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The Spring Hunt was an annual grand event for the Yu Dynasty royal family. The royal hunting grounds were adorned with fluttering banners and resounding with drums and music. Princes, princesses, members of the imperial clan, and descendants of meritorious officials, all dressed in their finest attire and riding spirited horses, gathered here for both martial arts demonstrations and rare opportunities for social interaction. Si Mianmian, dressed in a sleek apricot-colored riding outfit, her black hair tied high, appeared less delicate than usual and more spirited. She quietly followed beside Consort Wen, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping across the entire area.
Her target today was clear—Chu Yexuan, the young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. This young general, though only seventeen, had already fought alongside his father and brothers on the battlefield, repeatedly achieving great feats, and was a rising star among the scions of prominent families in the capital. He was known for his cold and aloof nature, rarely smiling, and was a famously "iceberg." Moreover, due to his frequent absences from the capital, he knew very little about the affairs of the inner palace, making him precisely the "military general" missing link in Si Mianmian's current social network.
Survival Handbook Rule #30: Expand your network; complete the puzzle. You've already connected with civil officials, members of the imperial family, and the harem; only military support is missing. Spring hunts are the perfect opportunity to meet young generals.
Soon, Si Mianmian locked onto her target. Chu Yexuan, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, alone on the outskirts of a group of noisy young nobles, polishing an ancient-looking longbow. His face was handsome, but his brows were frosty, and he exuded a cold aura that kept strangers at bay, completely out of place with the cheerful atmosphere around him. Several noble ladies who tried to approach him were all deterred by his indifferent responses.
Si Mianmian understood that ordinary flattery and approach would be ineffective against such a person; an extraordinary method was needed.
The hunt began with the sound of horns, and the crowd spurred their horses into the forest. Si Mianmian didn't rush to make a scene, riding her docile pony slowly around the perimeter of the hunting grounds, seemingly admiring the scenery, but her attention remained fixed on Chu Yexuan's vicinity. She noticed that although Chu Yexuan's horse was magnificent, it seemed particularly sensitive to certain sounds, its ears twitching violently from time to time.
The opportunity soon arrived. While driving the prey, a palace attendant accidentally knocked over a wooden rack storing hunting tools, the clanging of metal echoing loudly! Almost simultaneously, Chu Yexuan's mount, "Chasing Wind," let out a terrified neigh, reared up, and suddenly bolted out of control! The incident happened so suddenly that although Chu Yexuan tried his best to control the reins, "Chasing Wind," in its extreme fright, charged towards the tent area where the women were resting!
"The horse is startled! Get out of the way!" A commotion erupted in the arena.
Survival Handbook Note: Creating an "unexpected" act of assistance feels far more natural than deliberately trying to please someone. The higher the risk, the deeper the gratitude and trust you'll receive afterward.
Si Mianmian's pupils contracted, and her heart raced. She knew that the opportunity had arrived, but it also carried enormous risks! In a flash, she spurred her horse's flanks, not to dodge, but to charge straight at the startled "Chasing Wind"! At the same time, she swiftly pulled a handful of specially prepared grass seeds with a strong milky fragrance from her brocade pouch (she had specially prepared these after observing the stables recently), and with all her might, scattered them towards "Chasing Wind's" nostrils!
"General Chu! Stabilize it! Use this!" she shouted, her voice trembling as she tried to remain calm, and then tossed another handful of grass seeds to Chu Yexuan.
The rich, unique aroma of milk seemed to briefly attract "Wind Chaser's" attention, causing its charge to falter slightly. Chu Yexuan, though startled, remained calm, smoothly taking the grass seeds while simultaneously leaning close to the horse's neck, soothing it with a deep, powerful voice, his arms unleashing astonishing strength as he gripped the reins tightly. Taking advantage of this precious moment, Si Mianmian, disregarding her own safety, spurred her horse close to "Wind Chaser's" side, using her small size to block its path and buy Chu Yexuan time and space.
After a thrilling struggle, "Chasing the Wind" was finally brought to a stop by Chu Yexuan when it was less than ten feet away from the tent. It gradually calmed down, breathing heavily.
The entire arena fell silent, then erupted into murmurs of relief. Chu Yexuan leaped off his horse, immediately checking on it to make sure it was alright, before turning to look at Si Mianmian, who had just helped him.
Si Mianmian's face was pale, her small hands gripping the reins tightly, her fingertips white from the force, her chest heaving slightly, clearly still shaken. But she forced a weak but concerned smile as she met Chu Yexuan's scrutinizing gaze: "Little...Little General...are you alright? Is the horse...okay?"
A faint flicker of emotion crossed Chu Yexuan's deep eyes. Having grown up alongside horses, he knew all too well how perilous the situation had been. Had Si Mianmian not acted decisively, using the unusual grass seeds to distract the horses and risking her life to assist, the consequences would have been unimaginable. He was always clear about his grudges and favors, and now, his gaze towards Si Mianmian held less coldness and more complexity.
"Thank you for your help, Princess." He clasped his hands in a salute, his voice still deep, but without the previous aloofness. "This humble general is unharmed. Princess, you must have been frightened." He noticed that Si Mianmian's sleeve was torn by a tree branch while she was trying to stop the horses, and her hands were covered in dust.
"It's alright, it's alright." Si Mianmian seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief. She swayed and almost fell off the horse, but fortunately Qiuhe caught her in time. She clutched her chest, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and her voice was weak: "I was really scared to death just now... When I saw the horse rushing towards the tent, I panicked and... I didn't think much..." She attributed her motive to protecting others, which made her seem even more selfless.
Looking at the girl before him, who was trying to appear calm but couldn't hide her fear, and recalling her courage in disregarding her own safety just now, Chu Yexuan's hardened heart was finally pried open a crack. "Princess, you are of noble birth, you must never do such a dangerous thing again." His tone was still calm, but it carried a hint of subtle admonition. "If anything goes wrong, I will be held accountable even if I die ten thousand times."
After the commotion subsided, the Emperor arrived upon hearing the news. He praised Chu Yexuan's horsemanship and commended Si Mianmian for her "bravery and benevolence," bestowing upon her many gifts. Si Mianmian thanked him profusely, her demeanor respectful and humble, showing no arrogance despite her role in saving the Emperor.
After this incident, Chu Yexuan's opinion of the rumored "delicate" Ninth Princess completely changed. After a short rest, he took the initiative to lead the horse over, his tone much gentler: "The princess's horse seems to have been frightened as well. This humble general will escort the princess back to her tent."
This was exactly what Si Mianmian had been hoping for. On the way back, she didn't rush to ingratiate herself, but instead, based on the incident of the startled horse, she inquired about the habits of horses and how to train them. Her questions were perfectly timed, showing that she genuinely wanted to learn, rather than just making small talk. Although Chu Yexuan wasn't a man of many words, he was extremely knowledgeable about cavalry and horse administration. Seeing that Si Mianmian was listening attentively, he gave her a few concise answers.
Si Mianmian timely revealed her admiration: "Young general, you know so much. I used to think that horses were tall and mighty, but today I realized that there is so much to learn about training and controlling horses. It is true that knowledge gained from books is never enough." She cleverly steered the conversation toward "books," implying that she was not just a pampered princess in the palace.
Chu Yexuan's eyes flickered slightly, as if he had thought of something, and he unusually took the initiative to speak: "Does the princess also read military books and strategies?"
Si Mianmian was secretly delighted, but feigned shyness on the surface: "In my spare time, I've flipped through a few miscellaneous books like 'The Art of War' and 'Six Secret Teachings,' but I'm too dull to grasp even a fraction of their subtleties. Especially the cavalry formations and the allocation of provisions—I'm completely lost on those. I've often heard that the Duke of Zhenguo and the young general are skilled in warfare, and I admire them greatly." She demonstrated her knowledge (though not profound, she had some interests), naturally expressed her admiration, and gave the other party room to continue the conversation.
Chu Yexuan was indeed intrigued. Military strategy was his passion, and Si Mianmian's words hit the nail on the head. Although he didn't go into detail, he said, "The way of war lies in the mind. If the princess is interested, she can look for some battle case notes to read in the future, which will be easier to understand than simply reading military books."
"Really?" Si Mianmian's eyes lit up, like a child who had received a favorite toy. "Then... then could the young general recommend a few books for Mianmian? Mianmian will definitely study them carefully, and if there are any parts that she doesn't understand... I wonder if she could occasionally ask the young general for advice?" She struck while the iron was hot and made a reasonable request, turning the "chance encounter" into a sustainable "consultation".
Looking at the pure curiosity and expectation in the girl's eyes, Chu Yexuan hesitated for a moment before finally nodding, "If I have the time, Princess, please feel free to ask." This was already a huge exception.
Survival Handbook Reiteration: Establishing shared interests is a shortcut to bridging distances. Especially for someone like Chu Yexuan, who focuses on practical matters, genuine interest in his professional field is far more effective than flattery about his appearance.
Back in the camp area, Si Mianmian solemnly thanked Chu Yexuan and bid him farewell. Before leaving, as if remembering something, she took a simple, elegant sachet embroidered with green bamboo from Qiu He's hands, presented it with both hands, and said earnestly, "Young General, this is a calming incense that Mianmian made herself. It contains a little cypress seed and acacia bark, which has a calming effect. You were frightened today, so burning this incense tonight may help you sleep. I hope you won't find it offensive."
This sachet wasn't expensive, but it was practical and thoughtful, and it met the "calming" effect needed by someone in the military. The timing was also chosen at the time of parting, so as not to cause any trouble. Chu Yexuan looked at the sachet with its fine stitches and medicinal fragrance, hesitated for a moment, and then accepted it with both hands: "Thank you for your generous gift, Princess."
Si Mianmian smiled sweetly, curtsied, and then turned and left with Qiu He, her steps light and graceful, without lingering any longer.
Chu Yexuan held the slightly warm sachet in his hand, watching the apricot-colored figure disappear into the tent. His icy face seemed to soften slightly. This Ninth Princess seemed quite different from what he had imagined.
A few days after the spring hunt, Si Mianmian was practicing calligraphy in the palace when she suddenly received a box of books sent by Chu Yexuan. Upon opening it, she found several handwritten notes on border defense and cavalry training, the handwriting strong and vigorous, clearly written by Chu Yexuan himself. The accompanying letter was brief, merely stating "just to amuse the princess," yet it carried great weight.
Si Mianmian stroked the pages of the book, a slight smile playing on her lips. She knew that the first step in winning over the young general had been taken firmly. This relationship would be an important pawn in her future navigating the treacherous court and political landscape.
The final lesson of the survival manual: Different strategies are needed to win over different targets. With a cold and aloof person, only sincerity, coupled with the perfect timing, can break down their defenses. And once their approval is gained, the relationship is often the most stable.
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