By the time Si Yunqin had finished changing, Shen Yanxin was already fully prepared, and the Right Imperial Guard was waiting.
Shen Yanxin sat there without any urgency, not rushing them. When the three finally arrived one by one, Si Yunqin was the last.
Watching Si Yunqin approach with her bow and arrows on her back, Shen Yanxin lifted her eyes for a glance. The girl had tied her hair up in a high ponytail and wore a fitted red martial outfit, her youthful spirit on full display.
Twirling the ring on her finger slightly, Shen Yanxin mounted her horse in one fluid motion. “Let’s move out.”
Si Yunqin mounted her horse as well, with Xi Fengyu and Yuwen Qiyue flanking her sides.
Galloping was not permitted within the Imperial City. But the moment they left the city gates, Shen Yanxin suddenly accelerated, leaving Si Yunqin with no choice but to catch up as quickly as she could.
They rode all the way to the Imperial Hunting Grounds. Shen Yanxin took out her bow. “Since we’re out here, why not add a little wager to the fun?”
Si Yunqin held her own bow, tilting her head to look at her, seemingly waiting for her to specify what the wager would be.
A faint smile curved at the corner of Shen Yanxin’s lips. “What does the Empress think would be a good prize?”
Si Yunqin: “…”
“Then let’s say… whoever gets the most game wins an extra year’s salary,” Si Yunqin proposed pragmatically.
“A prize bestowed by the Empress. Do your best, generals and soldiers,” Shen Yanxin said with a light laugh.
Si Yunqin tilted her head to look at her again, and Shen Yanxin could clearly feel the question in her gaze.
Shen Yanxin herself felt in high spirits. She spurred her horse into the hunting grounds. “If the Empress can beat me, then you won’t have to pay the prize money yourself.”
Si Yunqin ground her teeth. Trying to squeeze money out of her pockets? Not a chance. She spurred her horse and chased after her.
Xi Fengyu clicked her tongue lazily from behind. “Ambitious.”
“The Empress Dowager’s attitude towards the Empress really is… different,” Yuwen Qiyue observed. “You can tell she truly values her talent.”
Xi Fengyu let out a laugh. It seemed they were thinking differently, or perhaps not entirely the same.
Shen Yanxin’s fondness for Si Yunqin was more than just valuing her talent. Of course, it could also be that she, a fellow lover of women, was seeing things through that lens.
“The Empress and the Empress Dowager are sparring. We don’t need to get involved. Let’s just have fun,” Xi Fengyu said with a smile.
Yuwen Qiyue smiled and nodded slightly. “Then let’s wish Yunqin victory.”
Meanwhile, Shen Yanxin had successfully ignited Si Yunqin’s infuriating competitive streak. The two of them refused to yield an inch on the hunting grounds.
Shen Yanxin drew her bowstring, aiming at a rabbit in the distance. The moment her arrow flew, another arrow shot from the side at the exact same time.
She looked up and saw it was Si Yunqin, who even raised her chin at Shen Yanxin in a clear challenge.
Shen Yanxin let out a soft laugh and ordered a guard to check if the rabbit was dead or alive.
The guard went over, picked up the rabbit, and examined the fletching of the fatal arrow.
One glance was enough for Shen Yanxin to know that arrow was Si Yunqin’s.
“As expected of the Sikong daughter.” Shen Yanxin didn’t fight her over it and had the kill credited to Si Yunqin.
Si Yunqin raised her head with a hint of pride. “When it comes to swordsmanship, I’m definitely no match for you. But in hunting, even my elder brother isn’t sure he can beat me.”
Shen Yanxin took another arrow from her quiver. “Well then, today I shall have to see for myself.”
It had been so long since she felt this free and unfettered. Shen Yanxin was happy that Si Yunqin held nothing back.
Ever since entering the palace, her life had been filled with nothing but scheming, never such easygoing interactions with others.
Si Yunqin turned her horse around and raised her voice. “Just you wait. I’m not paying that prize money.”
“So fond of money?” Shen Yanxin remembered bestowing quite generous gifts upon the Eternal Peace Palace. She hadn’t deducted a single cent from the Empress’s salary either. Was she really that short on cash?
When the competition time ended, Si Yunqin returned with her game. While the guards were tallying the count, Shen Yanxin had already dismounted, and her share was also considerable.
Si Yunqin dismounted and ran over to Shen Yanxin’s side. Shen Yanxin uncorked her wine flask and took a drink. “The Empress has had quite the fruitful hunt.”
Catching the scent of alcohol, Si Yunqin’s nose twitched. “The tally isn’t done yet. The winner is still undecided.”
Xi Fengyu and Yuwen Qiyue also returned. Seeing Si Yunqin staring at the wine flask, Xi Fengyu walked over and said softly, “You’re not allowed to drink today. Otherwise, when your period comes in a few days, you’ll be crying in pain again.”
Only then did she bow to Shen Yanxin. Yuwen Qiyue followed suit. Her attitude towards Shen Yanxin had changed considerably. Shen Yanxin gestured for them to sit on the cushions by the campfire.
Si Yunqin puffed out her cheeks, her eyes filled with grievance. “I know.”
“Why do I have to be bossed around by Mother and Sister at home, and now by you too?” Si Yunqin lamented.
Xi Fengyu chuckled. “Who told you to always be in so much pain every time?”
Si Yunqin couldn’t figure it out either. Her body wasn’t weak, so why was it always so painful?
Yuwen Qiyue laughed softly beside her. “Fengyu is just looking out for you.”
“I know~” Si Yunqin said in a soft, coaxing voice.
Shen Yanxin listened from across the fire, hearing Si Yunqin and Xi Fengyu chatter idly. The atmosphere was relaxed, and she didn’t intervene to stop them.
Since they were out of the palace, rare leisure was to be enjoyed. There was no need to be constrained.
By then, the guards had set up the tents and finished tallying the game. The one who had bagged the most was the Chief of Guards. As for the contest between Shen Yanxin and Si Yunqin, Si Yunqin won, beating her by three kills.
Upon hearing the result, Si Yunqin grinned and said to Shen Yanxin, “I accept your courtesy.”
Shen Yanxin let out a low laugh. “The Empress’s archery is truly impressive.”
“You’re amazing too, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.” The smile on Si Yunqin’s face was impossible to hide.
And the victorious Chief of Guards was especially overjoyed. A year’s salary was no small sum.
When a guard came to ask if they should roast the game, Shen Yanxin nodded, signaling them to proceed.
But Si Yunqin wasn’t satisfied with how the guards prepared it. She dug out some spice bottles and jars from her own backpack and re-seasoned everything herself.
She even called Xi Fengyu over to help. Left alone facing Shen Yanxin, Yuwen Qiyue felt a bit pressured, so she too went over to watch, despite herself.
Sitting not far away, watching Xi Fengyu and Si Yunqin bicker, Shen Yanxin took another sip of wine, her eyes unreadable.
Once it was done, Si Yunqin gave the rest to the guards, and the four of them kept only two rabbits and a wild pheasant.
Si Yunqin roasted the pheasant, while Xi Fengyu handled the rabbits. As she cooked, Si Yunqin wouldn’t let up. “Rabbit heads are really delicious. You just have to try them.”
Xi Fengyu flatly refused. “No.”
“You just don’t know how to appreciate good food,” Si Yunqin said scornfully. Then she looked at Yuwen Qiyue, who shook her head awkwardly as well.
“So lonely.” Si Yunqin sighed.
Then she looked at Shen Yanxin. “Your Majesty, do you eat rabbit heads?”
Meeting her expectant gaze, Shen Yanxin wavered between refusal and acceptance. She wanted to refuse because she found it amusing to see Si Yunqin’s “nobody understands me” expression. She wanted to accept because Si Yunqin’s gaze was just too intense.
In the end, Shen Yanxin nodded slightly. “They’re not bad.”
Si Yunqin’s eyes lit up. “There’s still someone in this world who knows good food.”
Talking to Shen Yanxin about how delicious spicy rabbit heads were, she deftly roasted the pheasant.
Shen Yanxin, catching the aroma, felt hungry even though she hadn’t been before.
“Your technique for roasting meat seems practiced,” Shen Yanxin remarked casually.
Si Yunqin nodded without hesitation. “Before entering the palace, I often went out with my elder brothers. They didn’t know how to cook and just wasted food, so I learned over time.”
Looking at the flask in her hand, Shen Yanxin signaled Lan Xi to give some wine to Xi Fengyu and Yuwen Qiyue.
Lan Xi came over shortly after, offering wine to Xi Fengyu and Yuwen Qiyue.
Xi Fengyu thanked her and took it. Yuwen Qiyue also accepted. Si Yunqin looked at them mournfully. “You’re not allowed to drink! Weren’t we supposed to share fortune and misfortune?”
Xi Fengyu lifted the lid of her flask and winked at her. “I never agreed to that.”
Si Yunqin was momentarily speechless, her expression even more woebegone.
Shen Yanxin let out a light laugh. “The Empress is still young. Have some milk instead.”
She then gestured for Lan Xi to bring some mare’s milk and hand it to Si Yunqin. Si Yunqin felt Shen Yanxin was being a bit mean.
Still, she took it and had a sip. The palace’s mare’s milk was processed decently, and the taste was acceptable.
After the meat was roasted, Si Yunqin first tore off a drumstick and handed it to Shen Yanxin. She then shredded the rest, dividing it into two portions: one mixed with honey for Yuwen Qiyue, and the other sprinkled with chili powder for Xi Fengyu.
Once everything was ready, Si Yunqin picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
Today, Shen Yanxin was unusually unassuming. She ate with them and, though she didn’t talk much, didn’t stop their idle chatter. Rarely, she also didn’t discuss court affairs with Si Yunqin.
After a few rounds of wine, Shen Yanxin was slightly tipsy. She actually dragged Si Yunqin into a sparring match with swords.
Si Yunqin strongly suspected she was trying to salvage her pride from losing the hunting contest earlier.
Of course, even if she knew, Si Yunqin didn’t go easy on her. In swordsmanship, Si Yunqin truly couldn’t beat Shen Yanxin.
After losing, Shen Yanxin flicked her on the forehead. “When others spar with me, they always hold back a little. But you… you’d gladly borrow another percent of strength just to beat me.”
Si Yunqin covered her forehead and said helplessly, “Then you should find someone else to spar with. My father only taught me that in a real fight, you never go easy. Otherwise, you dishonor the sword in your hand.”
Shen Yanxin’s eyes narrowed, clearly drunk. “If you were like everyone else, I wouldn’t bother sparring with you at all.”
Si Yunqin let out a soft laugh. She could almost feel the loneliness in Shen Yanxin’s heart.
Perhaps the higher one stood, the more isolated they truly were.
That night, it was as if there was no Empress Dowager, no Grand Princess, no Empress, no Consort Yu.
It was free and joyous. It was Shen Yanxin indulging them, and also indulging herself.
Si Yunqin, who had the worst alcohol tolerance, was forbidden from drinking and thus became the most sober person.
After everyone else had fallen asleep, Si Yunqin found herself not very sleepy.
Summer nights weren’t cold, even when sleeping outdoors. After the others had dozed off, Si Yunqin stepped out of the tent. A cool breeze blew, refreshing her mind.
Gazing at the star-filled sky, Si Yunqin felt as if she had set foot on a path of no return. It wasn’t regret, but rather a melancholy at the difficulty of the road ahead.
“Can’t sleep in the middle of the night, Empress? Just here to admire the stars?” Shen Yanxin’s clear, cool voice came from behind. Si Yunqin turned around and saw Shen Yanxin bathed in moonlight.
The cold moonlight fell upon her, her shadow cast on the ground. Her black clothes seemed to merge with the night.
Si Yunqin had always felt that Shen Yanxin wasn’t truly a cold person. Her coldness was like the moon hanging high in the sky.
Not cold and heartless, but like the bright moon existing in the darkness, dispelling the endless night.
