Chapter 57
The journey back to the capital was tedious and boring, but along the way, Wu Shiyan mentioned the sons of the ministers, expressing his hopes and expectations for the future of the Great Yan Dynasty.
The sensible ministers naturally understood the emperor's intentions.
So when they passed through a mountain forest, the group stopped for two days to set up camp. The guards first drove away the wild beasts in the forest before providing the young men with horses and bows and arrows, allowing them to go hunting in the forest. The final rankings were determined by the number of prey they caught.
The prize is a sharp dagger inlaid with gemstones.
The dagger was brought out, drawing cheers from the crowd. It turned out that even during the reign of the late emperor, possessing such a dagger was considered an honor.
Possessing this dagger means that this person is the best archer and horseman among the young talents of recent years.
Qi Yu sat in a tent with Wu Shiyun, Wen Yuchan, and Qin Jun.
Qin Yun said, "The Imperial Uncle went hunting with us. If Imperial Uncle Bo comes out on top, I wonder if we could touch that dagger?"
Wen Yuchan's face flushed slightly.
The affair between Wen Yuchan and Bo Xingzhou was no secret.
Wu Shiyun joked, "I see that Prince Yang is also participating. Instead of pinning your hopes on others, why don't you give Prince Yang a good boost so that he can win the championship?"
Qin Yun raised her eyebrows, looking exceptionally pretty.
Qi Yu smiled as she looked at them.
Zuo Huixin's brother also needed to go hunting. She had just gone out with her maid and was now lifting the curtain to come in.
Qi Yu instructed the palace maids, "Quickly hand Huixin a hand warmer."
Although Zuo Huixin was not afraid of the cold, she would not refuse Qi Yu's good intentions.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zuo Huixin took the hand warmer and sat down next to Qi Yu, continuing the conversation she had overheard outside the tent: "Your Majesty certainly doesn't know who I saw next to my brother?"
Qi Yu looked curious.
Zuo Huixin didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "It's Lord Pei Jin. He's riding a horse and has a bow and arrows. It looks like he's going into the forest to compete."
Wen Yuchan: "Who wins the jackpot depends on luck."
Pei Jin's horsemanship and archery skills were quite good. However, after his parents passed away early and he entered the court as an official, he settled down and people gradually forgot his youthful vigor.
Then everyone started talking about Pei Jin again, and Qi Yu learned that he had become famous at a young age and achieved academic success early on. His parents were so loving that no one else was in the inner quarters. As Pei's father's official position rose steadily, he also became more and more dazzling. Then his career took a sharp turn for the worse. After leaving the capital with Wu Shiyan, Pei's parents died in the camp. Finally, after the country was pacified, he became a stable and well-liked civil official.
Even now, everyone's strongest impression of Pei Jin is that he is gentle and refined.
Qi Yu hadn't specifically inquired about Pei Jin; before this, she only knew him as having a good appearance and a good temper.
Now that I know he has mastered all six arts of a gentleman very well, I feel it is only right.
However, Qi Yu did not think Pei Jin would come out on top. After all, even if she did not know the true extent of the relationship between the Imperial Uncle and Prince Yang, she at least knew something about Zuo Huixin's brother, a man from a military background.
For military officers, horseback hunting was commonplace.
However, as the afternoon approached and the sky began to glow with the orange hues of the setting sun, the hunters who had gone out to hunt in the forest gradually returned. It was then that Qi Yu heard someone say that Pei Jin had shot a tiger.
Qi Yu frowned. "Fool! Any normal person would run away as fast as they could if they encountered a tiger."
He's got a serious injury to his back that's still healing, yet he dared to shoot a tiger.
When Wu Shiyan heard this news, he asked in return, "Aren't there no wild beasts in the forest?"
The head guard said, "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty and beg for punishment."
Wu Shiyan: "Go and receive twenty strokes of the cane."
As more and more people return, the information becomes more complete.
Qi Yu ordered her people to find out the truth, and learned that Pei Jin had run into several noble sons who were eyeing him like tigers, which was why he took action.
When the head guard returned after receiving his punishment, he couldn't help but feel relieved. The tiger being hunted and killed was a completely different matter from threatening the lives of several people. If he had been any later, he would have received more than twenty strokes of the cane.
Undoubtedly, Pei Jin stole the show this time. In the end, even excluding the tiger that took a lot of effort to hunt, Pei Jin was still number one in terms of prey.
He was determined to win from the very beginning.
All around were cheers for Pei Jin, and the women also came out to look in the direction of the voices.
Wu Shiyan smiled, but his mood was not very pleasant. This was supposed to be an occasion for him to teach a lesson to the spoiled brats, but Pei Jin had stolen the show, and he couldn't show it off.
Wu Shiyan announced that Pei Jin had won first place today.
Another burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from all around.
Tian Wenshan presented the prize to Pei Jin on a tray. Pei Jin picked up the dagger and raised it, his eyes shining brightly, displaying his extraordinary demeanor.
Qi Yu took in this scene from the side, and her eyes lit up.
The evening will be a bonfire dinner, and the game brought back from the hunt must be eaten as soon as possible.
In the midst of the lively atmosphere, everyone raised their glasses and drank heartily.
Qi Yu also had a few drinks.
Today, the hunted game by Bo Guojiu, Yang Shizi, and Zuo Huixin's brother was quite good. Those who came in last place fared rather poorly and were reprimanded by Wu Shiyan for quite a while. Even the least ambitious among them had their faces flushed red, and several officials covered their faces with their sleeves, feeling ashamed.
It's obvious that when they get back, they'll find a stick and give their unfilial son a good beating.
Wu Shiyan used a small knife to cut tender meat for Qi Yu, and only stopped when he saw that she was not eating anymore.
Pei Jin was truly in the limelight tonight; when the banquet ended, he was surrounded by Prince Yang and others.
Wu Shiyan and Qi Yu were the first to leave the table. Pei Jin, seeing this, also looked like he was getting annoyed. The others, seeing that things were going well, let him go after a few drinks.
Pei Jin had drunk quite a bit of wine, and he boldly chased after Qi Yu.
It should be noted that Wu Shiyan was standing next to Qi Yu.
"Your Majesty, please wait!"
Wu Shiyan didn't drink much, so he was still relatively sober, while Qi Yu never got drunk.
Although he was surrounded by close friends and family, and the torchlight was dim, Pei Jin's behavior was still quite offensive.
Qi Yu stopped and looked at Pei Jin.
Wu Shiyan was very unhappy and scolded, "You bastard."
A gust of cold wind calmed Pei Jin down considerably.
Qi Yu tugged at Wu Shiyan's sleeve: "He's drunk. Don't bother with a drunkard. Just send someone to take him home."
Pei Jin thought to himself, "That's right, he's drunk, so whatever he does is understandable to others."
He came on impulse, not wanting to leave in a sorry state.
Pei Jin took out the jewel-encrusted dagger he had just received, his eyes sparkling: "Your Majesty, this is for you."
Wu Shiyan was so angry he was practically steaming, his expression growing colder and his face hardening.
Qi Yu was still speaking in a gentle tone: "Lord Pei, you are drunk. I cannot accept this. You should leave immediately, or you will be punished for disrespecting your superior."
Wu Shiyan had a stern face, but fortunately, Qi Yu was on his side.
Pei Jin: "Your Majesty, please accept this. I will depart immediately."
A drunk person has no sense of propriety as usual, and only now did Wu Shiyan realize how understanding Pei Jin usually was.
At least a conscious Pei Jin wouldn't directly offend him.
Qi Yu smiled slightly: "I wonder why Lord Pei sent this to me? Is there any reason?"
Wu Shiyan acted strangely for a moment, while Qi Yu's voice was very gentle, so no one would be on guard.
Hopefully, Pei Jin is truly drunk and will reveal everything.
Pei Jin's gaze was pure as he said, "Your Majesty saved this humble subject. The gift I prepared last time was hastily and not very thoughtful. I was constantly worried that Your Majesty would not like it. Tonight at the banquet, Your Majesty's eyes lingered on this dagger. So I thought I would give the dagger to Your Majesty to complete the gift of gratitude."
He paused slightly when he spoke, sometimes needing to think before continuing, but fortunately there was still logic in his words.
His drunkenness was also evident in his voice.
"I really liked the gift from last time."
Qi Yu touched the jade bracelet on her wrist and belatedly realized that the one she was wearing was the one Wu Shiyan had picked out for her, not the dozen or so that Pei Jin had given her last time. She felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.
Pei Jin's eyes were glazed over, and his tone was tinged with sadness: "Why has Your Majesty never worn it?"
Wu Shiyan couldn't hold back any longer. Pei Jin was clearly being sarcastic in a roundabout way: "Does Lord Pei spend all day staring at the Consort's wrists?"
Qi Yu said in a relaxed tone, "Lord Pei is not a palace servant of mine, so naturally he doesn't see me wearing it often."
Wu Shiyan immediately retorted sarcastically, "If Lord Pei wishes to become a palace maid, I am not unwilling to grant him that favor."
Pei Jin glanced at Wu Shiyan with slight trepidation, then looked at Qi Yu, her eyes filled with the grievance of not being able to argue with Wu Shiyan.
When you're drunk, it's really not good to be sharp-tongued and cite classical allusions to refute someone.
Qi Yu tugged at Wu Shiyan's sleeve, her meaning clear: Why are you arguing with him?
Wu Shiyan was extremely gloomy.
Qi Yu was in a real bind. She asked Pei Jin, "If I accept this gift, will Lord Pei be able to leave?"
Pei Jin reluctantly hummed in agreement, but his face gradually brightened.
At least Qi Yu was biased towards him.
If it weren't for her, he would probably be dragged down and beaten to sober up by now.
Qi Yu accepted the cold and heavy dagger. Pei Jin smiled, bowed, took several steps back, and then strode away, his back view showing a cheerful demeanor.
Qi Yu couldn't help but laugh; the drunken Pei Jin was quite different from his usual self.
She handed the dagger to Pei Jiu and told her to keep it safe. Then she met Wu Shiyan's cold, dark eyes, which were so intense that she could hardly stand up straight.
Qi Yu repeated her question: "Why are you arguing with him?"
Wu Shiyan... became even angrier.
"He completely disregards me; I must execute him—"
Qi Yu quickly covered his mouth. A king's word is law, and once Wu Shiyan said it, it would be difficult to take it back.
Pei Jin is Pei Shi's only son.
Wu Shiyan shut his mouth in frustration. He wasn't usually this aggressive; it was Pei Jin who was provoking him.
Qi Yu pulled Wu Shiyan back into the tent, praising his magnanimity as they walked.
Wu Shiyan said, "I would rather be intolerant and magnanimous."
An unprecedented sense of urgency rose in his heart. If Qi Yu continued to indulge Pei Jin, he really wouldn't be able to hold back any longer.
Qi Yu racked her brains to coax him: "How about I embroider a belt for Your Majesty?"
"……good."
How could Wu Shiyan refuse? The conversation then shifted to the patterns he liked.
Wu Shiyan wasn't so easily fooled: "You have to figure this out yourself, Ayu. Wouldn't it be too simple for me to tell you? There's no difficulty at all?"
Qi Yu looked troubled and began to think hard.
Wu Shiyan's anger turned into a smile: "You must think it over carefully, and you absolutely cannot be perfunctory, otherwise I will really be furious."
Qi Yu smiled and touched Wu Shiyan's cheek: "Hmm? Let me touch Your Majesty's face."
Wu Shiyan held his head high, looking very arrogant.
Qi Yu's smile widened.
After she got up to take a bath, Wu Shiyan walked out of the tent and then walked a little further away before calling out to Xiao Cong: "Go and sober up Pei Jin."
Qi Yu has very sharp ears; be careful when reprimanding someone behind her back.
Xiao Cong also felt that Lord Pei had gone too far. If no one had been around at the time, the Empress's reputation would have been damaged.
The next day, Qi Yu got up and noticed that Pei Jiu looked strange, so she asked what had happened.
Pei Jiu said, "Lord Pei fell into the water while drunk last night. He was soaking wet when he returned to his tent. He didn't send anyone to fetch the imperial physician last night, and he seemed to be feeling a bit chilly this morning."
"So careless."
Qi Yu tapped her index finger lightly: "Pei Jiu, when you ask the imperial physician to prescribe medicine for Lord Pei, please add more Coptis chinensis."
"Huh?" Pei Jiu looked at her mistress in surprise.
Isn't Your Majesty the one who pities Lord Pei the most?
Qi Yu pushed her: "Go quickly."
She just felt that Pei Jin should learn his lesson.
Otherwise, even a god couldn't save him.
Although Qi Yu was curious about the dagger Pei Jin had given her, she hadn't had a chance to examine it properly last night because she was in such a hurry. However, after thinking about it, she suppressed her restless desire. If Wu Shiyan were to see it, he would be displeased.
She rested her chin on her hand and looked out at the pale blue sky, without a single cloud.
She would definitely cooperate if given the opportunity to complete the task, because she missed home.
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