Chapter 103: Mengqin’s Provocation

Chapter 103: Mengqin's Taunt

In the spring, the dense forest flourished with lush greenery. Soft sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting light on a running deer. With a swift "Swish!" of an arrow, the deer that had been fleeing was abruptly struck down and fell.

Nearby, High Priest Wu Fei praised, "Great shot, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty is a true young prodigy!" "Amazing!" The court officials watching from the side also chanted in unison.

At that moment, Xie Xuanran was mounted on his horse in a bright yellow riding outfit, his black hair, held by a golden crown, streamed in the wind. Bathed in sunlight, the young emperor under the flowering trees had bright eyes and a faint smile, radiating brilliance and pride.

"Well, I do have a great teacher," Xie Xuanran smiled lightly, looking at Xie Nai and Xie Jian approaching quickly on horseback.

Wu Fei also spotted the Prince of Lingnan riding toward them.

So that was the Prince of Lingnan—an invincible legend on the battlefield. With a single Crimson Feather Arrow, he gravely wounded the Chieftain and ensured peace on Tianyuan's borders for three years.

Xie Nai and Xie Jian rode up. After the formalities, the attendants brought the prey Xie Xuanran had just shot.

"Your archery has improved," Xie Nai said, glancing at the prey.

"Thank you for the compliment, Imperial Uncle."

Xie Xuanran's father, the late Crown Prince, had been skilled in poetry, painting, and political discourse, so from a young age, Xie Nai personally taught Xie Xuanran horseback archery and marksmanship.

Xie Nai had extraordinary patience and high expectations for Xie Xuanran. He taught him riding and archery, and lectured him on the way of a ruler. The two were uncle and nephew, but also like father and son...

But all of that was ruined by a bastard named Lin Wen.

Speak of the devil, and he appears.

When Lin Wen showed up holding a gray goose, Xie Nai frowned involuntarily.

Lin Wen, of course, ignored Xie Nai. He handed the gray goose to an attendant and rode up to Xie Xuanran's side.

Xie Xuanran: "Chancellor Lin, you were gone for quite a while."

Lin Wen narrowed his fox-like eyes and gave Wu Fei a meaningful look. "When I went to retrieve the prey, I ran into the Mengqin envoy. They seemed lost, so I had someone escort them part of the way. They should be out of the hunting grounds by now."

Before Xie Xuanran could respond, Wu Fei laughed cheerfully. "Then I must thank the Chancellor! Back home, we have wide open plains, rarely such layered forests. Sorry for the inconvenience and making you laugh at us."

Lin Wen smiled hypocritically. "No thanks are needed, High Priest. Our Tianyuan Dynasty is always meticulous in treating honored guests. Since the Mengqin envoy is here to demonstrate goodwill between our two states, we will keep track of your movements and needs at all times to ensure nothing is lacking in our hospitality."

Wu Fei's expression remained unchanged, still warm and enthusiastic. "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty, and your kindness, Chancellor. May Divine Lord Jiayi grant you all blessings."

Divine Lord Jiayi—the grassland deity worshipped by the Mengqin Tribe.

"You're too kind, High Priest."

Xie Xuanran smiled, and after a few more polite exchanges like a game of tai chi, the matter was dropped.

Xie Nai watched the confrontation between Lin Wen and Wu Fei from the sidelines without a word. Xie Jian, on the other hand, kept a low profile, practically unnoticed.

"Your Majesty, I hear the evening spring hunt feast requires a wild leopard as a sacrifice. How about we compete to see who can hunt one first?" Wu Fei said to Xie Xuanran.

"Ah..."

Xie Xuanran hesitated for a moment.

Xie Jian, who had been quiet for a long time, suddenly interjected. "High Priest, you may not know, but the wild leopard sacrifice at the spring hunt is not an annual event. This year, to welcome the Mengqin envoy, the Ministry of Rites specially changed the ritual to a bonfire gathering with Mengqin characteristics."

Xie Jian had been working with the Ministry of Rites on the imperial exam preparations, so he had heard about the envoy reception plans and stepped forward to explain.

"Your Majesty is very considerate!" Wu Fei laughed heartily. "In that case, our grassland warriors will definitely hunt a wild leopard for you to be worthy of your warm hospitality!"

"Hunt the wild leopard!"

"Hunt the wild leopard!"

The grassland men and women behind Wu Fei erupted in excitement. A petite, pretty woman shouted, "Your Majesty! Don't worry! Just wait here for us! I'll definitely hunt the most magnificent wild leopard for you!"

After she spoke, a burst of laughter erupted from the Mengqin envoy, followed by a chorus of teasing and praise:

"Haha, Wuna, way to go! A true pearl of the grassland!"

"May Divine Lord Jiayi bless you, brave pearl!"

"Your Majesty, we don't need to compete. You're too noble—if you got hurt, it would be terrible!"

The Mengqin envoys laughed casually, but the faces of the attending court officials darkened.

They were deliberately provoking them.

A woman from Mengqin dared to hunt a wild leopard, yet they wanted the Emperor of Tianyuan to hide behind others and avoid the competition. This was a veiled insult and provocation.

Xie Jian frowned. "Your Majesty, you must not."

Wild leopards are fierce. If one arrow doesn't kill it, it will fight back desperately. In past years, the leopard hunt was always handled by specialists from the Imperial Hunting Office.

Having been the young emperor for years and governing the realm, Xie Xuanran was not swayed by such a crude provocation.

He always remembered that on his shoulders rested the fate of the nation and the prosperity of the people. So he would never put himself in danger or fight a battle unprepared.

Lin Wen looked at the cool and upright Xie Xuanran, and felt a stir in his heart.

The incomparably noble young emperor, just standing there, was spirited and dazzling, too brilliant to look straight at.

"Let's compete," Xie Nai said softly amid the noisy crowd.

His voice was cold, and his gaze at the Mengqin envoys was devoid of any emotion. Behind him, Luo Bei handed him a longbow, and a Crimson Feather Arrow was nocked, ready to shoot through the forest.

The Prince of Lingnan's killing intent was fully displayed. His arrogant posture, looking down on everyone as if they were ants, silenced the crowd instantly. The hunting grounds seemed to fall into a dead silence.

"Alright, I'll follow Imperial Uncle's lead," Xie Xuanran suddenly laughed. "Just in time for Imperial Uncle to give me some more archery pointers."

Lin Wen raised his eyelids slightly. "I'll go too."

Xie Nai's gaze swept over Lin Wen and Xie Xuanran, and he finally nodded.

Lin Wen looked at Xie Xuanran and said calmly, "Your Majesty, stay close to me."

Xie Xuanran gave Lin Wen a slight smile. "Alright."

Not far away, Wu Fei watched all of this quietly. Suddenly, a ray of sunlight fell on the mysterious deep-purple divine eye on his forehead, reflecting a dark glint in his eyes.

No one noticed the strangeness in Wu Fei's expression—except Xie Jian, who lowered his head, concealing all emotions.

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