The royal hunt officially began the following day.
Qin Ge also changed out of her plain clothes and into a black riding outfit. Her cinched waist resembled a tall and straight bamboo, and her wrists and hairband were tied in red.
Qingzhu walked to his side, moved her lips, and her voice reached Qin Ge's ears: "Master, when we head south later, our people will meet us."
Qin Ge nodded almost imperceptibly.
At this moment, Jun Chenbi arrived, dressed in a black riding outfit embroidered with light gold flying dragon patterns, exuding supreme nobility.
Catching a glimpse of the color of Qin Ge's clothes, although the ancient tyrant didn't know the term "couple's outfits," it didn't stop a hint of pleasure from showing in his narrowed phoenix eyes. He parted his beautiful, thin lips slightly and asked, "Is my beloved concubine also interested in riding and archery?"
Qin Ge nodded: "Mm."
It's rare to see a woman looking so dashing and heroic, so Jun Chenbi couldn't help but take a second look and noticed something amiss: "Why is this riding outfit styled like a man's?"
Qin Ge replied without changing his expression, "I don't like women's riding attire; this is more convenient."
Women's riding attire was specially designed for noble ladies and was mostly for aesthetic purposes. It came in a variety of colors and was beautiful, but it inevitably restricted their hands and feet when riding and shooting.
Of course, the noble ladies of noble families did not participate in the royal hunt with the intention of competing with these young men, but rather to find a good husband on the hunting grounds.
Jun Chenbi glanced into the distance and saw that the noble ladies around the camp were all dressed in dazzling attire. Their riding outfits accentuated their full breasts and slender waists. They wore flowers and hairpins in their black hair, pearl earrings, bracelets on their wrists, and jade pendants at their waists. Their bodies were adorned with jingling ornaments, and a fragrant breeze wafted through the air. They did not seem to be there for horseback riding and hunting, but rather for a spring outing and picnic.
That colorful expanse was truly glaring.
Jun Chenbi glanced at her once before looking away, finding Qin Ge more pleasing to the eye, and complimented, "She's quite beautiful."
…
On a clear autumn day, the soldiers in the camp began to beat their drums.
The drumbeats were thunderous and exhilarating.
The emperor stood on a high platform, while eunuchs recited a long and elaborate eulogy, praying for divine protection and favorable weather in the coming year.
In autumn, the wild beasts in the forest are fierce. In order to find food for the winter, they hunt and kill small animals in large numbers, resulting in the deaths of many rabbits, deer, and roe deer. Therefore, shooting some of the wild beasts can also allow the small animals to rest and recuperate, so that they can mate and reproduce better the following year.
The tyrant didn't believe in ghosts or gods, but if he didn't follow the rules set by his ancestors, those old guys in the court would definitely start nagging and nagging him all day long. Jun Chenbi thought it was better to avoid trouble, and since these court officials liked to go through these rituals, he let them be.
However, in previous years, the complicated procedures and rituals made Jun Chenbi feel headaches and irritable.
But things are different today.
A faint, acrid fragrance wafted around him, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure as slender as bamboo. This made Jun Chenbi realize that the usually tedious hunting and sacrificial ceremony was no longer so dull and boring.
As the only person standing openly beside the emperor, Qin Ge couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as he watched the officials pay homage.
After the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven concluded, the Emperor raised his bow and shot an arrow, hitting the bullseye perfectly.
The courtiers shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
…
The eunuch led over a pure white, gentle mare, saying that His Majesty had ordered her selection to serve the Consort Xian.
Qin Ge, "..."
Are you polite?
Whom are you looking down on?
However, there's no other choice.
Only at this hour, when the emperor leads his officials on a hunt as an example, can Qin Ge escape Jun Chenbi's sight. Without the emperor by his side, the guards will be at least half lax, allowing Qin Ge's plan to fake his death and escape to proceed smoothly.
Qin Ge mounted his horse, dismissed the palace servants, and only allowed Qingzhu to accompany him.
To avoid attracting attention, Qin Ge simply rode her horse leisurely through the woods like a noblewoman from a prominent family, without galloping at high speed.
“The royal hunting grounds are very large. There are waterfalls and cliffs to the south. Young master, we can create the illusion that the horses suddenly go berserk and accidentally fall off the cliff.” Qingzhu pulled on the reins, and the horse’s hooves landed leisurely.
Qin Ge: "Then let's go."
He lashed the horse with his whip, and the master and servant rode south through the dense forest.
A quarter of an hour later, Qingzhu said, "Young master, we'll be there soon."
However, at this moment, the sounds of fighting could be faintly heard.
"Wait." Qin Ge gestured for Qingzhu to stop as well, his expression slightly serious as he listened intently to the sounds coming from a certain direction.
"What's wrong, young master?" Qingzhu turned to look at Qin Ge, asking in confusion.
"There are people here." Qin Ge closed his eyes slightly: "The sounds of fighting, and... the smell of blood."
Qingzhu immediately became alert, placing her hand on her waist where a long whip lay.
"Young master, this is the royal hunting grounds. Who would dare to be here? If captured by the Imperial Guards, wouldn't that be tantamount to regicide?"
Qin Ge opened her eyes: "Qingzhu, what did you just say?"
"...King murder?" Qingzhu asked.
Yes.
No one would dare take such a big risk to have a private fight in the royal hunting grounds unless it was for an assassination!
Qin Ge's expression darkened.
Qingzhu also thought of this and advised, "Young master, His Majesty has the Imperial Guard by his side, so he will definitely be safe. You have finally managed to leave the palace once, and this time the arrangements are thorough, so you can get away immediately. There will never be such a good opportunity again."
Qin Ge lowered his eyelashes slightly, and the next second, he pursed his lips and pulled on the reins: "Giddy up!"
"Oh, young master—" Seeing Qin Ge riding his horse to the other side, Qingzhu looked anxious, sighed helplessly, and had no choice but to follow.
…
Jun Chenbi was entangled by a group of black-clad assassins. The Imperial Guards had suffered heavy losses. He sat on his horse, his eyes cold, and looked at the assassins who were approaching with swords raised: "This is the third wave. Who sent you this time?"
He knew these assassins wouldn't answer, and a cold smile tugged at his bright red lips. A trace of blood stained his face, making him appear both handsome and eerily handsome: "It seems many people want my life. Well, we'll see if you have the ability."
The assassin simply raised his arm and shouted, "Tyrant, prepare to die—!"
In the distance, seeing Jun Chenbi imprisoned, Qin Ge stretched out his hand towards Qingzhu: "Arrow."
He raised his bow.
Three feathered arrows were placed on five fingers.
They targeted the black-clad assassin beside Jun Chenbi.
Three arrows fired simultaneously.
"Shuashuashua——"
The sound of something cutting through the air rang out, and the bullet entered the assassin's body.
This action also led Jun Chenbi to discover Qin Ge's whereabouts.
Jun Chenbi frowned, pierced the heart of an assassin with his sword, and retreated to Qin Ge's side, asking, "What are you doing here?"
It was actually a tone of disapproval.
Before Qin Ge could answer, the tyrant's dark eyebrows furrowed even deeper. After discovering that Qin Ge was not injured, the furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He said, "Fine, you stay by my side."
After saying that, Jun Chenbi reached out and pulled Qin Ge from his horse to sit in front of him.
More and more assassins fearlessly pursued Jun Shenbi, determined to take his life.
In front of the tyrant, Qin Ge could not show off his martial arts skills, so for a time he became a burden to him.
The assassins relentlessly pursued them.
Qin Ge said, "Your Majesty, please put me down."
Taking the opportunity to 'die' at the hands of an assassin is also a good option; at most, you'll suffer a bit.
Before he could finish speaking, the tyrant suddenly tightened his grip around his waist from behind. The wind howled, and Jun Chenbi's voice, slightly breathless and filled with rage, whispered in his ear: "Shut up! I won't die, and you're not allowed to die either!"
Qin Ge sighed inwardly.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but Jun Chenbi seemed to groan, and the smell of blood seemed to grow stronger...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com