Chapter 139: Winter Hunt (1)

Yan Ze hesitated slightly, "In such cold weather..."

But when he saw Yan Ning's eyes sparkling, he changed his tune: "It is indeed right to go out and get some exercise in this cold."

The ministers were also very expectant.

After all, there are only a few days in the year when one doesn't have to work, so a winter hunt is naturally a good thing.

As for the cold, what does that matter?

Yan Ze said, "Let's go in five days."

The ministers had no objections.

Yan Ning's eyes were full of anticipation; she had never been hunting before.

After the morning court session, Yan Ze did not discuss matters with the ministers, but instead took Yan Ning and Yan Qing directly to the Martial Arts Arena.

Neither of these two knew how to ride a horse.

Yan Ze lifted Yan Ning onto a horse and taught her how to ride.

This horse had a gentle temperament, and after a moment, Yan Ning learned, and was currently making the horse trot forward.

After teaching Yan Ning, he looked at Yan Qing and found another horse that looked very gentle.

Yan Ze also lifted him up and gently taught him how to ride.

Although Yan Ze's initial decision to have Yan Qing adopted into his name was a bit unevenly balanced, Yan Ze was still very good to Yan Qing.

Yan Qing actually knew how to ride, but he envied Yan Ning a little, so he pretended not to know how; it was just that lying made him a bit nervous.

Seeing him nervous, Yan Ze said, "Don't be afraid, relax, this horse is still very gentle."

Yan Ze taught him several times, and Yan Qing finally "learned"; he looked at Yan Ze and smiled somewhat shyly.

As if coaxing a small child, Yan Ze gave him a thumbs up and said, "Truly impressive!"

Yan Qing was happy.

Together with Yan Ning, they ran faster and faster.

With only five days, Yan Ze took the two children to learn horse riding, and he would have to teach them archery in a while.

Perhaps the two of them could hunt some small animals.

It was fortunate that when Yan Ze first transmigrated, he was interested in mounted archery and studied it for a period of time; otherwise, he really would have been unable to cope with a sudden hunting event.

Yan Ning had already gotten used to riding and started to ride a bit faster, so Yan Ze hurriedly shouted, "Ningning, ride slower!"

Yan Ning slowed down her speed.

Not to mention, riding a horse was truly quite enjoyable.

She looked at a horse to the side; it was golden all over and very beautiful.

Yan Ning's eyes sparkled; she got straight off her horse, walked in front of the Golden Horse, and looked very interested.

Yan Ze grabbed her by the back of her collar and pulled her back.

Yan Ning asked, "Father, is this an Akhal-Teke horse?"

Yan Ze took a careful look, "It might actually be; this horse is quite beautiful."

However, he quickly warned Yan Ning: "Don't you go messing around; this horse has a fiery temper. If it throws you off later—this horse has never been tamed by anyone."

Yan Ning wanted to try: "But it is really beautiful."

She whispered to her father: "Don't we have that Spirit Spring Water? If I get thrown off, I'll drink it immediately."

Yan Ze's attitude remained firm, "No, don't even think about this horse. With your little arms and legs, if you break a bone, it will hurt you to death."

Yan Ning had no choice but to give up, though she looked back every few steps as she left.

Yan Ze said, "In any case, there isn't much time for riding, so it's better not to consider it."

Yan Ning sighed and whispered to her father: "In the future, if there are people from the cultivation world, let's have them give us some spirit pills for taming beasts. This horse is truly the best-looking horse I have ever seen."

Yan Ze agreed immediately: "If there are any, I will definitely trade for them for you."

Yan Ning was happy again.

Afterwards, Yan Ze began to teach the two children how to shoot arrows.

Yan Ning did not have much strength, so the bow and arrows were also specially made by Yan Ze's orders; they were not heavy, and their lethality was not great either.

But they were light and convenient, suitable for Yan Ning.

Yan Qing's bow and arrows were heavier; he had learned archery before, and his aim was decent.

Yan Ning was just a bit off; she didn't usually practice martial arts, and her first time shooting an arrow, she missed the target entirely.

She tried several times, and missed every single one.

Yan Ze pondered for a long time and said to her, "It's okay, the target is too far away; it's not your problem."

Subsequently, Yan Ze moved the target one hundred meters closer.

Yan Ning did not miss the target this time, but she could only hit the outermost ring.

In order not to dampen the child's enthusiasm, Yan Ze moved the target closer again, only twenty meters away from Yan Ning.

This time, Yan Ning was able to hit the bullseye.

Yan Ze wore an exaggerated expression: "Impressive! As expected of my daughter, you can hit the bullseye from this far away!"

Yan Ning was so praised that she felt a bit embarrassed.

Yan Ze turned his head to praise Yan Qing as well.

Yan Qing smiled shyly and said to Yan Ze, "It is because you, Father, taught me well."

During these five days, Yan Ning didn't go anywhere and stayed in the Martial Arts Arena the whole time. Her arms were a bit sore on the first day, but they gradually recovered over the following days, and it felt quite good.

Yan Ning only learned the basics in these few days, but at least she wouldn't be thrown off the horse's back; it seemed she wouldn't be too embarrassed during the hunt.

Five days later, the ministers took their families to the South Garden for the hunt.

This time, the ministers all brought their families along, while Yan Ning placed her seasoning packets in the most accessible spot in her storage space and began to feel a bit expectant.

Everyone was riding horses, and they soon arrived at the South Garden Hunting Grounds.

The first thing to do upon reaching the hunting grounds was to find a campsite and set up the tents.

They would be living here for the next ten days or so.

Upon arriving at the destination, everyone was quite excited.

In the past, whoever took the top prize at the hunt would be seen by the Emperor, making their future official career a bit smoother.

When the late Emperor was on the throne, the person who won the top prize would be granted a marriage by His Majesty.

Many people had active minds, wondering if they might also have a chance to be betrothed to the Crown Princess if they won the top prize.

Although Yan Ze doted on Yan Ning and was a difficult father-in-law, if a marriage were truly granted, the benefits they could obtain in the future would be significant.

Everyone harbored their own hidden agendas.

Yan Ning did not notice, but Yan Ze did; one by one, they were all eyeing his daughter.

Yan Ning's tent was right next to her father's, and without soundproofing, she could hear whatever the other side said.

Yan Ning rested for a while and drank some tea, at which point Xiao Huaijin asked her if she wanted to go hunting.

Yan Ning was taken aback: "Is there such a rush?"

Xiao Huaijin smiled and said: "I am going to hunt a few Rabbits, and we will have roasted rabbit meat tonight."

Yan Ning was a bit tempted, so she went over to hunt with Xiao Huaijin.

At this moment, she saw an acquaintance.

Yun Shu was currently being surrounded by several young men.

He seemed to be explaining: "My relationship with the Crown Princess is really not what you all think; the Crown Princess is equivalent to my employer, and we only talk about the Steam Engine."

"Can the Steam Engine actually be made?"

Yun Shu said with a good temper: "It can; at the latest, in one month, I will be able to make a simple Steam Engine."

The other party was somewhat skeptical and said: "You must be lying; how can it be made in a month? How long have you even been working on it?"

Yun Shu did not pay him any mind, though many people had surrounded him.

Yan Ning rode her horse forward and asked: "Yun Shu, why have you come to the hunting grounds too?"

Yun Shu was stunned for a moment, then said: "My father dragged me here."

He sighed; he had a bit of social anxiety and was truly not used to being surrounded by so many people.

Yan Ning asked: "Will the Steam Engine be ready in time?"

Yun Shu's eyes lit up: "I cannot ride or shoot, so coming to the hunting grounds is just a waste of His Highness's time; His Highness can rest assured, I will return to the Capital immediately to continue researching the Steam Engine."