Chapter 9: Spring Hunt (3)

Chapter 9 Spring Hunt (3)

Once the laughter died down, the group made their way together to the designated hunting grounds, all of them rubbing their hands together, itching to show what they've got.

The mountain path was narrow, and Chen Shuoan and the others were squeezed in the crowd, struggling to breathe.

"The great Lu Xun once said: 'There is no road in the world, but when many people walk on it, a road is made.' Brother Yuanzhi, how about you shift over a bit and open up a path for everyone? You're about to step on my foot." Chen Shuoan stood on his tiptoes to dodge Zheng Yuanzhi's radar-equipped boots, complaining through gritted teeth.

"Why don't you move over a little?" Zheng Yuanzhi fired back without thinking, taking a few steps forward to move away from Chen Shuoan.

Li Wei, standing nearby, suddenly sniffed, then covered his nose and said, "You guys smell that?"

Chen Shuoan had been too caught up in bickering with Zheng Yuanzhi to notice, but at Li Wei's words, he looked up and took a deep breath—his face went green instantly.

"Who dropped one?" Zheng Yuanzhi said, pinching his nose.

Zhang Chenggong, walking ahead, turned back with a sheepish smile, then played the victim and announced loudly, "Did you hear that? Brother Zheng here is calling you out—whoever farted, step up and admit it!"

The moment Li Wei saw through his act, he understood everything. Growing up together, the moment Zhang Chenggong so much as twitched, Li Wei knew exactly what he was up to.

He kicked Zhang Chenggong right in the shin and roared, "What the hell did you eat that's so damn stinky? You trying to do us in back here?"

Chen Shuoan stared at Li Wei with a weird look, his expression unreadable as he said, "That's a bit greedy, Brother Li. Just get a whiff and be done with it—why you asking him for the recipe?"

"..." Li Wei pulled back his foot from Zhang Chenggong and grinned at Chen Shuoan with a nasty grin. "Shuo'an, today we're settling both old and new grudges together. If I don't shut that blabbering mouth of yours for good, I'll take your last name."

Chen Shuoan laughed heartily at that, patting Zheng Yuanzhi on the shoulder and saying, "Brother Yuanzhi, listen to what Chen Wei here is saying. Since when do brothers nickel-and-dime each other?"

Li (now Chen) Wei, seething with impotent rage: "..."

Zheng Yuanzhi let out a stifled laugh, reaching out to block the wild punch Li Wei was throwing at Chen Shuoan, and cut in, "Why don't you keep your mouth shut for a bit?"

Yuan Rang watched the people making a ruckus over there, a barely noticeable frown creasing his brow.

Yuan De was also distracted by the noise, and chuckled, "That's Grand Tutor Chen's son. Seventeen and still this rowdy."

He added with a sigh, "Sixth Brother's always been the quiet type. Three years ago, he wouldn't have laughed so heartily either."

Yuan Rang ignored him, his dark eyes locked onto Chen Shuoan, who was laughing and tangled up in a hug with someone. For no reason, his mood darkened.

Yuan De thought Yuan Rang wouldn't respond, but to his surprise, the guy gestured for a guard to come over and ordered, "Send someone over there to tell them to quiet down—don't scare off the prey in the woods."

The guard acknowledged and left.

At that moment, Yuan De felt like the sun was rising from the west.

I must be coming down with something, he thought.

After being told off, Chen Shuoan and the others were quiet for a good while.

Such a familiar feeling—like being scolded by a teacher on an elementary school field trip for being too wild.

The thought made Chen Shuoan laugh.

Li Wei watched him laugh almost to the point of convulsing, wondering what kind of fit he was having now.

Zheng Yuanzhi elbowed him and nodded ahead, "The hunting grounds are just up ahead."

Chen Shuoan looked closer—whoa, the stone gate had a plaque that read "Hall of Clear Breeze," the calligraphy grand and imposing—what a sight!

He made a face of disgust and whispered to Zheng Yuanzhi, "What a crappy name. Makes it sound like we're going in to listen to some tunes."

Zheng Yuanzhi shook his head a little and whispered back, "His Majesty named it. Maybe we're just not refined enough to appreciate it."

Chen Shuoan figured he had a point and started reflecting on why he couldn't praise the name like those with deeper insight.

————

At the whistle, six fiery horses bolted forward in unison.

The young riders on horseback were wild and carefree, cracking their whips as they charged toward the stone gate, kicking up a thick cloud of dust behind them.

Chen Shuoan stared blankly at Yuan Rang's retreating figure, suddenly reminded of the book's introduction.

The current emperor had seven sons, and everyone said each was a dragon among men. But anyone with half an eye could tell that Crown Prince Yuan Qi was the most outstanding.

With so many sons, it was inevitable that the emperor would play favorites. The Seventh Prince, Yuan Rui, as the youngest, was the most favored. But when it came to the least favored, the Sixth Prince, Yuan Rang, was singled out.

That single character "Rang"—meaning to yield, not to contend, to be honest and dutiful—fit him perfectly. True to his name, at just fourteen, he had perfected the "Three Nos" policy.

Not smart. Not capable. Not likable.

The book didn't spend much ink on Yuan Rang—it seemed to repeat those same few lines. But Chen Shuoan didn't buy the author's portrayal of him.

He would step in to help him out of a jam. He would mess with people like a real kid. He would carefully consider his feelings. He would be sensitive to everyone's emotions.

He was smart. He was capable. He was likable.

He just didn't know how to express himself—just like every teenager, covered in soft thorns that prick you, but never too deep.

Chen Shuoan saw Yuan Rang as a problem kid and was determined to help him cheer up a bit.

If he remembered correctly, the plot had already reached the part where the Crown Prince, brilliant and heroic, risked his life to save the emperor from a bear's claws.

As for why the emperor was being chased by a bear, the author never explained—only focused on how handsome the protagonist was and how intense the fight was.

The writing had no logic, but readers ate it up.

Unfortunately, this spelled trouble for Chen Shuoan, who had been transported into the book. Even with his god's-eye view, he couldn't prevent it from happening.

He sighed deeply, feeling his situation was extremely dangerous.

There's a bear in the woods.

But he had to go in.