Chapter 14
Until they left the forest, Li Wuting couldn’t figure out anything.
Leaving behind Li Yingtan and his brother, sighing incessantly in the background…
Ning Rushen looked at his calm silhouette regretfully, pinching the pearls and gems in his hand for self-comfort:
After all, he is the ruler of a country, not so easily manipulated.
The game hunted by the emperor and the officials was counted by the guards according to the arrows used, and the total was reported to the emperor, who would then decide the winner.
The officials all listened to the count around, watching enthusiastically. They complimented and congratulated each other, creating a lively scene.
Ning Rushen also strolled over with his sleeves tucked and Geng Yan.
The winner was a middle-ranking officer from the Ministry of War, who received a treasured sword bestowed by the emperor that could cut through iron as if it were mud, and he knelt excitedly to thank for the grace under the envious gaze of his colleagues.
The rewards for the others were also announced one by one by the eunuchs.
However, the person who actually took action at that time was Li Wuting, and it really had nothing to do with him…
When the colleagues around noticed, they turned and greeted him, “Lord Ning also entered the hunting ground today?”
Ning Rushen nodded.
One of them curiously asked, “Oh? Did you catch anything?”
Ning Rushen shook his head, “I did not hunt.”
The people looked at each other, “Then what were you doing there?”
Ning Rushen said, “I was there to protect the emperor.” After saying this, he paused for a moment, tasting the absurdity of his own words.
Indeed, his colleagues fell silent, all looking at him, “………”
Geng Yan tried not to appear too offensive, “Is this a new joke you thought of?”
Ning Rushen’s eyes narrowed slightly, wanting to kick something.
Just then, the voice announcing the rewards from the stand stumbled for a moment:
“Grand Scholar Ning Chen, for meritorious protection of the emperor—”
The lively atmosphere in the field turned silent as if cold water had been poured into boiling oil. Everyone turned to look at Ning Rushen.
“A bestowed carved bow!”
Ning Rushen’s heart skipped a beat as he looked towards the stage.
He saw a beautifully crafted bow being brought up, half the length of a person, shimmering like flowing light, even more intricate and luxurious than the treasured sword awarded to the top scorer.
He: ……
De Quan called out from a distance, his voice high-pitched and soft, “Lord Ning, aren’t you going to accept the reward and give thanks?”
Ning Rushen moistened his dry lips.
Then, under the gaze of the muscular and powerful military officers of the court, the highly skilled guards, Yin Zhao who was sent far away, and the Ministry of War officer holding the treasured sword… he walked up as calmly as he could.
As he approached, the bow appeared even more solid and heavy.
Li Wuting naturally looked towards him, “Lord Ning has contributed greatly, a heavy reward.”
Ning Rushen’s fingertips trembled: Truly a heavy reward.
He took a deep breath and raised his hand, “I, your servant, give thanks.”
The moment the wooden heavy bow fell into his palm, his arm was almost shaken, nearly losing his composure.
—What is this?
Was Li Wuting giving him the maximum rebuttal within a moral hijacking?
A voice from above fell, seemingly in not too bad a mood, “Hmm.”
·
The eunuch sent the bow back for him.
Although this bow was exquisitely crafted, it was not merely an artistic piece for display but a quality bow that could be actually used for hunting.
Ning Rushen did not want to waste such a treasure.
Yesterday, as it was getting late, he decided to wait until tomorrow to find someone to teach him.
…
After waking up the next day,
Ning Rushen saw that Geng Yan and his son were still in the tent, with Geng Yue sitting not far away playing chess with a colleague.
After washing up, he called out to Geng Yan, “Aren’t we going hunting today?”
Geng Yan came over and said, “You generally have to participate on the first day, but after that, it’s optional.”
Ning Rushen suddenly understood and then took out that bow, “Then, it’s perfect, you can teach me archery.”
Geng Yan’s expression instantly twisted, “Are you joking? I’m also a civil official. Besides, this is an imperial gift you have. If I damage it, I could lose my head.”
He thought for a moment, “Why don’t you go find my father? He’s older and stronger.”
“……”
Ning Rushen glanced at Geng Yue, who was not far away, and sighed softly, “You really are killing your father with filial piety…”
Geng Yan blushed slightly.
Ning Rushen lifted the tent flap and looked outside.
He saw that those who had stayed were mostly civil officials, elderly ministers, or the Military Department’s Assistant Minister who had won the top spot yesterday.
Holding that generously gifted bow, he said, “What about asking the Military Department’s Assistant Minister to teach me?”
Geng Yan, recalling the Assistant Minister’s small knife, said, “It looks like you’re pretending to show off unintentionally.”
Ning Rushen, “……”
He sighed, leaned against the tent, and thought for a while, then suddenly thought of someone, “Oh, I’ve got it.”
Geng Yan, “?”
Ning Rushen patted his shoulder, declined the help of the eunuchs outside the tent, and went on his way, holding the bow.
At the entrance of the hunting ground.
Yin Zhao held a Spring and Autumn Brocade Knife, standing upright as a pine.
Ning Rushen searched all the way and saw, not far from the edge of the area, a magnificent group of palace people waiting; Li Wuting was sitting there, apparently not going hunting either.
Two princes, one older and one younger, were riding horses.
It seemed Li Yingtang was teaching Li Jingyu.
From a distance, Ning Rushen couldn’t see clearly, so he withdrew his gaze and directly approached Yin Zhao, “Commander Yin.”
Yin Zhao looked coldly with drooping eyebrows, “What is it?”
Ning Rushen raised the bow, “Teach me to shoot an arrow?”
Yin Zhao, with an iron face and impartial, said, “As the emperor’s sword, one must know their limits. Gifts from the emperor must not be touched.”
“……..”
Ning Rushen almost praised out loud:
Then you really do know your limits!
The bow given by the emperor cannot be touched, but the imperial platform can be dismantled diligently.
He looked at Yin Zhao, who was still guarding the entrance today, and after two seconds of silence, said, “I take my leave.”
…
Not far from the open space.
De Quan glanced over from afar and exclaimed, “Isn’t that Lord Ning?”
Li Wuting looked over accordingly.
He saw Ning Rushen walking back and forth with the large bow.
De Quan cautiously tested, “Should I call him over?”
Li Wuting glanced away, “Call him over for what.”
“Who? Call whom?” Li Yingtang, who was just passing by with Li Jingyu’s pony, turned his head upon hearing this and said, “Oh!”
He shouted loudly, “Lord Ning——”
The person walking around with the bow stopped and turned around: ?
…
Li Yingtang called out to greet, and Ning Rushen could not help but respond.
He walked up to Li Wuting and gave a bow to the three of them.
Li Yingtang curiously asked, “What is Lord Ning doing?”
Ning Rushen said, “His Majesty gifted me a bow, and I dare not let down the imperial grace, so I’m looking around for someone to teach me.”
He paused after speaking and took a closer look at Li Yingtang.
Speaking of which, King Xuan seems to be quite skilled. Didn’t he kill a deer yesterday?
As he was assessing, Li Yingtang suddenly grabbed his own wrist, “Ouch! My hand is sprained!”
Ning Rushen, “……”
Li Jingyu, watching for two seconds, followed suit, “Ouch! My hand is sprained too!”
Ning Rushen sighed, “……”
There was really no need for you to sprain your wrist like that.
He lamented internally, wondering what game these two brothers were up to now. Did they really not want to teach him archery that badly? Hadn’t they just sent him jade and pearls yesterday?
Li Yingtang held his wrist and glanced at Li Wuting.
The latter seemed unresponsive. But thinking about the binding, the manipulation, the hunting… Li Yingtang felt he was clever, having handled the situation quite well.
He cleared his throat, “Actually, my archery is average, His Majesty is the one who never misses.”
Ning Rushen: ?
He turned to look at Li Wuting.
Just then, Li Wuting also looked up at him. Their eyes met, and Li Wuting spoke, “What, do you need me to personally teach you?”
Ning Rushen, “I wouldn’t dare.”
As he spoke, his gaze began to wander among the guards behind Li Wuting, seemingly contemplating which warrior to approach next.
Li Wuting, “……”
A slight twitch appeared on Li Wuting’s forehead, “Even if you want to learn, this bow is not—” he paused, swallowing the words “suitable” back.
Ning Rushen, “…Not what?”
Li Wuting pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
If he were to say the bow was not suitable, then giving the bow as a gift would seem like he was picking a fight.
After a silence of two seconds, Li Wuting stood up, “It’s not very hard to learn.”
Ning Rushen blinked inexplicably.
What was happening, even the word “not” changed its tone.
Li Wuting walked past him towards the open space ahead, his tone becoming firmer, “Aren’t you coming over?”
“…Yes.”
In front of the open ground, the eunuchs had already moved the archery target over.
Li Wuting stood by, guiding with his words, “Raise your arm a bit higher, don’t clench your fingers too hard, don’t push with your shoulder.”
Ning Rushen, merely holding the bow, already felt his wrist trembling, unable to fully draw the bowstring.
He shot off-target, “…Is this okay, Your Majesty?”
Li Wuting frowned, seemingly unsatisfied with his condition, “Relax your wrist and arm, use the strength of your shoulder and back to resist.”
Ning Rushen felt utterly confounded—
Wrist, arm, shoulder, and back, aren’t they all part of one body? Relaxing one half while resisting with the other, was he expected to dislocate his own bones?
“Your servant…” Just as he began to speak, suddenly, a hand pressed down on his shoulder.
“Here.” A deep voice sounded close to his ear.
Caught off guard, a tingling sensation rushed from his shoulder to his ear, making him shudder! He reflexively pinched his ear.
Li Wuting, “…”
Li Wuting, “What are you trembling for.”
Ning Rushen, pinching his ear, turned around and saw Li Wuting indeed standing very close behind him—probably to see whether he was aiming properly.
He was still feeling the aftershock, “My ear…”
His voice paused for a moment. Ning Rushen always felt that saying “sensitive” sounded strange, especially since it seemed like a pair of bright eyes were lurking behind the horse in his peripheral vision.
Ning Rushen softly, “…can’t handle hearing such a noble voice.”
“……” What responded to him was a cold laugh, “Huh.”
From a distance of five or six steps, De Quan daringly stole glances.
Facing away from each other, he only saw His Majesty lower his head a bit, then Ning Sir shuddered, pinching his ear as he turned around, his eyes slightly widened, and his ear tips flushed red.
Hisss, ouch~ De Quan was watching with a surging heart when suddenly he caught sight of a little eunuch also poking his head out, “……”
He swung his dust whisk, striking: Go!
What are you looking at? You think you can watch this too?
Ahead, Li Wuting had already stepped back half a step, “Pick up the bow.”
Ning Rushen released his ears and did as he was told.
As he just raised his arm again, a pair of hands reached out from the side. Li Wuting held the bow with one hand and grasped his wrist with the other, pulling it back with a little force—
“Is it really that hard?” The end of his tone turned slightly, as if he genuinely wondered.
Ning Rushen felt his wrist rubbed by the calluses on Li’s fingertips, both hot and rough, subtly unable to hold the arrow properly.
The bowstring was fully drawn, and with a tremble of his hand, the first arrow was shot.
Whoosh! It deviated and hit the edge of the target.
The string snapped back, and Li Wuting withdrew his hand.
Ning Rushen looked down to see his fingers reddened from the pressure.
Li Wuting also saw it and asked, “Where is the jade ring?”
It took Ning Rushen a moment to remember the jade ring Li Wuting had previously given him. He said, “It’s too big, I can’t wear it.”
To prove he really couldn’t wear it, he reached into his belt. After a bit of fumbling, he pulled out the jade ring—the tassel swept up other items from his belt, clattering to the ground.
There were jades given by Xuang Wang, pearls bestowed by Jing Wang, and some sunflower seeds.
“……”
De Quan instantly felt so anxious he could sweat.
Who would mix imperial gifts with sunflower seeds!
Li Wuting looked at the scattered items, his eyes lowered, not saying anything.
The air became quiet for a moment, even the brightness in the eyes of the two horses behind seemed to dim a bit, reducing their presence.
Ning Rushen swallowed: gulp.
After a moment, Li Wuting finally spoke slowly, “Ning Qing’s belt is truly a treasure trove.”
Embarrassed, Ning Rushen started stuffing the items back into his belt, “They are just a mixture of various gifts.”
