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Inside the tent.
Madam Xie was lying on a bolster pillow, holding a bowl of medicinal tea. Seeing Shen Wei lift the curtain and enter, she smiled, set the tea bowl aside, and softened her voice to say, “The weather outside is wonderful. Why not chat with the others outside?”
Likely due to a poor night’s sleep, Madam Xie’s voice still carried a hint of hoarseness.
Hearing this, Shen Wei did not reply immediately. Instead, she curtsied, then instructed someone to replace the incense in the room. Only then did she sit on the round stool by Madam Xie’s bed and respond, “I thought you might feel lonely staying inside alone. Besides, they always talk about the same old things, which I don’t enjoy. I’d rather keep you company here.”
“You—”
Madam Xie, a bit helpless, reached out and gently tapped Shen Wei’s forehead. She did not doubt her at all. Perhaps it was due to Shen Wei’s age; the unmarried young ladies or newlywed wives had little in common to discuss with her. As for the older women, while their statuses were suitable, the age gap made meaningful conversation difficult.
As a result, although Shen Wei had been married to Lu Bu Wei for seven years, she had few confidants she could truly talk to.
Thinking of this, Madam Xie couldn’t help but sigh. She sent the maids and attendants out of the room, then gently held Shen Wei’s hand and said, “You are still young. You need not stay cooped up at home all day. If you find someone you can talk to, it’s fine to keep in touch frequently. You don’t always have to adhere strictly to the rules.”
She regarded Shen Wei with the same affection as a daughter and naturally didn’t want her to be confined to this large mansion at such a young age.
Shen Wei, hearing these words, responded softly. She appreciated the old madam’s kindness but realized she had no close connections in Bianliang City… Furthermore, the more people she interacted with, the more likely it was that traces would show. It was better to remain as she was, enjoying the freedom.
She reached out to gently press on the old madam’s arm and, as if thinking of something, softly said, “Earlier, when Xuan Yue went to meet His Majesty, I noticed His Majesty’s expression was a bit unusual.”
As soon as she finished speaking—
The hand of the old madam, which had been relaxed, tightened slightly.
Even though it was only for an instant, Shen Wei still noticed. She lowered her brows a little more, though her expression remained unchanged. She didn’t stop massaging the old madam’s arm and followed with another soft remark: “Last time, it was the Princess of Qinghe as well. Could it be that Xuan Yue resembles some prominent figure in the city?”
The old madam turned her gaze toward Shen Wei, but since Shen Wei was looking down, she couldn’t tell what her expression was.
However, hearing the tone of her voice, which was the same as usual but with a hint of doubt, the old madam sighed in relief, settled back against the cushion, and calmly began to touch her prayer beads again before speaking gently: “There are countless people in the world who resemble each other. Even if someone looks similar, it’s nothing unusual.”
Shen Wei listened to the old madam’s words. Although her tone didn’t change, her hand moving faster over the prayer beads than usual made Shen Wei realize that if it was truly “nothing unusual,” why would the old madam act this way? And why did the Princess of Qinghe and Zhao Zhun show such strange expressions?
Who could Xuan Yue resemble that would cause such a reaction?
Still, Shen Wei kept her head lowered. Her hand continued to apply just the right amount of pressure, though her words were filled with hesitation: “Xuan Yue has been recovering outside for so many years. If that noble person has something special about them, with Xuan Yue’s appearance, I fear he might offend them.”
The old madam stopped her hand on the prayer beads at this.
She turned her head to look at Shen Wei. When she saw her slightly raised face, full of hesitation, she smiled and patted Shen Wei’s hand to stop her massaging motion. She then said softly, “You don’t need to worry. That noble person is no longer in this world…”
When the old madam said “no longer in this world,” her voice unconsciously softened, as if she was trying not to disturb something.
Shen Wei noticed this and her expression subtly shifted, though her doubts only deepened. A noble person who resembled Xuan Yue but was no longer alive, and yet, these people acted so unusually around him.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that this matter was more complicated than it seemed, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Seeing the old madam glance at her, Shen Wei put on a smile and gently said, “In that case, I’ll rest easy.”
—-
Meanwhile, at the hunting grounds.
Lu Qi Huai sat on his horse.
Not far from him was Zhao Zhun, with the King of Jin and the Crown Prince on either side.
They had been hunting for several hours, and since Donghua Mountain was the royal hunting ground, vast as it was, they hadn’t yet reached the deeper parts.
Crown Prince Zhao Xu, 17 years old, dressed in royal hunting attire and holding a bow, had not killed many beasts despite the time that had passed. It wasn’t because he was a poor archer; it was because everyone knew that Zhao Xu, the heir to the throne of Qingyun Kingdom, was gentle by nature and rarely killed.
Because of this, opinions about the Crown Prince were divided.
Some believed his gentleness meant he would become a wise ruler, but others questioned how someone so kind could govern a kingdom. The Crown Prince’s close advisors had tried to persuade him, but Zhao Xu would always respond with a smile and say, “It’s nothing to worry about.” Over time, no one bothered advising him, but private murmurs about him still persisted.
Hearing the roars of wild beasts from deep within the mountain, Zhao Xu furrowed his brow. He pulled on his reins, guiding his horse closer to Zhao Zhun, and then cupped his hands, saying, “Father, if we go further in, there might be wild beasts. For your health, it would be better to send someone ahead to check first.”
Before Zhao Zhun could respond, a young man beside them laughed and spoke: “Big brother is thoughtful, but a little too cautious.”
This young man was King Zhao Zheng, a little over 16 years old, with brows that reached into his hairline and a similar appearance to Zhao Zhun. Though his lips often held a smile, his eyes were cold. At this moment, he tilted his head toward Zhao Xu, raising his brows slightly, and his voice was laced with sarcasm: “Today is the annual spring hunt, with all the officials behind us watching. Furthermore, our father, His Majesty, is always brave. Any wild birds or beasts will probably bow down before him.”
“If we send someone to check now, it will only make us the subject of ridicule.”
“Moreover, the hunting grounds are guarded every day. If there were any dangerous beasts, they would have been sent to the back mountain already. Big brother, are you afraid of these sounds?”
His tone was quite disrespectful.
But Zhao Xu’s expression didn’t change. He still appeared as calm and gentle as ever, and his voice was equally soft: “If it were just the two of us, it wouldn’t matter. But with Father here, as the ruler of the world, we cannot afford any mistakes. It’s always better to be cautious.”
Zhao Zheng, hearing this, was about to reply…
But before he could speak, Zhao Zhun calmly interrupted: “Enough.”
His tone was flat and unremarkable, but both Zhao Xu and Zhao Zheng fell silent immediately.
Zhao Zhun, seeing they had no further words to say, turned his gaze toward the distant deep mountains. The cry of the raptors still rang out without interruption, yet his face showed no change. He said nothing, simply holding the reins and staring ahead. Perhaps recalling something, he suddenly turned his head and looked behind him, where the young man in black robes stood not far off. A rare ripple of emotion flashed across his eyes.
Fortunately, he was adept at concealing his feelings…
In no time, he had smoothed out his expression and smiled, saying, “Your horsemanship and archery are quite good, not inferior to your father’s. Well done.”
As soon as his words fell…
The brothers Zhao Xu and Zhao Zheng also turned their gaze to look at Lu Qihuai. Noticing the two bags being dragged by Lu’s attendants, Zhao Xu’s face showed little change, but Zhao Zheng’s eyes couldn’t help but reveal a hint of coldness. He knew that the Duke of Rong had a son, but had never thought much of him. However, seeing the young man’s excellent horsemanship and archery, it was clear he was not someone easily surpassed, even today. From how his father, the Emperor, seemed to regard him, it seemed Lu Qihuai had a promising future. If that were truly the case, he… was worth getting to know.
Lu Qihuai heard Zhao Zhun’s words and merely cupped his hands, saying, “Your Majesty flatters me. Compared to my father, my horsemanship and archery are nothing.”
Zhao Zhun simply smiled and replied, “You are too modest. You lack the ease your father has…” He then added, “Ahead is a deep mountain, full of uncertainties. Will you join me?” He spoke as if trying to gauge something from Lu Qihuai’s expression.
Lu Qihuai raised his head in response.
He remained with his hands cupped in a formal greeting before speaking, “I obey Your Majesty’s command.”
“Good!” Zhao Zhun laughed heartily.
He turned his horse and kicked it into motion, galloping forward. The others quickly followed. In the deep mountains, the wild birds were more cautious and harder to shoot. Yet, everyone present was skilled in archery and horsemanship. Soon, the air was filled with the cries of animals and the scent of blood.
On both the ground and in the trees, blood was spilling.
Amid the sounds of struggle, a sudden roar of a fierce tiger pierced the air.
At the sound, everyone’s expressions changed. The tiger was the king of the mountain. Even the tamed ones were terrifyingly fierce, let alone the wild ones from the deep mountains. Zhao Xu’s usual gentle demeanor became serious. He pulled on the reins, lowered his voice, and said to Zhao Zhun, “Father, let the Chief of the Guard come protect you.”
This time, Zhao Zheng said nothing.
He straightened his back, tightened his grip on the reins, and narrowed his eyes as he stared into the distance.
Zhao Zhun remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead. Soon, a brown and yellow-striped tiger appeared on the path, its body covered in dark horizontal stripes and a white patch in the middle. Its limbs were powerful, and it walked proudly. Its eyes were as round as copper bells, with a white “king” pattern on its forehead, looking magnificent from a distance.
It was the first time anyone present had seen such a majestic tiger in the arena, and whispers spread among the crowd.
The tiger stood on a stone step, looking down at them with an air of superiority. A gust of wind blew past, and it let out a roar, sending all the horses into a state of unease.
Zhao Zhun had not seen such an expression in a long time. Seeing the tiger’s disdainful look, he subtly suppressed his emotions. Ignoring the advice of those around him, he pulled an arrow from his quiver and shot three arrows at the tiger in quick succession.
The tiger swiftly dodged the arrows, its earlier disdain now replaced with fierceness. It dodged the arrows while charging toward Zhao Zhun’s group, occasionally letting out a roar.
Zhao Zheng and the others immediately drew their own arrows, but before they could act, Zhao Zhun coldly ordered, “Stop.”
This tiger was his prey, and only he would kill it.
The dignity of an emperor would not be trampled, not even by the so-called king of the mountain!
Zhao Zhun was skilled in horsemanship and archery, having once crossed thousands of soldiers to decapitate foreign generals. Now, this tiger had stirred his competitive spirit… It had been a long time since he felt this way. But now, he could not suppress his excitement. Killing this tiger would mean he was the only king in the world.
The tiger got closer, and Zhao Zhun shot three more arrows. The first struck the tiger’s body, causing it to stiffen in pain. Then two more arrows—one struck its eye, the other its neck.
Three arrows, all striking vital points.
The tiger’s pace slowed, and its roars became weaker as it suffered.
Zhao Zhun watched, his expression growing more frenzied. He kept shooting arrows until the tiger finally collapsed from its wounds. Those around him breathed a sigh of relief and approached to check the tiger. They knelt and cupped their hands, saying, “Your Majesty, it is dead.”
At these words—
The crowd began to praise Zhao Zhun. The air was soon filled with cries of “Long live the Emperor!”
Zhao Zhun sat high on his horse, his face revealing no emotion. He was nearly forty now, and had held the throne for eleven years. He had long grown tired of such flattery, but today, the words still stirred something in him, as if he had returned to the day he first ascended the throne, alone, walking the ninety-nine steps of the jade ladder, looking down on the court.
Inside the tent.
Madam Xie was lying on a bolster pillow, holding a bowl of medicinal tea. Seeing Shen Wei lift the curtain and enter, she smiled, set the tea bowl aside, and softened her voice to say, “The weather outside is wonderful. Why not chat with the others outside?”
Likely due to a poor night’s sleep, Madam Xie’s voice still carried a hint of hoarseness.
Hearing this, Shen Wei did not reply immediately. Instead, she curtsied, then instructed someone to replace the incense in the room. Only then did she sit on the round stool by Madam Xie’s bed and respond, “I thought you might feel lonely staying inside alone. Besides, they always talk about the same old things, which I don’t enjoy. I’d rather keep you company here.”
“You—”
Madam Xie, a bit helpless, reached out and gently tapped Shen Wei’s forehead. She did not doubt her at all. Perhaps it was due to Shen Wei’s age; the unmarried young ladies or newlywed wives had little in common to discuss with her. As for the older women, while their statuses were suitable, the age gap made meaningful conversation difficult.
As a result, although Shen Wei had been married to Lu Bu Wei for seven years, she had few confidants she could truly talk to.
Thinking of this, Madam Xie couldn’t help but sigh. She sent the maids and attendants out of the room, then gently held Shen Wei’s hand and said, “You are still young. You need not stay cooped up at home all day. If you find someone you can talk to, it’s fine to keep in touch frequently. You don’t always have to adhere strictly to the rules.”