Zhao Jin had originally intended to speak with Jiang Ruan, but before she could utter a single word, Jiang Xin Zhi arrived, leaving her momentarily stunned before she quickly lowered her head, afraid he might notice her. Lin Zixiang, observing this, exclaimed in surprise, "Zhao Jin, why are you looking down? Is there silver on the ground?"
At this point, Zhao Jin could no longer hide her reaction and had no choice but to raise her head stiffly, offering a dry greeting, "General Jiang." Then she immediately lowered her gaze again to the pebbles at her feet, kicking them absentmindedly, as if looking up would invite disaster.
Jiang Xin Zhi frowned at her behavior, appearing almost angry.
Jiang Ruan's eyes flickered between the two, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. She wasn't unaware of the undercurrents between them, but she hadn't realized Zhao Jin's influence was greater than she'd imagined. Jiang Xin Zhi was, after all, one of the rare good men in the world—gentle and refined to everyone except his enemies, a true gentleman. Yet, faced with Zhao Jin, he displayed emotions of his own, something even he probably hadn't noticed.
As they were talking, a long, drawn-out announcement from a eunuch signaled the Emperor's arrival. Everyone turned in unison to see the imperial procession approaching leisurely, with the Emperor accompanied by several women in resplendent attire. Upon closer inspection, these women were none other than the three favored consorts of the palace: Wang Lian'er, Mu Xirou, and Jiang Dan.
Zhao Jin, momentarily forgetting her awkwardness around Jiang Xin Zhi, remarked to Jiang Ruan, "Ruan Meimei, your fourth sister seems to be quite favored now."
Jiang Ruan smiled without responding. Jiang Dan had always been relentless, grasping at every opportunity to climb higher. With such effort, it was only natural she'd gain favor. Her gaze then settled on the small figure beside the Emperor, and she couldn't help but smile—Ye Pei had also come.
Once the Emperor arrived, the surroundings fell silent. Today's gathering consisted of young nobles and their female relatives, as hunting was primarily an activity for the youth, a way to seek good fortune. Every year, the one who hunted the most would win a prize, and the Emperor would grant them a wish. In previous years, Guan Lianghan and Ye Li had competed fiercely in the hunt, while Xiao Shao had always remained indifferent. Guan Lianghan was a military officer with unparalleled archery skills, and Ye Li was no less formidable. Both had grown up on Mount Canaan, mastering horseback riding and archery from a young age, making them seasoned hunters. But this year, with Jiang Xin Zhi joining the competition, the outcome became even more unpredictable.
Everyone was highly intrigued by Jiang Xin Zhi, the newly risen God of War and young general, eager to witness his prowess. The female attendees, in particular, were especially interested. Guan Lianghan was too rough, and while Ye Li was gentle, his status made him unattainable. Jiang Xin Zhi, however, was both a noble of the court and approachable, exuding an elegant handsomeness without the roughness typical of military men, yet possessing the steadfastness of someone who had been on the battlefield—truly outstanding.
The Emperor, noticing the crowd's restraint, smiled and spoke a few words, essentially saying that there was no need to stand on ceremony. Today, regardless of gender or status, once they entered the hunting grounds, all distinctions of nobility or commonality would vanish—everyone was a friend. They would reconvene the following afternoon, and whoever had the most game would be declared the winner.Though the Emperor had spoken thus, his words weren't entirely accurate. While the men were indeed competing for pride, the women were more concerned about the hunters themselves. As for everyone being friends—that was far from the truth. Every hunting excursion was rife with covert rivalries, and many bloodless conflicts originated from these very gatherings.
Still, appearances had to be maintained. Zhao Jin suggested, "Why don't we form groups and hunt together?"
Lin Zixiang waved her hand dismissively. "No thanks. I don’t know the first thing about hunting. You come from a military family—I don’t. And according to that fool Xia Qing, bears are most likely to appear in snowy forests. I don’t know any martial arts—I’d rather not get eaten. I’ll stay in camp with the delicate young ladies. You go ahead." She never bothered with pretense. Knowing she couldn’t be persuaded, Zhao Jin turned to Wen Feifei, who quickly shook her head. "No, my husband forbids me from such strenuous activities. Besides, I just gave birth—it really isn’t convenient."
"Ruan Meimei, surely you can join me?" Zhao Jin looked at her pleadingly. The annual hunt was a rare event, and she cherished the opportunity. She used to have Wen Feifei’s company, but ever since Wen Feifei married and became pregnant, that was no longer possible. Now, she couldn’t bear the thought of going alone, nor did she want to stay in camp with those pampered young ladies whose interests didn’t align with hers. All her hopes rested on Jiang Ruan.
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "I’m sorry, Sister Zhao, but I’ve already promised Xiao Shao I’d accompany him today."
Zhao Jin frowned. She couldn’t very well intrude on a young couple’s time together—that would be beyond tactless. But with neither of her brothers present, it was too dangerous for her to venture into the forest alone. Jiang Xin Zhi’s expression darkened at her predicament.
"Though I can’t go, my elder brother can," Jiang Ruan offered. "As a man, he can protect you to some extent. Sister Zhao, why not team up with him? You can watch each other’s backs and maybe even hunt together."
Zhao Jin, who had been sulking, was startled by the suggestion and immediately waved her hands. "No, no—thank you for the kind offer, Ruan Meimei, but I’ve suddenly lost interest. I’ll just stay in camp and chat with Zixiang."
Jiang Xin Zhi’s face darkened further. "The royal hunt only happens once a year—it’d be a waste to skip it," he said stiffly. "You’re with me. That’s final. I’ll fetch the horses." With that, he turned and strode off. Zhao Jin stood frozen for a moment before hurrying after him. "Wait—I said I don’t want to—General Jiang, I told you I’m not going—Jiang Xin Zhi, wait—!"
"That fool Zhao Jin," Lin Zixiang remarked. "All brawn, no brains."
...
The hunt officially began. Participants could form groups or go solo, though for most noble youths, it was merely an excuse for amusement. Jiang Ruan walked over to stand beside Xiao Shao. He had chosen a chestnut pony for her and a pure black steed for himself. The two horses stood side by side when Cheng Nianian happened to pass by with her maidservant.They probably weren't planning to hunt in the woods, so they didn't pick horses either, just walked past carrying a qin. As they passed by Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan, Cheng Niannian stopped and gave them a slight smile as a greeting.
Jiang Ruan naturally returned the smile, while Xiao Shao remained expressionless. After Cheng Niannian walked away, Jiang Ruan glanced sideways at Xiao Shao: "Little cabbage, someone wants to dig you up again."
Xiao Shao was momentarily stunned, seeming to only then understand what Jiang Ruan meant. He gave her a speechless look but said nothing. Seeing his silence, Jiang Ruan rolled her eyes at him and mounted her horse with practiced ease—her movements were so fluid they were almost dazzling, enough to catch the attention of young master Gu Yi in the distance. Unaware of his gaze, Jiang Ruan simply tightened the reins. Xiao Shao swiftly mounted his own horse and pulled up beside her, his calm voice reaching her ears: "Only for you to dig up."
Jiang Ruan: "...Who wants to dig you up?"
Xiao Shao couldn't help but laugh, adopting a posture of complete surrender: "You."
Once this man shed all pretense of dignity, he became utterly impossible to handle. Jiang Ruan, exasperated, tightened the reins, and her horse galloped into the woods.
......
Every year at this time, everyone engaged in their own covert struggles, all for the sake of winning a prize—though it was less about the prize and more about the princes showcasing their abilities. Ye Hua and Ye Li had been rivals for many years, but with the ever-shifting political landscape, no one knew when Ye Pei had emerged as another contender. Though young, Ye Pei seemed to be in it for the fun, leading a group of guards armed with bows and arrows deep into the dense forest.
Jiang Ruan was somewhat worried—the woods were full of fierce beasts—but Xiao Shao assured her he had arranged for people to closely follow Ye Pei, so nothing would go wrong. Time passed quickly, and Xiao Shao seemed genuinely focused on hunting. His aim was impeccable, not chasing quantity but targeting rare and exotic game. In the end, he even captured a blue-eyed wolf-fox cub for Jiang Ruan. Since he had caught it himself, the cub was quite strong and even bit Jiang Ruan when she held it. Xiao Shao, ever vengeful, promptly grabbed it by the scruff and tossed it into a bag.
Before they knew it, the sky began to darken. Camping in the woods was an option, and Jiang Ruan was about to suggest finding a spot to pitch a tent when a startled cry rang out from the depths of the forest ahead.
Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao exchanged a glance before he urged his horse toward the sound. Sensing something amiss, Jiang Ruan followed. As they approached, they saw, deep in the woods, a massive white tiger with piercing eyes, its claws sharpened menacingly as it growled lowly at a group of people—among them Ye Pei and his guards.
Though these men were skilled fighters, they might not be a match for the white tiger. The high mountains and deep snow at year's end left such beasts starving and exceptionally vicious. The hunting grounds should have been cleared of such dangers, so the tiger's presence was deeply suspicious.There was no time for deep thought at the moment. The guards were protecting Ye Pei, urging him to flee first, but the white tiger seemed to have singled him out, leaping over the guards and charging straight at him. Though Ye Pei had a bow, his strength was insufficient—the arrow he shot merely grazed the tiger before falling to the ground.
Before Jiang Ruan could grow anxious, Xiao Shao had already drawn an arrow from behind. In one fluid motion, he nocked, aimed, and released. The tiger was lunging directly at Ye Pei, its maw gaping wide, when Xiao Shao’s arrow whistled through the air with a sharp whoosh , embedding itself squarely in the beast’s mouth. Blood sprayed instantly.
A single arrow to the throat—Xiao Shao’s arrows were forged with special craftsmanship, each tip densely lined with tiny serrations, making them far more lethal than ordinary arrows. With this shot, the tiger was flung backward onto the ground. The guards froze for a moment before swarming forward to subdue it.
Only then did Ye Pei turn and notice Jiang Ruan and the others. “Prince Xiao,” he acknowledged.
Jiang Ruan dismounted immediately, not bothering with the presence of the guards, and stepped forward to ask, “Is the Thirteenth Prince injured?”
Ye Pei shook his head, glancing at Xiao Shao with a faint smile. “Today, I must thank Prince Xiao for his timely assistance. Truly, your archery is unparalleled. It seems the prize for this hunt will undoubtedly go to you. As for this white tiger, its pelt will make a rare and valuable gift for you.”
Jiang Ruan had no patience for such pleasantries. Frowning, she asked, “Why would there be a tiger in the hunting grounds?”
“Not just a tiger,” Ye Pei replied with a knowing look. “There are wild wolves as well. Earlier, I heard movement and howling up ahead. This hunting ground has become quite treacherous—its exotic beasts are truly eye-opening.”
What should have been an ordinary hunt had turned into a bloodbath. Tonight, they had been fortunate to encounter Ye Pei, but elsewhere, as he had said, other vicious beasts were likely attacking. Many of the young nobles here had come merely for amusement—if faced with such horrors, they would have no recourse but to rely on their guards. By now, blood was probably splattering across every corner of the hunting grounds.
Whoever orchestrated this had created chaos on such a scale—what was their goal? Jiang Ruan knew who it was, but this ruthless, extravagant scheme gave her a new understanding of just how far that person was willing to go. To harm one individual, they were willing to sacrifice the lives of so many noble sons and daughters. Fortunately, Ye Pei was unharmed. Still uneasy, she said, “Thirteenth Prince, the depths of the forest are teeming with beasts. It’s too late to return to camp tonight. Why not travel with my husband and me? We can watch out for each other.”
Ye Pei hesitated, as if about to refuse, but after a moment’s thought, he smiled. “In that case, I’ll gladly accept your offer.”
Xiao Shao turned and instructed Jin Er, Jin San, and Jin Si, who had followed them: “Scout ahead.”
The men departed on his orders. Only then did Xiao Shao turn back and say, “Let’s find a place to camp. Follow me.”
…As everyone had imagined, the hunting grounds were in complete chaos at that moment. Gu Yi was being pursued by a pack of wolves, each one ravenous as if they had been starved for days and just released from traps, their eyes gleaming with a sinister green light. The alpha wolf leading the pack was enormous and exceptionally vicious. The guards accompanying him had already been bitten in the neck, and as he rode his horse, his heart pounded wildly.
This wasn’t Gu Yi’s first time at the hunting grounds. As the young master of the Commander’s household, he participated every year. He was familiar with the usual proceedings, but encountering such ferocious beasts was unprecedented. Something had clearly gone wrong, and now he was the only one left. Gu Yi had no idea what to do.
Just then, the alpha wolf suddenly lunged forward and bit the tail of his horse. The horse let out a pained whinny and stumbled, sending Gu Yi tumbling to the ground. He rolled once in the snow, his heart filled with terror, certain that today would be his last. But the next moment, he felt someone grab his hand, and a voice laced with amusement sounded in his ear: "Little brother, are you really going to give up and die just like that?"
Startled, Gu Yi looked up to see a woman in tight-fitting riding attire smiling teasingly at him from atop a magnificent horse. Her outstretched hand was slender yet seemed to contain boundless strength. The will to survive surged within him, and without a word, he gripped her hand tightly and was pulled onto the horse. Only then did he recognize her—she was the woman he had briefly met at Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao’s wedding. Sensing his trembling, she chuckled lightly and said, "Young Master Gu, don’t be afraid. They’re just a few mangy beasts." As soon as the words left her lips, several hidden weapons shot from her sleeve. They moved too quickly for Gu Yi to see clearly, but he heard the alpha wolf let out a piercing howl before its relentless pursuit abruptly slowed. It rolled once in the snow and then lay still.
(End of Chapter)
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