Chapter 47

How could Ji Weiqiu know any of this? He even thought he had slept quite soundly! The first thing he said upon waking was to Eunuch Xiao Zhuo, “Help me remember, find me a few more jars of Luyun Spring when we get back to the palace.”

Have all these imperial court wines been laced with sleeping medicine? It’s one thing to get drunk after one drink, but to sleep so soundly on top of that! It’s perfect for a baby like him with a stressful three-in-the-morning-to-nine-at-night job and who is in mortal danger!

Eunuch Xiao Zhuo had just acknowledged the order when he saw Ji Weiqiu’s footsteps falter. Alarmed, he quickly stepped forward to support him. Ji Weiqiu didn’t try to act tough and accepted the help. Seeing the bright daylight outside, he lamented, “It’s a good thing today is a day off. Otherwise, they would’ve had to carry me to Taihe Hall.”

“Watch your step, Your Highness.” Eunuch Xiao Zhuo smiled. “If it truly came to that, you could just send a note to take the day off.”

“That’s true.” Ji Weiqiu felt as if every part of his body was soft, a lazy feeling seeping out from the very seams of his bones. It was extremely comfortable. He slowly changed his clothes, lowered his head, and sniffed his lapel. Even though he knew the servants had helped him wash up yesterday, he still felt he reeked of alcohol. Without any ceremony, he immediately called for people to bring hot water.

Sitting in the bathtub, he silently cursed himself for being so pathetic—he had only been working for a few days! How had his biological clock already gotten used to waking up early? He had gotten drunk yesterday, yet he had naturally woken up at eight in the morning. After his bath, it would probably be nine... Maybe he should go back and lie down for a while after he was done washing? After all, modern people only get one day off after working for six, but here, he had to work nine days for one day off!

Just as he climbed out of the bathtub and had another breakfast, Zhou Ruhui sent his butler to ask if he wanted to go hunting and riding outside the city. Ji Weiqiu, choosing between ‘lying down here is the same as lying down anywhere’ and ‘getting out for some fresh air openly and honorably,’ unhesitatingly chose the latter. But when he excitedly arrived at the main gate and took a look, he was struck silent. “...Imperial Elder Brother, why are you here too?”

Ji Su had an air of calm leisure, looking even more relaxed than he did in the palace. At a glance, anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he was one of Zhou Ruhui’s dog-headed army advisors... ahem, a guest minister. Hearing the words, Ji Su turned his head to look but didn’t bother to argue with Ji Weiqiu. He said, “Mount up, it’s time to go.”

Ji Weiqiu hesitated for a moment, then happily mounted his horse—he needed to get some fresh air, but didn't Ji Su? Thinking about it, Ji Su was quite pitiful, living in the palace all day and night. He opened his eyes to work and closed his eyes to more work. 'Forget it, I won’t hold it against him!'

Traveling with Zhou Ruhui had one advantage: discretion. Zhou Ruhui’s martial arts skills were second to none, and besides, he himself held military power. The men he brought with him when he went out were all extremely brave veterans. It wasn't strange for others to see them. With the Qingxuan Guard and the Imperial Guards mixed in, no one could tell that the current Emperor and the Prince of Rui were in the group.

Since many people recognized Ji Weiqiu, Eunuch Xiao Zhuo quickly sent someone to fetch a bamboo hat. As the group waited, Ji Weiqiu sat on his horse, patting the magnificent white steed beneath him and grinning like a weasel that had stolen a chicken. Ji Su, beside Zhou Ruhui, saw this and said slowly, “This horse of yours, I’m afraid you won’t be able to keep it.”

Zhou Ruhui still had a wooden expression, but he said, “It was meant to be sent to the Prince of Rui's Manor anyway.”

Yesterday, when Ji Weiqiu had asked him if he had any fine horses from the Western Regions, he had said no. But that didn’t mean he didn’t have any fine domestic horses. He had already chosen one to give to Ji Weiqiu. It was even better that Ji Weiqiu had taken a liking to it today. He could take it with him directly, and Zhou Ruhui could even make Ji Weiqiu owe him a favor for free.

Ji Su couldn’t help but sneer, “You spoil him.”

Zhou Ruhui simply didn’t respond. His gaze fell on the horse Ji Su was riding. It was obvious that this horse served the same purpose as the one Ji Weiqiu was on—it was a gift for Ji Su.

Ji Su paused. “You’re willing to part with it?”

Zhou Ruhui said, “What is there to be unwilling about when giving it to an elder and a younger brother?”

Ji Su’s brow twitched. “Is something the matter?”

Zhou Ruhui lowered his eyes. “...I’ll have to trouble Your Majesty.”

Zhou Ruhui was not the type of gentleman who believed revenge was a dish best served cold. He believed in taking revenge immediately, never letting it wait overnight. Yesterday, after Ji Su let him go, he had gone to take revenge at once. Acting openly under the light of torches and brandished weapons, things had naturally gotten a bit ugly. Today, with a clear head, he knew to ask Ji Su to clean up the mess.

Ji Su nodded and said plainly, “Killing them is killing them.”

At that moment, Eunuch Xiao Zhuo finally returned with the bamboo hat. Ji Weiqiu placed it on his head and laughed heartily, “Brother, Second Brother, I’m ready, let’s go!”

Zhou Ruhui nodded in acknowledgment, and the group set off towards the royal hunting grounds outside the city. The royal hunting grounds were not far, just on the mountain next to Ganquan Villa. It was about an hour’s ride on a fast horse. They would have fun today, rest at Ganquan Villa, and then wake up early tomorrow to go to court together.

This was the life of a miserable wage slave.

Emperors, princes, and dukes were no exception.

Perhaps Ji Weiqiu had become delicate from being raised in the palace. For the first hour of riding, he was shouting and hollering, jumping up and down with joy. By the second hour, he was done for. He felt an immense pain on the inside of his thighs, figuring they must have been chafed raw by the saddle. When Zhou Ruhui and Ji Su noticed he had been quiet for a long time, they turned back to see his face contorted in a grimace. Zhou Ruhui and Ji Su simultaneously slowed down, coming to either side of Ji Weiqiu.

Ji Su asked, “Are you unwell?”

Ji Weiqiu controlled his balance, a pained expression on his face. Thankfully, he still had a sense of shame and didn’t dare tell the truth. “It’s nothing...”

They were already on a tight schedule, and where would they find a carriage out here in the wilderness? He could make it if he just persevered. Ji Su gave him a cold look, and Ji Weiqiu subconsciously blurted out, “My legs are chafed raw.”

How embarrassing! He hadn’t ridden a horse in so long!

Just as Zhou Ruhui was about to suggest Ji Weiqiu ride with him, he heard Ji Su say, “I’ll take you.”

Once Ji Su said that, Ji Weiqiu could no longer refuse. But Ji Weiqiu wasn’t that flustered. If Ji Su said he’d take him, then so be it. What was the big deal?

He was quite good at cherishing his life. He first slowed his horse down until it was almost at a slow trot, then he reached out his hand. Ji Su took him by the waist and lifted him onto his own horse. He instantly leaned against Ji Su, his back feeling soft. He let out a long sigh of relief and said in a low voice, “Many thanks, Imperial Elder Brother.”

With one hand on the reins, Ji Su used the other to move his leg and take a look. Through the leg guards, he couldn't see much. No blood had seeped through, so it wasn't a major issue. He said, “Don’t put any strength in your legs.”

“I know, I know!” Ji Weiqiu said seriously. “It’s not like I don’t know how!”

Ji Su glanced down at him and said nothing. Ji Weiqiu felt as if that gaze was saying, ‘I’m just watching you act.’ He wanted to argue a bit more, but then he thought, 'If you're so tough, then straighten your back! Don’t you dare lean on Ji Su!'

...Forget it, forget it. Better to just lean.

Ji Weiqiu had the right attitude and genuinely made himself comfortable leaning back. Before long, he actually fell asleep. When Ji Su hadn’t heard him make a sound for a while, he wondered what was wrong, only to look down and see the person sleeping soundly.

This little ungrateful thing could sleep so soundly even on horseback.

Ji Su chuckled, freeing one hand to wrap around Ji Weiqiu to prevent him from falling off.

Zhou Ruhui saw it too. Looking at Ji Su’s expression, he suppressed a laugh and said in a low voice, “We’re almost there.”

In another fifteen minutes, they arrived at the royal hunting grounds. The moment they reached the grounds, Ji Weiqiu woke up. Normally, the palace attendants had to urge him three or four times to take his afternoon nap, but today he was quite spirited. He was wide awake within moments of waking up. Ji Su simply let him off the horse and had him get on his own.

Although the royal hunting grounds had the word ‘royal’ in its name, it was not private property like Ganquan Villa. Princes and nobles would often use this place for polo matches and the like, so it was fully equipped. Seeing the tents that had been set up early, Ji Weiqiu cheered and went over. “Big Brother, Second Brother, you guys go have fun~ Don’t mind me, I’m going to rest for a bit!”

Zhou Ruhui paused and looked at Ji Su. Ji Su gave a lazy nod, then turned with Zhou Ruhui and entered the forest.

Ji Weiqiu had someone lower the tent flaps. He took off his leg guards and saw that the inside was already a dark red, the blood having clotted. This was common when riding out. They had medicine, so he applied a patch to his own thigh and had someone add two layers of fleece inside his leg guards. But when it was time to put them back on, he felt too lazy.

'Forget it, I’ll rest a bit longer. I’ll ride again after the medicine on my leg dries.'

Ji Weiqiu watched the sound of baying hounds coming from the forest and thought to himself that his Imperial Elder Brother and Second Brother Zhou had amazing stamina... It was unscientific! Second Brother Zhou was one thing; he was a military general, so it was expected that he’d have good stamina. But why was his Imperial Elder Brother’s stamina so good?! After riding a fast horse for nearly three hours, he went straight into the forest to hunt without even catching his breath?

They were both desk jockeys; shouldn’t they be panting after walking a few extra steps and getting dizzy after running a short distance?! He was a man approaching thirty! Why was his stamina so good?!

'Forget it, I shouldn’t try to apply science to a character in a novel. After all, in novels, it’s standard for everyone to go at it seven times a night, all year round without a break. Try that in real life! Forget all year round, if a man could even get it up on the third day, he should probably go see a doctor to check if something’s wrong with him!'

Ji Weiqiu rested his chin on his hand, his thoughts drifting. He couldn't help but think about Ji Su. Speaking of which, Ji Su’s... uh... did indeed fit the description of a novel’s male lead... Ptooey, ptooey, what was he thinking! He bit the tip of his tongue and forced his thoughts in another direction, wondering if there were any hunting ground-related plots in the original book. After all, according to the usual tropes, shouldn’t something happen at a hunting ground? An assassination attempt was standard, setting some poisonous snakes and fierce beasts was within the realm of reason, and at the very least, a long-lost daughter could show up to acknowledge her parentage!

But unfortunately, the only two hunting scenes mentioned in the original book did not take place at the royal hunting grounds in Yanjing. So probably nothing would happen!

Just then, a Qingxuan Guard came to report, “Your Highness.”

“Hm?” Ji Weiqiu switched hands to prop up his chin. “What is it?”

“A group of people with suspicious movements was discovered at the foot of the mountain,” the Qingxuan Guard reported stiffly. “As they claim to be relatives of an official, this subordinate does not know how to handle the situation.”

Ji Weiqiu couldn’t help but glance at him. 'No, why are you asking me about this? Just handle it as it should be handled! The biggest official of all is still in there having fun!' He asked, “Whose family?”

The Qingxuan Guard said, “He claims to be the younger brother of Prime Minister Gu.”

Ji Weiqiu’s brow twitched. “Zhang Er? Let them in!”

Only after saying it did he realize it was somewhat improper. He said, “Keep an eye on them. Only let Zhang Er and his personal page in. The others can wait at the foot of the mountain. Have two men escort him up.”

“Yes!” The Qingxuan Guard accepted the order and left.

It had been several months since they parted on the boat. He had been semi-confined in the palace and had no chance to greet them, so he could only send letters and gifts of apology—he had handled that matter poorly. He had disappeared midway, leaving them on the boat worried and frightened, and they even had to face assassination and poisoning. He had been truly out of line!

A short while later, the Qingxuan Guard returned. Ji Weiqiu raised an eyebrow. “Where is he?”

The Qingxuan Guard paused for a moment, then said, “Reporting to Your Highness, they’ve been killed.”

Ji Weiqiu: “...Huh?! What, you killed him?!”

The Qingxuan Guard: “The assassins... have been killed. Your Highness need not worry. They were captured by the Imperial Guards at the foot of the mountain. They were just a few undiscerning mountain bandits and have all been executed.”

Ji Weiqiu: “...Oh, so that’s what it was.”

'Wait, so there really were assassins?!'

'Indeed, novels truly do not deceive me.'