The concubines were momentarily stunned at these words. Looking up, they saw that His Majesty had already walked away, leaving only Xu Wanqing standing in place.
Consort He, though unsure of the reason, felt secretly delighted to see Xu Wanqing rejected. The concubines who had just been mocked by her gathered together, smiling as they departed in a group. Their words, however, carried clearly into Xu Wanqing’s ears.
Consort He said, “And she dares to lecture us? His Majesty doesn’t treat her much better. She only relies on her family’s status and her looks. What’s she so proud of all day long?”
Beauty Meng added, “Exactly! Didn’t you see just now when she clung to His Majesty? His face turned dark, and he even scolded her. Yet she came back pretending nothing had happened. Too bad—her face was stiff with suppressed anger. Who wouldn’t notice?”
“Enough, enough. Let’s go prepare for tonight’s banquet. Isn’t she supposed to be the most favored? Then let her stand there alone in the cold wind.”
Their muffled laughter struck her like a series of slaps across the face.
Before entering the palace, she had been the cherished eldest daughter of the Xu household, her father’s precious jewel—whatever she wished for, she received. Even after entering the palace, she had never suffered hardship or humiliation.
Today was the first time in her life she had been mocked. And the one who set it all in motion was none other than the emperor she truly loved.
Xu Wanqing understood well that an emperor’s heart could change easily. Yet she and His Majesty were not like ordinary ruler and concubine—they shared genuine affection. She still remembered the first time her father brought her to the palace. Though His Majesty admired her beauty, he did not make things difficult for her. Instead, he placed himself on equal footing and asked, “Would you be willing to enter the palace?”
She had already been moved by him then, but replied with restraint: “This humble daughter is spoiled and willful. I fear I cannot become a gentle, virtuous consort.”
Others, hearing such words, would have withdrawn at once. But His Majesty fixed his gaze on her and said, “A little willfulness is no matter.”
After she entered the palace, His Majesty cherished her deeply, showing her more indulgence than the other concubines. She refused to believe that after only a month apart, His Majesty had grown weary of her. There must be another reason.
Xu Wanqing pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes sharp as blades. She ordered her maid in a low voice: “Go and find out whether His Majesty has shown any unusual behavior of late.”
Meanwhile, Rong Chengguang spotted the purple riding cloak in the distance. Carrying his fly whisk, he approached with a cheerful smile: “Your Majesty, today Consort Jiang has stayed in her tent all day, going nowhere. She has been waiting eagerly for your return, scarcely touching her midday meal.”
Qi Yi removed his armor and handed it over, letting out a faint sneer: “Seems you’re rather lacking in talent here with me. Shall I transfer you to Consort Jiang, make you her Grand Steward of Internal Affairs?”
Rong Chengguang slapped his own mouth in mock punishment, but sensing His Majesty’s good mood, he quickly lifted the curtain with a sycophantic smile: “Your Majesty, you truly overpraise this servant. To be able to serve Your Majesty is a blessing accumulated by my ancestors—how could I dare harbor any other thoughts…”
Qi Yi’s steps halted. The flicker of joy that had just risen in him vanished completely.
Rong Chengguang turned in confusion, only to see that inside the tent there remained only a single guard. Alarmed, he asked: “Wasn’t there a little palace maid here just now? Where is she?”
The guard quickly replied: “Eunuch, when you stepped out, Chun Sheng came by. It seems… she went with that maid to the place where the hunting spoils are being counted.”
At the Grand Hunt, victory was decided by palace staff tallying the number of prey taken. Whoever hunted the most would win. And among today’s hunting parties, besides His Majesty, there was one more person connected to Consort Jiang—Huo Fan!
Rong Chengguang’s heart sank. Last night, His Majesty had already learned that Consort Jiang met Huo Fan’s guard, Yu Yang. Though he had said nothing, that did not mean he wasn’t angry. Now Consort Jiang had gone to the tallying grounds—aside from helping Huo Fan win, Rong Chengguang could think of no other reason.
Consort Jiang was one thing, but Chun Sheng, that brainless fool, was even helping her. Now that His Majesty knew, who could say whether they’d survive once he returned?
Rong Chengguang’s mouth went dry with panic. He was about to smooth things over with a few words when His Majesty strode off in that direction.
From within a sack came endless squeaking sounds. Chun Sheng hefted the bag, his tone uneasy: “Consort Jiang, are we truly going to dump all these rats, chickens, and ducks here?”
The stench of vermin was overwhelming. Jiang Nian covered her nose, standing far off, nodding repeatedly: “Yes, yes, right there. The more the better. Bury them deep, don’t let anyone see.”
Remembering his master’s instructions to take good care of Consort Jiang, Chun Sheng loosened his grip. The rats, chickens, and ducks spilled into the basket.
The few rabbits and geese were placed neatly on top, covered tightly.
Once it was concealed, a glint of cunning flashed in Jiang Nian’s eyes. She beckoned Chun Sheng over. “Hurry, hurry, hide it well. Don’t let Huo Fan catch sight of it.”
The three of them crouched behind the tent cloth, staring unblinkingly at the group of noble sons returning.
At the very end of the line was Huo Fan. His riding and archery were poor, so he deliberately chose deserted mountain paths to hunt. After much effort, he managed only to catch weak and sickly prey.
Thinking of how the noble sons at the front of the procession always looked down on him, Huo Fan glanced at Yu Yang: “Are you sure Jiang Nian has arranged everything?”
“Rest assured, young master. That young lady is so devoted to you—knowing you would attend the Grand Hunt this year, she even disguised herself as a palace maid to follow. How could she not make proper arrangements?”
Huo Fan nodded with confidence. He knew Jiang Nian well—she would rush to help him without needing his request. He wondered what beasts she had procured. If they were only ordinary prey, it would embarrass him. Better if there were some fierce creature; otherwise, she would be of no use at all.
“Master Zhang of the Zhang family: three hares, two elk, two wild boars, one goose, and twenty other common animals!”
“Heir Li of the Li family: five hares, one elk, three wild boars, one bear, and twenty‑five other common animals!”
The crowd buzzed with exclamations. Other noble sons praised: “Master Zhang and Heir Li’s skill in riding and archery is truly extraordinary.”
“Yes, every year it’s Zhang, Li, and the eldest son of the Huo family who take the top three places, always outshining the rest of us.”
Accustomed to flattery, Zhang Yu and Li Zheng smiled thinly, but their eyes fell on Huo Fan at the rear.
Exchanging glances, Zhang Yu sneered: “Well, isn’t that Huo Fan? This year, the Huo family didn’t send their eldest son; instead, they sent a concubine’s child. How disgraceful.”
Li Zheng followed up: “Not just a concubine’s child—his mother was a lowly maid who climbed into bed and bore him, only then gaining the title of concubine. He’s nothing but the son of a slave.”
“He’s only here at the Grand Hunt because he clings to Consort Jiang in the palace. Tell me, isn’t the Huo family on the decline, if they must rely on a woman’s skirts? Hahaha!”
The other noble sons cast disdainful looks at Huo Fan and burst into loud laughter.
Huo Fan’s face turned green as he gripped his basket, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
Yu Yang shouted angrily: “Master Zhang, Heir Li, our young master has every right to attend the Grand Hunt. His riding and archery are no worse than our eldest young master’s.”
Zhang Yu raised his brows, eyeing the basket with amusement: “Oh? How many hares did you catch? Don’t tell me when you dump them out, I’ll be able to count them on one hand, hahaha.”
When the laughter subsided, Huo Fan stepped closer, his face stern, and taunted: “Then, Master Zhang, look carefully. Don’t miscount and let others think you failed to learn arithmetic properly as a child.”
Seeing Huo Fan’s confidence, Zhang Yu’s smile faded slightly: “Fine then. You’d better impress me.”
The tension between them drew all the noble sons over, eyes fixed on Huo Fan’s basket.
“This looks heavy. Could it really be better than what the Huo family’s eldest son hunted?”
“No way. I heard Huo Fan may have some learning, but he’s no good at riding or archery. How could he surpass Zhang or Li?”
“Perhaps not. Maybe the old master of the Huo family truly believes Huo Fan has some ability, but why bring him? Surely the Huo family wouldn’t stoop to clinging to a woman.”
Hearing the murmurs, Huo Fan tightened his grip. He had weighed the basket—it was heavy, and something inside was moving. If the prey were wounded but still alive, that would be far more precious than dead game. He had heard that Qi Yi had caught a live white fox. Perhaps the movement in his basket was that very creature.
Delighted, Huo Fan lifted the basket and dumped everything out without looking.
The crowd leaned in, but before they could see clearly, a heap of black rats wriggled out from beneath the hares—along with chicken and duck remains.
The rats scattered everywhere. The official in charge of tallying recoiled in horror, shouting angrily: “Young Master Huo, how dare you! Bringing filthy vermin to pass off as game!”
“This official will report this to His Majesty!”
Terrified of being touched by the rats, the officials hurried away. The noble sons drew their swords to drive the vermin off, cursing loudly.
“Huo Fan, if you can’t hunt properly, don’t pretend. And to think you even had someone add rats and poultry scraps—what nonsense!”
Zhang Yu sneered: “Isn’t it fitting? The son of a slave brings slave vermin. A perfect match! Don’t blame Huo Fan—this is all his skill amounts to.”
Li Zheng, nauseated by the stench, couldn’t even bother to curse: “Enough. Let’s leave before this filth soils my clothes.”
“Yes, yes, let’s go…”
The jeers faded beneath the squeaking of rats. Huo Fan stood frozen, his whole body cold, lips drained of color.
It was over.
He was finished.