Mu Wan paused, set down the bow and arrow in his hand, and looked up.
The surprise of the onlookers was no less than his own.
The air was filled with a chorus of chirping and calls, as countless birds descended upon the hunting grounds, circling high above.
One, two, then flocks, and finally a vast expanse. Looking from afar, beyond the wild geese and white cranes already present in the hunting field, cuckoos, thrushes, and many other bird species joined the gathering.
Such an unusual occurrence was not lost on the ministers, nor on the people scattered throughout the hunting grounds. Many discovered that the game they had been tracking suddenly changed direction, fleeing toward the center of the field—the very location of the observation platform.
“What is happening?” Mao Lexuan pulled on his reins, exchanged a glance with his friend, and abandoned the hunt to follow the path of the animals.
Many young men followed suit, some lured by the unexpected concentration of game, others worried that the gathering of wild beasts near the observation platform might disturb the Emperor. In an instant, the hunting grounds descended into chaos.
Yet, the birds circling in the sky and the beasts gathered in the field moved with surprising order.
They stood together, various species and shapes, but their focus was unified: they were all heading toward the observation platform.
Such a miraculous scene left everyone on the platform stunned. Had the timing been more appropriate, it would have been the perfect moment for a poem to commemorate the event.
Scholar Yu Lin spoke up: “A hundred birds singing, a hundred beasts gathering. Your Majesty, although we do not know the reason, such a miraculous sight has not occurred in a century. It would be wise to pause the hunt and investigate.”
Ning Yu nodded, lamenting only that Chai Yi was still meditating in his residence; had he been here, he could have provided an explanation.
However, wondering what could possibly compel these animals to abandon their instincts and risk the dangers of the hunt, he could not determine if this was an omen of good fortune or disaster.
Wei Yuan’s expression flickered slightly. He stepped forward, eager to flatter: “Your Majesty, this is an auspicious sign. The Great Yong has just achieved victory in war, and now, during this Winter Hunt, such a marvelous scene appears. It is surely a sign of your wise governance and a world at peace.”
The officials close enough to hear him frowned. While they were not openly dissenting, they disapproved of Wei Yuan’s opportunism.
Everyone knew that such a sight could be interpreted as praise for the Emperor’s reign. Even if it were not, by the time news reached the outside world, it would inevitably be framed as such. However, for Wei Yuan to start celebrating before the cause was clear—or even knowing what would happen next—seemed far too hasty.
Ning Yu shared this sentiment and felt a flash of annoyance toward Wei Yuan’s behavior.
Unfortunately, he did not have enough loyal people under his direct command. As long as Wei Yuan did not do anything truly outrageous, he could barely tolerate him.
Amidst the chaos, Mu Wan looked at his fingertips.
Having completed two tasks recently and absorbed the resulting merit, his power had largely returned. When he drew his bow, he had inadvertently let a trace of spiritual energy escape, recalling his days in the cultivation world. Animals were sensitive by nature, and they had likely sensed it.
That being the case, the arrow could not be released.
He did not have any aversion to killing, but in this moment, his relationship with the beasts and birds was not one of predator and prey.
As if responding to his thoughts, the animals finally moved.
Among the perched birds, a white crane holding an orchid in its beak circled twice in the sky before approaching Mu Wan.
From the gathered beasts below, a rare white deer emerged and likewise moved toward the observation platform.
White cranes, orchids, and white deer were all symbols of elegance and auspiciousness in the eyes of the people. Seeing them all appear at once—had they not seen it with their own eyes, no one present would have believed such a thing possible.
To whom, then, were they moving?
For a moment, every eye was fixed upon the white deer and the white crane.
Ning Yu was no exception.
He felt as if his very breath had hitched.
No one understood better than he did how much the world prized such elegant and auspicious signs. If this divine omen fell upon him today, even the most wavering scholars in the court would be inclined to support him.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Mu Wan lifted his fingertip.
The hunting grounds were perfectly silent, making his movement seem abrupt and drawing everyone’s attention.
And yet, the birds did indeed pause for him.
The crane’s beak rubbed affectionately against Mu Wan’s fingertip, and the bird placed the orchid it had been carrying into his palm.
Was this miraculous scene caused by the Prince Consort?
The crowd found it hard to believe, yet it seemed logical, as the anomaly only began when Mu Wan picked up the bow and arrow.
While the logic held, they found it impossible to accept.
Why him? What right did a simple-minded man like Mu Wan have to summon such auspicious omens?
“Animals are naturally drawn to those who are pure and kind. The Prince Consort is truly good and beautiful; is it not natural that he has gained their favor?” Ning Bumo spoke, looking even more delighted than Mu Wan.
His happiness did not seem to stem from the status or benefits the omen might bring; rather, it looked like pure, genuine admiration.
He was happy, but Ning Yu was not.
Fortunately, fortunately, Mu Wan is only a male wife. Even with such an omen appearing for him, he thought, surely he could not stir up any trouble.
Ning Yu comforted himself, trying to steady his emotions.
But he could not steady them at all.
“National Preceptor, you promised me that the Prince Consort was ordinary in every way. What is the meaning of today’s events?” Back in his sleeping quarters, Ning Yu summoned Chai Yi and demanded an explanation.
Chai Yi did not speak, his expression showing a hint of impatience.
He had felt a breakthrough in his cultivation over the past two days and had been meditating deeply. Hearing of this event today, he showed little reaction. “Your Majesty, are you certain this omen appeared for the Prince Consort?”
“Everyone was watching! The Prince Consort lifted his hand, and the crane delivered the orchid to his palm.” Ning Yu’s expression grew stern as he stared at Chai Yi. “Could the National Preceptor do this?”
“What is so difficult about that?” Chai Yi raised his hand, a glimmer of light appearing at his fingertip. Suddenly, the sparrow that had been perched in the room rushed toward him as if crazed, forced to stop only by the bars of its cage.
Chai Yi withdrew his power, meeting Ning Yu’s astonished gaze. “Your Majesty has seen it. If one uses special methods, inducing such an anomaly is perfectly normal.”
“Moreover, whether or not the Prince Consort caused it, the omen appeared within the borders of Great Yong and under your rule. Furthermore, you were the one who arranged for the Prince Consort to marry the Prince of Jing. If public opinion is managed correctly, this is not a bad thing for you.”
Ning Yu knew this, but the thought that Mu Wan might possess mysterious abilities—and was currently on such intimate terms with Ning Bumo—made him restless.
“In that case, Your Majesty, why not put him to the test?”
“Test him?”
“Test to see how much luck the Prince of Jing still has left.”
Several days had passed since the incident with the white crane. Aside from the first day when Ning Yu forbade everyone from hunting, things had proceeded as usual.
Mu Wan could not spend every day watching others hunt, but staying cooped up in the room was incredibly boring. On Ning Bumo’s suggestion, they decided to stroll through the nearby plum blossom garden.
“These plum trees were planted during the time of the Founding Emperor. Wild deer live among them, but because of the environment, it is not suitable for hunting, so those not participating in the hunt are free to wander here.”
In the plum garden, Ning Bumo was pushed to a plum tree. He reached out to pluck the most beautiful red plum branch and presented it to Mu Wan.
“For me?” Mu Wan asked, surprised, but he took it nonetheless.
He was dressed in light-colored robes embroidered with gold. With the red plum in his hand, rather than looking gaudy, he appeared ethereal and transcendent.
A look of obsession crossed Ning Bumo’s eyes. Watching him, he murmured, “Wanwan, I…”
The rest of his words were cut off by a piercing arrow flying through the air. By the time Ning Bumo realized something was wrong, Mu Wan had already pulled him a step back. But the uninvited guests did not stop; instead, they pressed forward aggressively, revealing their true faces.
It was a group of men in black. Their figures blended into the winter snow, the falling flakes, the cold plum blossoms, and the sharp blades forming a deadly tableau.
“Assassins!” The guards who heard the commotion rushed over, their expressions turning grave.
The Winter Hunt was a sensitive occasion, and no family was permitted to bring a large escort. Even though many of the men Ning Bumo had brought were elite experts, they were facing dozens of attackers. They were overwhelmed.
Furthermore…
There was a traitor among the guards.
As a blade struck his abdomen from behind, the guard Zhang Yu looked at his comrade in disbelief. This scene was repeating itself among many of the guards.
One-third of the guards brought along had betrayed them. Worse still, more figures were closing in from within the plum garden.
“Are these people chosen specifically by you?” Mu Wan asked, unable to guess Ning Bumo’s intentions.
“I apologize, but do not worry. Nothing will happen.” Ning Bumo took his hand to reassure him, intending to stand up and put an end to this farce, but a hand pressed down on his shoulder.
“It is not yet time for you to rise.” Mu Wan held the plum blossom branch Ning Bumo had given him and faced the assassins directly. “I remember you said you wanted to see my sword.”
In an instant, the cold plum blossoms in the garden began to sway without the wind.