Chapter 166: The Emperor Departs
On this day of hunting, the harvest was quite abundant.
The Emperor and several military generals together hunted down a fierce tiger, while the Prince of Donghai and Princess Pingcheng, siblings, joined forces to hunt a wild boar.
Even the young Prince of Linhai, who had just learned horse riding, drew his bow and shot arrows under the guidance of his riding and shooting master.
His children inherited his valiant spirit, while the veteran generals who participated in the hunting had not let their skills rust, and many young people even surpassed their mentors, greatly pleasing the Emperor, who led everyone in a sacrifice, praying for favorable weather in the new year.
That evening, a grand banquet was held in the temporary palace, where the Emperor personally roasted the prey and rewarded the top ten most outstanding participants of this hunting expedition.
The ten young people stepped forward to receive the Emperor’s rewards, and the Emperor inquired about their names and backgrounds, drinking and chatting together.
Watching this scene, many young people felt very envious.
A young man looked at the person beside him with regret: “Yunxiao, you were just a little short of being selected.”
Another young man looked unconvinced: “Yeah, Yunxiao, how did you miss this time? That kid from the Duke of Zhongqin Mansion is no match for you.”
Yet another young man sighed in frustration: “The Capture the Flag was supposed to be won by Yunxiao too, but unfortunately it was interrupted midway.”
Thus, at this Martial Arts Banquet, the Heir of Duke Yongwu, Zhu Yunxiao, gained nothing and failed to show his face before the Emperor.
What a pity, what a pity.
His companions felt sorry for him, but Zhu Yunxiao was fine with it; watching the juniors standing before the Emperor, their faces flushed with excitement, he smiled.
“No matter, the timing wasn’t right,” he said.
Originally, this was a great opportunity, not only to show his face before the Emperor and receive praise, but also to get better acquainted with Miss Yang.
But he had overlooked one thing…
Zhu Yunxiao’s gaze swept over the lively banquet: imperial relatives, military generals, nobility, men and women; the Empress was surrounded by the ladies, Princess Pingcheng and her companion reader ladies, and scholars like Libationer Wang Zaitian were also among them.
There were no Wei Jiao, Miss Chai, or that Miss Yang from the Yang Family.
These three were injured and no longer attending.
And no one mentioned the matter of the injury anymore.
The Empress’s reaction at the time was not pursued by the Emperor either.
From this, it could be inferred that this Miss Yang did not hold much status in the Emperor’s eyes.
Alas, a miscalculation; he had sent the maidservant Asheng over then and deliberately mentioned his own name before the Emperor.
It must not be remembered by His Majesty, lest he be implicated by that Miss Yang.
So to dilute the Emperor’s memory, he refrained from competing during the subsequent hunting.
“These are minor matters,” Zhu Yunxiao said to his companions. “Our riding and shooting is not just to compete for hunting fame; we can compare again on the battlefield in the future.”
Though he said that, just as his companions were about to say something, a voice of admiration came from behind.
“Well said.”
They turned around and saw several scholars wearing cloaks and square headscarves, with the Grand Master of Deliberation at the center.
Not many civil officials had come this time, but the Grand Master of Deliberation was an imperial relative.
Lord Li enjoyed great prestige and was always aloof, never paying attention to these noble heirs.
The noble heirs were flattered and hurriedly paid respects and greeted him.
Lord Li only looked at Zhu Yunxiao and said, “Young Lord Zhu has both the vigor of youth and a steady mindset; he truly lives up to being the heir of Duke Yongwu.”
Zhu Yunxiao did not believe that Lord Li would treat him differently.
No courtesy without a reason; there must be a purpose.
He smiled and thanked him.
Lord Li did not leave but smiled at him: “I hear the Young Lord’s qin playing is excellent; I wonder if we could hear a piece.”
Zhu Yunxiao smiled and said, “Then this junior will make a fool of himself.”
With that, he walked to Lord Li’s side and left amid his companions’ envious gazes.
……
……
After a night of revelry at the banquet, the next day, following the imperial carriage of the Emperor and Empress, the people from the Martial Arts Banquet departed from the temporary palace in a procession of carriages and horses.
Except for two people.
Wei Jiao had successfully removed the arrowhead, but his injury was severe and he could not move; after the imperial physician reported it, the Emperor allowed him to recuperate on site.
And Miss Yang had not left either.
Wang Zaitian reported to the Emperor that she had been frightened and not yet recovered; returning to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion would inevitably lead to questioning and scolding, worsening her condition, so it was better to stay here a few more days.
The Emperor agreed upon hearing this.
As everyone left, the temporary palace gradually became quiet.
The eunuchs busied themselves sweeping and cleaning; Yang Luo, fearing neglect in the meals, came out to check and, just as she stepped out of the palace courtyard where she was staying, saw Zhu Yunxiao standing outside, instructing the eunuchs on something.
“Miss Asheng is here.” The eunuchs also saw her and quickly said, “The Young Lord sent a prescription…”
Yang Luo frowned and walked over: “Our young lady only uses medicine prescribed by the imperial physician.”
“It was my oversight,” Zhu Yunxiao said, taking back the prescription and thanking the eunuchs.
The eunuchs then withdrew.
Yang Luo said no more and walked past Zhu Yunxiao.
“Miss Asheng.” Zhu Yunxiao called, handing over a medicine box again. “This…”
“I said, our young lady cannot use medicine from outsiders,” Yang Luo interrupted him.
Zhu Yunxiao smiled: “It’s not for your young lady; it’s for the abrasion on Miss Asheng’s hand.”
Yang Luo was stunned, lowered her head to look at her hand, where a patch of skin on the side had been rubbed off, exposing raw flesh.
“…Yesterday when you dismounted, you got rubbed by the saddle,” Zhu Yunxiao said, stuffing the medicine box into her hand. “I figured you wouldn’t tend to yourself.”
Indeed, it was then; since there was no bleeding, she had forgotten about it. Yang Luo came to her senses and shoved the medicine box back.
“I don’t use outside medicine either; the imperial physicians are treating me,” she said.
Zhu Yunxiao’s expression was indifferent: “Then Miss Asheng should at least thank me; after all, I helped you and got you back to your young lady’s side in time.”
Yang Luo frowned at him; this elegant heir now seemed like a rogue, actually demanding thanks?
In her previous life, she had never seen him like this.
Of course not; in her previous life, Miss Yang did not need his persistent pursuit—she just stood there and glanced over, and Miss Yang fell and threw herself at him.
Yang Luo gave a self-mocking smile.
“Just wanting a thank you?” She pretended disbelief, shocked. “The Young Lord must want more reward.”
Zhu Yunxiao glanced at her: “You and your young lady have nothing worth claiming; pitiful people.”
With that, he turned and strode away.
Yang Luo was annoyed and her expression turned grave.
What did he mean?
Pitiful people?
Was it casual talk, or did he know something?
This Zhu Yunxiao had been very different in temperament and demeanor since they met, compared to her previous life. Actually, she hadn’t really known his temperament then either.
Yang Luo’s expression flickered, but she did not follow to ask.
There was nothing worth asking.
No matter what tricks he was playing, his goal was to harm her.
An abrasion—this minor thing he remembered; how thoughtful of him. Yang Luo glanced at the back of her hand again, then withdrew her gaze and headed to the kitchen.
……
…..
That maidservant did not chase after to question what he meant.
Zhu Yunxiao led his horse out of the temporary palace.
It was normal for this maidservant to disregard his kindness; disregarding his malice was also normal.
She did not take him seriously?
No.
If she truly disregarded people, her gaze would not be like that.
The way this maidservant looked at him was with an attitude of “I know what you’re up to, and I won’t pay attention.”
Actually, he should not have gone to Miss Yang’s side again today; though the Emperor had left, the temporary palace was still imperial territory, full of eyes everywhere.
It was not good for him to get too close to Miss Yang at this time.
But.
Who made him the type to finish what he started; he had helped this maidservant before, so naturally he had to say something before leaving.
Moreover, that person had said last night that this Miss Yang was not ignored by the Emperor.
So, a compromise: do not approach the young lady, but continue approaching this maidservant.
He refused to believe he could not even deal with a maidservant. Zhu Yunxiao raised an eyebrow.
“Young Lord.”
A greeting came from ahead, along with laughter.
“Hurry up; where did you go? Miss Jiang is waiting for you.”
Zhu Yunxiao looked ahead and saw a simple carriage stopped roadside, with a woman wrapped in a cloak braving the cold to wait.
Zhu Yunxiao smiled.
Truly not taking someone seriously is knowing someone is waiting for you but not caring, not hurrying over immediately, and then, upon seeing the person, showing full-eyed smiles and concern.
“Coming,” he said, waving to Jiang Rui to signal. “Cold; get in the carriage first.”
Jiang Rui obediently got into the carriage but still lifted the curtain, waiting for Zhu Yunxiao to ride up, then they headed together into the Capital City.
The Imperial City, with the Emperor’s return, also remained quiet.
During the first month festival, the Emperor did not hold morning court; when the sun was high, Princess Pingcheng came to the Imperial Study and was stopped outside by the eunuchs.
“Father Emperor hasn’t risen yet?” Princess Pingcheng was somewhat surprised.
In the past, even on rest days, the Emperor would handle court politics.
The eunuch whispered: “Hunting the day before yesterday, traveling yesterday; His Majesty is tired and taking a lazy day today.”
True; in past years, there was no Martial Arts Banquet during the festival, and Father Emperor was of a certain age after all—a trip with hunting was indeed exhausting.
Princess Pingcheng was relieved and handed a stack of writing in her hand to the eunuch: “When Father Emperor wakes, have him look at it.”
The eunuch looked at the essay in his hand and praised: “The Princess is truly diligent in her studies.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled: “Let Father Emperor sleep one more day; tomorrow I’ll come again to urge him to study diligently.”
The eunuch watched Princess Pingcheng’s departing figure and breathed a sigh of relief, then hurried inside with the Princess’s essay.
“Eunuch Li, Eunuch Li.” He stood in the quiet hall, softly calling toward the dragon bed behind the heavy hanging curtain.
An old eunuch irritably pulled back the curtain and whispered a rebuke: “What are you shouting for? Don’t disturb…”
He did not look inside but looked outward.
“…others.”
That eunuch hurriedly went in, properly lowered the curtain, and said nervously: “The Princess came; we stopped her and coaxed her away, but… His Majesty, when exactly did he return? We can’t hide it for long.”
As he spoke, he looked toward the dragon bed ahead.
The dragon bed was empty.
The Emperor had risen in the middle of the night, disguised in plain clothes secretly, and left the Imperial City—something that had never happened before.
Where had the Emperor gone?
Tomorrow I have to go out, and it’s inconvenient to type on the road; it’s also a critical plot point, so taking a day off; update again the day after tomorrow.
Also: Qidian female frequency author Mu Fei, who wrote “Chen Palace” and “Joy in the Hall,” is back writing; new work “Jade Steps Blood” has reached 70,000 words (she says total only 600,000 words); seems like a dark story of love and kill—check it out if interested.
