CHAPTER 19: The winter Hunt
1076 Words
The imperial hunting grounds stretched endlessly beneath white snow.
Towering pine forests surrounded the vast mountains while banners carrying the royal dragon emblem fluttered violently beneath the cold winter wind.
Rows of noble carriages lined the outer camps.
Soldiers guarded every entrance.
Servants hurried endlessly between tents preparing food, horses, and weapons.
The annual winter hunt had begun.
Yet unlike previous years—
today’s atmosphere carried unusual tension.
Because too many dangerous figures gathered in one place.
The Crown Prince.
The Lord of Valin.
And now—
the Fourth Miss Shen everyone discussed endlessly.
Inside the General Manor carriage, Shen Yue calmly adjusted the fur cloak around her shoulders while Shen Lian sat opposite her with a darkened expression.
The silence between them felt heavy.
Finally—
Shen Lian spoke coldly.
“You seem quite proud lately.”
Shen Yue didn’t even look up.
“This sister misunderstands.”
Shen Lian nearly laughed.
Misunderstands?
The entire capital discussed Shen Yue now.
How could she misunderstand anything?
Her fingers tightened slowly.
“You should remember one thing carefully.”
Shen Yue finally lifted her eyes calmly.
“What thing?”
Shen Lian leaned closer slightly.
“No matter how much attention you receive…”
Her voice turned colder.
“You’re still only a concubine-born daughter.”
Ah.
There it was.
Status.
The favorite weapon of ancient noblewomen.
Shen Yue almost smiled.
The original Shen Yue probably suffered greatly hearing such words repeatedly.
Unfortunately—
the current Shen Yue truly did not care.
She answered softly:
“And yet…”
Her gaze remained calm.
“People still discuss me instead of you.”
Silence.
Shen Lian’s face instantly paled from fury.
“You—”
The carriage suddenly stopped before she could continue.
Outside, servants announced respectfully:
“The hunting grounds have been reached.”
Shen Yue stepped down first into the snowy campgrounds.
Cold wind swept through the mountains immediately.
The scenery looked magnificent.
White forests.
Frozen cliffs.
Imperial banners beneath grey skies.
Beautiful enough to hide countless dangers.
Nearby nobles already gathered around the central grounds.
The moment Shen Yue appeared—
whispers began instantly.
“That’s Fourth Miss Shen…”
“She’s even prettier in daylight…”
“Lord Valin attended too…”
Interesting.
Everyone truly enjoyed gossip.
Shen Yue calmly ignored them while observing the surroundings carefully instead.
Military officers stood stationed around the hunting fields.
Imperial guards watched constantly.
Even hidden archers occupied nearby towers.
Security felt unusually intense today.
Which meant one thing.
Someone important expected danger.
Meanwhile—
at the center of the grounds—
Xu Yan sat atop a white horse dressed in dark royal hunting robes embroidered with silver dragons.
Elegant.
Refined.
Dangerously handsome.
The moment he noticed Shen Yue—
his gaze softened faintly.
Nearby noble ladies instantly noticed too.
Jealousy spread immediately.
Xu Yan guided his horse forward slowly.
“Fourth Miss.”
Shen Yue bowed politely.
“Your Highness.”
Snow drifted softly between them.
Xu Yan studied her briefly.
“You seem calm despite recent rumors.”
Shen Yue answered honestly.
“Rumors eventually become boring.”
Xu Yan laughed quietly.
Interesting woman.
Always interesting.
Before he could continue—
the atmosphere suddenly shifted.
Cold pressure swept across the hunting grounds instantly.
Several nobles unconsciously stepped aside.
Because Chu Wenzhe had arrived.
The Lord of Valin rode a massive black warhorse through the snowy grounds like a figure carved from darkness itself.
Black fur cloak.
Black armor.
Sharp black eyes colder than winter itself.
Even his horse looked terrifying.
The surrounding soldiers immediately straightened instinctively upon seeing him.
Fear.
Respect.
Instinctive obedience.
Everything followed him naturally.
Shen Yue quietly observed the reactions around her.
Interesting.
Chu Wenzhe’s presence among military men differed completely from the palace atmosphere.
Here—
he looked less like a political threat.
And more like a king returning to his army.
The thought itself felt dangerous.
Xu Yan’s smile faded slightly.
Then calmly—
the Crown Prince and Lord of Valin looked at one another across falling snow.
Neither spoke immediately.
Yet invisible tension spread instantly between them.
Two predators.
Two future rulers in different ways.
Meanwhile unfortunate Shen Yue stood directly between them again.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
Several noblewomen nearby looked ready to faint from jealousy already.
Suddenly—
the Emperor’s arrival was announced loudly.
Everyone immediately knelt as imperial guards surrounded the central platform.
The Emperor appeared dressed in heavy golden hunting robes while Princess Ning’an followed beside him elegantly.
Her gaze instantly landed on Shen Yue again.
Cold.
Sharp.
Hostile.
The Emperor surveyed the grounds calmly before smiling broadly.
“Today’s hunt shall proceed as tradition demands.”
Servants quickly released hunting hawks while soldiers prepared horses.
Excitement slowly spread through the grounds.
Yet Shen Yue’s instincts remained uneasy.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
And unfortunately—
her instincts proved correct quickly.
As the nobles prepared for the hunt, a sudden commotion erupted near the horse stables.
A servant screamed.
Then—
chaos exploded.
A massive black horse broke violently free from its restraints, roaring wildly while charging directly toward the noble gathering.
Women screamed instantly.
Servants scattered in panic.
The horse’s eyes looked bloodshot with madness.
Drugged.
Shen Yue realized immediately.
Someone intentionally triggered this.
The charging horse thundered directly toward the noble daughters’ section.
Too fast.
Too violent.
Several girls froze completely in terror.
Among them—
Princess Ning’an.
The princess stumbled backward in panic as the crazed horse charged straight toward her.
Everything happened within seconds.
Then suddenly—
someone moved.
Fast.
Terrifyingly fast.
A black figure crossed the snowy ground instantly.
Chu Wenzhe grabbed the horse’s reins violently with one hand.
The maddened beast roared while rearing upward dangerously.
Nearby soldiers looked horrified.
That horse could crush a grown man easily.
Yet Chu Wenzhe’s expression never changed.
His grip tightened sharply.
And with terrifying force—
he slammed the beast sideways directly into the snow.
Boom.
The entire grounds fell silent.
The massive horse collapsed heavily while trembling violently beneath his control.
Everyone stared in shock.
Because the sight looked unreal.
Chu Wenzhe stood calmly in falling snow holding the struggling horse down almost effortlessly.
Like a monster suppressing another monster.
Princess Ning’an looked completely stunned.
Several military officers stared with near worship.
Meanwhile Shen Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because during the chaos—
she noticed something others missed.
An archer hidden among the outer forest trees quietly lowering his bow.
- Writer
