Zishan gave a faint smile, her eyes curving into crescents.
“Reporting to the Consort, this subordinate isn’t much fun to play with.”
A boring guard wasn’t worth keeping around.
Tao Chuyi immediately turned her back. “Then I don’t want him.”
Yinghong was caught in a tough spot between them. She feared she wouldn’t be able to complete the task the princess had assigned her. She kept shooting meaningful glances at Zishan, her eyelids practically twitching from the effort.
Zishan let out a long sigh and stepped forward helplessly. “Consort, this subordinate is actually quite fun. I can accompany you on the hunt—riding horses, shooting arrows. Don’t you want to give it a try?”
At the mention of the hunt, Tao Chuyi finally softened a little. But she still didn’t turn around, holding her head high in a pouty show of pride, leaving Zishan to stare at the round back of her head.
“Your Highness instructed me to protect the Consort well,” Yinghong said.
She glanced around cautiously, making sure no one else was nearby, before leaning in closer.
“And don’t let the Consort take one of the top three spots.”
Zishan’s eyes widened in surprise at that. Such a demand? Everyone else was desperate to fight for those top ranks, but this Third Princess Consort was different.
To test just how skilled Tao Chuyi really was, Zishan suggested setting up a target in the courtyard—a chance to take her for a test run and see what she was made of.
The servants carried in a bow, arrows, and the target. Zishan drew a sharp arrow, nocked it on the bowstring, and pulled back. When she released, the arrow struck dead center.
Tao Chuyi watched in excitement, clapping her hands and jumping up. She clamored to give it a try herself. She managed to draw the bow just fine, but her aim was way off.
Staring at the three arrows lying uselessly on the ground, Zishan raised an eyebrow at Yinghong, as if to say, Is this task really that hard?
Yinghong thought to herself that she wished it were that simple.
“Don’t worry about the unlikely—just worry about the impossible. Just keep a close eye on the Consort, that’s all.”
Zishan replied with full confidence. “No problem. Leave it to me.”
By this time, Nangong Yunshang had finished handling her other affairs and came to check on Tao Chuyi’s practice.
She had just arrived when she saw Tao Chuyi squatting on the ground with her cheeks propped in her hands, looking as if all hope had drained from her life.
“What happened?”
Tao Chuyi looked up at the sound of her voice. “I didn’t hit the target.”
Nangong Yunshang understood at once. “Chuyi, be good. Archery takes practice—you can’t master it overnight.”
Tao Chuyi ran over and hugged Nangong Yunshang, seeking comfort and tattle-taling on Zishan all at once.
“He’s no fun at all.”
Zishan was deeply shocked. That wasn’t what the Consort had said earlier.
Nangong Yunshang doted on her endlessly, agreeing with whatever she said.
“When the hunt begins, have Zishan accompany you. That way, I’ll feel at ease.”
For the sake of putting her sister’s mind at rest, Tao Chuyi reluctantly accepted this attendant.
She turned back and stuck her tongue out at Zishan, leaving the guard even more speechless.
The Royal Hunting Ground was located at Dragon Cloud Mountain on the outskirts of the city. On the day of the encirclement hunt, a grand procession set off for the mountain in high spirits. Wherever they passed, crowds of commoners lined the roads to pay their respects, their cheers resounding like thunder.
Guards marched on foot while martial generals rode horseback, protecting the dozen or so carriages bringing up the rear.
The Third Princess’s carriage was in the sixth position, and Tao Chuyi naturally rode with her. The interior was spacious enough, and Tao Chuyi slept soundly—first one nap, then another. Even the cheers of the bowing crowds outside failed to wake her.
It wasn’t until the procession entered the mountain paths that she stirred awake. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and blinked her wide, confused gaze at Nangong Yunshang.
“Sister, where are we?”
Nangong Yunshang smoothed her disheveled ink-black hair. “Almost at the hunting ground. Still tired? You can sleep a bit more—I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
Tao Chuyi shook her head and scrambled up in a hurry. She grabbed two pieces of peach blossom pastry and stuffed them into her mouth, then gulped down a big mouthful of tea.
Seeing her wolfing it down like that, Nangong Yunshang moved the snacks farther away.
“There’ll be plenty of delicious food at the evening banquet. Don’t eat too much now, or you won’t have room later.”
Tao Chuyi thought that made sense. The roast whole lamb was waiting for her, after all.
“Sister.”
She stopped eating and switched to pestering Nangong Yunshang instead—rubbing against her, wriggling onto her lap, then burrowing into her arms. Before long, she had buried her face in the crook of her neck. She couldn’t sit still for a moment.
Nangong Yunshang couldn’t take the clinging anymore. She pulled Tao Chuyi out, her face flushing as she demanded, “Can’t you sit still for a bit?”
Tao Chuyi shrank back like a little chick, nodding obediently at her.
“Sister, can I skip the hunt? I want to just hold onto you.”
“No.”
Nangong Yunshang refused sternly. What kind of request was that? In broad daylight, in front of everyone…
She tapped on the carriage curtain, and someone immediately lifted it.
Yinghong and Xichan were seated up front on the carriage, while Zishan rode alongside with the other guards.
“What are Your Highness’s orders?”
Nangong Yunshang cleared her throat lightly. “Bring the Consort’s toy.”
Anything to keep her from treating me like one.
Before long, Yinghong handed in the miniature bow and arrows. The bow was only the size of a palm, made of wood with rounded arrowheads.
With her toy in hand, Tao Chuyi stopped playing with her at last and focused intently on fiddling with the little bow and arrows.
When they arrived at the hunting ground, everyone set up camp. Tao Chuyi bounced into the tent clutching her toy.
The tent was far more comfortable—no bumpy roads here.
When Nangong Yunshang followed her in, she found a certain someone already sprawled on the couch. She couldn’t help but chuckle.
“The evening banquet is soon. You’re lying down already?”
Tao Chuyi grinned foolishly. She simply couldn’t get up.
“It’s not letting go of me.”
The bed couldn’t leave her, not the other way around.
Knowing it was just an excuse, Nangong Yunshang still played along and gave the couch a light pat.
“Mm, it’s all the bed’s fault.”
The hunt would officially begin the next day, so tonight’s banquet was an early celebration, wishing for victory on the morrow.
When the roast lamb leg Tao Chuyi had been dreaming of was finally served, she practically floated with joy.
“Roast lamb leg! Roast lamb leg!”
Nangong Yunshang tore off a piece of meat and popped it straight into her mouth to quiet her down.
The ruler and her subjects reveled together, sitting on the ground around the bonfire. The flames lit up half the sky, branches crackling in the blaze as the aroma of roasting meat filled the air, whetting everyone’s appetite.
Tao Chuyi ate happily, dancing for joy with her hands flailing and her head swaying side to side.
“The Consort seems to be in high spirits. I wonder if that shoulder wound has healed? It’s my fault for striking too hard last time.”
The Second Princess chimed in with pointed intent.
Tao Chuyi’s good mood vanished in an instant. She wanted to hurl a bone at her but glanced at Nangong Yunshang’s expression and thought better of it.
“The Consort’s high spirits are only natural with such a fine family banquet and beautiful scenery. Surely Second Imperial Sister isn’t displeased?”
As she spoke, Nangong Yunshang picked out more dishes for Tao Chuyi and reminded her to eat slowly.
Left fuming and deflated, the Second Princess drowned her irritation in wine.
An awkward silence fell over the group. For a good while, no one acknowledged anyone else. Then the Second Prince stepped in to smooth things over, calling for more food and drink to gloss past the awkward moment.
“Father Emperor, this son brought some dancing girls. Shall we have them perform?”
The Crown Prince spoke up at the perfect moment.
With the Emperor’s approval, the dancers took the stage, their steps as graceful as blooming lotuses. Melodious music filled the air as the pink-clad dancers whirled and twirled. At the center, the red-clad dancer had a slender waist and enchanting figure. The golden tassels swaying at her exposed midriff caught the firelight, seeming to shimmer with a faint golden glow.
Nangong Yunshang ate her meal unhurriedly and glanced up indifferently. Princes and consorts alike, along with the assembled ministers, were all glued to the passionate performance.
She smiled nonchalantly, then turned her head—only to meet Tao Chuyi’s big eyes staring right at her.
“Why… are you looking at me? Aren’t you going to watch the dance?”
“Sister’s the most beautiful!”
Tao Chuyi declared solemnly.
Nangong Yunshang chuckled in exasperation and turned her head back toward the dancers. “All right, I get it. Don’t just stare at me.”
“Oh.”
Tao Chuyi bowed her head and resumed battling her food, casually pouring herself a cup of fine wine.
She had no idea what kind it was, but it tasted great—sweet, like nothing she’d had before.
Figuring out the flavor, she poured herself another cup.
By the time Nangong Yunshang noticed, the jug had only dregs left at the bottom.
“How much did you drink?”
Tao Chuyi, her eyes glazed with drunkenness, slumped against Nangong Yunshang. “Sister, you’re so beautiful!”
Nangong Yunshang: “…”
Tao Chuyi dazedly downed a cup of sobering tea and sobered up a touch—but not entirely.
Nangong Yunshang summoned attendants to escort the Consort back to her tent to rest first.
“Consort, you can’t go out.”
The tent guards were on the verge of tears. Who could rein in this drunken troublemaker?
Xichan tried to persuade as well. “Young Master, please rest. You’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk!”
Tao Chuyi staggered toward the tent flap. “I want to go play!”
No one could stop her—she slipped right past the group. Fortunately, Zishan gave chase, using her lightness skill to catch up to this ancestor who ran faster than a rabbit.
For some inexplicable reason, Tao Chuyi ended up at the training grounds, where targets and fine horses stood ready. She swayed unsteadily, at a loss for what to do.
“Consort!”
Zishan caught up and steadied her. “You’re drunk. Come back with this subordinate.”
Tao Chuyi shook her off. “No, I want to play!”
Beyond the training grounds lay a sparsely populated riverbank. Tao Chuyi stumbled to the water’s edge and splashed a handful over her face.
“Ancestor, please—I’m begging you. Let’s go back.”
Zishan was drenched in sweat from chasing her. Now she finally understood what Yinghong had meant about the difficulty of this assignment.
Tao Chuyi flashed a bright smile, water droplets trailing down her cheek.
“So refreshing!”
Zishan tried to persuade her once more, but then she heard a rustle from the nearby reeds. She immediately clamped a hand over Tao Chuyi’s mouth, signaling her to stay quiet.
The waist-high reeds hid whoever was inside, just as they now concealed the two of them.
The sounds grew rustlier—strange noises. Zishan suddenly realized what it was, her face turning beet red. She hurriedly tugged Tao Chuyi away.
But Tao Chuyi refused to budge, her curiosity overflowing. She wanted to creep closer and listen.
“Ancestor, don’t look.”
Zishan lowered her voice as she spoke.
Tao Chuyi paid her no mind. She was determined to look anyway.
Parting the reeds, she caught sight of two shadows entwined together. Her hand brushed against something nearby. She picked it up and saw that it was a robe.
She groped forward a little farther and found another item. Holding it aloft, she peered at it in the moonlight and made out its shape.
It was a dudou.
Zishan had turned the color of a boiled shrimp. Though she prided herself on her martial prowess, she simply couldn’t drag the Prince Consort away.
One figure in the reeds suddenly rose. “In the future, don’t come looking for me so brazenly.”
The other replied, “But you’re always at the princess’s side. I miss you.”
“Be good. We’ll find time to see each other soon enough.”
“That’s true. It’s far better to stay with Your Highness. Otherwise, at the Third Princess’s place, you’d be like a clay bodhisattva crossing the river—barely able to save yourself.”
Tao Chuyi perked up her ears. They had mentioned her sister?
