Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 198 Autumn Hunt (Part 1)

Silent all night.

The next day, just as dawn broke, the entire royal hunting grounds were awakened by a powerful horn sound.

The sound pierced through the morning mist and echoed across the vast South Garden, announcing the official start of the three-day royal autumn hunt.

Chen Ye had already woken up. After putting on his black outfit, he slung the iron bow and the hundred-refined longsword over his shoulder and walked out of the tent.

The morning air carried the chill unique to late autumn; a deep breath invigorated the spirit.

A large number of people had already gathered on the grass in the distance.

The sons of nobles were all in high spirits, leading their precious horses and carrying their weapons. They gathered in groups of three or five, chatting and laughing loudly, creating a very lively atmosphere.

Several servants of the Chen family had already prepared a warhorse and breakfast for him.

Chen Ye ate a few bites and then mounted the magnificent Snow-Treading Black Steed.

Unlike the others, he didn't join in the fun; he simply rode quietly on his horse, adjusting his breathing to bring his body and mind to their optimal state.

Not long after, the sound of bugles rang out again from the central army camp.

Immediately afterwards, squads of Imperial Guard cavalrymen clad in gleaming armor filed out of the camp and formed ranks on the grassland to maintain order.

Then the civil and military officials also came out one after another and stood in their designated positions.

Finally, surrounded by a group of palace maids, eunuchs, and golden-armored guards, the extremely luxurious phoenix carriage slowly drove out and stopped in front of a high platform built at the highest point of the grassland.

Everyone knew that Her Majesty the Empress had arrived.

In an instant, the entire grassland fell silent.

All the noble sons put away their laughter, straightened their clothes, and bowed respectfully towards the high platform, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Chen Ye mingled in the crowd, keeping his head down and secretly glancing at the high platform out of the corner of his eye.

On the high platform, behind the beaded curtain, one could vaguely see a slender figure dressed in a dragon robe, but it was not clear.

Even though it was just a blurry outline, the aura of a sovereign, dominating the world and suppressing all directions, was still overwhelming, inspiring awe.

"Your Majesty has a decree!"

An old eunuch, dressed in a bright red python robe and with a white face and no beard, stepped forward, unfolded the imperial edict in his hand, and proclaimed it in a sharp, high-pitched voice.

"This year's autumn hunt is a joyous occasion for all people, and also a grand event for our Great Chen to select pillars of society! All participants should strive to be the best and display their talents! The winner of the hunt will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of brocade, and the opportunity to enter the court to meet the Emperor, and will receive further honors!"

These words immediately caused an uncontrollable commotion among the crowd below.

Especially the young noblemen, their eyes were all red with envy.

The gold and brocade are secondary; the most important thing is to enter the court and meet the emperor, and receive further rewards!
This is an opportunity to reach the sky in one step!

Suddenly, everyone's breathing became heavy, and they rubbed their hands together, eager to rush into the hunting grounds and show off their skills.

After reading the imperial edict, the old eunuch announced some rules for the autumn hunt.

For example, killing each other is strictly prohibited, and prey is scored based on its rarity and quantity.

After making the announcement, he shouted loudly, "The autumn hunt begins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Imperial Guards, who had been preparing for a long time, immediately parted to make way for the entrance leading to the depths of the Southern Garden.

"Come on!"

Someone shouted, and the restless young men immediately roared back, mounted their horses, and surged toward the entrance of the hunting grounds like a tidal wave.

In an instant, the sound of horses' hooves thundered, and dust billowed.

Chen Ye did not rush in with the first wave of people. He remembered his sister's advice: never be a show-off.

Therefore, he calmly reined in his horse, Snow-Treading Black Steed, and waited until most of the people rushed in before slowly urging it to follow at the back of the procession towards the entrance.

He wanted to keep a low profile, but some people didn't want him to.

"Oh, isn't this the famous Young Master Chen from Yunzhou City?"

A sarcastic voice came from the side.

Chen Ye looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall, chestnut-red horse blocking his way.

Sitting immediately was a young man around twenty years old. He couldn't be called handsome; in fact, he was rather ugly. The key was that he had a pale face and sunken eyes, clearly someone whose body had been ravaged by alcohol and women.

He was dressed in an extremely flashy, bright silver hunting outfit, holding a magnificent longbow inlaid with gold and jade, and looking at Chen Ye with a provocative gaze.

Information about this person immediately popped into Chen Ye's mind.

Zhao Heng, the young prince of the Wuyang Prince's Mansion.

His older sister, Chen Wan'er, specifically told him last night to stay away from this guy.

Because Zhao Heng is the current Empress's distant cousin, he relies on his status as a member of the royal family and is not very bright, so he is notorious for his recklessness in Yunzhou City.

The original owner had dealt with him a few times before, and basically every time he was ridiculed and mocked by this guy, and then he would run away in disgrace.

Chen Ye didn't expect that even though he hid in the back, this guy still came knocking on his door.

"What's the matter?" Chen Ye looked at him and asked calmly.

Zhao Heng was taken aback when he saw that Chen Ye dared to speak to him in such a calm tone.

In his memory, Chen Ye always acted like a mouse seeing a cat whenever he saw him. Had he taken the wrong medicine today?

However, he quickly realized what was happening and a mocking smile appeared on his face.

"It's nothing, this young prince just came to see you."

As he spoke, Zhao Heng rode his horse around Chen Ye, clicking his tongue in amazement and saying, "It's true what they say, clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse! You've changed your clothes and are riding a fine horse; I almost didn't recognize you!"

"I thought he was some young general, but it turns out he's just that good-for-nothing who only knows how to drink and gamble!"

He spoke quite loudly, and all the young masters who hadn't yet entered the hunting grounds heard him. They all stopped and looked over, their faces showing expressions of anticipation.

Hou En of the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion and Qian Yi of the Earl of Zhongyong's mansion were also among the crowd.

The two looked at each other and saw a hint of worry in each other's eyes.

"Damn it, why is Zhao Heng targeting Old Chen again?" Qian Yi cursed under his breath.

"What else could it be? This kid's just jealous." Hou En curled his lip. "Didn't you see the look in his eyes? He practically had 'I'm not convinced' written all over his face."

Upon closer inspection, Qian Yi realized it was true.

It turns out that Zhao Heng usually prided himself on being a womanizer, and he often competed with Chen Ye for her affections in brothels.

However, his appearance was rather ugly, especially compared to Chen Ye. The girls were even less interested in him and always left this little prince out in the cold, which made Zhao Heng feel a lot of resentment.

Seeing Chen Ye's heroic and extraordinary appearance today, he couldn't help but feel inexplicably angry, which is why he deliberately came over to cause trouble.

"Is Old Chen going to get taken advantage of again?" Qian Yi asked worriedly. "Should we go over and lend a hand?"

"Help my ass!" Hou En grabbed him. "Do you think the two of us combined can fight against a mere prince?"

Qian Yi immediately deflated.

Yes, they are royalty, what are they compared to them?

"Then...what should we do? Just watch?"

"Just watch," Hou En sighed. "Let's see how Old Chen handles it. Hopefully, the books he's read over the past two weeks will be of some use, or at least... he won't be humiliated too badly in public."

Just as everyone was waiting to see Chen Ye make a fool of himself, Chen Ye simply looked at Zhao Heng calmly, without even a trace of anger on his face.

"Are you done talking?" he asked.

Zhao Heng was stunned again. He had prepared a whole host of sarcastic remarks, but Chen Ye just finished speaking so casually, making him feel like he had punched a cotton ball, leaving him feeling indescribably uncomfortable.

"What? I hit the nail on the head, and now you have nothing to say?" Zhao Heng sneered.

"No." Chen Ye shook his head, then said in a very serious tone, "I just think that your outfit today, Your Highness, is a bit... inappropriate."

"Not suitable?" Zhao Heng looked down at his expensive custom-made silver hunting outfit, then at the master craftsman's exquisite bow in his hand, and frowned. "What's wrong with it?"

"It's too bright," Chen Ye said. "Young Prince, think about it. We're going hunting. If you're dressed so brightly, you'll be like a giant mirror. You'll scare away all the deer and elk from 800 miles away. What's the point of hunting then?"

"You...!" Zhao Heng's face immediately turned a deep purplish-red.

He originally wanted to show off his outfit in front of everyone, but after Chen Ye said that, it seemed to make a lot of sense.

A suppressed chuckle came from the surrounding crowd.

Zhao Heng was losing face and angrily pointed at Chen Ye, saying, "What do you know! This is the dignity of the royal family, what do you, a piece of trash from a fallen noble family, know!"

“Yes, yes, Your Highness is right.” Chen Ye nodded seriously. “I was ignorant, I was blind.”

His earnest apology only made Zhao Heng feel more aggrieved.

He felt like a clown jumping around, while the other person was effortlessly toying with him. No, he couldn't let it go like this!

Zhao Heng's eyes darted around, and he saw the iron bow on Chen Ye's back. He couldn't help but sneer, "Talking about me? You should worry about yourself first! Carrying such a big bow, pretending to be something you're not, can you even draw it?"

"If you can't even shoot a rabbit when we get to the hunting grounds, you'll be so embarrassed!"

As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes were drawn to the bow behind Chen Ye.

This iron-framed bow is jet black, devoid of any superfluous decorations, exuding a simple yet deadly aura.

It's obviously not just for show.

Everyone wanted to see if this rumored good-for-nothing playboy could actually draw the bow.

Hou En and Qian Yi were on tenterhooks.

Despite everyone's doubts, Chen Ye's face remained expressionless.

Instead of trying to prove anything, he looked at Zhao Heng and suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.

"Young Prince, have you been having trouble sleeping at night lately, and are you also feeling listless during the day? Do you often feel soreness in your lower back and knees, and lack of strength?"

Zhao Heng's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing this.

Because what Chen Ye said was exactly the same as his recent physical condition!
He has indeed been feeling unwell lately, unable to sleep at night and lacking energy for anything during the day, especially in certain areas where he feels powerless, which is causing him great distress.

However, he didn't tell anyone about this, not even the doctor in the Prince's mansion, for fear of losing face.

But how did Chen Ye know that?
Seeing Zhao Heng's astonished expression, Chen Ye chuckled inwardly.

Actually, this doesn't require any advanced medical skills; anyone with eyes can see it.

Zhao Heng's dark circles under his eyes are a clear sign of excessive indulgence and depletion of kidney essence.

The original owner of this body used to be much the same way, so Chen Ye was very familiar with these symptoms.

"How...how did you know?" Zhao Heng asked subconsciously, his voice trembling slightly.

Chen Ye smiled mysteriously, but did not answer directly. Instead, he lowered his voice and said in a volume that only the two of them could hear, "Young Prince, this is not a minor problem. It's a fundamental problem."

"If this continues, forget about hunting, in less than three years you probably won't even be able to walk steadily."

His words were half true and half false, but coupled with his serious and earnest expression, they were incredibly persuasive.

Zhao Heng's face turned pale instantly, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Can't walk...can't walk steadily?
so serious?

Meanwhile, the young men who had been watching the commotion craned their necks, their faces full of curiosity, as they saw the two suddenly huddled together and whispering.

"What happened? Why did you stop arguing?"

"I don't know. Look at that young prince's face, it's as white as if it's been painted on a wall, it's frighteningly pale."

Hou En and Qian Yi were also completely bewildered.

This plot isn't going right!

According to the previous script, shouldn't Chen Ye be rendered speechless by Zhao Heng, then become enraged and make a fool of himself in front of everyone?
Why does Zhao Heng look like he's about to cry now?
“Young Prince, we’re all men, I understand some things.” Chen Ye patted Zhao Heng on the shoulder and said earnestly, “Playing around is fine, but you can’t joke around with your own body.”

"What... what should I do?" Zhao Heng panicked completely and forgot about finding fault. He humbly asked Chen Ye for advice.

"Well, there is a way," Chen Ye said, stroking his chin as if deep in thought.

"What method? Tell me quickly!" Zhao Heng was so anxious he was practically scratching his head.

"I stumbled upon an ancient prescription while reading a book the other day, what's it called... oh right, it's called Nine Dragons Mending the Sky Soup." Chen Ye started talking nonsense with a straight face, "This prescription is specifically for treating your kind of ailment."

"Nine Dragons Mending the Heaven Soup?" Zhao Heng's eyes lit up. "Where's the prescription? Give it to me now!"

"I've memorized the prescription, but some of the ingredients are quite rare and hard to find," Chen Ye said, feigning difficulty.

"Even if it's rare, we have to find it! Tell me quickly, what kind of medicine is it?"

"The most important ingredient is tiger penis," Chen Ye said. "And it has to be the penis of a fierce tiger that has become a spirit in the deep mountains and forests. The stronger the tiger, the better the effect."

Tiger penis?

Zhao Heng was stunned.

He had heard of this stuff before; it was said to be a great tonic.

But where can we find such a ferocious tiger that has become a spirit?
"It's said that there are many fierce tigers in this Nanyuan Hunting Ground, and even some strange beasts that have become spirits." Chen Ye continued to deceive, "Young Prince, you are a lucky man, and you are a member of the royal family, protected by dragon energy. You might just run into one when you go in later."

"When the time comes, you can shoot it dead with an arrow, take the tiger penis back and boil it into soup. In less than seven days, I guarantee you'll be full of vigor and vitality, and you won't have a problem sleeping with ten women a night!"

Chen Ye spoke with great enthusiasm and vivid detail.

Zhao Heng listened with great interest and his blood was boiling.

He seemed to already see a bright future where he would regain his virility and restore his husbandly authority.

He completely forgot about his rivalry with Chen Ye and his ambition to win the autumn hunt.

Right now, he has only one thought in his mind.

Slay the tiger! Take the whip!
"Brother Chen... Brother Chen!" Zhao Heng's way of addressing Chen Ye had changed, and he said excitedly.

"I won't thank you enough. Once I hunt the tiger and get the treasure, I'll definitely treat you to the finest wine and flowers!"

After saying that, he suddenly jerked the reins and shouted, "Giddy up!"

Then, as if he had been injected with adrenaline, he was the first to rush into the hunting ground. His back view showed how eager he was, as if the tiger would escape if he was a second later.

A group of young men, utterly bewildered, stared at each other in confusion.

"Is... leaving now?"

"What's going on? They were at each other's throats just a moment ago, how come they're calling each other brothers in the blink of an eye?"

They were expecting a good show, but instead, the young prince just left for no apparent reason.

This is such a letdown!
Hou En and Qian Yi were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped.

"I...I didn't see wrong, did I?" Qian Yi rubbed his eyes. "Old Chen...he persuaded Zhao Heng to run away?"

"It seems...that's how it is." Hou En was also completely bewildered.

This lawless young prince was dismissed by Chen Ye with just a few words?

How the hell did they do that?
Chen Ye ignored the astonished looks from those around him.

He flicked the reins, urging his black steed, Ta Xue Wu Zhui, into the hunting grounds at a leisurely pace.

For him, that was just a minor incident.

He didn't even bother to use any tricks to deal with a simple-minded fool like Zhao Heng; a few words were enough to fool him into losing his bearings.

After passing through the entrance guarded by the Imperial Guards, the view suddenly opened up before us.

A vast, boundless primeval forest appeared before our eyes.

The forest was dense and blocked out the sun, and the distant mountains rose and fell, shrouded in mist. Occasionally, the roars of unknown wild beasts could be heard, creating an atmosphere that was both primitive and dangerous.

The young masters who had just rushed in had now scattered like wild dogs, each searching for their own prey.

Chen Ye did not rush in.

He reined in his horse and took a simple map from a bag beside the saddle.

This was a rubbing he made from the Chen family's treasured books before he came. It roughly marked the terrain of Nanyuan and the distribution areas of some common wild animals.

Although it's not very detailed, something is better than nothing.

Chen Ye carefully examined the map, then looked up at the sky and the surrounding environment, and quickly formed a general plan in his mind.

This autumn hunt, he didn't want to hunt ordinary prey like wild boars and deer like those young masters.

Even if there were many of them, they wouldn't stand out enough and would hardly attract the Empress's attention.

He only hunts in places of importance.

For example, the strange beasts in Nanyuan!
According to records, there was a restricted area deep within Nanyuan.

The terrain there is complex and filled with miasma. It is said that many strange beasts captured alive from the Hundred Thousand Mountains are kept there. They are extremely ferocious and ordinary people dare not approach them.

That was Chen Ye's target.

After determining the direction, Chen Ye put away the map and gently squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs.

The Snow-Treading Black Steed immediately understood, let out a neigh, and then galloped off into the depths of the mountains and forests.

(End of this chapter)