11: The forest hunt
Outskirts of the capital, Mount Jiunu.
It was summer, the season of cicadas singing. The mountains were cloaked in deep, ink-like shades of green and the forest was draped in a dense, dark verdancy.
Ever since the previous emperor’s reign, when a temporary imperial palace was established at Mount Jiunu, the Da Sheng dynasty had held a grant hunt in a nearby hunting grounds every three years. The purpose was to curb the growing laziness and extravagance among court officials and to serve as a reminder that threats still lurked in the north, like wolves and tigers waiting for an opportunity.
This forest hunt drew a massive procession accompanying the emperor. Aside from the imperial family and nobility, many civil and military officials were also present. The Qiao family stood out little among them, and Qiao Shili, sitting alone in her carriage, managed to steal a moment of peace. At the very least, for now, neither the Crown Prince nor Fang Yaoyao knew she had also come here, leaving her undisturbed.
She couldn’t easily leave the carriage or make an appearance. Before setting off, she had handed Su Zhuoguang’s white robe to Fenglai and asked him to keep an eye out for anyone around the Crown Prince with bite marks on their hands.
However, at that time, she noticed Fenglai’s face was covered in bruises of varying shades of blue and purple, and he walked with a noticeable limp. She wondered to herself, does Su Zhuoguang treat his own guards so harshly? She had no idea what Fenglai had done to deserve it.
She couldn’t help but shudder. Thank goodness that night when she provoked him, he didn’t lay a hand on her. In her eyes, during their encounter under the moonlight in the villa, he had nearly taken her life. He was truly not the type to show tenderness or pity toward women.
Moreover, she had recently learned from various sources that over the past two years, any woman in the capital who tried to approach Su Zhuoguang would later, upon merely hearing his name mentioned, react with extreme fear and evasiveness, as if they had endured some unknown ordeal.
Setting these thoughts aside for now, Qiao Shili leaned back in the carriage, the partially drawn curtain filtering intermittent streams of daylight. Bathed in the gentle dew and soothing breeze, she felt utterly at ease.
These past few days, she hadn’t slept well at home, often troubled by nightmares. Now, far from the bustle of the capital, lost among the misty peaks and drifting clouds, she couldn’t help but relax.
After some time, Qiao Shiqing gently called to her from outside the carriage, “Lianlian, His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to bring you a box of plum blossom cakes. See? Your favorite.”
Qiao Shili: “?!”
She had been somewhat drowsy, her eyes heavy with sleep, but they snapped open instantly. Didn’t the Crown Prince not know she was here?
Qiao Shili lifted the curtain slightly, forcing down her surprise. “Elder Brother, how did His Highness know…?”
Qiao Shiqing handed her the food box and paused. “This matter… I’m not sure how His Highness found out either. Just now, I happened to run into him. When he saw that Young General Su was also participating in the hunt, he immediately assumed it was because you were here.”
Qiao Shili: “…”
What kind of absurd logic is that? Why would Su Zhuoguang join the hunt just because I’m here?
Qiao Shiqing noticed her furrowed brows and couldn’t help but recall the scene outside the palace hall two days earlier, when Su Zhuoguang had produced his sister’s hairpin.
At that time, Qin Shuo strode over, his eyes as dark as the night, his expression imposing. Though Qiao Shiqing didn’t fully grasp the Crown Prince’s intentions, seeing his sister’s hairpin in another man’s hand made it clear that the Crown Prince must have been jealous.
Before he could even process the implications of his sister’s connection to Su Zhuoguang, a cool, indifferent voice spoke from the side.
“Your Highness.”
Qiao Shiqing hastily bowed alongside him.
But it seemed as though Qin Shuo didn’t even notice him, sneering in response, “Young General Su.”
By that time, the court officials who had been coming and going had all dispersed. Under the dim, grayish light, the wind held its breath, silent. The two men stood facing each other, not exchanging a single extra word, leaving Qiao Shiqing, an outsider, feeling an eerie tension. One exuded an intimidating imperial aura, while the other remained as unshakable as an ancient well.
Su Zhuoguang calmly handed the hairpin to him, ignoring Qin Shuo’s displeased gaze, then turned and walked away, his sleeves sweeping the air.
“Your Highness… if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave. My sister mentioned today that she wanted sweet soup from Changcheng Street and specifically asked me to bring her some on my way home. If I’m late, the shop might close.”
Qiao Shiqing could visibly see the Crown Prince’s expression darkening. He had no intention of staying around to bear the brunt of the Crown Prince’s anger and even used his sister’s name as an excuse to slip away.
On his way home, Qiao Shiqing remembered that Su Zhuoguang had once been mockingly called “The One Who Makes Ghosts and Gods Weep.” It wasn’t because he had done anything to move ghosts and gods to tears, but because his cold, detached demeanor and utter lack of consideration often left those who dealt with him fuming and utterly helpless, as if even ghosts and gods would be driven to tears.
“Elder Brother, Elder Brother? What are you thinking about?” Qiao Shili’s voice pulled him back to the present.
“When His Highness said I was at Mount Jiunu, did you just admit it?” Qiao Shili asked, clutching the food box unhappily. Even with the pastries right in front of her, she still held onto a sliver of hope.
Qiao Shiqing saw her worry. “Lianlian, what are you afraid of? If anything happens, it’ll be a fight between His Highness and General Su.”
“What?” Qiao Shili was momentarily confused.
Why would those two end up fighting? Had Fenglai discovered the assassin’s identity and taken action first?
Qiao Shiqing realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly corrected himself. “Never mind. Don’t overthink it. Since we’re here, let’s make the best of it. If His Highness really blames you, I’ll take the fall. We’re almost at the temporary palace anyway. Didn’t you say you had plans with Miss Zhou, the third daughter of the Zhou family?”
It was true—Zhou Shu had made plans with her.
However, this plan had only been made yesterday when she visited the Marquis’s residence to arrange the meeting. At that time, Zhou Shu had told her that she had a surprise for her at the Mount Jiunu forest hunt. But even after half a day of traveling up the mountain with the imperial procession, Qiao Shili hadn’t seen a trace of Zhou Shu among the Zhou family carriages.
By nightfall, the strong winds had finally subsided. Each family headed to the temporary palace to rest in the rooms allocated by the Ministry of Rites. Since the sleeping quarters in the palace were limited, most were arranged for members of the same family to share. Coincidentally, both the Qiao and Zhou families had a daughter each, so Qiao Shiqing, acting on a personal whim, arranged for his sister and Zhou Shu to stay together.
Qiao Shili was quite pleased with this arrangement.
During the palace banquet in the evening, she noticed Fang Yaoyao among the guests, casting longing glances at the Crown Prince. It seemed that after their confrontation in the villa, Fang Yaoyao had grown tired of keeping up appearances, and the invitation she had extended a month ago had been quietly dropped.
Qiao Shiqing didn’t ask any questions about it. He simply handed the room assignment list to Qiao Shili and added a concerned remark, “If you’ve been wronged or bullied by anyone, little sister, you must tell your Elder Brother.”
When the banquet ended and Qiao Shili returned to her room, she was taken aback by what she saw.
The room was small but clean and simple, with two beds arranged inside.
Yet at that moment, her gaze was fixed on the figure standing by the railing behind the screen.
Moonlight poured through the window, illuminating a person dressed as a man, testing a bow and arrow in hand, their posture bold and spirited. Their dark hair was tied high, the neat ends fluttering in the wind, brushing against their handsome face. Their sharp eyebrows extended toward their temples, exuding an aura of confidence and dignity.
As if noticing the movement behind them, those clear, phoenix-like eyes turned and curved slightly in a distant smile toward her.
A single glance was enough to stir one’s soul.
“Ah Shu?” Qiao Shili recognized this dashing, wind-like figure as Zhou Shu, disguised as a man.
Zhou Shu was naturally tall and graceful. Skilled in dance and martial arts, her posture was upright and imposing, making her male disguise appear seamless. Had Qiao Shili not looked closely, she might have thought a rogue had slipped into the room.
“I thought I’d give you a fright, but I guess you still recognized me,” Zhou Shu said, setting the bow and arrows aside as she approached Qiao Shili. Seeing her friend’s astonished expression, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Qiao Shili examined her disguise, circling around her, curiosity piqued. “Ah Shu, doesn’t this outfit feel uncomfortable?”
It was the height of summer, and even the thought of binding her chest made Qiao Shili feel uneasy.
Zhou Shu shook her head, her tone casual and unbothered. “I used to sneak out of the estate on my own all the time, disguised like this. Now that we’re at Mount Jiunu, I’m just doing it for convenience so I can participate in tomorrow’s forest hunt. I’ve already made a deal with my second Elder Brother—whatever I hunt will be credited to him.”
In the Da Sheng dynasty, it was rare for women to practice martial arts. Even in grand events like the royal forest hunt, participants were typically sons of noble families, while female relatives mostly attended as spectators or companions. Thus, Zhou Shu chose the simplest and least conspicuous method: disguising herself as a man to compete.
After speaking, Zhou Shu took Qiao Shili’s hands in hers. “Aside from my second Elder Brother, you are the only one who knows this secret. You must keep it for me.”
Qiao Shili nodded in agreement. “Of course, my lips are sealed.”
Zhou Shu let out a long, relieved sigh. “I was worried that the Ministry of Rites would assign me to stay with unfamiliar noblewomen. Explaining myself would have been troublesome, and they might have tipped off my eldest Elder Brother. If that happened, I’d surely face a lecture when I returned.”
Qiao Shili smiled gently. “It was my Elder Brother who took matters into his own hands and arranged for you and me to stay together.”
She noticed a flicker of joy in Zhou Shu’s eyes, who looked at her as if she had just discovered something incredibly precious.
Qiao Shili reflected that, of all the things she had done since returning to this life, choosing Zhou Shu as her friend was one she would never regret. It was undeniable that Zhou Shu was so free-spirited, unbound by conventions and rules, filling Qiao Shili with admiration for this vibrant woman.
In her past life, wandering as a ghost, she had rarely paid attention to the affairs of the world. Whatever she learned came only from fragments of casual conversations overheard after meals. As for Zhou Shu, the only news she had heard was a tragic one.
They said that the third daughter of the Zhou family had accidentally fallen from the city wall and died at the age of twenty.
Thinking back on it now, it seemed like a complete farce.
Zhou Shu’s martial arts skills surpassed those of many soldiers in the military camp—how could she have simply fallen to her death?
The strangeness of it all eluded Qiao Shili’s understanding.
“Actually, the surprise I have for you here at Mount Jiunu isn’t just the male disguise,” Zhou Shu said as she turned and retrieved a bundle from the cabinet.
Qiao Shili followed her gaze. “What is it?”
Zhou Shu unwrapped it to reveal a set of violet-hued, narrow-sleeved riding trousers and a skirt.
“Riding attire?” Qiao Shili’s interest was immediately piqued.
This was something she had never encountered in her previous life. Deep down, she harbored a fierce desire to break free from her cage, a longing to gallop freely across vast landscapes. Naturally, she was thrilled by this.
“Since we’re at the hunting grounds, I thought you might want to learn horse riding. So, I prepared this in advance, just in case. If you don’t know how to ride, I can find someone to teach you. My Elder Brothers say my riding and archery style is too fierce and unconventional, so I figured I might not be the best teacher. That’s why I looked for someone else.”
Seeing Qiao Shili’s eager expression, Zhou Shu knew her gift had been well-received.
“Thank you, Ah Shu. I love it,” Qiao Shili said, holding the riding attire and examining it from every angle, a radiant smile on her face.
“No time like the present. I’ve already picked out a gentle horse and tied it up in the western woods behind the palace. You can change first and go wait there. The instructor is still with my Elder Brothers, so I’ll go hurry them along.” With practiced ease, Zhou Shu quickly shed her male disguise and changed back into her usual feminine attire.
Watching her move with such familiarity, Qiao Shili finally understood just how “often” Zhou Shu must have disguised herself to sneak out of the estate…
Grateful for Zhou Shu’s thoughtful gesture, Qiao Shili didn’t refuse.
After all, in the vastness of the temporary palace, sitting alone by the lamplight at night would be rather dull. She had rested enough during the day in the carriage and now felt wide awake.
Arriving at the spot Zhou Shu had mentioned, the moon still shone brightly. Qiao Shili immediately noticed the horse tied among the trees.
The horse seemed remarkably intelligent. As Qiao Shili approached, it greeted her with a soft whinny, then lowered its head and leaned against the shadowy branches, as if it had been waiting for her all along.
Just as Ah Shu had described, this horse was gentle and well-suited for a beginner like her.
Qiao Shili reached out and stroked the white horse’s mane. The thought of soon being able to ride on its back and gallop freely through the wilderness filled her with excitement.
Hearing the soft rustle of approaching footsteps behind her, Qiao Shili turned to see the instructor Zhou Shu had found for her. But her smile froze instantly.
The person approaching had sharp, piercing eyes, as cold and clear as ice and snow—it was Su Zhuoguang.
On the other side of the woods, Zhou Shu had finally managed, after much persuasion, to borrow her second Elder Brother’s personal female guard to teach Qiao Shili how to ride. Yet, she waited by the horse for a long time without seeing any sign of Qiao Shili.
Unbeknownst to her, Qiao Shili had a terrible sense of direction and had taken the wrong path, ending up in the dense woods to the east.
**