doing? It's already suspicious that he invited me to the hunt...)

'*MC:* You must have some clue to why 7th Prince would say anything that bizarre, right, Sixth Prince?

**6th Prince:** I don't. All I know is he is terrified of you. Two years ago, did he do this to you?

He puts his hands around the throat and imitates strangulation.

**MC:** [Rolls eyes] I have nothing against him. Plus, he was still sick then and couldn't do anything to me.

**6th Prince:** It's not necessary to kill personally when you can get others to do it for you. Other than that, I don't get why he would think you're a ghost seeking retribution from him.

His smile is inscrutable, bordering on devious, enough to spook you more than the insane 7th Prince.

**MC:** Well, two years ago, His Majesty sent me to Mount Tianchi to pray for Mother Queen. It was kept secret till now, so please don't start any rumors. We don't want it finding it's way to His Majesty.

**6th Prince:** [Smile fades] Were you in Mount Tianchi this whole time?

**MC:** Of course.

**6th Prince"** Pardon me for reading too much into it.

He is quick with the apology, but whether he believed you remains to be seen. However...

**MC:** (Why are these princes acting weirder than the one before? Is everybody in the imperial family like this?)