Chapter 25 Chaos
Liu Qi: "Where are the masters and the others?"
The guard said, "I haven't seen him among the Imperial Guards. He must still be deep in the hunting grounds."
Liu Qi nodded. With Hao San, Xu Si, and the elite soldiers from the Prince's Mansion around, he wasn't too worried about the safety of Cen Yan and his group. But just to be on the safe side, he still ordered the guards to keep watch on the outer perimeter and report back immediately if there was any new information about Cen Yan and his group.
The guards accepted the order and left.
Liu Qi looked at Zhuang Dongqing and found him with a thoughtful expression. After hesitating for a moment, Liu Qi still suggested, "Young Master Zhuang, why don't you go back to the palace first? If there really is a bear, it's not very safe here. If I'm not mistaken, the Imperial Guards will soon escort the nobles away."
Zhuang Dongqing was indeed thinking about something else, and was even a little lost in thought: "How big are the bear cubs in the hunting grounds? The mother bear has to teach her cubs to hunt until they are three years old before she lets go. Some even stay until they are four years old. By then, they look no different from adult bears."
"Why is there a lone bear?"
Liu Qi was taken aback by the question, "Bears are not common, are you sure about these habits?"
Zhuang Dongqing nodded; he was a devoted fan of the animal world.
I can recite the classic narration line, "Spring is coming."
He applied to study medicine in college, but he had to drop out of school not long after starting because of his aunt's illness and didn't learn much. However, studying medicine is very stressful, and the textbooks are as thick as bricks. When he was confused by the studies, Zhuang Dongqing liked to watch videos of small animals and food to relax.
Seeing his resolute expression, Liu Qi also sensed something unusual.
Looking around, Liu Qi whispered, "Do you think that the bear that suddenly appeared is the cub's mother?"
"Not necessarily. Animals that have been raising cubs for a long time tend to have strong maternal instincts. If this mother bear has recently lost her cubs, she might raise this one from the hunting grounds as her own."
Ultimately, Zhuang Dongqing said, "I just felt something was off."
Liu Qi nodded, made a note of it, and prepared to report it to Cen Yan when he returned, and see what Cen Yan had to say then.
In the time it took to say a few words, the guard returned with the latest news.
Cen Yan and his party returned unharmed from the depths of the hunting grounds. The Emperor ordered him to lead a squad of Imperial Guards to join the hunt for black bears.
All the princes and ministers are safe and sound, except for the third prince who suffered a minor injury while hunting. They are gradually leaving the area.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhuang Dongqing saw the Prince's cavalry appear in his field of vision. In the distance, the group sped along and made their way to the edge of the hunting ground.
In a short while, they arrived on horseback, with Cen Yan at the head, flanked by Hao San and Xu Si.
Zhuang Dongqing tugged at Liu Qi, gesturing for him to look.
When they were about two or three hundred meters away from the tent, Cen Yan reined in his horse, and the cavalry behind him also stopped.
Well, having seen Cen Yan in his official and casual clothes, this is the first time Zhuang Dongqing has seen him in riding attire.
Because of the need for exercise, riding gear doesn't have wide sleeves or long robes; it's all made to fit snugly against the body. From a distance, you can see broad shoulders, a strong waist, a straight back, long arms and legs—truly a dashing and heroic figure.
His posture while riding the horse was relaxed, clearly indicating that he was used to riding. His movements were not fancy, but he was able to control the horse very effectively. Every move he made seemed to be an extension of the horse's body.
As the horse slowed down and turned its head slightly, Zhuang Dongqing's eyes widened.
The usually solemn headdress was removed, and a high ponytail was tied at the back of her head with a headband for easier movement...
How to put it? It has a youthful vibe, and it's really good-looking.
If Cen Yan were born in modern times, it would be a real shame if she didn't become a model.
Zhuang Dongqing's gaze was fixed on the other person's face. At a distance, Cen Yan suddenly looked over as well.
The original owner of this body was a little nearsighted, and Zhuang Dongqing wasn't sure if he was looking at her directly, but it felt like it was.
Liu Qi, worried that Cen Yan wouldn't be able to find their tent, raised her hand high to signal.
Cen Yan nodded remotely, indicating that he had seen it.
He saw it, but didn't come over. He glanced around as if to confirm something, then suddenly raised his whip and made a gesture.
Liu Qi: "Our master wants us to go back."
*
Cen Yan gave the order, and the servants in the tent immediately sprang into action.
As Liu Qi led Zhuang Dongqing and the rest of the group toward the imperial palace, Cen Yan remained on horseback, watching them from afar.
After walking a short distance, Zhuang Dongqing inexplicably turned back to see if Cen Yan had left.
No, they're still here, watching them leave.
It was too far away; the person in Zhuang Dongqing's sight was already blurry. Suddenly, the blurry figure waved.
Zhuang Dongqing inexplicably felt that the call was made to him.
Tell him to hurry up and not look back.
*
Upon entering the palace, one could clearly sense the change in atmosphere.
People were coming and going everywhere, and there were many palace servants passing by, all of them walking in a hurry.
Zhuang Dongqing couldn't figure it out and wasn't curious, so he just followed Liu Qi and Master Zhao back to their side hall.
Once you step through the gate, the world becomes quiet.
Liu Qi: "Everyone should go back to their own residences first, and don't go out unless necessary."
The servants agreed, and the crowd dispersed.
Liu Qi looked at Zhuang Dongqing, who immediately assured her, "I'll go back to my room too, and I'll talk to you if I need anything."
Liu Qi nodded, his expression serious, and said, "I'll stay in the main hall. I'll send people out to scout out the hunting grounds later. If there are any new developments, I'll come back to report to you, young master."
"good."
Master Zhao: "Perfect timing, it's time to administer acupuncture today, let's do it now."
He sent the medicine boy back to the house to get the needles, and then followed Zhuang Dongqing to his room.
After finishing the acupuncture session, it was lunchtime. Liu Fu went to the small kitchen to bring back the food and said to Zhuang Dongqing, "I saw some wild rabbits and roe deer in the yard, as well as a deer. They must have been game hunted by the Prince's Mansion today."
Zhuang Dongqing: "Have they returned yet?"
Liu Fu shook his head, "We only saw the prey, not the people."
He added, "It is said that the original plan for lunch today was to roast wild game, which was arranged at the hunting grounds. Fortunately, the Prince's Palace brought a cook, and there is also a small kitchen here, so starting a fire was not a problem. The nobles returned to the palace temporarily, and the main kitchen was extremely busy. The officials of lower rank and their families do not know when they will be able to have lunch."
This explains the busyness of the palace staff in the imperial palace.
After lunch and a nap, Cen Yan and the others still hadn't returned.
Zhuang Dongqing set up a recliner in the courtyard again, brewed tea, enjoyed the scenery, and idly watched the flowers.
Liu Qi was busy in the main hall, constantly giving instructions to the servants. The palace was not large, and Zhuang Dongqing could see Liu Qi, and Liu Qi could also see Zhuang Dongqing.
I came over twice to update Zhuang Dongqing on the situation outside.
One account says that the Third Prince injured his bone and needs to rest after the procedure. The palace is built against the mountain, making it inconvenient to go up and down, and the situation is currently chaotic. In order to facilitate his proper recuperation, the Imperial Guards have already sent him down the mountain.
Secondly, the bear hunt is still ongoing, and the nobles in the hunting grounds have temporarily withdrawn.
Thirdly, Cen Yan brought back a message instructing them to stay in the palace and follow Liu Qi's arrangements, and not to go out unless absolutely necessary.
Zhuang Dongqing: "So, did you see the bear?"
Liu Qi: "The information wasn't that accurate. We only found out what really happened when Master came back in the evening."
Zhuang Dongqing nodded.
“By the way,” Zhuang Dongqing asked, “I saw palace servants delivering meals at the gate. Are they able to eat at the hunting grounds?”
Liu Qi said meticulously, "We already sent someone to deliver meals at noon. The Imperial Guards don't know, but the people in the Prince's Mansion eat food from our kitchen, so they won't go hungry."
Zhuang Dongqing nodded again, "That's good. Don't work on an empty stomach. It's too tiring."
"The people in the Prince's mansion have all been on military campaigns, so they know what they're doing."
They waited until dusk before Cen Yan and his group finally returned.
Everyone looked exhausted, probably from a busy day.
In the afternoon, Cen Yan led his team deep into the hunting grounds, going far and far out. They couldn't find the people from the Prince's mansion who would deliver their meals, and they all returned hungry. Liu Qi had a table set up in the courtyard. Since they were back, they didn't stand on ceremony. Cen Yan, Hao San, Xu Si, and a group of guards from the Prince's mansion all sat in the courtyard to eat.
The servants were busy serving dishes, and Liu Qi poured water for them. There were so many people that she couldn't leave, so Zhuang Dongqing took over and put down Cen Yan's and Hao San's cups.
Cen Yan, holding the bowl, glanced at Zhuang Dongqing in the direction of that hand.
Unaware, Zhuang Dongqing simply took the tea from the row of people and placed it in front of them.
They only started talking after they finished eating.
Cen Yan didn't see the bear, but another squad of imperial guards was injured that afternoon. The bad news was that the commander was also injured.
Liu Qi: "What a coincidence?"
One commander was seriously injured in the morning, and another was injured in the afternoon. It's impossible not to be suspicious.
Cen Yan nodded. "His Majesty was furious and ordered more people to be sent to continue the search tomorrow. He is determined to kill the black bear."
"but……"
He seemed to have thought of something, but didn't explain it clearly, only saying, "Tomorrow I will ask to see if I can bring over the Prince's personal guards."
The next day he requested permission, but the emperor did not grant it.
Cen Yan then volunteered to take command of a portion of the imperial guards to ensure the emperor's safety.
The emperor still did not respond, citing that this trip was for relaxation and that he did not want Cen Yan to be overworked, and thus rejected the proposal.
The bear hunt lasted for three days, until a squad of guards discovered it, severely wounded it, and drove it out of the hunting grounds, thus bringing the hunt to a close.
To ensure safety, the hunting grounds were fenced off overnight, completely enclosing the hunting area, and additional guards were deployed around the perimeter.
The imperial edict announced that the hunt would proceed as scheduled the following day, indicating that the turmoil had passed.
These past few days, everyone has been in a state of panic, and Zhuang Dongqing has also become somewhat anxious, unable to sleep soundly.
Cen Yan returned early that day. After dinner, he summoned everyone to his study to discuss the arrangements for the next few days.
Zhuang Dongqing was also summoned. As soon as he entered, Liu Qi pressed him down to sit down, presumably just to listen in.
Cen Yan tapped the table, his expression unreadable: "If we send more people to the hunting grounds tomorrow, the palace will be empty."
Realizing something, Zhuang Dongqing sat up straight and listened attentively.
Hao San, still clutching his knife, complained, "They said they drove the bear away, but I didn't see any severed limbs. Damn it, could they at least have knocked off a few hairs?!"
This raises doubts about the existence of black bears.
Xu Si: "The hunting ground is surrounded by netting on three sides, with only the side facing the mountain open. If something happens, the only way out will probably be to cross the mountain."
Looking at the mountain?
Zhuang Dongqing suddenly remembered something.
But he wasn't entirely sure, so he just made a mental note of it and didn't speak rashly.
Lord Zhao: "But His Majesty has made up his mind. Today, the master once again requested permission to protect the imperial carriage, but His Majesty rejected it again."
Hao San sighed: "Then no matter what, the hunt will definitely take place tomorrow."
Liu Qi: "Not only should it be carried out, but the princes and nobles should also actively participate, so as not to spoil His Majesty's mood."
If the emperor says it's safe, then it must be safe. Emperor Shengwu's trip was just to relax. At a time like this, even if someone has doubts, who would dare to say a word of danger? Wouldn't that be inviting trouble from His Majesty?
Cen Yan: "So, what are the personnel arrangements for tomorrow?"
Hao San: "Most of the Imperial Guards are at the hunting grounds. Xu Si and I will be going down with our master. Liu Qi, Master Zhao, and Young Master Zhuang will be watching from the outside."
Xu Si warned, "Both of the familiar commanders are injured and replaced by new ones. What if... something goes wrong here?"
The word "chazi" was emphasized, and Zhuang Dongqing felt that it was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
He was bewildered, but the others understood. Hao San grabbed a handful of hair in frustration: "In the end, the situation is unclear, and we have to be wary of everything."
They were all veterans of the battlefield and could sense that something was amiss, but the Imperial Guards were not under Cen Yan's control. It was as if someone had forcibly covered their eyes; they could sense it, but they didn't know exactly what the key was.
Cen Yan's requests to escort the emperor were rejected several times, and upon closer examination, there is probably a reason behind this.
Tomorrow, more people will be deployed to the hunting grounds. The palace will be empty. If any trouble breaks out, it will be the first place to be subdued.
However, there are also new recruits in the Imperial Guards, and it cannot be guaranteed that they are all loyal to His Majesty. If something goes wrong halfway through, the nobles around the hunting grounds will be the first to be coerced, putting them in a dilemma.
Hao San angrily said, "Why didn't you bring everyone? If all the people from the fiefdom were here, what would we be afraid of!"
Cen Yan poured cold water on the situation, saying, "His Majesty won't allow it, what can you do?"
Hao San was dejected.
Cen Yan suddenly asked, "Can he move now?"
Looking at Zhuang Dongqing, he asked about Master Zhao.
Master Zhao: "After a period of recuperation, my health has improved a lot. During this time, I also consulted with doctors in the capital. They said that in their clan, men who become pregnant are very healthy, and they have almost never heard of anyone losing the pregnancy."
Zhuang Dongqing remained silent.
So is this one of the reasons why the original body couldn't be destroyed?
Okay, that makes a lot of sense.
The plot has become coherent.
After saying that, Master Zhao looked at Zhuang Dongqing and asked him if he felt uncomfortable after walking for a long time.
Zhuang Dongqing shook her head honestly: "My legs are just sore, nothing else."
Master Zhao looked at Cen Yan.
Cen Yan tapped the table again, frowned, and after a while, looked at Zhuang Dongqing and asked him, "Want to go hunting?"
Zhuang Dongqing's eyes lit up: "Can I go?"
But then, as if remembering something, he wrinkled his nose and said, "But I can't draw a bow, nor can I ride a horse."
Seeing his reaction, Cen Yan shook his head and chuckled. Of all the people in the room, he was the only one who was seriously thinking about having fun!
Liu Qi quickly said, "You don't have to ride a horse. Many young masters bring servants in to join in the fun, hunt some pheasants, wild ducks, rabbits, and the like, and relax as a way to have some fun."
After he finished speaking, everyone in the room realized something. Hao San slapped his thigh and said, "This is a good idea. If Young Master Zhuang also goes into the hunting grounds, we won't need to leave anyone in this hall. We won't go deep into the area, and we definitely won't encounter any bears on the outskirts. We can hold the signal, and if there's any man-made disaster, the brothers can support each other!"
Cen Yan let out a sigh of relief, but there was no smile on his face. He simply said, "It's the only way we can do it."
After that, the group talked about personnel transfers and arrangements.
It was decided that Liu Qi would lead a team to closely follow Zhuang Dongqing, and no guards from the Prince's Mansion would be left at the palace during the day.
After a few words of discussion, they parted ways, with Cen Yan keeping only Zhuang Dongqing behind.
When there were only the two of them, Cen Yan suddenly said, "If you hadn't asked me that day whether the deposed crown prince would be executed, I wouldn't have been able to think of any deeper aspects of the current situation."
Zhuang Dongqing didn't dare to speak and pretended to be a quail.
Cen Yan looked at him curiously and asked, "Do you know something?"
Zhuang Dongqing quickly shook her head.
What could he possibly know? He's just an ordinary time traveler.
Moreover, Zhuang Dongqing was actually a little alarmed. He had only mentioned it once, but Cen Yan had thought so far ahead. When he came, he was thinking about how to give him some more pointers, but now it seemed that there was no need for that.
To become a king of a different surname, one's political acumen is unmatched by any other official.
Is this the kind of mind that can outwit and outmaneuver the original owner? Zhuang Dongqing can only look up to it in admiration.
Cen Yan stared at him, and Zhuang Dongqing refused to speak, so he didn't press her.
In fact, he already had the answer in his heart.
When Madam Zhuang came to see him, she mentioned that Zhuang Dongqing was a bit mysterious, but he didn't take it seriously at the time. Now...
Cen Yan stopped thinking about those things and got back to the main topic, giving Zhuang Dongqing some instructions on what to do at the hunting grounds.
Zhuang Dongqing nodded to each of them.
In closing, Cen Yan instructed, "If anything goes wrong, Liu Qi will protect you. If it's absolutely necessary, and he tells you to go first..."
Zhuang Dongqing quickly assured him, "Then I'll leave right away!"
Cen Yan: "..."
That's a bit too decisive.
After saying that, Zhuang Dongqing realized that she hadn't said anything right and felt uncomfortable being stared at by Cen Yan, so she tried to make amends.
Cen Yan let it go first, saying, "...That's good."
"Remember what you said, now get out."
*
The following day, the spring hunt, which had been suspended for several days, resumed.
Zhuang Dongqing changed her clothes and entered the venue with great interest.
Some of the guards noticed them and glanced at them a few more times.
Once everyone had entered the hunting grounds, he remarked to the person next to him, "Wow, there are all sorts of people here!"
"These days, young masters are so precious. They don't ride horses or draw bows, and they even let their servants go hunting."
"I've never seen anyone bring in a folding stool and snacks before!"
"Tsk tsk, this is truly enjoyable."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
