Chapter 87: Son, I Have a Gift for You Today

Chapter 87: Son, I Have a Gift for You Today

Although claiming to hunt in the Western Hills was just a pretext, being cooped up at home for days had been stifling. Hence, Xiao Yuming relished the chance to frolic freely. He spurred his horse into the forest and soon spotted a rabbit not far ahead. He drew his bow, aimed, and released the string. The arrow zipped towards the grazing rabbit...

"Hit!" Yan Wu exclaimed, "Impressive, Xiao Er! Your archery skills have improved greatly!"

Xiao Yuming laughed heartily and watched as his servant Yan Tai fetched the rabbit, saying, "These days of martial training have not been in vain."

Qi Er was puzzled, "Weren't you just practicing the basics? How did your archery improve?"

Xiao Yuming explained, "I've been strengthening my stance with the horse stance daily. With a steadier base and arms, my aim naturally became more accurate."

Hearing this, both Yan Wu and Qi Er envied him. With a long sigh, Qi Er lamented, "Now that you've decided to practice martial arts, you might even become a great general in the army one day. What about me?"

Yan Wu sighed deeply too, uncertain of his future. Despite being a playboy, he harbored ambitions of his own.

After some thought, Xiao Yuming suggested, "Why don't you two venture into business? As royal merchants, you'll have more money than you could spend. Just thinking about it brings joy."

Qi Er and Yan Wu exchanged a look, contemplating the idea. Although merchants were often looked down upon, they were not merely businessmen; they were scions of a great family—whom would dare to scorn them?

"Let's not dwell on it too much. Let's just enjoy ourselves today," said Xiao Yuming as he rode deeper into the woods, with Yan Wu and Qi Er quickening their pace to follow. They decided to put the future aside and relish the present.

An hour and a half later, the three rested in a clearing within the forest. Yan Wu and Qi Er had each caught a pheasant and a rabbit, while Xiao Yuming had bagged a little more, including a wild boar—his first such catch, much to his excitement.

"This rabbit has fine fur. I'll make a hand muff for Yu Zhu with it," Xiao Yuming remarked, glancing at a plump rabbit beside him. Suddenly he stood up and declared, "I'll need to catch a couple more for hand muffs for my mother too."

No sooner had he spoken than he was back on his horse, off to hunt more rabbits. Yan Wu and Qi Er exchanged looks, with Yan Wu saying, "I ought to make one for my mother too, or she'll weep if she hears the marchioness has one and she doesn't."

Qi Er pondered for a moment, "I don't have a mother, so I'll make one for my grandmother instead."

The two also mounted their horses to hunt rabbits. It wasn't until dusk that they emerged from the woods, each servant carrying several rabbits, signifying a bountiful hunt.

The trio rode to a farmhouse at the foot of the hill, planning to feed their horses before returning home. As they reached the gate, Meng Chengtian and his group arrived too. After assessing their game, he sighed in relief upon seeing only rabbits, pheasants, and at most, a wild boar.

He hadn't caught the coveted red fox, and since Xiao Yuming hadn't either, he hadn't lost.

Xiao Yuming, indifferent to the fox, was more concerned whether Meng Chengtian had caught a "beauty" or not. From the looks of it, he hadn't. But there was no rush—it had only been a day.

"Meng Chengtian, will you come again tomorrow?" Xiao Yuming inquired.

Meng Chengtian snorted, "As long as you're there, I'll be there."

Xiao Yuming stroked his horse, declaring with haughty pride, “Young master hasn’t hunted the red fox yet. Naturally, I shall return tomorrow.”

Meng Chengtian replied, "Then I shall come tomorrow as well."

Never seeing eye to eye, after exchanging these few words, both parties attended to their own affairs and then rode back to the city. By the time Xiao Yuming reached the Marquis’s residence, the sky had darkened. He first led Shimo and Yantai back to his own courtyard.

After sitting down in the house, he asked Shimo, "Did you discover anything?"

Shimo's primary task today was to observe any movements from Miss Liu Biquin and her maid. Hearing Xiao Yuming's inquiry, he promptly responded, "When we had just arrived at Xishan, I caught a glimpse of Miss Liu’s maid stealthily glancing our way. Later, I spotted her twice more at the edge of the woods."

Xiao Yuming let out a cold laugh, "When the time comes, let big brother see for himself the woman who nearly ruined our entire Marquis’s household, the one he cherishes so dearly, and see what she truly looks like."

"Let's go to Shian Garden," declared Xiao Yuming as he rose, adding, "Bring the hunted rabbits with you."

The master and servants jovially made their way to Shian Garden. Tang Shuyi had just ordered the meal to be set when she saw him return, and promptly added another pair of chopsticks.

After Xiao Yuming rinsed his hands in the basin that the maid held, he cheerily said to Tang Shuyi, “Mother, your son has brought you a gift today.”

Then he glanced casually at Xiao Yuzhu, as if it were an afterthought, "And one for you, too."

Initially pleased to hear about the gift, Xiao Yuzhu’s mood soured at his tone, wanting to give him a piece of her mind, she huffed indignantly.

Tang Shuyi ignored the siblings' squabble, smiling as she asked, "What gift?"

"Bring them in," Xiao Yuming called out. Following his command, Shimo entered, holding several rabbits. Xiao Yuming continued, "It’s getting cold, mother. You could use these rabbit pelts to make a hand muff."

Then he glanced sidelong at Xiao Yuzhu, "And you as well."

Xiao Yuzhu's face puffed up in irritation, but Tang Shuyi laughed heartily, assuring, "Your second brother is just teasing you."

Xiao Yuzhu huffed again, her eyes sparkling as she eyed the rabbits, "I don’t want a hand muff. I want to keep it as a pet."

Xiao Yuming waved dismissively, "As you wish."

No longer bothered by his attitude, Xiao Yuzhu happily got up and approached Shimo to inspect the rabbits. Noticing the smallest one in the middle, its red eyes gazing at her, her heart melted. Pointing at it, she declared, "I want this one."

As she reached out to take it, her head maid Qingmei quickly took the small rabbit first, smiling, "I’ll tend to its injuries first, then give it to the young miss once it’s healed."

In truth, tending to the wounds was secondary; the primary task was to clean the rabbit thoroughly.

Xiao Yuzhu gave the small rabbit another glance, then nodded and added, “Prepare something for it to eat.”

On the other side, Xiao Yuchen inquired of Xiao Yuming, “Why have you gone hunting again, second brother? Have your injuries healed?”

Xiao Yuming, ever nonchalant, chuckled twice and said, “I can’t sit still.”

“Where did you go hunting?” Xiao Yuchen asked casually.

Upon hearing this question, Xiao Yuming instinctively thought to glance at Tang Shuyi. However, before his eyes could meet hers, Tang Shuyi turned her head to Xiao Yuzhu, who was still observing the rabbits, and said, “Come, it’s time to eat.”

Xiao Yuzhu uttered an "Oh" and returned to her seat. Xiao Yuming silently let out a sigh of relief; he had nearly given himself away.

“Went hunting at Xishan,” he replied, his tone steady.

However, Xiao Yuchen’s hand tightened around his chopsticks.

PS: A hand muff, a cylindrical accessory one can slip their hands into for warmth, is commonly used in the north. Different regions have different names for it; in my area, it’s called a warm sleeve.