Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 22 : Thunder

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The next morning, Emperor Xiande assumed personal command over the Autumn Hunt’s arena. His health did not permit him to go hunting on a horse, so he prepared some rewards and ordered the men present to head to the hunting grounds to try their luck at winning a prize. 

Li Jianheng could not get on his horse and had to make several attempts before he could hoist himself onto it. Emperor Xiande looked at him and said, “Jianheng will lead by example. I’ll be waiting to have a taste of your prey!”

Li Jianheng gripped the reins. He had already given instructions to his guards. Even if he could not hit a target, he would not return empty-handed. So he set out in high spirits with a bunch of guards following closely behind him. Xiao Chiye rode his horse beside him.  

There was a stretch of forest at the end of the vast expanse of grassland at the Nanlin Hunting Grounds. Morning dews hung on branches and leaves that had yellowed. Startled by the shouts and sounds of horses’ hooves, prey of all sizes that had been set loose scattered among the undergrowth.

Clenching his bow as he sat on his horse, Li Jianheng drew the string apart with great effort and fired an arrow at a rabbit. The arrow jabbed feebly into the ground some distance away from the rabbit. Blind applause and cheers first rang out at the sides, then the guard who had gone over to take a look, brought back a rabbit that had been prepared in advance. 

Satisfied, Li Jianheng said to Xiao Chiye, “My archery skill isn’t bad, right? It was Imperial Grandpa who taught me back then!”

Xiao Chiye said sincerely, “I have never seen such a display of archery prowess even in Libei.”

Li Jianheng immediately laughed and said, “You have been in Qudu for so long, you couldn’t have forgotten how to draw a bow, could you?”

Xiao Chiye had only brought an ordinary bow along. It was not even as good as the ones the Imperial Bodyguards used. He said, “Let me show you my skill too.”

With that, Xiao Chiye drew his bow and fired an arrow at the clearing before him. His shot was even weaker than Prince Chu’s; it did not even stab into the ground. Blind cheers and exaltation rang out from the sides again.

Xiao Chiye reveled in it. 

Qian Tianya had already grown impatient waiting behind them. Amused when he saw this scene, he said, “See that? If you don’t train well, you’ll be treated like a fool!” 

Looking at Xiao Chiye’s shoulders and arms, Shen Zechuan was once again reminded of that piece of bone thumb ring. He could not help but smile.

Prince Chu had not ridden for long when his back ached. It dampened his willingness to go further. This was the result of having too much to drink last night. At the moment, he was not feeling well all over. He led the horse and wandered around aimlessly for a while, enduring it until it was almost time before he urged his men back.

The guards at the back had not even finished shooting all their arrows when they escorted him back like a gust of wind. They did not even head to the forest in the east.

Li Jianheng dismounted the horse and kneeled before the Emperor. At the side, Pan Rugui made an inventory count of the prey for Emperor Xiande. The more Li Jianheng heard, the more pleased he was. He said, “Imperial Elder Brother! There’s even a red fox. What an excellent fur color. It’ll make the perfect fur collar for you.” 

Emperor Xiande was pleased too. He said, “I feel even more spirited now than I was back in Qudu! Pan Rugui, give the stuff to Prince Chu.”

Li Jianheng lifted the silk fabric with great delight, only to see a great bow no ordinary man could draw presented underneath. He instantly lost interest, although he still had to say, “Thank you Your Majesty for the reward!”