Chapter 17: The Autumn Hunt's Turmoil

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In truth, Luo Yunyao felt a bit uneasy deep down. She feared that her opportunistic approach might conflict with Qin Jinghao’s principle of moderation. She pondered for a long time before deciding to tell him. It wasn’t that she worried Qin Jinghao would reject her, but rather… she didn’t want to disappoint him.

Unexpectedly to Luo Yunyao, Qin Jinghao seemed indifferent to the matter. After some contemplation, he gave a slight nod.

He agreed.

Luo Yunyao was overjoyed, a smile blossoming within her delicate features.

The brisk autumn wind carried a chilling solemnity. Amidst the falling leaves, there was an unparalleled beauty, tinged with melancholy. She admired it sadly, the rhythmic tapping striking chords within her heart, waiting to erupt.

Unfortunately, during the autumn hunt, His Majesty the Emperor did not enjoy this beauty. If the Emperor himself did not, then naturally the others were even more anxious.

By all rights, the autumn hunt was an auspicious occasion; the Emperor’s mood should have been impeccable. Yet on this day, he flew into a terrible rage. When the Son of Heaven is angry, the scene becomes terrifyingly tense, breath held in silence.

This year marked the first time since his ascension that the Emperor did not hold the autumn hunt.

Even Luo Yunyao, the mastermind behind it all, felt the Emperor’s wrath was excessive. She admitted she could not understand it.

Qin Jinghao, calm and composed, revealed the truth: “The greater the expectation, the deeper the disappointment.”

Of course, Luo Yunyao understood this, yet she still did not grasp it fully. She said to Qin Jinghao, “The Emperor truly has the heart of his people, enduring untold suffering without harm, yet because he failed to enjoy himself properly and lost face, he flies into a rage. I deeply admire his magnanimity.”

Qin Jinghao was helpless at her relentless mockery of the Emperor whenever given the chance. He repeatedly cautioned her, “Let’s keep such words just between us.”

Luo Yunyao rolled her eyes. “Nonsense! Do you think I have no sense of propriety? You worry needlessly, and you don’t even believe me.”

As Luo Yunyao and Qin Jinghao grew closer, she dropped the formalities of address like “Brother Qin” or “Junior.”

Qin Jinghao habitually patted Luo Yunyao’s head and sighed softly, teaching her: “You’ve only recently entered officialdom and don’t yet understand the Emperor. Give it time, and you’ll grow too weary to speak such words even in front of me.”

Luo Yunyao let his warm hand tease her head, feeling a pang of sympathy. This man was crushed and deeply disappointed by the Emperor’s weight.

On the day of the autumn hunt,

His Majesty the Emperor noticed that his carriage was somewhat more worn than usual.

Luo Yunyao thought the carriage was actually quite a fine piece. Most wealthy families couldn’t afford such a one. After all, the carriage was made a couple of years ago when its base was still intact, and Qin Jinghao had even found someone to repaint it.

Such a display was something Luo Yunyao had only seen in grand ceremonies at the Bilu Palace when she was younger.

Among the three great nations, Western Qin was far more lavish. A prime geographic location mattered greatly; otherwise, why would so many nations seek to invade others and seize their lands?

On the day of the autumn hunt, when the Emperor first saw the carriage, his expression stiffened but he soon resumed a cheerful demeanor.

Luo Yunyao had already reported to the Emperor with the Minister of Finance that this year’s carriage was last year’s. The treasury was depleted due to relief efforts in Nanjiang, and the situation there was worsening.

The Emperor, though unwilling, understood that he was not a tyrant. Even if his people suffered, he must uphold the way of a ruler who finds joy in serving his subjects.

Moreover, with the worsening disaster in Nanjiang, countless refugees were fleeing, and some had already reached the imperial capital.

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On the day of the autumn hunt, beneath the Emperor’s old carriage, the other officials’ vehicles were even more dilapidated.

Upon learning this, the Emperor understood that all were raising funds for the Nanjiang disaster relief.

His Majesty felt gratified. The officials of Western Qin, under his leadership, were frugal and devoted, truly caring for the people.

As the Emperor’s approving gaze swept over them, the Prime Minister and Marquis arrived belatedly.

The Prime Minister’s carriage was resplendent and grand, accompanied by his entourage, exuding an imposing presence.

On the way, the Prime Minister was still talking to his officials about how he would perform at the autumn hunt, completely oblivious to the tension ahead.

When the Emperor saw the Prime Minister’s newly crafted carriage, lavishly adorned with gilded Guanyin statues, and his followers, his face darkened. The expression was unbearable to look at.

But as a sovereign, the Emperor could not openly berate his father-in-law in broad daylight.

So he waved his hand and signaled for Jiang Meiren, who was feeding him grapes, to be pushed from the carriage. To the assembled ministers, he said, “I’m feeling unwell today; you may all enjoy yourselves.”

With those words, who dared to disobey?

Suddenly, a sea of black-robed officials knelt: “May Your Majesty take care of your dragon body.”

No one paid attention to Jiang Meiren, wailing on the ground with broken bones, tears streaming down her face.

The Prime Minister’s smile froze; he had no clue what had just happened.

Afterward, the Emperor said nothing and returned to the palace.

On the way, they encountered a group of refugees blocking the imperial carriage. Their leader shouted, “Please, Your Majesty, speak up for us commoners!”

At dusk, after the autumn hunt incident, Qin Jinghao arrived. Luo Yunyao looked at him and said, “I still admire our Emperor. To endure all this, he must have great forbearance.”

Qin Jinghao looked at Luo Yunyao’s excited expression: “He exploded as soon as he returned to the palace. Poor Consort Liu.”

The one pushed from the carriage and fractured was actually the Prime Minister’s adopted daughter. Yet the topic shifted to Consort Liu, Second Prince Xiao Ming, which was far more intriguing.

Luo Yunyao immediately assumed a gossiping expression: “Wasn’t the one who fell from the carriage the Prime Minister’s adopted daughter Jiang Meiren? How did it become Consort Liu, his daughter, who suffered?”

Originally, Consort Liu had caught a cold and did not accompany the Emperor to the hunt. No one expected that her absence would cause such upheaval.

Before the Emperor returned, news of the incident had already reached her ears.

Consort Liu hurried to kneel outside the imperial governmental palace before the Emperor’s arrival, neglecting her convalescence.

When the Emperor returned, he looked long and hard at the frail beauty swaying like a slender willow in the wind. His long-standing tenderness vanished completely, and he kicked her without hesitation.

Consort Liu was formidable herself. She endured the kick silently, her already weak body worsening from the blow.

Eventually, the Emperor relented and allowed her to enter the governmental palace with him.

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This gave the Prime Minister’s family an opportunity to explain.

Inside the governmental palace, the Emperor no longer bothered with formalities: “Consort Liu, your father is truly something. If I didn’t leave the palace, I wouldn’t know when this whole world came to bear the name Liu!”

With this accusation, Consort Liu’s face drained of color as she kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy: “Please, Your Majesty, blame me instead. No matter how many faults my father has, as his daughter I must fulfill my filial duties.” After appealing to his emotions, she reasoned, “Your Majesty surely knows, my father is old and increasingly confused. His subordinates are like a bunch of sticks; they only obey what those beneath them say.”

Hearing this, Luo Yunyao sighed deeply and told Qin Jinghao, “Consort Liu is truly a clever woman.”

First, she took upon herself the blame meant for her father. She then displayed filial piety, knowing the Emperor’s sympathy would lessen his punishment, thereby mitigating her own guilt.

She admitted fault and then defended herself.

Consort Liu deftly shifted all responsibility onto the Prime Minister’s old age and confusion, and blamed his subordinates entirely.

Qin Jinghao nodded and analyzed for Luo Yunyao, “The Liu family’s prominence is born solely of the Emperor’s personal indulgence. And the Emperor’s favoritism is bestowed entirely on Consort Liu alone.”

Luo Yunyao recalled Xiao Ming’s earlier remarks about the Prime Minister’s two daughters and felt ashamed for a moment: “I thought the Liu children were all like the Second Prince and the Prime Minister. I never expected the Liu family could produce such a woman.”

Qin Jinghao was indifferent: “Jiang Meiren is even more beautiful than Consort Liu. Consort Liu’s unprecedented favor with the Emperor comes from that.”

Luo Yunyao nodded in agreement, acknowledging the importance of social grace. Then she asked, “So Jiang Meiren is just a fool, then?”

Qin Jinghao neither confirmed nor denied, but replied coolly, “Informants say that on the day of the autumn hunt, Jiang Meiren accompanied the Emperor. When she saw the carriage, she wore a mournful expression and told the Emperor it was too shabby, unbefitting his status. The Emperor had to persuade her, offering her many rewards before she agreed to go.”

It was clear: a fool. Luo Yunyao wondered if Jiang Meiren was not the Prime Minister’s biological daughter. “I don’t know what someone like her hoped to gain by entering the palace. Isn’t she just causing trouble for Consort Liu?”

Qin Jinghao’s gaze drifted to the window: “Jiang Meiren, confident in her beauty, saw the less attractive Consort Liu favored immensely by the Emperor and could not bear it. She begged the Prime Minister to send her into the palace. The Prime Minister, blinded by the glory and wealth brought by one daughter, thought two would be even better.”

Luo Yunyao scoffed: “It’s not that he was momentarily blinded. His mind has never been clear.”

Qin Jinghao was used to her sharp tongue: “Consort Liu initially refused. Later, at her father’s and sister’s pleas, she compromised.” He withdrew his gaze and continued calmly, “Jiang Meiren’s entry into the palace did bring some benefits to the Prime Minister’s household. However, it created many troubles for Consort Liu.”

Listening to Qin Jinghao’s low storytelling voice, Luo Yunyao sighed softly: “Truly, it is most pitiable to be a beauty.”

Qin Jinghao tilted his head, casting a glance at her: “Beauties are the hardest to deal with when young.”

Luo Yunyao stared blankly at him, puzzled by his words.

Qin Jinghao offered no further explanation.

He believed that however gentle and captivating a beauty may be, she could not compare to the youth before him, even by a tenth.

As Emperor, his greatest fears were naturally the realm, the people, beauties, power, and wealth.