Chapter 40 The Hunt Begins
Just then, a horn sounded in the distance.
The long, resonant sound of the horn instantly drowned out the noise on the field.
Everyone looked up and saw a cloud of dust rising in the distance as a procession of honor slowly approached.
The Emperor has arrived!
The first thing that came into view was thirty-six golden-armored guards, each with a tall and straight posture, riding identical chestnut warhorses, their steps perfectly synchronized.
Following closely behind was a grand royal guard of honor.
The flag bearers held aloft the bright yellow dragon flag and the yellow silk parasol, while horns blared and drums and music resounded.
And right in the center of this magnificent procession—
Li Yuanzhao rode slowly towards them, seated atop a pure white Akhal-Teke horse.
She wore a crimson riding outfit embroidered with gold, her black hair neatly tied in a golden crown, her brows and eyes carrying her usual aloofness, yet exuding an imposing aura, as if she were a born ruler.
Behind her followed a dragon carriage drawn by eight fine horses.
Layers upon layers of bright yellow gauze curtains swayed gently in the wind, and a figure dressed in a dragon robe could be vaguely seen within them.
The once noisy hunting grounds fell silent. Civil and military officials straightened their clothes, the young masters of noble families put away their previous frolicking, and the young ladies also put away their smiles.
Shen Churong looked at Li Yuanzhao's seemingly confident demeanor and tightened his grip on the riding whip.
He trained hard in the army camp for a year, hoping to avenge his previous defeat.
Today, he was determined to make Li Yuanzhao taste what it felt like to be a "defeated opponent."
Li Yuanyou's eyes were filled with excitement.
His elder sister was always like this, always becoming the center of attention, which made him both admire her and feel a little inexplicably disappointed.
Li Yuanshu, on the other hand, was filled with resentment and jealousy.
They're both princesses, so why can't I be as dazzling as her in front of everyone?
The imperial carriage slowly came to a stop, and Li Yuanzhao reined in his horse and dismounted.
She walked to the imperial carriage and bowed slightly: "Father, we have arrived at the hunting grounds."
A slightly weary voice came from inside the carriage: "I understand."
Then, Eunuch Xu lifted a corner of the gauze curtain.
Two eunuchs rushed forward, one on each side, to help the emperor walk to the high platform and sit on the dragon throne in the center.
Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!
"Long live the Princess!"
The crowd knelt down and shouted, their voices echoing throughout the entire hunting ground.
Li Yuanzhao stood behind his father, surveying everything before him.
The overwhelming pilgrimage before them seemed like nothing more than an ordinary sight.
His Majesty's face was still pale today, and there was even a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, clearly indicating that his old headache was still acting up.
But those eyes were unusually clear, and his gaze slowly swept over the kneeling civil and military officials and noble families, finally landing on Li Yuanzhao beside him.
"Rise, all of you. The autumn air is crisp and clear today, a perfect time for a hunt. Yuan Zhao, let's begin."
"Your subject obeys the decree." Li Yuanzhao stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and began to read out the rules and rewards for the hunt.
"The winner of this hunt will be determined by the number and quality of the prey hunted within two hours. The one who hunts the first deer will be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold and one thousand bolts of brocade, the one who hunts the black bear will be rewarded with an imperial bow, and the one who hunts the most prey will be rewarded with a fine horse from the Western Regions. There are many other rewards waiting for you to claim. But remember, you must not kill cubs indiscriminately or chase pregnant animals. Those who disobey will be disqualified and severely punished."
"We obey the Princess's command!" everyone replied in unison.
With Li Yuanzhao's cry of "Let the hunt begin!", the horn sounded again, and the hunting ceremony officially commenced.
The crowd could no longer contain themselves and quickly reined in their horses, creating a cacophony of hooves pounding the ground.
Li Yuanzhao mounted his horse, spurred it on with his legs, and shouted, "Giddy up!"
The Akhal-Teke horse suddenly reared up, let out a loud neigh, and then charged off.
The others quickly spurred their horses and followed closely behind.
For a moment, dust filled the entrance to the hunting grounds, and the sounds of horses' hooves, cheers, and shouts mingled together.
Inside the viewing tent not far away, the girls were also infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere and began to get excited, peeking out and speculating at the same time who would win the championship today.
"Of course, Her Highness the Eldest Princess always comes out on top every year, and this year will certainly be no exception."
"But judging from General Shen's confident demeanor today, he even bet ten jugs of Jiannan Shaochun liquor, and seems determined to win."
"Him? He's nothing but a defeated opponent of our Princess. In every year before, wasn't he the one who shouted the loudest, but ended up losing the most miserably?"
"That's right. Who in the entire capital doesn't know about the Princess's horsemanship and archery skills? Among the young officers in the army, none can compare to Her Highness."
"If you ask me, Her Highness the Eldest Princess truly brings honor to us women. With her around, no one dares to say that we women are inferior to men anymore. Look at those noble young masters, which one can compare to the Eldest Princess's heroic bearing?"
“Yes, yes, if I hadn’t broken my leg a few days ago and had difficulty walking, I would have liked to go for a run with Your Highness, even if it was just watching from afar.”
"You... forget it. With your riding skills, you think you can keep up with the Princess? Be careful not to break the horse."
"You're making fun of me again!"
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