Preparations

Ming Shu looked sourly to her brother and cousins preparing their hunting equipment. This era was very contradictory on women.

Although women could participate in war and government there were some occasions that they were still excluded.

The Imperial Hunt was one of them.

Because of pedantic Imperial rules only noblemen could hunt together with the Emperor. Woman, even if she was a General was absolutely prohibited from the hunting grounds. She could only accompany the other noblewomen in the villa close to the hunting grounds.

Maybe her grudge was too strong, Li Muqing looked at her. Seeing her envious look, Muqing, who couldn't waist a chance to mess with her immediately got his spirits up.

"If you look more sour you will have no difference from a vinegar jar"

The other five froze for a moment but went back to what they were doing. Picking a bone with their little tigress was never a good idea. If that stupid Muqing wanted to fight with her that was his thing and had nothing to do with them.

Slowly they distances themselves from him.

"What did you say?"

Ming Shu looked at her cousin who would always irritate her on purpose. As the end was always the same, she sometimes wondered if he liked to be beaten. She remembers that in her past life she heard of some official who... had a rather peculiar hobby. Maybe her second cousin was the same.

"Just saying... what you are even doing here? As a woman you shouldn't you be in your boudoir doing embroidery? You can't even participate in the hunting as a frail woman, so I don't you scr-"

"Frail? My, my. That was the first you said so to me, but impressive enough it irks me more than when you say the opposite. So my dear second cousin, why don't I show between me and you who is too frail for hunting?"

Not even waiting for his reaction she plunged herself in him and started their usual interaction: a one-sided beating.

The three others didn't even spare Muqing a glance, only Li Muchen, the youngest looked at his Second Brother and Cousin with a puzzled looked.

"Why don't you just disguise yourself as one of us. Our faces are not very known and those that do wouldn't speak nonsense"

Ming Shu fist stopped in middle air and she looked unexpectedly to her youngest -and cutest- cousin.

"This is a crime of describing the Emperor, if found our nine generations will be executed"

Muchen scratched his head. He didn't know was such a serious offense, he only thought since his dear cousin wanted to take part of the hunting it was only a matter of course give to her the spot.

"This is only if you get caught" Her brother added.

"It's too dangerous passing yourself as us. Maybe you can disguise as one of our attendants" Li Muli said with a pensive look.

"It's perfect! No one pay attention to attendants anyway and they can accompany us to the hunting grounds since those feeble nobles need help with their hunting" Li Muzhong added to his third brother idea.

"I can gracefully lend my attended position to you" even Muqing who was being beaten seconds ago spoke in order to help her.

Seeing their discussing how to bring her together made her nose a little sour. It was always like this, in this or the past life, they would always make anything to comply to her whims. In the past she always took for granting, but after passing through all the malice and indifference nce that mankind could offer, she knew that this relationship she had with them was truly special. Someone who gives all they can to you without anything in exchange should be cherish with all your life, and that's what she was going to do this time.

Seeing Ming Shu in a daze without answering their suggestions, Muqing couldn't help but flick her head.

"So, what you think?"

Holding her head she looked at Muqing and then to the other four who had expectant looks.

She shook her head.

"Why?" Muchen asked in dismay.

"Even if a fool the people in the hunting ground, what about the people in the villa. As the Princess companion I'm bound to attract some attention. If Princess enemies found out it would lead to many horrible consequences"

Seeing that they were trying to figure out a way for her again, she quickly add.

"Don't mess around, hunting am I rare? Cant we just go another day and hunt in the mountains nearby by ourselves? What is so fun about pre-prepared preys"

The five of them nodded. The little tigress is right, not only the preys had no excitement in catching they had to have a certain amount of propriety when hunting. Who is elegant hunting? Please they were from the military they only know how to kill a prey without those fancy things.

Li Muzhong patted her head.

"You're right, rather than fun hunting we have fun because of those boring second generation young masters who only know the books or to flaunt their status and money"

"Elder brother is right. Wait for a month and we can go to real hunting"

"Hm" Ming Shu nodded.

Just like this they brushed all her discomfort. She nodded to herself in her heart. There's nothing that compares to selfless family love.