Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 76

“Chuqing, come here! I brought sesame candy!”

The moment Xiao Yaqing saw Chuqing return, she called her over.

This round-faced little sister was much more interesting than those young ladies from official families!

Chuqing had just returned carrying a small sack of charcoal and was immediately fed a treat.

Now she held the sesame candy Xiao Yaqing had given her, her cheeks bulging as she chewed.

“Miss Xiao.”

At the familiar voice, the indulgent smile that had spread across Xia Heng’s face while watching Chuqing eat disappeared at once.

All three women rose and bowed.

Huyan Lie… Why do you haunt us like a vengeful ghost?

“It has been a long time, Miss Xiao.”

Huyan Lie showed little reaction to finding Xiao Yaqing together with Xia Heng and the others.

He had already investigated her.

The Xiao Family’s only legitimate daughter had also returned to the capital only recently and had few close acquaintances among the other households.

For some inexplicable reason, however, she seemed to have immediately taken a liking to this maid from Cang Chuli’s mansion.

That was fine. The fewer friends she had, the easier it would be for him to take advantage of the opening.

“First Prince…” Xiao Yaqing said hesitantly.

Since when had she become so familiar with this Tujue prince?

If she remembered correctly, their last encounter at the training ground had ended on extremely poor terms.

“Will Miss Xiao be entering the field today? Might Lie have the honor of witnessing your skill?”

Xiao Yaqing replied modestly, “This young woman’s riding and archery are poor. I would not dare display my meager skills before Your Highness.”

“Miss Xiao is far too modest…”

With sesame candy still in her mouth, Xia Heng silently watched Huyan Lie put on airs.

Xia Heng felt nothing. If anything, she wanted to laugh.

It seemed the obstacle on Dongfang Wei’s road to romance had begun to act.

In the original novel, the Tujue First Prince showered Xiao Yaqing with attention throughout the Winter Hunt.

Princess Pasang even disguised herself as a young eunuch in the middle of the night and slipped into Dongfang Wei’s tent.

The siblings had practically made their moves right under the male and female leads’ noses.

If Huyan Lie were sincere, that would be one thing.

But if he wanted to scheme against her sister to obtain the alcohol formula, then he could hardly blame Xia Heng for fighting dirty.

“Miss, I accidentally injured you at the training ground last time. Lie has felt uneasy ever since.

“How is your recovery? If you require any medicinal ingredients, you need only name them.”

Huyan Lie’s concern was blatantly false.

Xiao Yaqing narrowed her eyes.

You hurt my sister, and you still dare swagger in front of her? You certainly have nerve.

Xia Heng raised her head with a simple, honest smile and answered in a frightened tone.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness! This servant is already well.

“The scimitar you gave us last time was far too valuable! I would not dare ask for medicinal ingredients as well.”

Huyan Lie was momentarily at a loss for words. He had good reason to suspect she had mentioned the matter deliberately.

Just then, a palace attendant hurried over.

“First Prince, His Majesty is about to begin the ceremony to worship Heaven.”

Large-scale hunts generally began with worship of Heaven, followed by a speech from the Emperor. Only then would the hunting commence.

After hearing the message, Huyan Lie said to Xiao Yaqing, “Then Lie will take his leave.”

Xiao Yaqing inclined her head.

Once he had gone, she looked thoroughly baffled.

“Why did he come over?”

“No one goes out of their way to be nice without wanting something,” Xia Heng blurted out.

“He came here specifically to find you, so he must want something from you.”

Xiao Yaqing considered that for a moment.

“I’ll be careful.”

“Forget him for now. Once the households begin hunting, I’m going out too! If I bring down anything, I’ll bring some over and we can roast it together!”

Xia Heng privately wondered whether Xiao Yaqing would remember that promise after encountering Dongfang Wei in the hunting grounds.

In the original novel, the two finally found an opportunity to speak alone after meeting in the forest.

Unfortunately, Princess Pasang ruined it in the end.

“Eldest Sister Xiao, your Second Sister has something to say, though I don’t know whether I should.”

Xiao Yaqing’s mouth twitched at the form of address.

“Why don’t you keep it to yourself?”

She had a feeling she did not want to hear this.

“Hey! You can’t refuse the cure just because you’re afraid of the diagnosis!”

Xia Heng ignored her refusal.

“Look, a mouth is a useful thing. Everyone ought to have one.

“Sometimes, when there’s something to say, you need to say it.

“And when you’re talking, don’t stand in the middle of a road. You’ll be interrupted. Find somewhere with no one around. Understand?”

Xiao Yaqing’s head filled with question marks.

Xia Heng merely patted her shoulder, told her to remember those words, then turned away with the air of a hero who sought no credit.

* * *

Ever since arriving at the hunting grounds, Cang Chuli had remained beside Dongfang Wei.

“How is your right shoulder?” Dongfang Wei asked. “You returned before the old wound had healed, then took a blade at Putuo Temple. Your contest with Huyan Lie at the training ground involved no small amount of movement either.”

“They were minor injuries. The medicine you gave me helped greatly. They no longer interfere with ordinary movement.”

“Those old bones at the Imperial Medical Bureau are useful for something, then. If they could not even manage that, I might as well send them all to farm.”

Cang Chuli gave a quiet snort but nodded.

Sixi came over to inform his imperial master that it was time for the ceremony.

Dongfang Wei composed himself, held incense in his left hand, and slowly ascended the altar.

Once the Emperor had finished speaking, the Winter Hunt officially began.

Dongfang Wei took the lead, riding into the hunting grounds with a hundred horsemen. Banners streamed behind them as the horses thundered forward.

The civil and military officials mounted as well and followed close behind.

The guards first drove the game into the open. Officials responsible for the enclosure then led cavalry into a surrounding ring.

The ring gradually tightened. Only when it had narrowed sufficiently did the Emperor take the first shot. Afterward, the officials were invited to shoot according to rank.

Once the encircled game had been brought down, Dongfang Wei gave permission for everyone to hunt freely.

Only then did the officials disperse.

There were many methods of hunting, including driving game into an enclosure, catching it in nets, and setting snares.

Because people were scattered throughout the grounds, however, fire could not be used.

Officials gathered in groups of three or five. Some had their servants set snares, while others spread enormous nets.

A few had even raised more than a dozen hunting dogs. Their methods varied widely, and many returned with impressive catches.

Xia Heng and the others remained in front of their tent.

The teams assigned to transport game passed constantly, now hauling out a roe deer, now dragging a wild boar.

Pheasants and rabbits were too numerous to count.

Each household’s kills were marked and piled separately.

In a sense, it was another form of competition.

Looking at the heaps of game, Xia Heng could not help marveling at the abundance of wildlife in ancient times.

The first round ended after the Emperor and officials swept through the grounds once.

After they returned, the sons and daughters of the various households who wished to enjoy the forest were permitted to enter.

Xiao Yaqing eagerly slung a bow over her shoulder, mounted her dark-red horse, and rode into the woods. She swore she would personally bring back two pheasants or rabbits to improve their meal.

The servants of each household were not allowed to wander freely. If they strayed into the deeper hunting grounds and someone mistook them for a wild animal and shot them, they would have nowhere to seek justice.

They could, however, enter the shallow woods to gather firewood or pick wild fruit.

Cang Chuli’s personal guards remained around the tent.

Unable to sit still, Xia Heng and Chuqing quietly took baskets into the edge of the forest to gather pine branches for roasting meat later.

The imperial hunting grounds were normally closed to outsiders, so no one came to pick the fruit.

The moment they entered the woods, they found clusters of schisandra berries so dark red they were almost purple, hanging heavily from the branches.

Maids and young servants from other households were also picking some to bring back for their masters to taste.

Xia Heng gathered plenty. When no one was watching, she slipped some into her system inventory as well. These were valuable!

Nearby, Chuqing found several wild jujube bushes. Carefully avoiding the thorns, she picked some fully ripened fruit.

Suddenly, a great commotion erupted near the tents.