Chapter 79 Hunting Autumn Plains: He's going to pull up all the flowers except his own...
After a series of clear and pleasant autumn days, the autumn hunting party headed towards Kangning Palace on Mount Jiuhua.
Jiuhua Mountain is surrounded by three peaks and water, with the Wei River flowing out from the north side of the stream and Tongxin Lake to the east.
Xue Chan and Cheng Huaizhu came with the Imperial Concubine. They followed behind her to the hunting grounds in the eastern suburbs. By then, they had already set up camp, lit fires, and prepared their equipment for the hunt. The meat on the roasting racks was sizzling and dripping with oil.
The emperor and Xue Chenghuai were standing on the platform, looking at the endless autumn plains, with horses galloping and yellow flowers blooming as they chatted and laughed.
Upon seeing the Imperial Concubine arrive, he immediately stepped down from the platform and personally took her hand.
May Your Majesty be well.
May Your Majesty be well.
The emperor looked at her in her scarlet-gold riding outfit and her radiant appearance, and said with a smile, "Your Highness is quite elegant."
Consort Xue smiled and said, "I am feeling much better lately and would like to ride and roam freely on the autumn plains."
He was pleased to hear this.
Consort Xue hadn't ridden a horse to hunt for several years, and she was always saddened and melancholy whenever she came here: "In that case, don't let them lead you any other horses. Just ride my Jade Cry. Then, Consort Xue and I will go hunting together."
Consort Xue tilted her head and teased, "Your Majesty is truly magnanimous, actually willing to part with your beloved Yu Ming to lend to me to ride."
The emperor took her hand and stood beside her, gazing at the autumn plains ablaze with vibrant orange and tangerine hues. He sighed softly and said gently, "I ask for nothing more than for you to always be well."
Consort Xue smiled and squeezed his hand in return.
"Your Majesty, I wish to be with you for a long time. The world is rich and prosperous, and I would like to enjoy the spring and autumn for a few more years."
While the two were entwined in passion, Xue Chan and Xue Chenghuai had already come downstairs.
Cheng Huaizhu looked at someone and, with Mingxia in the blink of an eye, ran far away.
She and Xue Chenghuai walked in the mountains, looking at the high blue sky and the yellowing and greening forests.
"What were Your Majesty and Father talking about just now?"
Xue Chenghuai said, "His Majesty intended to paint these autumn scenes and the hunt itself during this autumn hunt, which is why he was talking to me about it on that slope."
Xue Chan thought for a moment and said, "Does Your Majesty want Father to draw it?"
“Hmm,” he nodded, “but it’s not just me, but also the court painters who came with me to the Hanlin Academy. His Majesty is thinking of creating a long scroll together.”
Xue Chan pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and said, "Father, can I participate in this painting project?"
Xue Chenghuai looked down at her and saw the determination in her eyes, and his heart sank slightly.
He lowered his voice and gently persuaded her.
“Qiao Niang, you’ve been rusty lately, and you’ve only recently recovered from your illness. Why not take advantage of this hunting trip to have some fun, and go with your friends to see the azure sky above the autumn plains, the golden-red mountains and the clear waters that stretch to the horizon. Also, watch the galloping horses and the eagles chasing each other.”
Xue Chan seemed somewhat unwilling: "Father..."
Xue Chenghuai patted her shoulder: "The scene of the hunting party is difficult to paint, and it's not something you're good at, especially since it's for His Majesty. If you really want to paint it, then paint the scene that you truly want to paint."
She knew that her father truly didn't want her to get involved. So she lowered her eyes and replied, "Okay."
Xue Chenghuai was also filled with melancholy. He knew that Xue Chan had reached a point of stagnation and difficulty in moving forward. Her years of learning were no longer enough to support her to go further in the path of painting.
Moreover, she was still bound by her obsessions, which restricted her actions and prevented her from moving freely.
He knew her personality all too well. Getting involved would only bring another mountain of pressure.
However, whether as a father or a teacher, he couldn't walk her path for her; ultimately, she would have to figure it out herself.
Xue Chenghuai looked at Xue Chan, at his daughter who had grown from an innocent toddler into a graceful young woman. In the end, he was her father, and like her mother, he had only one expectation from beginning to end.
"Qiao Niang, your mother and I would much rather you be well than become a painting."
Xue Chan smiled and said, "I know."
Xue Chenghuai sighed again.
"Brother Chenghuai! I've been looking for you everywhere."
Someone waved to him from the bottom of the hillside, and the two looked down together.
Xue Chenghuai laughed and said, "It's Lord Zheng. He probably wants me to go see the painting."
Xue Chan laughed out loud. Ever since Xue Chenghuai came to the capital, so many people had come to visit him and sent invitations to banquets. Every time he returned from seeing guests off to banquets, he would lie half-dead on a recliner in the courtyard, saying that he would never go out again or see any more guests.
But every time this Lord Zheng sent a letter saying he had a famous painting for him to appreciate, he would entice Xue Chenghuai out of his house again.
Xue Chenghuai was in a bind, but he still had to smile.
Xue Chan couldn't help but tease him: "Since Lord Zheng has already followed us all the way here, Father, why don't you go and 'appreciate the painting' with him?"
Lord Zheng ran up the hillside, and as he spoke, he pulled Xue Chenghuai along to run. While running, he didn't forget to say to Xue Chan, "Little Xue, come to Uncle Zheng's house after the autumn hunt. Your Aunt Qin will be making a chrysanthemum and crab feast then."
The two disappeared in no time.
Xue Chan thought about it and realized that he did resemble Zheng Shaoyu quite a bit; no wonder they were father and son.
As she walked back, she bumped into Cheng Huaizhu, who smiled and asked her, "Have you had enough fun?"
Cheng Huaizhu caught her breath and pulled her hand, leading her to the west: "That's not enough. I told you they're playing polo over there, it's so much fun, let's go take a look."
them?
Before Xue Chan could ask, Cheng Huaizhu had already dragged her to the polo field.
Upon arrival, they discovered that Cheng Huaizhu had run into Xiao Yangjun, and Yu Lang had casually mentioned bringing Xue Chan along to watch the polo match.
On the field, the red and blue teams were playing fiercely. Yu Lang rode his horse to chase the ball, while Zheng Shaoyu on the other side snatched the ball and ran away, with Xiao Yangjun following behind on horseback.
Xiao Yangjun was a good horseman and a good polo player. Under Zheng Shaoyu's pursuit, he threw the ball high into the paddle.
With the sound of a gong and drum, the scoring cards were flipped over.
Yu Lang turned his horse around and shouted loudly from afar, "Lord Yang, well done!"
Zheng Shaoyu rode up to Xiao Yangjun on horseback, carrying a golf club, and said with a smile, "Third Miss, your skills are as superb as ever."
Xiao Yangjun laughed and said, "You flatter me, Sixth Brother. But since Bozhou hasn't arrived yet, I'm afraid you're going to lose."
Zheng Shaoyu glanced at Xue Chan twice. Cheng Huaizhu, who was cheering for Xiao Yangjun, suddenly half-hid behind the bamboo curtain.
Seeing her like this, Xue Chan looked at her curiously for a second, but didn't ask anything.
On the field, Zheng Shaoyu said again, "Erlang didn't play today, but we have another polo expert here, so the outcome is still uncertain."
Xiao Yangjun smiled brightly, her voice still as clever as ever: "Winning or losing, you'll only know after you've competed."
Zheng Shaoyu rode away on his horse, and coming towards him was a young man in a brocade robe.
Xue Chan looked closely and discovered that it was actually the top scholar, Shen Zhe.
The next match began, and Yu Lang was once again in the lead.
Her playing style has always been decisive and fierce, and few others can match it, or dare to match it.
The polo ball rolled beneath her mallet, and a piece of her robe slid past, about to fly into the paddle, when it was intercepted horizontally or vertically.
The man stood on his horse, spun around, and half-dismounted to snatch the ball from Yu Lang's hands.
Only when the gongs and drums sounded did she rein in her horse and turn around, seeing Zheng Shaoyu with a smile on his face: "Not bad, Brother Shen, it seems that bringing you onto the field was an excellent decision."
Yu Lang was still a bit stunned. It was too tricky. The movement and skills were really tricky and daring.
If there were even the slightest mishap, her horse would have been enough to trample that person to death.
Yu Lang rode over, raised his chin, and praised, "Your skill just now was quite impressive. What's your name?"
Shen Zhe bowed and greeted her, saying, "I am Shen Zhe. Thank you for your mercy, Princess."
Sinking mulberry leaves...
Yu Lang suddenly remembered: "You are the Shen Zhe whom Father praised so highly during the imperial examination?"
Zheng Shaoyu replied with a smile, "Yes, yes, it's him."
Shen Zhe smiled gently, cupped his hands, and said, "Indeed."
Yu Lang nodded, raising an eyebrow at him, and said, "You are very good. You are handsome, write well, ride horses well, and play ball well. No wonder Father Emperor likes you."
Shen Zhe smiled and said, "Your Highness flatters me."
Yulang gripped the reins tightly, spun around, and raised the pole, shouting, "Continue!"
The competition intensified again. Perhaps Yu Lang had finally met his match, and he put all his skills to use in the contest against Shen Zhe.
Zheng Shaoyu rode by on horseback and glanced in their direction. Cheng Huaizhu was half-hidden behind the curtain.
Xue Chan looked at the group of people and smiled slightly.
There are so many new things to see when you go out.
She stared at Yu Lang and Shen Zhe for a long time.
Is he really that good-looking?
A familiar voice came from above. Xue Chan looked up and saw Jiang Ce standing beside her with his arms crossed and eyes downcast, carrying a quiver on his back.
Xue Chan suddenly smelled a faint sour scent, her eyes darting around, and she deliberately said, "She's beautiful. Didn't you hear the princess say that she's 'good-looking, writes well, rides horses well, and plays ball well'?"
She sighed and said, "Such a person is truly rare, and I, an ordinary person, naturally find him beautiful."
"......"
I've never seen Xue Chan praise someone like that before.
He's clearly good-looking and handsome, but she never praises him; instead, she always criticizes him.
Jiang Ce was seething with anger. He had disliked Shen Zhe since the Qionglin Banquet, and now he disliked him even more.
"I think it's just so-so."
Xue Chan turned her face away to hide her smile, but when she turned back, she said calmly, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Jiang Ce silently clenched his fist.
He wants to pull out all the flowers except for his own, and there can't be a single blade of grass left!
"Here!" Jiang Ce unloaded the quiver and stuffed it into Xue Chan's arms before heading straight for the playing field. With a wave of his hand, someone led a horse and brought a polo mallet.
Xue Chan looked down into the quiver. There wasn't a single arrow inside, only a few pretty stones and a bunch of brightly blooming wildflowers.
Holding the quiver, she finally couldn't help but chuckle quietly.
When Zheng Shaoyu saw Jiang Ce enter the arena, he looked surprised and asked, "Weren't you supposed to be training eagles with His Majesty? What are you doing here?"
Jiang Ce was furious and said in a low, vicious voice, "You've already trained him so well, why are you still training him? If you keep training him, he'll be seduced!"
Zheng Shaoyu was inexplicably angry after being blasted like this, and thought the man was just as inexplicable. He rolled his eyes without any politeness, kicked Jiang Ce, and left.
The score was already close, and Jiang Ce's addition made the polo match even more intense and exciting.
He carried his golf club into Yu Lang's team, and Zheng Shaoyu almost fainted.
This person has fallen ill again.
He quickly pulled Shen Zhe and the others aside to discuss countermeasures.
Jiang Ce, mounted on his horse with his polo mallet slung over his shoulder, squinted at Shen Zhe, who was listening to Zheng Shaoyu speak. He then glanced at Xue Chan, who was currently examining the stones in her quiver.
"......"
He'd already gone up there, and she was still staring at those broken stones instead of him. But then Jiang Ce thought again, stones are fine too, as long as they're not people.
Shen Zhe was talking to Zheng Shaoyu when he suddenly felt a thorn in his side. He looked up and saw the military commander holding the reins in one hand and the pole in the other, looking at him.
His expression was arrogant and overbearing, his gaze slightly disdainful.
He could only console himself that it was his imagination. When he turned his head again, he saw Xue Chan counting flowers from her quiver outside the arena, and he was slightly stunned.
Well, Yuan Ben was still struggling with how to strike up a conversation with her.
Seeing that he was looking at Xue Chan thoughtfully, Jiang Ce wished he could bring up all the bamboo curtains and screens from the outside and put Xue Chan in a quiver to take her away.
“Editor Shen, staring at young ladies is not the behavior of a gentleman.”
Jiang Ce rode up to him at some point, his expression and voice cold and indifferent.
Shen Zhe smiled and said, "I apologize for my rudeness."
Jiang Ce gave a soft snort and exchanged a nod with Yu Lang.
A new polo match has begun.
Shen Da Tan Hua was surrounded by Yu Lang and Jiang Ce fighting for the ball, and felt a heavy weight on his back, making it inexplicably difficult to breathe.
One of them was excited, and the other was even more excited.
Xue Chan, watching from the sidelines, suppressed her laughter and silently made a wish to the heavens.
May Heaven bless this Lord Shen with a bright future.
Shen Zhe always felt that the second young master of the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion had a problem with him.
But he couldn't recall having any significant interaction with him, or where he had offended him that made him constantly harassing him in secret.
For example, at this time, the emperor took them hunting in the hunting grounds.
Even though there were plenty of prey and even more skilled riders and archers, Jiang Ce always seemed to be subtly watching the same prey alongside him.
Jiang Ce, mounted on his horse, nocked an arrow, drew his bow, and shot an arrow that struck a wild animal behind the bushes.
Shen Zhe was slightly surprised and praised, "Commander, your archery skills are excellent!"
Jiang Ce smiled and looked at the bow in his hand: "Your archery and horsemanship are not bad, but this bow is not good, which is a hindrance."
"It's alright," Shen Zhe simply smiled.
"I'll lend it to you then."
A bow was suddenly shoved into his hand. He looked down and saw that it was the one Jiang Ce was holding, while his own bow had been replaced.
"Commander Yu!" Shen Zhe called out to him loudly, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you for the bow!"
The young man in brocade robes had already ridden away, and with his not-so-good bow, he had shot two more prey. A whistle sounded across the autumn-colored plains, and a swift eagle circled and landed on his arm.
From the high platform, all these vivid scenes came into Xue Chan's view.
The autumn in Jiuhua Mountain is not bleak or desolate.
Even though the reds and greens have faded, there are still yellow-green mountains, vibrant maple leaves, azure skies, clear blue waters, bright yellow wild chrysanthemums swaying everywhere, and the spirited and dashing figures on horseback.
The young man riding a swift horse, his embroidered robes dazzling, the steed spirited, and the longbow clanging.
His clothes were more colorful and vibrant than anyone else's, and his loud, unrestrained laughter echoed across the autumn plains.
Xue Chan had no idea how quickly he had grown in just one year. Last year he was still bickering with her under the plum blossoms, but now he was full of vigor.
Or perhaps, he was always like this, but she just didn't know it.
Xue Chan looked down and saw a patch of yellow and white wildflowers in the corner of the high platform.
She was born cheerful and radiant, just like the flowers in Jiang Ce's quiver.
She lowered her eyes with a smile, gathered her skirts, squatted down, touched the flower, and had other thoughts.
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