Autumn gales billowed sleeves as two figures faced off sword in hand along the hillside.
Neither Xie Wuyan nor Jiang Yuan moved a muscle, stances frozen as still waters while hems rustled violently around them.
By unspoken consent they had agreed on a single decisive stroke to determine victor. Such methods were common among nobility, preserving cordial ties and both parties’ dignity. Contenders typically held off unleashing any techniques initially, mutually probing and stalking as patient mountains. The actual confrontation would be decided in a mere breath – once swords were drawn the outcome became set in stone.
A golden oriole took flight from foliage in a flurry of beating wings.
Both struck simultaneously! Ringing metal sliced through the chill air akin to torn silk. Bodies hurtled upwards, charging forth to clash as scintillating blades severed vibrant plumes swirling overhead, accompanying fierce gusts.
Jiang Yuan executed an extremely vicious sword maneuver, blade carving elaborate radiance through space. In contrast Xie Wuyan simply thrusted out textbook basics – clean, unfussy movements identical to any beginner’s initial drill…utterly unremarkable on surface appearances.
Yet Jiang Yuan didn’t dare underestimate his opponent whatsoever…instinct warned lethal danger lurked sheathed inside that simple strike.
“Ding-” Crisp collision presaged crossed swords. Hilts aligned as edges met perpendicular.
Neither weapon gained further ground as brilliant sunlight angled down the frozen tableau. Then in a mutual pivot allowing passing room the razor edges scraped fleetly by. Outcome already determined.
Jiang Yuan raised his eyes towards Xie Wuyan’s genteel nod and slight panting breaths. Furling winds whipped layers of dark finery etched against golden horizons.
“We are evenly matched,” the cultured voice proclaimed softly. His sword slid home while arm folded across chest in salute. “Thank you for conceding me the privilege.”
Amidst swaying grass and pattering leaves, Jiang Yuan silently returned the gesture, head lowered in defeat.
“Little sister,” Jiang Feng uncharacteristically murmured off to the side in confirmation with Jiang Kui, “did your husband throw that match?”
“Can’t believe you actually can’t tell,” Jiang Kui scoffed scornfully. “He wouldn’t lose against me so even a month of lessons ought to exceed defeating you!”
“Third brother,” she stated gravely. “Yours is decidedly the weakest martial skill among us.”
Jiang Yuan clutched his heart, pained yet accepting the brutal truth. He glanced over at the Crown Prince’s distant carriage, sporadic muted coughing seemingly corroborating claims of fragility.
“What if he’s faking sick?” Jiang Yuan cried out indignantly. “Dear sister, barely a month married and you already twist truths around your fingers? Didn’t you spend years faking illness to trick me too? What else did you teach aside from martial arts – like say, pretending to cough as well? Both husband and wife ganging up to deceive me leaves this brother utterly heartbroken!”
Jiang Kui skewered him with an icy glare. “Don’t fabricate excuses Third Brother. As a general’s scion, losing to an invalid – shouldn’t you reflect on yourself instead?”
“He isn’t putting on an act?” Jiang Yuan mumbled dazedly.
“Can’t say for certain.” Jiang Kui slowly shook her head. “Sickness definitely afflicts him but occasionally genuine while other times feigned…After a month observing I still can’t fully differentiate.”
Their group continued towards sprawling encampments nestled along distant mountain ridges. Inside the trundling carriage Xie Wuyan napped once more, leaning sideways against wooden panels. Jostling over uneven terrain dislodged thick furs pooling around his knees, mounding into a fuzzy heap. Chilly air crept in through fluttering curtains, biting into inadequately layered shoulders.
With a huffed sigh Jiang Kui reached inside to tug the fox fur mantle back over him, carefully tucking lapels beneath his chin and neatening the collar around hunched shoulders. Scrutinizing intently for some moments brought awareness of flushed features and even faintly reddened ear tips.
Likely no sickness, simply exhausted as usual. Given slightest chance this man could sleep anytime, anywhere.
Ever since early autumn he spent increasingly prolonged periods lost in slumber. His present condition somewhat resembled the common saying of “autumn frailty” yet also reminiscent of certain small hibernating creatures burrowing away from the cold.
The Crown Prince and General Estate’s processions halted at the hunting camp’s center where gathered imperial princes and princesses had already arrived.
Eldest Princess Xie Yong was deep in discussion with Crown Prince Supporter Xie Heng nearby. Third Prince Xie Kuan concealed mysterious fortune telling paraphernalia up voluminous sleeves while the youngest Fourth Prince Xie Chu still dozed in his wet nurse’s embrace.
As the first to greet the dismounting newlyweds, Prince Qi and Princess Consort Pei Yue were all cordiality before the Crown Prince and Princess. Despite overt hostility in any other setting, all public interactions between Crown Prince and Prince Qi proved exemplary demonstrations of purported fraternal bonds. Xie Wuyan’s visible weariness while alighting prompted solicitous inquiry after his health from Xie Min. The prince even offered to send some centuries old cordyceps renowned for nourishing frail constitutions – an extravagant tonic bordering on bribery.
Princess Pei beamed dazzlingly at Jiang Kui, catching her hand in intimate pretense of casual gossip. After bantering briefly she proffered a cup of steaming wine aimed to ward off the morning chill. “Dear sister, take a warming drink to dispel the cold.” Pei Yue smiled.
Jiang Kui accepted the drink without partaking, responding to Princess Pei through a fixed smile. She vividly recalled the spiked glass from this smiling tigress last time nearly causing her to accidentally consummate marriage prematurely with Xie Wuyan.
Since then she had sworn off accepting anything passing through Pei Yue’s hands ever again.
Pleasantries concluded, Xie Min made excuses about other business drawing himself and Pei Yue deeper into the hunting grounds. Along the way he draped his outer coat chivalrously over the princess’s shoulders, gently reminding her to take care against the cold.
Xie Wuyan watched them depart, brazier cradled against his chest as usual with one idle hand resting atop the fox fur mantle. He turned his head in silence to observe his own wife wordlessly.
Jiang Kui started, reading unvoiced inquiry from his gaze.
“I don’t get cold easily,” she responded slowly.
Soundlessly he wrapped himself up more snugly in furs.
Shortly after, the imperial procession of yellow roofed carriages rolled through fluttering Standards of White Marsh and Vermillion Bird preceding the Black Warrior banner’s rear guard – banners undulating like a dancing dragon.
A sonorous eunuch clad in python robes preceded the train crying loudly, “His Majesty arrives!”
Headed by the Crown Prince, civil officials and imperial kin all prostrated themselves simultaneously. Overlapping finery rippled out in waves as amber stalks swayed wildly above the sea of bowing figures.
The current Son of Heaven Jingwen slowly descended his gold filigreed carriage, raising up the Crown Prince first. He smiled kindly down at everyone. “Rise.”
Row upon row regained feet, evoking crested waves through vast oceans of wheat.
Noticing the Crown Prince’s wan complexion, Jingwen adjusted the fox fur mantle more snugly and gave his shoulder an encouraging pat. Affection filled the emperor’s glance upon that profile. “Wuyan, take care in this cold. Considering your weak constitution, henceforth you needn’t abase yourself during formal greeting ceremony.”
Utter doting infused the words clearly conveying his favor towards the legitimate heir despite poor health. Court officials filed away their sovereign’s blatant partiality – none more clearly than Prince Qi standing nearest.
Xie Min’s eyes hooded expressionlessly, veiling fleeting displeasure from discovery.
At this moment the lead eunuch stepped forth loudly proclaiming, “The Imperial Astronomer nightly divines celestial alignments. A white stag shall appear during this season’s hunt, an omen blessing the emperor’s reign. To the hunter who captures this quarry belongs a magnificent reward!”
With conclusion of court protocols each aristocratic faction dispersed towards the sprawling woodlands eager to commence the exhilarating sport.
Still lethargic, Xie Wuyan wandered back carrying the brazier when Prince Qi’s train abruptly overtook them from behind.
Seated before her husband Princess Pei couldn’t resist a sidelong parting taunt at Jiang Kui. “Dear sister, of course that white stag shall be ours. Doubtless your invalid husband shan’t even manage riding out?”
Without pausing for retaliation, she left alongside Xie Min.
Xie Wuyan halted in his tracks, exhaling heavily in premonition of aborted repose.
Sure enough that clear young girl’s voice whipped out impatiently from behind. “Xie Wuyan! Get back here!”
Hinted fury blazed beneath charming melodiousness commanding absolute obedience.
“My lady, please don’t be angry,” he entreated gently.
At his deferential nod a palace bodyguard promptly led over a pristine steed. Xie Wuyan accepted the reins, tenderly smoothing tangled locks of mane. Raising his eyes fleetingly to meet the horse’s steady gaze, determination firmed his jawline.
“Let us go,” he called out softly, glancing back at his wife’s impatient countenance. “We hunt the white stag.”
Billowing daylight illuminated his graceful mounting, scarlet silks rippling through the air.
The girl swung up behind him, claimed her bow before bracing it securely. She raised her face towards the skies, long loose strands streaming wildly.
Fluttering crimson cord conjured fleeting glimpses of something sharp and glorious, boldly rending apart the vast seas of gold and crimson.
Two galloping horses raced onwards, boundless sky racing just as swift behind them.
Before the imperial pavilion eunuchs continuously announced hunting results from returning teams as two petty officials scribbled furiously to record everything.
“Sixteen red deer for the Eastern Palace.”
The scribe froze mid-stroke, head jerking up incredulously. “Pardon? The Eastern Palace bagged how many?!”
Another batch arrived swiftly. “Eighteen red deer for the Eastern Palace!”
The official gaped, stupefied. “That’s two more in practically no time?!”
After finishing documentation he leaned over whispering surreptitiously, “But isn’t the Crown Prince chronically sick and habitually absent from these hunts…Didn’t His Majesty just explicitly excuse him from full obeisance citing poor health this very morning…How could the Eastern Palace suddenly claim so much quarry…?”
“Well there’s also his new wife from the powerful general’s house right?” His companion interrupted.
The official stared blankly. “Haven’t you heard? The Crown Princess is notorious as Chang’an’s frailest beauty. I heard she danced a sword number during the autumn banquet yet collapsed straight after…the Crown Prince even escorted her back personally…”
Voice dropping further he whispered almost inaudibly, “Talk all over town last month gossiped what an invalid couple they made…”
Hurriedly his associate clamped a palm over his mouth. “Watch your tongue! How dare you gossip over such exalted personages?!”
Both instantly ducked heads burying themselves in documents. Shortly another batch arrived reporting, “Twenty red deer for the Eastern Palace!”
The official couldn’t restrain an astonished hiss towards his coworker. “Truly the Crown Prince’s own kills?!”
Indeed not the Crown Prince’s deeds.
He relaxed easily astride his mount, one hand loosely holding reins while the other shielded against chill with a brazier. Tranquil eyes lingered softly upon the maiden effortlessly felling deer after deer, crescent bowstring drawn taut as the moon herself.
The dainty young woman seemed endowed with monstrous strength, lithe actions belying deadly force.
“Your Highness…Her Ladyship’s archery skills surely match legends of hitting willow leaves hundred paces away!” Gasped an impressed guardsman amidst whistling volleys.
Xie Wuyan’s quiet chuckle was nearly snatched away by the wind. “You should witness her true power matching a thousand catties.”
He considered cautioning Jiang Kui to pace herself yet sudden rustling forest noises grabbed attention instead.
It arose not from wild beasts. Neither gales…Rather multitudes of footsteps!
Keener ears enabled Jiang Kui earlier detection. What she heard maintained uniform rhythm lacking equine echoes – definitely no resemblance whatsoever to returning hunting teams. Furthermore underlying creak of bowstrings being pulled taut strongly hinted at an unknown archer contingent!
Stowing her weapon, she wheeled her mount next to Xie Wuyan’s side. Silent query met his affirming nod at unsheathed spear.
She guarded before him, spear tip planted firmly as killing aura swirled.
Behind her he slowly loosened the sword at his waist by a single inch.
Crisp skies stretched cloudless as a passing formation of geese winged through.
At the central plains the General Estate’s squadron raced at breakneck pace. Eldest son Jiang Luan drew back powerful bow, launching an arrow skywards.
The missile shrieked shrilly, panicked honks and flurried feathers in every direction. A pained keening preceded the plummeting waterfowl.
“Hah!” Jiang Luan spurred his horse forward out the column towards the fallen goose.
Just then a separate enormous train emerged from the woods, grandiose standards snapping violently.
Sheer coincidence brought the wild goose crashing right across their path. An ornate carriage swathed in kingfisher blues and precious ivories, elaborate gold filigree dripping vibrant tassels jerked to a standstill before a towering emerald banner.
Jiang Luan reined to an abrupt halt, hastily dismounting to kneel in salutation before the impressive procession.
An exquisitely bejeweled woman glided down, golden hairpins and pearl drops adorning coiled tresses. Her splendid skirts trailed through flattened grass halting directly before Jiang Luan. Cool indifferent eyes raked over him fleetingly.
“Child, attend me.” Crisp cultured tones held absolute command. “Retrieve that goose to rest upon my knee.”
Author’s Note:
Guess her identity~ >w<
Note: According to the Tang Code of Laws: “When the imperial carriage first enters, the White Marsh and Vermillion Bird Standards would serve as vanguard with the Black Warrior banner protecting the rear.”
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