Chapter 559: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 559: Autumn Hunt (2)
The two hadn't been chatting for long when there was a knock on the door. Before they could call out, Yan Junyu barged in with a whirlwind of energy, throwing a bundle into Xiao Ruiyuan's arms. He spoke with a tone full of envy and jealousy, "Someone sent this for you, and they made me bring it to you. Hmph, there won't be a next time!"
Xiao Ruiyuan had received news of Yan Junyu's arrival in Liuyang Village shortly after he got there. Hearing his sour tone now, he knew where the bundle had come from, and a rare smile appeared on his usually stern face.
"Look at you, looking like a lovestruck fool. It's blinding!" Yan Junyu leaned lazily against the back of a chair, fanning himself with a jade-bone fan, his expression full of disdain. However, the frustration in his brows betrayed his true feelings.
Xiao Ruiyuan glanced at Yan Junyu briefly before focusing all his attention on the bundle. When he opened it and saw a ginseng root as thick as a child's arm, the smile on his face froze slightly. He glanced at Chu Heng, who was watching him with an encouraging smile. Pushing down the heavy feeling in his chest, Xiao Ruiyuan picked up a bottle of special-grade Sanqi powder.
Opening the bottle, he sniffed the familiar scent and raised an eyebrow, his instincts telling him this wasn't ordinary Sanqi powder. However, with no one injured or bleeding around, he couldn't exactly cut himself to test it. He put the bottle away, then turned his gaze to the bulging water pouch.
He could guess what was in the water pouch and was deeply touched by Mo Yan's thoughtfulness. The long-suppressed longing in his heart grew stronger, making him wish he could immediately rush to Liuyang Village to see her, to hold her.
To avoid arousing suspicion, Xiao Ruiyuan and Mo Yan hadn't seen each other for over three months. Even though they occasionally exchanged messages through secret guards, it couldn't compare to seeing each other in person.
Despite the intense longing, for the sake of his beloved's safety, Xiao Ruiyuan had to suppress the urge and continue to endure. Whenever the longing became too overwhelming, he would climb onto the roof and gaze in the direction of Liuyang Village, wondering what she was doing and if she was thinking of him. Several times, he spent the whole night on the roof, lost in thought.
Seeing Xiao Ruiyuan staring blankly at the water pouch, lost in thought, Yan Junyu's dissatisfaction grew. He rushed over, tied up the bundle tightly, and provocatively said, "In every hunting competition before, I always lost to you. This time, if I win, you have to promise me one thing. How about it?"
Xiao Ruiyuan looked at Yan Junyu, who was grinning mischievously, and coldly replied, "No way!" Worried that someone might pester him further, he added a rare explanation, "This time, my cousin will also be going. I need to stay by his side to protect him and won't be participating in the hunt."
"What? What did you say? The Crown Prince is also going?" Yan Junyu was shocked, immediately turning to glare at Chu Heng.
Yan Junyu rarely attended morning court and hadn't visited Jing Shan Villa in some time. Chu Heng's decision to go to the hunting ground had been sudden, so Yan Junyu hadn't had time to hear about it.
"Huaixi, there's no need to be surprised. I'm just going to watch; nothing will happen," Chu Heng said with a gentle smile. He didn't want this cousin he cherished, even though they were a generation apart, to worry or get involved, so he kept his plans hidden. "My days are numbered. In the time I have left, I want to experience things I haven't before, to make my time in this world worthwhile."
Yan Junyu felt a wave of sadness wash over him. "Cousin..."
...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com....
He, being naturally carefree and fond of freedom, could understand the pain of being confined. Even though Chu Heng could walk in his early years, his weak body always posed a threat to his life, keeping him confined within the cold palace. When he got married and moved into the Crown Prince's residence, he couldn't even stand and had to rely on a wheelchair, waiting day by day for a hope that never came. Until today, when all hope was lost.
Even though Yan Junyu had anticipated this day might come, knowing it was really happening was still hard to accept. The feeling of helplessness nearly overwhelmed him as he clenched his fists tightly.
The three of them fell into silence, the atmosphere in the study becoming heavy. After a while, Xiao Ruiyuan and Yan Junyu left the study together, each secretly giving orders to their respective people...
On the sixteenth of August, the weather was clear with a refreshing breeze, the sky cloudless—a perfect day for traveling.
Since the founding emperor of Da Chu, the autumn hunt had become a tradition. Initially, it was held annually but eventually became a triennial event. At first, only the emperor led the entire royal family, noble families, and a few trusted ministers to the royal hunting grounds for the hunt.
This tradition quickly spread among the people. At first, wealthy families would imitate the royal family, inviting friends and relatives to go hunting in the mountains near the Mid-Autumn Festival, both for fun and to show off their skills.
Later, even common folk began to follow this custom. If there were no mountains or wild animals nearby, they would take fishing rods to ponds or lakes to fish. Autumn was the season when fish and shrimp were at their best, and even catching a single big fish after a day of waiting was considered a great pleasure.
Thus, the triennial autumn hunt became a major event throughout Da Chu.
The grandeur of the royal entourage was beyond words, with countless decorated carriages stretching for miles. Following them were the carriages of noble families and high-ranking officials from the capital. These people not only accompanied the emperor on the hunt but also brought their families along, making the hunting party even more grand and forming a long procession.
The clatter of hooves echoed in the wind, breaking the tranquility of the autumn fields. Alongside the road, the imperial guards, armed with long spears and looking imposing, kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings, ready to protect the emperor from any malicious intent.
The royal hunting grounds were located a hundred miles from the capital at Mount Fenghuang, a journey of four to five hours. Each carriage was stocked with ample water and food, so there was no need to stop for breaks, except for necessary rest stops every hour.
This time, the addition of a frail Crown Prince prompted Emperor Huian to personally extend the rest periods. He even sent trusted eunuchs to check on the Crown Prince's well-being, a gesture that made the other princes and royal family members envious.
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