Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 195 The Day of the Autumn Hunt: Though Late, the Profession Arrives (10,000 words, seeking subscriptions)

"Chen Zhong, did you see that?" Chen Fangshi's voice trembled slightly. "That's Ye'er! My son!"

"This old servant saw it, saw it," Chen Zhong said with a smile. "Young master has really improved."

"He's improved more than just a little!" Chen Fangshi stood up excitedly, walked to the window, and looked at his son's agile figure, which made him, as a father, both proud and heartbroken.

“He’s like a completely different person in the last two weeks,” Chen Fangshi muttered to himself. “At first, I thought he was just putting on an act for me.”

"But I didn't expect him to actually persevere." Chen Fangshi's eyes were filled with relief.

"Look at the way he practices martial arts, that seriousness is something I've never seen in him before!"

Chen Zhong nodded repeatedly from the side: "Yes, sir. These days, the young master gets up before dawn every day, either reading or practicing martial arts. Moreover, a few days ago, those two young masters from the Hou and Qian families came to invite him, but the young master didn't even lift his eyelids and told this old servant to refuse."

"Good! Well said!" Chen Fangshi clapped his hands and laughed with delight. "I told him not to hang out with those shady characters for a long time, but he wouldn't listen. Now he's finally seen the light!"

As he laughed, Chen Fangshi's eyes reddened.

He turned around, his back to the window, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and his voice was choked with sobs.

"Chen Zhong, do you know how many years I've been waiting for this day...?"

Chen Zhong felt a pang of sorrow as he looked at his master's slightly trembling back.

He had followed Chen Fangshi his whole life and knew best the bitterness in the master's heart.

The Chen family was once a founding noble family, how glorious they were!

However, by the time it was passed down to Chen Fangshi's generation, it had inevitably declined.

Chen Fangshi himself was neither good at literature nor martial arts, and only held a mediocre official position in the court. He barely maintained the family's dignity by relying on the protection of his ancestors and his daughter's position in the palace.

He placed all his hopes on his only son, Chen Ye.

He hoped his son would achieve great things, bring honor to the family, and restore the Chen family's prestige.

But reality dealt him heavy blows time and time again.

Chen Ye was mischievous from a young age, and as he grew up, he became a notorious playboy in the capital, skilled in everything from cockfighting and dog racing to womanizing.

He had scolded and beaten his son, and even spent a lot of money to find him a wife, but all he got in return was disappointment and worsening depravity.

Gradually, Chen Fangshi became disheartened.

He had even prepared for the worst. As long as his son didn't cause any major disaster outside and could live a peaceful life as a wealthy man, continuing the Chen family bloodline, he would be grateful.

But to his utter surprise, just when he was about to despair completely, a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared.

“Master…” Chen Zhong stepped forward and gently comforted him, “Young Master has become sensible, this is a good thing, you should be happy.”

"I'm happy, of course I'm happy!" Chen Fangshi turned around, his face a mixture of tears and laughter. "I just feel sorry for his mother. If only his mother could see Ye'er like this now..."

When Chen Fangshi, a man nearing fifty, mentioned his late wife, he could no longer hold back his tears.

He had been waiting for this day for far too long.

……

Meanwhile, other powerful families in Yunzhou City were also making final preparations for the upcoming royal autumn hunt.

For these noble families, the autumn hunt was no longer just a simple hunting and recreational activity.

This was an important political event, an excellent stage to showcase the family's power and the talents of the younger generation to Her Majesty the Empress.

It is also the best opportunity for the younger generation to stand out, gain fame and fortune, and even win the emperor's favor.

Therefore, every family attached great importance to this autumn hunt.

Those with money contributed funds to procure fine horses, bows, and powerful weapons for their sons and grandsons.

Those with connections would use their influence to invite experts from the army or teachers from academies to give the children their final special training.

A tense yet expectant atmosphere permeated the entire city of Yunzhou.

The Marquis of Anyuan's residence.

Hou En looked at the bow in his hand with a frown, then glanced at the target in the distance, which he had riddled with arrows, but with only a few hitting the bullseye. Frustrated, he threw the bow to the servant beside him.

"I'm not practicing anymore! I'm not practicing anymore! It's so annoying!"

The Marquis of Zhongyong's Residence.

Qian Yi was shirtless, and his entire body of fat was trembling.

At that moment, he was huffing and puffing as he lifted two huge stone locks, his face turning red.

"No...no...I'm going to die..."

He threw down the stone lock with a thud, collapsed onto the ground, and panted like a bull.

Similar scenes were played out in various mansions throughout Yunzhou City.

These pampered young men, forced to cram at the last minute, complained bitterly.

Time passed day by day in this atmosphere of everyone having their own thoughts.

Finally, the day of the autumn hunt arrived.

It was still dark when the sun rose.

The city of Yunzhou was already bitterly cold in late autumn. The trees on both sides of the street had long since lost their leaves, and the bare branches rustled in the morning breeze.

At this moment, most ordinary people are still keeping their doors and windows closed and are hiding in their warm beds.

But the entire city of Yunzhou had already awakened.

The streets were under martial law by the Imperial Guards, with guards every three steps and sentries every five steps, their armor and weapons gleaming coldly.

Today is the day Her Majesty the Empress of the Great Chen Dynasty goes out of the city for an autumn hunt.

"Boom-thump-thump-"

At 3:45 AM, a deep and melodious bell rang out from the depths of the imperial city, resounding through the sky.

Immediately afterwards, the tightly closed main gate of the imperial city, Chengtian Gate, slowly opened with a dull creak.

A group of imperial guards, clad in golden armor and wielding long halberds, stepped out first, their imposing presence evident as they lined up on both sides.

Then, a huge imperial edict flag, embroidered with the sun, moon, mountains and rivers in gold thread, was raised high by eight burly captains and slowly moved forward.

Behind the banners were hundreds of civil and military officials dressed in various official robes, who followed solemnly according to their rank.

Following the officials, and surrounded by a group of palace maids and eunuchs, a magnificent and extremely luxurious carriage, carved with phoenixes and luan birds, was pulled by eight extraordinary, snow-white beasts, some even with a single horn on their heads, and slowly drove out of the palace gate.

Phoenix Carriage!

Her Majesty the Empress's Royal Carriage!
The moment the luxury car was seen, the previously noisy crowd on both sides of the street fell silent.

Everyone immediately knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Chen Ye was also in the crowd.

However, he wasn't there to watch the spectacle; he was accompanying the emperor as a son of a noble family.

When the imperial city bells rang, Chen Fangshi personally straightened Chen Ye's martial attire, his eyes full of expectation and instructions.

"Ye'er, remember, when you're with the group, don't cause any trouble, but if you have the opportunity, don't hesitate to step forward. Just do your best in everything and have a clear conscience."

Chen Fangshi patted his son on the shoulder. He had so much to say, but all his words were ultimately reduced to this simple sentence.

He didn't want to put too much pressure on his son.

"Dad, I understand." Chen Ye nodded, feeling the heavy expectations his father had for him.

He then mounted his horse and nodded slightly to his father and Xie Weining, who was standing not far away.

Xie Weining is here today too.

She was still wearing an elegant long dress, standing gracefully behind Chen Fangshi, her face expressionless.

For the past two weeks, although the two have not eaten together at the same table, when they meet at the mansion, she no longer ignores them as before, but occasionally nods coldly as a greeting.

Chen Ye knew that the meal that night had ultimately left some mark on her heart.

Chen Ye clasped his hands in a fist salute to the two men, then turned his horse around and, with several guards and servants from the Chen family, joined the procession of nobles slowly passing through the street.

This team brought together almost all the sons of noble families in Yunzhou City.

Hou En from the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion, Qian Yi from the Earl of Zhongyong's mansion, and other young masters whose faces Chen Ye recognized but whose names he couldn't recall were also among them.

They were all dressed in brand-new hunting attire, riding tall horses, and followed by a large retinue of servants, looking quite imposing.

When Chen Ye appeared on horseback, he instantly attracted everyone's attention.

There was no way around it; his outfit today was just too eye-catching.

The horse Chen Ye was riding was a prized steed that Chen Fangshi had specially purchased for him from a horse merchant in the Western Regions at a high price. It was named Snow-Treading Black Steed, and its body was as black as ink, except for its four white hooves. It was exceptionally magnificent.

His black outfit perfectly accentuated his well-proportioned and upright physique, which had become much better after more than half a month of training.

He carried an iron-framed bow on his back and a long, forged sword he had chosen from his family's heirlooms at his waist.

Coupled with his already handsome appearance, he now appeared even more heroic and composed.

"Holy crap...that's Chen Ye?"

Qian Yi was bragging to a few young masters when he turned around and saw Chen Ye. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Is this...is this really the Old Chen we know? This appearance is fucking intimidating!"

Hou En also looked completely taken aback.

In his memory, Chen Ye always seemed hollow and decadent, drained by wine and women. When had he ever been so spirited?

The young men around them were also gossiping about it.

"Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse; the ancients were right! This good-for-nothing looks quite presentable after changing his clothes."

"It's all show and no substance. You believe that when we get to the hunting grounds, he won't even be able to draw his bow?"

"Exactly! He's all show and no substance, just waiting to see him make a fool of himself!"

Although the murmurs were not loud, Chen Ye could hear them clearly with his current hearing.

He didn't even raise an eyebrow, simply sitting calmly on his horse, gazing ahead.

To him, these people's opinions were utterly insignificant.

Soon, the royal guard of honor slowly drove through the street.

The nobles who had been waiting on the sidelines immediately and spontaneously joined the rear of the main force, following the vast flow of people slowly towards the city gates. For a moment, the sounds of horses' hooves, wheels, and the fluttering of flags blended into a magnificent symphony.

Chen Ye followed in the group, looking up ahead.

At the very front, the enormous imperial banner shimmered with golden light in the morning glow, almost blotting out the sky.

A majestic and awe-inspiring aura emanated from the flags, enveloping the entire procession.

Chen Ye's eyes also suddenly narrowed at that moment.

Because in his perception, there was more than one extremely powerful aura hidden in front of the group!

Some of these auras are as domineering as fire, some as majestic as a mountain, and some as cold as ice.

Without exception, they were all so powerful that they drew attention.

"This world... truly is full of hidden talents!"

A warning bell rang in Chen Ye's mind instantly.

The academy teacher he had seen on the pleasure boat had given him a preliminary understanding of the upper limit of martial power in this world.

But only now did he truly and intuitively realize just how deep the waters of this world really are!

It seems I need to be more careful in my actions from now on.

Just as Chen Ye was becoming aware of his surroundings, a shrill voice rang out beside him.

"Mr. Chen."

Chen Ye turned his head and saw a eunuch dressed in palace attendant's clothes riding over on horseback.

It was the same eunuch Liu who had delivered the letter to the mansion earlier.

"Eunuch Liu," Chen Ye nodded politely.

With a smile plastered on his face, Eunuch Liu lowered his voice and said, "Young Master Chen, Minister Chen asked me to pass on a message to you."

"What did your sister say?" Chen Ye asked.

“Chen Sheren is currently serving in His Majesty’s carriage and won’t be here for a while,” said Eunuch Liu. “Sheren said that you should just stay with the group and not be impatient or cause any trouble. She will take care of everything when we reach the hunting grounds.”

A warm feeling welled up in Chen Ye's heart.

Chen Wan'er is incredibly devoted to her younger brother, always thinking about him.

"Thank you for your trouble, Father-in-law. Please also thank my sister for me," Chen Ye said sincerely.

"Young Master Chen, you're too kind," Eunuch Liu replied with a smile. He then glanced at Chen Ye's appearance today without making a sound, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. He then flicked the reins and urged his horse back to the front of the group.

Chen Ye withdrew his gaze and continued to move slowly forward with the main group.

The procession, in a grand and imposing manner, exited the south gate of Yunzhou City and traveled for about two more hours before finally arriving at its destination near noon.

The Royal Hunting Grounds, Nanyuan.

This was the exclusive hunting ground for the emperors of the Great Chen Dynasty during autumn and winter. It covered an area of ​​hundreds of miles.

The park is covered with dense forests, abundant water and grass, and has overlapping mountains and complex terrain.

It is said that not only were large numbers of wild boars, elk, tigers and leopards released inside, but there were also exotic beasts with a touch of spirituality, captured from deep mountains and marshes, for the royal family and nobles to hunt and enjoy.

The group stopped after reaching an open grassland on the outskirts of the hunting grounds.

This is the main camp for this autumn hunt. A team of Ministry of Works officials and Imperial Guards were already waiting here, and a row of tents had been set up.

At the very center is a huge imperial tent with a golden roof, surrounded by the tents of civil and military officials and imperial guards, forming a core area.

The outer perimeter was divided into encampments for noble families according to their rank.

With the arrival of the main force, the entire camp instantly became lively.

The servants of each household began to busily unload supplies, set up tents, and cook meals.

The young men gathered in small groups, chatting and boasting about their fine horses and bows, creating a lively atmosphere.

Chen Ye found his campsite by following the signs.

The place wasn't big; it was tucked away in a corner of the camp, which reflected the Chen family's current declining status.

The servants of the Chen family were quick and efficient, and soon set up the tent and the cooking pot, and started a fire to cook.

To better simulate wartime and hunting scenarios, there was an unwritten rule during the autumn hunt: everyone, regardless of rank, had to eat from the same pot.

Looking at the bustling scene, which resembled a large-scale outdoor camping trip, Chen Ye also found it somewhat novel.

Unlike other young masters who wandered around aimlessly, he found a clean patch of grass to sit down, wiping his long sword while observing his surroundings with great interest.

He saw Hou En and Qian Yi's group fawning over a young man dressed in fine clothes who appeared to be of high status.

Meanwhile, some seemingly strong and powerful sons of military generals had already begun to compete in wrestling and strength on the open ground, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Most of the people there were sons of civil officials, who gathered together to compose poems and discuss current affairs, appearing completely out of place in this hunting ground filled with masculine energy.

The myriad aspects of human life are laid bare at this moment.

Chen Ye was watching with interest when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a young maid in a pink dress walking hurriedly toward him with her head down.

The young maid looked a little nervous, her eyes darting around as if she were looking for someone.

When she saw Chen Ye sitting alone on the grass, her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over.

"Young Master Chen...?" The little maid walked up to Chen Ye and called out timidly.

Chen Ye looked up and glanced at her.

He didn't recognize the maid, and judging from her clothes and appearance, she didn't seem to be from the Chen family.

"You were looking for me?" Chen Ye asked.

"Yes...yes." The little maid nodded, then quickly pulled a small silk package from her sleeve and stuffed it into Chen Ye's hand.

"Young master, this is from my young lady!"

After saying that, she breathed a sigh of relief as if she had accomplished some great task, and then ran away before Chen Ye could react.

Chen Ye stared blankly at the still slightly warm package.

Your young lady?

Who is your young lady?
Please, could you please explain this more clearly?
Chen Ye was puzzled, and then opened the pink silk package.

Inside was a neatly folded handkerchief, embroidered with a pair of lovebirds in gold thread, exquisitely crafted.

There was also a letter under the handkerchief.

Chen Ye pulled out the letter and unfolded it to read it.

A delicate orchid fragrance wafted towards me.

The handwriting on the letter was delicate and small, densely covering the entire sheet of paper.

To my beloved Chen Lang: Several days have passed since we parted, and my longing for you has deepened. I am deeply comforted to hear that you are studying diligently behind closed doors, striving to improve yourself. I believe this change is for my sake, and thinking of this keeps me awake at night, tossing and turning...

This autumn hunt together is truly a blessing from heaven, but during the day there are too many people and it's inconvenient for us to meet. I've already found out that there's a birch forest on the west side of the camp after nightfall, where we can meet and ease our longing for each other.

Remember, midnight is the signal time; don't be late!

The signature is Mengwei.

Mengwei?

Wu Mengwei?
Upon seeing the signature, Chen Ye's mind went blank, and a memory that the original owner had deliberately sealed away suddenly surged up.

He remembered.

This Wu Mengwei is truly no ordinary person.

Her father was Wu Daofu, a Grand Tutor and a first-rank official.

Wu Mengwei was the youngest daughter of Grand Tutor Wu, whom he loved most.

How did such a pampered and noble person get involved with the original owner of this spoiled brat?

After racking his brains, Chen Ye finally managed to glean the whole story from the corners of his memory.

It was about seven or eight months ago, before the original owner of this body married Xie Weining.

Once, while attending a poetry gathering (of course, he was just there to freeload), he happened to meet Miss Wu, who was out for a stroll.

Although the original owner was ignorant and incompetent, he was still blessed with good looks and was good at sweet talk.

And so, somehow, he got involved with the naive and lovestruck daughter of the Grand Tutor.

The two secretly met a few times, and the original owner even wrote a few cheesy, cringeworthy poems for her.

Later, after Chen Ye and Xie Weining's marriage was arranged, the original owner felt guilty and, fearing that Grand Tutor Wu would break his legs if he found out, unilaterally cut off contact.

I never expected that Ms. Wu hadn't forgotten him!
And they even chased us all the way to this royal hunting grounds!

Chen Ye held the letter, feeling both amused and exasperated.

The original owner of this body was truly a troublemaker!

He dares to provoke the Grand Tutor's daughter?
As for whether to go or not...

This is not actually a problem that needs to be considered.

Because Chen Ye had no intention of going at all.

He is currently at a critical juncture in his career transition and simply wants to perform well in the Autumn Hunt, turn his reputation around, and revitalize his profession.

Where would they find the time to play the game of having a secret rendezvous with the daughter of some Grand Tutor?

If he were caught, all his efforts over the past two weeks would be wasted, and he would also offend Grand Tutor Wu, which would be a huge loss.

Chen Ye made up his mind to burn the letter and pretend he had never received it.

Just as he was about to take action, a system notification emitting a faint glow suddenly appeared in front of him!
[Starting the Job]

Upon seeing these words, Chen Ye's spirits lifted.

Damn it, it's finally here! I've been waiting for so long!
I didn't do anything, so how did the job panel suddenly activate?
Just as Chen Ye was wondering, a line of light screens slowly appeared.

Name: Chen Ye

【Occupation: Wanderer (lv1)】

(End of this chapter)