Ji Zihuan stood on the altar, looking around at the subjects below who bowed their heads in submission. He said slowly,
"This autumn hunt will last for three days. All subjects of our Yu State, regardless of gender, aged between fifteen and thirty, must participate."
As soon as these words were spoken, many people below looked at each other in dismay. Due to the emperor's speech, they didn't dare to look up or make a sound.
"Within three days, the top three of this autumn hunt will be determined in order based on the quantity of the hunting trophies. All the top three will be rewarded. However, besides the reward, the first - place winner can also put forward a request to me."
"You don't need to worry about your safety during these three days of hunting. All participants will receive a bamboo whistle. If you encounter danger, just blow the whistle, and someone will immediately come to your rescue. Now, the brave hunters can go to the bottom of the altar to receive your weapons and bamboo whistles. Those who are unable to participate due to other reasons can stay in the camp after asking for leave."
The people on the high platform looked at each other, and no one dared to take the first step. At this moment, a man stepped forward first and walked towards the opposite altar. This man was Gu Yunzheng, the new second - place scholar in the imperial examination.
With Gu Yunzheng setting an example, the others no longer hesitated and one after another stood up and rushed towards the altar.
Ji Lingchuan had already stood beside Ji Zihuan at this time. Seeing Gu Yunzheng coming towards them, Ji Zihuan smiled and said, "This Scholar Gu is really desperate to make a name for himself. With such determination, he is probably aiming for the first place in this autumn hunt."
"Cousin, do you think if he wins the first place, will he ask me to bestow a marriage between him and Miss Song Si?"
Ji Lingchuan didn't answer Ji Zihuan's words. Instead, he looked at Song Yihuan, who was holding a jasper bow and walking towards the altar.
She put on the dress embroidered with apricot blossoms again today. She no longer wore a veil to cover her face. Her face was as beautiful as a peach or a plum. When she walked, the skirt fluttered, and the apricot blossoms on it swayed gently, making people seem to smell the faint fragrance of apricot blossoms.
Because she had danced a blessing dance at the bonfire party last night, at this moment, there were countless eyes on her, and many young talents were looking at her with admiration.
Ji Lingchuan leaped down from beside Ji Zihuan and stood in the front. His face still looked cold and arrogant. After seeing his archery skills just now, those who wanted to compete for the first place in the autumn hunt immediately lost their courage.
Gu Yunzheng held the bow in his hand, turned around and looked at Ji Lingchuan, saying, "The heir's archery skills are outstanding, and there are few opponents in the world. However, I've never told anyone that my archery skills are also good. I'm determined to win the first place in this autumn hunt!"
Ji Lingchuan glanced at him indifferently, not taking Gu Yunzheng seriously at all: "Just come at me."
For this autumn hunt, all people aged fifteen and above, regardless of gender, had to participate. Song Nanxin was the princess of Prince Ningqin. She wasn't interested in this occasion. She sent someone to ask for leave, saying that she wanted to serve the Princess of Prince Ningqin, and then stayed in the camp.
Cao Jinyu was a little tempted when she saw Song Yihuan on the field. But when she saw so many people on the scene, the timid her shrank back. She could only silently pray in her heart that Song Yihuan would return with a full harvest.
After everyone was ready, Ji Zihuan announced the official start of the hunt. Everyone scattered and walked deep into the hunting ground.
Song Yihuan knew her own abilities. She wouldn't compete with those really capable people for any rankings. With her level, if she could hunt a rabbit and take it back to make her younger brother happy, she would be satisfied.
Therefore, she set her target on the outer periphery of that forest and walked there with Fuling.
There were many people with the same idea as hers, and they were all the young masters and young ladies from the noble families and royal families in the capital city. They all brought servants with them. There seemed to be more people than the prey in the forest.
After crossing the Fenglun River, everyone entered the lowest mountain forest of Yangjing Mountain. In order to hunt their desired prey, as soon as they entered the forest, everyone scattered to look for their own prey.
Song Yihuan held the jasper bow in her hand, but she didn't know how to use it well. Every time the arrow she shot either deviated or dropped halfway. She couldn't even hit a single rabbit.
But she wasn't discouraged. Instead, she found it very interesting. She paid attention to the movements around her to look for prey. Unconsciously, she walked a little deeper.
It wasn't until there was a "snap" sound that Song Yihuan stepped on a dead tree that she suddenly came to her senses.
At this time, the sun had gradually passed noon. She looked around and found that it was very quiet. Besides Fuling, who had been following her, there was no one else beside her.
The autumn hunt would last for three days, but not everyone needed to last the whole three days. Song Yihuan already had the intention to retreat at this time. But she keenly noticed that Fuling's state was a bit strange.
"Fuling?" She called out softly.
Fuling trembled and knelt down in front of her with a thud. She held out the dagger hidden in her sleeve with both hands and presented it to Song Yihuan: "Miss Si, Fuling has something to tell you!"
Looking at the dagger in her palm, Song Yihuan's face darkened: "What happened? Tell me everything in detail."
Fuling still felt terrified when she recalled what she had heard last night.
Her fingers were cold. She said to Song Yihuan, "Last night, after Miss Si and Miss Da exchanged places, I drank two sips of tea and then felt dizzy. I lay in bed unconscious. However, no one knows that I have a special constitution. Any sleeping drug can only work on me for about an incense - burning time."
"Not long after I was knocked out, I regained consciousness. I... I heard Miss Da discussing with someone in the tent that they wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of Miss Si! This dagger was just secretly stuffed into my hand by Miss Da. Miss Da wanted me to use this dagger to cut Miss Si's skin when she wasn't paying attention."
"This dagger is smeared with a powerful poison. As long as a little bit of it touches the skin, one will die immediately!"
Listening to Fuling's words, Song Yihuan felt a chill rushing from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
Elder sister actually wanted to kill her!
Song Yihuan never expected that the secret she learned from Fuling would be so terrifying!
She couldn't help but recall that she had bumped into Fuling outside the tent early this morning. At that time, Fuling had looked hesitant to speak, as if she had something to say to her. So that was it!
Song Yihuan thought of something and asked, "Last night, the person who was discussing with elder sister about getting rid of me. Did you hear his voice clearly? Was it a man or a woman?"
Fuling trembled even more: "It... it was a man, and he was Bai—"
Before Fuling could finish her words, there was a whistling sound through the air. Her body suddenly trembled, and an arrow pierced through her chest!
This sudden arrow startled Song Yihuan, and she exclaimed, "Fuling!"
Fuling's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at her chest. The feeling of approaching death made her instantly understand what was going on. She used her last bit of strength to pounce on Song Yihuan and pushed her hard.
"Miss Si, run, run quickly—"