Chapter 241: Yunqiu Hunting
Two days later.
When the morning sun broke through the clouds, the fluttering flags of Yunqiu Enclosure had already spread across the sky.
The red flag with dragon patterns fluttered in the wind, dyeing the entire mountain range blood red.
The grand national ceremony was originally scheduled to be held at the Circular Mound to offer sacrifices to heaven, but due to the strong advice of some court officials, it was changed to a hunting sacrifice at the Yunqiu Hunting Ground.
At this moment, Helian Cong was sitting upright on the hunting platform, wearing a large fur riding suit with twelve-chapter patterns, a black robe and purple skirt embroidered with the sun, moon and stars, a nine-tassel crown with white jade beads hanging from it, a jade belt with dragon pattern hanging from his waist, and vermilion high-top shoes embroidered with gold, showing the majesty of an emperor.
Queen Su Qinyao wore a nine-winged and four-phoenix crown on her head, with swaying pearls and jade, showing her graceful demeanor.
Below the hunting viewing platform, the seats are arranged in order.
The princes, dukes and ministers sat in order.
Xiao Nanyue sat in the first row of the hunting viewing platform, opposite Helian Feng. Their eyes met, seemingly casually, but the light in their eyes was like thunder.
Beside Helian Feng sat his two younger brothers, the second prince Helian Yu and the third prince Helian Chuan. As for the fourth prince Helian Ye, the fifth prince Helian Ting and the sixth prince Helian Ji, these princes had not yet reached adulthood, so they stayed in the palace and would participate in the future.
The auspicious time has arrived. Thirty-six cannon shots roared across the field, startling hundreds of birds nesting in the pine forests of Yunqiu.
Helian Cong slowly stepped onto the highest point of the hunting platform. His face was solemn and dignified under the nine-tassel crown. He looked down at the people kneeling below the platform. He raised his hand and waved his sleeves, and the whole audience suddenly fell silent.
"God bless Daqi, and may the rivers and seas be peaceful and tranquil!"
His voice, wrapped in the sound of metal and stone, resonated among the mountains:
"Today, I, carrying the might of my ancestors, hold a grand hunting ceremony in Yunqiu to offer sacrifices to the heavens—using force to stop war, using hunting to clarify our will, and offering sacrifices to the heavens!"
The people in the audience bowed their heads and shouted "Long live the emperor".
Helian Cong nodded with satisfaction:
"This time, I will personally lead the princes and clan members into the forest. There are three rules:
First, there was a time limit: at 3:30 pm, the drum was sounded as a signal, and at 1:15 pm, the horn was sounded to call it a day. Regardless of the amount of catch, the troops had to return to the hunting platform. Those who disobeyed this order would be punished for contempt of the majesty of heaven!
Second, they are classified by type: those who hunt wild animals are judged by their size, with deer and rabbits being the lowest, tigers and leopards being the middle, and white-scaled rhinoceros and black rhinoceros being the highest; those who hunt flying birds are judged by their feather color, with gray sparrows being the lowest, golden pheasants being the middle, and red-crowned cranes being the highest.
Third, rewards are given to the virtuous: those who capture the most spoils will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and a hundred acres of fertile land; those who hunt auspicious animals will be given the imperial Qilin armor.
As soon as he finished speaking, there was thunderous cheers of "Long live the emperor!" The young masters of aristocratic families and the sons of generals were eager to try, all wanting to come out on top and show off their skills.
"My dear ministers, the auspicious time has arrived. Please mount your horses!"
As soon as Helian Cong finished speaking, he was the first to walk down from the hunting platform.
Xiao Nanyue and Helian Feng followed closely behind, one on the left and one on the right, and the other participants also followed one after another.
At the entrance of the enclosure, the Imperial Stables had already brought the emperor's mount, Longxiang.
It was a snow-white Ferghana horse from the Western Regions, with a saddle made of pure gold. Helian Cong climbed onto the horse holding the golden saddle, his bright yellow cloak hanging down like flowing clouds.
Xiao Nanyue climbed onto Taxue Wuya, a black horse with white hooves. When it raised its head, its mane brushed against the back of his hand, with a bit of unruly wildness.
Helian Feng mounted the red lightning horse, and the horse strode forward and stood side by side with Xiao Nanyue's mount.
The rest of the people and their guards also mounted their horses.
The sound of drums suddenly arose, and Helian Cong, holding a gilded imperial bow inlaid with emeralds, flicked his fingertips, and three carved feather arrows were placed on the bowstring one after another.
The thirty-six golden-armored warriors behind him struck the bronze square tripod at the same time, and the sound of startled pine trees and arrows breaking through the air intertwined into a net.
"The hunt officially begins!"
Before Helian Cong finished speaking, three arrows like blood-stained lines, with scarlet ribbons hanging on them, pierced through the sky.
Then, Helian Cong took the lead, trampling on the white marble sculpture in front of the steps and breaking them into pieces. He was the first to rush out of the enclosure and head straight for the Yunqiu forest.
More than a hundred guards also followed Helian Cong on horseback.
Xiao Nanyan and Helian Feng looked at each other, the former raised his eyebrows, the latter smiled, but they both waved their whips at the same time.
The two horses rushed out like arrows from a bow, and the sound of their hooves was like two unsheathed swords. In the name of hunting, they quietly drew the line between life and death.
The rest of the people also rode their horses at full speed and rushed into the Yunqiu forest.
"Beat the drum!"
Queen Su Qinyao stared at the entrance to the forest, the dust raised by the horse's hooves, and clenched the white jade cup with her fingertips.
Although her face showed the gentleness of a queen, her brows were frosty.
The drumbeats pounded her eardrums like a death warrant. Her fingers trembled unconsciously, and murderous intent grew in her eyes...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
