Chapter 15: Encountering a tiger while rescuing someone

Qin Min invited him onto a horse.

For some reason, Lin Xiaoque didn’t ask a single question before swinging himself onto the saddle.

Qin Min took hold of the reins and led the horse forward.

The horse walked slowly, utterly unlike the wild arrogance of a galloping steed. It ambled lazily, leisurely, even stopping now and then to tug at roadside grass and chew.

Qin Min explained that this was the favorite companion of his famous horse Zhuifeng. Its name was Taxue, and its temperament was the complete opposite of Zhuifeng’s thousand-li-a-day ferocity.

Normally, it liked nothing more than grazing, basking in the sun, and wandering about at its own pace.

Curious, Lin Xiaoque asked,

“Doesn’t Zhuifeng get impatient?”

Qin Min laughed.

“What’s the use? Unless Taxue feels like running, even if Zhuifeng chases after it, it’ll ignore him.”

Lin Xiaoque smiled and stroked Taxue.

The horse’s snowy coat and lazy disposition reassured him. Even sitting atop it, he never worried it would suddenly bolt and throw him off.

Thus Qin Min led him slowly onward.

Though there was no frantic galloping, Lin Xiaoque felt a quiet joy filling his heart.

After leaving the imperial villa, Zhuifeng was waiting nearby.

Qin Min asked,

“Would Your Highness like to experience what it feels like to travel a thousand li in a day?”

Lin Xiaoque certainly wanted to, but doubted he could handle such a horse.

Qin Min said,

“Would the Heir mind riding together with me?”

Lin Xiaoque’s gaze shifted from Zhuifeng to Qin Min.

Qin Min smiled with easy confidence.

“I absolutely won’t let Your Highness get hurt.”

Lin Xiaoque agreed.

He dismounted Taxue and approached Zhuifeng.

Zhuifeng had a notoriously bad temper.

For a moment, Lin Xiaoque’s stubborn streak surfaced and he walked right up.

The horse pawed the ground, snorting heavily, but even after Lin Xiaoque mounted it, it made no aggressive move.

Meanwhile, Taxue continued happily chewing roadside weeds.

Yet the moment Zhuifeng approached, apparently intending to get closer to Taxue, the lazy horse suddenly shot forward without warning.

Half a stalk of grass still dangled from its mouth.

Zhuifeng instantly gave chase.

Lin Xiaoque lurched backward in alarm. He reached for the reins and missed.

Before he could react, Qin Min had already vaulted onto the horse behind him.

“Hold tight.”

One arm wrapped around Lin Xiaoque’s waist while the other seized the reins.

“Taxue runs very fast.”

Amid the roaring wind, Qin Min’s voice sounded oddly distant despite being right beside his ear.

“I forgot to tell Your Highness—Taxue is also a famous thousand-li horse. She’s lazy, but she’s never inferior to Zhuifeng!”

Lin Xiaoque opened his mouth to reply and got a mouthful of wind.

The earlier fright still lingered.

After several moments, he finally managed:

“So you never intended to let me ride a slow horse at all.”

Whether it was Taxue or Zhuifeng, neither could be called gentle or slow.

Taxue’s laziness had probably been nothing more than bait.

Qin Min had merely used her appearance to ease his fears.

Qin Min burst into laughter.

“Since we’ve come all the way to Luobei, how can you not experience the wild northern winds?”

“Your Highness, if this wind makes you sick, you may beat me, scold me, punish me however you like.”

“But if it doesn’t…”

“Then be my friend.”

The fast horse and rushing wind made Lin Xiaoque laugh too.

The fear faded away.

In its place came an indescribable exhilaration.

“Faster!”

“Catch Taxue!”

“If you catch her, I’ll gladly be your friend, Marquis!”

Laughing loudly, Qin Min urged Zhuifeng onward.

Taxue refused to lose and charged toward the blazing afternoon sun.

Lin Xiaoque felt the heroic spirit of Kuafu chasing the sun itself.

The wind stung his face.

But his heart overflowed with joy.

Dust.

Wind.

Scorching sunlight.

Galloping horses.

Qin Min caught Taxue.

The instant she was caught, Taxue immediately returned to her lazy self, pawing the ground and searching around for grass.

The unfinished half-stalk she’d been chewing had long since fallen somewhere along the road.

Taxue seemed rather regretful about that.

Qin Min helped Lin Xiaoque down from the horse.

Still dizzy from excitement, Lin Xiaoque took a step forward—

—and pain exploded along the inside of his thighs.

His skin had been rubbed raw.

But unwilling to appear weak, he concealed it completely.

Qin Min pulled a wineskin from the saddle and tossed it over.

“Catch!”

Lin Xiaoque barely managed to.

Qin Min grinned.

“I caught Taxue, which means the Heir has become my friend.”

“Such a joyous occasion deserves a drink!”

The exhilaration of the ride still lingered.

Lin Xiaoque uncorked the wineskin and drank alongside him.

“So spicy!”

He immediately coughed.

Qin Min laughed.

“The north is cold. Good liquor should burn a person from the inside out.”

But when he saw Lin Xiaoque raising the wineskin again, he quickly stopped him.

“The friendship of gentlemen is as pure as water. If Your Highness keeps drinking alone, it’ll make me look like some petty villain.”

Lin Xiaoque laughed.

“What kind of logic is that?”

Qin Min laughed as well.

He merely wanted the young heir to experience the joy of swift horses and strong wine.

He truly didn’t want him falling ill.

Just as Qin Min was about to speak again—

A sharp arrow suddenly shot from the forest.

Straight at Lin Xiaoque.

Qin Min’s expression instantly turned icy.

Drawing his saber, he rushed forward and slashed the arrow in half.

“Who’s there?!”

A terrifying thought flashed through his mind.

Could it be that His Majesty wants him dead?

A figure came tumbling out of the forest.

The person lost footing and rolled to a stop directly in front of Lin Xiaoque.

Behind him came a group of people pursuing him with bows and arrows.

Qin Min shouted,

“Who dares use the Autumn Hunt as cover for murder?!”

The leader of the group was none other than Xun Sui, the Prime Minister’s son.

His archery was abysmal.

The s*ave had managed to flee everywhere, causing a huge disturbance.

Consumed by rage, he didn’t even care who else was present and raised his bow again.

Someone beside him finally recognized the two men ahead and immediately slapped the bow aside.

His aim was terrible enough already.

If he hit the s*ave, fine.

But if he accidentally wounded a noble…

Xun Sui had the Prime Minister backing him.

People like them did not.

“You!”

Furious, Xun Sui slapped the man across the face.

The man clutched his cheek.

“Young Master! That’s the Marquis and the Heir!”

Only then did Xun Sui properly look over.

“Oh, so it’s Marquis Qin and the Heir.”

“My apologies.”

“This household s*ave of mine is disobedient and frightened horses, nearly injuring people. I merely wished to teach him a lesson and improve his behavior.”

“I never intended to offend distinguished guests.”

Then he added:

“I am Xun Sui. My father is Xun Youzhang.”

“If I’ve caused offense, I hope you’ll be magnanimous.”

Though phrased as an apology, pride practically seeped from every word.

He was the Prime Minister’s child.

He wasn’t afraid of some marquis or heir.

Still, there was no need to make enemies over a trivial matter.

As for the s*ave—

Once they returned, he’d settle the score properly.

Qin Min wasn’t fooled in the slightest.

The Prime Minister had already become a thorn in the Emperor’s side.

Yet his family still acted so arrogantly.

The thought of those stray arrows nearly striking Lin Xiaoque made Qin Min’s grip tighten so hard he nearly crushed the saber hilt.

Without patience for further excuses, he suddenly hurled his saber.

The blade sliced off a lock of Xun Sui’s hair before embedding itself deep into a tree trunk behind him.

Only then did Xun Sui realize what had happened.

He screamed and frantically felt his face and neck.

Finding no blood, he collapsed onto the ground, trembling and gasping.

Qin Min said coldly,

“You should be grateful you didn’t injure the Heir.”

“Otherwise losing a lock of hair would be the least of your worries.”

“When you return, tell your father this—”

“If he doesn’t know how to teach his child, someone else will do it for him.”

Still shaking, Xun Sui couldn’t even speak.

His attendants hurriedly carried him away.

In their panic, they even forgot about the s*ave.

Qin Min retrieved his saber and returned to Lin Xiaoque.

Only after carefully checking him over from every angle did he finally relax.

After questioning him repeatedly, Lin Xiaoque reassured him:

“I’m not hurt. Don’t worry.”

Then he lowered his gaze toward the fallen man.

“But he needs treatment immediately.”

Yun Muhe lay on the ground covered in scrapes and blood.

His hair was disheveled.

Through the strands falling over his face, he looked directly at Lin Xiaoque.

So this was the Heir.

The person Xun Sui occasionally mentioned while insulting him.

The Heir who loved Zhichi.

The Heir who had knelt for a long time pleading on Zhichi’s behalf.

Lin Xiaoque crouched down.

“Do you have any broken bones?”

He didn’t dare move him carelessly and risk worsening the injury.

Yun Muhe couldn’t answer.

He had remained calm before Xun Sui because deep down he had never acknowledged Xun Sui’s authority.

He knew Zhichi would never approve of such behavior either.

But now—

The Heir crouched beside him, speaking with such concern.

The afternoon sunlight shone behind him.

The boundless sky stretched behind him.

Looking at him, Yun Muhe suddenly felt ashamed of himself.

Lin Xiaoque gently brushed aside the messy hair covering his face and softly patted his head.

“Don’t be afraid.”

“No one here will hurt you.”

“Can you move? Are any bones broken?”

Seeing tears gathering in Yun Muhe’s eyes, Lin Xiaoque assumed the pain must be unbearable.

Turning to Qin Min, he asked:

“Marquis, could you find a carriage?”

Injuries were common during the hunt.

Imperial physicians remained stationed at the palace.

Since his horsemanship was poor, only Qin Min could go.

Qin Min hesitated.

He didn’t want to leave Lin Xiaoque alone.

Lin Xiaoque said,

“I’m still a royal heir. No one’s going to assassinate me in broad daylight.”

“Please go quickly.”

Qin Min replied,

“Call me Qin Min.”

A faint smile appeared on Lin Xiaoque’s face.

“All right, Qin Min.”

Hearing his name spoken so softly made Qin Min feel as though he’d returned to his youth.

Like a spring of clear water falling from drifting clouds and forgotten dreams.

He hadn’t become drunk from the wine.

Yet now he felt slightly intoxicated.

Suppressing the urge to ask for more, he handed his saber to Lin Xiaoque for protection.

Then he left Zhuifeng behind.

Patting the horse’s flank, he warned:

“Protect them well.”

“Otherwise you’ll never see Taxue again.”

Zhuifeng pawed the ground and snorted in agreement.

Taxue smelled the blood and lost interest in grazing.

When Qin Min mounted her, she didn’t even complain.

Instead, she obediently galloped away.

Once Qin Min disappeared, Zhuifeng began circling Lin Xiaoque and Yun Muhe.

Though clearly unhappy, it still obeyed its master’s command.

If arrows came, it would block them.

If enemies charged, it would trample them.

If swords appeared—

Well, then it would drag Lin Xiaoque onto its back and run.

As for the bloody stranger on the ground…

Sorry.

Its master hadn’t told it to protect him.

Gradually calming down, Yun Muhe attempted to stand.

Only then did he realize his leg was broken.

Lin Xiaoque quickly supported him and carefully laid him flat again.

“Don’t move.”

“Wait for the physician.”

After crouching so long, Lin Xiaoque’s own legs had gone numb.

He simply sat down beside him.

The autumn wind swept through the forest, cooling the lingering heat in his chest.

Zhuifeng continued pacing.

Lin Xiaoque said:

“You should rest too. There’s no danger.”

But suddenly the horse detected something.

Its entire body tensed.

It let out a low, urgent whinny and began nudging Lin Xiaoque anxiously.

Then they realized—

The scent of blood on Yun Muhe had attracted a predator.

This wasn’t the designated hunting ground for women and ge’er.

In his panic, Yun Muhe had fled deep into the forest.

Sensing danger, Lin Xiaoque gripped the saber and stood.

Zhuifeng looked ready to kick him.

Why wasn’t he getting on the horse and fleeing?!

At that critical moment—

A tiger emerged from the forest.

Lin Xiaoque froze.

His breathing stopped.

It’s over.

The next instant, he snapped back to reality.

Forget secondary injuries.

He grabbed Yun Muhe and tried dragging him toward the horse.

Then discovered—

He couldn’t lift him.

Zhuifeng was tall.

Lin Xiaoque could barely raise Yun Muhe a little, let alone get him into the saddle.

Meanwhile, the tiger kept approaching.

Yun Muhe shouted:

“Run!”

“Leave me!”

His shout triggered the tiger.

It lunged.

There was no longer time to escape.

Baring its teeth, Zhuifeng charged straight at the beast.

“Zhuifeng!”

Lin Xiaoque dropped Yun Muhe.

His hands shook violently around the saber.

For the first time in his life, he hated his own weakness.

233 shouted:

[Run! What are you standing there for?!]

[Let the s*ave hold the tiger back! With horse meat and human meat, it’ll have enough food and won’t chase you!]

But Lin Xiaoque couldn’t do it.

Seeing Zhuifeng wounded, tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

Yun Muhe pushed him.

“Run!”

“My leg is broken!”

“Don’t worry about me!”

“Run!”

With blurred vision, Lin Xiaoque gritted his teeth and dragged Yun Muhe away.

Seeing this, Yun Muhe suddenly seized the saber and tried to kill himself.

If he died—

He would no longer be a burden.

Lin Xiaoque stopped him.

Yun Muhe said:

“If you leave, you’ll save me.”

“If you stay, I’ll only die faster.”

At last, Lin Xiaoque released him and ran.

Meanwhile, seeing Lin Xiaoque flee, the bleeding Zhuifeng kicked the tiger fiercely before following after him.

Yun Muhe watched the tiger approach.

To die in a tiger’s jaws…

What a miserable ending.

Then—

A long arrow shot through the air and struck before the tiger, blocking its path.

Yun Muhe looked up.

A black horse.

An extraordinarily dazzling man.

And behind him—

Lin Xiaoque, crying so hard his face was a mess.

Immediately afterward, dozens of arrows followed.

The military officers and guards accompanying the man all loosed their bows.

The man declared:

“Kill the tiger!”

“Skin it!”

“Make a tiger pelt to soothe my frightened little jade s*ave!”

Yun Muhe’s heart sank.

So this was the Emperor of Daye.

The Emperor who had reduced Zhichi to a palace s*ave.