Hunting wasn’t an activity that would stump the princess consort. In her early days up the mountain, hunting was how she’d eked out survival. She’d approached things by first trapping small animals and identifying wild herbs and vegetables, then taking wild fungus and herbs to sell at the market when she was older. When she learned that furs sold for more money, she picked up some basic hunting skill and knowledge from local hunters.
Though she hadn’t wanted for food or clothing over the past three years, she hadn’t forgotten her acquired skills. Granted, shooting from the back of the horse was a bit more difficult. It’d be much easier if she was standing on ground.
However, she didn’t want to show off anything; her existence was cause enough for Anari to submerge herself in a vat of jealousy. Displaying any hunting prowess would likely anger the khan to death on the spot. Therefore, Qin Yining only picked up the bow for self-defense.
Lu Heng patently had the same thoughts as her. He too cradled the bow loosely, holding the reins with his other hand and staying by the princess consort’s side.
A boundless grassy plain greeted their eyes after leaving Khanbaliq. The weather of the tenth month of the year bestowed a layer of frost onto yellowed grass, which was interspersed by the occasional copse of pine trees. The trees were neatly arranged, but few in numbers. Clouds dotted the skies, forming a thin layer of fog in the far-off peaks. Even the air they breathed in seemed particularly humid.
The group flew along the plains, reaching the foot of a large mountain an hour later. Pine and cypress trees unique to the hinterlands of the north forested the mountain. They were much taller and bigger than the scattered bunches of trees the group had seen along the way.
Anari waved the group to a halt. “We hunt here! Let’s see who bags the most kills!”
“Understood!” The hunters, soldiers, and slaves still panting from the forced run followed their khan into the forest. Smaller groups naturally splintered off from the larger entourage, dismounting from their horses to travel on foot.
Qin Yining and Lu Heng naturally joined Siqin’s retinue.
Ruddy-faced with how the shameless princess consort was for sticking with Siqin, Anari suddenly wasn’t in a hurry to seek out prey anymore. Instead, she turned to stay by Siqin’s side.
The Great Zhou princess consort quietly observed the terrain, making not a move. Meanwhile, Anari seemed to be showcasing her skills—shooting down a wild chicken here, tracking a wild rabbit there. Boredom set in after a short jaunt through the pine trees. “Our luck is bad today to find only these animals. Why don’t we take the horses outside?”
Siqin was only here to coax the khan into a better mood, so whatever she said was his command. He whistled to signal the group to gather outside of the woods and return to where the slaves were keeping watch over the horses. Everyone mounted their steed and set course once more for the plains.
A group of wild Tibetan gazelles came into view after rounding a slight slope. Interest seized Anari and she whipped her horse forward. Startled, the gazelles scurried away after seeing that humans had found them.
Anari adored a chase and led her men onto the hunt. Whooping and hollering, soldiers unexpectedly panicked the gazelles and sent them scattering in all directions after they crested another hill.
“A herd of wolves! Khan, it’s a herd of wolves!” The men shouted.
“Perfect! I was just thinking it’s boring to hunt gazelles, so let’s catch a few wolves for some fun!”
An idea suddenly struck her and she pulled her horse to a stop. Standing at a high vantage point, watching the wolves drive off the gazelles, she smiled at Qin Yining.
“I’ve long since heard that the Faithful Prince of the First Rank is brave and valiant, a war god of Great Zhou. Even his princess consort is a hero among women and an invaluable talent. I’m sure the princess consort has learned much from your husband. Why don’t you go down there and show us your skill.”
Lu Heng’s expression shifted drastically when he heard this and darted in front of Qin Yining before she could respond. “Please retract your order, great khan! The customs of Great Zhou are different from that of Tatar’s, our women are not skilled in riding or shooting. The princess consort is a noble daughter and would never be able to defeat a wild wolf. Even some of our men might not be able to take down a herd of them, much less Her Highness. The khan’s order might be misinterpreted as intent for premeditated murder.”
That was precisely what Anari wanted to do! Anyone could see that, but that was what she wanted to do, regardless! She was the ruler of this country and what she said was law. Whoever she wanted alive would live, and wanted dead would die!
Irritation crept over Anari to see Lu Heng jump out so nervously to Qin Yining’s rescue. Her laughter shrilled coldly, “You again! Lu, what is your relationship with the Faithful Princess Consort of the First Rank? Why is your nose in all of her business?”
The khan purposefully raised her voice in surprise, “Aiya, are the two of you, that kind of relationship? Qin, you wench really think highly of yourself huh? Look at you flirting and seducing another man in public. You may not want any face, but your husband sure would like some!”
Qin Yining’s fist tightened painfully around her bow, her grip so firm that her knuckles were white. Anari had slandered her again and again, she really couldn’t take it anymore!
The princess consort abruptly drew out two arrows with an adroit movement, took two steps forward to fix her aim, and drew back the bow in a full draw.
Chapter 483.2: The Hunt (II)
Beneath the hill, the wolves had scattered the gazelle herd. Wild wolves were exceedingly intelligent and disciplined. Though they herded the gazelles away, they’d only killed a few of their prey. A few howls from a particularly majestic gray male were enough to command cooperation from the other wolves. The pack’s direction shifted as they tried to send the herd in another direction.
Qin Yining pointed her arrow tip at the alpha male and took a breath to steady her focus, releasing the arrow with decisiveness.
With his keen senses, the wolf instantly sniffed out the danger. He jumped to the side to evade, but Qin Yining’s arrow had already arrived and sank into his hind leg.
Whimpering, the wolf limped two steps forward before viciously looking in the direction of the arrow’s origin. He bared his fangs at the sight of the human pulling back on the bow and yipped a few times.
However, her second arrow arrived at this moment and connected with the alpha again, sending the murderous wolf collapsing to the ground with a trickle of blood.
“Nicely done!”
“Wonderful shooting skills!”
Lu Heng and Siqin shouted with praise despite themselves. Even the guards and slaves following them looked probingly at the princess consort. Who would’ve thought that such a charming beauty, as pretty as a jade sculpture, would take down the alpha in two arrows?
Ruddy-faced with anger, Anari wanted to feed Qin Yining to the wolves. The khan had wanted her to dismount and take on the wolf herd herself—who would’ve thought she’d be this slippery!
“Khan.” The princess consort smiled. “The alpha is injured. Please create an opening and allow the rest of the wolves to leave.”
“Who the hell do you think you are to direct this kahn’s actions? I happen to want to kill them all! You!” A glowering Anari pointed at the group of slaves behind them and coldly shifted her finger to the wolf herd. “Go and capture all of those wolves alive!”
Qin Yining’s brows knit together with an almost audible click. “What does the khan think her people are? Animals to be treated as such? Look at them, there’s elderly, sick, women, and children among them. How can you bear to have them capture wild wolves? You’re sending them to their deaths!”
Towering rage built in Anari and she glared back at Qin Yining’s furious eyes, waving a hand at her soldiers.
The men immediately grasped their liege’s intentions and charged
into the group of slaves, cracking their horse whips to drive the slaves into the wolves. Some who refused to go were killed on the spot.
Shrieks of terror and despair abounded. The slaves could only close their eyes and haphazardly charge downwards, as if choosing to end their desperate and hopeless lives in this fashion.
Another wolf had already replaced the alpha’s position. Champing at the bit to avenge their previous leader, no fear sprouted when they saw such a mass of humans coming at them. They ignored the gazelles and dashed at the slaves, howling and whining with savagery.
The slaves were completely unarmed and typically worked to the bone on insufficient food. No matter what lofty status they had before or privilege treatment they previously enjoyed, they were all skin and bones now. Add to that having followed the group on bare feet, they were already on the dregs of their energies.
Casualties soon appeared with the maddened wolves’ attacks. The frightened gazelle herd bounded away to safety in all directions.
Qin Yining’s heart broke to pieces. “Khan, please take back your order! Do you not want to accumulate good karma? Are you not afraid of heaven’s judgment in harming your people like this??”
“Judgment? I occupy my position with heaven’s will—what judgment will there be? And I don’t care, even if there is any! Look for yourself if these people die innocent deaths. Of course not! There’s so many of them, but they can’t even handle some wolves! How are they supposed to serve under my banner? They’re lowly slaves alright, utterly unfit to serve me! They deserve their deaths!”
Qin Yining ground her teeth with wrath. “You should really repeat this for all of your people to hear! Is the khan going to imitate tyrants in enjoying life and not caring about the people?”
“Shut up!” Anari angrily cracked her whip and snapped it at Qin Yining’s face.
The princess consort reacted as soon as the khan lifted her hand, but her condition wasn’t the best lately and her energy levels low. Her body refused to listen to her commands and almost dumped her to the floor instead of avoiding the whip.
Seeing the whip about to connect, Lu Heng threw caution to the wind and grabbed it with one hand.
“Please calm down, khan!” Born of a noble household and the illustrious Lu aristocracy, Lu Heng had thought he’d seen all manners of people in his years of commerce. However, it was his first time seeing someone so ruthless that they were inhumane.
Anari tugged firmly on the whip, but Lu Heng had no intention of relaxing his tight grip. Many slaves were being torn to pieces and bitten, their cries and wails deafening to the ear.
Anari wanted to tell Qin Yining that this was what happened to whomever didn’t obey her in her territory, and more than anything wanted to turn the princess consort into wolf food. She’d never anticipated that Lu Heng would stand forth at a crucial moment in an act of public defiance!
Chapter 484: Tyranny
Anari sneered and briskly shot back at Lu Heng in the Tatar tongue. "Does Sir Lu think he has the right to strut around just because he shared a few conversations with my consort?"
Lu Heng let go of the whip but still firmly shielded Qin Yining behind him, responding lowly, "There’s no need for concern—I only wish to remind the khan that those the wolves are devouring are your people, as are the people watching from the sidelines. If you display such brutality before your own people, do you not fear they will sympathize with those you oppress? Do you have no concern for destroying your benevolent reputation to the point where no one will follow you out of genuine loyalty?"
Anari snarled, "Is it your place to lecture me about my actions?"
"I would never dare so. I mean only to offer a few words of advice. The khan's consort and I have come to an agreement, so we consider each other friends. You two are husband and wife, so you are family. What kind of person would I be if I were to ignore my friend's familial problems when they arise?"
"Complete nonsense!" Anari pointed at Qin Yining, jeering, "You obviously have eyes for this vixen, so you’re trying to cozy up to her! Lu Heng, stop these kinds of tactics if you’re a real man. If you fancy her, then fancy her. If you want to sleep with her, then sleep with her. You have so many opportunities now that you are away from your country, so what have you to fear? Mind your matters between you and her and stop interfering in my issues with her!"
Having his unrequited feelings mocked in such a light had Lu Heng flushing with anger. "If the khan will not listen to my advice," he growled, "then there is nothing left for me to say. I only hope the khan will not come to regret the immorality of your actions!"
"Who do you think you are?! Am I obliged to submit to your manipulation?"
......
Qin Yining didn't understand Anari's rapid-fire words, and since Lu Heng argued with her in the Tatar language, she had no idea what they were bickering about either. She truly felt morose and sullen, especially when slaves were being slaughtered without mercy by a pack of wolves not far down the hill.
It was impossible to disperse the thick stench of blood that permeated through the air; their shrill screams cut into her heart like sharp knives. Anari had created this living hell with just a few words, yet she had absolutely no awareness of this and thought it to be the way things were supposed to be. What was the meaning of having these dictators who didn't care for their people? How was Anari any different from the trash emperor of Great Yan?
Qin Yining circled around the bickering pair and drew her bow once more, taking aim at the wild wolves.
She’d been able to aim accurately at first because there were no people around them. However, the wolves were now tearing through the crowd—Qin Yining could very well hurt a human by accident, which had her nerves on edge.
Seeing her take aim without firing a single shot, Siqin eventually spoke up. "Do you mean to kill the alpha wolf again? Are you certain you won’t hurt the people instead?"
Qin Yining glanced back at Siqin and laughed coldly. "Shouldn’t the khan's consort be thinking of a way to convince the khan to spare those slaves right now?"
However, Siqin clasped his hands behind his back. "You do know these people are all criminals charged with treason? If them dying makes the khan happy, then their deaths have value."
Qin Yining brought her bow to full draw. However, not only was she unable to take clear aim, she couldn't loosen her bow carelessly without the risk of hurting her arms. As she fretted, Siqin's words set off her temper—her willowy brows knit together, she whirled around and aimed a sharp arrowhead straight at Siqin's nose.
He stared at Qin Yining unmovingly.
Startled by Qin Yining's actions, Anari and Lu Heng forgot all about arguing with each other. Drawing their knives and swords, the surrounding bodyguards surrounded Qin Yining, looking like they’d only be satisfied if they hacked her to pieces.
Siqin, however, showed no sign of fear. His eyes brightened further, the corners of his lips betraying hints of amusement. "What are you doing?"
Qin Yining pursed her lips. A gust of wind carrying the scent of blood rustled the hair framing her face and the strings of red agate hanging above her brow. "Order them to save the people. Kill the wolves. Otherwise, I'll kill you."
"You want me to give the command? The khan's wish is for them to die—what command can I give? Isn't there a saying in Great Zhou that says if the emperor wishes for his subjects to die, then his subjects must die?"
"You are the war god of Tatar. You control the military and your authority is indisputable—will these people not listen to you? You simply don't care whether the slaves live or die. You have been compared to my husband, who’s also led men into battle. I know his hands are stained with the blood of the countless people he had killed, but I know that even if he played the role of executioner, he remains merciful at heart.
"But you? Your mercy has long been devoured by the dogs, has it not? I feel ashamed for you to be compared alongside my husband despite the lack of principles!"
&n
bsp; "Shut up!" Siqin's eyes grew dark; every word Qin Yining uttered stabbed straight into his heart.
Anari, on the other hand, was so enraged that her hair seemed to be standing straight. "Someone take her down!"
At her words, the bodyguards swarmed her. Lu Heng frantically stomped his feet and stepped up to protect Qin Yining. He pulled at her, pleading, "Why are you being so reckless? Hurry and aim away from him!"
Qin Yining looked back at the remnants of the slaves down the mountain and gritted her teeth, showing no signs of complying.
The guards came forth and grabbed the hand she used to grip the nock of the arrow, forcing her to release in a direction devoid of people. As soon as her hold on her bowstring loosened, her arms were immediately forced together behind her back.
In a low voice, Anari declared, "This person attempted to assassinate the khan's consort, an offense punishable by death. Off with her head this instant."
"Understood." The guards moved to pull Qin Yining to the side.
Little did they expect Siqin, who had remained silent up to this point, to cough and wave his hand casually. Seeing this, the guards immediately forgot Anari's orders and let go of Qin Yining.
It was at that moment that Qin Yining understood Siqin was truly the final authority in Tatar.
Anari shrieked, "Why are you sparing this scheming vixen?! We haven’t had a day of peace since she came! If we get rid of her today, we can rid ourselves of this calamity!"
A sound akin to dogs barking could be heard traveled down the mountain.
Qin Yining looked back, only to see the guards chase the wolves away from bloodied plains littered with bodies. She closed her eyes—ever since she had to endure Anari's pettiness, pent-up frustrations flooded her mind, making every word with the other woman a tormenting ordeal.
Siqin made yet another hand gesture. Guards immediately came forth to escort Qin Yining and Lu Heng off to the side.
Siqin turned and pulled Anari to an empty patch of land, walking until they could no longer smell the stench of blood from down the mountain. With no one around to hear them, he lowered his voice. "Khan, so many people are dead. Have you calmed down yet?"
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