Chapter 52 Autumn Hunt

Chapter 52: Autumn Hunting Expedition

That very day, Yin Yuxie stormed into the palace.

Wei Yan and Lu Jiming were in the study of Chongyuan Palace, reviewing the list of potential candidates for Prince Cheng's consort, selected by the Imperial Clan Court.

Wei Yan was nitpicking over every candidate—this one was too short, that one was less accomplished in the classics. When he finally found someone with acceptable height and talent, their appearance fell short. He simply couldn’t find anyone who met all his criteria.

“I think your standards are just too high, Shi Xia,” Lu Jiming said. “There’s no such thing as a perfect person in this world. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It would be more appropriate to summon them all and let A Xuan choose for himself.”

Wei Yan, looking weary, leaned lazily against Lu Jiming’s shoulder. “How can you say there isn’t? I’ve already found mine. It’s just that A Xuan can’t have him.”

Lu Jiming chuckled softly, pressing a hand against his lower back, which had grown sore from sitting too long.

He knew his own limitations—stubborn, old-fashioned, overly concerned with face, and utterly lacking in charm. He was far from perfect, not even passable by most standards. Only Wei Yan saw any value in him.

Wei Yan leaned in to kiss Lu Jiming, but before their lips could meet, Yin Yuxie arrived at the worst possible moment.

When the guard announced his arrival, Lu Jiming, blushing, pushed Wei Yan away. Wei Yan gritted his teeth in frustration and ordered Yin Yuxie to enter immediately.

“Has Your Majesty gone mad? Why on earth are you arranging a marriage for me out of the blue?” Yin Yuxie rushed in, clearly here to confront him.

“What, you’re not satisfied?” Wei Yan retorted, thinking to himself, *You dare come here to question me? I’ve racked my brains for you, practically ready to deliver Huan Zixiao straight to the Earl of Yongning’s residence, and you still come to cause trouble?*

“It’s not that,” Yin Yuxie said, looking troubled. “Zi Xiao and I are like sworn brothers. How can Your Majesty suddenly decree that we should marry?”

Hearing this, even Lu Jiming couldn’t help but laugh. As Yin Yuxie and Huan Zixiao grew older, they remained inseparable. Everyone in the capital had long assumed they were a couple, yet without the trials of life and death, their relationship seemed to have stayed exactly the same.

Wei Yan rubbed his temples in frustration. After all these years, Yin Yuxie still hadn’t developed any awareness in that regard. He could only imagine how difficult these years must have been for Huan Zixiao.

“So, you don’t want to get married?” Wei Yan asked.

Yin Yuxie hesitated visibly, then nodded after careful consideration.

“Fine,” Wei Yan said. “I’ll arrange a marriage for Huan Zixiao with someone else. We’re still short of good candidates for A Xuan’s consort. He and A Xuan have known each other since childhood, so it wouldn’t be a marriage between strangers…”

“Wait!” Yin Yuxie interrupted urgently, cutting Wei Yan off. “Why are you suddenly bringing Prince Cheng into this?”

“If you don’t want to marry, are you going to stand in the way of Huan Zixiao’s good fortune?” Wei Yan said lazily.

*Serves you right for interrupting my time with Xuping. Now you can stew in your own anxiety.*

“Why is Your Majesty so fixated on Huan Zixiao?” Yin Yuxie’s tone grew sharp with impatience, sounding almost angry.

Wei Yan smirked. “Time and again, people have tried to push Huan Zixiao into my harem. I’m tired of it. Isn’t arranging a marriage for him the simplest way to put an end to it once and for all?”

*So that’s the reason?* Lu Jiming was surprised. He hadn’t realized Wei Yan had arranged the marriage out of concern for this matter.

“Then I suppose I owe you an apology,” Lu Jiming said with a smile. “It was my own pettiness. Your Majesty was probably just worried I might overthink things.”

Yin Yuxie could be informal with Wei Yan, but having studied under Lu Jiming’s watchful eye, he still held a certain fear of him. He forced an awkward smile. “How could it be Your Highness’s fault? Zi Xiao is indeed of age and should be married.”

“See, even you say so. That proves my arrangement isn’t wrong. So, Huan Zixiao will marry A Xuan…”

“No!” Yin Yuxie interrupted Wei Yan for the second time, his eyes wide and glaring, looking furious even though he himself didn’t understand why he was so angry.

Wei Yan couldn’t hold back a laugh, covering his mouth. “You don’t want to marry him, and you won’t let him marry A Xuan either. So tell me, what exactly do you want? Should I send him off to become a monk?”

Yin Yuxie glanced at Wei Yan, then at Lu Jiming, opening and closing his mouth several times without uttering a word.

Finally, he lowered his eyes to the ground and mumbled, “Who said… who said I don’t want to…”

Wei Yan nearly laughed himself into Lu Jiming’s arms, deliberately asking, “What did you just say? Speak up, I didn’t hear you.”

Yin Yuxie pressed his lips together, as if steeling himself. “I said I’m willing to marry Huan Zixiao!”

“Then why did you come to the palace today?” Wei Yan asked.

“To express my gratitude for Your Majesty's favor!” Yin Yuxie’s face flushed red as he stood awkwardly in the study, looking utterly lost.

Lu Jiming gently nudged Wei Yan. “Alright, stop teasing him.”

Wei Yan finally adopted a serious tone. “I’ll arrange the marriage for you first. If you’re not ready yet, you can hold the ceremony in a few years.”

Yin Yuxie nodded. His mind was in turmoil.

Huan Zixiao had always been by his side, so much so that Yin Yuxie had never considered that he could be anything more than a brother.

But now, with Wei Yan’s decree of marriage, he had no idea how to face Huan Zixiao.

After seeing Yin Yuxie off, Wei Yan finally got his wish and resumed what he had been interrupted from doing earlier.

Lu Jiming was pregnant. Although the fetus was stable at four months, Wei Yan still didn’t dare to be too rough with him, limiting himself to holding and kissing him.

Lu Jiming’s needs in such matters weren’t particularly high, so things didn’t get too out of hand. In the end, the two simply lay side by side on the bed.

Wei Yan said, “A letter arrived from Mingzhou a few days ago. Since you weren’t fully recovered, I didn’t show it to you.”

“What, has Xu Cifeng finally dealt with the pirate issue?” Lu Jiming asked casually.

“You’re quite well-informed,” Wei Yan said. “It took nearly two years, but they’ve finally been completely eradicated. As long as the pirates remained, they were a constant threat. Xu Cifeng did an excellent job.”

“How do you plan to reward him?” Lu Jiming asked on Xu Cifeng’s behalf. He had maintained contact with Xu Cifeng all along. Having seen through human nature, he valued his friendship with Xu Cifeng all the more.

Wei Yan turned onto his side to face Lu Jiming, gently brushing the stray hairs from his forehead. “He’s your man. Shouldn’t you decide how to reward him?”

“Cifeng dislikes constraints and the officialdom, and he doesn’t lack money… How about Your Majesty inscribing a plaque for the Hengchang Guild? That would serve as a backing for him, ensuring he isn’t bullied by other merchant guilds in the future.”

Wei Yan laughed. Xu Cifeng was shrewd, ruthless, and cunning. His cooperation with the Imperial Guard (Yiluan Si) in eradicating the pirates had been seamless, and he had rendered great service.

It was only in front of Lu Jiming that Xu Cifeng acted naive and innocent. Only Lu Jiming truly believed that the young master of a merchant guild could be harmless and needed protection from being bullied.

“Let’s do as you say,” Wei Yan agreed. “After the child is born, we’ll make time for a southern tour. If there’s anything else you want to give him, you can do so in person.”

Thinking back, Lu Jiming hadn’t seen Xu Cifeng since they last parted. Xu Cifeng had given birth not long ago and had been tied up with other matters, unable to come to the capital.

Now that Wei Yan had agreed to go see him together, Lu Jiming was quite pleased.

“There’s also the matter of the Autumn Hunt,” Wei Yan said. “Because Father was unwell at the time and last year coincided with the mourning period, it’s been postponed for several years. We should go this year.”

The Autumn Hunt had gradually become a tradition over the past few generations, but it wasn’t merely about hunting. It was more like a military examination. First, selections were held in various military camps and guard units. Then, a three-day martial competition took place in the hunting grounds. Participants were ranked by score, and positions or rewards were granted accordingly.

Thus, the biennial Autumn Hunt was crucial for military appointments in the Great Qi.

“Then let’s go together,” Lu Jiming said.

Wei Yan placed his hand on Lu Jiming’s belly. “I’m just worried your health won’t hold up.”

“I won’t be riding or hunting. How could I not endure it?” Lu Jiming replied. Attending the Autumn Hunt wasn’t strictly necessary, but there was something else on his mind that he couldn’t let go of.

In his previous life, General Wei Ze'an of the Left Jinwu Guard colluded with Princess Nanping and hid her for many years. Later, during Lu Jiming's search for the princess, Wei Ze'an was found out and defected from the capital.

Wei Ze'an was once a personal guard of Prince Rui, a martial arts master considered the top fighter in the Great Qi. Lacking noble lineage, he had an air of integrity and reliability. Wei Yan single-handedly promoted him, regarding him as a trusted confidant.

In this life, Lu Jiming naturally was wary of having such a person by Wei Yan's side. However, as a civil official, he was unfamiliar with the military system and did not know Wei Ze'an's current whereabouts.

During the autumn hunt, the best warriors from across the Great Qi would all be present. Given Wei Ze'an's martial prowess, he would undoubtedly be among them. Lu Jiming planned to find an excuse to get rid of this man to avoid future complications.

Thus, he had to attend this autumn hunt.

Wei Yan couldn't guess Lu Jiming's deeper thoughts, assuming he was simply bored from staying in the palace for too long. After a moment's consideration, he agreed.

"When you lie on your side, your belly seems more noticeable," Wei Yan said, his palm resting on Lu Jiming's stomach for a long while, not daring to press hard, merely letting it rest there.

Though not yet showing much, A-Luan was already four months along, having some heft to it and no longer as unnoticeable as in the first three months.

When Lu Jiming lay on his side, he could clearly feel a dragging sensation at his waist and abdomen, like a pouch holding a handful of water.

"My good Xuping, let me take a closer look," Wei Yan said, sitting up in bed and reaching to undo the ties of Lu Jiming's inner garment.

Lu Jiming resignedly let him proceed. Once the garment was fully undone, he also looked down, carefully observing his own belly.

The most obvious change was that his waist had softened. It no longer clung tightly as before. Lu Jiming had once had some abdominal muscles, but now they had all softened into a single mass.

Wei Yan looked at A-Luan hidden within Lu Jiming's body and thought, *So tiny, no wonder he could hide for so long in the previous life. If he grew bigger and couldn't be hidden anymore, wouldn't he have suffered less? Silly A-Luan, still too considerate.*

Lu Jiming felt embarrassed under Wei Yan's intense, scrutinizing gaze and retied his inner garment, turning his back to Wei Yan. "There's nothing much to see."

"Of course there is!" Wei Yan also lay back down, moving closer to Lu Jiming and pulling him into his arms. "You're lovely."

Feeling Wei Yan's reaction, Lu Jiming turned over and kicked him. "After all this time, why aren't you settling down?"

"How am I not settling down? Explain it to me in detail," Wei Yan said, pulling the quilt over both of them. And so, the emperor and empress spent the night discussing matters in detail.

--

Lu Jiming never expected to see Wei Ze'an on the very first day at the hunting grounds.

Wei Ze'an was naturally tall and imposing, with a sharp, almost sinister handsomeness. Even among the Great Qi's most elite soldiers, he stood out like a crane among chickens. Lu Jiming couldn't help but notice him.

Wei Yan followed Lu Jiming's gaze and also spotted Wei Ze'an warming up. Pretending not to know what Lu Jiming was thinking, he deliberately asked, "What, in Xuping's heart, do you prefer the strong and muscular type?"

Lu Jiming didn't react immediately. "Huh?" he said. "What did you just say?"

"That man is better-looking than me, right? You can't take your eyes off him. I knew I shouldn't have brought you to the hunting grounds."

Lu Jiming was amused by Wei Yan's jealousy but couldn't explain the real reason. He casually brushed it off, saying, "I was just noticing that he's a bit taller."

"Can he possibly be taller than Lu Guanguan?" Wei Yan asked jealously, turning to Xue Jun, who was following beside them. "Who is that man?"

Xue Jun glanced over and recognized him, replying directly, "That is Wei Ze'an, a captain from the Shenwu Battalion in Bianjing. He originally served under Prince Rui and returned to the capital a few years ago."

Wei Yan didn't say anything more. How could he not recognize Wei Ze'an? Just thinking about this man made him grit his teeth.

In his previous life, Wei Ze'an and Lu Jiming, his two trusted confidants—one civil, one military—betrayed him from both sides. One colluded with Princess Nanping and fled in rebellion; the other committed treason by aiding the enemy, making him the biggest joke in the entire Great Qi.

Even Lu Jiming... had paid the price. But Wei Ze'an, relying on his formidable martial skills, scoffed at the Imperial Guard's prison, disappearing into the martial world with Princess Nanping without a trace.

But in this life, Wei Yan was still hesitating about how to deal with Wei Ze'an.

Lu Jiming was also hesitant. Because Wei Ze'an's martial prowess was truly peerless. Even dispatching an entire team from the Imperial Guard wouldn't easily capture him.

Moreover, Wei Ze'an hadn't committed any crimes yet. If they dealt with him with great fanfare, there would be no way to explain it to others... and even Wei Yan would become suspicious.

But if left alone, Wei Ze'an was not one to remain subordinate for long. He would inevitably rise step by step. By the time he gained power, it would be even harder to deal with him.

"Let's return to the tent," Wei Yan said, lightly supporting Lu Jiming's lower back. "Although the weather is still warm, autumn has arrived. The wind on the hunting grounds is wild, and catching a chill wouldn't be good."

A-Luan was larger than before. Lu Jiming had been jostled in the carriage the entire journey without rest, and now, after standing for a while, he felt physically strained. Not daring to overexert himself, he agreed and returned to the tent with Wei Yan.

The autumn hunt was, after all, a major event. All the young nobles and princes in the capital who were healthy and without obligations had gathered. Not long after Lu Jiming and Wei Yan settled in the tent, the two young princes, along with Yin Yuxie and Huan Zixiao, arrived together.

Wei Xuan had no particular opinion about his own marriage, saying only that he would follow his elder brother's arrangements entirely. Wei Huan, however, was still entirely childlike. Being able to come hunting, with all the excitement, temporarily made him forget missing his father and dad, and he looked much more spirited.

"Looking at others who are pregnant, their bellies get so big, but Brother Ming's isn't noticeable at all," Wei Huan said curiously to Lu Jiming.

"It's not time yet. It will get bigger later," Lu Jiming replied. "He just started moving a few days ago, very gently, like a little fish."

"When was this?" Wei Yan frowned. "You didn't tell me."

Lu Jiming said casually, "It wasn't really anything important. He doesn't move often. He moved once or twice when I was at the Hanlin Academy. I forgot to tell you."

Wei Yan pouted unhappily, thinking, *Bad A-Luan, why don't you wake up when I'm around? Don't you like me?*

Later, the conversation turned to Yin Yuxie and Huan Zixiao.

Grand Tutor Huan was a civil official from a scholarly family without a noble title. The Huan family members all participated in the imperial examinations, unlike noble families like Yin Yuxie's, who could rely on their relationship with Wei Yan to obtain leisurely official positions without taking the exams.

Huan Zixiao had already passed the provincial examination a few years ago. This year, a special imperial examination was held, with the provincial and metropolitan exams conducted in quick succession. Huan Zixiao happened to be eligible for this metropolitan exam. It was estimated the exams would begin after the autumn hunt ended.

"Then you should really try to please Xuping. He's this year's chief examiner," Wei Yan said with a laugh.

A few days earlier, Wei Yan had proposed this matter in court. All the civil and military officials immediately understood that the emperor was short on personnel and was letting the empress screen candidates for him—a legitimate reason, so no one dared to object.

Huan Zixiao smiled shyly. "His Highness would not show favoritism or engage in malpractice because of personal connections."

Yin Yuxie said, "It's fine. If you don't pass, you can take up an official post for me, and I'll become a chef."

"Why assume your wife won't pass first?" Wei Yan said.

Wei Xuan spoke up, "Brother, how do you know he's the wife and not the husband?" He finished with a teasing eyebrow raise at Huan Zixiao.

Huan Zixiao waved at Wei Xuan. "Your Highness, please stop teasing us."

Seeing the two of them, Lu Jiming guessed a thing or two and said with a smile, "I'm afraid the two of them don't even know themselves."

Yin Yuxie blushed, completely unable to refute. Having just transitioned from brothers to lovers, they hadn't tried many things yet. How could they know?

Wei Yan shook his head helplessly, remembering something, and asked Huan Zixiao, "Zi Xiao, are you satisfied with the marriage I arranged for you?"

In his previous life, after Lu Jiming's departure, Wei Yan had a heart-to-heart with Huan Zixiao once. Huan Zixiao mentioned the early death of Yin Yuxie, tears streaming down his face.

That was the only time Huan Zixiao dropped his act of a false, loving facade in front of Wei Yan and revealed his true feelings. Because Wei Yan felt a sense of shared sorrow with Huan Zixiao, he remembered it for a long time.

The current Huan Zixiao wore a distant yet proper smile and said to Wei Yan, "Of course. Thank you, Your Majesty, for making it possible."

Wei Yan took Lu Jiming's hand and gave him a bright smile. "I am also very satisfied."

Wei Yan and Huan Zixiao had no personal friendship, having met only a few times at most. Their question-and-answer exchange left everyone in the tent puzzled, even Huan Zixiao himself.

Fortunately, Yin Yuxie's focus was different from everyone else's, interrupting their doubts. He widened his eyes, looking at Huan Zixiao in disbelief. "What's going on? Weren't you forced into marrying me?"

Huan Zixiao’s composed expression finally cracked ever so slightly, and he murmured softly to Yin Yuxie: “So dumb…”

“Huh? You’re insulting me!!” Yin Yuxie exclaimed with theatrical indignation, lunging playfully at Huan Zixiao—claws bared.

Wei Yan added to the commotion: “If you two want to fool around, do it outside. A-Huan is still young.”

At that moment, Ning Zhifei, Yan Huai, and Wei Yi arrived at the tent. Ning Zhifei, an exceptional rider and archer, had brought back quite a haul; as he entered, he cradled a slate-gray rabbit in his arms.

“Father, Dad,” Ning Zhifei said, holding the young rabbit. He’d originally intended to give it to Lu Jiming—but upon spotting Wei Huan, he smiled and changed course: “Perfect timing, Uncle Zhen-wang. This little rabbit is for you to enjoy, Uncle.”

Wei Huan happily stepped forward and lifted the rabbit: “Its color is so distinctive—bluish-gray, nothing like those dull, ordinary grays.”

“I have one too,” Yan Huai chimed in. “This one is for His Majesty.”

Only then did Lu Jiming notice that not only Ning Zhifei, but also Yan Huai and Wei Yi each held a rabbit—clearly, they’d discovered an entire nest and brought every last one.

“You keep it,” Wei Yan said. “Raise it in the palace for company.”

They chatted a while longer. Wei Yan had lunch served, and after eating, preparations began for the afternoon hunt. Lu Jiming felt drowsy, so Wei Yan led the others out.

Lu Jiming dozed off and woke roughly an hour later. Wei Yan hadn’t returned yet, so Lu Jiming picked up the rabbit Yan Huai had left behind.

The rabbit was utterly adorable—especially this one. Its ears were short, its face still unformed, giving it the appearance of a soft, plump ball.

Most striking was its coloring. Lu Jiming had never seen a bluish-gray rabbit before; its pitch-black eyes gleamed like polished grapes.

A guard had brought fresh grass, and the rabbit sat contentedly atop it, its three-part mouth chewing steadily—completely oblivious to any need to flee.

Now, as Lu Jiming gently touched it, it paused mid-chew, curled tightly into a ball, pressed its ears flat against its body, and froze—motionless, remarkably docile.

In the past, the Lu residence had never kept such small creatures—not even pets—because A-Luan suffered from respiratory issues; animal fur triggered his shortness of breath. So no matter how much A-Luan adored them, none could be kept.

Lu Jiming stroked his lower abdomen, thinking: *Good A-Luan, stay healthy this time. From now on, whatever you love, Dad will get it for you.*

*We could build an entire park—fill it with all kinds of animals.*

*When you’re older, you can go hunting alongside your brother Zhifei.*

Wei Yan returned from the hunt still clad in armor. Spotting Lu Jiming petting the rabbit, he leaned in, smiled, and teased, “Xuping, you’re going to scare it to death.”

“How could that be? It’s not moving at all—it’s perfectly well-behaved. Doesn’t it like me?” Lu Jiming lifted half the rabbit’s body, holding it up. “Look—it’s not resisting at all.”

No sooner had he spoken than the rabbit kicked its hind legs, squeezed its eyes shut, went completely limp on its back, and stiffened from nose to tail.

“Ah? Is it dead?” Lu Jiming instantly panicked, flustered and at a loss.

“It’s playing dead,” Wei Yan said, scooping up the rabbit and placing it gently back on the pile of grass. Within moments, the little creature began wriggling again—and resumed chewing leisurely.

Lu Jiming: …

“It seems I’ve never been popular with small animals—not since childhood. Especially birds and rabbits—they all fear me,” Lu Jiming admitted. “I thought this one might be different.”

“These creatures are simply timid—it has nothing to do with whether they like you or not,” Wei Yan reassured him. Then he instructed a guard to take the rabbit to Ning Zhifei’s tent. After all, it was an animal—staying too long indoors would cause odors, which wouldn’t suit Lu Jiming’s health.

“Shi Xia, aren’t you going to change out of your armor?” After a few minutes of conversation, Lu Jiming finally noticed Wei Yan was still wearing full battle gear.

Wei Yan arched a brow: “Don’t you like it? Clearly, today you stared at Captain Wei until your eyes were practically glued to him.”

Lu Jiming was both amused and exasperated—wondering where Wei Yan had conjured such intense jealousy.

Wei Yan laughed again: “I’m joking. Right now, everyone’s gone deep into the forest to hunt. The training ground is empty—nothing like this morning’s bustle. And the sun is lovely. I’ll change and take you outside for a stroll.”

Lu Jiming leaned against the edge of the bed, watching Wei Yan slip back into his everyday robes.

Wei Yan’s physique wasn’t as broad-shouldered as Wei Ze’an’s, but his musculature was balanced and taut. In formal robes, he looked like an elegant, charming young master; beneath them, however, it was unmistakable—he trained rigorously, no mere decorative figure.

Wei Yan stripped down to his inner garment, glanced at Lu Jiming, tilted his lips upward, loosened the sash at his waist, and asked, “So—how do I compare to that ‘Wei’?”

“I just spaced out and happened to look at him a bit longer…” Lu Jiming hastily waved his hands. “Hurry up and get dressed—don’t catch a chill.”

Wei Yan stepped closer, seized Lu Jiming’s hand, and guided it onto himself: “Don’t you always love this?”

Lu Jiming darted a wary glance toward the tent entrance—afraid a palace servant might walk in at any second.

“Quick—say you like it!” Wei Yan held his hand firmly, refusing to let go.

“Shi Xia, you really are such a child,” Lu Jiming sighed inwardly. He couldn’t simply go along with it now—it would feel dismissive. Yet saying he *didn’t* like it risked never leaving the tent today. So, after a beat, he deftly changed the subject: “Honestly, I can’t imagine what you’ll be like as a father.”

In their previous life, Wei Yan had indeed fathered princes and princesses—but Lu Jiming had deliberately avoided them, rarely witnessing Wei Yan interact with his children.

It was hard to picture: the young emperor he’d watched grow up—what kind of father would he become?

Would he be stern and rigid, like his own father? Gentle and affectionate, like the late emperor? Or perhaps still effortlessly informal—bickering and playing with his children more like an elder brother than a parent?

“No need to imagine. You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

Wei Yan released his grip. Lu Jiming seized the chance to pull away—and swiftly tied the sash of his inner garment.

Wei Yan didn’t linger either. Once fully dressed, he stepped out with Lu Jiming.

That afternoon, nearly everyone had entered the forest for the hunt, leaving the camp largely deserted—only guards on duty and palace servants passing through.

First, Wei Yan took Lu Jiming to the game storage area. It was the first day of the hunt, and already a sizable haul had been gathered—mostly deer, many merely wounded in the leg and still alive.

These animals weren’t afraid of Lu Jiming—but the moment he approached, they stopped eating and stared straight at him. Lu Jiming helplessly locked gazes with several sika deer.

After a silent standoff, the deer seemed to lose interest and lowered their heads to resume feeding.

“Hahahahaha—Xuping, I’m dying of laughter!” Wei Yan hadn’t expected Lu Jiming’s peculiar effect to be *this* real. “I had no idea you possessed this… talent.”

Even the shot-down turtledoves and partridges burst into frantic flapping the instant they spotted Lu Jiming.

Lu Jiming buried his face in his palms: “Forget it, Your Majesty—let’s go somewhere else.”

Though confined, these animals retained some wild instinct. Wei Yan, too, worried they might accidentally injure Lu Jiming—so he agreed and led him away.

They arrived at the training ground. Wei Yan had someone fetch a beginner’s bow and handed it to Lu Jiming to try.

“Needless to say—you definitely don’t know how to ride a horse, right?” Wei Yan asked. With that animal-repelling aura, he’d likely be thrown before even mounting.

“Of course I can. Not *all* animals dislike me. Usually, it’s just birds and certain small herbivores who ignore me. Dogs still adore me,” Lu Jiming replied. “It’s just that I’m not especially skilled.”

Though horsemanship and archery were among the Six Arts of the gentleman, neither appeared on imperial examinations. Moreover, Lu Jiming had grown up in Mingzhou, where tutors weren’t as thorough as those in the capital. He’d learned basic riding from family uncles—enough to mount and dismount, nothing more.

As for archery—no one in the Lu family practiced it, so Lu Jiming had never touched a bow in his life.

Right now, A-Luan was still in utero, so Lu Jiming dared not approach horses casually. Wei Yan, for his part, forbade horses near him entirely—having cleared the training ground of all equines. So Lu Jiming had no choice but to steel himself and begin learning archery under Wei Yan’s guidance.

The moment the training ground guard presented the bow to Lu Jiming, he was dumbfounded, struggling for a good while just to lift it.

"This bow is way too heavy..." Lu Jiming whispered to Wei Yan only after the guard had withdrawn.

"This is already the lightest one. Then forget it... hurting yourself is no joke," Wei Yan said.

Now he regretted ever thinking of bringing Lu Jiming to the training ground. Lu Jiming had always been proud; he wasn't likely to back down easily.

Sure enough, Lu Jiming shook his head and said, "I know what I'm doing. Come on, teach me."

Wei Yan tried to be as careful as possible, holding Lu Jiming's hands, teaching him how to grip the bow and draw the string. Lu Jiming had average talent in martial arts, and it took several attempts before he finally managed to hit the target.

"Here, like this..." Wei Yan wrapped his arms around Lu Jiming from behind, placing a hand on Lu Jiming's slightly rounded belly, and whispered in his ear, "Focus completely, think of the bullseye, then release—"

Lu Jiming did as told and, a rare feat for him, hit the bullseye. Though not dead center, it was at least within the ring. Finally satisfied, Lu Jiming smiled so widely his eyes disappeared.

Suddenly, Wei Yan felt a faint, subtle movement under his palm and immediately stopped Lu Jiming, asking, "Is that... is he moving?"

A-Luan was still very small, and his movements were extremely subtle. If Wei Yan hadn't mentioned it, Lu Jiming might not have noticed it at all, at least not right away.

"It seems he did move. He likes archery too," Lu Jiming said with a smile.

A-Luan had always dreamed of galloping on horseback and going hunting in the outskirts of the capital with friends.

After saying this, a sudden, belated fear gripped Lu Jiming, afraid that A-Luan might be unhealthy like in his past life. He tried his best not to dwell on it, reassuring himself it wouldn't happen, but a vague unease still lingered in his heart.

"But I bet he's pretty average," Wei Yan said leisurely.

Lu Jiming instinctively glared at Wei Yan. What would you know about A-Luan? A-Luan had been exceptionally gifted since childhood; something like archery and riding, of course he could pick it up in no time.

Wei Yan explained, "Look, you're not very good at archery and riding, and I'm no expert myself. With both of us like this, how good could he possibly be?"

"So you're not very good either? And *you* were the one teaching *me*?" Lu Jiming widened his eyes, looking at Wei Yan in disbelief.

No wonder it took so long just to hit the bullseye once, and even then, the target had to be moved almost right under their noses. He had thought it was his own lack of talent, but it turned out Wei Yan, the teacher, was clueless from the start.

Wei Yan was amused by Lu Jiming's reaction and burst out laughing: "If you really want to learn, after the child is born, I'll find a guard skilled in archery and riding to teach you."

Of course, it would have to be an old man, or someone plain-looking, and who's into women—learning archery inevitably involved physical contact.

The three-day martial arts tournament passed in a flash. When Lu Jiming saw the final rankings, his face fell.

At the top of the list was clearly written the name Wei Zean.

He knew Wei Zean wouldn't stay down for long, but he hadn't expected him to rise so quickly.

Wei Yan, however, wasn't particularly surprised, since Wei Zean was his own protege.

Wei Yan originally couldn't recall exactly when Wei Zean's name had entered his field of vision, but now, reminded of it, it seemed it was precisely because Wei Zean had won first place in the autumn hunt that he gained significant attention.

By custom, the top three were granted an audience with the emperor. The three of them bowed in turn, and Wei Yan casually assigned positions to the latter two before turning his gaze to Wei Zean.

"You have good aptitude and decent looks. Serve in the Imperial Guard," Wei Yan said, as if it were nothing.

Keeping him at court, only doing ordinary guard duties, not giving him any confidential or important tasks, nor promoting his rank—having the Imperial Guard monitor him for a lifetime would suffice.

As long as Wei Zean was within his sight, Princess Nanping, who relied on him, wouldn't be able to go far.

If he didn't know the whereabouts of the Southern Ping Crown Prince, Wei Yan absolutely could not tolerate Princess Nanping being at large. But having lived an extra life, he had some understanding of the Southern Ping Crown Prince's identity.

As long as the Southern Ping Crown Prince was in his hands, a princess without a claim to the throne, no matter how capable, wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble. Putting her identity out in the open would only create unnecessary complications.

Lu Jiming's thoughts, however, were completely different from Wei Yan's. He couldn't stand for any nonsense and truly couldn't bring himself to turn a blind eye to Wei Zean. It would be best if there were some way to make Wei Zean die in some remote corner where no one would find out.

As for keeping him at court, there were too many risks; it absolutely wouldn't do.

"With Commandant Wei's talents, staying in the capital would be a waste," Lu Jiming said with a smile. "Why not send him to the border, Your Majesty, to better use his talents?" After that, they could send someone to assassinate him, ending the matter once and for all.

"The border does have its advantages, but Commandant Wei is better off remaining at court," Wei Yan shook his head, deliberately saying, "What's this? Is Xuping jealous?"

Lu Jiming was momentarily speechless, and seeing so many officials around, he didn't know what to say. So he stopped expressing his opinion.

After everyone had left, Lu Jiming privately said to Wei Yan, "I think keeping Wei Zean by your side is inappropriate."

Wei Yan didn't ask Lu Jiming for the reason, because he knew even if he asked, Lu Jiming wouldn't tell the truth. Besides, he already knew the reason.

However, Wei Yan insisted on keeping Wei Zean in the capital for his own considerations.

It wasn't that he was overflowing with sympathy or still held any illusions about Wei Zean, but rather that if he killed Wei Zean or exiled him from the capital, he would lose track of Princess Nanping again.

For Wei Yan, both the princess and the crown prince of Nanping were troublesome issues.

After the fall of the Nanping kingdom, its territory and remaining people were all incorporated into Great Qi, but the Nanping remnants were unwilling to be ruled by a foreign power and remained restless. Even today, Prince Rui was still in the former Nanping capital, Mo City, governing the people.

Therefore, the two surviving members of the royal family, if exploited by those with ulterior motives, could easily cause a major upheaval, disrupting the hard-won stability in the west once again.

For Wei Yan, it was best if both of them were within his sight.

But that didn't mean Wei Yan wanted to publicly reveal the identities of Princess Nanping and the crown prince. After all, there were many Nanping remnants, countless eyes watching him, and deciding how to handle them was another difficult problem.

"Since Xuping thinks he's problematic, I'll have the Imperial Guard monitor him constantly. I won't give him any important positions either, so there won't be any trouble," Wei Yan said.

Seeing Wei Yan so insistent, Lu Jiming had no choice but to let it go for the time being. In any case, Wei Zean had been found, and he wouldn't defect anytime soon. Once A-Luan was born, there would be plenty of time to deal with him.

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Author's note: The passphrase is: Three Fires Won't Return Empty-Handed

Teachers, for the article giveaway, I originally set it to open on the 8th, but after submitting, it inexplicably changed to the 1st. This foolish author is now kneeling and begging for forgiveness. I contacted customer service, but there's nothing that can be done. We'll have to redo the draw a month later.