The most dissolute couple in the capital

Zheng Wenhan's white horse was indeed a fine horse, pure white without a single stray hair, its hooves treading like the wind and clouds, making it stand out among all the fine horses.

Unfortunately, the horse was a fine horse, but the rider was not quite a match for it.

As soon as the horn sounded, Zheng Wenhan spurred his horse and charged off. His white robes stood out conspicuously in the autumn sun. He held a bow in his left hand and casually held the reins in his right, striking a dashing and carefree pose.

However, fate seemed to be against us.

A startled deer darted out of the bushes and swept past him diagonally. Zheng Wenhan's eyes lit up, and he cracked his whip, sending his white horse charging forward. The horse was of excellent pedigree and possessed astonishing explosive power; with a single acceleration, it threw its master off balance.

Zheng Wenhan nearly fell off his horse. He quickly gripped the reins tightly and lay on the horse's neck, his posture changing from "a graceful gentleman chasing a deer" to "a white tofu hanging on the horse's neck".

The white horse dragged him along, galloping straight toward the fence, about to crash into it. Fortunately, the attendants beside him reacted quickly, and the two of them worked together to stop the horse. Zheng Wenhan barely managed to pull the reins back, his body covered in cold sweat.

A suppressed laugh came from the high platform.

"Isn't that the second young master of the Zheng family of Xingyang? How come he can't even tame a horse?"

"This white dress was a very good choice, but now it looks like a white radish that's been rolled in mud."

Wearing white while hunting, now you know what Mother Earth's gifts are all about, right?

Footsteps came from the side.

Cui spoke in a gentle, steady male voice: "Your subject, Zheng Wenyuan, respectfully wishes Her Majesty the Empress good health."

The Empress raised her hand in a gesture of support, her tone gentle: "Young Master Zheng, there's no need for such formalities. Why don't you go and show off your skills at the autumn hunt today?"

Cui Qingyi felt a gaze sweep across her face like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Zheng Wenyuan smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, this is my younger brother's first time participating in the autumn hunt. I was worried that something might happen to him, so I stayed nearby to take care of him."

The Empress nodded, her expression neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Zheng Wenyuan added, "I just saw from afar that my younger brother seemed a bit reckless on the field. I hope Your Majesty will not laugh at him."

As he said this, his gaze finally swept openly across Cui Qingyi's face before quickly looking away.

You came to apologize to the Empress, but your eyes kept glancing at the Princess Consort. Do you want to clean up the household registration book since there are too many pages?

As expected, Zheng Wenyuan's supposedly discreet glance was seen by the Empress at the head of the table.

What a disgrace to the Zheng family of Xingyang! Their illegitimate son is a brainless good-for-nothing, and their legitimate son is a hypocrite who knows no bounds. How dare they show such an insolent attitude towards the Princess Consort of Liang right in front of her? They're practically rubbing the royal family's dignity into the ground!

"Zheng Wenhan is young and impetuous, which is a good thing. He will get more experience and refinement in the future. As his older brother, you should just take care of yourself."

A commotion arose from the depths of the hunting grounds in the distance, apparently because some young master had hunted a large prey.

Cui Qingyi didn't even lift her eyelids; after all, it wasn't her own prince.

At this moment, Li Chengjing squatted under a crooked tree, holding a handful of unknown grass leaves in his hand: "He Li! He Li, come here!"

He Li was crouching five steps away, not daring to step into the bushes: "What's wrong, boss?"

"I found a perilla plant! Look at these leaves, the back is purple and the front is green, and—" Li Chengjing leaned closer to smell it, "The smell is right! The soil in this forest is a bit acidic, no wonder it can grow to this quality."

Wang Chengyuan stood ten paces away, unwilling to step into the bushes: "The prey should be something furry, that can run, and that can be roasted and eaten. Your Highness, are you really sure you know it?"

"You don't understand."

Li Chengjing wrapped the perilla plant in a handkerchief and tucked it into his bosom, intending to grow some rare spices in his backyard to save costs and improve quality.

He considered himself a man with a career, and that he had distanced himself considerably from his cronies.

"Let's go back to find my queen."

Wang Chengyuan grabbed him: "Wait! Your Highness, at least hunt something back! Even a wild rabbit would do!"

Before he could finish speaking, a plump pheasant flapped its wings and flew out of the bushes, crashing headfirst into Li Chengjing's chest and falling to the ground with a "thud," knocking him unconscious.

The three of them were silent for a moment.

Li Chengjing looked down at the pheasant at his feet, its eyes rolled back, and slowly said, "...Does this count as a hunt?"

Wang Chengyuan: "...I guess so."

He Li squatted down and poked the pheasant worriedly: "It's not dead, is it? Should we release it—"

"Shut up," Li Chengjing and Wang Chengyuan said in unison.

Li Chengjing bent down and picked up the pheasant, looking completely self-righteous: "Come on, take it to my princess for a treat."

Cui Qingyi was unaware that her prince was approaching carrying a pheasant that had been used in a suicide attack. She was listening intently to the idle chatter of the ladies of the court beside her.

"I heard that the second young master of the Zheng family bought his white horse from a Western Regions caravan for eight hundred taels of silver..."

"Eight hundred taels? Was that horse inlaid with gold?"

"Even with the gold trim, he couldn't ride steadily. Just now, I think even my ten-year-old son is better than him."

The ladies chuckled softly as they talked.

A cheer came from afar.

A guard announced loudly, "Princess Zhao has hunted a stag!"