Chapter 71: The Prey

Beside Zhou Hongzuo stood several unfamiliar men, all robust and imposing, their sharp gazes betraying the experience of battle. Yang Lian was about to look away when a cavalryman approached Zhou Hongzuo, who then hurriedly left. Upon his return, Yang Lian sensed a change in him; Zhou seemed to glance at him intermittently, yet whenever Yang Lian looked back, Zhou's gaze was nowhere to be found. Perhaps he was just overthinking, Yang Lian mused silently.

They waited a full incense stick's time until all the hunters had gathered. Then Prince Qi, Li Jingsui, stepped forward to address the group, urging everyone to give their best performance. Spirits were high; each person vowed to claim first place, though there could be only one victor—the strongest and luckiest.

The Princess of Huairou hid among the crowd, hoping her father would not notice her presence. Despite having her imperial uncle's permission, she still felt uneasy. Fortunately, Li Jingsui seemed oblivious to her.

To further motivate the hunters, Prince Li Jingsui had drums beaten, the resounding echoes reverberating through Zhongshan Mountain. When the drumming ceased, he waved his hand and declared, “Let us begin.”

The camp gates swung open, and many leapt forward, racing toward Zhongshan Mountain, fearful of being too slow and losing all the game to others. Yang Lian, however, was unhurried, leisurely riding out. By then, the Princess of Huairou had changed into light leather armor and was still mounted on her small red horse, trailing behind him. “Hurry! If you go any slower, the game will all be gone,” she urged.

Yang Lian turned back with a smile. “Let them fight over it. I’m not in a rush.”

“But I am,” the princess retorted.

“Why are you so eager?” he asked.

“To win first place, of course. Don’t you want to be first?” she rolled her eyes, as if he were foolish.

Yang Lian chuckled. “Do you really think rushing headlong will bring you more game?”

“If you get a head start, you can strike first. Otherwise, when the game is all gone, what can you do? I don’t want to see you fail,” the princess said, exasperated.

Yang Lian smiled faintly and said no more. He gently urged his horse forward.

Suddenly, a voice called out, “Isn’t this the newly appointed Commander of the Divine Martial Army?”

Yang Lian glanced back to see Zhou Hongzuo. Though once under Zhou’s command, they had little connection. Zhou’s approach felt like a provocation. Before he could speak, the Princess of Huairou sneered and coquettishly asked, “And who might you be?”

Zhou was taken aback, not expecting the princess to be disguised as a man. When he realized her rosy lips and bright teeth belonged to a young beauty, he scoffed, “Commander Yang is indeed a dashing gentleman, bringing along a little beauty even during the hunt.”

The princess’s expression darkened. Without a word, she lashed out with her whip. Zhou was quick, catching the whip and pulling back. The princess, with less strength, winced in pain and let go, noticing a bloodied scratch on her hand.

“Haha, little lady, let’s see how arrogant you can be now,” Zhou mocked.

Yang Lian smiled faintly. “Commander Zhou, don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”

“Too far? I don’t even know what that means. If you’re unhappy, come and teach me a lesson,” Zhou retorted.

Yang Lian was surprised. They had no quarrel. He never would have provoked Zhou, yet Zhou came seeking trouble today—had he lost his nerve? Suddenly, Yang Lian recalled that he had stepped away for a while earlier. What had happened then?

The princess, unwilling to back down, furrowed her brows. “Zhou Hongzuo, do you not fear being annihilated along with your entire clan for insulting a princess?”

Zhou paused, assessing her closely. “A princess?”

Yang Lian sneered. “Commander Zhou, the daughter of a noble family is not someone you may insult. Isn’t it disrespectful to look at her that way?”

Zhou Hongzuo silently cursed his luck. Why hadn’t anyone told him a princess was present? It was a deadly oversight. Hastily dismounting, he bowed. “Zhou Hongzuo did not realize the princess was here; please forgive me.”

“Is ignorance an excuse?” Before the princess could reply, Yang Lian interrupted, seizing the moment. Since Zhou had provoked them, now was the time to strike.

The princess gave a sly laugh. “Indeed, you offended me and now want to run?”

Zhou, a sensible man, knew when to yield—otherwise, he would not have killed Yang Meng years ago. “Princess, I beg your pardon for my earlier offenses.”

The princess’s smile blossomed. “Pardon? The death sentence may be spared, but punishment you shall still face. Dismount.”

Zhou hesitated but complied, holding the reins firmly, chest puffed out.

“Stay here and stand well for at least half an hour. Do not leave,” the princess ordered with a smile.

Zhou’s face soured. Half an hour was long enough to stand.

Yang Lian rode past, teasing, “Commander Zhou’s posture is truly like a pine tree—must have practiced standing a lot. Could it be Lady Sister-in-Law’s doing?”

Zhou rolled his eyes, thinking, You’d better not get too arrogant; I’ll make you regret it sooner or later.

Yang Lian ignored him and rode on. The princess snorted proudly, and the two rode ahead, leaving Zhou to glare after them.

“Hurry, hurry!” the princess urged again.

Yang Lian remained unhurried. By now, the hunters had scattered into the woods searching for game.

“Princess, it’s dangerous in there. We should turn back,” Yang Lian warned.

The princess smiled confidently and beckoned. A few fully armed guards came running—each equipped with short swords and bows, alert and ready.

“With them around, there’s nothing to fear,” she said, signaling them forward.

Yang Lian was speechless. This was clearly numbers overpowering few. If they caught game, would it even count?

He said no more and quickly rode to the forest’s edge, tethered his horse, and ventured into the dense woods. Footprints marked the ground, but Yang Lian ignored them, pressing deeper.

The earlier drumming by Prince Li Jingsui had surely scared the timid animals away, forcing them deeper into the forest. Only by venturing further could Yang Lian hope for a good catch.

The princess and her guards followed, stumbling after him. Yang Lian stopped again to warn, but the princess refused to heed him, leaving him to proceed more cautiously.

As they advanced, the forest thickened, sunlight dimmed, and fewer hunters were in sight. The princess grew uneasy, recalling her fearful days in Changzhou—when Yang Lian had suddenly appeared to save her. That memory was unforgettable.

After half an incense stick’s time, Yang Lian crossed three ridges and reached a clearing. Here, deer frolicked joyfully, sheep grazed peacefully—over fifty in total.

Yang Lian smiled, feeling the effort worthwhile. The princess cheered exuberantly. With so many deer and sheep, catching seven or eight would secure victory.

Yang Lian readied his bow. Suddenly, several arrows came flying from nowhere; one headed straight for him.

He reacted swiftly, dodging. Turning back, he saw only swaying branches—no one was visible.

“Who’s there?” he shouted, his voice booming like thunder, but no answer came.

Drawing an arrow, he fired into the forest. Silence remained; no figure revealed itself. The attacker had escaped quickly, Yang Lian thought.

The princess was shaken. Though the arrows weren’t aimed at her, fear crept in.

Yang Lian stepped forward. “Let’s go.” Grabbing the princess’s arm, he led her away.

Though she wanted to resist, his strength was too great. Remembering his determination, she gave up and followed. The guards drew their weapons, alert and ready.

They disappeared into the woods, hiding beneath a tree amidst thick bushes. Yang Lian lay low, waiting. After a full incense stick’s time, no enemy appeared.

Pondering for a moment, Yang Lian emerged again. It seemed the attacker, having failed, had given up.

In the hundred-step-square clearing, Yang Lian shot arrows, taking down a few deer. But when more than three fell, the startled herd scattered. He fired rapidly until his two quivers were empty, tallying over ten kills.

This was a considerable haul. Straining, he tied up the game; dense woods made leaving difficult. He cut off the right ear of each animal as proof, then released them all.

The princess’s own bounty was ample, thanks to her guards. Seeing Yang Lian’s empty hands, she laughed, “Why haven’t you caught any? Here, take some of mine as a gift.”

Yang Lian smiled faintly. “You keep them. I don’t need them.”

The princess wrinkled her nose, snorting twice, and ordered her guards to carry the game back. The group exchanged glances at the live animals.

In the end, the guards, outmatched by the princess’s will, bore the deer and sheep back slowly. Yang Lian, carefree, slowed his pace as well. They emerged from the forest after over half an hour.

Most hunters had returned, carrying rabbits and pheasants; catching even a few goats was considered a feat.

When Yang Lian and his party appeared, especially with the princess’s guards carrying deer and sheep, everyone’s eyes widened.

Zhou Hongzuo had returned and, seeing Yang Lian empty-handed, laughed, “So going out early ended up with nothing. In the end, it’s still the princess you rely on.” This time he was wiser and dared not be rude to the princess.

Yang Lian ignored him, mounting his horse and riding off swiftly.

“Just a useless fellow who can’t catch a single beast. Commander Zhou needn’t get angry,” someone chuckled upon witnessing the scene.

Zhou nodded. “Indeed. The time is near. Let’s return first and see how that brat ends.”

Thus, the hunt continued, the air thick with rivalry and unspoken challenges.