On the day of the hunt, Manu was shaking with excitement. For once, she did not have to coax him out of the bed. He was up and bouncing before she even cracked an eye. She sighed as she let Manu pull her off the bed. Well, she'd already scratched the idea of going to the training field, and there was no morning greeting with the Empress today. Manu was also excused from his lessons today.

Samaya smiled as she realized that the man had the morning to themselves for the first time in a long time. She grabbed the boy under his arms and spun him around before showering kisses all over his face, making the boy whine at first and then giggle. Samaya buried her face into his shoulder and breathed in, letting the warmth from his small body push the tension she had not even known she had out of her.

God, when was the last time she'd had any time with her son?

She smiled softly before she stood back and looked at Lian, who was standing with the maids in a neat line behind her while her new ladies-in-waiting stood on either side of her, waiting for her instructions.

Lian must have held them back to wait.

She smiled at the woman. "Draw us a bath, will you?"

"For both of you, my lady?" She asked softly.

Samaya gave a small nod. Her son was still young enough for her to take a bath with her. A year or, heck, even a few months later, she might not be able to.

When the girls nodded and were done drawing the bath, she took her time washing her child, taking care to gently wash his growing hair. At times like these, she wished she was back home. She would have loved to pamper him with all modern utilities and products.

She sent him his way before she allowed the maids to bathe her, taking the time to relax. Today was going to be a strenuous day, after all.

By the time she was out, breakfast was already laid out for them, and Manu was dressed in casual robes. Samaya did the same and put on some cotton robes before letting her hair out, allowing it to fall down and dry on its own as she sat down to eat.

She'd had the maids bring a simple affair of wontons, soup, vegetables stir-fried with meat, and some pancakes for breakfast. The breakfast had been needlessly elaborate and wasteful when she'd first gotten here until she put a stop to it after she had to waste food for a week straight. By now, her maids knew what she and Manu liked. For Manu, there was always some sort of meat and bread. He was a growing boy after all.

Samaya let her worries fall away as she watched the boy eat, feeding him every now and then, paying little attention to her own food, though she did not neglect to eat a good amount.

It was in the middle of breakfast that there was a call from outside.

"Lady Qing, a message from His Majesty!" An unfamiliar voice announced. A masculine voice. A eunuch, probably.

She cursed the guy out for interrupting her family time, even though she knew it was not the poor guy's fault. There was no way she was moving from her spot right now.

She looked at Lian and nodded towards the door. "Bring him in, will you?"

A young, unfamiliar eunuch nervously stepped inside and bowed after only taking a handful of steps. "Lady Qing, the Emperor has sent hunting attire for you and the Prince."

She blinked. She had imagined Manu could wear any of his casual clothes, and she could put on some of her … peasant clothing, for the lack of a better word. She did have some men's clothing. But she supposed she should not be surprised by this. The Emperor would have known they had no formal hunting attire.

She silently nodded at Yu. Yu, ever efficient, stepped forward and took the packages from the servant holding them with a bow. She told her to put it on the bed and dismissed the Emperor's servants. They were not done eating yet, and they were not about to get up before they were. It was only when they were done with breakfast that she took Manu back to the bed to check what the Emperor had sent for them.

The fabric was neatly wrapped in fine silk, an unnecessary luxury but a clear sign of the Emperor's attention to detail. Samaya let out a breath, reaching for the bundle as Yu and the other maids quickly set to work, unfolding the garments with delicate precision.

The hunting attire was elegant yet unmistakably practical, designed with both mobility and protection in mind. Manu's set consisted of a fitted tunic in deep forest green, embroidered with gold thread that shimmered under the flickering lantern light. Sturdy black trousers complemented the tunic, and a finely woven sash that would cinch his waist. His boots were made of supple, flexible leather, allowing for ease of movement. It was an outfit designed for a young prince - dignified but not ostentatious, its beauty hidden in its craftsmanship.

Samaya's own attire was a reflection of the same thoughtfulness. A dark blue tunic embroidered with swirling silver clouds draped over her frame, fitted snugly but not restrictively. Over it, a vest reinforced with light armor plating covered her chest, offering protection without hindering her movements. Her trousers were tailored for efficiency, tucking seamlessly into knee-high boots of the same supple leather as Manu's. A thick cloak lined with soft fur was included—a necessary precaution for the cold wilderness they were about to enter.

Her fingers traced the embroidery, a flicker of surprise running through her. She had not expected this level of care.

Yu stepped forward, assisting Manu first. The boy, practically buzzing with excitement, lifted his arms obediently as the maid fastened his sash and ensured his boots were properly secured. Meanwhile, Lian and Su helped Samaya into her garments, their deft hands making quick work of the fastenings. They tied her hair into a high ponytail, securing it with a jade pin to keep it out of her face.

Samaya took a moment to appreciate their handiwork. Manu was as precious as ever, and she looked… handsome, somehow. She had pretended to be a man many times for convenience, even before coming to this world. But she had never really given any particular thought how she would look as a man or in what was typically men's attire. It wasn't half bad, if she said so herself.

She could not resist the urge to squeeze her son with a "who's my handsome boy?" to which Manu's response was some annoyed huffing and puffing. She sighed. Her son was growing up.

Once they were dressed, they were escorted to the Outer Palace, where the Emperor awaited them.

The crisp morning air greeted them as they stepped outside. The palace grounds were bathed in a soft golden glow, the early sunlight kissing the stone pathways and the lush gardens beyond. The Emperor stood near the stables, already mounted on a powerful black stallion. He was dressed for the hunt - his tunic a deep crimson, overlaid with black leather armor that gleamed subtly in the sunlight. He looked every inch the warrior he no doubt was, his usual air of regal detachment softened by the hint of satisfaction in his expression.

A few paces behind him, there were half a dozen men with nondescript clothes following seated on their own horses, their bodies upright and their gazes sharp and attentive as they guarded the Emperor.

At his side, another horse awaited Samaya—a magnificent white mare, her coat pristine, her strong muscles evident even at rest. A stable hand held the reins, bowing respectfully as Samaya approached.

"Your guards are hiding well," she noted. She could feel their presence around them. The six, though competent, were for show. There were quite a few backups that would follow them.

His eyes flicked to him. "I suppose you can tell."

Samaya only smiled.

Of course, she had her own "shadow guard" following.

Her gaze flickered to Manu. The boy's eyes were wide with excitement as he stared at the horses, clearly eager for his own. Yet, instead of being given his own mount, he was pulled up and seated in front of the Emperor, nestled comfortably against his chest.

Samaya raised a brow. "You're keeping him with you?"

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The Emperor adjusted his grip on the reins, his gaze steady as he met hers. "He will ride with me for now. He's still too small to handle a horse alone."

Samaya sighed, mounting her own horse with a feeling of unease. "Very well." She did not quite like a live animal between her legs, even one as gentle as this one.

She gently reached forward and stroked the mare.

"Don't drop me, okay?"

Despite her whispered words, the soft chuckle from beside her told her that she had failed at hiding her anxiety from the man.

Sending a sharp glare at the man, she kicked, and the mare trotted forward.

With a sharp whistle, the hunting party set off, hooves striking against the palace stone before transitioning onto the dirt path leading beyond the capital.

The journey to the Imperial Hunting Grounds was a long one, but the ride itself was pleasant. They did not take to the main roads, instead going through the lesser-traveled shortcuts that took them out of the capital into the wilderness, specifically preserved for royalty. The dense forest loomed ahead, its towering trees stretching toward the sky, the morning mist still clinging to the undergrowth. The air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and pine.

The Emperor glanced at her as they rode. His expression was unreadable, though there was a certain ease in his posture - more so than she had seen in a long while.

"You look pleased," Samaya noted.

The Emperor smirked. "I have good reason to be. I got my hands on a treasure trove within the Kang Household."

Samaya's eyes sharpened. "Evidence?"

He nodded. "Records, letters, financial logs. All implicating Minister Kang and his allies in various schemes."

"Like?"

"Salt was one of them."

Samaya raised a brow. Salt was a heavily regulated item, and any trade without permission was punished severely.

She exhaled, the weight of those words settling over her. "So, the noose tightens."

"Indeed." The Emperor sounded beyond pleased, though someone not used to his conversations might not notice it.

Samaya supposed that was a given. The man had been looking for a way to strike at the Prime Minister's faction, from what she gathered. That man had been gathering too much power. And now, with the Kangs' downfall, the man's power will be reduced quite a bit.

A brief silence passed between them before she asked, "Why did you assign the ladies-in-waiting to me?"

After all, concubines ranked as Ladies did not usually have ladies-in-waiting. Many times, they themselves were ladies-in-waiting.

The Emperor's gaze did not waver. "Because you saved them."

Samaya tilted her head slightly. A statement, she realized. Of his belief in her 'innocence' and his favor for her. It would certainly make things easier.

She nodded in understanding before allowing a smirk to tug at her lips. "Then why place them under the Imperial Consort's faction? They had a hand in dealing a blow to her people."

The Emperor's expression darkened slightly. "Worry not. We have made it very clear that any harm that befalls them will be punished severely."

Another statement. Making the Imperial Consort take in the very maids instrumental in dealing a blow to her father's faction was reaffirming his power over her and her father. Samaya supposed the Prime Minister had annoyed the Emperor a little too much.

By now, they had reached the heart of the hunting grounds. The dense foliage was alive with the rustling of unseen creatures, the occasional call of birds echoing through the trees. The hunting hounds were released, their keen noses sniffing the air for prey.

"You can stay back, if you so wish," the man said. "The guards will protect you."

The soft smirk playing on the man's lips told her that he was trying to provoke a reaction in her. The rise of an indignant anger and the urge to prove him wrong told her that he had quite a bit of success.

Samaya rolled her shoulders, reaching for her bow. "I am quite capable of hunting, Your Majesty."

The Emperor scoffed. "Is that so? Then We would very much like to see your hunting skills in action. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

"Of course not, Your Majesty." His words were dripping with sarcasm.

"Good," the man nodded. "We would hate for Our beloved concubine to be embarrassed if she walked away with nothing."

Samaya grinned. "We'll see who walks away with what, Your Majesty."

The first part of the hunt was slow, deliberate, a lesson woven into the movements of the forest itself. The Emperor moved with the ease of a man well-versed in the art of tracking, his posture relaxed but purposeful. Manu, wide-eyed with excitement, followed closely at his side, hanging onto every word his father spoke.

"The first thing you must learn," the Emperor murmured, crouching low as he pointed toward a patch of disturbed earth, "is to read the ground beneath your feet. See these prints? They ar hooves, cloven ones. Large too. Almost certainly a stag. Do you notice anything about them?"

Manu squinted, his small hands bracing against his knees as he leaned in to study the marks in the dirt. Samaya, standing a few paces away, crossed her arms, observing the interaction with interest.

"They look fresh," Manu noted hesitantly, glancing up at the Emperor for confirmation.

A glimmer of approval passed through the older man's gaze. "Good. The depth and sharpness of the edges tell us that the animal passed through recently. And here - " He traced his gloved fingers over a faint drag in the soil. "This tells us it was not just walking but shifting its weight, possibly slowing down to graze."

Manu nodded seriously, determination written all over his youthful face. The Emperor straightened, his sharp eyes scanning the surrounding area. "Now, what else do you notice?"

Manu's brows furrowed as he turned his head, gaze flitting over the nearby brush. Samaya could see the gears turning in his head, the boy trying to recall everything she had taught him in the past. After a moment, his face brightened.

"The leaves here -" He pointed to a bush where several branches were bent at an unnatural angle. "Something passed through. And those," he gestured toward the lower branches of a tree, "look like they were nibbled on."

Samaya couldn't help but smile at his growing enthusiasm.

The Emperor gave a satisfied nod. "Very good. Animals leave more than just tracks. They leave traces - signs of where they've been and what they've done. A good hunter doesn't just follow footprints. He observes everything."

Samaya tilted her head, quietly impressed by how patient the Emperor was with their son. Though … she might have to push him to teach the same lessons to his daughters.

Manu beamed at the praise, but then he eagerly leaned forward. "I already know some of this."

The Emperor arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Mother taught me." Manu puffed out his chest a little. "She showed me how to tell which direction an animal is going by looking at the spacing of its steps."

Samaya smirked when the Emperor turned his gaze toward her, one brow slightly raised. "Did she now?"

She met his look with a smug smile. "What, surprised? You thought I only knew how to swing a fist?"

"I would never have imagined a lady would know how to swing fists, let alone hunt."

"Hunting is a necessary survival skill," she said lightly. "I would be a poor mother if I didn't teach him the basics."

It especially applied to the way she lived life before entering the Palace. Food was not always readily available. She had to learn hunting the hard way in this world. Training her ass off at the shooting ranges had been fruitful, though she'd had to take some time to properly get used to bow and arrow.

The Emperor huffed but said nothing more.

He gestured forward, allowing the boy to take the lead, his own gaze watchful, waiting to see if Manu would truly be able to track his first prey. Samaya followed behind, a silent spectator, watching as her son eagerly stepped forward into the hunt.

The first real test came when a rabbit darted out from the underbrush. Manu eagerly raised his bow, but his fingers fumbled slightly on the string. He lost the arrow, but it barely grazed the rabbit's fur before it disappeared into the foliage.

The boy's face fell.

Before he could grow too disheartened, Samaya swiftly notched her own arrow and fired, the past few years of having to hunt on her missions coming in handy. The projectile sailed through the air with precision, striking another rabbit just as it tried to flee.

She grinned smugly at the Emperor. "You were saying?"

He rolled his eyes. "That was a small animal. Let's see how you fare with something bigger."

As if on cue, one of the hunting hounds barked in alert. A stag emerged from the thicket, its powerful frame tense, ears twitching as it sensed danger.

The Emperor moved with practiced ease, drawing his bow.

Time seemed to slow as he released the arrow. The projectile flew true, striking the stag cleanly in the neck. The beast stumbled before collapsing with a heavy thud.

Manu's eyes were wide with awe. The Emperor dismounted, gesturing for Manu to join him. He took the boy's hands, guiding him toward the fallen stag.

"This is what a clean kill looks like," he murmured, tracing the wound with his fingers. "Swift. Precise. No unnecessary suffering."

Samaya was about to make a teasing remark when the sharp whistle of an arrow cut through the air.

The Emperor shifted to the side just as the arrow buried itself into his shoulder.

Samaya's eyes widened.

"Ambush!" someone shouted.

Chaos erupted as armed figures emerged from the trees.

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