Chapter 173 The Emperor’s Might
The autumn morning light shines on the royal hunting ground like golden light.
The colorful flags around them fluttered in the wind, making rustling sounds.
Zhang Chengyan was dressed in a dark hunting suit, with a half-copper armor on the outside and a leather belt inlaid with jade around his waist. He had an upright posture and a dignified bearing, sitting upright on a tall horse with a deep and determined look in his eyes.
The queen was not there, and Bai Wutong was standing next to him.
Bai Wutong dressed up specially today, wearing a concubine's palace dress embroidered with lifelike phoenixes, and the golden silk threads sparkled in the sun.
Although it is not as majestic as the Queen's phoenix, it is almost the same.
Bai Wutong had a dignified demeanor, and sitting next to Zhang Chengyan, they actually seemed to be such a perfect match.
It was as if these two people were supposed to sit side by side like this.
Before, when Zhang Chengyan and the Queen were together, one looked young and handsome, while the other was sickly and listless. Coupled with her fat bodies, they looked more like siblings.
The concubines below were all dressed up carefully, especially Jin Weige, who took out her previous hunting clothes and looked eager to try them out.
After the Emperor's first hunt is over, she will be the first concubine to go hunting and win first place for the Emperor!
The ministers and their families had also arrived and were standing in a neat line with respectful looks.
The civil officials were dressed conservatively, while the military officers were all wearing armor and had long swords on their waists.
The hunting ground is very large. Apart from the open space, it is surrounded by lush forests.
In the center there is an ancient altar that has been passed down for hundreds of years. It is made of huge stones and surrounded by burning torches. The blazing flames move with the wind, and the heat waves are blown away by the autumn wind.
Zhang Chengyan looked around and said slowly, "The sacrifice begins!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an official from the Imperial Observatory walked onto the stage, dressed in a special uniform, holding burning mugwort and muttering something.
That was not the official language of the Darong Kingdom, but more like some kind of ancient ballad, communicating with the gods of heaven and earth.
As the last voice fell, four women holding jade plates came onto the stage.
The jade plate is filled with rice, symbolizing a good harvest, rain, symbolizing good weather, flowers, and bronze utensils, symbolizing peace and prosperity for the country and the people.
Bai Wutong felt the heat waves and breeze towards him, and thought of the autumn hunting every year when his father and mother would go out to catch prey, and he thanked God for the gift.
But now, she stood here, praying for the humans who were supposed to be her enemies.
She raised her hand and inadvertently plucked a lock of hair.
She is not sincere and does not want to be sincere.
No one noticed her little action, everyone was looking at Zhang Chengyan.
Zhang Chengyan dismounted from his horse and walked up to the altar with steady steps.
He knelt on his knees and kowtowed three times and nine times to the gods of heaven and earth.
Every time he kowtowed, he devoutly hoped that God would bless him, that the Darong Kingdom would prosper, and that the people would be healthy.
Seeing this, the ministers also knelt on the ground and kowtowed with him.
In the hunting ground, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of kowtows.
After the blessing, Zhang Chengyan stood up and the Imperial Observatory next to him immediately handed him a bow and arrow.
He looked up at the sky and saw an eagle circling above.
"Then use this eagle as a sacrifice!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he drew his bow and arrow.
whoosh!
The arrow flew through the air.
The eagle screamed and landed on the ground.
Lin Sheng had already spotted the landing point and went there early to wait.
He and several other people placed the eagle on the silverware and carried it towards Zhang Chengyan.
"Your Majesty is mighty!"
The others shouted, "The Emperor is mighty!"
Zhang Chengyan grabbed the eagle's body and slashed its neck with the silver dagger. Blood spurted into the bowl in front of the altar.
Then he picked up the bowl and poured all the blood onto the ground.
"Today, I and all of you, my beloved ministers, have gathered here to pray to the gods of heaven and earth to bless the country of Darong with good weather and peace for the people!"
Everyone shouted in unison, "Long live the emperor!"
The sound resounded through the sky and lingered for a long time.
Zhang Chengyan waved his hand and a horn suddenly sounded.
Autumn hunting officially begins!
Zhang Chengyan immediately jumped on his horse, holding a longbow and a long sword at his waist, and rushed into the hunting ground.
The guards responsible for protection followed closely behind, and the rest waited quietly.
Only the emperor can win this prize.
Bai Wutong relaxed a little and leaned back on the cushion.
The weather was good, indeed suitable for hunting.
The prey in the royal hunting grounds were all prepared in advance and had long been kept in captivity to the point where they had lost their ferocity.
I heard that for the autumn hunting this time, Lin Sheng and his friends made a special trip to catch a snow-white deer.
It is now somewhere in the hunting ground. If Zhang Chengyan goes there this time, he won’t have to put in much effort to succeed in hunting.
This is also to ensure that the jackpot can proceed smoothly, indicating smooth sailing in the following year.
Without Zhang Chengyan, the situation on the field became much more relaxed.
Everyone gathered together and whispered.
Bai Wutong's gaze fell on the Xun family not far away.
Xun Mingzhi was dealing with a flood and did not come.
Jin Zhi went to protect him and was not present. But I heard that he will hurry over today and should be able to catch up with the first day of hunting.
When Cao participated in such activities before, she could only sit in the back and talk to a few people she was close to. The truly powerful ladies were too lazy to pay attention to her.
But today she sat in a very conspicuous place, and many people were trying to please her.
All this was because of the two princes born to Bai Wutong.
Bai Wutong was about to look away when Xun Zhiyuan came over.
Speaking of which, this was the second time she met this so-called younger brother.
He is just barely good-looking, not handsome at all. She is a little thin and her clothes are too big for her, making her look very frail.
He didn't look well, as if he hadn't had enough rest, and it seemed more like his body was drained by alcohol and sex.
Xun Zhiyuan didn't look happy with her and his eyes were cold.
Bai Wutong sneered. Could it be that he thought that the Xun family’s current success was due to the efforts of him, the only male?
I really can't tell who is the most important person in the Xun family!
She didn't want to be too close to the Xun family, so she didn't bother to say more and withdrew her gaze.
Chan'er, who was beside her, was very discerning and helped her pour the fruit wine. "My queen, this is the autumn fruit wine that can only be drunk during the autumn hunt. It can only be brewed during this month every year. In previous years when there was no autumn hunt, this kind of wine would not be made."
Bai Wutong picked it up and took a bite. It was indeed delicious.
Cao was also drinking fruit wine, and a noble lady next to her smiled and filled her glass, "I haven't tasted this flavor for several years. It's really good."
"Yes." Cao was confident of his current status and put on a lot of airs.
Xun Zhiyuan couldn't sit still and wanted to go sit down and chat with someone he knew.
But the emperor had not returned from hunting yet, so they couldn't move around.
Fortunately, there were men around him, so he could barely say a few words to them.
"Zhiyuan, after the autumn hunt is over, how about we go on a boat trip together?"
The person who was speaking was a direct descendant of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. He was usually very arrogant and would not even look at anyone, let alone talk to them.
Xun Zhiyuan has been enjoying the attention of others these days, and he feels a little flattered. "Okay, we can write poems and drink together then, it will be so much fun."
"Yes, the emperor will probably be back for a while. Should we go over there and talk to Master Gao and the others?"
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