Chapter 419 Hunting
Tubar was rebuffed by Ayina and left dejectedly.
Meanwhile, Tana was not idle either, and quickly locked onto her target.
This man was an illegitimate son of a noble family. He was a notorious playboy in the capital, fond of drinking and womanizing, and had a very bad reputation.
But in Tana's view, these lust-driven fools are actually the easiest to exploit.
She straightened her clothes and walked over gracefully, "accidentally" dropping the handkerchief in her hand.
The man was indeed attracted. When he saw that Tana was dressed as a maid but had a beautiful appearance, his eyes lit up immediately, and he eagerly picked up her handkerchief.
"This young lady looks unfamiliar; she's not from the capital, is she?"
Tana lowered her eyelashes and said in a soft voice, "I am a maid from the Northern Desert delegation. I am new here and do not know the rules. Please forgive me, young master."
Seeing her like this, the young master felt even more aroused.
“My name is Wang Chang. If you are new to the capital and find anything you are not used to, or if you would like to explore the beautiful scenery of the capital, I can be your guide.” He spoke warmly, his gaze lingering on Tana.
Tana sneered inwardly, but two blushes rose on her face as she shyly lowered her head.
"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, young master, but the rules of the delegation are strict, and I dare not make decisions on my own..."
"Hey, rules are rules, but people are flexible!" Wang Chang was overjoyed to see that she didn't refuse outright. "Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll make sure no one knows and you have a good time."
The two exchanged a few more words in hushed tones. Tana's words were a mix of resistance and reluctance, giving Wang Chang hope while not letting him succeed easily, thus keeping him in suspense.
It wasn't until the hunting horn sounded that Wang Chang was reluctantly persuaded by her to go and prepare.
Horses galloped and banners fluttered in the air within the hunting grounds, instantly creating a lively atmosphere.
In an effort to regain face, the delegation from the northern deserts specifically selected their most skilled horse archers.
These warriors, burly and strong, shouted and fired arrows from horseback, their momentum fierce, attempting to overwhelm Daliang with the archery skills excelled by the people of the northern deserts and avenge their previous defeat.
Huo Lin and Jiang Huan sat on the high-built hunting platform, where they had an excellent view.
The platform is furnished with soft couches, a stove, tea, snacks, and fruits, creating a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere.
He watched the Northern Desert delegation putting on such a show from afar, a barely perceptible sneer curling at the corner of his lips.
[Hmph, I knew they'd pull this trick.]
[Trying to slap me in the face with mounted archery on my own turf? You're showing off your limited skills before an expert!]
He turned his head and said gently to Xu Muyuan, who was standing beside him, "I have heard that you are an expert in archery and horsemanship. Today, you will take my place and have a match with the warriors of the northern desert."
Xu Muyuan was dressed in a neat riding and archery outfit, his posture was as upright as a pine tree and bamboo, his face was gentle, and his eyes were calm as water.
"Your Majesty, I obey your decree and will certainly not fail your expectations." He clasped his hands in a salute, his voice calm and unhurried, like a gentle breeze.
He calmly stepped down from the hunting platform, his gentle and refined demeanor vanishing the moment he entered the hunting grounds.
Xu Muyuan nimbly mounted his horse, his posture upright like a pine tree, his fingers gripping the reins with distinct and strong knuckles, his whole being like a sharp sword about to be drawn from its sheath.
He calmly controlled the reins and quickly locked onto a herd of gazelles running in the distance.
He drew his bow and nocked an arrow, which flew through the air and accurately pierced the vital spot of the foremost gazelle.
The gazelle collapsed instantly, without even having time to utter a mournful cry.
Xu Muyuan's hands did not stop. Almost at the same moment, the second and third arrows were fired in succession, and the arrows hit their targets without fail. The other two yellow sheep that tried to escape also collapsed to the ground.
This spectacular hunt instantly drew gasps of amazement from the crowd.
On the high platform, Jiang Huan watched intently.
"Wow! Third Brother's archery skills are absolutely amazing!"
Hearing the admiration in her voice, Huo Lin felt a pang of jealousy.
[Hmph, back in the autumn hunt, I hunted down a black bear single-handedly with only a bow; that was far more impressive than this.]
However, Xu Muyuan's archery skills are indeed quite impressive; he has certainly brought honor to me.
[Fine, considering he's helping me save face, I'll be magnanimous and let it go since she praised someone else.]
The final result was no surprise. When the hunt ended and the prey was counted, Xu Muyuan's hunted rare birds and beasts far surpassed the number and quality of the warriors carefully selected by the Northern Desert delegation.
Tubar and the others looked pale and ashen, as if they had swallowed flies, but they had no choice but to force a smile and step forward to flatter them.
"Young Master Xu is truly a man of both literary and martial talents, with superb archery skills that have broadened our horizons. We are truly impressed!"
Xu Muyuan simply smiled calmly and humbly returned the greeting: "You flatter me, it was just a fluke."
His composure in the face of both honor and disgrace stood in stark contrast to the previously boisterous but now dejected appearance of the warriors from the northern desert, clearly demonstrating his superiority.
After the hunt, several bonfires were lit in the open space of the hunting grounds, and a grand barbecue dinner was held.
The whole roasted lamb sizzled and dripped with oil, its aroma mingling with the rich flavor of strong liquor, filling the air and gradually creating a lively atmosphere.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Tubar saw that the atmosphere had eased a bit, and his restless heart started to stir again.
He clapped his hands, and the musicians who had been waiting immediately began to play the exotic northern dance music.
With the rapid and cheerful drumbeats, Tana changed into a bright red dance dress adorned with sequins and golden bells. Barefoot, she swayed her waist and danced to the center of the arena, stopping not far in front of Huo Lin's seat.
Her dance moves were bold and unrestrained, and her gaze was fiery and undisguised as she looked at Huo Lin.
As the dance reached its climax and the music reached its peak, Tana, with a vigorous spin, reached out her hand towards Huo Lin, making an inviting gesture.
"Your Majesty, Emperor of Liang, the flames of the northern desert burn for you. Would you deign to dance with me?"
Jiang Huan was eating venison in small bites when she heard this and almost choked. She quickly picked up her teacup to slurp it up.
Goodness, they came straight up!
These people from the northern deserts, yesterday they were the cooks, today they're the passionate dancers.
But isn't this a bit too direct? Her eyes are like hooks, as if she's afraid others won't know what she's up to.
As for Huo Lin, he simply placed the wine cup in his hand on the table. The bottom of the cup touched the jade table, making a crisp sound that instantly drowned out the music.
"How dare you! Get out of here!"
The music stopped abruptly, Tana's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and the charming smile on her face instantly turned to ice.
Tubar's heart pounded. He quickly stood up and tried to smooth things over with a smile: "Your Majesty, please calm down. This dance was just for entertainment. This invitation was to express the hospitality of the northern desert and was by no means offensive."
At this moment, Wang Chang, who had drunk several cups of wine, also stood up and said with a thick tongue, "Your Majesty, what the envoy said is absolutely right. Inviting people to dance is a custom, so why make a big deal out of it?"
Several other officials who had also been drinking chimed in with their opinions.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Such are the customs of the northern deserts. Please be magnanimous."
"This is a manifestation of the integration of the two cultures, and we should embrace it."
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