The next day, just as the sky began to show the pale white of dawn, the heavy beat of war drums began to sound.
They struck in waves, exceptionally martial and layered.
Listening to them, one's blood immediately surged, and veins throbbed.
It made one wish to immediately grab a bow and mount a horse for a hearty and satisfying battle.
As one round of drumming ended, all those participating in the autumn hunt had arrived.
Su Xiaoqi surveyed the scene, tutting. It was clear this event was very popular in Northern Chu.
Those participating were all tall, strong grassland men.
They wore countless braids, wrapped in half-covered cotton robes, revealing their powerfully muscled chests.
Under the sun, their skin was a bronze color, healthy and magnificent, making one unable to look away.
Su Xiaoqi even felt as if she had traveled back to a modern bodybuilding competition.
After satisfying her gaze, her eyes subconsciously turned to Shen Yun.
Although he also possessed muscles, they were not as abundant or as striking as those of the others.
She watched with great interest.
Shen Yun, standing beside her, forcefully turned her head towards himself and pressed it into his embrace.
Just as Su Xiaoqi was about to protest, Shen Yun said, "Wife, quickly wipe your drool."
Su Xiaoqi was a little bewildered and instinctively reached for her chin.
Had she drooled?
It shouldn't be.
After all, she had witnessed bodybuilding competitions.
The muscles she had seen were no less attractive than these.
At the head, Chu Yu personally took the stage to announce the competition format and rules for the autumn hunt. Listening to his announced so-called format and rules,
the competition would begin with the drumbeat as a signal. Once the drums sounded, everyone would ride their horses into the mountains.
The drums would continue to sound during this time.
They would sound until the last person returned. And how would one determine the victor?
If the prey was similar, then the one with the most prey would win.
If the types were different, it would be based on their food chain.
The one at the apex of the food chain would be the winner.
During this time, not only could one attack prey, but one could also attack other hunters.
To snatch the prey from their hands.
Of course, the premise was that no life was to be taken.
Su Xiaoqi listened to the entire explanation and blinked. This rule was simply the epitome of no rules.
Moreover, she noticed that Yu Jing's expression became displeased after Chu Yu finished announcing the rules.
When Chu Yu finished speaking and everyone was preparing their bows and arrows, Su Xiaoqi heard Yu Jing pull Chu Yu to a secluded spot and coldly question him:
"Chu, what is going on with you? You know Brother Yun is in there, yet you still come up with such a rule.
Are you deliberately targeting him?"
"Jing'er, don't spout nonsense. I am not targeting him.
Have there not been similar rules in the past?" Chu Yu quickly cried out in injustice. His empress was angry.
Generally, when they were on good terms, she would call him Brother Yu. When she was angry, she wouldn't even call him by name, directly calling him by his surname, Chu.
The hunting in their Northern Chu was different from other countries.
It was survival of the fittest, just like this.
They were not countries like Daliang and Nanyue, which focused on farming and weaving.
They were a people of the horseback, and they had to be different from others. How else could they survive?
"But you... if anything happens to Brother Yun, I'll settle the score with you."
"Hey, Jing'er, why are you protecting him so much? I just don't like him, he's such a weakling.
If he doesn't catch any prey later, or only catches a small rabbit or something, I won't acknowledge him as my son-in-law."
"Pah! Your son-in-law is your daughter's. If she accepts him, that's all that matters. Who are you to say anything? Be careful your daughter disowns you."
Yu Jing scolded Chu Yu relentlessly.
Su Xiaoqi thought he would get angry, like the Emperor of Daliang, displaying the majesty of a ruler.
But he did not. He simply hugged Yu Jing and said, "Don't worry, I've placed people by his side. If he truly is weak and incompetent, I guarantee he will keep his life.
However, I can't do anything about any embarrassment he might suffer."
"Say that again, say that again, and I'll turn my back on you!" Yu Jing glared at him.
"Alright, alright, my dear Jing'er, don't be angry. I was wrong. At worst, I'll tell them to go easy on him..."
Although he said this, Chu Yu did not actually issue any such order.
He genuinely disliked Shen Yun.
His status as a son-in-law had not been approved by him, his father-in-law, yet he had gained the favor of his two most cherished women.
He couldn't comprehend this and was displeased.
This time, he was determined to teach him a lesson.
Su Xiaoqi, listening to their conversation, had no doubts about Shen Yun's capabilities.
Moreover, he secretly had Zhang Feng and Zhang Dian with him.
These two, usually low-key, were truly first-class experts.
Especially Zhang Dian, his hand-to-hand combat skills were formidable.
If Shen Yun were in any mortal danger, they would undoubtedly intervene.
However, Su Xiaoqi had just observed the archers who had displayed their muscles.
Their horsemanship was undoubtedly excellent.
But their agility on horseback and their single combat abilities might not match Shen Yun's.
She patted her lower abdomen, thinking that if she were not pregnant, she too would like to ride a horse and watch.
However, she ultimately dismissed the idea. The child was more important, and she couldn't be willful.
As Su Xiaoqi was thinking, Yu Jing and Chu Yu were already walking towards her.
"Xiaoqi, let's go into the tent and rest. It's still a long way until they return."
Su Xiaoqi nodded. Standing here exposed to the wind was not ideal.
Although it was only September, the weather in Northern Chu was already a bit chilly.
The mountain wind blowing on her face carried a slight chill.
She was genuinely afraid that standing in the wind for too long would cause her to catch a cold.
Upon entering the tent, Chu Yu had someone bring out mare's milk wine and invited Su Xiaoqi to drink.
Su Xiaoqi shook her head, stating she didn't like the taste.
Chu Yu looked somewhat disappointed, thinking that although she was his own daughter, she had grown up in Daliang, and her eating and drinking habits followed theirs.
"Sigh..." With a long sigh, Chu Yu felt a sense of unwillingness.
Chu Yunwei, a perfectly fine Chu Yunwei, had ruined himself in such a manner, causing him to lose a suitable heir.
He downed a bowl of mare's milk wine in his gloom, immediately finding it unsatisfying.
Su Xiaoqi thought for a moment, then, discreetly behind them, took out a jar of Qiulubai from her spatial dimension and gave it to him.
"Daddy, try this..."
Chu Yu had been feeling quite distressed, wishing to drown his sorrows with wine.
But upon hearing Su Xiaoqi call him "Daddy" in her soft, sweet voice, his heart was instantly comforted.
He quickly looked at his daughter, took the wine jar, and took a sip.
"Good, good, this is authentic Qiulubai, is it from Zui Feng Lou?" Chu Yu's voice held immense savor.
In the past, when he was in the capital of Daliang, he often frequented Zui Feng Lou to drink Qiulubai.
However, after arriving here, they did not have such wine.
As the ruler of the country, he couldn't possibly trouble the people and waste resources just to buy him a few jars of wine.
So, he had accepted it. Mare's milk wine was mare's milk wine, and it had its own unique flavor.
After finishing the jar of wine, Chu Yu's mood improved considerably.
He looked at Yu Jing and said with some regret, "I originally thought that with Chu Yunwei's return, we could enjoy good days. Who knew he was useless, unable to be molded into anything worthwhile. Sigh, why, why?"
Chu Yu was deeply troubled by Chu Yunwei's matters, making it difficult for him to let go.
"Once people's hearts have grown accustomed to comfort, it is naturally difficult for them to return.
A person like him, even if Northern Chu were handed over to him, might not fulfill your wishes.
It would be better to look at Chu Yunlang." Yu Jing already had a plan in mind.
She wanted Chu Yu to retire with her and live a peaceful and comfortable life.
But since Chu Yu had taken on the mess that was Northern Chu, he had to handle it properly.
He couldn't enjoy the honor of being the ruler of Northern Chu while also shirking responsibility and not wanting to deal with state affairs.
A person must at least have professionalism.