DIHBSG chapter 36

Great Yan’s tradition was to hold the annual imperial hunt after the first snowfall. A hunting ground would be marked out in advance, and people would drive wild beasts into the imperial hunting grounds, waiting only for the day the first snow arrived.

The 23rd day of the 11th lunar month.

Besides the members of the imperial family, many officials and their families were also invited to this year’s winter hunt. Song Jian also heard Gong Defu say that this year’s grand prize was a night pearl the size of an egg, extremely precious and rare.

With such a grand prize, this year’s winter hunt was even more spectacular than in previous years.

Song Jian followed closely behind the imperial procession, occasionally asking Gong Defu in a low voice, “Eunuch Defu, who is that?”

Gong Defu replied with a smile, “Lord Song, that is Prince Ying and the Heir of Prince Ying.”

A moment later, he asked again, “What about the people behind the Heir of Prince Ying?”

“Replying to Lord Song, those are Young Lord Gao and Young Lord Tang. They win lots of prizes at the winter hunt every year.”

Song Jian nodded.

After he asked several more questions, Gong Defu simply took the initiative to explain everything to him.

“Last year’s grand prize went to General Yan’s residence. Next were Young Lord Tang and Young Lord Gao. They’re all among the best horseback archers in the capital.”

“But if this old servant may say so, when it comes to horseback archery, no one in all of Great Yan compares to His Majesty.”

Song Jian asked curiously, “Oh?”

Gong Defu wore an adoring, bashful expression. “Last year, when a wolf pack attacked during the hunt, His Majesty’s archery was truly extraordinary. From dozens of meters away, every arrow struck a wolf right in the head. If prizes were awarded purely by prey hunted, then the grand prize should definitely have belonged to His Majesty.”

Song Jian enthusiastically chimed in, “Mm!”

Gong Defu’s orchid fingers practically curled into the air. “Hehehehe~”

“Our His Majesty is the dream of so many young men and young women in the capital—”

“Gong Defu.”

Halfway through his sentence, a deep warning voice came from within the imperial carriage.

The old and young pair who had been chattering immediately fell silent.

But it didn’t stay quiet for long, because there was still one question Song Jian cared about—

“Has the Tiancha Division ever won any prizes in previous years?”

Gong Defu glanced toward the person inside the carriage and lowered his voice even further behind his hand. “Lord Song, the Tiancha Division’s duty is to stay by His Majesty’s side and protect his safety. The fact that they’re even allowed to personally enter the hunt is already His Majesty’s grace. Why are you still thinking about prizes?”

Song Jian: “?”

So after all this, the Tiancha Division had no human rights?

Song Jian also looked toward the person inside the carriage.

The man reclined lazily, resting his head on one hand. As though sensing Song Jian’s gaze, his eyes drifted lightly downward.

Song Jian: “…”

Why did he suddenly have a bad feeling?

The hunting grounds were twenty li outside the capital. There stood Yilin Palace, an imperial villa built when Great Yan first established its capital. Every year during the winter hunt, the emperor would stay there.¹20 li (里) =10 kilometers ≈ 6.2 miles

Besides the palace, temporary imperial tents had been erected outside. The imperial clan and the officials had pitched their tents nearby as well, making the place quite lively.

In Song Jian’s imagination, coming to the winter hunt this time meant he could openly follow Xiao Yongning and Xiao Da around, playing with little bows and arrows and catching little rabbits or something.

He hadn’t expected that even the head workhorse didn’t get a day off.

Inside the bright yellow imperial tent, the man was selecting a suitable bow while several young eunuchs carefully polished the arrows in one corner.

And Song Jian was now standing beside the man with lifeless eyes.

I want to die.

But somehow it felt like the one who deserved to die wasn’t him.

Did he really have to be a shadow guard?

Why couldn’t he resign?

Bursts of laughter drifted in from outside the tent from time to time, making Song Jian’s heart ache so much he could barely breathe.

Before long, the tent flap was gently lifted. Gong Defu announced, “Your Majesty, Young General Yan has arrived.”

Xiao Yinghuai stroked the bow in his hand. “Let him in.”

Young General Yan’s full name was Yan Jiaci. He was Yan Chong’s eldest son. Having grown up in the army under Yan Chong since childhood, he had already ridden into battle alongside Xiao Yinghuai before Xiao Yinghuai ascended the throne. At such a young age, he was already covered in military merit.

He carried himself with an upright and imposing aura as he entered the tent and saluted.

“This subject greets Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yinghuai said, “Rise. I selected a few bows just now. Come help me see which one is suitable.”

Yan Jiaci walked over and stopped before the weapon rack. Before long, ruler and subject began discussing them.

Only Song Jian stared blankly ahead. Every now and then he had to catch another bow the emperor casually handed him. Several times, the weight nearly made him stumble to the ground.

No one knew how much time had passed before the tent flap lifted slightly again.

Song Jian was still spacing out when he suddenly heard a voice from ahead.

“psst psst~”

His eyes shifted toward the sound.

It was Xiao Yongning poking her head inside.

Xiao Yongning blinked at him. “psst psst~” Then she held up the little bow and arrows in her hand.

Song Jian’s eyes lit up as well, and he quietly answered, “psst psst~”

Mouthing the words, Xiao Yongning asked, “When~~can~~you~~come~~out~~~~”

Song Jian wanted to know too!

He anxiously blinked twice on the spot and mouthed back, “I——don’t——know——”

Xiao Yinghuai’s eyelids lifted almost imperceptibly.

“I tried this bow last year. Too light.”

Yan Jiaci, however, had already noticed the emperor’s brief distraction. Without showing it, he glanced at the person standing beside the emperor.

Song Jian looked longingly outside the tent.

“QnQ.”

I really want to go out.

Xiao Yongning squatted there for a while. Before long, Xiao Da also came over and leaned over Xiao Yongning’s head to look inside.

After watching for a bit, he chuckled and whispered to Xiao Yongning, “Why don’t we stop waiting for him? I don’t think Imperial Brother plans on letting him come out and play at all.”

Song Jian: “??”

Wait.

He coughed twice anxiously and blinked frantically.

Wait for me! Wait for me!

Xiao Da smiled as he waved and mouthed, “Bye-bye, Lord Song. We’ll head off first.”

Song Jian: “T_T”

“Xiao Da.”

Just as they started moving outside the tent, the man called out.

Xiao Da froze, then slowly turned his head back with a fake smile.

“Imperial Brother.”

The man’s gaze lifted slightly.

“Come in.”

Xiao Da: “…”

After standing there quietly for a moment, he dejectedly walked into the tent.

When Xiao Yongning saw Xiao Da go in, she froze for a moment before following him inside. Standing there with her hands behind her back, she blankly met Song Jian’s gaze.

Somehow, all three of them had been caught together again.

The emperor asked nothing and continued looking down at the bows.

After a long while—

“Go inspect the terrain around the hunting grounds for me.”

It took Song Jian quite a while to realize the assignment was for him.

He looked up and hurriedly said, “Yes, Your Majesty! This subordinate will definitely complete the mission!”

“Put the bow down and go.”

Xiao Da and Xiao Yongning quickly came over to help him set the bow onto the table.

“This younger sister, this younger brother take our leave!”

The three of them dashed out of the tent in a blur, leaving Yan Jiaci standing beside the emperor in slight confusion.

The terrain around the hunting grounds…

Did it really need someone else to inspect it?

He looked toward the emperor.

The emperor looked back at him.

Yan Jiaci: “…”

“This bow really is… a fine bow.”

After coming out of the imperial tent, Song Jian felt even the air had become fresher.

He skipped along beside Xiao Yongning and asked, “Can we go hunting now?”

Xiao Yongning replied, “Yep! The official hunt isn’t until tomorrow. Today we can play however we want, as long as we don’t go too far!”

Seeing everyone else riding horses, Song Jian said, “Let’s go get horses too!”

“Okay okay okay!”

They soon arrived at the stables.

Both Xiao Yongning and Xiao Da had their own horses. Song Jian didn’t, so he picked a young horse that looked especially gentle.

He patted its head.

“Be good and let me ride you for a bit. I’ll cut grass for you afterward.”

The little horse snorted. “Pfft!”

Song Jian took that as agreement and happily led the little horse away with Xiao Yongning and the others.

The hunting grounds outside the capital were enormous, divided into many different areas. The area they were in now was very close to the campsite.

Along the way, Song Jian kept trying to bond with the little horse while Xiao Yongning and Xiao Da had long since mounted theirs.

Xiao Da looked at him smugly.

“This prince’s horse is the finest breed from Jiangnan. Lord Song, want to give it a try?”

Song Jian ignored him and patted the little horse.

“I’m getting on now.”

The little horse snorted again.

Grabbing the reins, Song Jian put one foot in the stirrup and swung himself onto its back.

“Pfft!”

The little horse shook its head, then slowly began walking forward.

Song Jian exclaimed, “Xiao Ba! Xiao Ba, look! The little horse let me ride it!”

Xiao Yongning clapped enthusiastically from the side.

“Yay!”

When Xiao Yinghuai stepped out of the tent, the first thing he saw was the young man leisurely riding the little horse.

His movements were extremely awkward. He clearly had no idea how to ride.

Whenever he wanted to turn left, he would pat the horse’s left cheek.

“This way, this way!”

Whenever he wanted to turn right, he would pat its right cheek.

“Okay, okay, now you can turn this way!”

Surprisingly, the little horse cooperated.

Xiao Yinghuai also recognized that horse.

It was Jinjue’s foal.

Jinjue was his horse.

Xiao Yinghuai stood outside the tent watching for quite some time.

Jinjue had always had a fierce temperament. Back then, it had taken him a very long time to tame it.

As for Jinjue’s foal…

Xiao Yinghuai certainly didn’t remember it being some gentle, obedient little horse.

Today’s behavior was rather unusual.

Gong Defu and Yan Jiaci stood silently on either side of the emperor.

“Little horse, little horse, go faster!”

“See that? Catch up to the people in front!”

The little horse perked up and galloped forward a couple of steps.

But after only two steps, it stopped again.

Xiao Yongning and Xiao Da, carrying bows and arrows, were planning to head into the woods to hunt some pheasants and rabbits. Yet after waiting quite a while, no one had caught up.

When they turned around, they found Song Jian riding the little horse in circles.

“Lord Song!” Xiao Yongning shouted.

“Are you playing around?!” Xiao Da yelled.

Song Jian was practically sweating.

He patted the horse’s head.

“Little horse, stop spinning. I… I… blegh… I’m going to… throw up…”

The little horse kept running in circles and refusing to go forward.

Song Jian: “@~@”

Help…

Only after spinning until Song Jian was so dizzy he couldn’t even lift his head did the little horse suddenly go wild.

It spread all four hooves and charged wildly in every direction, excitedly carrying Song Jian on a huge loop.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

The little horse’s eyes were as round as bronze bells.

“!!!!”

Xiao Yongning and Xiao Da were dumbfounded.

Everyone else was too.

Song Jian cried, “Wuwuwu~~~”

In the chaos, he looked toward the bright yellow imperial tent.

“Your… Your Majesty… Your Majesty, save me…”

“Wuu~”

Xiao Yinghuai: “…”

He knew it.

Just as Xiao Yinghuai was about to step forward to rescue the fool from the horse, another figure flashed over first at the critical moment.

Song Jian was so dizzy the little horse finally threw him into the air.

But the painful impact he had expected never came.

Someone caught him.

“Lord Song, are you alright?”

Song Jian dizzily opened his eyes.

“Blegh~~~”

He heard Xiao Yongning rushing over and shouting,

“Young Lord Tang!”

So it was Tang Lai’s son.

Song Jian weakly raised one hand.

“Thank you so much, Young Lord Tang. You’re such a good person.”

Xiao Yinghuai stopped walking not far away.

Gong Defu and Yan Jiaci secretly glanced at the emperor’s expression.

Hiss~~~~

Xiao Yinghuai said expressionlessly, “Heh.”

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  20 li (里) =10 kilometers ≈ 6.2 miles