Yujingchen rode the horse, taking Nanzhiyun for a slow stroll around the area. Fortunately, they followed behind, also carrying bows and arrows, as the pretense for this outing was archery.
"Are you still afraid?" Yujingchen asked Nanzhiyun.
"Not really..." Perhaps because she was leaning against Yujingchen's embrace, Nanzhiyun's heart felt less empty. At some point, Yujingchen had become the source of her sense of security.
"And your body? Does it still hurt?" Yujingchen was afraid that riding the horse would aggravate Nanzhiyun's injuries.
"It doesn't hurt," Nanzhiyun replied. The padding underneath was quite thick, so Nanzhiyun felt it was alright.
"Then shall I pick up the pace? There should be prey inside, shall I take you to try?" Yujingchen asked her.
"Okay, I want to try later too." Nanzhiyun had never hunted prey herself before.
"Alright, I'll teach you later." Yujingchen squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and the horse's speed increased. The wind blowing against his face was quite stimulating. Nanzhiyun initially flinched away, but gradually got used to it.
"A deer, there's a deer over there, Your Majesty!" Nanzhiyun exclaimed excitedly.
"Alright, then we'll shoot this deer." Yujingchen slowed the horse's pace, and the attendants behind them brought up the bows and arrows.
Yujingchen embraced Nanzhiyun.
"Here, I'll teach you how to hold the bow." Yujingchen placed the bow into Nanzhiyun's hands. Nanzhiyun had some previous experience, and she looked quite proficient.
"Keep your front wrist flat, your back elbow flat, and your elbow and wrist should be level with your shoulder." Yujingchen was essentially teaching her hand-in-hand.
"This bow isn't heavy; you should be able to draw it. Aim at the target, nock the arrow, and draw the string." Nanzhiyun was held within Yujingchen's embrace. She was initially quite interested, but because Yujingchen was so close to her ear, and her ears were quite sensitive, Nanzhiyun became a little distracted.
"Focus a bit more. When drawing the string, your index finger should be above the arrow's fletching, and your middle and ring fingers should be below, holding it tightly. Then, pull it back; this is called pre-drawing. When raising the bow, the arm should drop, the elbow should rotate inwards, and you should push the bow with the base of your thumb and forefinger." Yujingchen held Nanzhiyun's hand, aiming at the deer that was still unaware of the impending danger.
"Finally, aim... and shoot." As soon as Yujingchen finished speaking, the arrow had already left the string, striking the deer directly.
"You hit it! Your Majesty is amazing, and I am amazing too." Nanzhiyun had this kind of experience for the first time, and it was quite novel.
"Yes, Yun'er is the most amazing." Yujingchen was never stingy with his praise for Nanzhiyun.
The palace attendants rushed forward to drag the deer away the moment Yujingchen shot it.
"This is Consort Shu's first hunted prey. Take good care of it. Today, Consort will surely take first place." Yujingchen was in a rare good mood, speaking to his subordinates in such a manner.
"Yes." Xinglai was very perceptive and immediately understood. The spring hunt lasted for five days each year, with competitions held daily to see who could hunt the most prey. The first-place winner would receive a reward from His Majesty, though the nature of the reward was not fixed.
Since His Majesty had brought Consort Shu out today and counted the prey towards Consort Shu, it meant that Consort Shu was participating in this competition, and... she was guaranteed first place.
However... Xinglai felt a bit speechless. He wondered, why go through such unnecessary trouble? Anything Consort Shu wanted, wouldn't His Majesty grant it?
Even if she wasn't first place, could he refuse anything she desired? Consort Shu didn't need it, but others did... As a result, Consort Shu was now occupying such a spot for nothing. It was clear that His Majesty did not wish to give benefits to others; he was too stingy, too petty...
"For first place, I'll grant you a wish. Yun'er, do you want to try and win first place?" Yujingchen asked her.
Xinglai: "..." Isn't it already decided?"
"How can I get first place?" Nanzhiyun was somewhat interested, but thinking of her current skill, she felt it was best to forget about it.
"With me here, why can't you get it? Isn't first place already within your grasp? Yun'er, don't you trust me?" Yujingchen slightly curved his lips.
"If Your Majesty helps me, isn't that cheating?" Nanzhiyun asked him.
"I set the rules. What I say goes. As a couple, me helping our wife is perfectly legitimate, isn't it?" Yujingchen deliberately leaned close to Nanzhiyun's ear to say this. After so long, he knew very well where Nanzhiyun was most sensitive.
The warm breath entering Nanzhiyun's ear made her tremble all over.
"Mmm..." Nanzhiyun's face turned scarlet.
"Yun'er... it's a bit dangerous on horseback, you know. When we're too close... the sensations become much more pronounced," Yujingchen said, his words clearly carrying a deeper meaning.