Chapter 527. Accompanying on the Hunt (1/2)
Zhu Junfan knew that the bow in his cousin’s hands didn’t look very impressive but it definitely wasn’t something an ordinary person could bend. He curled his lip and thought, ‘Zhu Junyang, you brat, why does it seem like you’re begging for a spanking now?’
“This official’s most important task is keeping you, Imperial Majesty, safe!” Zhu Junyang had an earnest expression on his face and it made him seem a bit fascinating and charming.
Zhu Junfan waved a hand in dismissal and said, “We will be close by, shooting a few arrows here and there. There are so many imperial bodyguards along, what sort of danger could befall us? This is a rare opportunity for you to go play, so don’t just hang around here!”
However, Zhu Junyang was not moved by the emperor’s statement and displayed an expression of utter loyalty and willingness to complete his duty. On the other hand, the eldest imperial prince felt a bit restless and asked, “Imperial Father, can I go hunt?”
‘You want to go hunting with that little bow that seems like a toy?’ Zhu Junfan raised an eyebrow and looked at his son. It wasn’t that he was looking down on his son. However, a child of around seven to eight really couldn't do much, despite the fact that he had learned some boxing from the imperial bodyguards. The young prince had only started his lessons on archery, so what could he possibly shoot down now?
However, Zhu Junfan considered himself to be a compassionate father, so he looked in the direction of Yu Xiaocao and said to his son, “You want to go hunting? Go ahead!”
A smile full of happiness unfolded on Zhu Hanwen’s adorable little face. Just as he was about to cheer in glee, he heard his father’s follow up statement, “However...you need to stay by Official Yu’s side the entire time!”
Zhu Hanwen was only happy for about three seconds before his face fell. He remarked unhappily, “Imperial Father, Official Yu is a girl, so how could she know how to hunt ah? If you let me accompany her, it’s no better than staying by your side ah!”
“Since my son is so filial, then stay by my side!” Zhu Junfan took great pleasure in teasing his son and smiled as if nothing had just happened.
“Imperial Father…” Zhu Hanwen twisted his body around like a python and attempted to act spoiled to have his father change his mind out of softheartedness.
“Stay here or go hunting with Beloved Official Yu! Those are the only two options you have!” Although Zhu Junfan was usually quite kind and sweet to his children, once he came to a decision, it was almost impossible to change his mind.
The eldest imperial prince naturally knew of this side of his father. He didn’t beg for long before he made his decision, “Then...this son will go hunting for small animals with Official Yu then…”
On the side of all of this, Yu Xiaocao blinked her large eyes as she thought, ‘Can’t you two solicit my opinion about all of this before making a decision? When did I ever say that I wanted to go hunting? My own hunting skills are quite bad but I also have to bring along a little tail now? Anyone else would be better. The eldest imperial prince has a lofty status. If he got even mildly injured, who will take the blame?’
“That uh...Imperial Majesty, Imperial Highness, this official doesn’t know how to hunt…” Yu Xiaocao interjected weakly.
The eldest imperial prince immediately replied, “Imperial Father, look...Official Yu doesn’t know how to hunt. Can this son change her for someone else ah? Duke Rongguo’s third son brought two fierce hunting dogs along and they must be very bold. How about we have him accompany me instead?”
Yu Xiaocao secretly sneered, ‘Your Imperial Highness, just how much do you dislike me ah? Why don’t you make it even more clear now? Be careful what you wish for. Next time, you might have to guzzle down some really bitter medicine!’
This time, the person who spoke was the empress, “Imperial Son, Miss Yu is only being modest when she says that she doesn’t know how to hunt. I heard that when Miss Yu was eight, she often went into the mountains to hunt so she could add some meat to her family’s meals and has never gone home empty-handed. Her father had even killed a black bear! A talented father will have a talented daughter, so Miss Yu absolutely cannot be too bad!”
The corner of Yu Xiaocao’s mouth twitched when she heard the empress’s words, ‘You two are really too much! Isn’t the only reason you’re pushing the prince to go along with me is because you both know that I value my own life and naturally won’t go to any dangerous places? You both truly spare no pains or efforts to keep him safe ah!”
In the past, she had only set a few traps and snares, using the mystic stone water as bait. How could that count as hunting? If they wanted her to use bow and arrows to hunt game, she was pretty sure that even if she shot ten arrows, not a single one would hit unless her luck was sky high. They even brought up her father. If her father truly had the ability to kill a bear on his own, then how could he have almost died after getting his leg savaged by one?
When Zhu Hanwen heard this, he immediately gazed at Yu Xiaocao with an admiring look in his eyes. He was no longer as reluctant as before. Little children were truly easy to trick!
Zhu Junfan then added on another incentive, one that was enough to completely convince the eldest imperial prince that going with Yu Xiaocao was a good idea, “Beloved Official Yu, don't you also have two very large and special hunting dogs ah? Even that fellow Ning Donghuan salivates over your massive dogs, so they must be exceptional! Imperial Son, if you go with her, even if you don’t use your bow at all, you’ll be able to get quite a bit of game!”
Even Ning Donghuan envied her for these dogs? Zhu Hanwen’s gaze towards Xiaocao became much more fervent, “Official Yu, where are your hunting dogs? How come I didn’t see them on the journey here?”