Zhao Junyao gave Xia Tingfeng a cool look.
Xia Tingfeng felt a chill run down his spine, completely bewildered.
"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
Zhao Junyao leaned closer, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he suggested, "How about joining Us for a hunt?"
Upon hearing this, excitement sparked in Xia Tingfeng’s eyes, but it quickly faded.
"Your Majesty, this subordinate’s duty is to ensure Your Majesty’s safety..."
In other words, he couldn’t accompany the Emperor on such reckless ventures.
Zhao Junyao felt annoyed.
"We are going hunting, not leading an imperial campaign Ourselves!"
Seeing Xia Tingfeng still stern-faced and stiff as a block of wood, Zhao Junyao’s expression also hardened.
"This is an Imperial Edict!"
Xia Tingfeng’s lips twitched, but he had no choice but to comply.
"Yes!"
Zhao Junyao, accompanied by Xia Tingfeng and several other Imperial Forest Army guards, mounted their horses. Carrying their bows and arrows, they left South Garden and dashed towards the woods. The black steeds galloped fiercely, kicking up a cloud of dust. In a blink, only the swirling dust and several rapidly shrinking figures remained.
In less than a Shi Chen, they entered the woods.
Zhao Junyao had no specific target in mind. He didn’t even know what he was hunting for.
So, the plan was simple: see something, shoot something.
This being Xia Tingfeng’s first hunt, despite his extreme skill in horseback archery, he missed twice due to lack of experience.
BANG!
Zhao Junyao also released an arrow. A pheasant, with a desperate flurry of wings, then fell from the sky with a piteous cry. An Imperial Forest Army guard promptly went to retrieve the game.
Zhao Junyao was very pleased.
"Beloved Minister Xia, you’re still not up to par!"
Xia Tingfeng’s gaze sharpened, his lips pressed tightly together. He replayed Zhao Junyao’s archery movements in his mind, quickly grasping the key points. Then he aimed at another pheasant.
BANG!
An arrow shot out, piercing the pheasant’s brain. It didn’t even get a chance to flap before it died on the spot.
Xia Tingfeng lowered his bow, retorting with a triumphant air, "Your Majesty, who is lacking now?"
Zhao Junyao felt quite chagrined. He coughed lightly, then flicked his whip and galloped deeper into the woods.
He muttered to himself. Are they really siblings? Would it kill them to say something nice? The two of them are so alike; sometimes their words cut like little daggers. They don’t care about your dignity at all, just slashing it to ribbons!
Zhao Junyao thought. As if I need dignity!
Of course, Zhao Junyao was the Emperor, not a guard. He wasn’t particularly troubled by the fact that his personal bodyguard was more skilled in martial arts than he was. Honestly, if his guard wasn’t even better than him, what kind of guard would he be?
So, when Xia Tingfeng also spurred his horse and caught up, Zhao Junyao harbored no grudges. Together with several Imperial Forest Army guards, they hunted down a good amount of game, including wild rabbits, pheasants, and wild pigeons.
Looking at the somewhat small but still plentiful trophies in the hands of the Imperial Forest Army guards, Zhao Junyao was very satisfied.
"This isn’t a designated hunting ground, so there are no large animals. To have these is already quite good!"
Saying so, he glanced at the sky.
"It’s getting late. Let’s go back!"
「An hour after lunchtime, the Emperor finally returned.」
Everyone was so hungry they felt faint, surviving only on sips of tea.
Noble Concubine Shih mocked inwardly, "Empress, for this banquet you’ve prepared, will the Emperor even show up?"
The Empress curved her lips into a smile. "Last night, the Emperor already discussed with this Palace about hosting a banquet at noon today! If the Emperor said he would come, he will surely come!"
"That’s not necessarily true!" Noble Concubine Shih scoffed under her breath. After she spoke, everyone could only continue to wait.
Though calm on the surface, the Empress felt on pins and needles. She had boasted so extravagantly; if the Emperor didn’t come, what prestige would she have left in the palace? Who would listen to her then?
Every second was agonizing for the Empress. With each passing minute, her heart grew colder, and the hope for the Emperor’s arrival diminished.
"Yu Lan, go to the front courtyard again and find out if the Emperor has returned," the Empress whispered.
Yu Lan nodded and hurried off. Moments later, she returned, her face alight with pleased surprise.
"Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, the Emperor is already in the front courtyard. He should be here shortly!"
Upon hearing this, the tension on the Empress’s face finally eased into a slight smile. "That’s good!"
Just as Zhao Junyao entered his courtyard and was tidying himself up, someone from the Empress’s side arrived.
"Your Majesty, the banquet is ready. Her Majesty the Empress invites you over."
Only then did Zhao Junyao remember, and he agreed to go.
「The Emperor did indeed arrive, and at last, they could begin the meal.」
However, the dishes had all gone cold. Who could possibly eat them? The rich dishes the Empress had prepared had congealed, and the lighter ones were thoroughly chilled; they were no longer edible.
Zhao Junyao frowned, drank two cups of wine, and then dismissed everyone.
"You may all return. These dishes are inedible. Have your own kitchens prepare something else!"
"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"
The ladies, their voices as delicate and melodious as chattering orioles and swallows, paid their respects. Expressing their gratitude, they reluctantly departed.