If I traveled back to the Tang Dynasty, all I really wanted to be was a carefree prince.

In the late autumn of the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin issued an imperial decree to go on an autumn hunt at Mount Li.

This was the first large-scale royal hunt after the pacification of the Turks, serving both to showcase the military prowess of the Tang Dynasty and to test the princes' horsemanship and archery skills. Accompanying the emperor were court officials such as Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, and Wei Zheng, as well as Crown Prince Li Chengqian, Prince Li Ke of Shu, Prince Li Tai of Wei, Prince Li Zhen of Yue, and Prince Li Yin of Shu. Li Ke had recently recovered from his injury and was riding without difficulty. Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) specifically asked him, "Ke'er, your injury has just healed, can you ride a horse?" Li Ke replied, "Father, rest assured, I am fine."

The Lishan Hunting Grounds were located dozens of miles east of Chang'an. The terrain was undulating and the forests were dense. The hunting grounds covered an area of ​​dozens of miles in circumference and were enclosed by wooden fences. Inside, there were animals such as deer, rabbits, roe deer, foxes, and wild boars. Li Shimin stayed at the temporary palace, and the next morning, horns sounded in unison, and the autumn hunt officially began.

The princes, each clad in light armor and bows and arrows at their waists, rode spiritedly on horseback. Li Chengqian, in black light armor, stood tall and straight, reining in his horse at the forefront. Li Tai, in silver-white light armor, appeared somewhat wealthy, but still looked imposing on horseback. Li Ke wore light gray-blue armor, a short sword at his waist, and a bow and arrows hanging beside his saddle, with Xue Rengui and Tie Tou by his side. Xue Rengui, in a blue robe and carrying an iron bow, was expressionless, while Tie Tou, carrying two large iron hammers, rode on an exceptionally muscular horse, which was panting heavily under his weight.

Li Yin followed behind Li Ke, wearing a worn leather armor, riding a small horse, holding a wooden bow in his hand, his face full of excitement. This was his first time participating in the autumn hunt, and also his first time hunting with his third brother.

Li Shimin sat on the high platform, overlooking the hunting grounds. He raised his wine cup and said to Fang Xuanling beside him, "Xuanling, look at these children, which one most resembles me when I was young?" Fang Xuanling glanced at the princes below, who were fully prepared for the hunt, and smiled slightly, "The Crown Prince is composed, the Prince of Wei is intelligent, and the Prince of Shu is valiant; each has his own merits." Li Shimin laughed heartily but did not reply.

The bugle sounds again, the hunt begins.

The princes spurred their horses into the hunting grounds, each followed by a squad of guards. Li Chengqian took the lead, charging into the dense forest. Li Tai, not wanting to fall behind, urged his horse on to follow. Li Ke, however, was in no hurry; he rode at a leisurely pace, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding trees.

"Third Brother, let's hurry and chase after them!" Li Yin shouted anxiously from behind.

"What's the rush?" Li Ke glanced at him. "The prey won't all run away. You need to keep your eyes open and your ears sharp; a fast horse alone won't do."

Li Yin pouted, but still obediently followed behind.

Deep within the hunting grounds, a wild rabbit darted out of the grass. Li Ke drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and shot it, striking the rabbit squarely. Li Yin exclaimed, "Third Brother, what excellent archery!" Li Ke smiled faintly, "Practice hard. With more practice, you'll naturally be able to do it too."

Iron Head rode at the very back, his tall frame causing the horse to stumble occasionally. He carried two large iron hammers, looking around anxiously, when suddenly he shouted, "Young master, there are wild boars ahead!"

Li Ke reined in his horse. Ahead, in the bushes, a massive wild boar was rooting in the soil, its tusks protruding, its bristles like steel needles; it must have weighed at least two or three hundred pounds. Wild boars have thick skin and a ferocious nature, making them even more difficult to deal with than tigers or leopards. Li Yin turned pale with fright and took a few steps back.

"Ren Gui," Li Ke called out.

Xue Rengui took down his iron bow, nocked an arrow, and drew the bow in one swift motion. The arrow shot through the air, striking the wild boar squarely in the eye. The boar let out a miserable howl and collapsed with a thud. Li Yin's mouth gaped open, unable to close it for a long time.

"Commander Xue, your archery skills are excellent." Li Ke nodded. Xue Rengui put away his bow, his face expressionless: "It's my duty."

Li Yin ran over, circled the wild boar twice, and then turned back to shout, "Third Brother, this wild boar is huge! It weighs more than me!"

Li Ke laughed: "You mean, you don't even weigh as much as a wild boar?"

Li Yin blushed and fell silent.

On the high platform, Li Shimin heard the reports of the hunt coming from below. The eunuch Zhang De recorded them one by one: Crown Prince Li Chengqian shot a deer, Prince Wei Li Tai shot two rabbits, Prince Shu Li Ke shot a rabbit and a wild boar, and the other princes each had their own catches.

"A wild boar?" Li Shimin put down his wine cup. "Was it Ke'er who shot it?"

"Your Majesty, the wild boar was shot by Xue Rengui, the guard of the Prince of Shu," Zhang De reported truthfully.

Li Shimin nodded without saying anything. Changsun Wuji, sitting below, heard the name "Xue Rengui," picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, and remained expressionless. Wei Zheng glanced at Changsun Wuji, then at Li Shimin, but said nothing.

As the hunt continued into the afternoon, the princes gradually returned to their camp. Li Chengqian shot a deer and two rabbits, Li Tai shot three rabbits, and Li Ke caught a rabbit and a wild boar. Li Yin didn't shoot anything, but he picked up a pile of pretty stones, saying he would show them to his mother when he got back.

Li Ke watched Li Yin grinning foolishly while holding a pile of stones and couldn't help but shake his head. He glanced back at Tie Tou, who was carrying a wild boar behind him, his face not flushed and his breath not ragged, as if he were carrying a sack of cotton.

"Tie Tou, take that wild boar to Master," Li Ke said.

Tie Tou responded and carried the wild boar away.

Back at the palace, Li Shimin summoned his princes for dinner. On the table were venison, rabbit, and wild boar—all the day's catch. Li Shimin raised his wine cup: "Today's autumn hunt was fruitful for you all; I am very pleased. Especially Chengqian, who shot a deer—truly worthy of the Crown Prince." Li Chengqian rose to express his gratitude. Li Tai also received praise and smiled broadly.

When it was Li Ke's turn, Li Shimin looked at him and said only one sentence: "Ke'er has only recently recovered from his injury, and it is already quite good that he can ride a horse to hunt."

Li Ke rose to express his gratitude, and as he sat down, he felt Li Tai's gaze sweep across his face before quickly shifting away. Li Chengqian, sitting beside him, patted his shoulder and whispered, "Third brother, that wild boar today was quite good." Li Ke smiled but remained silent.

After dinner, Li Ke didn't rush back to his tent. He stood on the hillside outside the palace, gazing at the distant hunting grounds. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the mountains and forests in a golden-red glow. Xue Rengui stood behind him, while Tie Tou, carrying a large hammer, stood further away, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the sunset.

"What is Your Highness thinking about?" Xue Rengui asked.

Li Ke was silent for a while, then said, "I'm thinking about when we can go hunting like we are today, without worrying about anyone shooting arrows from behind."

Xue Rengui did not speak, but simply gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist.

As night fell, the palace was brightly lit. Li Chengqian was reading in his tent, Li Tai was talking with several court officials, Li Yin was counting stones on his couch, and Qiao'er was mending clothes for Li Ke in a side tent. Li Ke sat under the lamp, flipping through a medical book, while Tie Tou squatted outside the tent, munching on three large bowls of dry rations. Xue Rengui stood at the tent entrance, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding darkness, as still as a statue.

The night breeze of Mount Li blew in from the mountains, carrying the scent of pine resin and the crispness of autumn grass. A few wolf howls echoed in the distance, then silence returned. The night passed peacefully.