Although the Muhe Clan had lost its pillar of support, the Daxia imperial hunting assembly continued to proceed in an orderly manner.
Zhenhuang was located on the Hongchuan Plain, where the Chishui River area was crisscrossed with waterways, stretching endlessly across the vast, flat expanse that spanned hundreds of miles—truly an excellent place for hunting and horseback riding. Under the cover of stars and moon, numerous bonfires dotted the expansive snowfield, illuminating the campsite that stretched for miles with a fiery glow. The weather was favorable tonight—no wind, no snow, with rising temperatures. Tens of thousands of Daxia nobles were scattered across the hunting grounds, roasting meat, riding horses, competing in archery and swordplay, drinking, and dancing, creating a lively and bustling scene. The air was filled with the drawn-out melodies of Xia folk songs and the sound of grass fiddles, while the aroma of roasted game wafted enticingly through the air.
Chu Qiao was draped in a snow-white fur cloak, wearing small white boots and riding a warhorse. Her long hair was simply tied up, and she wore a sable hat, revealing only her delicate face. Her eyes sparkled like bright stars in the brilliantly lit night, vivid and captivating.
Yan Xun turned his head, his gaze calmly sweeping over Chu Qiao before he said with a smile, "A Chu has grown up too."
The young woman raised an eyebrow, frowning as she looked at Yan Xun. "How much older are you than me? Stop acting like an old man in front of me."
Yan Xun laughed heartily at her words and was about to reply when the sound of rapidly approaching hoofbeats caught their attention. Looking up, they saw Zhao Song, clad in a pine-green brocade cloak, galloping toward them at full speed, shouting as he rode, "A Chu! A Chu!"
Yan Xun frowned, a trace of annoyance in his voice. "Why does he call you that?"
Chu Qiao snorted lightly. "He learned it from you."
Zhao Song, accompanied by over twenty attendants, swept over like a gust of wind and greeted them with a beaming smile. "You're here too."
"It's a bonfire banquet—everyone is here."
Yan Xun's tone remained gentle, but there was a hint of aloofness in his voice that kept others at a distance. Chu Qiao glanced at him curiously, her brow slightly furrowed. Fortunately, Zhao Song seemed oblivious and continued to scrutinize Chu Qiao intently. "A Chu, why aren't you wearing the snow-fur coat I gave you? Isn't it warm enough?"
Chu Qiao nodded, replying with a warm smile, "It's very warm. I just thought it wasn't too cold tonight, so I didn't wear it."
"Oh," Zhao Song exclaimed in sudden understanding, nodding repeatedly as he praised, "But you look lovely in this cloak too."
"I heard from A Jing that there's a horse race and archery contest down below. Why hasn't the Thirteenth Prince gone to watch the excitement?"
Yan Xun suddenly spoke up from the side. Zhao Song froze, his face flushing slightly. How could he admit that he had abandoned the competition and rushed up as soon as he saw Chu Qiao? After stammering for a moment, he finally said, "Those... aren't very interesting. I've grown tired of them. I'd rather stand here and enjoy the breathtaking view of the frozen landscape, so I came up to rest."
"Is that so?" Yan Xun suddenly smiled. "What a pity. We were just about to go down and join the fun and had thought to invite the Thirteenth Prince along. It seems we've missed the chance."
"Ah?" Zhao Song stared wide-eyed, stammering as he turned to Chu Qiao, "You're going down too?"
Chu Qiao felt a surge of irritation and secretly tugged at Yan Xun's sleeve beneath her own. Unexpectedly, the man grasped her hand firmly in return, holding the reins with his other hand as he said with a smile, "In that case, we won't disturb the Thirteenth Prince's peace any longer."With that, he pulled Chu Qiao along and spurred his horse forward.
"Hey! Hey!" Zhao Song shouted twice from behind, but could only watch as the two figures disappeared in a cloud of dust.
"What are you doing?" The moment they dismounted, Chu Qiao shook off Yan Xun's hand and demanded angrily.
Yan Xun didn't respond, merely pursed his lips as he looked at her, his expression carrying a hint of triumphant delight. As Chu Qiao watched him, her anger gradually subsided.
Forget it—it had been a long time since he'd been this childishly happy.
The young girl sighed helplessly and followed behind him.
Just then, the crisp sound of hoofbeats rang out again. Both Chu Qiao and Yan Xun paused in surprise, turning simultaneously to see Zhao Song leading a group of people rushing up from a distance. Feigning astonishment, he said, "Oh, you're here too? The wind's strong up there, so I thought I'd come down to warm myself by the fire. Since we've run into each other, let's go together."
Even with Yan Xun's usual grace, his face darkened at this. Chu Qiao couldn't help but chuckle aloud.
Zhao Song clearly knew his excuse was flimsy. He chuckled awkwardly twice before stepping forward to act as their guide.
The vast camp was now filled with laughter and chatter. Bonfires dotted the area, the aroma of roasting meat wafting through the air. The three moved through the crowd, followed by a few attendants, blending in without drawing much attention.
Suddenly, a burst of noisy cheers erupted in the distance. Drawing closer, they saw over twenty burly men, stripped to the waist, wrestling in pairs on the snowy ground, shouting loudly as they grappled. A young woman in fiery red riding attire, draped in a crimson fur coat, sat astride her horse. Her features were delicate, her posture elegant. With three swift shots, her arrows thudded into the bullseye of a target a hundred meters away.
The surrounding crowd erupted in thunderous applause. The young woman set down her bow and glanced around proudly. Suddenly, she sprang from her horse like a bullet, landing with one foot on a wrestler's shoulder. Cracking her whip, she lashed it across the backs of the other men and laughed boldly, "I'm with him! Come at us together!"
"Zama?" Chu Qiao's brow furrowed tightly as she turned to look at Yan Xun.
Years of tacit understanding allowed Yan Xun to instantly understand her concern. He nodded, and the two turned to leave simultaneously.
"Halt!"
A sharp cry rang out from above! A red whip lashed out like a striking serpent, flashing toward them in an instant. Chu Qiao reacted swiftly, grabbing the whip tightly and wrapping it around her arm with a few quick twists. Both ends pulled taut, stretching the slender whip straight.
"Running away already, Young Master Yan? Are you a turtle?"
The young woman leaped to the ground, and the crowd immediately parted to make way. The scions of various clans watched with barely concealed schadenfreude, laughing excitedly at the spectacle. The Batuha Family of the northwest and the Yan Clan of Yanbei had long been enemies. This young woman was Old Batu's most beloved daughter, holding even higher status in the northwest than Crown Prince Zalu. Known for her tyranny, her confrontation with the now-destitute Heir of Yanbei promised sparks.
"Zama," Yan Xun turned around, his expression calm, his tone even. "It's been a long time.""Yes," Zama smiled smugly, "Ever since the Yanbei lineage was wiped out, I haven't seen you again. I heard you've been holed up in the Holy Gold Palace in the capital, and thought I'd never have the chance to see Young Master Yan again in this lifetime. But today, heaven has truly blessed me by allowing me to meet the descendant of the Yan family who once shook the northern frontiers."
"Zama! Watch your words!"Zhao Song suddenly stepped forward, his voice low." "In such a public setting, how can a young woman speak so harshly? Is this how Old Batu taught you to behave?"
"How my father teaches me is none of your concern! Don't think that just because the Wei Clan backs you, you can shout at me like this!"
"Sister, is someone bullying you?" A rough voice suddenly sounded from behind as Zalu strode forward, towering like a small mountain. It was truly hard to believe he and Zama were born of the same mother.
"No," Zama declared loudly. "With their capabilities, they can't bully me."
"You..."
"Thirteenth Prince, let's not bother with them. Let's go." Yan Xun reached out and placed a hand on the furious Zhao Song's shoulder, his eyes calm and expressionless as he spoke slowly, then turned to leave.
"Trying to leave?" Zama suddenly sneered, her voice sharp as she shouted, "You'll have to ask my arrow for permission!"
In that instant, a collective gasp erupted from the crowd. Zama twisted her slender waist, drew her bow, and nocked an arrow. The arrow shot forth like a meteor, heading straight for Yan Xun's back!
But in the blink of an eye, the young woman who had been standing beside Yan Xun spun around like a whirlwind. Her large white fur cloak billowed in the wind as her hand shot out like a phantom, her fingers spreading like a net. She caught the arrow by its tail and flung it back with a swift, decisive motion, without the slightest hesitation. A crisp crack echoed as the arrow embedded itself firmly in Zama's crossbow, and the ironwood longbow instantly split in two, clattering to the ground.
Everyone was stunned into silence, the scene falling into a dead quiet.
A sudden gust of wind swept across the ground. The young woman's eyes were pitch-black, her skin snow-white, and her gaze held no warmth as she stared at the dumbfounded northwestern princess. Her voice was soft, yet clear enough for everyone present to hear every word.
Chu Qiao gave her a cold glance, then turned away. Her words drifted through the chilly northern wind, leaving behind four indifferent syllables: "Reckless fool."
"You—you stop right there!" Zama was enraged and immediately tried to chase after them.
"Sister," Zalu grabbed hold of Zama, his voice low. "The banquet is starting. We'll settle this score later."
In the distance, the lights blazed brilliantly—the first grand feast of Daxia's spring hunt had finally begun.
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