Chapter 195 Yanshan Hunting Patrol
On the third day of the third month of the twenty-first year of the Xuanhuang era of the Great Yu Dynasty, at the foot of Yanshan Mountain, banners fluttered in the wind.
The firewood used for the "Grand Sacrifice of the Six Harmonies and the Inspection Tour of Yanshan" had just burned out, and the blue smoke rose straight up into the exceptionally clear blue sky.
On the altar, the Imperial Preceptor Xian Ling, dressed in a sky-blue robe embroidered with intricate patterns of the sun, moon, and stars, his hair disheveled and face hidden, continued to mutter incoherently. Beside him, his chief disciple Xian Jin, had a calm and still face, as if he could stand there for ten thousand years.
Tens of thousands of eyes in the camp stared intently, their faces showing awe, but each harboring their own agenda.
"The seas are calm and the waves are still, the heavens display their signs, and the earth receives their glory... I respectfully inform the gods of all directions to bless my Yan Sheng..." Xian Ling's chanting became increasingly slow and deliberate, as if every word was consuming her immense energy, yet it also made people drowsy.
Mu Xi, bored at the back of the crowd, hid in the shadows of the curtain, holding a warm medicine cup in her hands.
I thought that since my body had survived the trip to the Southern Territory, I would be fine in the future.
Unexpectedly, she was probably incompatible with the feng shui of Moyang City, because she fell ill after visiting the Marquis of Yong's mansion.
I fell ill and remained ill until just before my departure, which caused me another ordeal in order to get to Yanshan.
In addition, she was not good at, or rather, she was completely incapable of, riding and archery.
There's no need to participate in the opening hunt of the Yanshan Hunting Grounds.
Below the altar, King Yu Muji stood at the very front, wearing a black and gold dragon-patterned cloak, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.
Behind them, three princes were also fully armed, with bows and arrows on their backs, ready to depart.
"If you're tired, you don't need to stand here. You've just recovered, so don't catch a cold." A gentle voice sounded from his side, and Mu Xun appeared silently at the entrance of the curtained tent.
Although Mu Xun did not intend to follow the royal army on the hunt in order to accompany Mu Xi, he still wore a neat black hunting outfit, which made his skin appear even whiter and his demeanor more handsome.
Mu Xi swallowed the last mouthful of ginseng soup: "It's rare to see such a lively scene, so I have to take a look, but there are quite a few unfamiliar faces."
No sooner had they finished speaking than Yan Shu appeared out of nowhere: "Your Highness doesn't know who it is? With me, Old Yan, here, I certainly won't let Your Highness watch the show for nothing."
Mu Xi had only caught a glimpse of the Prince of Yu and his three sons from afar. As for the vast crowd behind them, along with the horses and banners on both sides, she was already overwhelmed and could only casually reply, "Shouldn't the Imperial Academy be busiest right now? Why are you here?"
"Sigh, the opening ceremony of the imperial tour is a battlefield for military generals to show off their skills, and has nothing to do with civil officials. The unseen work of the Imperial Observatory has long been finished, now it's the Imperial Advisor's turn to shine." Yan Shu half-jokingly leaned over to Mu Xi and Mu Xun, "Look over there..."
Yan Shu was referring to a particularly flamboyant vermilion banner with gold brocade and wave patterns, fluttering in the wind, located to the east of Yu Wang Muji's seat.
The "Grand Sacrifice of the Six Directions and the Inspection Tour of Yanshan" was said to be a gathering of the four feudal lords, but in reality, none of the four feudal lords attended in person.
The representative sent by Lord Qingyang of the East Sea, Li Tong, was his only daughter, Princess Li Li.
The Zhu Mingjun of the Southern Territory, needless to say, no longer exists and need not be mentioned again.
In the west, Jin Fangjun Mu Zhen was "seriously ill," but all three of his sons were present, with Mu Xi naturally leading the way.
As for Lord Xuanyou of the Northern Region, Mu Zong, he did not come, citing old age and frailty as reasons for not wanting to travel by carriage. However, Prince Mu Sheng of Xuanyou made his first appearance, bringing not only three thousand men but also being protected by General Yingyang, the top general under Lord Xuanyou. He was extremely cautious and fully armed.
Mu Xi had never met either Qingyang Jun or Xuanyou Jun, but the one who impressed her the most at this moment was the uniquely dressed and fiercely temperamental Princess Qingyang.
Anyone in a crowd would be able to spot Princess Qingyang at a glance.
Princess Li Li of Qingyang stood before her subordinates like a star surrounded by the moon, wearing a silver shimmering silk cloak over a fiery red, form-fitting hunting outfit that accentuated her slender and shapely figure.
With her chin slightly raised, she had long been impatient with the endless, rambling eulogy from the Imperial Preceptor Xian Ling. She impatiently scanned the entire room, her eyebrows steep but her lychee-shaped eyes giving off a suffocating feeling that was both imposing and beautiful.
This is a true princess.
Mu Xi felt a deep envy in her heart.
What she envied even more was the row of burly warriors behind Princess Qingyang. Not only were they all tall and fit, but they were also all handsome and good-looking. She didn't know how they had managed to get together like that.
"Although Lord Qingyang, Li Tong, himself hasn't moved, the person who came is quite remarkable, Princess Qingyang, Li Li..." Yan Shu explained at just the right moment, "The only daughter of Lord Qingyang, the future female monarch whom the king has already tacitly approved. It is said that her mother is from the Li clan of the East Sea, a descendant of Li Xing, one of the seven ancient goddesses."
Mu Xi silently withdrew her gaze, her expression a mixture of envy, jealousy, and hatred.
She was not only a princess, but also a "quasi-female princess".
She tried her best, but still couldn't even get close to becoming a princess. Others were born destined to be "female rulers." Where can she go to complain?
“Look to the north…” Yan Shu pointed to a dark banner embroidered with a ferocious tortoise in the distance. “Although Lord Xuanyou didn’t come either, it’s quite a show of respect that he sent his precious son, Mu Sheng.”
The Crown Prince of Xuanyou, Mu Sheng, had just turned thirty. He was tall and strong, with a broad face, thick eyebrows like knives, and dark skin. He exuded an imposing aura even without anger.
At first glance, he bears a striking resemblance to his uncle, Prince Yu Mu.
He was accompanied by a young general dressed in bright silver fish-scale soft armor.
The man was tall and imposing, with an exceptionally handsome face, striking features, and a subtle, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. His every step was captivating and dashing. A sword hung at his waist, while a gleaming silver bow with elaborate decorations slung across his back, perfectly complementing his striking appearance.
"Yes, it is indeed risky for the Crown Prince of Xuanyou to come here," Mu Xi commented at the opportune moment, her gaze inevitably lingering on the dashing young general.
Yan Shu glanced left and right with her fox-like eyes, then lowered her voice mysteriously: "I heard that the one protecting Mu Sheng this time is the legendary General Eagle Yang, Liu Yang, who could shoot eagles at ten, lead troops to suppress bandits at twelve, and destroy the pirates' lair at fourteen. Prince Xuanyou not only brought him this time, but also three thousand elite troops. Now, people are saying in private... that as long as Mu Sheng is willing, with just one order, that General Eagle Yang can use those three thousand men to strike straight at the heart of the enemy and take over Moyang City."
"Is that so... If it's really that powerful, I'd really like to see it for myself." Mu Xi said perfunctorily, but in her heart she wondered who these three thousand people were prepared for.
“Oh dear, is Your Highness referring to General Yingyang? You two should take a look. I thought that someone like Brother Chengfeng was already unparalleled, and that the name General Yingyang was just something people from the Northern Regions boasted about. But when I saw him by chance yesterday while setting up camp, he really was… tsk tsk…” Yan Shu said, pointing to the young general next to Mu Sheng.
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