Winter Hunt (Part 1)
Northwest of the country lies the royal hunting grounds.
A black, gilded imperial carriage and a pure white, cloud-veiled sedan chair carried the emperor side by side at the head of the procession. Behind them, princes, nobles, and officials, some in sedan chairs and others on fine horses, followed closely behind the emperor. On both sides of the road, the imperial guards, clad in gleaming iron armor and their banners obscuring the sun, dispelled the winter's desolation with their imposing presence, showcasing the emperor's majesty.
The sedan chair was carved from a single piece of warm jade, lined with velvet carpets and furnished with an incense burner, isolating the outside world from the snow and wind within. Yun Shu, dressed in a snow-white mink coat, sat upright inside, a black veil covering her eyes, which made her face appear even paler. Her fox ears twitched slightly, picking up every sound from the outside world.
The withered grass shivered in the cold wind, the dull thud of horses' hooves crushing the frozen earth, the crisp sound of snow breaking pine branches, the excited whispers of nobles, and the restless murmurs of wild beasts. Out of courtesy, Murong Jin did not follow into the sedan chair, but the rich, sweet scent of ambergris lingered around Yun Shu.
A small hand, holding a silk handkerchief dampened with lemon juice, carefully touched Yun Shu's face. The lowest-ranking palace maid, who was responsible for sweeping and cleaning, had no right to accompany the winter hunt. However, the Emperor, taking pity on the fox spirit, granted Jin Zhu special permission to go, even allowing her to ride in the same sedan chair as the fox spirit to keep the immortal company.
“Fox Fairy,” Jinzhu said, fetching a pot of Concentrating Dew, her voice filled with concern, “you look terrible. Is the sedan chair too stuffy, making you uncomfortable?”
Perhaps. After all, this palanquin, like the Yilan Palace, is a cramped and luxurious cage.
Moreover... how can he maintain a healthy complexion if his vital essence is damaged?
Yun Shu lowered her head and took a small sip of the Mind-Calming Dew, then nodded slightly.
Jinzhu then tightened the belt of his fur robe, found a brocade quilt and covered the fox spirit with it before tiptoeing to pull up the curtain. A cold wind immediately rushed into the stuffy sedan chair, and the little palace maid let out a delicate sneeze.
"Cold?" Yun Shu patted her side and called to the child who was wrapped up like a little ball, "Come, sit closer."
A fox tail covered Jinzhu's shoulders to block the wind, another was placed behind her to keep her warm, and yet another was placed on her lap to keep her warm.
The little girl was flattered and overwhelmed, wanting to back away but reluctant to leave the warm, fluffy fur. After hesitating for a full fifteen minutes, her face flushed, she asked hesitantly, "Fox Fairy... I... can I... touch your tail?"
The fox's tail swayed, offering no response.
"Mmm...so soft and warm..." Jinzhu was practically buried in the tail, completely enamored with it. "So happy...thank you, Fox Fairy!"
Yun Shu just smiled and didn't say anything more.
About half an hour later, the grand convoy finally arrived at the hunting ground palace.
Murong Jin stepped down from the carriage first, parted the gauze curtain, gently raised her hand, and softly called out, "Xiaoxue, we've arrived."
"Hmm." Yun Shu responded, turning around to pat the little guy in the tail. "Golden Pearl? Time to get up."
The sleeping girl was suddenly awakened. Opening her eyes, she saw the emperor right in front of her and turned pale with fright. Murong Jin did not reprimand her, but only said, "Since it was the fox spirit's permission, I will not punish you. Just be more careful next time."
Jinzhu repeatedly expressed her gratitude and followed the Emperor and the fox spirit out of the sedan chair, not daring to say another word.
A biting wind, carrying the scent of the wilderness, swept over him, as if the warmth of Yilan Palace was just an illusion. He took a deep breath of the air, which smelled of earth and the bitter fragrance of pine needles, as if his atrophied senses had been awakened a little.
Murong Jin led the way, holding his hand, the winding palace walls blocking most of the inquiring gazes.
"Watch out for the steps." Murong Jin carefully gestured to his hand, the ambergris seemed to have been diluted. "The ceremony will begin later. Xiaoxue, you can rest for a while. I will change into my hunting clothes and then come to pick you up to go together."
Upon arriving at the imperial hot springs, Murong Jin instructed again, "You've had a long journey today. If you feel unwell, be sure to send someone to inform me immediately. Is that alright?"
"Ah Jin is such a worrywart," Yun Shu teased, but also reached out to brush the fine snow off his shoulder and replied, "Yes, if anything happens, they'll come looking for you. Go on, they're still waiting outside for His Majesty's instructions."
Only the murmuring water and the drifting clouds remained in the hot spring. He searched again for the Immortal Essence Demon Poison, but found nothing.
It seems that the fluctuations only appear when the dragon's energy is abundant? He speculated, yet couldn't help feeling sorrow for his own predicament. If Ah Jin desired this great demon's power and thus plotted against him... then was the Heng'er who injured his eyes during the attack on Wangyue Pavilion that day... really the same Heng'er?
But if it wasn't Heng'er herself, how could that jade pendant have ended up like this...?
The clouds of suspicion grew heavier, and before they knew it, an hour had passed. Murong Jin stepped into the area and invited him to join her in enjoying the winter hunt and sacrificial ceremony.
Yun Shu nodded slightly and, led by Murong Jin, sat down next to the main seat with the best view. Soft cushions and gauze curtains kept out the cold, and the ambergris incense enveloped him completely once again.
He heard someone ascending the steps, their long robes sweeping across the floating snow, and finally stopping in front of the two of them, bowing and offering something.
"Your Majesty," the Grand Preceptor said calmly, "please prepare the bows for the winter hunt."
Murong Jin slowly rose and accepted the golden dragon bow presented to him. However, he did not immediately draw the bow. Instead, he turned to face Yun Shu and the officials and said loudly, "This year's winter hunt was fortunate to have the presence of the fox spirit, a blessing from heaven for our dynasty! It is truly an auspicious sign of national prosperity and peace throughout the land! On this once-in-a-millennium occasion, I hereby pray for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and the well-being of our people!"
"Long live Your Majesty! May the Fox Spirit be well!" The deafening shouts of worship, like a landslide and a tsunami, were overflowing with the reverence of the ministers for the emperor and their joy at the Fox Spirit's descent into the world.
Yun Shu twitched his ears uncomfortably—he felt countless gazes, some awe-inspiring, some curious, some fanatical, focused on him—especially the eyes, which were uncomfortable for him. Murong Jin stepped forward at the opportune moment, blocking most of the gazes that were fixed on the fox fairy's eyes through the black veil.
Yun Shu laughed self-deprecatingly and shook her head, saying, "My eyes... have ultimately spoiled everyone's fun."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Murong Jin's tone was slightly somber, clearly displeased. He gripped Yun Shu's icy fingertips tightly, his authoritative gaze sweeping across the area below, his words undisguisedly protective: "The Fox Fairy has been harmed by villains and has been in low spirits lately. The fact that the Fox Fairy has personally graced us with her presence at the winter hunt is the greatest blessing Heaven has bestowed upon our dynasty. If anyone dares to displease the Fox Fairy, I will not let them off lightly."
Upon hearing this, those inquisitive or pitying gazes immediately lowered in awe, no longer daring to speculate further about the Fox Fairy's sacred body.
The ceremony continued.
The shaman chanted ancient prayers, and the aroma of sacrificial offerings broke through the cold air of the wilderness, permeating the entire hunting grounds.
Murong Jin finally drew his bow and fired the first arrow of the winter hunt. The arrow pierced the air, once again drawing cheers from the young nobles.
Murong Jin sat back in the main seat and announced, "Whoever wins the winter hunt will be richly rewarded by me!"
The atmosphere of the hunting ground was reignited. Horses neighed and hunting dogs barked as noblemen's sons, skilled in riding and archery, eagerly spurred their horses into the vast wilderness, determined to seize this opportunity to showcase their skills before the emperor and the fox spirit.
Murong Jin did not join immediately. He stayed by Yun Shu's side, overlooking the magnificent winter hunt while enjoying the delicacies with his close friend.
"Xiaoxue," he scooped up some food from the golden plate in front of him and brought it to Yun Shu's lips, "Their newly made orange yogurt is smooth and sweet, and it has the effect of moisturizing the throat and nourishing the skin. Want to try some?"
Yun Shu opened her mouth to savor it, then nodded: "It's delicious. Thank you, A-Jin."
"Then use more. Come on..."
Under Murong Jin's meticulous care, many senior officials and young ladies whispered among themselves. Yun Shu listened intently, trying to find out who was using Murong Jin to harm her.
"His Majesty actually managed to persuade the Fox Spirit... Fortunately, I managed to convince my daughter to come along last night. Otherwise, if she heard that the Fox Spirit had appeared but she couldn't even see him, she would have caused a huge uproar..."
"What kind of villain dares to injure the Fox Fairy? If I find out, I will surely return to my old ways and kill that person with my spear!"
"Your Majesty just gave instructions on water conservancy matters to the Ministry of Works yesterday, and now you are praying for peace for our dynasty, without mentioning your own health at all... Your Majesty is truly a wise ruler!"
"I had long heard of the fox spirit's ethereal beauty and otherworldly grace... But seeing her today, I realize that the lame praises of mortals are nothing compared to even a fraction of the fox spirit's magnificence..."
Amidst the discussions, there seemed to be more curiosity about him and praise for Murong Jin. For a moment, Yun Shu was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. She was happy that A Jin's throne was secure and that he was deeply loved by the people; she was saddened by her own blindness and the loss of her immortal essence; and she was even more puzzled by the origins of this ordeal.
Sighing at the cruel twist of fate, Yun Shu leaned wearily to the side, and Murong Jin immediately reached out to support her. As the dragon energy surged in once more, Yun Shu took the opportunity to use her demonic power to explore.
He "saw" spirited young men galloping on horseback, "saw" panicked birds and beasts, "saw" sharp arrows piercing the air and blood splattering... and some other unusual things.
The demonic power silently spread, concealing hundreds of array eyes beneath the high platform, around the palace, and even at the feet of the imperial guards holding banners. Yun Shu's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank further. The demonic power penetrated deeper, flowing through the array eyes into the veins of some kind of array, outlining another, even more dangerous "net" in his mind.
In a fleeting moment, the strange fluctuation reappeared, this time not as weak as before, but exceptionally strong, even triggering the long-dormant demonic poison, causing Yun Shu to almost lose his pretense of pain. He drank the fine wine from Murong Jin's hand, thus conveniently using his inability to hold his liquor as an excuse to avoid arousing Murong Jin's suspicion.
“Your Majesty,” a close attendant reported, “the youngest son of the Marquis of Anping discovered a bear in the dense forest to the northeast. It was as large as a royal carriage and as fierce as a demon. The youngest son dared not act rashly, so he took a dozen attendants and followed it. He sent his subordinates to report back to Your Majesty and inquire about Your Majesty’s opinion.”
Murong Jin clapped his hands and laughed, praising, "That child from the Marquis of Anping's family won first place in the last winter hunt. Now he even dares to go into the forest with bears, his courage is growing stronger! Excellent, excellent!"
He then rose and said, "Since he is so determined, I cannot shirk my duty! My dear ministers, come with me into the dense forest to the north, and let those bears dare not provoke our heroes again!"
The military officers who were returning to the capital to report on their duties responded loudly, each mounting their horses and waiting for the emperor's order to charge into the forest.
"Xiaoxue," Murong Jin said gently as he straightened Yun Shu's hair, "I'll be right back. That palace maid... is she Jinzhu? I'll have her come to keep me company until my triumphant return."
"Okay. I wish Ah Jin a fruitful journey."
With Murong Jin gone, Yun Shu had no more worries. He channeled his demonic power and devoted himself entirely to the search. Finally, he found the connection between the hunting grounds and the fluctuations.
The two networks are essentially one, with Yilan Palace as the main entity and this place as the secondary entity, connected by the Million Fox Fairy Temple. The two are closely linked and inseparable, both aiming to extract and strip away the great demon essence within him.
He was the "prey," and the "hunter"... The demonic power spread out and then converged into a beam, pointing towards... Murong Jin.
Ah Jin... how could you really treat me like this...?
Overwhelmed by rage and the malevolent poison, he immediately vomited black blood. Jin Zhu, brought up by a guard, saw this and, filled with fear, rushed forward. The disturbance on the high platform naturally attracted the attention of the officials and princes below. In an instant, the hunting camp was thrown into chaos.
An old minister, who had been staring at the fox spirit hesitantly, immediately shouted after this incident, "Fox Spirit, what's wrong...? Is there an assassin? Guards! Seal off the camp... no, seal off the hunting grounds! You two, go and report to the Emperor! Quickly!"
Jinzhu burst into tears, wiping the blood with her sleeve as she wiped it away, making her look like a little ghost herself. The guard snatched the silver needles and began testing each of the dozens of dishes and drinks on the table for poison.
And in this already chaotic situation, an unexpected change suddenly occurred!
A jet-black arrow, swift as a ghost, shot out from the depths of the dense forest! It did not aim at the frightened rabbits and deer near the camp, nor at any minister, but instead tore through the cold wind, carrying an unyielding, violent demonic aura, and hurtled straight towards Yun Shu on the high platform!
"Assassins! Protect the fox spirit!" the Imperial Guard commander roared. "Left flank! Follow me into the dense forest immediately, capture the assassins! Protect His Majesty!"
On the high platform, the guard reacted swiftly, immediately kicking over a long table to shield himself, drawing his sword and bracing himself for battle. However, the arrow possessed immense force, piercing more than ten inches from the tabletop without stopping. The guard immediately raised his sword to strike, the blade humming, and Yun Shu heard the bones in the hand beside her tremble as he deflected the arrow. Even so, the sharp arrowhead still tore through Yun Shu's sleeve; without his protection, it would have pierced her heart!
Using his remaining demonic power to soothe the guard's trembling right arm, Yun Shu pulled out the arrow and examined it closely. He finally discovered a faint aura of immortal energy belonging to him, in addition to demonic energy.
Using my power to hurt me... This demonic energy, is it an attempt to frame Heng'er? Or... are you two conspiring to put on an act in front of me?
Yun Shu felt a sharp pain in her heart, and the anger of betrayal burned within her, causing the blood at the corner of her lips to flow even more rapidly.
He took a deep breath, held the pale-faced Jinzhu in his arms to comfort her, then helped up the guard who had risked his life to save him. He told those around him that he was feeling unwell and would return to the palace to rest, before turning and leaving.
Regardless of the possibility, neither Murong Jin nor Mo Yiheng had ever encountered such a vicious formation before; there must have been someone else behind it. Yun Shu lowered her eyes, raised her fingertips again, and her demonic power condensed, ultimately transforming into a nimble white fox that merged into the snowy light.
Don't alert the enemy. Patience is paramount when hunting foxes.
In the distance, the clamor of the Imperial Guards searching the dense forest could be heard.
Further away, a figure leaned against a tree trunk, panting, gazing at everything unfolding on the high platform. Seeing Yun Shu unharmed, the deep-seated hatred and pain in his eyes momentarily subsided, replaced by a joy and relief at confirming his master's well-being.
Murong Jin... you'd better stay inside the barrier. If either of your feet steps out, I won't hesitate to chop you to pieces.
Mo Yiheng turned around, enduring the excruciating pain of temporarily recovering his strength, and disappeared into the shadows.
The winter hunt has only just begun.
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