In the depths of the forest, a sleek black stallion moved at an unhurried pace. At first glance, it looked like there was only a single rider draped in a light cloak astride it. But when the wind lifted the hem, a pair of pale legs showed now and then, bare of shoes and socks, toes curling tight against the air.
Yan Yihuan felt as though his head would split apart. His cry just now had startled a flock of birds into flight, and the uncontrollable tremors robbed him of strength. He nearly slipped, but a strong arm caught him, even the horse was reined to a halt, standing still patiently, waiting for him to recover.
As Yan Yihuan steadied himself, he became painfully aware that he was still pinned firmly to the saddle. A sob escaped him,
“No, no more…”
“Hm?”
One was choking on his sobs, unable to form words, while the other feigned not to understand.
Regret, nothing but regret flooded his heart. How could he have lost his head and agreed to do this on horseback? He should have insisted they return. Yet if he still had the space to regret it, it meant the storm within him was already easing.
Although Yan Yihuan was still sobbing, his body was no longer drawn as taut as before. Li Xuanming, who knew every subtle shift of his, lowered his head. Feeling the weight of that gaze, Yan Yihuan lifted his tear-streaked face and murmured a plea for mercy.
“Truly can’t take it anymore?” Beads of sweat had also gathered on Li Xuanming’s forehead. He couldn’t help but lower his head to kiss the tear-stained corner of Yan Yihuan’s eye. “Yet you’re still this tight.”
If not for the fact that the man before him was the Emperor, Yan Yihuan would certainly have cursed him harshly. Instead, Li Xuanming urged the horse forward at a slow pace. The gentle rise and fall should have been steady, yet Yan Yihuan couldn’t stop himself from tensing with every motion.
“Yihuan.”
The skin beneath his fingertips burned hot, tightening little by little with the horse’s slow rhythm. Li Xuanming let out an unconscious sigh. After all, these days of keeping Yan Yihuan close had been no less torment for himself.
“Turn around and hold on tight.”
Yan Yihuan, dazed and bewildered, could only let himself be guided. His hands clutched the saddle, and he felt his waist suddenly lifted by a force that drew a startled cry from his lips.
“In that case, shall we make it swift?”
Swift…?
Yan Yihuan had no need to dwell on the word’s meaning. The sudden gallop of the steed made him understand in an instant what “swift” entailed. At that moment, all else in the world ceased to exist.
On the other side of the forest, Yan Zheng narrowed his eyes and held his breath. When the moment came, he drew back the finger hooked on the bowstring and released. With a sharp twang, the arrow pierced the silence and drove straight into the grass.
Without him saying a word, the guard beside him spurred his horse forward, leaned down, and retrieved the prey struck by the arrow.
He was indeed a little absent-minded.
Watching the still-breathing wolf the attendants had retrieved, Yan Zheng also felt he was not in his best state today. But he knew in his heart that he was more worried about Yan Yihuan’s condition than the hunt itself.
Although his younger brother had assured him that he was fine just now, the unease would not leave him. Yan Zheng thought to find an opportunity to pull him aside somewhere quiet and speak properly with him. Unexpectedly, on his way back, he was stopped by the imperial guards some distance away from the main hall.
“Your Highness, please wait a moment. Once His Majesty has passed through, you may proceed to the main hall.”
Although Yan Zheng found it odd, he merely nodded his head politely and reined his horse back a few steps. Even though he could see nothing ahead, his eyes fixed beyond the guards barring the road, gazing into the distance.
Ordinarily, His Majesty would never put on such airs. To have the imperial guard block off the path merely for his passing, unless… it was to conceal something from view.
The thought of how the emperor had just been clasping his younger brother’s hand tightly, riding together on a single horse, made Yan Zheng’s heart jolt. He knew he shouldn’t think of such things, yet an ominous premonition rose unbidden, and his hand on the reins clenched tight.
“Yan Zheng.” Li Xuanjing rode up from behind. “Do you know why His Majesty won’t allow anyone near?”
At that voice, Yan Zheng’s hand slackened at once. Turning back, his expression was already light and easy. “His Majesty has his own reasons. Once he’s gone by, we can follow.”
As he spoke, Yan Zheng gave Li Xuanjing a once-over. Seeing him empty-handed and his face pale, he asked with concern,
“Are you feeling unwell?”
There was a rare ruthlessness and gloom in Li Xuanjing’s eyes, which startled Yan Zheng. He wondered if he had perhaps run into the Crown Prince of Wei, Li Xuanyu, and ended up in some conflict. Seeing that there were many people around, he said,
“Since we can’t get through anyway, Xuanjing, come take a walk with me over there?”
Hearing this, Li Xuanjing seemed to realize his own loss of composure. He quickly reined in his expression, nodded, and feigned ease as he said,
“Alright, let’s go for a walk.”
The two of them walked off without a word, only stopping once they were far from the crowd. After dismounting, they went a few more steps deeper inside. Once certain there was no one else around, Li Xuanjing no longer held anything back. As if unable to vent the fury in his chest, he suddenly drew the sword from his waist, and with a flash of cold light, a nearby sapling was cut cleanly in two.
“What are you doing!” Yan Zheng was shocked. He quickly seized Li Xuanjing’s wrist, speaking sternly,
“We agreed not to have any conflict with Li Xuanyu at this time. Did he provoke you?”
“No.” Li Xuanjing shoved the sword back into its scabbard with hatred, his voice muffled. “It wasn’t Li Xuanyu.”
“Not him?” Yan Zheng frowned. “Then why are you like this?”
Li Xuanjing’s eyes were bloodshot, both fists clenched tight. He spat through his teeth, “It’s Li Xuanming!”
Yan Zheng’s face drained of color. He instantly clapped a hand over Li Xuanjing’s mouth, glancing around in panic, and hissed in a low, harsh voice,
“Are you mad!”
He was not one to lose his composure like this. Such a state was far too unusual. Forcing himself to take a deep breath and calm down first, Yan Zheng then asked quietly,
“What exactly happened?”
Li Xuanjing’s lips trembled a few times before he suddenly spoke words that sent a shiver through Yan Zheng’s heart.
“Tell me the truth, does Yihuan have a very unusual fate?”
Although shaken, Yan Zheng still forced a smile. “I asked you what happened, why are you dragging Yihuan into this and saying such inexplicable things.”
Li Xuanjing seemed much calmer now. He looked at Yan Zheng with meaning, speaking slowly,
“I know Yihuan’s fate is unusual, but I hadn’t intended to. Back then, when Consort Yan brought Yihuan to our royal residence for a short stay, she was chatting idly with her personal nurse, right beside the bed where Yihuan and I were sleeping.
“They must have thought we were both asleep, so they spoke without reservation. That was when I learned Yihuan’s poor health since childhood was not from weakness at birth, but because his fate is extraordinary, one his body could not withstand.”
Saying this, Li Xuanjing lifted his head and stared straight into Yan Zheng’s eyes, enunciating each word,
“Indeed, the destiny of Fengyi Tianxia[mfn]凤仪天下: It implies a fate or destiny belonging only to the Empress, someone who is meant to be the highest-ranking woman in the realm, seated at the emperor’s side.
Breakdown:
凤 (phoenix) – In Chinese culture, the phoenix is the symbol of the empress, just as the dragon symbolizes the emperor.
仪 (bearing, grace, demeanor): Refers to elegance, dignity, majesty.
天下 (under heaven/sky): The entire empire.
So together, 凤仪天下 means: A person whose noble grace, like the phoenix, is destined to rule over the empire.[/mfn] should never appear in a man. That’s why his body couldn’t withstand it.”
“In other words, Yihuan bears the fate of the main consort, the fate of an empress!”
