Chapter 271 The Confidence to Reject

While the war on three sides of the Southern Kingdom was still going on, the Imperial Palace in Kyoto was already preparing for a massive autumn hunt.

Since the death of the Queen, the late Emperor has hardly gone hunting.

As a result, the royal enclosures were lush with vegetation, and animals thrived in astonishing numbers.

This autumn hunt was held in the royal largest hibiscus enclosure.

The enclosure is over a thousand miles long, with mountains stretching out to the vast sea, reaching up to the heavens. The mountains are divided into trunks, and the valleys converge into one.

Mountains, valleys, lakes, plains... Seventy-five hunting grounds, large and small, are all home to a gathering of all living things and are extremely rich in resources.

Because it was the first autumn hunt in the Eastern Palace, great solemnity was exercised inside and outside the palace. Eight thousand imperial guards were dispatched for the defense, five thousand palace maids were accompanying them, fifty thousand troops were deployed for patrolling the capital, and more than a thousand officials, nobles, and their families were also present.

The Nine-Dragon Black Flag fluttered into the clouds, and the team marched towards the Jinhua Paddock in a mighty manner.

From a distance, the men in brocade hats and sable furs, leading dogs and holding eagles, marching in layers of heavily armored armor like a tidal wave, with swords, spears, and halberds crisscrossing each other, the scene is magnificent.

Huo Gannian and Yun Chen were also among them. Although they were concerned about the Lion Army and the war far away in the southeast, they could not disobey the order of the East Palace.

Also, because he was really young, he couldn't "take advantage of his age" like Cao Fang and Meng Jianyun and ask for leave by saying "I am old and unwell", so he had to be patient and go along.

General Duan Jie was just as anxious as the two of them and wanted to return to the battlefield, but couldn't show it.

Duan Jie is one year older than Huo Gannian and is also a young and capable general. Although he speaks politely and gently, he is very ruthless when he fights.

While there were few people around, Duan Jie said to Huo Gannian and Yun Chen:

"This autumn hunt takes at least one month, and at most three months. It's such a waste of time."

Huo Gan thought, "Not only that. If it continues until the winter hunt, it will be almost New Year's Day by the end. I'm afraid they'll keep us here until the end of the New Year."

Maybe after the New Year there will be a Spring Festival, and after the Spring Festival there will be prayers for blessings...

As long as he doesn't agree to help Nan Lijun seize control of the Beijing Army, he will probably have difficulty leaving.

Counting on his fingers, Duan Jie frowned:

"Half a year has already flown by. Alas! General Meng and I have been suppressing the rebellion in the central region. We have already won the battle and now all we need to do is clean up the mess step by step. If I can't return in half a year, I'm afraid the rebellion will revive. This year's battle will have been in vain!"

Yun Chen suddenly understood and nodded silently.

She finally understood why Huo Gannian, Cao Fang and others had been worried since the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

As a general on the battlefield, she understood very well how disadvantageous this procrastination would be during the battle.

But she was also confused:

Can a loyal person oppose the king in this way?

Didn’t Lord Nanli recall the five generals for the purpose of rewarding them and reporting on their work?

Yun Chen prepared a seven or eight page performance report. She didn't understand why Nan Lijun hadn't summoned her yet.

As if seeing her confusion, Huo Gannian stroked her back to awaken her thoughts.

"I just asked the palace servants. Yun Wang will only be observing the ceremony and not participating in the hunt. He has already settled down in the tent. The other hunters will soon be divided into twelve hunting teams, each for separate hunting competitions. I've already informed them in advance, so you and I will be grouped together."

Before Yun Chen could speak, Duan Jie said:

"Are you guys cheating? There's only one general in a hunting team. With the two of you together, how can we possibly win?"

Huo Gannian glanced at Duan Jie and said, "I'll kill another tiger for you."

Duan Jie laughed and blurted out: "No need, you can keep the tiger for yourself, it's just right to use the tiger fang to make--"

Duan Jie stopped talking halfway, suddenly shut up, and then left Huo Gannian and Yun Chen under the pretext of shooting birds.

Yun Chen didn't think much about Duan Jie's sudden and strange look. Her mind was full of thoughts on how to beat the tiger, bear, deer, leopard and wolf one by one.

Three days later.

The team walked to the Jinhua Paddock.

Tents have been set up in the field, with Nan Lijun's royal tent as the center, and the twelve hunting teams are stationed according to the pre-divided areas, spreading out to various enclosures.

Unexpectedly, Yun Chen was not assigned to the same hunting team and tent camp as Huo Gannian.

Yun Chen was assigned to the enclosure closest to the female officials, while Huo Gannian was assigned to the enclosure farthest from Yun Chen, clearly intending to separate the two.

When the female official Zhuang Ji came to inform him of the news, Yun Chen and Huo Gannian had just finished packing up in the same tent.

Zhuang Ji was a female official with a soft voice and a very beautiful appearance. She had the temperament of a lady from a noble family. Although she was born into a noble family, she was not arrogant and was very kind.

When Yun Chen was a guard, she often delivered letters between the Huo Gang and the princess's mansion. Apart from Song Lan, the person she was most familiar with was Zhuang Ji.

As soon as he saw Zhuang Ji coming, Yun Chen immediately moved a stool and poured tea, asked her to sit down, and said with a smile:

"Master Zhuang, what brings you here?"

Zhuang Ji covered her mouth lightly with a handkerchief and said with a smile:

"Come and see if your back injury has healed."

"Alright, alright! Good sister, don't talk about this!"

It seems that the reputation of "not being able to continue the incense" has become known to everyone. Yun Chen was so embarrassed that he waved his hands repeatedly, which made Zhuang Ji laugh non-stop.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhuang Ji bowed to Huo Gannian and said:

"General Huo, the original distribution and accommodations for the hunting teams had already been decided. You and General Yun were in the same team, in the same tent. However, this morning, Sister Zhiluo suggested to His Highness that you and General Yun be assigned to different teams. This seems to be more fair."

Huo Gannian raised his eyebrows slightly, wondering what Nan Lijun was up to. After thinking for a moment, he guessed that he probably wanted to meet Yun Chen alone. He asked:

"Besides Zhiluo, who else?"

Zhuang Ji lowered her eyes, picked up the teacup and drank slowly, saying softly:

"When Sister Zhiluo proposed it, we were all standing outside at a distance and saw that His Highness was very happy. But for some reason, Sister Songlan went to ask a few questions, and although His Highness didn't say anything, he didn't seem very happy."

This means don't bring bad luck to Nan Lijun.

It also implies that Zhiluo is more respected than Songlan in front of Nanlijun now, but it is not clear whether Zhiluo has any accomplices for the time being.

Huo Gannian understood and said to Zhuang Ji, "I understand. Let's go back."

Yun Chen didn't pay attention to the ordinary conversation between the two. She said that since she was assigned to the hunting team closest to the female official, she might as well go with Zhuang Ji.

Huo Gannian did not stop them. When Yun Chen and Zhuang Ji were about to leave the tent, he called out to Yun Chen:

"Chen'er, always remember, just follow your heart. Do whatever you want to do, and don't do what you don't want to do. With me here, you have the confidence to refuse anyone, understand?"

Yun Chen didn't understand, but nodded and left.