Chapter 8#
Autumn Hunt: I shouldn’t have chosen men in the first place#
The August Autumn Hunt was a tradition established at the beginning of the Great Liang nation.
Its purpose was to test the soldiers’ martial skills, train battlefield formations, strengthen the Liang army’s power, and at the same time, remind descendants to cultivate riding and archery to stabilize the world.
Now that August was almost over, many officials secretly speculated that the army had just returned, and the Emperor had also just come back from the battlefield. The horses and men were tired and in need of rest, so this year’s Autumn Hunt might naturally be cancelled.
To their surprise, at the morning court the next day, the Emperor issued an oral decree—
The Autumn Hunt will proceed as usual.
The location, the etiquette, and the accompanying personnel will remain as usual.
Furthermore, a special permission was granted for the candidates of the current selection to accompany the hunt.
While the officials marveled at the Emperor’s youth and strength, they also came to understand.
It seemed this was the “selection interview” the Emperor had mentioned on the tower that day.
The officials who intended to send their children into the palace began to prepare as soon as court was dismissed, purchasing riding outfits and sending their children outside the city to practice riding and archery.
They were fighting to enter the palace, and Xiao Cuan was naturally happy to see it happen.
Early this morning.
Xiao Cuan sat at the imperial desk holding Yanzhi, one hand pinching his cheek while the other reviewed memorials.
“Once the Autumn Hunt is over, release the news that I also like people with high talent and have them continue practicing.”
“I’ll hold the selection whenever they become talents with both civil and martial skills. Those left over from the selection can also enter the court as officials.”
“It’s just a selection, it’s not difficult.”
Xiao Cuan was brimming with pride, feeling that he was truly extraordinary.
Holding the brush, he pressed the final stroke of a memorial with heavy force, then looked down at Yanzhi.
Yanzhi was being held by him, a small figure nestled obediently in his arms like a kitten.
He kept his head down, eyes lowered, motionless, only occasionally blinking his eyes with a very, very slow flutter of his eyelashes.
Xiao Cuan was originally in high spirits, but upon seeing Yanzhi like this, his expression darkened instead.
Though he was obedient, something seemed to be missing.
Perhaps it was when he pressed him against the door and messed with him a couple of times ago—it might have frightened him.
Or perhaps it was when he pinned him to the couch and bit his neck last time—it might have hurt him.
Yanzhi had been listless for several days, not speaking much and not smiling, as if he had lost his soul.
Xiao Cuan turned his head away and intentionally gave a light cough.
Yanzhi reacted belatedly, took away the reviewed memorial in front of the Emperor, and replaced it with a new one.
He spread out the memorial, placed it on the desk, flattened it with a paperweight, then picked up the reviewed memorial and gently blew on the wet cinnabar ink.
Xiao Cuan looked at his serious profile and said indifferently: “Two blows are enough. If you blow until you run out of air, I’ll have to save you.”
Halfway through blowing, Yanzhi choked on his own saliva and covered his face while coughing: “Cough, cough…”
“Idiot, as expected, I was right.” Xiao Cuan lifted his hand, moved the memorial away, and patted his back.
In the past, Yanzhi would have already argued that he wasn’t an idiot.
But today, Yanzhi only covered his mouth, his cheeks turning red from coughing, without saying a word in response.
Xiao Cuan frowned, pinched the back of his neck, and forced him to lift his head: “Cough again and I’ll send you to be castrated.”
“No! No…” Yanzhi hurriedly waved his hand, “I’m fine.”
Yanzhi shrank back. Due to the coughing, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. Like a frightened small animal, he seemed somewhat afraid of him.
The more Xiao Cuan saw him like this, the more uncomfortable he felt, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what exactly it was.
Yanzhi clutched his sleeve, looking at the Emperor anxiously.
Fortunately, the Emperor only stared at him for a while before shifting his gaze back to the memorials.
Close call.
Yanzhi breathed a sigh of relief, lowered his eyes, rolled up his sleeves, picked up the inkstick, and began to grind ink again.
He… he was a little bit afraid of the Emperor.
For some reason, ever since the Emperor clearly stated that he didn’t like him, he suddenly didn’t know how to interact with the Emperor anymore.
He didn’t know what to say, what to do, or where to place his hands and feet.
Actually, that day as soon as he asked the Emperor if he liked him and the words left his mouth, he regretted it.
He shouldn’t have asked.
Even though the Emperor always said he was stupid, he understood in his heart that the Emperor didn’t like him.
Even if there were some like, it would be the like for a kitten or a puppy.
If he hadn’t asked, he could still find a tiny trace of the Emperor’s affection from their daily physical intimacy and convince himself.
But he did ask, and the Emperor answered.
The Emperor truly didn’t like him at all.
He had completely humiliated himself.
He was afraid of the Emperor being fierce, of the Emperor bullying him, and of hearing those hurtful words from the Emperor’s mouth again.
To the point that he was afraid of interacting with the Emperor.
Yanzhi thought he should retreat back to his position as a kitten or puppy and no longer think of anything else.
As long as the Emperor gave him something to eat and drink, he could live well.
No need to pay attention to anything else, let alone the sour and swelling feeling in his heart.
This would be good.
As Yanzhi ground the ink, he thought this and nodded his head in deep agreement.
At that moment, Xiao Cuan pulled his waist closer, stroking it up and down, and asked as if casually: “You’ve been lazy lately; could it be that you’re really pregnant, just like I said last time?”
Yanzhi didn’t hear a word he said and just nodded.
Xiao Cuan turned his head to look at him and frowned: “Hmm?”
Yanzhi snapped out of it and hurriedly asked: “What did Your Majesty say?”
“Really pregnant?” Xiao Cuan pinched the soft flesh at his waist, “Is it a kitten, or a puppy? Or a cream puff?”
“I…” Yanzhi explained cautiously, “Your Majesty, I am a man.”
Xiao Cuan ignored him and continued: “When it’s born, whatever it is, I’ll name it ‘Smallest Puppy’.”
Yanzhi was dazed for a moment, not knowing what to say.
Xiao Cuan reminded him: “Don’t you thank me for the favor?”
“Oh…” Yanzhi whispered, “Thank… thank you, Your Majesty.”
Xiao Cuan rested his chin on his shoulder, pressed against his cheek, and let out a low laugh from his throat.
The vibration from his chest passed to Yanzhi, making him shudder involuntarily.
Once he finished reviewing several urgent memorials, Xiao Cuan tossed the brush to Yanzhi.
“It’s all nonsense; you review the rest.”
“I…”
Only then did Yanzhi finally show some life, fumbling with the brush as if it were a hot potato, shifting it from hand to hand.
“Read it to me, and I’ll tell you what to write.”
“But…”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“Yes.”
Yanzhi sat properly at the imperial desk, holding the memorial with both hands, reading out the contents word by word.
Xiao Cuan propped up his feet and lay beside him. With a casual tug, he pulled off the hair ribbon from Yanzhi’s head and tied it around his ankle in a firm hunter’s knot.
*
In the blink of any eye, everything was ready, and the Autumn Hunt was about to begin.
August 27th was an auspicious day, suitable for travel and hunting.
The weather was fine and the sun was bright, with flags fluttering.
Xiao Cuan was clad in armor, standing on the tower and overlooking the hunting party.
Yanzhi stood obediently behind the Emperor, carrying his bow and arrows.
Until a general in the army quickly ascended the tower and reported loudly: “Reporting to Your Majesty, everything is ready. We can depart at any time.”
Xiao Cuan didn’t move, his gaze still fixed below the tower, and he said indifferently: “You go down first and scout the path.”
Not knowing who the Emperor was speaking to, the accompanying servants and generals were all stunned for a moment.
Xiao Cuan raised his hand and pinched Yanzhi’s cheek: “You—”
Yanzhi was startled and hurriedly looked up.
“Take a few people and go for a walk down there.”
“Yes…”
Yanzhi nodded and accepted the order, carrying the bow and arrows down the tower.
The gates of the Great Liang Palace were wide open. Along both sides of the road, the officials stood solemnly, waiting for the imperial carriage.
Yanzhi walked through them, but didn’t feel like he could use the Emperor’s imperial prestige to bully others.
He only felt… a little embarrassed.
He was neither an inner court official nor a court official; he was just the Emperor’s personal attendant.
He didn’t know what identity he could use to appear here.
In the procession, Yanzhi saw many familiar faces.
Young Master Wang, whose talent the Emperor commented as upper middle tier, and Young Master Bian Mingyu, whose family background the Emperor commented as top tier.
Behind Young Master Bian were four young masters of similar age, likely the sons of Lord Bian’s younger brother.
And…
And his friend whom he had only met once, Xie Yi.
Xie Yi’s father was now a minor general in the army. Xie Yi followed behind his father, standing toward the back of the procession.
He seemed to have grown taller and stronger. He wore narrow-sleeved activewear and carried a bow and arrows, but his face was still fair and clean, like a scholar.
Perhaps hearing Yanzhi’s footsteps or sensing his gaze, Xie Yi looked up and happened to meet his eyes.
Yanzhi didn’t dare to look further, hurriedly turned his head away, and quickened his pace along the center of the road.
At that moment—
The sound of rapid hoofbeats drew closer from behind Yanzhi.
Yanzhi instinctively looked back, but before he could see anything, a black wind swept past him. Someone grabbed his waist and lifted him from the ground.
“Ah…”
Yanzhi waved his hands and feet, struggling with all his might, but was firmly pressed into the other person’s embrace.
“It’s me.”
It turned out to be the Emperor.
Yanzhi quieted down and sat obediently on the horse.
Xiao Cuan held the reins with one hand and Yanzhi’s wrists with the other, pressing him into his embrace.
The pitch-black warhorse galloped forward. Instead of pulling the reins, Xiao Cuan forcefully flicked them, making the horse run even faster.
The sound of drums and horns rose, shaking the heavens.
Behind the Emperor were thousands of horses and men. When they were still, they looked like sleeping mountains.
When they moved, they were like dark clouds pressing down on a city, inching closer with every step, intimidating at every turn.
The sound of drums and horns was magnificent, the footsteps were orderly, and the wind whistled.
Beside Yanzhi’s ear, the Emperor’s voice suddenly came through gritted teeth—
“If you dare to look at those young masters again, I’ll have them all castrated.”
“I didn’t.” Yanzhi instinctively looked back.
Xiao Cuan shouted sternly: “Still looking!”
“No…” Yanzhi hurriedly turned his head back.
“I’ll have them castrated first, then have you castrated, so I won’t have to worry about anything happening between you and them after they enter the palace.”
“Nothing will happen between me and the palace concubines,” Yanzhi explained softly, “They are all Your Majesty’s people.”
“If I had known you liked men, I shouldn’t have selected both men and women on that day.”
“It’s not too late for Your Majesty to issue a decree cancelling ‘simultaneous selection of men and women’…”
“In your dreams,” Xiao Cuan said coldly, “You don’t want Xie Yi to be in the selection, so you’re coaxing me not to select men to get him out of it, aren’t you?”
“I’m not…”
“As if I’d let you have your way,” Xiao Cuan snorted, “Don’t move, and stop talking nonsense. If you don’t sit steadily and fall off, getting trampled into a flat little pancake by the horses, don’t come crying and begging me to save you; I won’t.”
Yanzhi’s face turned pale. Thinking of that scene, he couldn’t help but grip the saddle tightly.
Xiao Cuan’s face remained cold, and his armor was also icy.
He even intentionally moved his hand aside and pushed Yanzhi.
Yanzhi’s body swayed, his face turning completely pale. He hurriedly grabbed the Emperor’s hand, his voice carrying a hint of a sob: “Your Majesty…”
Xiao Cuan looked down at him: “Sit properly yourself.”
Yanzhi tried his best to shrink into a ball and tuck himself into the Emperor’s embrace.
Before he could sit steadily, Xiao Cuan flicked the reins. The warhorse, which had slowed down, immediately picked up speed again, charging forward with all its might as if on a battlefield.
Xiao Cuan’s iron-like arms firmly encircled Yanzhi in his embrace.
From beginning to end, Yanzhi gripped his hand tightly, not letting go for a single moment.
Frightened, Yanzhi took small breaths, his chest rising and falling.
Xiao Cuan lowered his head and rubbed against Yanzhi’s cool cheek, letting out a beast-like “purr” from his throat.
He was finally satisfied.