Because there were many arrangements to be made for the Winter Hunt, it was extended to ten days. Early the next morning, Mu Wan and his group had to follow the schedule to enter the designated area and take their seats.
Those participating in the hunt were mostly young disciples and soldiers from the military camps. For individuals like Mu Wan and Ning Bumo, it was natural for them to watch from the stands alongside the civil officials.
This was the first time Ning Bumo had made a public appearance since falling ill, and his arrival immediately drew everyone’s attention.
They were not just looking at him, but also at Mu Wan, who was accompanying him. With his eyes wandering, Mu Wan strolled through the Winter Hunt field as if it were a private back garden.
One could not help but note the unique status of the two. One had a damaged body and appeared to have given up on himself, ignoring the outside world entirely; the other was born simple-minded and clearly had no regard for propriety or decorum.
It was meant to be a solemn period for the Winter Hunt, and the Emperor would soon arrive, yet under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the two carried an air of ease that no one else could hope to emulate.
To the side of the observation platform, Wei Qun’s gaze landed on Mu Wan. Curious, he poked his companion. “Hey, who is that?”
The ceremony had yet to begin, and the atmosphere was chaotic. Seeing that his companion still had the leisure to care about others, he glanced around to ensure no one was watching before saying in a low, exasperated tone, “That’s the Prince of Jing. Are you not aware?”
“Oh, I know who he is. I’m not talking about the Prince of Jing; I’m asking about the person beside him.”
“Who else could it be? It must be the Prince Consort. But I have never seen him, so I am not entirely sure.”
“The Prince Consort?!” Wei Qun’s eyes widened. “Isn’t it said that the Prince Consort is… simple-minded?” Yet, looking at him now, there was no sign of simple-mindedness; he was clearly a vibrant and stunning beauty.
His companion knew his personality well. He was usually idle, fond of mingling with others, and could never look away from a handsome face. But the person he was currently eyeing was the Prince Consort of Jing; did he have a death wish?
“Do not be ridiculous. Do not go around harboring wild thoughts about just anyone.”
“Oh, stop it. I am just being sensible. Isn’t it a pity?”
“A pity for what?”
“A pity that such a brilliant, beautiful gem is wasted on a…” The rest of his sentence was cut off when his companion kicked him sharply in the ankle. Wei Qun looked up in pain, only to realize that the person who had asked the question was not his friend, but a handsome young man dressed in the bright armor of a palace guard.
Upon seeing him, Wei Qun rolled his eyes with annoyance and said, “What does it have to do with you? Why does Young General Mao not go watch out for potential troublemakers instead of bothering us?” He emphasized the title “Young General Mao” with deliberate sarcasm.
The surrounding friends, who were on good terms with him, could not help but laugh and join in.
Mao Lexuan glanced at the group but ignored their comments. He simply said, “You had best behave yourselves.”
He turned and left, leaving Wei Qun and his cohorts gnashing their teeth in frustration. “Pretentious. It is only because the Empress Dowager supports the Mao family that he is so arrogant.” Wei Qun muttered vaguely, finally feeling a sense of relief.
Yet, his mind could not forget the face he had caught a glimpse of just a moment ago.
Why was the Prince of Jing so lucky? Even the “fool” he married turned out to be so stunningly beautiful.
Soon, however, Wei Qun had no time to dwell on the matter.
As the soldiers guarding the perimeter drove the game toward the center of the hunting grounds, the Winter Hunt finally began.
The young Emperor of the Great Yong finally stepped onto the high platform, surrounded by the crowd. He drew his first arrow and struck a target, signaling the official start of the hunt.
“What if he misses?” Mu Wan asked curiously, even harboring a mischievous desire to blow a sudden gust of wind just to see how the crowd would react.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought.
It was too petty, and he did not know if the Emperor would blame the organizers if he failed, which would end up harming innocent people.
Ning Bumo held the same opinion.
“It is best that he hits it. Everything has already been arranged.” On such a significant occasion, with foreign envoys present, it was best that everything went perfectly.
Unaware he had just dodged a bullet, the young Emperor Ning Yu took his seat amidst the cheers of his officials, who shouted “Long live” in unison. Naturally, given their special circumstances, Mu Wan and Ning Bumo were exempt from bowing.
Ning Yu did not seem to mind.
As his uncle, Ning Bumo was naturally seated to the left of the imperial throne, while the other side was occupied by Wei Yuan, whom Ning Yu hailed as a great hero.
Having won the victory, Wei Yuan had been specially seated by Ning Yu’s side, a sign of immense favor.
Seeing Ning Bumo, Ning Yu was the first to ask, “How has my imperial uncle been feeling lately? The imperial physician says you have not summoned him for a long time.”
“Thanks to your blessing, Your Majesty, I am feeling excellent. I also owe much to the good marriage you arranged for me. Spending time with Wanwan has greatly improved my mood; I feel everything is going smoothly, and I suppose it is the good fortune that Wanwan brings.”
Hearing the name “Wanwan” twice in a row left Mu Wan speechless.
This man is really something. Who asked him that?
However, to others, this boastful tone sounded rather sarcastic. The noble officials in attendance could not tell if he was being sincere or using the opportunity to mock them.
Ning Yu paused for a moment before laughing. “In that case, I am relieved.”
“My imperial uncle suffered such a catastrophe, and I was deeply worried. Fortunately, everything is now taking a turn for the better; it is a blessing in disguise.”
With such sincere words, regardless of the officials’ true feelings, they began to heap praise upon him.
Mu Wan and Ning Bumo exchanged glances. Ning Bumo picked up a roasted chestnut, shelled it, and offered it to him.
“Eat.” Amidst such a lively atmosphere, it would be a pity not to have a snack.
Mu Wan tasted the chestnut; its soft, sweet flavor made his eyes light up. Ning Bumo immediately realized he liked the taste and continued to feed him diligently.
As they sat there—one shelling, one tasting—completely oblivious to those around them, if one were unaware of the details of their marriage, they would have looked like a pair of deeply affectionate lovers.
Ning Yu observed them quietly for a long time, unable to decipher Ning Bumo’s intentions.
His uncle had never shown any interest in romance in his youth and had always been cold toward others, softening only toward his own family. Why, then, was he now showing such indulgence? Could a person truly change so much?
Ning Bumo, however, continued to feed Mu Wan and offer him water with such patience, looking incredibly attentive. Ning Yu felt his teeth ache watching them; he could not understand how anyone could be so influenced by petty romance.
This went on for a full quarter of an hour until Mu Wan finally had his fill and stopped Ning Bumo.
Seeing that the atmosphere, which had rendered everyone invisible, had finally faded, Mu Wan looked toward the hunting grounds. Ning Yu asked curiously, “Is the Prince Consort interested in hunting? It is a pity; had my imperial uncle not met with an accident, he would surely have hunted much game for you.”
“However, the Great Yong is not lacking in young talent. Once the young men on the field return with their catch, I will have them send some to your quarters.”
Having this mentioned repeatedly in front of Ning Bumo made Mu Wan wonder if the young Emperor had been kicked in the head by a donkey as a child, or if he was doing this on purpose.
He regretted not having taken the opportunity earlier to make the young Emperor lose face, which would have saved him from this nuisance.
“Is it difficult?” he asked, staring at the military officials and young nobles scattering across the fields in pursuit of game.
Ning Yu paused. “What does the Prince Consort mean?”
Ning Bumo translated for him: “Wanwan means that hunting is not a difficult task. If he truly wanted game, he would hunt it himself; there is no need for Your Majesty to worry about it.”
“Is my imperial uncle joking?” Ning Yu’s gaze shifted from Mu Wan back to Ning Bumo. “As far as I know, my imperial aunt has never had any contact with these things. If I misunderstood his meaning and let him enter the hunting grounds, what would happen if he got hurt?”
“Your Majesty does not understand. Some people are born with extraordinary talent. The purer their heart, the less they are disturbed by external trivialities, and the stronger their ability to learn. Wanwan is just such a person.” After praising him, Ning Bumo looked at Mu Wan curiously. “Do you want to try?”
He had thought Mu Wan was uninterested, yet the young man nodded, his gaze falling on the bow and arrow beside him.
Ning Bumo could not participate in the hunt, but he had brought weapons along.
Seeing Mu Wan’s interest, he handed the bow to him, his curiosity fully piqued.
Until now, he only knew Mu Wan was a swordsman; he knew nothing else. Looking at him now, could he be about to witness the grace of him drawing a bow and shooting an arrow?
“I will teach you.” He handed the bow to Mu Wan, pretending to explain the basics of archery. This playful scene left the crowd curious, their eyes glued to the two, wanting to see if the Prince Consort’s ability was truly as miraculous as Ning Bumo claimed.
Ning Yu’s expression was uncertain, but he remained silent, observing them closely.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Mu Wan picked up the bow and arrow, aiming at a wild goose circling in the sky.
Just then, a sharp cry rang out. Initially, it was just a clear call from the distance, but the next moment, the cries grew louder, one after another, layering over each other until they surrounded Mu Wan from all sides.