In the early morning of the next day, someone came to pass an edict that
Jiang Suizhou should make preparations. He would go into the mountain
with the Emperor to hunt.
Jiang Suizhou had a long day of travel yesterday and did not want to move
at this time. He initially intended to send Meng Qianshan back and have
him report that he was weary and sick, but the eunuch who delivered the
decree insisted on waiting there, saying that the Emperor had decreed that
Jingwang must go today.
Of course, Jiang Suizhou knew that the Hou Zhu didn't mean well.
He had no other choice but to turn over and sit up from the bed, asking
Meng Qianshan to help him change into his riding outfit.
But at that instant, Huo Wujiu entered with his wheelchair.
"What's the matter?" Jiang Suizhou promptly raised his head and asked.
Huo Wujiu glanced outside.
Although all the servants in the courtyard were from Jiang Suizhou's
manor, all the guards around were from the palace. They guarded every exit
in the yard.
"Before you leave, start a conflict with me," Huo Wujiu instructed, "Make a
lot of noise, just say you are ill at ease with me and lock me in the main
room."
After a pause, he continued, "Only Wei Kai alone in the room will be fine."
Jiang Suizhou froze in his tracks: "Why is that?"
Huo Wujiu opened his mouth to explain, but when he raised his eyes, he
discovered someone outside the window who seemed to be trying to look in
from afar. He lowered his head and said succinctly, "It's for self-defense."
Jiang Suizhou found it reasonable after consideration. He would take his
people away, leaving Huo Wujiu here alone. If the Emperor were to send
someone over, what would he do?
Jiang Suizhou nodded quickly and imperceptibly, signaling that he
understood.
Hence, the eunuch sent by the Emperor waited for half an hour, and saw His
Highness Jingwang looking vexed and walking out of the room in a riding
suit. The servants around him also looked as if they had received reprimand
and came out of the room with their heads bowed.
Seeing this, the eunuch immediately approached.
He heard Jingwang coldly instructing his servants to lock the door.
"Give the key to this Prince. If this Prince doesn't come back, even if he
dies inside, no one is allowed to open the door," he stood at the door and
ordered coldly from a commanding height.
"Oh no, Your Highness, you…" The eunuch quickly stepped forward and
spoke.
"What?" Jiang Suizhou turned his head sideways and said grimply, "Do you
also want to manage this Prince's household affairs?"
The eunuch hesitated for a moment, but he was quite quick-witted. He
slipped along the gap in the door and found the ice-cold Huo Wujiu, sitting
inside with a cold face, with only a wheelchair pusher behind him.
The eunuch uttered an ow.
"Your Highness, the accompanying ministers all have their families with
them today!" He added, "Why do you bother to lock the Madam in the
room…"
"He can't even ride a horse, so is he going to lose under this Prince?" he
countered.
"Err…"
The eunuch was about to speak again when he saw Meng Qianshan bitterly
step forward and pulled him aside.
"Gonggong, you should stop persuading him!" Meng Qianshan said, "Don't
mind the one in there!"
Speaking of which, he lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "The one
inside is a captive, and it's not like you don't know… The Prince locked
him up, not only because he doesn't want to bring him along, but also to
prevent him from going out. He locked him up for fear that he might
escape."
The eunuch responded with understanding and thanked Meng Qianshan.
Jiang Suizhou told Meng Qianshan earlier that the eunuch would definitely
tell the Emperor everything he heard. Therefore, after finishing what he
should say, he folded his hands and stood away. He made sure that the
heavy locks locked the room tightly, and even the windows were closed one
by one.
Only then did Jingwang lead the people and leave the court with great
fanfare.
The courtyard gradually quieted down.
"General?" Once Wei Kai heard no movement outside, he quickly moved
forward. He was also shocked by today's sudden scene, and was unable to
regain his senses for a while.
Just then, the General in the wheelchair stood up and neatly loosened his
belt.
"Let's exchange clothes," he ordered Wei Kai.
Wei Kai was stunned, but he did not dare to disobey the General's order and
moved to take off his robe.
"Listen carefully to my next words," Huo Wujiu said.
Wei Kai hurriedly answered.
"What happened this morning was deliberate on my part," he said. "I'm
going out for a while. You just sit in the wheelchair and wait for my return.
Just remember not to make any noise. The doors and windows are locked,
so no one will come in."
"Got it," Wei Kai said. "But General, what are you going to do?"
Huo Wujiu had already taken off his outer robe, draped the short top Wei
Kai had placed on the table over his body, and put it on with alacrity.
He tied his long hair at the back of his head and looked at Wei Kai.
"That day, didn't I tell you I want to take someone with me?" he asked.
Wei Kai nodded in response.
He watched Huo Wujiu tie his hair, and when he finished, he raised his
hand and patted Wei Kai on the shoulder.
"That person is Jingwang," he said. "It's unsafe in the wilderness, so I'll go
and protect him."
As Jiang Suizhou expected, when he rode his horse to the bottom of the hill,
what he had just done in the courtyard already reached everyone's ears.
When he arrived, the Hou Zhu said with an odd smile, "Fifth Brother, it can
be said that you're our trusted aid. It is so gratifying to know that you worry
about our worries and consider our thoughts!"
Everyone around followed suit and laughed with him.
He was in a jolly mood today, and Jiang Suizhou heard more or less about
it.
After all, Pang Shao knew how to play his cards best. He not only made his
new lover serve on the Hou Zhu's side, but also tried every means to find
him a precious horse. The hounds the eunuchs were controlling on the side
were also tall and mighty. There were countless rare and exotic animals in
the hunting ground, each of which were very much to the Hou Zhu's liking.
The Hou Zhu lazily waved the whip in his hand and urged his horse to walk
in front of Jiang Suizhou.
"Shall we, Fifth Brother?" he asked with a smile.
"This younger brother is in poor health, and arrived late. Please punish me,"
Jiang Suizhou bowed his head and said.
The Hou Zhu burst into laughter and scrutinized him from top to bottom.
Jiang Suizhou wore a black riding suit today. He looked neat and tidy, but it
was difficult to hide his pale complexion.
"Not a problem," the Hou Zhu replied lightly, and then urged his horse to
gallop forward.
The crowd then followed him to the hunting grounds.
A large area of hills, rivers and thickets surrounded the foot of the
mountain, and it was impossible to estimate the edge at a glance.
The regions south of the Great River were different from the north, and it
was rare to see extensive flat grasslands. But since they had to hunt on
horsebacks, the thickets made it a bit inconvenient. At the foot of the
mountain, Pang Shao deliberately ordered people to clear all the trees in a
flat space and replace them with a meadow.
When everyone arrived, many guards on horseback were already scattered
around the pasture. They were driving the animals enclosed in the
mountains out of the woods and onto the meadow for the Hou Zhu to hunt.
The Hou Zhu's eyes lit up.
"Since everybody's here, all of you can help yourselves. I have a huge
reward for those who win first prize today!"
After he said this, the Hou Zhu drew his bow and arrow on his back,
whipped his horse, and charged toward a goat in front of him.
Although the people behind the Hou Zhu heard him say 'help yourself',
they all knew that His Majesty's riding and shooting skills were quite
average. If they really were to obey His Majesty 'help yourself' decree, it
would be equivalent to slapping His Majesty on the face and ruining his
good mood.
For a time, the crowd dispersed, but most of them followed far behind the
Hou Zhu.
Jiang Suizhou wasn't interested in joining the fun, so he rode his horse and
cantered along. Fortunately, the weather was overcast, and the sun wasn't too bright. Jiang Suizhou felt like going out for a walk. It was quite
comfortable.
He watched from afar as the Hou Zhu hunted.
He was indeed terrible at archery. The goat was driven out of the mountain
and was already a bit exhausted, yet there was a group of guards chasing
after it to block its escape. Even so, the Hou Zhu let several arrows lose, but
only one hit the goat's buttocks. It felt so pained that it rampaged forward.
However, no matter what kind of archery skill the Hou Zhu possessed,
people still praised him.
Therefore, the Hou Zhu was rather confident. He released arrows one after
the other, but even if he hit the target, he failed to hit any vital points.
The goat had received four or five arrows from the Hou Zhu before it
finally collapsed to the ground with a wail. It was surrounded by the guards,
who pounced on it.
"Your Majesty's archery skill is superb. You have hunted a big beast so
quickly!" An official behind him shouted in praise.
The Hou Zhu was tired and sweaty, clasping his bow with one hand and
panting. When he looked back, he saw the ministers scattered on the
hunting ground, all with empty hands. The one or two that had hit a prey
only caught rabbits and pheasants.
The Hou Zhu displayed satisfaction and ordered people to carry the goat
down. Tonight, it would be cooked into dishes and distributed to everyone.
In an instant, gratitude rained down in succession from the ministers.
The Hou Zhu looked around and asked, "Hmm? Why is my Fifth Brother
missing?"
Seeing that the Hou Zhu was looking for Jingwang, all the people followed
suit and searched around. A few moments later, Jiang Suizhou rode his
horse and trotted up to his side.
"Imperial Brother, you were galloping too fast. I couldn't keep up for a long
time," Jiang Suizhou explained with a smile.
The Hou Zhu glanced at his unhealthy complexion and curled his lips
happily.
"Fifth Brother, don't just watch, either," he said, "No matter what, you also
have to hunt something today."
Jiang Suizhou clasped his fist atop his horse and said, "Understood."
The Hou Zhu turned around, looked at Pang Shao, and then said to Jiang
Suizhou, "Follow me, and hunt with me today."
Jiang Suizhou felt annoyed at heart, but did not dare to show it on the
surface. Instead, he answered, "Got it."
He thought to himself, in any case, when the Hou Zhu spotted a prey, he
couldn't care about anything. Anyway, I'm not in good health and can't
perform martial arts. It'll be understandable if I can't keep pace with them
by then.
But at that moment, a cry rang out in the distance.
The crowd followed the sound and saw a tall beautiful stag driven out of the
forest.
Unlike the goat just now, the stag was powerfully built, tall and running
speedily. Although several imperial bodyguards drove it away on
horseback, it showed no signs of fatigue. Even when someone stopped it, it
would bow its head and attack with its horns.
"Your Majesty!" a minister exclaimed from the side
The Hou Zhu's eyes were fixed on the deer. He raised his whip and said,
"Let's go and hunt it down!"
After announcing this, he charged toward the stag.
Jiang Suizhou sighed in resignation and raised his whip to follow.
Then he watched as the Hou Zhu once again started aiming arrows at the
stag, all of which missed the target in succession. Gradually, the Hou Zhu
became a little anxious and grabbed an arrow from behind him.
Finally, an arrow hit the stag's hind leg.