Chapter 28: Archery (1/2)

A wu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She thought she was fortunate. 

Whenever she teetered on the edge of a cliff, she always managed to grab hold of the last blade of grass and pull herself up.

After Emperor Jingxi carried A wu into the tent and set her down, he prepared to leave, but the corner of his robe was suddenly caught.

The grip on his robe was delicate and weak; he could easily have brushed it aside, but he chose to stop.

Lowering his thin eyelids, he saw the young girl gazing up at him with moist, alluring eyes.

He let out a soft, questioning sound.

A wu clung to the hem of Emperor Jingxi’s robe, crawling closer until she was at his feet, and whispered, 

“Third Brother, after you leave, will you never come back? Are you abandoning me?”

Emperor Jingxi remained composed. 

“Why do you say that?”

A wu looked up at him like an orphan about to be forsaken. 

“The young master of the Third Brother’s family looks like he comes from great wealth. The family has strict rules and many expectations. Seeing him, I feel ashamed of myself.”

She spoke the truth, but Emperor Jingxi likely misunderstood her meaning.

He raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing through her hair, and murmured, 

“Why are you suddenly thinking about this?” 

Hearing his words, A wu felt confirmed in her fears.

He looked down on her from the core of his being. 

It was all just a fleeting game, and once it was over, he would cut ties cleanly, ensuring she wouldn’t tarnish his reputation in the slightest.

The kindness he had shown her these past two days was nothing more than compensation.

This was what she had wanted, but today, seeing the Crown Prince’s confidence and realizing that they were ultimately father and son, rulers and subjects, she felt like nothing more than a discarded handkerchief-used, liked, but ultimately thrown away without a second thought.

Even the Crown Prince, whom she had believed was sincere, was no different, let alone the enigmatic Emperor before her.

A man’s mature and meticulous tenderness could also be a cold and ruthless indifference.

She knelt before him, tilting her head slightly. 

“Third Brother, stay with me.”

The morning breeze slipped through the cracks of the tent, and Emperor Jingxi’s gaze never left the young girl before him.

Her moist, dark eyes glistened in the sunlight, exuding a soft, dependent light.

She was filled with attachment and reluctance toward him.

It reminded him of fledglings falling from their nests. 

The moment they opened their eyes to the world, they developed a dependency on the first person they saw.

Emperor Jingxi slowly crouched down, his hands gripping A wu’s waist.

He met her gaze directly and said, 

“Don’t be foolish. There are people outside.”

He understood this seemingly innocent yet cunning young girl and knew what she wanted.

Of course, he couldn’t indulge her recklessly.

But A wu didn’t care. 

Her expression showed a naive stubbornness as she reached out to him. 

“But A wu wants it.”

Her soft, trembling hand fell upon the intricate, luxurious fabric of his robe.

She whispered, 

“Third Brother, A wu wants you. Now, give it to me.”

Her voice was light and soft, but it was like a spark igniting a pot of oil. 

Emperor Jingxi was instantly set aflame.

Perhaps he had always been a madman, born into the imperial family, cloaked in the authority of the throne, draped in the dignified robes of a ruler, and playing the part of the lofty actor in the golden palace.

And so, in this morning’s tent, with his own son just a stone’s throw away, he took the young girl who sought his affection in a restrained yet frenzied manner.

He pressed his sharp lips together, his tea-colored eyes fixed on the delicate, pale body beneath him. 

She was so fragile and pitiful in his grasp that it only made him want to torment her more.

Though they had already indulged in absurdity the night before, a single night’s rest was enough for the robust Emperor to recover. 

The morning’s burgeoning desire only made him more uncontrollable.

At this moment, the strength of a mature man in his thirties was more than enough to make this fragile young girl weep.

With each heavy thrust, her tears fell like rain, splattering onto the soft fox fur rug.

Her fingers dug deep into the fur, and she cried helplessly.

She was like a drowning person struggling in a raging sea, enduring the unbearable force that she could hardly withstand.

From start to finish, the frenzied Emperor Jingxi watched her from above, observing every subtle change in her expression with cold detachment. 

When it was finally over, Emperor Jingxi released her.

He lowered his eyes, his elegant fingers slowly straightening his robes.

A wu lay there, limp and exposed, her thin shoulders trembling slightly, causing her soft black hair to sway.

Emperor Jingxi caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye and thought she truly didn’t understand propriety. 

She was too spoiled, too willful. 

She had even tempted him into such debauchery, making him realize how depraved he could be.

He had always believed himself to be a wise and virtuous ruler, talented and righteous.

But now… he knew the Crown Prince must have realized what had happened.

He had heard him moving nearby earlier. 

The Crown Prince was experienced and would surely guess what his respected father had been up to in the tent this early morning.

Emperor Jingxi had spent his life as a ruler and a father, always fulfilling his duties. 

He had never made such a mistake before.

This seemingly delicate young girl had stirred the hidden darkness within him.

He gently lowered his eyelids, his long fingers brushing through her damp, soft hair. 

“I told you, we can’t be reckless.”

***

The Crown Prince was adept at reading subtle cues. 

After sipping his tea, he chatted with Futai. 

“Who was riding with the Emperor earlier?”

Futai smiled obsequiously. 

“A young lady.”

The Crown Prince frowned. 

“Where did she come from? When did this happen?”

He had never known his father to act like this. 

It was absurd he had been holding a young lady like that.

He knew the Emperor had never held the Empress like that, nor any of the other concubines, not even himself or Dening.

The Emperor had always been aloof and dignified, even when he occasionally showed kindness and tolerance, it was the demeanor of an elder, the grace of an Emperor.

What kind of enchantress could make the Emperor so indulgent and lenient?

Futai naturally understood the Crown Prince’s surprise, but there was nothing he could do.

He lowered his voice and said, 

“It’s only been a few days.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened with interest. 

“Where is she from? A concubine from the palace? Or some beauty presented from elsewhere? How did she suddenly gain the Emperor’s favor?”

Futai had no idea. 

He wished he could ask what was going on. 

Fang Yue seemed to want to investigate the origins of this beauty, but the Emperor had stopped him, so Futai was extremely curious.

He could only stammer, 

“This… this servant doesn’t know.”

The Crown Prince supported his chin with his thumb and sighed, 

“How could there be such a shameless woman in this world, bewitching the Emperor, leading him astray…”

Futai quickly looked around and said helplessly, 

“Your Highness, these words must not be spoken lightly.”

After all, she was a woman favored by the Emperor. 

Regardless of her background or origins, she could rise to power overnight. 

Palace affairs were unpredictable, and history was full of strange occurrences.

The Crown Prince paused.

He recalled the scene earlier when the Emperor had dismounted, but the woman had remained nestled in the crook of his arm, only revealing a glimpse of her hair.

She must have been extremely beautiful, but which concubine in the palace wasn’t? 

How could the Emperor be so foolish?

But after a moment of confusion, he murmured, 

“The Emperor said I was indulging in women, neglecting the bigger picture. If he now has a woman he favors, wouldn’t he understand my feelings?”

The Crown Prince  then snorted, 

“Father said my A wu was unworthy, but in broad daylight, he’s hiding her in his arms, completely disregarding propriety. What kind of woman is that? The Emperor favoring such a woman he has  truly lost his mind!”

Futai, hearing this, wished he could cover his ears.

Such treasonous words he’d better forget them quickly!

The Crown Prince, thinking of all this, chuckled and stood up. 

“I’ll go take a look!”

Futai tried to stop him but failed, stomping his foot in frustration. 

“My lord!”

The Crown Prince deliberately walked around the main tent. 

Since the guards were stationed at the moat and low walls, the interior was quiet, but within that quietness, there was an unusual atmosphere.

His steps halted, and his face turned red with disbelief.

Early in the morning, the enchantress had bewitched the Emperor!

His wise and decisive father had fallen into the trap of a seductress, right here in this wilderness tent, taking an unknown woman to bed.

What’s more, the Emperor knew he was nearby, yet he hadn’t shown the slightest concern for his dignity as a ruler and a father!

He couldn’t quite describe the emotions in his heart :disappointment, disbelief, or perhaps something else?

He stood still for a while before suddenly realizing he felt a sense of schadenfreude and complicity.

He thought, everyone has their own desires and passions. 

If the Emperor was now captivated by a woman and indulging in her, it wasn’t so unusual.

 Which Emperor in history didn’t have a favorite concubine?

And after this, how could the Emperor righteously lecture him? 

Perhaps he could even be lenient with him, maybe even allow him to keep A wu.

As he pondered this, he heard movement from the main tent.

He quickly looked over and saw the curtain being lifted.