The Young Marquis Regrets Too Late - Chapter 57

Wang Shun didn’t think further and just returned to his carriage.

On his way back, he passed by a carriage of the Jiang family. His gaze darkened, and it became laced with a hint of malice.

The Gu family’s carriage was right beside it.

Truly, they were a group of annoying people gathering together.

Wang Shun withdrew his gaze and no longer looked at them. He went back to his own carriage.

The grand entourage set off in full splendour. The carriages travelled down the long streets, and the common folk, upon seeing the emperor’s imperial procession, dropped to their knees in reverent kowtows. Only after the carriages had passed did they dare to lift their heads.

Once the procession completely disappeared, the people let out a collective sigh of relief. They scattered in their separate ways, then resumed their idle chatter.

“It’s always such an ostentatious display. The northern border is still at war, yet they have the leisure to hunt and play. And who even knows if there’s any money left in the treasury? If there’s enough money to rebuild that old terrace, why isn’t there enough to allocate to the northern border? Maybe we wouldn’t be stuck in this limbo—unable to fend off the Mongols but also unable to push them out. They linger outside like a starving wolf, haunting us endlessly.”

Someone replied, “You don’t understand. The autumn hunt is essential—it’s meant to strengthen the bond between ruler and officials. And before the hunt, there’s the ceremonial tribute to the ancestors and the heavens. This isn’t just some ordinary pastime. It reflects His Majesty’s benevolence and love for his people. As for rebuilding Tianlu Terrace, you don’t get it either. That’s His Majesty showing sincerity, aligning with heaven’s will… Think it over carefully. What could possibly be wrong with that? Everything has its purpose.”

The first person nearly rolled their eyes. “Are you done rambling?”

“My father explained it to me like this. Just think about it this way—it’ll make it easier to accept.”

What else could they do but accept it, anyway? Just like earlier, when the procession passed, no matter how much they disliked it, they still had to kowtow when required.

He could try throwing a rotten egg and see what’d happen. He’d find out real fast what ‘off with your head’ means.

Under such circumstances, apathy wasn’t the worst thing.

Who said apathy was bad?

When someone was already numb and had become apathetic, suffering wouldn’t be able to reach them anymore.

“Let’s go. Stop thinking about it.”

They dropped the argument. On matters like these, there was no conclusion to be reached—after all, the outcome was not something they had any power over.

The affairs of those in power had little to do with them.

Anyhow, it wasn’t like those in power cared about the lives or deaths of people like them.

It wasn’t long before the grand entourage arrived at the imperial hunting grounds for the autumn hunt.

Preparations here had long been completed. When Emperor Taihe and his entourage arrived, they first conducted a solemn ritual to honour their ancestors and pay homage to the heavens. After that, Emperor Taihe delivered a lengthy speech full of platitudes encouraging unity between a ruler and his subjects. By the time the ceremony concluded and the festivities began, it was nearly noon.

It was late in the tenth month, and the weather was crisp and clear then. Neither the stifling heat of summer nor the biting cold of winter was present these days. 

The hunting grounds, surrounded by mountains and ancient towering trees, made for a picturesque sight.

Majestic pines and cypresses stood tall. The air was fresh and invigorating. The emperor and empress, accompanied by the empress dowager, sat high on a raised platform, overlooking the grand assembly of officials below.

The feast had commenced. Music filled the air, and dancers performed on a stage draped in red silk. The performers’ elaborate costumes shimmered, and their exposed skin glowed under the sunlight. Their graceful movements captivated the audience, and the gentle clash of the gemstones adorning their hairpins created a pleasing melody. Nearby, the elegant sound of musical instruments complemented the mingling fragrances of wine and incense. All this created an atmosphere of sheer luxury.

Emperor Taihe’s expression was inscrutable as he watched the dancers. His gaze was calm and betrayed no hint of emotion—be it joy or dissatisfaction.

Jiang Jingchun and Gu Huaisheng sat together. Occasionally, they glanced at the dancers; other times, they quietly ate their food and paid no mind to anyone else.

Jiang Jingchun wasn’t afraid of stirring up trouble, but in the past, the things people said about her had worn her down. They had dampened her confidence and filled her with unease. She had grown cautious and reserved. Still, ever since she received Gu Huaisheng’s words of reassurance last time, she had begun to relax, and she now carried herself with a newfound sense of ease.

As the dancers swayed their graceful bodies, Jiang Jingchun found herself mesmerised by them. She even forgot to chew the food in her mouth.

Though she wasn’t well-versed in the nuances of art or culture, she had an eye for beauty. The moment her gaze landed on the dancers, she found it difficult to tear it away.

She marvelled at their skill and wondered how anyone could move in such a way that commanded attention so effortlessly.

Gu Huaisheng naturally noticed her fascination.

Sometimes, he felt like he wasn’t wrong to describe her like a child. She enjoyed eating and playing, and didn’t take anything seriously, just like a child. Now, apparently, she also liked watching dance performances.

It seemed harmless for a woman to stare at another woman, but a man staring at a woman often carried more dubious implications. Most of the men present simply cast fleeting glances at the dancers and maintained solemn expressions. With the emperor present, they were careful to remain composed. Even if they harboured improper thoughts, they lacked the courage to act on them. In this dynasty, where propriety and moral education were emphasised, lingering gazes at the dancers could become ammunition in future fights and quarrels.

Moreover, with their wives and daughters present, such behaviour would only sow discord in their households. They’d better refrain from anything improper.

However, Jiang Jingchun didn’t care about such things. Even if she openly stared at the dancers, no one would dare say anything. After all, she was just a young woman. Who could fault her for looking at the dancers?

In the end, Jiang Jingchun watched the performance more intently than anyone else.

Gu Huaisheng thought to himself that it was fine if she was just enjoying the show. Hopefully, she wouldn’t start taking an interest in other… more troublesome pursuits.

After all, the capital wasn’t short on handsome male performers…

Although on the surface, everyone seemed to maintain a respectable demeanour, in private, their indulgences were far from clean.

Some men had a penchant for pursuits of peculiar thrill, such as same-gendered relations. Once, Gu Huaisheng had presided over a case at the Censorate that was absurd beyond measure.

It involved a young opera performer from the theatre who had an affair with a high-ranking household’s madame. Their illicit relationship was exposed when they were caught red-handed and handed over to the household master—the madame’s husband. It was only then that the patriarch realised this opera performer had also been involved with him in the past.

Disgusted at the thought of the performer dallying with both himself and his wife, the household master flew into a rage and killed him.

Although the incident was initially suppressed, it was eventually leaked by the household master’s political rivals and brought before the Censorate.

The case revealed that the husband and wife, in their search for pleasure, had both fixated on the same person.

When the details came to light, it was hard not to see the opera performer as the most innocent party in the whole mess. 

From start to finish, he had no say in whom he served—men or women. 

Yet, due to the couple’s chaotic affairs, he met such a tragic end.

Gu Huaisheng paid no regard to the household master’s status and sentenced him according to the laws on murder. Under the empire’s law, slaves were of little value; had the opera performer been a servant owned by the household, his death might have been dismissed entirely. However, as the performer was not formally owned by anyone, Gu Huaisheng ruled the case as the murder of a commoner. While the household master’s punishment fell short of death, he did endure considerable suffering.

The world was rife with stories of indulgence and excess. 

Jiang Jingchun was a person who rarely refused anything that brought her pleasure. Whatever felt nice to her, she liked.

Anyhow, Gu Huaisheng thought to himself that Jiang Jingchun’s current fascination with watching women dance wasn’t a big deal. However, he absolutely couldn’t let her encounter certain types of individuals—otherwise, if someone caught her eye, her gaze might never leave them.

A maid arrived and brought a plate of boiled shrimp.

Jiang Jingchun loved shrimp but hated peeling it.

This little spoiled quirk of hers was, in a way, endearing. After all, there was always someone willing to pamper her and take care of these tasks for her. Back home, Huayun would peel shrimp for her. But now, at this banquet in the hunting grounds, her maids had been left elsewhere, so she had no one to help her.

If no one peeled them, she simply wouldn’t eat.

Gu Huaisheng himself wasn’t fond of these small tasks, and given his severe cleanliness habits, he could count on one hand the number of times he’d touched shrimp in his life.

Yet, he rolled up his sleeves and began peeling the shrimp.

Jiang Jingchun was still focused on the dancers and didn’t notice his actions until a peeled shrimp was held out in front of her mouth.

She snapped out of her thoughts and glanced down, then saw the shrimp in Gu Huaisheng’s hand.

His slender, fair fingers were holding the shrimp. Jiang Jingchun froze, and she was clearly surprised that Gu Huaisheng would do such a thing. For a moment, she forgot to open her mouth and just stared blankly at the shrimp that was held so close to it.

She raised her gaze to look at Gu Huaisheng and found him watching her intently.

Their eyes met. Gu Huaisheng lowered his gaze to her lips, then said, “Open your mouth.”

His deep eyes seemed to hold a bottomless depth, and his voice, which was cool and clear, carried a soft warmth that others might not discern. Those two simple words, as they fell into Jiang Jingchun’s ears, were imbued with an almost coaxing tone.

Jiang Jingchun’s mind went blank. She followed his command and obediently opened her mouth.

Seeing her comply, Gu Huaisheng’s lips curved into a small smile, and he fed her the shrimp.

As the shrimp entered her mouth, his fingers accidentally brushed against her lips. Her lips were warm and soft, and the fleeting contact sent a hot jolt through his fingertips. It caused him to tremble slightly.

Before he could dwell on the sensation, Jiang Jingchun said, “I have hands. I can peel it myself.”

The shrimp was still in her mouth, so he words were slightly muffled as she spoke.

Gu Huaisheng inwardly thought, ‘That’s impossible.’

However, he only retorted to her in his mind. Outwardly, he merely gave her a smile, then picked up another shrimp and began peeling again.

Jiang Jingchun’s attention had already returned to the dancers. Her gaze fixed on them once more. 

Upon noticing this, Gu Huaisheng asked, “You like watching them that much?”

Her eyes were almost glued to them.

Jiang Jingchun was wholly oblivious to the teasing in his tone. She was simply marvelling at the newfound appeal of such performances. She wondered why she had never appreciated their charm before. The dancers often cast her fleeting glances, which further captivated her.

As it turned out, there were some things that one just couldn’t appreciate enough as a child. However, as one grew, one would naturally come to understand their appeal.

When Jiang Jingchun didn’t respond, Gu Huaisheng didn’t press her. She focused on the dancers, and he continued to place peeled shrimp into her mouth from time to time. During moments like these, she was at her most docile, as she was too preoccupied with other things to object to his actions.

Several onlookers noticed Gu Huaisheng’s behaviour.

There had already been whispers about what Gu Huaisheng would be like after marriage. He was known for his cold demeanour, so people wondered if he would be just as distant to his wife.

No one expected to see him peeling shrimp for Jiang Jingchun.

Gu Huaisheng peeling shrimp…

It was a truly unexpected sight.

Him aside, they could ask themselves, how many other men in this banquet area would peel shrimps for their wives? They looked around and found no other husband personally peeling shrimps with his hand like Gu Huaisheng was.

It was, to say the least, astonishing.

Marquis Gu’s colleague, who was sitting next to him, couldn’t help but lean closer to him and say, “Your son and daughter-in-law are blessed indeed. I couldn’t have imagined that Fuyan could be so caring before. It’s like seeing a hardened tree bloom—nobody else compares to him.”

Marquis Gu found these words quite pleasing. Looking over at Gu Huaisheng and Jiang Jingchun sitting nearby, he felt that life was becoming more fulfilling by the day. He sipped his wine contentedly. Perhaps he’d be able to hold a grandson soon!

He didn’t hesitate to echo his colleague’s sentiment. “Of course, they’re blessed. And I have to admit, even I can’t compare to him.”

His colleague laughed. “That’s excellent! At this rate, it won’t be long before we’re attending the baby’s first-year banquet.”

The two shared drinks, chatting and laughing. However, the lively atmosphere was soon disrupted as the music and dancing subsided. Emperor Taihe seemed ready to speak, and his demeanour suggested he had something important to say.

The place fell silent. The colleague straightened in his seat and refrained from speaking further.

The emperor began with some inconsequential remarks, but before long, the topic shifted to the situation in the northern borderlands.

When the empress dowager noticed Emperor Taihe steering the topic there, she seemed inclined to intervene. She said, “Your Majesty, it’s the autumn hunt. If we’re here to enjoy ourselves, let’s do so wholeheartedly. Why bring up such matters?”

However, Emperor Taihe didn’t heed her suggestion. He said, “Mother, I just made a casual mention. What harm is there in that?”

Since the emperor had responded this way, the empress dowager didn’t see any point in pressing further.

When the emperor saw that the empress dowager didn’t continue speaking, he returned to his previous speech. He said, “The Mongolian forces remain a persistent threat, constantly eyeing our northern territories. What are your thoughts on this matter?”

Typically, discussions of the northern conflict were confined to private Grand Secretariat meetings. It was unusual for the emperor to bring it up so openly. The officials exchanged puzzled glances, as they were unsure of his intentions. No one was eager to be the first to speak.

Finally, it was Wang Shun who broke the silence. He said, “Your Majesty, I believe that with the Mongolian forces stationed along the border, their intentions remain unclear. It would be unwise to act rashly. After all, when Shen Changqing betrayed us and colluded with the enemy, our defeat at Hangu Pass was devastating. That loss has emboldened them, and we cannot be sure of victory if we were to engage them again.”

Since the senior grand secretary had said this, few would dare to offer dissent.

Silence fell over the place once more until Secretariat Elder Song spoke up. He said, “I disagree. If we delay now and continue delaying year after year, are we just going to let this drag on indefinitely? Such delays only hand them opportunities on a silver platter. It cedes the initiative to them, does it not? Moreover, the current situation in the northern territories is favourable to our side. Who’s to say we don’t have a chance of victory?”

The opinions of the senior grand secretary and one of the secondary grand secretaries, Secretariat Elder Song, were starkly different. In truth, they had rehashed these arguments hundreds of times before. Even now that the emperor had brought the matter up again, they’d still continue the same arguments all over again.

So what was the point of bringing this matter up again, really?

After a moment of silence, the emperor asked, “So, what do my other dear ministers think?”

His question was met with hesitation. The emperor noticed the reluctance. He let out a light chuckle and swept his gaze across the room, then said, “Go on, speak up. Giving your opinion won’t cost you money.”

Won’t cost money? 

Well, sure, but it might cost them their life.

Among the five grand secretaries, only Marquis Gu supported Secretariat Elder Song’s stance. The other two naturally sided with Wang Shun. 

As for the general officials, the majority aligned with the Wang Shun as well, as per usual.

In essence, today’s discussion was a futile endeavour.

Emperor Taihe observed the scene from his seat on the high platform. His expression was contemplative. He hadn’t expected Wang Shun to still command such significant support.

It seemed that much of Wang Shun’s embezzled wealth had found its way into the pockets of these officials. That would explain their unwavering loyalty.

As the emperor’s gaze swept across the place, his thoughts were unreadable. When his eyes landed on Gu Huaisheng, however, they lingered for a moment.

He called Gu Huaisheng and asked him if he had anything to say.

Gu Huaisheng, who had been quietly wiping his hands during the earlier discussion, stood up to reply. Although he had already expressed his stance earlier, the emperor now wanted him to address the matter personally, in front of everyone.

The emperor had his own biases and considerations.

In truth, he favoured military action against the Mongolian forces. However, at the moment, half of the court was aligned with Wang Shun, and he couldn’t rashly decide on the matter.

Gu Huaisheng respectfully saluted, then said, “This minister believes that Secretariat Elder Song’s words are not without merit. In a previous dynasty, Su Mingyun once remarked, in his work, ‘On the Six Kingdoms’: ‘Today, five cities are ceded; tomorrow, ten more. As we look across our borders, the Qin soldiers arrive once again.’ While our empire, Great Zhao, may not face such a fate as the Six Kingdoms, if we continue to compromise and delay and fail to learn from the past, who can say what our future will hold?”

Wang Shun laughed upon hearing this. He said, “Is the young marquis suggesting that Great Zhao is on the verge of collapse?”

Drawing comparisons to the previous dynasty’s downfall could be construed as treasonous if taken out of context. 

This was precisely Wang Shun’s tactic. He took Gu Huaisheng’s single statement and spun it into something far more severe. Such was his style; whenever political matters were debated, he would seize upon any opinion that differed from his and twist it to his advantage.

Though his tone outwardly seemed polite, his words were anything but.

Gu Huaisheng was unbothered by the veiled accusations. He lowered his gaze and clasped his hands in a formal gesture of respect toward Wang Shun, though he did not bend his waist to bow, even slightly.

He said evenly, “His Majesty asks, and I answer. If my lord chooses to interpret my words this way, then there’s little I can do.”

He couldn’t be bothered to engage further. 

If he were to engage Wang Shun on this, there was no telling how far the matter would escalate.

Emperor Taihe interjected to diffuse the tension after that. He let out a dry chuckle—one that carried no warmth. There wasn’t even a smile on his face as he said, “I was merely asking casually. There’s no need to argue. It’s the first day of the autumn hunt, and such disputes will spoil it.”

Emperor Taihe turned to look at Gu Huaisheng again and said, “Ever since your marriage, you seem to have become a changed man. A talented man and a beauty are a natural pair. Yes, one only envies the mandarin ducks and not the immortals… Very well, very good. I don’t believe I’ve had the chance to properly observe this young Lady Jiang. Come, rise and let me take a look.”

Jiang Jingchun, who had already regained her composure after Gu Huaisheng first rose to speak, was caught off guard when the topic abruptly shifted from matters of state to herself. She was startled, but she quickly stood at the emperor’s summons. She didn’t dare to delay at all.

It was the first time the emperor had personally called her out. She inevitably felt nervous. Gu Huaisheng sensed her unease and quietly reassured her. In a calm and steady tone, he said, “Don’t be afraid.”

She’d been raised in an inner courtyard as a sheltered miss for as long as she could remember. She also rarely ventured beyond the walls of her home. Her one notable journey was a three-day escapade outside the city. She had seen the emperor before, from a distance, but she kept her head down like a silent quail back then. Now, though, on top of the emperor’s eyes, the eyes of all the officials, as well as the empress and the empress dowager’s eyes, were fixed on her. 

It was only natural for her to feel nervous.

Gu Huaisheng’s words soothed her and allowed her to collect herself. She performed a respectful curtsy to Emperor Taihe.

The emperor’s gaze lingered on Jiang Jingchun, though his thoughts remained inscrutable. After a moment, he suddenly smiled and said, “Today is the autumn hunt. Whatever you desire, just tell your husband to hunt it for you.”

Gu Huaisheng excelled in all of the six gentlemanly arts—rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. 

The emperor’s words sounded lighthearted. Indeed, he sounded like he was teasing Gu Huaisheng. 

Before Jiang Jingchun could respond, Gu Huaisheng spoke first. His tone was calm yet firm as he said, “Your Majesty, please don’t tease this minister.”

With a few simple words, he deftly deflected the emperor’s jest. The emperor, who caught the subtext, kept a faint smile on his face.

Truthfully, the emperor still didn’t quite understand what it was that Gu Huaisheng liked about Jiang Jingchun. Yet, he could see from the way he protected her that their relationship was a strong one.

Seeing Gu Huaisheng’s protective stance, the emperor decided not to press further. He concluded, “Let’s leave it at that for now. It seems none of you are in the mood to continue dining. This banquet should come to an end. Go fetch your horses and bows. Whoever takes first place today will receive a reward from me.”

After Emperor Taihe said this, the atmosphere lightened at last. The tension that had gripped the place eased.

Though the autumn hunt was an imperial event, the emperor himself rarely participated. He left the sport to his officials. The last time he had mounted a horse was when he was eighteen.

It was a story from long ago.

Qiongzhang was still alive at that time. The two of them rode their respective horses like nothing else in the world mattered to them. They had a great time that day, and by the end of it, they even drank some wine together.

They hid deep in the forest, where no one could find them.

In that vast and boundless place, they were not an emperor and his subject. They were merely a pair of best friends.

Qiongzhang, who had gotten drunk to the point of incoherence, confessed something to him that night. He said that he seemed to have fallen in love with someone.

He had fallen for a dancer.

Emperor Taihe lay sprawled on the ground at that time. Upon hearing this, he simply laughed. Qiongzhang was such a fool—what did he even know about loving someone?

He said, “Qiongzhang, you don’t love her. You just think that dancer is pretty.”

Qiongzhang was very shy and innocent. If a girl who wore only thin clothing bared her smooth arms to him, he would blush and avoid looking. But how could that simple feeling be called love?

However, Qiongzhang argued with him. His face reddened even further.

He said, “It’s not like that! I really like her! Your Majesty, don’t you believe me? She doesn’t believe me either…”

Cen Yin always doubted him. She always doubted that he liked her, doubted that he would stay, doubted that he wouldn’t abandon her.

Emperor Taihe straightened his expression and fixed his gaze on him as he asked, “Does Teacher know about this?”

Qingzhang shook his head. “I don’t dare tell Father. He’ll definitely be furious. If he finds out, he’ll definitely kill her…”

Wang Shun was too strict. He treated both Qiongzhang and Emperor Taihe with equal severity. But at least Emperor Taihe was the emperor; Wang Shun could only lecture him with Confucian teachings and not raise a hand against him. Qiongzhang, however, had been beaten countless times since childhood—for misreading a text, for saying the wrong thing… He always faced the ruler in Wang Shun’s hand for these mistakes.

If Wang Shun were to learn about his entanglement with a dancer, it would definitely be the end for him. The consequences would undoubtedly be an earth-shattering catastrophe.

Qiongzhang didn’t even dare to imagine it.

He’d hidden Cen Yin away. He’d hid her so well that not even his father would be able to find her.

Because he knew that if she were discovered, Cen Yin wouldn’t survive.

So she absolutely couldn’t be discovered.

That day, the two of them lay in the forest of the hunting grounds. No one found them, and they spent the entire night there.

When dawn broke, the imperial guards finally discovered their whereabouts and escorted them back.

As expected, the emperor was scolded upon their return.

To camp overnight in the hunting grounds’ woods, even drinking and failing to return—that was unbecoming of an emperor. An emperor was supposed to sit properly on the high platform and conduct himself with decorum.

Perhaps the incident was so outrageous in the empress dowager’s eyes that she blamed herself for failing to raise the emperor properly. She went on a hunger strike and refused to eat to make her point. Emperor Taihe knelt for an entire night before she finally relented.

In truth, there was something Emperor Taihe didn’t quite understand. Clearly, he and Qiongzhang had come out of the forest together, yet his mother rushed to check on Qiongzhang first. When Wang Shun was about to punish Qiongzhang, she even stepped in to stop him.

But when it came to him? She’d resort to using a hunger strike to force him to yield.

The empress dowager seemed to be much closer to Qiongzhang than she was to him, her own son…

When Qiongzhang was born, he had lost his birth mother. But later, he gained another—the emperor’s.

Perhaps the impression that day had left on the emperor was too profound. In the years that followed, during the autumn hunts, Emperor Taihe never mounted a horse again.

After giving his orders, he rose and walked to his tent. He left the scene without lingering for even a moment.

After the emperor left, the place became more relaxed. Everyone got up and returned to their own tents to change into riding clothes.

Jiang Jingchun and Gu Huaisheng also headed back to their tent.

She still hadn’t fully recovered after being personally addressed by the emperor earlier and remained dazed and absent-minded all the way back to the tent.

Gu Huaisheng noticed her distracted state. When she wasn’t paying attention, he reached out to her fingertips. Sure enough, her fingers felt cold to the touch.

Jiang Jingchun hadn’t even reacted yet when she heard him chuckle softly.

He asked, “Are you still scared? What do you want to get? I’ll take you hunting.”

His voice was light and clear. His tone rose at the end, like his words were an invitation.

Gu Huaisheng had no idea why it seemed like Jiang Jingchun had two different personalities. How was it that Jiang Jingchun could be so brash and unbridled in front of him, yet so scaredy in front of other people? Her hands had even turned frozen cold like this, even though she hadn’t even said anything to them.

Jiang Jingchun caught the teasing undertone in Gu Huaisheng’s voice. At that moment, she forgot to pull away from Gu Huaisheng’s touch. Instead, she stubbornly denied his first question. With her head still lowered, she said, “I’m not scared.”

She didn’t want Gu Huaisheng to make fun of her.

The way she looked now—the way she put on a tough front despite her inner frailty, struck Gu Huaisheng as both pitiful and endearing.

Her guard was too high.

Perhaps all she had endured in the past had shaped her into who she was now.

There was a time when Jiang Jingchun spoke her mind freely.

But now, she was too scared to speak at all.

Gu Huaisheng felt a lump rise in his throat. His voice turned slightly hoarse as he said, “Don’t overthink it. He’s not going to eat you. Come with me later, and we’ll—”

Before he could finish, Jiang Jingchun shook her head and interrupted, “I’m going to find A-Qing later.”

Jiang Jingchun pushed the earlier incident out of her mind. Gu Huaisheng was right—what was there to be afraid of? She hadn’t done anything wrong. She made up her mind. After changing her clothes, she’d go find Chen Muqing. This year, she wanted to catch a rabbit from the forest.

The imperial hunting grounds were home to more than just birds of prey; there were also small animals, like rabbits, specifically left for young misses and ladies to hunt.

When Jiang Jingchun mentioned her plan, Gu Huaisheng chose not to continue his earlier sentence. They’d almost arrived at their tent now. After a moment of hesitation, he added, “There are a lot of people here today. Don’t interact with Song Xuan’an. It wouldn’t look good if someone saw.”

Hm?

Jiang Jingchun didn’t understand why Gu Huaisheng suddenly brought this up. She gave him a look and said, “What are you even thinking? He’s off horseback riding and shooting arrows, while I can’t even shoot. We can’t hunt together.”

The most she’d do was chase after rabbits. Song Xuan’an, on the other hand, liked archery and preferred to shoot birds of prey. Naturally, their activities wouldn’t overlap.

Jiang Jingchun, who had grabbed her clothes, went inside the tent to change. She was eager to find Chen Muqing as soon as she possibly could—surely, the imperial hunting grounds would be more fun than anything outside.

When she came out in a light, practical outfit, she noticed Jiang Runchu standing outside the tent. Clearly, he was here to find Gu Huaisheng. They’d probably be going off to ride and hunt together shortly.

Jiang Jingchun froze slightly at the sight of Jiang Runchu. Jiang Runchu, who had been chatting with Gu Huaisheng, also fell silent.

It was a very awkward reunion for them.

Jiang Runchu uncomfortably rubbed his nose and said, “Are you going to catch rabbits?”

Jiang Runchu knew her well enough. Her attire made it obvious she was going to meet Chen Muqing. Chen Muqing was skilled at archery, but since Jiang Jingchun wasn’t, she’d likely end up just chasing rabbits as well.

Jiang Jingchun didn’t deny it. She just gave a simple ‘Mm’ in reply.

Jiang Runchu looked away, gave a small cough, and said, “The southern part of the forest has the most rabbits. They’re all over that area…”

Jiang Jingchun understood his meaning but looked at him with a flat expression. “I already know that. You don’t need to tell me.”

Her blunt retort left Jiang Runchu stunned. Then, she strode out of the tent without looking back.

Jiang Runchu’s face turned a shade darker. He had only meant to offer a friendly reminder, so why was she giving him such an attitude?

After Jiang Jingchun’s figure disappeared from sight, Jiang Runchu finally regained his composure. “Does… does she always act like this with you too?”

He was right. She was really good at holding grudges.

He had already lowered himself twice to make amends, yet she still treated him this way. Why?

She was like a stubborn mule. Once she’d bolted, there was no pulling her back.

Was this how she usually treated Gu Huaisheng, too? 

Or did she only act like this towards him?

Gu Huaisheng showed no reaction to Jiang Runchu’s complaints. He simply said lightly, “You can’t bear it already?”

In Gu Huaisheng’s case… Even his tears didn’t work on her.

Did Jiang Runchu think that some nice words would be enough to make her want to forgive him?

What exactly was she thinking?

Jiang Runchu understood the meaning behind Gu Huaisheng’s words. He pressed his lips together and said nothing more.

As soon as Jiang Jingchun stepped out of the tent, she went to look for Chen Muqing. The surroundings were lively, and there were people chatting and laughing all around her. The oppressive atmosphere from the banquet earlier had completely dissipated. 

A gust of wind blew past, carrying with it the scent of withered leaves in the air. Winter was approaching, and the sharp autumn wind stung her face slightly.

The wind pricked her cheeks and made them ache, but it inexplicably felt refreshing as well.

She wanted to find Chen Muqing quickly so they could start catching rabbits sooner.

The brisk wind stirred a sudden urge to break into a run, and Jiang Jingchun unconsciously quickened her pace.

She headed toward Chen Muqing’s tent in a hurry, but just as she passed another tent, someone suddenly emerged from inside. Before Jiang Jingchun could react, she couldn’t stop her momentum and bumped straight into that person.

She had only been walking faster, not running. Such a collision wouldn’t have made her fall, usually. However, she felt that person giving her shoulder a sharp shove. Before she could react again, she found herself falling hard onto the ground. She landed squarely on her backside.

It hurt. She raised her head.

What she saw immediately shocked her to the point she nearly fainted.

This was bad. Really bad.

Of all the people she could have bumped into, why did it have to be Wang Shun…?

At this moment, Wang Shun was standing and looking down at her with a cold glare. His gaze made her feel like a venomous snake was coiling tightly around her.