I Don't Want to Be a Charmboy【Quick Wear】

Chapter 399 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (37)

Banners fluttered and bugles sounded.

On the central high platform of the royal hunting grounds, Emperor Qi sat majestically, dressed in bright yellow riding attire.

With piercing eyes, he surveyed the assembled officials and nobles below the stage, loudly announcing the regulations for the autumn hunt. After speaking, he outlined the system of rewarding meritorious service, encouraging the young men to strive for excellence.

The master of ceremonies announced the news, and everyone knelt down in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

The princes, led by Crown Prince Lin Shen, bowed slightly in a family-style greeting.

Emperor Qi nodded in satisfaction, took the golden bow presented by the eunuch, nocked an arrow, and drew the string in one smooth motion.

With a "whoosh," the whistling arrow shot through the air, heading straight for the bullseye in the distance with a sharp whistling sound, hitting it precisely.

"The autumn hunt begins!" The eunuch's high-pitched voice echoed throughout the hunting grounds.

The atmosphere was instantly ignited.

Lin Shen smiled slightly and turned to the people beside him, saying, "I will take my leave first."

Before he finished speaking, he nimbly flipped over and leaped onto the snow-white horse that had been prepared beforehand.

His red robes fluttered in the wind, his black hair flying, highlighting his handsome face and upright posture. In the sunlight, he seemed to be coated with a dazzling golden edge, instantly attracting the attention of all the princes and nobles, truly so dazzling that no one could look away.

Lin Zhi reined in his horse and approached, looking at Lin Shen with undisguised admiration and doting in his eyes. He smiled and said, "Shen Shen, this time I won't go easy on you."

Lin Shen raised an eyebrow, his expression one of arrogance and self-importance, and retorted, "Brother, don't give me that. When have you ever truly beaten me? Don't worry, this time, the championship will still be mine."

After saying that, he laughed heartily, spurred the horse on with his legs, and the steed shot off like an arrow. The red figure flashed through the trees and disappeared into the distance.

Lin Zhi was taken aback by his words, then shook her head with a helpless smile, her eyes following the red figure until it disappeared from sight.

Lin Ming, standing to the side, spurred his horse forward a few steps. Even in the bright sunlight, his cold voice carried an unyielding chill.

"The eldest brother truly cherishes the second brother, always putting him first. It's truly enviable."

Lin Zhi frowned and turned to look at his deep-thinking fourth brother.

Based on his observations after his rebirth, Lin Ming probably also carried the memories of his previous life. Otherwise, given his previous life's talent for disguise, he would never have targeted Shen Shen so openly and almost tore off the mask of respectability.

However, he was unwilling to delve into these matters for the time being; he only wanted to ensure that Shen Shen would live a peaceful and prosperous life.

His tone was calm but distant: "Fourth brother, you should focus on hunting. If you don't perform well, I'm afraid you will displease Father again and be punished more severely."

After saying that, he ignored Lin Ming's momentarily sinister look, flicked his whip, and chased after Lin Shen in the direction he had left.

Lin Ming gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. Gazing at the direction where the two had disappeared, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He gave a low snort and spurred his horse to follow. He naturally wanted to see where his good second brother had gone.

……

Lin Shen spurred his horse and galloped away, quickly leaving behind the Eastern Palace attendants who usually followed him.

He enjoyed this freedom to roam freely in the mountains and forests, undisturbed by anyone.

As he entered the depths of the dense forest, the bow and arrow in his hand trembled frequently, and every arrow hit its mark. In no time, several pheasants and a deer were hanging beside his saddle.

His archery and horsemanship skills seemed to be innate, almost unreasonable, and even his instructors who taught him archery and horsemanship marveled at the prince's extraordinary talent.

He had just aimed at a magnificent elk not far away when he fired an arrow, and the elk fell to the ground.

Before I could even go forward to check, that annoying voice rang out again, like a shadow.

"Second Brother, what excellent archery skills you have!" Lin Ming, mounted on his horse, slowly emerged from behind a large tree, a fake smile on his pale face.

Lin Shen's brows furrowed instantly. His fingers, still resting on the bowstring, remained in the drawing position. The arrow, gleaming with a cold light, turned straight and without warning toward Lin Ming on horseback.

The air seemed to freeze.

Lin Ming's smile froze, and his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

He looked at the arrowhead pointed at his heart and forced himself to remain calm, asking, "Second Brother, what do you mean by this?"

Lin Shen remained silent, his eyes as cold as frost, his hand gripping the bow arm as steady as a rock.

The next second, he suddenly loosened his grip on the arrow's fletching!

"Whoosh-!"

The arrow left the bowstring, whistling through the air, and flew past Lin Ming's ear at breakneck speed! The strong wind ruffled a few strands of his hair.

Lin Ming felt a chill on his ear, and his heart almost stopped for a moment. He subconsciously clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, bringing a sharp pain.

"Pfft." A soft sound of flesh being pierced came from behind him.

Lin Shen then slowly withdrew his longbow, his tone calm and even, as if the thrilling scene from just moments ago had never happened.

"Fourth brother, don't worry. It's just a tactless rabbit trying to slip away from behind you."

Lin Ming slowly turned his head and saw a plump gray rabbit pierced by an arrow and pinned to the ground in the grass not far behind him, its limbs still twitching slightly.

He slowly turned his head to look at Lin Shen, his eyes twitching slightly, before finally managing an extremely stiff and cold smile. Deep in his eyes was a surging flame of venom and a trace of fear that he had forcibly suppressed.

"Second brother...you really have a good eye." He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice even hoarser and more somber than before.

Lin Shen stopped looking at him, as if he were just an insignificant weed by the roadside. He pulled on the reins, and the white horse turned gracefully, slowly walking towards the direction where the deer had fallen, leaving the tense and oppressive atmosphere behind.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on the red-clad figure disappearing into the distance, but it couldn't dispel the growing chill emanating from Lin Ming.

He stared intently at that figure's back, his palms bleeding from being pinched.