The hunting party placed their hands firmly on Xiao Yu's waist.
"Your Majesty, I heard that you are seriously ill in bed, so I rushed from the General's Mansion to the palace to see you..." Wei Shuang quietly entered the palace after concealing the fragrance emanating from her body, pretending not to notice Xiao Yu and the snacks by his bedside. Before entering the inner room, she inadvertently let out a few wisps of wine fragrance from her body. With a carefully designed pause, she stepped over the threshold. When Xiao Yu, who was holding half a rabbit's head in his mouth, looked over, she lowered her voice and said, "Look."
“Oh, faking illness.” Wei Shuang said sparingly.
Wei Shuang's visit was completely unexpected.
With Xiao Yu's growing trust, the Regent Prince entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation as if it were empty. Because no one informed him, he was suddenly struck by Wei Shuang's murderous face. Xiao Yu choked and was nearly assassinated by the other half of the rabbit's head that he had just bitten off.
The pastries in the imperial kitchen are exquisite and delicious. The same flavor of pastry can be served in eight or nine different shapes. The only downside is that it is easy to choke if you eat too fast, so you need to keep a pot of tea at hand.
But Wei Shuang's gloomy face was only inches away. Knowing that he was in the wrong, Xiao Yu was too guilty to move. He just kept swallowing hard while avoiding Wei Shuang's gaze, with the pink and white rabbit pastry in his mouth.
"...You can have tea." Wei Shuang closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Having finally swallowed the pastry, Xiao Yu put the half rabbit back on the plate with a not-so-good expression. He sat up straight, staring angrily at Wei Shuang. His still somewhat immature face already possessed the majesty of an emperor.
Wei Shuang was taken aback.
Xiao Yu composed himself and began to confront Wei Shuang. He picked up his teacup again and said, though his words lacked conviction, "The Grand Tutor is too strict. If I don't come up with a solution myself, I'll be suffocating."
Xiao Yu knew, of course, that it was wrong to pretend to be sick and deceive the Grand Tutor, but he was under so much pressure that he started to have insomnia and had even started planning to skip school. If he failed to pretend to be sick, he would definitely skip school, so the former was better than the latter... Besides, his illness was not entirely fake.
Xiao Yu's mother's funeral was held on a snowy day. Eight-year-old Xiao Yu stubbornly stayed in the snow all night to keep watch over his mother's coffin. After that, he developed a chronic cold ailment and was weak and cold all year round. Even in the middle of summer, his hands were very cold.
Cold-related illnesses are easy to cure, but heart-related illnesses are difficult to cure. Xiao Yu's illness is a heart-related illness, and the root of the problem lies in his eyes.
Despite the help of two imperial physicians to recuperate for many years, Xiao Yu remained sickly.
Now, Wei Shuang suddenly appears out of nowhere and accidentally resolves Xiao Yu's inner conflict. Only a month and a half after Xiao Yu ascended the throne, his cold ailment has surprisingly begun to improve.
For the past month and a half, with Wei Shuang accompanying him during meals, Xiao Yu, while arguing with Wei Shuang, has intentionally or unintentionally eaten more food, and now he even has some meat on his face.
If this continues, as long as Xiao Yu differentiates into Gan Jun, the cold illness can be completely cured.
Wei Shuang, however, was unaware of this. He said sternly, "You shouldn't have deceived the Grand Tutor. His Majesty's word is law. If all else fails, he should have sought help from me."
Xiao Yu looked at Wei Shuang strangely.
If he really wanted to get sick, all he had to do was wear a thin shirt and freeze for a night, but... why would he actually let himself catch a cold when he could just pretend to be sick?
Anyway, the Grand Tutor was so eager to protect his master that he believed it immediately.
Wei Shuang's words sounded nice, but Xiao Yu felt completely baffled: "It's because you can't help me that I resorted to this desperate measure."
Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, Wei Shuang smiled with relief.
Xiao Yu had only been following Wang Ruofu for a little over a month, yet he already possessed a faint imperial aura. Despite his mischievous antics, the young emperor was indeed learning from the Grand Tutor, and learning very well at that.
Xiao Yu was able to deceive the Left Prime Minister by using his cleverness to prescribe the right medicine for the illness, but on a larger scale, this can be called "the art of controlling people".
In terms of "the art of managing people," Xiao Yu has already delivered a near-perfect answer. By placing himself in a vulnerable position and constantly testing the waters, he knows which method to use on which person. In just one month, Wei Shuang's cold face has already stopped intimidating Xiao Yu.
Wei Shuang has already begun to find herself helpless against the new emperor, and soon, the strict left prime minister will also fall into the same predicament as Wei Shuang.
Having grown up in the royal family, Xiao Yu was very good at understanding and manipulating people's hearts.
“Indeed, I am useless.” Wei Shuang squatted down at Xiao Yu’s feet and picked up a black boot. “Your Majesty has learned very well in the past month and a half and has managed to deal with the Left Prime Minister on your own. I should keep my promise and take you hunting in the back mountains to relax.”
Xiao Yu warily withdrew her foot: "The Grand Tutor said no."
You can forget about teaming up with the Grand Tutor to double my workload!
Wei Shuang raised her eyes: "It's alright, Your Majesty, I will take you there secretly, with a few guards with me."
"Sneak...sneak?" Xiao Yu was shocked that Wei Shuang could say such a thing, but he couldn't hide the joy in his eyes. He struggled to say, "Uncle, you are teaching me to deceive the emperor."
“This is called deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea.” Wei Shuang also smiled happily. “In a battle between two armies, winning is the best strategy.”
The aroma of wine wafted sweetly from beside the dragon bed. Xiao Yu excitedly placed his hand on Wei Shuang's hand for final confirmation: "Really?"
Wei Shuang: "Yes, my word is as good as gold."
What? Fine, I won't keep my word anymore.
But Wei Shuang's teasing was nothing compared to being able to go out. Xiao Yu immediately jumped off the bed barefoot and summoned a eunuch to change his clothes.
The back mountain was the royal hunting ground, and outsiders rarely visited. It was already late when Xiao Yu secretly followed Wei Shuang out of the palace. That night, they stayed at the general's mansion and occupied Wei Shuang's master bedroom.
The carriage set off for the back mountain early the next morning. Xiao Yu was traveling in secret, without the Imperial Guards clearing the way, but Wei Shuang brought many secret guards. In addition to Feng Shun, she also brought Imperial Physician Li in case of any accidents.
Xiao Yu's waist-length hair was tied high into a ponytail with a golden ribbon. She was dressed in a black riding outfit, with the cuffs and trouser legs tightly bound. Without the loose, luxurious clothes to cover her, she looked much more energetic.
Xiao Yu leaned against the carriage curtain and looked out. A gentle breeze was blowing, and the stray hairs on Xiao Yu's forehead were also floating in the breeze.
Springtime is the perfect time for outings. Xiao Yu loved to travel when she was outside the palace. Back then, Feng Shun would weave willow wreaths for her from willow vines, and the nanny would make peach shortbread that Xiao Yu liked. There would also be green rice dumplings near Qingming Festival.
Thinking of the old woman, Xiao Yu's mood suddenly soured again.
Qingming Festival has passed.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?" Wei Shuang keenly sensed that Xiao Yu was in a bad mood.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking that when I was in my courtyard, I would also go on outings to the countryside with friends." Xiao Yu lowered the carriage curtain and leaned back inside the carriage.
“If Your Majesty wishes, you may bring your court officials to the hunting grounds next year. The Great Liang has a tradition of spring hunting, but you must first learn riding and archery,” Wei Shuang said.
During the spring hunt in Daliang, a deer was sacrificed to Heaven as a prayer for favorable weather and abundant harvests. However, the deer had to be hunted by the Emperor himself.
Even if one could cheat by preparing a tied-up fawn for the emperor and placing it several meters away, Xiao Yu would still need to be able to draw the bow.
Wei Shuang secretly reached out and touched Xiao Yu's arm. The boy's arm was soft and easy to squeeze; he probably couldn't even draw a bow, let alone shoot an arrow.
"Now that I'm cured, Wei Shuang, teach me." Xiao Yu concealed the emotions in his eyes, his mind elsewhere.
Wei Shuang stared at those dull golden eyes, feeling uneasy. He sat down next to Xiao Yu and whispered, "There will be a surprise for His Majesty at the hunting grounds later."
Xiao Yu looked up.
Wei Shuang looked away: "We cannot tell His Majesty yet."
Xiao Yu didn't respond, and the carriage fell silent again.
"Wei Shuang." The carriage creaked and groaned for a long time. Just when Wei Shuang thought Xiao Yu was about to fall asleep again, Xiao Yu pursed his lips and blurted out, "Don't leave me."
Without hesitation, Wei Shuang replied, "Very well, Your Majesty, I will protect you."
It turns out he was just worried about safety.
Wei Shuang breathed a sigh of relief.
——
The swaying carriage finally came to a stop.
When the group arrived at the outskirts of the hunting grounds in the back mountains, Xiao Yu had not yet gotten out of the sedan chair when Feng Shun was already skillfully instructing people to set up camp.
Xiao Yu could not stay outside the palace for an extended period; they would only stay at the hunting grounds for three days.
As soon as Xiao Yu got out of the car, she was enveloped in the fragrant spring air. The surrounding mountains and rivers were beautiful, with the sound of flowing water mixed with the chirping of orioles and swallows.
The hunting grounds were vast and stretched as far as the eye could see. Xiao Yu stared intently at the dense forest that connected to the depths of the area.
“We won’t go deeper,” Wei Shuang said.
"Why?" Since we're already here.
"There's not enough time." Deep in the dense forest, wild beasts lurk everywhere, making it difficult to clear the area completely. If they went any further, Xiao Yu's safety would be uncertain, so Wei Shuang made up an excuse.
“Okay.” Xiao Yu’s attention was quickly drawn to the fish swimming in the water.
——
Hunting involves drawing a bow and shooting an arrow.
A large bow was placed in front of Xiao Yu, becoming a perplexing problem.
The seemingly light bow was actually quite heavy. Xiao Yu was not prepared. He took the bow from Wei Shuang and found it to be very heavy.
Xiao Yu was pulled headfirst into Wei Shuang's arms by the weight of the bow, his nose filled with the teasing aroma of wine.
"Your Majesty, please be careful," Wei Shuang said with a smile.
Xiao Yu was unconvinced and pushed Wei Shuang away with a resentful expression, trying to exert force again.
Heave-ho!
"I... Hmph... I can lift it!" Xiao Yu's face turned red as he finally hoisted the war bow that Wei Shuang often used onto his shoulder, but he could not stand steadily and was about to fall backward.
Wei Shuang strode around to Xiao Yu's back, steadied Xiao Yu, and pulled the war bow back from Xiao Yu's hand. He drew an arrow, nocked it, and shot it away, embedding it firmly in a tree trunk a hundred meters away.
"That was my battle bow just now." Wei Shuang replaced it with a lighter hunting bow on the stone. "Your Majesty, please don't be reckless. Try this one."
Xiao Yu frowned and rubbed his wrist, dismissing Wei Shuang's flaunting with disdain: "I can wait until I come of age."
Compared to the war bow, the hunting bow was indeed much lighter and easier to handle. Xiao Yu proudly waved the hunting bow left and right in front of Wei Shuang, but his smile quickly faded.
The weight was lighter, but the pulling force was still a considerable challenge. Xiao Yu imitated Wei Shuang's posture to nock the arrow, but the next second, the arrow fell more than a meter away.
"..."
Xiao Yu stared blankly with a long face. He looked at the bow in his hand in disbelief, then shoved the hunting bow into Wei Shuang's hands: "It must be a problem with the bow. Shoot it for me."
With a smile on her lips, Wei Shuang stepped forward and picked up the arrows that Xiao Yu had abandoned on the ground.
Swoosh—
The arrows pierced the same large tree.
"In my hands, it's the same." It's just a hunt within the hunting grounds; there are few wild beasts in the hunting grounds, so a light hunting bow is sufficient.
Xiao Yu stood to the side, raised his hand and clenched his fist: "Yes, the precious bow has become useless in my hands."
Xiao Yu frowned, still unconvinced.
How come the same bow looks different in Wei Shuang's hands?
“If Your Majesty does not mind, I will teach you.” Wei Shuang became very tactful again. He stood upright beside Xiao Yu and handed over the bow in his hand.
"Wasn't my archery lesson already taken over by the Regent?" Xiao Yu said with displeasure. He snatched the hunting bow from Wei Shuang's hand, suppressing the urge to smash the bow over Wei Shuang's head, and coldly tossed it away. "If I'm not good at it, it's the Regent's fault."
"Indeed, I have failed in my duty. Let me set up a few targets and then teach Your Majesty how to play the bowstring." Wei Shuang had gradually figured out how to get along with Xiao Yu, so he stroked his hair in a way that pleased him.
Upon hearing this, Feng Shun cleverly slipped away from the two of them, took out three or four targets from his bag, and set them up a hundred meters away.
Xiao Yu's expression softened, and he reluctantly nodded.
——
A gentle breeze was blowing; Xiao Yu was hardly a good student.
Wei Shuang switched to a lightweight hunting bow that was identical to the one Xiao Yu was carrying.
"Your Majesty, look." Wei Shuang didn't nock the arrow; instead, she demonstrated how to draw the string.
Xiao Yu dared to give it a try.
The string trembled and drifted away slightly, causing the Emperor's hand to shake like a leaf.
But he remained unfazed: "So tight."
Wei Shuang: "...A little."
Even though she had prepared for the possibility that Xiao Yu wouldn't be able to pull the strings, Wei Shuang suddenly realized that she hadn't prepared enough.
Wei Shuang let Xiao Yu try a few more times.
Xiao Yu's haphazard, unorthodox pulling left him exhausted.
Xiao Yu's chest, encased in dark riding attire, heaved violently. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she leaned against a tree trunk, panting heavily. Her slightly parted red lips revealed the tip of her pink tongue.
Wei Shuang faintly smelled the fragrance of osmanthus. He glanced around and the smell of wine on his body immediately became a jumbled mess.
Wei Shuang chewed a calming pill, and after the scent of her body subsided, she walked unsteadily toward Xiao Yu and whispered.
"Since Your Majesty is playing the stringed instrument for the first time, it is my duty to teach you step by step."
Wei Shuang supported the bow and placed her hands firmly on Xiao Yu's waist.
A note from the author:
----------------------
I taught you step by step, but I didn't tell you to touch her waist. [doge emoji]
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