The wind was strong and the snow was heavy in Jianhe

On the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, the Western Hunting Ground.

The ground is white, the wind is cold, and the snowflakes are as big as hands.

The snow was about to stop, the wind had not yet settled, and the mighty winter hunting team had already arrived. The heavy sound of horse hooves and wheels shook the snow off the forest, and the birds were startled and the deer cried.

The Great Xuan Dynasty was founded on military power and had always attached great importance to winter hunting. In addition to civil and military officers and soldiers, vassal states that had not yet left the capital were also invited to participate in the winter hunting every year, which was also a way to shock the ulterior motives in their hearts.

The emperors of the Great Xuan Dynasty were all proficient in riding and shooting, and there were even several who led the army into battle personally. Their performance in the winter hunt definitely had a deterrent effect.

Of course, Ji Mingxiu was an exception, otherwise the ministers would not have been so anxious to stop him.

But can I be blamed for that? I didn't know I would be the emperor.

Ji Mingxiu sat astride the snow on the frontier, holding the reins in one hand, standing in front of the camp wearing armor, and hiding the sleeve warmer in his arms with the other hand.

Qiu Ling had secretly given it to him. If those stubborn guys saw it, they would start to quarrel again.

Besides, what’s the point of learning martial arts? The higher the martial arts skills, the sooner you will be defeated. Isn’t my brother the living example?

But soon, Ji Mingxiu's good days were gone.

According to custom, the first prize of the winter hunt after the setting up of the enclosure was picked by the emperor himself.

But Ji Mingxiu was too self-aware. It was okay for him to shoot at the target in the armory, but hunting a living creature was a bit too demanding for him.

However, in front of so many vassal states, if we do not take action or take action incorrectly, it will really damage the national prestige.

Ji Mingxiu had no choice but to take the longbow from the guard.

Nock the arrow and pull the string.

The bow is already fully drawn, yet it refuses to release.

Surrounded by the iron riders, the elk ran madly, trying to break through a gap.

Suddenly, its movement stopped.

Good opportunity!

"call out!"

The feather arrow flew through the air, pierced through the north wind, and pierced deeply into the elk's belly.

In a blink of an eye, the elk that was alive and kicking just now had fallen in the snow, dyeing the sky and the earth deep red.

The guards waiting on the side pulled the reins and rushed towards the encirclement, lifting the elk that had fallen to the ground high.

An arrow pierces the heart!

Am I that awesome?!

Ji Mingxiu pretended to be calm as he handed the bow to his attendant and listened calmly to the whispers around him.

"I never thought that this emperor of the Great Xuan Dynasty, who looks frail, could be such a great archer!"

Well, I didn’t notice it either.

Finally, he got away with it. Ji Mingxiu didn't dare to stay here and watch the fun any longer. What if some blind prince from a vassal state came to show off his skills to him again?

"Drive, right field."

"yes!"

The guard who had just rushed out also came back at this time. He quietly threw away the gravel in his hand, took Ji Mingxiu's longbow from the attendant, and rode his horse behind Ji Mingxiu.

In the cottony snow, there were several rows of horse hoof prints.

*

The commotion of the hunt faded away, and the surroundings became so quiet that it seemed that the only sound was the sound of snow falling in the forest.

Ji Mingxiu covered his sleeves and seemed to be strolling leisurely, but his mind had already drifted far away.

The army of the Great Xuan Dynasty was not weak, and even the cavalry could fight the Xiongnu on equal terms. However, after the death of the old general Gu, they lacked a famous general, and the Xiongnu's Hu Mantu almost appeared out of nowhere and was invincible.

The royal brother was defeated by him.

There was a hint of undercurrent in Ji Mingxiu's clear eyes; he had to avenge his brother's murder.

Of course, he would not forget the group of parasites in the court. His father was indeed a wise ruler, but he was old and confused, so all kinds of people came to him to ask for food.

In order to allow Gu Zi'an to fight without any worries on the frontier, the court...

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

Ji Mingxiu's meditation was interrupted by a scream from his attendant. He turned around suddenly and a sharp arrow flew straight to his face, breaking through the wind!

Ji Mingxiu instinctively turned sideways, and a short sword flew out from the side, splitting the feather arrow and nailing it to the tree trunk.

“Hmm!”

"His Majesty!"

The split feather arrow contained a thin edge, which shot out at the speed of the wind and pierced into his right shoulder in a flash.

But in a flash, dozens of tall assassins in white appeared in the black and white forest.

The daylight was shattered by the sword energy, and the west wind raised a crimson blood mist.

In the middle of the storm, the guard swung his sword to crush all the people in the sky with one hand, while with the other hand he was taking care of Ji Mingxiu who was becoming increasingly conscious behind him.

By the silver flash of the sword, he keenly noticed that the road to the home court was blocked.

But Your Majesty is injured, and the only option now is to go up the mountain.

The horse's hooves were raised high, crushing the sword shadows on the ground.

Several darts shot out from the cuffs, disrupting the bright cold light.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, he secretly cursed his subordinates for being rude, turned around, picked up Ji Mingxiu, and rode his horse into the forest.

The remaining few people understood immediately and tacitly stayed behind, thus buying themselves a moment's respite.

*

The wind in the forest was cold, and the sound of the fighting soon disappeared among the branches. But His Majesty's body temperature had already begun to rise, and he struggled to get into his arms in the alternation of cold and heat.

The guard's expression flickered. He clamped his legs around the horse's belly and immediately jumped off the horse holding Ji Mingxiu.

The horses that received the order galloped towards the top of the mountain, while the guards carefully concealed their footprints and led the dazed and burnt Ji Mingxiu towards the dense forest.

The west wind blew, and the snow in the forest was deep. He only had time to find the cave where he usually stopped, and carefully put Ji Mingxiu down.

"Hiss, where... is this..."

Suddenly freed from the warm embrace, Ji Mingxiu shivered and became a little more sober.

"Your Majesty, it is a cave at the northern foot of Yanshan Mountain."

“Cold…” Ji Mingxiu stretched out his hand and tugged at the guard who was kneeling respectfully beside him, “Don’t… kneel so far away…”

"Yes." He took a few steps forward on his knees, leaning his head slightly and said sincerely, "Your Majesty still has a shoulder injury. Can I take care of it for you?"

“…Accurate.”

If you speak slower, I might die.

Although the guard stood in front of him to block the cold wind, the sudden cold air when the belt was untied still made Ji Mingxiu shiver, and he unconsciously leaned towards the guard with strong internal strength.

"Ahem...what's your name..."

Ji Mingxiu was reluctant to leave the heat source, so he could only find something to talk about to ease the awkwardness.

"Your Majesty, this is Cheng Tianfeng."

Cheng Tianfeng tore off a strip of clean cloth from his sleeve and carefully wrapped the wound.

Something was smeared on the fine edge, but it was not a deadly poison, it would just make people sleepy. The conditions were simple and there was nothing to disinfect, so taking it out hastily might cause infection.

"Well...but...it's still so cold..."

"Brother Zi'an, I'm so cold..."

Ji Mingxiu's brief clarity of mind gradually disappeared under the effect of the drugs. His lips turned pale, his brows were furrowed, and he huddled in Cheng Tianfeng's arms.

"Your Majesty, I am Cheng Tianfeng."

After Cheng Tianfeng had bandaged the wound and was answering Ji Mingxiu in a serious manner, he discovered that the emperor had already fallen asleep.

He tilted his head and thought for a long time, seemingly not understanding why this drowsiness-inducing drug would cause His Majesty to have a fever, but he still chose to untie his robe and hold the shivering Ji Mingxiu in his arms.

Suddenly, as if he had a feeling, Cheng Tianfeng turned his head and looked outside the cave. A cold wind was blowing and flowers were flying all over the sky.

Your Majesty, it's snowing.

*

At the same time, the West Game Ground was heavily guarded and the people were in panic.

"Sir, the assassins have been caught. They appear to be from Xixia. But they... all committed suicide out of fear of the crime..."

"And your majesty?"

Li Qingyun paced back and forth in the tent with a gloomy face, his eyes as cold as ice.

"The heavy snow has covered all traces, so Your Majesty... has not yet found it..."

"Then go find it!"

He tried his best to conceal the intense worry and fear in his eyes, leaving only the depression in his body.

"yes!"

The guard was overwhelmed by the heavy pressure and left in a hurry.

"etc."

Li Qingyun called out to him, but within a few breaths, his dark and cold black eyes had returned to their former calm and deep state.

"You said that all the assassins have Xixia faces?"

"yes."

"Has the identity of the person hidden by the Xixia delegation been determined?"

"I have checked it out. It is indeed as your Excellency said. It is the princess who came to marry."

"Oh, interesting."

Li Qingyun sneered, and his right hand hanging at his side curled up and tapped lightly with his fingertips unconsciously.

"Don't spread the news that the assassin is dead yet. Tell them to do it now. Remember to do it cleanly. The most important thing is to pretend to be real. Do you understand?"

"I understand!"

The winter wind is strong and can blow through the trees, but it cannot spare the weeds.