Chapter 30: The Emperor Realizes His Feelings

Chapter 30: The Emperor Becomes Aware of His Own Feelings

Early in the morning, Chief Eunuch Zhang Fu dispatched a young eunuch to summon all participants of today's hunt to the camp entrance for an imperial decree.

“By His Majesty’s decree, all those entering the mountains for today’s hunt are forbidden to bring personal attendants or bodyguards. Instead, Imperial Guards will be assigned to provide protection. Let this be known.”

After proclaiming the decree, Zhang Fu turned to Commander Xing Fang, who stood beside him in full armor:

“Commander Xing, the rest is now in your hands.”

Xing Fang gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, then waved his hand. A large contingent of Imperial Guards emerged from behind him—men Xing Fang had personally selected, organized into groups of five, each assigned to protect the court officials and young nobles participating in the hunt.

Zhang Fu surveyed the crowd below, their expressions a mix of emotions, and said with a beaming smile:

“The mountains are fraught with peril. Having the Imperial Guards for protection is indeed wise. May you all achieve excellent results today—His Majesty is watching closely.”

No matter what schemes or thoughts those present harbored, none dared reveal even a hint of them before Zhang Fu. Each received the decree with proper decorum, unaware that their carefully concealed intentions had long been noticed by the Chief Palace Eunuch. Zhang Fu scanned the crowd once more before smiling and returning to his duties.

Once he departed, some immediately turned their gaze to Yu Zhi. Yu Zhi, who had lost the dignified air of a noble young master from previous days, now looked ashen-faced with dark circles under his eyes—clearly, he had not slept well the night before.

The Emperor had issued such a decree early this morning; even a fool could guess that it must be because the interrogation of the servants from Si Yunbo’s residence the previous night had yielded significant information. They all knew perfectly well what those results implied. That Yu Zhi was still standing here today made them uncertain what the Emperor might be planning. Recalling their own actions, they couldn’t help but feel anxious.

In contrast, General of the Northern Garrison Zhou Kai was in high spirits. He let out a whistle and grinned at Ling Yehan, who was also participating in the hunt:

“Marquis, care for a competition?”

Ling Yehan, who had been driven out of his tent by Xiao Chen early in the morning, scowled:

“I don’t compete with previous losers.”

Zhou Kai gritted his teeth in frustration.

While the military officials were cheerful, others were worried—especially those who knew how they had achieved their hunting results in previous days. Some couldn’t help but glance at Ling Yehan. Yu Zhi had been seeking attention, but if Ling Yehan hadn’t challenged him to a sword competition yesterday, the matter wouldn’t have escalated.

Ling Yehan didn’t even turn his head, his tone sharp:

“Keep your eyes to yourselves. You’ll find out exactly what you’re made of today.”

With that, he mounted his horse and took the lead, charging into the forest ahead of everyone, closely followed by his five assigned Imperial Guards.

The others mounted their horses with grim expressions. The most carefree among them were Cheng Baobao and Qian Binbin, the two strong contenders for last place. Just as Qian Binbin was about to mount, Cheng Baobao suddenly pulled him aside and whispered:

“I bet today’s last place won’t be either of us.”

Qian Binbin glanced at the people around them and nodded seriously.

When Zhang Fu returned to the imperial tent, Xiao Chen was reclining on a soft couch, wearing a Shu brocade robe under a light purple gauze outer garment, allowing the imperial physician to take his pulse. His gaze was downcast, seemingly lost in thought. It was only when Xu Yuanli moved his hand away that Xiao Chen snapped back to reality and looked over. After listening to Xu Yuanli’s lengthy report, he asked:

“Was it you who asked the Marquis of Jingbian to learn massage?”

Xu Yuanli stiffened and immediately looked up:

“Your Majesty, it was the Marquis who came to this servant. He said Your Majesty seemed troubled by back pain at night and asked if this servant had any remedies. This servant mentioned that massage might help, and the Marquis then asked this servant to teach him.”

Xu Yuanli didn’t ask any further questions. Without asking, he knew—if the Emperor was inquiring, it must mean the Marquis had already massaged him. Indeed, only the Marquis would dare to do such a thing.

“Hmm, you may go.”

Xiao Chen would usually review memorials at this time, but today he remained on the soft couch, lost in thought. After a while, he seemed somewhat annoyed. He must have been half-asleep last night, allowing Ling Yehan to carry him to…

Zhang Fu brought over some medicinal tea:

“Your Majesty, please drink this to soothe your throat.”

Xiao Chen drank the tea, composed himself, and suddenly asked:

“Zhang Fu, I recall you have brothers back in your hometown?”

Caught off guard, Zhang Fu bowed:

“Your Majesty, this servant has two younger brothers—one three years younger, the other eight years younger.”

“Are you close?”

“My father passed away early. My mother supported the three of us by washing clothes. I raised my two younger brothers since they were young. Later, when disaster struck our home, I lied to my family about being hired as a laborer and entered the palace. The silver I earned helped my family through that hardship. My youngest brother was only five at the time. Two years later, after my mother passed away, I told my brothers the truth. My second brother and youngest brother then cried and asked if they could redeem me from the palace, saying they would work as much as needed to get me out. What foolish children.”

Zhang Fu’s eyes reddened slightly as he spoke.

“I remember you’re from Yuzhou. Are your brothers still in your hometown?”

“No, three years ago, my second and third brothers came to the capital and opened a mutton soup restaurant. This servant purchased a residence for them. My second brother married five years ago and now has a son and a daughter. My youngest brother became engaged last year. There’s no one left in our hometown, so when this servant is off-duty, I have a home to return to.”

“You dote on those children, don’t you?”

Zhang Fu’s eyes crinkled with a smile:

“Yes, the little ones are especially adorable. When I finish my duties, Zhuangzhuang always waits for me at the gate. The little girl is at that age where she’s particularly endearing. When this servant left the capital this time, she shed tears. This servant promised to bring her a rabbit when I return, and that comforted her.”

Xiao Chen could see that Zhang Fu was content with his life now. His two brothers had started families and careers, with lovely children. As an elder brother, he was genuinely happy for them.

He thought of the person who followed him every day, calling him “gege” incessantly. If Ling Yehan were to marry and have children with someone else, could he truly be as happy as Zhang Fu?

The scene from his last visit to the Marquis’s mansion flashed in his mind—he couldn’t even tolerate those so-called blood relatives who shared blood ties with Ling Yehan, let alone a wife and children.

Heh. Xiao Chen closed his eyes slightly, mocking himself. Not only was it unclear when Ling Yehan had developed feelings for him, but he himself couldn’t pinpoint when his own affections for Ling Yehan had shifted.

Meanwhile, in the mountains, Ling Yehan was chasing a wild deer. As he drew closer, he realized the deer was pregnant. He lowered the arrow nocked on his bow and let the doe go, watching it run away before turning to hunt elsewhere.

In previous hunts, he had always been with Xiao Chen. Back then, he wished the sun would never set. But now, he only wanted to gather enough game quickly and return to Xiao Chen. When he left this morning, Xiao Chen had looked unwell, and he wondered if he had been vomiting again after he left.

As the crimson sun dipped toward the tree branches, the guards following Ling Yehan were laden with game. Returning to camp, he found he was the first back. Eager to rush to Xiao Chen’s tent, he worried his hunting odors might bother him, so he approached the open window instead. The guards on either side dared not stop him. Ling Yehan pressed his face against the window and saw Xiao Chen inside, playing chess with Zhao Mengxian. Zhao Mengxian was saying something that made Xiao Chen laugh.

The joy in Ling Yehan’s heart instantly felt stifled, as if stuffed with cotton. He turned to leave but after two steps turned back, scratching fiercely at the tent wall twice.

Hearing the noise, Xiao Chen looked up but saw no one by the window. He raised an eyebrow slightly:

“What was that sound?”

Zhao Mengxian also looked over:

“Probably a rat.”

Xiao Chen twirled a chess piece in his hand:

“That rat has no sense of propriety.”

Zhang Fu, who had seen the person by the window, now kept his eyes downcast and remained silent.

A while later, generals began returning to camp, and the noise outside grew lively, with everyone inquiring about each other’s catches from afar.

Xiao Chen ended the game and straightened up, a sharp pain shooting through his waist. His expression remained unchanged as he paused his movement:

“Let’s stop here. Zhao Mengxian, you may go outside and see what's going on.”

After Zhao Mengxian took his leave, Zhang Fu immediately stepped forward:

“Your Majesty, is the pain in your waist severe?”

The child growing under his robes was now making its presence felt, and maintaining one posture for too long had stiffened his waist, causing an ache. Zhang Fu knew Xiao Chen disliked being touched. Aside from daring to support his arm on ordinary occasions, he never overstepped. At this moment, he shot his disciple a look. Zhang Chunlai immediately understood and quietly exited the main tent.

Once outside, he couldn’t find the Marquis of Jingbian. Just as he was about to search further, he turned and spotted someone crouching beside the main tent—it was none other than the Marquis of Jingbian.

He approached softly and whispered a message. Ling Yehan immediately sprang up and hurried inside. Once inside, he swiftly removed his outermost armor and tossed it aside, washed his hands and face, then picked up a small incense burner to waft the incense over himself before entering.

Inside, Xiao Chen leaned one arm on the chessboard, eyes slightly closed, his movements somewhat stiff. He heard the noise at the entrance but didn’t turn around. Without looking, he knew who had entered—no one else would dare enter his main tent without announcement.

Ling Yehan crouched beside him. Seeing Xiao Chen still ignoring him with closed eyes, he quietly reached out and pressed gently on the acupoints around his lower back to relieve the soreness. He started lightly and gradually increased pressure, observing Xiao Chen's expression. Only when he saw no sign of displeasure did he feel relieved.

As the stiff, painful area in his lower back eased somewhat, Xiao Chen finally opened his eyes and said disdainfully:

“Did you pour incense ash all over yourself?”

Ling Yehan hung his head:

“I didn't want the smell to bother you.”

Xiao Chen pressed a finger against his forehead, pushing him away, and levered himself up using the chessboard to stand:

“Go check if everyone outside has returned.”

Zhang Fu went out to have someone take a headcount. After another quarter-hour, the Emperor, with a cloak draped over his shoulders, emerged from the royal tent with the Marquis of Jingbian. The camp was filled with the same people as previous hunts, and the same bonfire burned, but compared to the previous days’ abundance, today’s results were pitifully sparse.

Xiao Chen walked in from the rear of the group, his black-and-gold cloak fluttering slightly in the evening breeze. He lowered his head, examining each piece of game on the ground one by one, while those around him held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Aside from a few generals whose game count remained largely consistent with previous days, many who had previously returned with full bags now had pitifully few pieces of game before them.

He looked up at Yu Zhi, who hung his head, with only one deer before him. Beside him, one of the young nobles had nothing at all in front of him. Xiao Chen’s expression grew increasingly somber. It wasn’t until he reached Cheng Baobao that he stopped. Cheng Baobao, already afraid of him, felt his legs weaken when the Emperor stood before him, staring at the three rabbits in front of him:

“Y-Your Majesty, these three rabbits were truly hunted by me.”

Xiao Chen glanced down at the wounds on the rabbits. The three arrows had struck different spots, clearly not the work of someone else:

“Hmm, it shows.”

He then looked at Qian Binbin beside Cheng Baobao. These two, who had always vied for last place, were indeed evenly matched. Qian Binbin also had three rabbits before him, with arrows lodged in similarly haphazard positions, but at least they had hit their mark.

The only slight surprise was Meng Lang, who had one deer, one roe deer, and four rabbits before him—not much different from his first attempt.

And this time, the one with the most game was naturally Ling Yehan: four deer, two foxes, and five rabbits.

Xiao Chen only glanced at his game before stepping past. Ling Yehan stood pitifully behind his own game, watching as the Emperor seated himself on the dragon throne. After sitting down, Xiao Chen remained silent, and the entire camp fell so deathly quiet that only the crackling of the bonfire could be heard.

After a long while, Si Yunbo, pale-faced, knelt on the ground to plead guilty. Yu Zhi also knelt, his words faltering, his composure gone, only kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, devoid of the noble dignity he had previously displayed.

Soon, a scattering of people were kneeling. Just as Zhou Kai was wondering whether he should kneel as well, he glanced at Ling Yehan and saw the man standing straight, his gaze somewhat contemptuous as he looked at those kneeling. In that instant, Zhou Kai felt he need not kneel.

After what felt like an eternity, the figure seated high on the imperial throne finally spoke, his voice low and thick with disappointment:

“The purpose of the spring hunt was for the young men of various families to maintain their vigor, lest they grow complacent in times of peace and neglect their riding and archery. Yet you have turned what should be a courageous, fearless, and open hunting ground into a stage for currying favor and seeking rewards before me. Today, you fool me with a few pieces of game. Tomorrow, what will you use to deceive me?”

The pressure in the Emperor’s words grew increasingly heavy. Those below finally paled entirely, kowtowing until their foreheads thumped loudly against the ground.

Xiao Chen slightly closed his eyes, his weariness unconcealed. After a long moment, he spoke:

“You are all meritorious subjects, and I understand your desire to see your clans’ youth distinguish themselves. I will not pursue this fault further. You would do well to reflect on your actions. Decree: at dawn tomorrow, we return to the capital.”

Having said this, the Emperor stood and directly returned to his tent, paying no further heed to the kneeling crowd.

Ling Yehan shot a disdainful glance at the people on the ground. He was only worried that Xiao Chen was truly angered to the point of harming his health, and he hurriedly followed.

Meanwhile, Wu Dahu approached Zhou Kai, his eyes filled with disbelief, and couldn’t help but whisper:

“Isn’t this deceiving the sovereign? His Majesty just let it go without any punishment?”

Zhou Kai, having long given up on expecting tactical insight from his battle-hardened companion, took a deep breath and said to this simpleton:

“Look at the people on the ground—their faces are ashen. His Majesty not punishing them is more severe than any punishment.”

Those kneeling here today would likely never again have the chance to appear before the Emperor—including the meritorious officials behind them. In the future, recommending their own descendants would be difficult.

His Majesty used this pardon for the crime of deceiving the sovereign to block these people's habit of pushing their relatives into posts everywhere. He glanced again at the retreating figure of Ling Yehan. He had always said that young man never engaged in losing ventures. Stirring up this scene was likely not just about the sword tassel.