Half a Spoiler Chapter 45

Zhong Zhiwei was thorough in her considerations. To her mind, although it was an excellent plan, there was no telling how many rounds of testing would be needed before they succeeded. Combined with the time required to train the knights, no matter how much they sped up the process, it would not be finished in time for the spring hunt. She bowed and said, “This endeavor will demand vast resources, and I fear it cannot be completed within a month.”

Wen Yanran responded, “There is no need to hurry.” Then, she said to Hou Suo, “Minister Zhong is upright and forthright by nature. Please look after her well.”

Both voiced their assent.

Zhong Zhiwei reflected that the capital was home to many aristocratic clans, some of which were major families dating back to the dynasty’s founding. Yet the Emperor had bypassed them all and entrusted such a crucial, even nation-shaping, task to her alone – a clear sign of trust and favor. Moreover, she had even reminded the Director to work harmoniously with her, showing the ruler’s gentle and considerate nature toward subordinates. To serve such a sovereign, Zhong Zhiwei resolved to dedicate her utmost loyalty and effort.

By now, Wen Yanran had grown accustomed to delegating detailed tasks to her subordinates. After ensuring both Zhong Zhiwei and the Director fully understood their duties, she promptly dismissed them – a reflection of the intensive, fast-paced workflow

Stepping outside the hall, Zhong Zhiwei suddenly turned her head and fixed an unwavering gaze on the Director beside her.

As a palace official skilled in reading expressions, Hou Suo felt a chill run through him the moment Zhong Zhiwei looked his way. In truth, he only had a vague understanding of what the Emperor intended. But the keen intuition honed by years of court life made him grasp the meaning behind Zhong Zhiwei’s gaze instantly. Without hesitation, he raised three fingers toward the sky and declared resolutely, “Captain Zhong, rest assured. This matter is of the utmost importance. Even if I were facing my own parents or children, I would not dare breathe a single word!”

He had come to a realization. As an elderly inner official, his concerns were largely for his clan and his legacy. Yet although his position as Director had elevated his family’s status, it also acted as an invisible shackle – not only was Hou Suo himself despised by mainstream officials, but even those clansmen who had obtained official posts through his influence would never be regarded as proper aristocrats.

Unless Hou Suo could gain exceptional renown – such as being widely recognized for extraordinary loyalty – or directly contributed to advancing education in this world, there was little chance of him being accepted by mainstream society.

Hou Suo thought to himself that now his daughter and son had both secured official posts, and the Emperor was not a foolish ruler like the late sovereign. Loyalty to the latter would only have branded him as a crafty sycophant, but the current Emperor might very well become a wise and illustrious monarch remembered through the ages. If he devoted himself wholeheartedly to his service, perhaps he could still earn a footnote in the historical records. Given that, why should he cling to this one life of his?

Since the elderly inner official before her had given his promise, Zhong Zhiwei likewise raised three fingers toward the sky and solemnly swore her own oath.

To better accomplish the task, Hou Suo dispatched trusted aides to clean up the Jingyuan and carefully selected experienced artisans to gather and study the items mentioned by the Emperor – the rigid saddle, dual-sided long stirrups, and horseshoes. Throughout the process, he spared no effort, personally overseeing the work to ensure not a single secret leaked. Even during his years serving the late Emperor, he had never been so meticulous and cautious.

After deciding to use a carriage, Wen Yanran was not in any particular hurry to learn horseback riding. The Imperial Guard specially selected a young foal for the Emperor to leisurely ride around the Star-Gazing Pond in her spare time. Precisely because it was almost like a child’s plaything, Wen Yanran did not find it strange that the horse was not yet equipped with stirrups or horseshoes.

Occasionally, the guards stationed nearby would see the Emperor reaching out as if grasping something on either side of the horse while riding. Only Wen Yanran herself understood that it wasn’t out of nervousness, but a habit of unconsciously reaching for motorcycle handlebars…

With the spring hunt drawing near, the nobility and high officials in Jianping were already bustling with preparations for the imminent event. Apart from necessary personnel left behind for rotation, the entire Three Guards of the Imperial Army were mobilized. Each prince and aristocrat was also accompanied by armored soldiers. Among the two young relatives of Wen Yanran in the palace, the Thirteenth Prince was too young to travel, leaving only the Eleventh Princess, who had barely reached a suitable age, able to join the excursion.

The Imperial Household Department presented over sixty hunting outfits at once – a result that satisfied both sides. In Wen Yanran’s view, preparing so many garments for a single outing could certainly be considered extravagant and indulgent. Even wearing one set per day throughout the spring hunt would not exhaust them. Yet according to the Great Zhou’s regulations, the standard for such new attire typically started at over two hundred sets. It was only out of deference to the Emperor’s frugal habits that Hou Suo had steeled himself and slashed the number to a quarter of the usual.

Before her transmigration, Wen Yanran had been an ordinary office worker, unaware that for emperors in ancient times, “wearing laundered clothes” was considered a virtue so praiseworthy it could be recorded in the annals of history.

At Western Yong Palace.

Wen Yanran was seizing the moment to review records of the spring hunts from previous years.

Although such collective activities had, in recent years, devolved into mere recreational events, in their earliest days the spring hunt had also served the purpose of military training. The designated hunting ground was the Imperial Northern Park located outside the city.

To the east of the Northern Park lay a lake, while the western side connected to mountains and forests. Both the northern and southern sides were open for entry and exit. The park was always heavily guarded, with all arrangements meticulously regulated. Within its bounds were palaces and gardens built to accommodate members of the royal family and court officials.

The Emperor’s journey was a matter of state importance. The Imperial Guards alone, accompanying as ceremonial escorts, numbered over ten thousand. Factoring in the princes, nobles, palace attendants, servants, and civilian laborers transporting supplies, the total participants would likely approach fifty thousand.

Before the official departure, Wen Yanran also visited the Tianfu Palace to ask Wen Jingmei if he would like to join the outing. The reply she received was a resolute, “I shall remain in the Tianfu Palace to pray for Your Majesty’s well-being.”

“…”

Wen Yanran suspected that this distant cousin of hers might actually have a touch of social anxiety – though she had no proof.

Among the important court officials, most were quite willing to participate in the event. The elderly Yuan Yanshi originally had no intention of going out, but he could hardly refuse the Emperor’s invitation. Meanwhile, Attendant Song was left behind in Jianping to handle governance during the Emperor’s absence.

The more common mode of transportation in the Great Zhou at the time was the ox-drawn carriage, favored by the nobility for its relative smoothness in motion. However, since the spring hunt fell under military affairs, the Imperial Household selected the horse-drawn carriage – imbued with greater martial significance – as the Emperor’s conveyance.

The Eleventh Princess, Wen Yuansheng, was taking part in the spring hunt for the first time and brimming with excitement. Along the journey to the Northern Park, she repeatedly expressed her wish to ride a horse outside, only to be met with firm refusals from the inner attendants by her side. Yet she succeeded in conveying her thoughts all the way to the Emperor’s ears. Upon learning of this, Wen Yanran considered that there truly weren’t many entertainments along the way – no wonder the child was bored – and thus selected a well-read female official with clear and pleasant enunciation from among those serving nearby to join Wen Yuansheng. She was to chat about studies and help pass the tedious hours on the road.

Wen Yuansheng: “…”

Back when Wen Yanran had just been confirmed to ascend the throne, Wen Yuansheng had spent a long period in nervous unease, uncertain of the new Emperor’s temperament. Unexpectedly, the new Emperor turned out not to be like the late sovereign – foolish, tyrannical, fond of indulgence, and treating the removal of siblings like slicing melons or chopping vegetables. Instead, she carried quite a reputation for virtue and wisdom. It was just that her virtuousness did not seem to apply solely to herself…

The first day of the spring hunt was dedicated to setting up camp and allowing everyone to settle in. Long before the Emperor’s departure, an advance force had been sent ahead to arrange all matters properly. As Wen Yanran traveled, palaces, gardens, and tents stretched for miles around her, with soldiers and armor standing as dense as a forest. Just looking at the scene before her, she could almost believe that the Great Zhou was in the midst of a flourishing golden age.

After all, Wen Yanran was still young. With regular exercise, her physique had grown much healthier. Even after a full day of travel, she was not overly fatigued. On a whim, she called Chi Yi over to measure her height and discovered she had grown half an inch taller than when she first transmigrated.

Chi Yi was quite pleased. As an inner official, she knew the Emperor’s appetite had increased recently – in this era, that was an important indicator of a person’s well-being. What she did not realize, however, was that Wen Yanran’s increased food intake was partly due to being forced to adapt, after much torment, to the current culinary tastes dominated by stewing, stewing, and more stewing. On the other hand, thanks to her suggestions, the proportion of stir-fried dishes in the imperial meals had finally risen considerably…

Since the Emperor had stated she would travel by carriage and clearly did not intend to join the hunt, many prudent officials felt considerably reassured. From the founding Emperor onward, the majority of the Great Zhou’s rulers had enjoyed hunting, which led to the establishment of the Falconry and Hounds Bureau, responsible for the animals used for assistance during hunts.

Before the hunt began, the Falconry and Hounds Bureau would prepare a batch of animals marked with signs and release them, allowing participants to demonstrate their skills. Those who managed to hunt these marked animals would receive additional rewards. Participants who performed exceptionally well could not only obtain economic rewards such as money and silk but also earn military official titles.

As court officials, princes, and nobles, many participants would bring their family’s armored soldiers when attending. Thus, their achievements were not solely dependent on their own abilities but also related to their family’s strength.

After the spring hunt concluded, the royal family would also keep the Northern Park open to the public for a period, allowing commoners to enter and seek game – a gesture of sharing joy with the people. During the reign of the late Emperor, the Imperial Household had compelled wealthy households in Jianping to enter the park for hunting and collected fees in the process. Of course, such practices had completely vanished following Wen Yanran’s ascension to the throne, owing to inner officials’ misinterpretations of the Emperor’s intentions…

After settling in for the moment, Wen Yuansheng promptly came to pay her respects and once again voiced her wish to play. Although Wen Yanran still would not allow her to roam around with the hunting parties, she did have the young foal previously used for practice brought over, letting the child ride around the tents – at least that counted as an outing of sorts.

Wen Yuansheng argued with reason, “That Captain Wen is only a few years older than I am, yet he is already an officer in the Imperial Guard. If I do not train diligently now, how will I be able to serve you in the future?”

Wen Yanran smiled. “If Captain Wen’s family circumstances were not so difficult, she would not have sought official appointment at such a young age.” Then she added, “When you grow as tall as I am now, if you still wish to ride horses and practice swordsmanship, it will be up to you.”

Just as the two were chatting casually, an inner official came to report that Xiao Xichi had arrived in response to the summons.

Xiao Xichi was a tribal leader from the borderlands, renowned for her archery and horsemanship. To demonstrate that the Great Zhou did not mistreat the hostages sent to the capital, it was customary to include him in such events. However, for safety reasons, wherever Xiao Xichi went, she was always accompanied by personnel from the Imperial Guard.

Seeing that a court official had arrived, Wen Yuansheng immediately stood up to take her leave but was stopped by Wen Yanran.

Wen Yanran smiled. “When we are out like this, there is no need to be overly formal. Have you met General Xiao before?”

Wen Yuansheng shook her head.

Her background was relatively favorable. Although she had been too young during the power struggles among the princes and princesses at the end of the late Emperor’s reign, there was still a risk of being implicated, so she had remained exceptionally obedient and certainly would not have actively sought contact with officials from the outer court.

When Xiao Xichi entered, she saw the Emperor dressed in casual attire and seated on a wooden couch, with Zhong Zhiwei standing guard beside her, along with a lovely young girl who bore a three- or four-out-of-ten resemblance to the Emperor. After a moment’s thought, she guessed the girl’s identity. After bowing to the Emperor, she addressed her as “Your Highness” and gave her a slight, respectful nod.

Wen Yanran said, “General Xiao excels in both literary and martial arts. For this spring hunt, I look forward to seeing you display your remarkable skills.”

Xiao Xichi maintained her usual modest and low-key demeanor. “Your Majesty’s praise is too generous. I dare not accept such acclaim.”

Wen Yanran’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before the corners of her lips lifted slightly. “Those who excel in the spring hunt will receive rewards. With your abilities, General, your performance is certain to be outstanding. I have already prepared fine armor and a good horse as gifts for you, awaiting only your claim.”