vrcanaries Chapter 1125 Who will end up with this rare trophy?
Chapter 1125 Who will end up with this rare trophy?
The concubines and ladies of state, wrapped in cloaks of various colors, looked toward the direction where the smoke and dust were rising, with curiosity and anticipation on their faces for His Majesty's return from hunting.
The air was filled with dust, sweat, and a faint smell of blood.
Shen Zhinian was wrapped in a cloak, standing quietly at the front.
The cold wind blew a few strands of hair from her temples to her cheeks, but she ignored it and looked calmly at the team with flags flying that was getting closer and closer.
The imperial guards in distinctive black armor guarded the emperor; wherever their horses' hooves stepped, they raised up a cloud of dead leaves and dust.
"Empress! Empress!"
Handan trotted over from the noisy crowd, her cheeks flushed by the wind, her eyes sparkling with excitement, she lowered her voice but couldn't hide her joy: "I just heard from the young guard who came back that your majesty was extremely brave today, and the spoils filled three carts!"
"Roe deer, muntjac, wild boars... too many to count!"
"The most amazing thing is that your majesty shot and killed a huge tiger with hanging eyes and white forehead with his own hands! The arrow penetrated the eye and killed it in one shot! The tiger skin is so beautiful!"
As she spoke, she gestured excitedly, as if she had seen it with her own eyes.
Shen Zhinian raised the corners of his lips slightly, revealing a faint smile, and looked at the increasingly clear figure of the emperor: "Your Majesty is an expert in riding and shooting, so he naturally deserves the first prize."
There was a matter-of-fact certainty in her tone, without much surprise.
The people around were talking with a hint of sarcasm: "Today, His Majesty only brought one concubine, Concubine Wang, with him from beginning to end. Look at Concubine Wang's red riding uniform. How spirited!"
"I'm afraid that the princess will catch His Majesty's eye. She might be the one sleeping with him tonight. She can be expected to be favored by His Majesty!"
Hearing this, Handan couldn't help but glance in the direction of Wangpin.
The brand new maroon riding suit made her figure look neat and her carefully groomed eyebrows and eyes looked particularly bright in the setting sun.
Wangpin raised her head slightly, facing the envious and inquiring eyes of the crowd, and tried to remain calm. But the pride and expectation in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows could not be hidden from anyone with a discerning eye.
Several ladies of lower rank around her were already whispering, their eyes lingering on her, talking at once, winking and making faces: "...That's right, I heard that during the hunt today, His Majesty personally taught Concubine Wang archery!"
"This outfit is also very lively, more lively than in the palace. No wonder His Majesty likes it."
"If he really wins the Holy Heart, the Third Prince's position in His Majesty's heart will probably be different."
"..."
Shen Zhinian followed the direction everyone was looking, his gaze lingering briefly on Wang Bin's bright riding uniform, his eyes calm and still.
The huge team finally stopped, the horses spewed out thick white smoke and the armor clanged.
Nangong Xuanyu's agile figure dismounted first. His black Panlong riding suit was stained with dust and a few dark brown bloodstains, adding a bit of fierce murderous aura as he returned from the hunting ground!
His handsome face showed the joy after hunting, and his eyes swept across the welcoming crowd like lightning, with an attitude as if he was in control of everything.
Immediately afterwards, the princess dismounted the horse lightly behind the emperor. Her maroon figure was particularly eye-catching among the solemn black armor and bright yellow.
Two blushes of excitement appeared on her face. She tried to straighten her back, facing the gazes coming from all directions, and the corners of her mouth could not help but rise.
Shen Zhinian's gaze calmly swept across Concubine Wang's smug face, and finally stopped on the emperor.
She bowed slightly and saluted with everyone else: "Welcome, Your Majesty!"
"No gift."
Nangong Xuanyu's voice was full of authority, and his eyes swept through the crowd. When he saw Shen Zhinian in the front, he paused for a moment, and warmth flowed deep in his eyes.
The concubine followed closely beside the emperor, almost sticking to him.
Feeling the glory of being the center of attention, she felt that the cold wind of late autumn had turned warm.
She raised her eyes secretly, trying to catch a glimpse of special attention from the emperor's face.
However, Nangong Xuanyu's eyes had already turned to the pile of prey, with pure satisfaction between his brows, and he said loudly: "Today's harvest is quite rich. Pass on my order to make tiger skin saltpeter and send it to the inner storehouse."
"The rest of the prey will be rewarded according to the rules!"
Cheers surged like a tide: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The smile on the concubine's face froze for a moment, then she tried to smile again, trying to attract the emperor's attention again when he announced the ownership of the prey.
The most eye-catching thing was the huge carcass of a tiger. The tiger was so majestic that it still intimidated people even in death.
"Your Majesty is so brave!"
"This kind of tiger is really rare!"
"The fur is shiny and intact. It will be a rare treasure after being nitrated!"
"..."
The clan members and ministers who accompanied the emperor were all in admiration, their eyes lingering on the majestic tiger skin, secretly wondering in their hearts who would eventually get this rare trophy.
The only concubine accompanying the emperor on the hunting trip today was the princess. Listening to the discussions around her, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation in her heart. Her chin raised slightly, and a reserved smile appeared at the corners of her lips.
Could it be that... His Majesty will give her the tiger skin?
After all, she was the only one who accompanied the emperor today and watched His Majesty hunt the tiger in person.
However, Nangong Xuanyu instructed people to properly handle the tiger skin and did not immediately mention the reward, which made Wangpin feel anxious.
The emperor looked aside.
Immediately, a guard carefully brought something up.
It was a completely snow-white fox, without any other color. Its fur shone softly silver in the autumn sun, and it was extremely beautiful.
Nangong Xuanyu took a few steps to Shen Zhinian.
She wore a plain cloak over her palace dress, looking quiet and picturesque in the whistling autumn breeze.
"Near."
The emperor's voice was not loud, but it carried a gentleness that belonged only to her: "I promised this morning that I would hunt a white fox for you to make a cloak."
In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Shen Zhinian, with emotions such as envy, amazement and understanding.
Shen Zhinian raised her eyes and met Nangong Xuanyu's deep and smiling eyes. A smile of surprise spread across the corners of her lips, and she bowed gracefully: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!"
"Your Majesty's kindness, I am grateful to you."
The princess who was not far away froze in an instant with the heroic smile she had been trying to maintain. The pride and expectation she had just felt like someone had poured a basin of ice water over her head...
She hid her fingers in her sleeves and pinched her palms tightly, barely suppressing the expression that was about to lose her composure.
It turns out... when His Majesty was hunting, the one he was thinking about was always Concubine Chen, who didn't even get on the horse!
Behind the crowd, Duke Dingguo watched the scene coldly.
His pair of old eyes, which had seen the world and were full of calculations, swept coldly across Shen Zhinian's face like a blade tempered with ice. The corners of his mouth curled down imperceptibly, with a hint of contempt and disdain.
The sky quickly darkened.
As night falls, the vast Mulan Paddock is lit up by countless jumping bonfires.