As the incense stick was about to burn out, the princes who had entered the forest for the hunting competition began to return one after another. The rapid hoofbeats startled the birds in the forest, as the accompanying Imperial bodyguards followed closely behind with their masters’ prey.
The guards performing mounted archery in the field withdrew to either side as the eight princes stepped forward in a line. Slightly out of breath yet full of anticipation, they looked toward Hong Xu seated on the raised platform. Hong Xu, meanwhile, rested one hand against his temple and lightly tapped the armrest with the other, waiting for the master of ceremonies to count the prey.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the First Prince has hunted one yak, one red deer, two white martens, five pheasants, three wild geese, and five hares, seventeen in total. The Second Prince has hunted one yellow deer, one masked palm civet, two pheasants, and two hares, seven in total. The Third Prince has hunted one deer, one bharal, one fox, four hares, and four pheasants, eleven in total. The Fourth Prince has hunted one stork, two hares, and one pheasant, four in total. The Fifth Prince has hunted one sable and one crab-eating mongoose, two in total. The Sixth Prince has hunted eight hares. The Seventh Prince has hunted two pheasants, and the Eighth Prince has hunted two yellow-throated martens, two short-faced mole, one fox, three hares, and two pheasants, eight in total. Requesting Your Majesty to judge and bestow the rewards accordingly!”
Hong Xu came back to his senses and straightened up, sweeping his gaze over the field below. “Hmm, you have all performed well. Especially Yan’er. For your first hunt, you have outdone several of your Imperial elder brothers! Someone, bring my Divine Arm Crossbow and present it to the Eighth Prince as a reward.”
Upon hearing this, not only the princes in field but also the civil court and military officials around them showed slight changes in expression. This Divine Arm Crossbow
神臂弓
Shénbì gong
A powerful military crossbow from the Song Dynasty.
Something like this, I think:
1 was a weapon of immense renown. The stock was made of mulberry and the prods of sandalwood. It had a stirrup made of iron and the arrow channel and latch were made of the bronze used to make spearheads. The string was hemp wound with silk. It could shoot three hundred steps and pierce heavy armor. Even His Majesty usually cherished it with the utmost care, so how could people not be astonished that the Emperor would award it to the Eighth Prince today?
Shénbì gong
A powerful military crossbow from the Song Dynasty.
Something like this, I think:
Setting aside the value of the reward, just that single line of praise alone was enough to make people speculate. Did the Emperor’s words imply that he considered the Eighth Prince superior to the other princes and intended to make him the Crown Prince?
While the court officials were still lost in speculation, the master of ceremonies had already carried the Divine Arm Crossbow over to Hong Yan. Though he was mature beyond his years, he could not hide the delight in his eyes at that moment. It was the simple joy of a child being praised by the father he had always admired. Hong Yan received it respectfully and knelt to thank his Imperial father.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 107 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
After the princes withdrew, it was time for free hunting. Normally, Hong Xu would take the lead into the forest, but now he had no interest in hunting at all. He just lazily waved his hand, allowing everyone to enjoy themselves to their heart’s content.***
“Hong Qing? Why are you out here too?” ZiLi pulled on the reins and came to the riverbank.“Did you hear its cry?” Hong Qing asked suddenly, without turning around, the question coming out of nowhere.
“What cry? The neighing of the horses? They are hunting in there!” ZiLi looked across the river in confusion. On the opposite bank stood a dense forest filled with towering trees, lush and verdant, as though autumn had not affected it at all.
“No, that was the call of a Lin Long!” Hong Qing said slowly, as if reminiscing, lost in his memories.
Hong Qiang lay on the horse’s back, watching the two of them with wide, curious eyes.
“Lin Long? What kind of creature is that?” ZiLi stepped forward, growing even more confused as he looked at Hong Qing’s pained expression.
Hong Qing remained silent for a long while. Then, suddenly, he fixed his gaze on a spot deep within the dense forest and said, “I have to save him!”
Before ZiLi could respond, Hong Qing had already stepped across the water and flown straight toward the opposite bank of the river. His figure quickly vanished among the layered treetops.
ZiLi was somewhat baffled. What is going on? Suddenly, he felt someone approaching from behind. Startled, he turned around to see Lin De, who quickly masked his embarrassment from failing to follow stealthily and bowed respectfully, saying, “Your Highness, peace be upon you! His Majesty was worried and specially sent this servant to check on you!”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 107 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“What kind of creature is a Lin Long?” ZiLi asked, frowning.“Uh, a Lin, a Lin Long!” Lin De hesitated, then breaking into a nervous sweat he replied, “They are embodiments of disaster and evil!” The look of horror on his face made it seem as though he had once narrowly escaped death in the claws of a Lin Long himself.
“Have you seen one?”
Lin De looked slightly embarrassed and averted his gaze. “No! But ten years ago, His Majesty personally hunted one down. I heard it was three times the size of an adult tiger, extremely ferocious and man-eating. It even had a pair of wings on its back and lived in damp rock caves. Rumor has it there are some in this deep forest……”
ZiLi’s heart skipped a beat and quickly stepped forward, lifting Hong Qiang down from the horse and pushing him into Lin De’s arms.
“Your, Your Highness, where are you going?”
“The Lin Long is so dangerous, yet that fool Hong Qing went to find it. If I don’t bring him back, he will lose his life!”
“Your Highness, please wait! If you want to look for Prince Qing, this servant will inform His Majesty. His Majesty will naturally send people to search for him. But Your Highness, if you go alone and encounter the ferocious birds and beasts in this forest, what will you do! Your Highness――” Lin De shouted toward the direction ZiLi had already galloped off. But when he looked again, there was no sign of ZiLi anywhere. Lin De panicked. If anything were to happen to ZiLi, his own head would surely not be safe!
***
Hong Xu narrowed his eyes dangerously, staring at the breathless Lin De in front of him, and confirmed once more, “You are saying he rode alone into the forest at the back of the mountain?”“Y―Yes, Your Majesty! This servant deserves to die for not stopping His Highness!”
“Prepare Our horse!”
“As you command!”
***
Outside, the sky was clear and boundless, yet here dark clouds pressed low as if about to engulf everything. Towering trees and dense ferns filled the space, and strips of sunlight broke through the thick canopy, making the dense forest feel even more like a primeval wilderness.Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 107 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
ZiLi regretted his rashness. Hong Qing was an expert martial artist who could leap onto roofs and vault over walls like it was nothing, so when had the other ever needed ZiLi’s to worry! He had rushed in without thinking, and not only had he not seen even a shadow of Hong Qing, but he had also now gotten lost instead! Setting aside the possibility of encountering venomous snakes and ferocious beasts, just staying a little longer in this dark, eerie place was enough to make a chill run down his spine again and again!ZiLi clung to Qu Zi’s neck, glancing warily around him as though afraid of waking something. In a low voice, he whispered, “Qu Zi, you know the way out, don’t you? Take me out of here quickly, okay? If yes, give a snort, if no also give a snort, but what does it mean for you to just stand there frozen and not move at all? Don’t scare me, I’m really afraid of dying! Qu Zi? Qu Zi?”
Qu Zi remained completely still, every muscle in his body tensed in alertness. His ears were pricked straight up, and his deep black eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the dense forest ahead.
ZiLi, feeling his blood run cold, hid his face behind the horse’s neck, revealing only half an eye to watch the situation. Suddenly, a rustling sound came from within the leaves.
“Qu Zi, why are you still standing here like a fool? Run!” But no matter how he tugged the reins or squeezed the horse’s flanks, Qu Zi remained completely unmoving. Just as the unknown thing was about to emerge from the foliage, ZiLi felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
“Hiss――”
“Aah――”
ZiLi’s bewildering scream startled a flock of birds. Qu Zi then lifted his head and let out a long, inexplicable neigh.
“I thought you were smart, you dumb horse, why aren’t you running!” ZiLi screamed, pulling Qu Zi by the ears.
A giant python slid out from the foliage, flicking its tongue and staring with round, puzzled eyes at the pair across from it, who were making quite a racket. Then it turned its head away, completely ignoring them, and glided past in front of them before slipping back into the dense forest.
ZiLi finally closed his mouth, and patted Qu Zi mane, as he said shakily, “A false, a false alarm!”
ZiLi what were you thinking <(°∆°<)?!
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