Chapter 31: "I actually have a little bit too."
Those were just a pair of straw-woven cats and dogs.
The endless reeds and the ubiquitous green grass make it easy to weave countless [items/items].
There can also be only one.
This is not an excessive demand.
Yun Sheng replied, "Okay."
But Xiao Xu seems to be referring to more than just a small dog made of straw.
The small boat in the middle of the lake began to move slowly, and the atmosphere became inexplicably subtle. For a moment, only the gurgling of water could be heard, and no one continued the conversation.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the shadows of the trees in the courtyard swayed gently.
Xiao Xu dismissed the eunuch who had come to deliver the message and turned to return to his room.
He walked around the screen and saw that Yun Sheng had already changed her clothes and was slightly raising her arm, letting the maid tidy her up.
She wore a pleated blouse, an indigo pleated blouse tied at the waist with a brocade belt, and long, moon-white trousers tucked into a pair of deerskin boots, making her look both charming and neat.
Seeing him come in, she turned to look at him: "Are you about to leave?"
"No rush, we have plenty of time."
Yun Sheng turned around completely, revealing her outfit to Xiao Xu: "How do I look?"
"Excellent."
Xiao Xu's praise was always brief, and his expression seemed indifferent.
But those deep black eyes, seemingly carrying a deep, warm temperature, stared at her intently.
Yun Sheng blushed again.
She turned around, her back to him, and adjusted the brocade belt around her waist, thinking to herself that if he praised her a few more times, she should be able to remain calm and composed.
Today, His Majesty has set up a small hunt at the West Garden Forest Farm, and Yun Sheng is going there by carriage with Xiao Xu.
Upon arrival, one sees the royal tent already set up on a wide meadow, with the curtains rolled up high.
The emperor was chatting and laughing with several close ministers inside the tent. Outside the tent, in the open space, princes, officials, and their families gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, creating a relaxed and lively scene.
After Xiao Xu entered the tent to meet the emperor, Yun Sheng found Liu Xian and they met together.
"Sheng Sheng, your outfit today is quite unique."
Liu Xian's praise did not make Yun Sheng's cheeks burn; instead, she was calm and delighted: "I heard there was a hunt on this trip, so I specially prepared this outfit before I left."
If Xiao Xu had told her about this earlier, she would have wanted to prepare even more meticulously.
Liu Xian reached out and stroked the fabric of Yun Sheng's upper arm: "This fabric looks really good, smooth and shiny, and the color is just right."
"Do you like it? I have a few more bolts of fabric, in many colors. When I get back to the manor, I'll show them to you, and you can make yourself a dress."
Liu Xian was smiling and replying "okay" when she caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of her eye, and her smile faltered slightly.
Xiao Xu strode out of the tent and walked straight toward them.
Liu Xian couldn't help but feel guilty about what happened yesterday, and gradually her smile faded as she awkwardly looked away.
She had her own unspoken suffering.
The reason was that the atmosphere between the couple at home had suddenly become strange a couple of days ago, and when this reached Shen Yuewan's ears, she was naturally very worried.
At that time, Shen Yuewan summoned her and discussed whether she could persuade the two of them to speak on her behalf.
Liu Xian was worried and found it difficult to speak, but before she could get a good chance to speak, they followed the Emperor to the Western Garden Palace.
Yesterday morning, Yun Sheng came alone. At lunch, she asked a few more questions and then told Shen Yuewan that the young couple had another argument.
I don't know if it's because we haven't made up from the last time, or if there are new problems.
Yun Sheng hesitated and didn't explain the reason, but once she and Shen Yuewan started talking, and there were no outsiders around, she said the things that were originally difficult to say.
Fortunately, she was relieved to see that the two of them were in a harmonious state when they arrived, and she no longer needed to say the things that Shen Yuewan had asked for.
However, Xiao Xu's expression was not as calm as it had been in front of the tent, as if he had encountered something unpleasant inside.
He nodded in response to Liu Xian's greeting, then heard Yun Sheng ask, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Xiao Xu's expression softened slightly, and he said softly, "I'll tell you when we get back."
Not long after, the emperor emerged from his tent, and the hunt was about to begin.
After everyone stood at attention and paid their respects, the emperor and several senior officials took their seats in front of the imperial tent. The prince and other members of the imperial family and young officials then took up their bows and arrows, prepared their horses, and headed deeper into the forest.
The stables department prepared horses of different breeds and sizes for the women and civil officials to ride and enjoy. Lightweight bows and arrows were also available on a nearby stand.
Seeing that the Crown Prince's figure had disappeared into the forest, Cuizhu suggested to Yunsheng, "Princess Consort, the forest hunt has only just begun, and we should have news of it in a while. If you are interested, would you like to try hunting?"
Yun Sheng had never been involved in horseback riding and archery, but he was quite interested in it.
"OK."
She chose a small, docile horse and a beautiful bow, and then had Cuizhu lead the horse into the forest.
But when she actually picked up the bow and arrow, she realized that riding and shooting were far more difficult than they appeared.
She clumsily nocked the arrow and drew the bow, her fingertips turning red from the bowstring. Even with the horse being so docile and with Cui Zhu helping to guide it, it swayed so much that she couldn't aim accurately at all.
The first arrow flew limply and landed in the grass ten paces away, without even touching a single leaf.
Cuizhu watched anxiously from the side, but she herself was a maid who knew no martial arts, and apart from handing her arrows and wiping her sweat, she couldn't really help.
"Princess Consort, why don't you rest for a while?" Cuizhu whispered, noticing that Yun Sheng's nose was covered in a fine sheen of sweat.
Yun Sheng tried a few more times, but her best result was that the arrow trembled and pierced the tree trunk, far from the wild fruit she was aiming at. And soon, the arrow wobbled twice and fell off the tree trunk, crashing into the grass.
She finally gave up and shoved the bow into Cuizhu's hand: "Forget it, it seems I'm not cut out for this."
Cuizhu quickly took the bow and comforted her with a smile: "Horse riding and archery require years of practice. Since you're tired, let's just wander around in this forest and enjoy the scenery."
So Cuizhu held the reins, and Yunsheng rode leisurely along the sparse woods.
The woods on a summer afternoon offer a unique and tranquil charm.
The sunlight filtered through layers of branches and leaves, leaving only a gentle warmth on the skin. Unknown wildflowers bloomed scattered among the grass, and the air was filled with the unique freshness of the grass and soil warmed by the sun.
Startled by the sound of horses' hooves, a brightly feathered bird flapped its wings and emerged from the bushes, chirping as it flew away.
Not far away, several grayish wild rabbits were munching on the grass, their ears twitching alertly. When they saw someone approaching, they kicked off with their hind legs and nimbly disappeared into the tall grass, vanishing without a trace.
They dared not venture deeper, and after walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they turned around and headed back.
As they approached the edge of the forest, they suddenly heard the sounds of horses' hooves and people's voices coming from the clearing, as if something big was happening.
Yun Sheng couldn't help but look curiously towards the source of the sound.
Cuizhu also heard the sound and was about to urge her horse forward to see what was going on when she saw a figure appear in the woods on the other side.
The light sound of hooves echoed as the third-ranked scholar spurred his horse forward.
Their eyes met, and Yun Sheng paused for a moment, then nodded slightly before turning to leave.
Unexpectedly, the other party called out, "Princess Consort, please wait."
at the same time.
Suddenly, a roe deer leaped out of the forest in a panic in the open space. The prince, dressed in red riding attire, spurred his horse and gave chase.
He leaned forward, almost parallel to the horse's back, his gaze fixed on the fleeing prey ahead, displaying a focus and sharpness rarely seen in him.
Upon seeing this, the emperor sat up straight with interest in his eyes, while several senior officials subconsciously held their breath, fearing that the crown prince would make a mistake in front of everyone.
At the critical moment, Li Yuan suddenly straightened up on his horse, drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and released the string in one swift motion.
With a whoosh, the arrow flew through the air and struck the roe deer in the hind leg. The prey staggered and fell to the ground, where it was immediately subdued by the rushing guards.
There was a moment of silence in the arena, followed by bursts of cheers and applause.
Xiao Xu chased the roe deer for several dozen steps before stopping, but there was no movement for a long time. He thought the Crown Prince was about to fail and was about to spur his horse to catch up when he heard cheers coming from the other side.
He then gripped the horse's flanks with both legs, reined in the horse, and as soon as he turned, his gaze swept across the woods and caught sight of a familiar figure.
But she wasn't alone.
Xiao Xu frowned slightly, shook the reins, and drove straight away.
The rapid sound of horses' hooves interrupted the conversation between the two for a moment.
Their conversation was also coming to an end.
The third-ranking scholar paused for a moment, then said, "Princess Consort, thank you for your trouble."
Yun Sheng: "It's nothing, no need to be so polite."
After she finished speaking, she looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Xiao Xu. Her eyes lit up.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Xu had arrived nearby.
The third-ranking scholar bowed slightly, his attitude respectful and proper: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Xiao Xu, however, remained indifferent.
The third-ranked scholar had no intention of staying any longer and took his leave.
No sooner had he left than Xiao Xu pulled on the reins and made the horse gallop to Yun Sheng's side.
How can you be with him?
"We just happened to run into each other, Changyu, you..."
Xiao Xu interrupted her: "When did you meet him?"
Yun Sheng's words were cut off, and her mind was still a little dazed. She said blankly, "We don't know each other."
"Then what are you talking about?"
After several questions, Yun Sheng finally realized what was going on.
She gave him a strange look: "He asked me to pass on a letter to Azhi."
"Are you jealous?" Yun Sheng asked instinctively, still feeling strange.
I can't understand why this is so vinegary.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Xu actually answered, "A little."
Yun Sheng was stunned, unable to tell whether he was joking or serious.
She was stunned for a while, but Xiao Xu didn't continue speaking, so she could only ask what she wanted to ask first: "Changyu, what are you doing here? Did you just come from over there? What happened over in the open space? I heard a lot of noise just now, did something happen?"
She had so many questions that she forgot all about Xiao Xu's unusual behavior after she finished asking them.
Xiao Xu let out a breath, whether out of helplessness or something else, it was hard to tell.
He replied to her, "The Crown Prince won first place and hunted a roe deer."
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng exclaimed with delight, "Your Highness has already hunted your prey so quickly, and it's a roe deer no less! That's amazing! No wonder there was such a commotion over there just now."
"You think you're so great just because you hunted a roe deer?"
"Don't talk nonsense, that's His Highness the Crown Prince." Yun Sheng thought he was about to say something inappropriate from his tone.
"But isn't the roe deer powerful enough? With so many people here today, His Highness the Crown Prince was the first to catch his prey. His Majesty must be delighted."
"And you, are you happy?"
As Xiao Xu spoke, his gaze swept over the empty horseback behind Yun Sheng.
Yun Sheng thought he was mocking her, so she glanced behind him like he did and said, "You didn't catch any prey either."
Xiao Xu smiled and asked, "Would you be happy if I caught my prey?"
"Of course, of course." Yun Sheng seemed to have realized the meaning behind Xiao Xu's words.
But I'm not entirely sure.
She lowered her eyes and stroked the horse's back, trying to justify herself: "I've never learned archery before, and I couldn't get the hang of it after shooting a few arrows. I couldn't even hit a leaf."
"I'll teach you next time."
As Xiao Xu spoke, he reached up and took something off his wrist: "You can play with this first today."
It was a leather wristband with a seven-inch-long black iron quiver fixed to it. The quiver had cold, hard lines and no extra decorations, but the mechanism was intricately designed.
Yun Sheng curiously peered closer and saw that it was a hidden arrow.
However, Xiao Xu did not immediately hand her the hidden arrow. Instead, he took out a dagger from the leather pouch on his side and used the tip of the dagger to probe the tiny hole at the end of the quiver, steadily manipulating it with his wrist.
This hidden arrow was prepared by Xiao Xu for Li Yuan. If Li Yuan had missed just now, Xiao Xu would have rushed up and fired a follow-up shot.
However, Li Yuan did not put the hidden arrow to use, and Xiao Xu did not need it afterward.
Yun Sheng couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"
Xiao Xu had just finished making the final adjustments, sheathed his dagger, and looked up at her: "Let me adjust it for you."
"Come here, I'll teach you."
Before Yun Sheng could react, her waist was suddenly tightened, and in a dizzying moment, Xiao Xu grabbed her with one arm and lifted her onto his mount.
Suddenly, a warm sensation pressed against her from behind, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace.
Xiao Xu put one arm around her to steady her, and with the other hand placed the adjusted sleeve arrow into her hand.
"I've lightened it a bit, but it's still powerful enough for you. Hold it with both hands, aim at the target, and then pull the trigger."
He gently applied pressure to her fingertips as he finished speaking.
"Clang!"
With a short, sharp sound, the short arrow shot out and hit the tree trunk directly in front of it.
"Have you learned it?" Xiao Xu's voice came from behind her without letting go.
The recoil from that instant made Yun Sheng's palms and wrists tingle slightly, but he was amazed by the fierce power contained in this small object.
Her heart started racing, and she was eager to try. Nodding, she said, "I've learned it. Now put me back."
Xiao Xu looked down at her from behind.
As she turned to the side, clearly waiting for him to lift her up, he turned his head and kissed her lips.
Yun Sheng was slightly taken aback. At first, she didn't react much, but the next moment she realized that the forest was in the outskirts, the sky was bright, and she was on horseback with Cui Zhu by her side.
She raised her hand to push, but with the hidden arrow in her sleeve, she dared not move. She twisted her body to try to break free, but Xiao Xu's horse was tall and strong, and even the slightest movement of its hooves made her tense up again.
Xiao Xu closed his eyes and tasted her for a while before pulling away, putting his arm around her waist, and sending her back to her docile little horse.
His gaze swept over her glossy, red lips: "Be careful, go have some fun."
The embarrassment of having a kiss stolen by Xiao Xu in such a place was not enough to suppress her interest in new and exciting things.
Before Xiao Xu had gone far, Yun Sheng began to play with the hidden arrow in her hand with great interest.
Xiao Xu rode a distance and looked back, but received no farewell glances from her. He chuckled in annoyance, shook the reins, and rode away into the distance.
Although the adjusted sleeve darts were still a bit difficult for Yun Sheng, they were much more effective than bows and arrows.
She played in the woods for another half an hour with the hidden arrow in her hand before letting Cuizhu lead the horse back.
As soon as they emerged from the jungle, they saw that most of the men had returned and were resting and chatting around a makeshift table.
Yun Sheng spotted Xiao Xu at a glance.
He was sitting alone at a table, his eyes lowered as he slowly and deliberately wiped his fingers, his posture refined and elegant. He seemed to be preparing to enjoy the fruit in front of him, but he kept wiping his fingers without making any other move.
It wasn't until Mu Shan, who was standing behind him, whispered a reminder that he placed the handkerchief on the table. As soon as he turned his head, he saw Yun Sheng carrying a small wicker basket and walking briskly to him.
She had barely sat down next to him when she exclaimed excitedly, "Changyu, look, I've gained so much!"
Xiao Xu looked down and saw that the basket was full of wild apricots and pears, but each fruit had a hole pierced by an arrow.
Yun Sheng tilted her little face up and said with a smile, "Thanks to your hidden arrow, I can reach even the tops of tall trees. At first, I always missed, but later I became more and more accurate, and now I hit the target seven or eight times out of ten!"
Mu Shan, listening from behind, felt a slight twitch at the corner of his eye and thought to himself: "That hidden arrow was made by skilled craftsmen in the army. It can take a life within fifty paces and penetrate thin armor within twenty paces. It can decide life and death in dangerous situations. What a deadly weapon it is. Now, His Highness the Crown Prince is using it to let the Crown Princess shoot these sour fruits for fun. It's really... very good."
Xiao Xu glanced at the basket full of spoils for a moment, then reached out and grabbed Yun Sheng's right hand to examine it closely.
The area around the base of her right thumb and the edge of her palm, where she had her thumb rested, was now noticeably red from the recoil of the hidden arrows being fired.
Xiao Xu rubbed the red mark back and forth a few times with his fingertips, then looked up at her: "Does it hurt?"
Yun Sheng was so engrossed in playing that she didn't notice until he reminded her.
She shook her head and answered truthfully, "It doesn't hurt, it should go away in a while."
Xiao Xu did not let go, but held the slightly red hand in his palm, and then instructed Mu Shan: "Go wash these fruits and bring them back."
Yun Sheng called out, "Wait, these pears are not ripe yet, you can't eat them."
"Then wash the apricots."
Mu Shan sighed, wondering if these wild apricots could ripen on their own. He could only hope that His Highness would be in a good mood and bestow a reward upon them later.
He moved swiftly and quickly presented several freshly washed apricots on a plate.
Xiao Xu casually picked one up and took a bite without changing his expression.
"How is it?" Yun Sheng looked at him expectantly.
Xiao Xu swallowed slowly, met her bright gaze, and nodded, saying, "Very good."
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng immediately picked up a bright yellow apricot and put it in her mouth. The next moment, she was so overwhelmed by the extreme sourness that her face scrunched up and she couldn't speak for a long time.
A soft laugh came from beside me.
Yun Sheng couldn't even bring herself to glare at him angrily. She finally managed to swallow it down, and when she opened her eyes, a cup of cold tea was already at her lips. She quickly drank it down in one gulp.
"It's so sour, don't you feel anything?"
Xiao Xu pursed his lips, as if savoring the memory: "Hmm, belatedly realizing how sour it is."
"You're lying, you..."
He was about to say something angry when Xiao Xu fed him a piece of peach.
Yun Sheng puffed out her cheeks, unable to speak for the time being.
She glanced at Xiao Xu's side, then looked around, and asked vaguely, "Chang Yu, what about you? Did you catch any prey?"
Xiao Xu ate the fruit on the table without any change in expression, but did not answer, his expression indifferent.
When hunting in the forest, eunuchs would run back and forth, relaying the spoils of the young hunters and cheering them on.
Yun Sheng was having so much fun playing in the woods that he didn't return until now, by which time the announcements and cheers had all ended.
Seeing that he didn't answer for a long time, Yun Sheng tilted her head again, and then couldn't help but wonder if he hadn't hunted anything at all.
She was about to look away, wanting to save face for him.
Mu Shan noticed something amiss and seemed to realize something. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Reporting to the Crown Princess, Your Highness just now hunted a strong male deer deep in the forest and has handed it over to the Yu Department for disposal."
After saying that, he still glanced at Xiao Xu with some uncertainty.
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng's eyes lit up: "Really? You hunted a deer?"
Xiao Xu hummed in agreement: "Are you happy?"
Her eyes crinkled with laughter, her joy evident even without being asked: "Changyu, you're amazing, even more so than..."
She almost blurted out a sentence even more powerful than "His Highness the Crown Prince," but thankfully she stopped herself in time.
He then continued with a smile, "Much better than me."
Xiao Xu's indifferent expression finally changed slightly.
He slightly raised his lips and said calmly, "Madam is too kind."
Mu Shan paused slightly behind him, then looked away and stood up straight.
He was right after all. His Highness's unusual behavior and extravagant behavior today were all for this reason.
The emperor was overjoyed by the fruitful harvest and immediately ordered a brocade curtain to be erected on the spot, so that the freshly hunted deer, roe deer and other game could be roasted by the kitchen staff.
After nightfall, the open space in the forest was filled with the aroma of meat and the sounds of laughter.
Yun Sheng and Xiao Xu presented a plate of perfectly roasted whole deer tenderloin to the table, the meat displaying an enticing caramel color. Next to it was a large, thick piece of equally cooked deer leg meat. The quantity and quality far surpassed those of the others at the table, clearly a special gift from the emperor to the deer hunter.
"It smells so good, Changyu, you're amazing." Yun Sheng praised without reservation.
She was so hungry that her eyes were shining, and she didn't have time to give Xiao Xu even a glance.
Xiao Xu stared at her intently, and after waiting for a while without her turning her head, he let out a long breath and looked away: "Okay, eat."
Yun Sheng happily began to eat, using a silver knife to cut open the venison tenderloin, dipping it in some refreshing plum sauce, and contentedly putting it into her mouth.
At first, she saw out of the corner of her eye that Xiao Xu was cutting meat beside her. But when she finished eating the meat on her plate, she turned her head and saw that Xiao Xu had not eaten any of the venison on his plate. It was just neatly cut into small pieces with a silver knife.
The sliced meat was placed in front of her, and Xiao Xu casually took her empty plate.
Yun Sheng asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"
"You eat."
As Xiao Xu spoke, he reached for another piece of meat to cut, but Yun Sheng quickly stopped him: "Don't take it, I can't eat that much, I'll share some with you."
Yun Sheng was about to share the venison on the plate with Xiao Xu when, before she could even pick out two pieces, Xiao Xu said, "No need to share with me, I don't want any."
"Why aren't you eating?" Yun Sheng paused for only a moment before continuing to offer him more. "I just tasted it. It's fragrant and tender, and it's delicious."
Xiao Xu looked down at the dozens of pieces of venison he had cut for her, which she then divided into several pieces and placed on his plate. His brow twitched slightly.
Venison is considered a pure yang food, capable of invigorating qi and nourishing blood, warming and tonifying the liver and kidneys. When men eat it, it not only greatly replenishes deficiencies and strengthens muscles and bones, but also makes them vigorous and energetic, with their blood surging.
Not to mention that he originally planned not to eat any meat at all, the amount of meat piled up on his plate now was already excessively nourishing.
“Sheng Sheng”.
Xiao Xu raised his hand and grasped her wrist, stopping her from trying to share more with him.
Yun Sheng looked at him and inexplicably whispered, "It's delicious."
Xiao Xu looked at her quietly, without saying a word.
Yun Sheng thought for a moment, then picked up a piece and brought it to his lips: "This is the best food today. You are the hero, how can you not have a bite?"
"You really want me to eat this?"
Yun Sheng was still bewildered: "Can't I eat it?"
“Nothing is impossible.” Xiao Xu opened his mouth and took a bite of the venison that Yun Sheng offered to him.
Yun Sheng's eyes were full of anticipation: "How is it?"
Xiao Xu chewed and swallowed gracefully: "It tastes very good."
Yun Sheng was filled with the joy of sharing the delicious food, and picked up another piece: "You have to dip it in this plum sauce, try it again."
Xiao Xu stared at the piece of roasted meat covered in glistening sauce for a moment, then opened his mouth again to accept her feeding.
"How is it? It's pretty good, isn't it? The last time I ate it was several years ago. My father only got to taste it once when he received a reward from His Majesty. But the chefs in the mansion are still no match for the imperial chefs by His Majesty's side. Today, this venison is crispy on the outside and tender enough to melt in your mouth on the inside. It's really delicious."
Suddenly, Xiao Xu moved closer to her, his body pressed against hers, and whispered in her ear, "This thing is an aphrodisiac."
Amidst the surrounding noise and chatter, no one paid any attention to the intimate moment between the couple at the table, creating an atmosphere of intense warmth that seemed to isolate them from outsiders.
The scorching breath burned Yun Sheng's earlobe, causing her eyes to widen in surprise: "Just, just one or two pieces."
And it's not an aphrodisiac, so why is he suddenly lowering his voice to scare her?
“You’ve been starving me for days. I can’t stand even a piece or two. I was originally planning not to eat at all.”
"It's already hot now."
As Yun Sheng's lips moved, a blush quickly spread across her cheeks, reaching her ears and neck, as if she were being bathed in a drunken sunset.
She realized what was happening and suddenly reached out, covering his beautiful lips with both hands as he uttered those outrageous words.
How could he speak such private thoughts so freely in front of so many people?
He was starved for several days, but it was only two or three days.
Moreover, they weren't exactly hungry.
He really is...
They really corrupted her.
Yun Sheng lowered her eyelashes and said in a barely audible voice, "Go back... I'll help you with that."
Xiao Xu's eyes darkened. He casually picked up a handkerchief from the table, and used his thumb to wipe her lips through the handkerchief, the pressure inexplicably increasing as he pressed down on a soft indentation: "How do I do it? Like I would for you?"
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This chapter is full of shooting, and while I was writing it, I was worried it might get censored.
[Shrug] My mind is filthy, yet I wrote a male protagonist with a filthy mind (just kidding).
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