Chapter 24#
Would Third Lang be willing to share a horse with me? I shall be your legs, and you shall shoot the arrows—how about it?#
With the appearance of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, the clamor and discussion in the field quieted down. On the vast open ground, everyone dropped to their knees in a thunderous cascade, kowtowing to pay their respects.
Even Rong Yu, seated in his wheelchair, was hurriedly lifted down by Mo Shu to kneel on the ground. Rong Yu could even feel Mo Shu’s hands trembling with fear—after all, for a servant like him, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the Emperor.
“We pay our respects to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince. Long live the Emperor, ten thousand thousand years. Long live the Crown Prince, a thousand thousand years.”
The resounding chant echoed around them, and the very air seemed to freeze, heavy and oppressive. For the first time, Rong Yu felt the stark rigidity of feudal hierarchy so deeply.
“Rise.” The Emperor waved his hand casually, and the entourage marched in a grand procession toward the largest and most luxurious yellow tent in the center of the field.
Only after the Emperor and Crown Prince had left did everyone stand. Mo Shu, who had seen the Emperor for the first time, still patted his chest in lingering fright.
Chu Tan lifted Rong Yu back into his wheelchair and gently brushed the dust from his robes.
Rong Yu lowered his gaze to look at him. Chu Tan had kept his head bowed from beginning to end, never once looking at the Emperor. Yet Rong Yu could still sense the icy, terrifying hatred and murderous intent churning beneath the pitch-black pupils hidden behind Chu Tan’s long lashes.
That was the man who had slaughtered all five hundred and thirty-six lives of the Wei Prince’s household—his father’s murderer.
Rong Yu raised a hand and touched Chu Tan’s head. Chu Tan’s eyelids trembled slightly, and when he lifted his gaze, it was once again as placid as an ancient well.
Young General Gu was still standing off to the side, glaring viciously at Chu Tan and Rong Yu. But after their earlier altercation, he knew that this servant before him possessed astonishing strength—if he kept pushing, he would only end up losing face.
Rong Yue pulled him away, and Gu took the opportunity to back down, though not without leaving behind harsh words: “Rong Yu, if you’d just stayed obediently in your manor, I really couldn’t have done anything to you. But since you’ve come out today, don’t expect to go back unscathed!”
Mo Shu’s face was full of indignation. “How can he be so unreasonable! Don’t worry, Young Master, as long as I’m here, I’ll protect you!”
Then he turned to Chu Tan. “You need to stay alert too. You must take good care of the Young Master, understand?”
Chu Tan’s face was expressionless; he remained silent.
Mo Shu could sense that Chu Tan was in a bad mood. Though puzzled, he shut his mouth.
The hunting hour had been calculated by the Imperial Astrologer. The auspicious moment had arrived. The Emperor had changed into armor, followed by many ministers and generals, flanked and trailed by troops bearing banners of various colors. Under everyone’s gaze, they spurred their horses and galloped into the forest.
The rest remained in the hunting grounds, milling about and waiting for the Emperor to return from the hunt.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Rong Yu chose to stay in his own tent and sleep. During this time, Chu Tan sat silently at his side, not uttering a word.
About two hours later, noise rose from outside—the Emperor had returned from hunting.
The prey was piled into a small mountain and dumped in the center of the grounds. The Emperor, hale and spirited, accepted the flattery of his ministers. In truth, most of that prey had been flushed out and driven together by the guards, with the Emperor merely shooting them down—hardly any effort involved.
It was also at this moment that Rong Yu got a clear look at the Emperor’s appearance: past fifty, with a beard. His bearing was extremely imposing, but his eyes were somewhat murky. Rong Yu guessed it was from taking so-called “immortal elixirs.”
“Very well, I have returned. Now it is the turn of you young ones.” The Emperor said with a faint smile, his gaze sweeping over the princes and the young people in the field. “Before dark, hunt as much as you can. I will reward you according to your merits, and the one with the most prey will be given this golden bow!”
Behind the Emperor stood a massive jet-black bow engraved with golden patterns, radiating a heavy, murderous aura. It was said to be a bow once used by the founding emperor in his youth.
The young people in the field all burned with eager ambition.
Of course, this hunt included not only men but women as well.
Those who could attend the imperial hunt were all high-ranking nobles and officials, and the women brought along were even fewer—all cherished legitimate daughters of distinguished families. Some came from martial households and had practiced horseback archery since childhood.
They had changed out of their gowns, tied up their long hair, and donned neat, agile riding attire. Their bearing was in no way inferior to the men’s—if anything, they shone even brighter.
But none of that had anything to do with Rong Yu. He was about to head back to his tent to continue his nap when someone refused to let him be.
“Rong Yu, you’re not thinking of sneaking back into your tent to hide again, are you?” Gu Yuezheng sat astride a tall horse, looking down at him from above. “What? We’re all going hunting, and you’ll stay behind to enjoy the peace, waiting for us to bring back prey to feed you?”
Rong Yu’s lips always carried a faint smile. “Young General Gu, my legs are crippled—how could I ride and hunt?”
“Of course I know you’re a…” Gu Yuezheng swallowed the last two words, glancing contemptuously at Rong Yu’s legs. “But even those delicate little ladies can ride and shoot. Surely you’re not worse than a woman!”
Before Rong Yu could respond, someone else took offense first.
“Gu Yuezheng! What do you mean by that?!” A woman in red riding attire rode over. Her hair was tied high with a red ribbon, revealing delicate yet spirited features. She carried a bow on her back, looking dashing and valiant.
“What do you mean, ’not even as good as a delicate woman’? In what way are we women inferior to you men?” The woman in red demanded, brows furrowed.
Gu Yuezheng frowned the moment he saw her. “Princess Jiayang, this has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business.”
“You insult us like that, and you say I’m meddling?” Princess Jiayang’s eyes blazed with fire.
“Exactly! Young General Gu, that’s not how you should talk. Since when can’t we women ride and shoot?”
“If we meet on the hunting ground, who wins and who loses is anyone’s guess!”
Gu Yuezheng’s words had stirred up a crowd’s anger, and the young ladies all began pointing accusing fingers at him.
But Gu Yuezheng felt Princess Jiayang was deliberately picking a fight. The two had never gotten along since childhood, and as they grew older, both realized the other harbored feelings for Rong Yue. They had always been locked in silent rivalry, vying to outdo each other in everything—if one fancied something, the other would fight for it too.
Now Princess Jiayang must also be deliberately trying to make him miserable.
At that thought, Gu Yuezheng grew even more irritated. “I was talking to Rong Yu, not to you. It was just a figure of speech that led here—why must you quibble over every word! Besides, I wasn’t wrong. When it comes to skills on horseback, women are simply inferior to men!”
“Nonsense!” Princess Jiayang’s pretty face twisted with fury. She drew the bow from her back, nocked an arrow, and aimed at Gu Yuezheng. “This lady will show you today whether women are inferior to men or not!”
“Jiayang! Have you lost your mind?!” Gu Yuezheng hastily tightened his reins, preparing to dodge.
The atmosphere instantly became tense, swords drawn and bows bent.
Rong Yu, the spark that had ignited this incident, was instead left to the side. He looked expressionless, but inwardly he was overjoyed, even wanting Mo Shu to grab him a handful of melon seeds so he could sit there, crack them open, and enjoy the show.
However, this was the imperial hunting grounds. The moment a conflict broke out, someone would always step in to stop it.
“Jiayang, Yuezheng, what are you two causing a ruckus about?”
A clear, magnetic male voice came from beyond the crowd. The crowd parted, and everyone saw the Crown Prince in dark robes walking over.
Thus, except for Princess Jiayang and Gu Yuezheng, who were still facing off, everyone else quickly dismounted and knelt to pay their respects. Rong Yu sighed—he had to kneel again.
“You have a leg ailment, so you are exempt from the salute.”
Rong Yu looked up in surprise. The Crown Prince was gazing at him with a gentle smile.
Rong Yu suppressed the doubt in his heart. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince turned to Princess Jiayang and Gu Yuezheng, frowning slightly. “Jiayang, put down the arrow. What kind of behavior is this?”
Princess Jiayang had a fiery temper, fearless of heaven and earth—but she was most afraid of this seemingly gentle and refined imperial cousin. Reluctantly, she put away her bow and arrows.
With the threat gone, Gu Yuezheng quickly dismounted and bowed. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Princess Jiayang also jumped off her horse and obediently paid her respects, not forgetting to badmouth Gu Yuezheng to the Crown Prince, saying he had spoken rudely and insulted women.
The Crown Prince knew the two had never gotten along, so he scolded each of them briefly and sent them off.
Rong Yu inwardly lamented—what a shame. The show had been nipped in the bud before it even started. He’d wanted to see Princess Jiayang and Gu Yuezheng go at it. After all, they were both suitors of Rong Yue; a clash between them would surely have been entertaining.
Just as he was thinking this to himself, the Crown Prince suddenly called his name.
“Rong Yu.”
Rong Yu looked up at the Crown Prince.
“You are Rong Yu of Minister Rong’s household, aren’t you? Do you have a courtesy name?”
Rong Yu replied, “This commoner has not yet reached twenty, and my elders have not bestowed a courtesy name.”
In truth, a man didn’t necessarily have to wait until the capping ceremony to receive a courtesy name. If elders doted on him, or under special circumstances, one could receive it at fifteen or sixteen. Rong Yue, for instance, had his own courtesy name—Lexi—given by Rong Xiuyong. Rong Yu had none.
The Crown Prince smiled. “Calling you by your full name seems rather presumptuous. How about I call you San Lang?”
Chu Tan frowned slightly.
Calling him by his full name was presumptuous, but “San Lang” was perhaps a bit too intimate. Moreover, he was the Crown Prince—no one would dare call it presumptuous if he addressed Rong Yu by his full name or even gave him a nickname.
Rong Yu also found it strange, but he didn’t show it on his face. He only said, “Your Highness’s favor is this commoner’s honor.”
The Crown Prince then said, “Is San Lang going hunting?”
Rong Yu gave a wry smile. “Your Highness jest. These crippled legs of mine can’t even walk—how could I ride a horse?”
The Crown Prince’s phoenix eyes curved slightly, spilling traces of mirth. “Then would San Lang be willing to share a horse with me? I shall be your legs, and you shall shoot the arrows—how about it?”
The crowd murmured in astonishment.
Even Gu Yuezheng and Princess Jiayang, who hadn’t gone far, turned back.
Gu Yuezheng said, “Your Highness wants to ride with this cripple?”
Rong Yu’s face suddenly darkened, his eyes turning icy cold. In both his lives, he hated nothing more than being called a cripple!
Chu Tan narrowed his eyes in displeasure. “Young General Gu, watch your words.”
Gu Yuezheng looked at Chu Tan, enraged. “It’s you again, you slave. Since when do you have the right to speak in our conversation?”
“He is my attendant, so he naturally represents me.” Rong Yu spoke coldly. “Young General Gu holds neither scholarly honor nor official rank, so you are no higher than I. Best keep your words civil.”
Gu Yuezheng had once followed his father, Grand General Zhenyuan, into battle, and people respectfully called him “Young General.” But in truth, he held no official position. The Emperor had said that once his nineteenth birthday passed, he would be appointed to serve before the throne.
But for now, he had no rank.
Gu Yuezheng was momentarily at a loss for words, glaring at Rong Yu with a red-faced fury.
The Crown Prince rebuked, “Yuezheng, do not be rude.”
Gu Yuezheng huffed and rode off in a huff.
The Crown Prince looked at Rong Yu again. “San Lang, what do you think of my proposal?”
“My brother San Lang is not fit to ride, truly. Your Highness, please don’t make things difficult for my younger brother.”
A hearty laugh came over, and everyone turned to look, their eyes brightening. It was Rong Yue, having changed into dashing riding attire, riding a white horse with an air of spirited confidence.
When he reached them, he dismounted in one fluid motion and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince looked Rong Yue up and down. “With that outfit, Er Lang, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Your Highness, do not tease me.” Rong Yue’s face flushed slightly as he tugged at his sleeves. “It’s been many days since I last rode—I’m a bit out of practice.”
“I recall that during the last spring hunt, among all the young men, you had the most prey.”
Rong Yue gave a soft smile with pressed lips. “They were all letting me win. Naturally, I’m not even a fraction of Your Highness’s skill.”
He turned to look at Rong Yu, his expression full of concern. “Third Brother, your health is poor. You should return to your tent quickly, lest you catch a chill.”
“Your Highness, let us go. The other princes must be getting impatient.”
He spoke in a rapid stream from the moment he arrived, not giving anyone else a chance to interject. Rong Yu found it amusing and stared fixedly at Rong Yue, as if trying to see through his eyes into his very thoughts.
Rong Yue’s scalp nearly crawled under that gaze. Rong Yu flashed a brilliant smile. “I’ve changed my mind, Second Brother. I want to give it a try.”
“I’ve never ridden a horse in all my life—I’d like to taste the thrill of galloping at full speed on horseback.” Rong Yu curled his lips, his peach-blossom eyes shimmering with a strange light.
The Crown Prince’s smile deepened. “Then…”
Rong Yu said, “But I’m afraid I must disappoint Your Highness’s kind offer. This commoner dares not burden Your Highness. Fortunately, my attendant knows how to ride—let him carry me.”
Chu Tan’s eyes lit up. The frustration that had been piling up in his chest since earlier was swept away in an instant, and he felt wholly refreshed.
The Crown Prince looked at Rong Yu, then cast another glance at Chu Tan, and said with a somewhat regretful air, “That works as well.”
Rong Yue refused to let it go. “Third Brother, your health…”
“Second Brother need not worry.” Rong Yu cut him off, grinning as if deliberately provoking. “With Chu Tan here, there won’t be any accidents.”
Rong Yue felt like he’d swallowed a mouthful of bitter medicine—he sensed that Rong Yu had pulled one over on him again.
Mo Shu, seeing that Rong Yu was going hunting, was worried but couldn’t stop him. He could only fasten a cloak around Rong Yu, tuck a hand warmer into his grasp, and pack some food and odds and ends into a small bundle for Chu Tan to carry.
He nagged endlessly, telling Chu Tan over and over to take good care of the Young Master, not to let him fall or bump or scrape himself—as if Rong Yu were a porcelain doll.
At the center of the hunting grounds, everyone had already assembled.
Besides the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, there were also the Sixth and Seventh Princes—a pair of twins, only fifteen this year. They looked at Rong Yu’s legs, identical astonishment appearing on their identical faces.
The Third Prince was equally surprised, but he said nothing, his gaze mostly resting on Rong Yue, burning with intensity.
In the original plot, this hunt was yet another wild, high-definition, uncensored passion scene out in the wilderness.
“Per the old rules of the spring hunt, do not capture pregnant beasts.” The Crown Prince announced in a clear voice. “Depart!”
Everyone spurred their horses and galloped off in unison, leaving behind a trail of dust. As Gu Yuezheng left, he even turned back to throw a provocative glare at Rong Yu.
Chu Tan and Rong Yu lagged behind because Chu Tan had to lift Rong Yu onto the horse first. With astonishing arm strength, he hooked one hand under Rong Yu’s armpit, gripped his waist with the other, and lifted him up, settling him firmly onto the saddle.
It was Rong Yu’s first time on a horse, and his heart beat a little faster. Just as he was savoring this novel experience, a broad chest pressed against his back from behind.
Chu Tan’s hands passed around his waist, grasping the reins, encircling him within his embrace.
He leaned in close, his light, airy voice boring straight into Rong Yu’s ear. “Sit steady, Young Master. If you’re scared, you can hold onto the horse’s neck.”
Of course, he’d rather have the young master turn around and hold his neck instead. But he knew that was impossible—a slap across the face on the turn was more likely.
Rong Yu also grabbed the reins, a hint of anticipation and excitement in his eyes. “Less talk. Move.”
Chu Tan let out a soft laugh, squeezed his legs against the horse’s flanks, and shouted, “Hyah!”
The horse let out a whinny and shot forward, vanishing into the forest in the blink of an eye.
[Author’s Note:]
1v1! Chu Tan has already taken so many beatings—if his wife turns out not to be his, he’s going to kill someone!