Chapter 30: The Spring Hunt

Hearing her refer to him as "the Governor" with such intimate familiarity, Shen Yuan felt a sense of irritation stir in her ears. Yet, Shen Wanning remained oblivious, prattling on as she eagerly reminisced about the scenes at the hunting grounds from the previous year.

Noticing that Shen Yuan was weary, Aunt Jiang rose at once with a chuckle. "I have been away from my own residence for too long; my daughter will surely miss me. You two continue your chat; I shall take my leave now." Beaming with delight, she fastened the white jade bracelet around her wrist, feeling as though her status had been elevated a notch, and sashayed away.

Having given away the bracelet, Shen Wanning felt a genuine sting of regret. She shot a look of annoyance at Aunt Jiang’s departing figure, then turned back to Shen Yuan. "Brother says there are new regulations this year, and a seating area for female guests has been set up at the hunting grounds. Would you be willing to sit with me when the time comes, sister?"

"And what of your Miss Zhang and Miss Liu?" Shen Yuan glanced at her indifferently.

"They... they are merely acquaintances; we are not at the point where we must be together every moment. Sister, by asking this, are you still angry with me? Are you unwilling to accompany me?" Shen Wanning bit her lip, her eyes turning slightly red. "If Mother were to see that you refuse to forgive me, she would be saddened again."

"How could I possibly refuse?" Shen Yuan offered a faint smile. Though the corners of her mouth curved upward, it was a gesture that chilled the heart. Following the manner of Shen Lang, she gently stroked Shen Wanning’s head and said softly, "Rest assured, whatever friction we may have as sisters in private, it shall never be brought into the open. You were quite right before: the reputation of the Shen household is of the utmost importance."

So important, in fact, that most people buried unspeakable truths just to maintain a facade of splendor.

Shen Wanning smiled, satisfied. She intended for Shen Yuan to meet a fate at the hunting grounds as wretched as the Jiang family, who had perished in a sea of flames—to die without a burial place!

Soon, the imperial decree was handed down. A new seating area for female guests had been added to the spring hunt. Any man participating in the hunt was required to capture at least three pieces of game within the allotted time; otherwise, his family would face a reduction in salary. As a result, the number of applicants dropped significantly.

However, Pei Ji’s name remained at the top of the list.

Shen Yi and Shen Lang were regular participants in the spring hunt, never missing a year. Upon hearing of the new rules, they hesitated over whether to join.

"In previous years, there were no restrictions, and many posturing nobles would strut about the hunting grounds without possessing any real skill. But then again, requiring at least three head of game is hardly a strict standard." Shen Yi, being a civil official, did not hunt and acted merely as a spectator.

Shen Lang, however, possessed some superficial martial skill and had even made a name for himself at last year’s hunt. As he polished his bow and arrows, he thought of the new imperial order and said happily for Wanning’s sake, "In the past, the ladies could only watch from the outer perimeter, and they were required to remain behind heavy curtains. This time, Wanning will be able to clearly witness the dashing brilliance of Governor Pei."

"Will you be going, A-Yuan?" Shen Yi asked.

Shen Lang’s hand paused. Those who appeared at the spring hunt were either wealthy or noble. The Shen household was on the invitation list, and as a female member of the family, Shen Yuan would naturally have to attend. Yet... there were many rumors about her in the capital; would her sudden appearance have a negative impact on the Shen family’s reputation?

As this thought crossed his mind, Shen Lang quickly shook his head, forcing himself to stop overthinking. That she had returned alive was already a blessing.

The weather did not cooperate. On the day of the spring hunt, a light drizzle began to drift through the air. Shen Yuan sat amidst the elegantly fluttering curtains, glancing up at the sky. It was a dull, heavy gray, devoid of sunlight.

Beside her, Shen Wanning placed peeled fruit onto a clean dish, wearing a perfectly composed smile. "Sister, won't you taste the fruit?"

Shen Yuan picked up her teacup, took a light sip, and replied tonelessly, "I do not care for it."

"Miss Gu said this fruit was offered as tribute from the outer territories; I believe it is called... a grape? Look how translucent and crystalline it is. Don't you want to try one, sister?" Shen Wanning pushed the dish closer to her again. Her smiling eyes seemed to say that she would continue asking until Shen Yuan relented.

Madame Chen smiled faintly, adding her support. "Eat it, A-Yuan. Surely your sister wouldn't poison you, would she?"

Shen Yuan glanced at the mess of peeled grapes in the dish; they were mushy and unappealing. She truly had no appetite.

"I spent such a long time peeling them. Sister, do you really not intend to show me the courtesy of trying one?" Shen Wanning asked again.

"Oh! It looks like Governor Pei has entered the grounds!" Liu Yan suddenly pointed at a figure in the distance and cried out.

Taking advantage of the moment when Shen Wanning and Madame Chen were distracted, she reached toward the dish and popped a few sticky pieces of fruit into her mouth.

"That is not the Governor..."

By the time Shen Wanning turned her attention back, she saw the dish was empty, while Liu Yan stood there with puffed-out cheeks, chewing away. Shen Wanning was incensed.

The hunting grounds were ready. The Emperor, now in his fifties, refused to admit his age and was determined to show his prowess on the field. In his younger years, he had fought on the battlefield, and capturing a few pieces of game was nothing to him. The Empress Dowager and the imperial consorts tried to dissuade him several times, but to no avail, and they were forced to let him go.

In the center of the grounds, Pei Ji stood with the elegance of jade, leading a black stallion slowly forward. He paused, his dark, ink-like eyes scanning the female seating area. Only upon catching sight of that delicate silhouette did his gaze brighten.

Sensing his stare, Shen Yuan deliberately turned away, bowing her head to fiddle with her cuffs, her eyes filled with nothing but cold indifference.

Shen Lang, who had been waiting early, saw Pei Ji and turned to greet him, exchanging a few polite words. From their expressions, Shen Yuan gathered that perhaps Pei Ji had not been pleased with something Shen Lang said, for he only offered a faint nod and did not engage further.

Apart from them, ten other sons of noble families had gathered on the field. At the Emperor’s command, the sound of gongs filled the sky. The horses on the field reared and neighed, communicating with one another. Fearing they might lag behind, the noble youths did not dare to delay for a moment, spurring their horses into the forest.

Shen Lang, unwilling to be left behind, followed suit.

Only after they had all departed did Pei Ji mount his horse with a leisurely grace. A flick of the reins sent his horse into a run, the sound of galloping hooves gradually rising.

"Mother, the Governor has set off! In previous years, he has always taken the top spot and won the Emperor’s favor! It seems it will be the same this year!"

A mere appearance was enough to make Shen Wanning’s heart flutter. She was so excited she even stood up!

Shen Yuan looked toward the forest, where the path ahead was lost to view. Because of the heavy sky, a mist seemed to permeate the trees, making everything in the distance appear blurry and indistinct.

All the horses galloped into the woods, and soon, the sound of them vanished. It was said that this forest was maintained by the imperial household specifically for hunting, and the Emperor had named it Mount Yinxiu.

For this spring hunt, only a dozen or so animals had been released into the woods. The one who claimed the top spot would be rewarded by the Emperor and receive additional honors. Most importantly, it was a rare opportunity to distinguish oneself before the eyes of the court. This also implied, indirectly, that the participants in the forest might resort to unscrupulous means to capture the limited supply of game.