Chapter 13: Autumn Hunt Begins

At long last, they arrived in Luobei.

Vast grasslands stretched endlessly into dense forests. It was a place where one could gallop freely across open plains or ride through the mountains beneath the canopy of ancient woods.

After a night’s rest, the autumn hunt officially began the next morning.

During the opening review ceremony, the young nobles were all full of vigor and spirit.

The primal excitement and aggression of youth radiated from them.

Gone were the luxurious robes fashionable in Yejing.

Instead, they wore handsome riding attire.

Some of the younger boys even wore forehead bands set with gemstones, eye-catching and brilliant beneath the sunlight.

Though Lin Xiaoque had no intention of participating, he dressed appropriately for the occasion.

Narrow sleeves.

A fitted riding jacket.

Tall boots.

The outfit emphasized his slim waist.

His body wasn’t particularly strong, but wrapped in Hu-style riding clothes, the contrast between his pale skin and the deep colors of the garments became striking—like snow wrapped in crimson.

Many eyes turned toward him.

Whispers spread.

“Whose son is that?”

“Or is he a ge’er?”

“Which family does he belong to?”

Lin Xiaoque rarely left the palace and almost never attended outside banquets.

Very few people had ever seen him.

For a while, no one could identify him.

Only when attendants guided him to a seat not far from the Emperor did some finally realize who he was.

The Empress wore a veil, revealing only a pair of breathtaking eyes.

Among the married ge’er attending the banquet, everyone wore veils.

No matter how exquisite or expensive those veils were, Lin Xiaoque felt suffocated just looking at them.

Married and unmarried women did not need to cover their faces.

Unmarried ge’er were not legally required to veil themselves either.

Yet because of prevailing social customs, most unmarried ge’er still chose to hide their faces whenever large crowds were present.

In the Daye Empire, ge’er occupied the lowest social position.

Their lives were restricted in countless ways.

Before marriage, they retained a measure of freedom.

After marriage, however, they essentially became their husbands’ possessions.

Their status was little different from that of a devoted household servant.

Many spirited young women also participated in the hunt.

Most were daughters of important officials.

Very few ge’er took part.

Even though unmarried ge’er faced fewer restrictions, social pressure remained powerful.

In public gatherings, they were expected to be quiet, graceful, and proper.

Those few exceptionally beautiful ge’er who appeared without veils became the focus of everyone’s attention.

Interestingly, many women sought ge’er spouses as well.

Some found men’s arrogance and machismo unbearable.

Rather than marrying a man, they preferred bringing a handsome, considerate ge’er into their household.

Several princes were seated near Lin Xiaoque.

They exchanged the usual polite greetings.

Consort Li was there as well, carrying the two-year-old Ninth Prince.

The little prince’s chubby cheeks were irresistibly adorable.

Seeing Lin Xiaoque’s obvious fascination, Consort Li teased him.

“Next year, when Your Highness marries and has a few children of your own, your household will be lively and bustling.”

“By then, you may find children rather noisy.”

Lin Xiaoque smiled.

Consort Li insisted he hold the Ninth Prince for practice.

“Consider it preparation.”

Very carefully, Lin Xiaoque accepted the child.

The first thing he noticed was how heavy the little prince was.

His arms quickly grew sore.

Gently poking the baby’s round cheek, he intended to return him immediately.

But the Ninth Prince suddenly burst into laughter.

His eyes sparkled with delight.

No one knew what was amusing him so much.

Watching him laugh, Lin Xiaoque found himself smiling too.

He touched the baby’s tiny hand.

Soft.

Warm.

Tender.

Pretending to take a playful bite, he leaned forward.

The Ninth Prince immediately pouted and looked ready to cry.

Lin Xiaoque hurriedly backed away.

“I didn’t actually bite you.”

“Don’t be scared.”

The Empress had tried very hard not to look in that direction.

He failed.

His gaze drifted over despite himself.

Watching Lin Xiaoque happily holding a child sent a sharp ache through his chest.

For one terrifying moment, a thought surfaced:

I want to give him children.

His heart jolted.

The Empress immediately lowered his eyes.

He dared not look any longer.

When the review ceremony concluded, several young eunuchs carried forward a massive bow.

Only then did Emperor Xiao Juan rise.

Taking the bow, he entered the field.

A majestic black horse waited below.

With a fluid motion, Xiao Juan mounted.

Then he surged forward.

The generals followed close behind.

The princes.

The noble heirs.

Everyone rushed after him.

Strong winds sang through horn bows.

Horses thundered across the grasslands.

Young men shouted with excitement.

Looking toward the vast sky, Xiao Juan drew his bow.

The arrow flew.

A fierce eagle cried out and plummeted from the heavens.

The Emperor’s first arrow struck perfectly.

The autumn hunt had officially begun.

The military had already surrounded the enormous hunting grounds.

Commoners were forbidden entry.

The entire region was open to the hunters.

Groups of young nobles scattered in all directions.

Drums thundered.

Bells rang.

Battle banners snapped violently in the wind.

Xiao Juan released three arrows simultaneously.

Two innocent wild geese cried mournfully as they fell.

The third arrow merely grazed another goose’s feathers.

The bird escaped by the narrowest margin.

Xiao Juan’s eyes darkened.

Another arrow flashed.

The goose’s cries stopped instantly.

Pierced through.

It dropped lifelessly from the sky.

Watching from the outdoor banquet area, Lin Xiaoque couldn’t help feeling envious.

The fierce horses charging across the plains fascinated him.

He wanted to ride one himself.

And Xiao Juan—

For all the irritation Lin Xiaoque felt toward him, he had to admit the Emperor possessed overwhelming presence.

His authority was imposing.

His power undeniable.

Even from afar, he radiated danger.

Lin Xiaoque’s gaze skipped past Xiao Juan.

It settled upon Marquis Qin Min.

Qin Min rode a magnificent Ferghana horse.

Years of warfare had tempered him.

Though clearly stirred by the hunt, he wasn’t shouting excitedly like the younger participants.

Lin Xiaoque soon noticed something interesting.

Qin Min rarely fired arrows.

But whenever he did—

He never missed.

Every shot found its target.

A quiet master hidden among the crowd.

Each participant’s arrows carried unique markings.

Even if a hunter couldn’t immediately retrieve his prey, it didn’t matter.

Officials collected all kills and recorded them.

When the hunt concluded, rewards would be distributed according to those records.

Separate hunting grounds existed for women and ge’er.

The animals there were considerably safer.

Rabbits.

Pheasants.

Young lambs.

Nothing dangerous.

No wild boars.

No tigers.

No bears.

Meanwhile, some ambitious young men eager to impress the Emperor would deliberately seek out dangerous beasts.

Every year, people died attempting to kill tigers or bears.

Qin Min himself had become famous as a youth by hunting a tiger and two wild boars in a single hunt.

The late Emperor rewarded him generously.

That achievement marked the beginning of his meteoric rise.

In all the years since, no one had matched such bravery.

Those who recklessly tried to imitate him often lost their lives.

Their families received little sympathy.

Instead, others criticized them for raising foolish children who didn’t know their limits.

Meanwhile, Xun Sui rode toward the hunting grounds reserved for women and ge’er.

His mood was foul.

“Why are we stuck hunting rabbits and pheasants?”

“The men get to go anywhere they want.”

“Who exactly are they looking down on?”

Another ge’er tried to soothe him.

“Why compete with those rough men?”

“They’re acting like animals newly released from cages.”

“If one of them crashes into you and you fall from your horse, that won’t be a small matter.”

“Exactly,” another added.

“My half-brother broke his leg last year.”

“He insisted on forcing himself into the crowd despite having terrible riding skills.”

“His horse panicked.”

“He fell.”

“They carried him back screaming.”

“It was humiliating.”

Xun Sui snorted.

“I’m not some useless coward.”

“Of course not,” another ge’er quickly agreed.

“Everyone knows Young Master Xun’s riding and archery are exceptional.”

“No one could compare.”

The flattery improved his mood.

At that moment, a rabbit darted from nearby brush.

Xun Sui immediately drew his bow.

Twang.

Miss.

Second arrow.

Miss.

Before he could release a third shot, the rabbit had already vanished.

Furious, Xun Sui cursed loudly.

“Which idiot released that rabbit?”

“It runs around like its life depends on it!”

The others exchanged awkward glances.

Of course it runs. It’s a rabbit.

But none dared say so.

Xun Sui’s face darkened.

Suddenly, he pointed toward one of his guards.

“You.”

“Bring Yun Muhe here.”

His eyes flashed with anger.

“If I can’t hit a rabbit—”

“Then surely I can hit a lowly s*ave.”

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