FYM - 30

On the other side, today’s viewing platform at the hunting grounds was far less lively than yesterday.

The Emperor had yet to arrive, reportedly because he had indulged in late-night revelry with the Consort Zhong at Tangquan Palace. The Crown Prince, frail in health, naturally wouldn’t brave the cold winds without his father present. Thus, not a single member of the imperial family remained at the gathering. Though the atmosphere was relaxed, it inevitably carried a sense of desolation.

After midday, however, a grand procession approached from outside the hunting grounds. At its head was Kang Xiwen, the Chief Eunuch of the Emperor’s inner court. With a ruddy complexion and a beaming smile, he made a beeline for where the Song family members were seated. Upon seeing Song Dan, he clasped his hands and bowed, saying: “Lord Song has raised his son well. Young Master Er is truly a hero among youths. Allow this humble servant to offer my congratulations in advance.”

Song Dan was taken aback, exchanging a puzzled glance with his younger brother, Song Bo. Standing not far behind the elders, Song Shuyan heard the Chief Eunuch chuckle again before continuing: “Young Master Er is unparalleled in bravery. His arrow brought down a golden eagle from the forest. When His Majesty hears of this, he will surely be delighted. Your family’s future is boundless.”

…”Golden eagle.”

The moment these two words were uttered, the entire venue erupted in astonishment and admiration. Everyone marveled—after all, the last time Lord Fang shot an eagle was back in the third year of Yuanzhang. That breathtaking arrow through the clouds had earned him instant fame across Chang’an. And how old was this Second Young Master Song? Barely nineteen! What immense fortune for the Song family of Jinling to raise such a talented son, excelling in both literary and martial arts!

Though Song Dan was more astonished than pleased, he stammered his thanks to Chief Eunuch Kang, his words somewhat disjointed. Beside him, Song Shuqing was so overjoyed that her vision blurred. Grasping her fourth sister with one hand and Miss Lou with the other, she repeatedly asked: “Did I hear that right? Did my second brother really hunt a golden eagle?”

Song Shuyan was equally elated, thinking that her second brother’s long-cherished dream had finally come true, vindicating years of hard work. The faint sense of melancholy that had lingered since their morning encounter with the Fang family was swept away in an instant. For a moment, she could only nod, forgetting to respond.

Lou Tong, watching this, couldn’t help but laugh. She genuinely shared in the joy of the Song sisters and replied: “You heard correctly, absolutely correct—it’s your remarkable second brother! A golden eagle is even rarer than the white-shouldered eagle that Yi Zhi hunted before. His Majesty will surely bestow great rewards, and success in the upcoming military examinations this spring is practically guaranteed!”

Upon hearing this, Song Shuqing clapped her hands over her mouth in delight, turning to embrace her fourth sister, laughing and crying simultaneously. This scene, observed by Song’s third daughter, who was still persistently parading her horse below the viewing platform, filled her with disdain. Unable to contain her irritation, she let out a cold snort, inwardly cursing the shallow and self-aggrandizing members of the second branch—what sort of person was that concubine-born brother of hers? Just because he got lucky once, did he dare compare himself to her own Yi Zhi?

Hmph!

As if he deserved such fortune!

Around the hours of Shen and You, the Emperor finally arrived at the hunting grounds.

The ministers knelt and hailed him with cries of “Long live the Emperor,” their voices resonating like bells through the deep mountain forests. Yet Wei Xun paid no heed to this grand display, instead urgently turning to ask Kang Xiwen: “Where is the golden eagle? Is it still alive?”

In his youth, he had been an avid hunter, and even in his old age, he had not abandoned the habit. Moreover, a golden eagle was a rare and auspicious omen for the nation, so his eagerness to see it was understandable.

The Empress and Crown Prince stood respectfully by his side, barely managing to utter a few flattering words before Consort Zhong interjected, smiling sweetly as she personally wiped the sweat from Wei Xun’s brow. With a coy rebuke, she said: “Look how anxious Your Majesty is—the golden eagle has already been shot down; it’s not going to fly away. Rushing here from the palace in such haste—if you catch a chill and fall ill, what then?”

…Under the watchful eyes of all, their intimacy resembled that of a common couple.

The Empress subtly averted her gaze. Though such scenes had become commonplace since the third year of Ruixian, the humiliation still welled up within her heart time and again. Crown Prince Wei Qin sighed softly, discreetly steadying his mother’s hand where no one could see.

Yet the Emperor remained oblivious, his sole focus being the golden eagle. Kang Xiwen, ever attuned to the Emperor’s desires, quickly stepped forward and bowed. “This eagle was hunted by Song Mingzhen, the second son of Song Dan, Left Minister of the Ministry of Works. Young Master Er’s archery skills are extraordinary—he injured its wing without harming its life. It remains as lively as ever.”

“Is that so?”

The Emperor was overjoyed, his laughter ringing out clearly even from a hundred paces away. He waved his hand and commanded: “Quickly! Summon him forward! Let me take a good look at the golden eagle he shot down!”

Kang Xiwen smiled and responded with a “Yes,” then turned and loudly announced the summons. Song Mingzhen, who had been standing below the viewing platform with a cage in hand, now stepped forward. As the sun dipped low in the evening sky, casting a magnificent glow, the young man exuded both tension and exhilaration.

All eyes—ministers, officials, and noble families alike—were fixed on him. Taking a deep breath, he advanced slowly, kneeling before the Emperor and bowing deeply. Wei Xun instructed him to rise, but his gaze bypassed the young man entirely, fixated instead on the cage in his hands. Kang Xiwen, noticing this, quickly signaled Song Mingzhen to remove the black cloth covering the cage.

Comprehending the cue, Song Mingzhen bowed again to the Emperor and said: “Golden eagles are rare treasures, regarded as auspicious omens in history and literature. This humble subject dares to present this creature to Your Majesty, praying for favorable weather and enduring prosperity for our Great Zhou.”

With that, he forcefully pulled off the black cloth. In the fading light of dusk, everyone could see the massive eagle standing within the iron cage. Its feathers shimmered black and gold, its physique robust and fierce, though it appeared somewhat lethargic due to the injury to its right wing. Once healed, it would surely soar into the skies once more.

“Excellent!”

The Emperor clapped and laughed heartily—first at the majestic vigor of the caged eagle, and second at the pleasing eloquence of Young Master Er. Kang Xiwen, seizing the moment of the Emperor’s delight, descended from the viewing platform and personally took the iron cage from Song Mingzhen to present it before the throne. Wei Xun was immensely pleased, his eyes practically glued to the cage as he gazed unblinkingly at the trapped bird. He remarked: “The majesty of the golden eagle is truly extraordinary, even surpassing the white-shouldered eagle from a few years ago…”

Here he paused, his gaze sweeping across the viewing platform until it landed on Fang Xianting, who stood solemnly beside his father. Smiling teasingly, he quipped: “Why so silent today, Yi Zhi? Could it be that you cannot bear for others to surpass you?”

At these words, Song Mingzhen, kneeling below, was momentarily startled. He glanced up at his third brother, recalling the urgent warning Fang Xianting had called out in the forest. But it was too late—he hadn’t managed to stop the arrow. After shooting the eagle, he turned to look at Fang Xienting, only to find Prince Wei Zheng and his entourage already riding nearby. Gazing at the fallen golden eagle, the prince’s face was filled with regret, even tinged with irritation. He remarked: “Though there’s no need for courtesy during a hunt, Young Master Er’s claim to this achievement seems rather overbearing. Did I chase after it all this way just to hand it over to you?”

He then glanced at Fang Xianting and the other Fang family members behind him, a fleeting, indescribable gleam passing through his eyes. After a pause, he added: “What a pity… This feat won’t fall to the Fangs either.”

At the time, Fang Xianting had remained silent, his lowered gaze strangely unsettling. Now, standing before the Emperor, his expression remained inscrutable as he replied: “I am humbled, and offer my congratulations to Your Majesty.”

Wei Xun burst into laughter again, seemingly mocking the insincerity of his words. Then, his gaze returned to Song Mingzhen, and he nodded approvingly, repeating the word “good” three times.

“A hundred flowers blooming in competition is always better than a single blossom standing alone,” the Emperor’s words carried hidden meaning. “Our Great Zhou is blessed with talent and enduring fortune, fitting for such a prosperous era.”

His words were ambiguous, yet the officials present at the hunting grounds discerned a hint of sarcasm. Observing the Emperor’s glances, it was clear they were subtly directed toward Marquis Fang He of Jin. The implication was unmistakable—the prominence of the Fangs of Yingchuan, towering above others, had long bred resentment in the Emperor’s heart.

Marquis Fang He remained impassive, his seated demeanor exuding more authority and stability than the Emperor atop the viewing platform. Wei Xun, displeased but restraining his emotions, turned his gaze away coldly. Just as he was about to announce rewards for the Song family’s second son, he noticed something unusual about the golden eagle in the cage. Its uninjured left wing flapped violently, and its sharp beak spat out a foreign object.

Consort Zhong, seated near the Emperor, gasped and covered her mouth in surprise. “Your Majesty, look quickly—what is that?”

The officials, who had been carefully analyzing the increasingly delicate relationship between the imperial family and the Fangs of Yingchuan, were abruptly jolted back to attention by the Consort’s exclamation. All eyes turned to Kang Xiwen, who personally retrieved the object from the cage using copper tweezers. After rinsing it, he slowly unfolded it—a piece of fine silk, inscribed with writing…

He presented it to the Emperor for inspection. The smile that had graced Wei Xun’s face moments earlier vanished instantly, replaced by a dark and ominous expression. In the next instant, a thunderous rage descended with overwhelming force. With a single swipe of his hand, he knocked the iron cage over, causing the once-prized eagle to emit a piercing, frightened cry.

“Traitor—”

The Emperor whirled around, pointing accusingly at Crown Prince Wei Qin. His aged, clouded eyes were filled with ferocious animosity.

“You—you dare—”