Chapter 522: Chapter 522 : (Extra) Jiang Muchen’s Love Story (7)
"It is none of your business whom I give flowers to," Jiang Muchen snapped. "It is up to Little Uncle to take them or not."
A tempest of animosity brewed between the Supreme General and the Fire Guardian. Their gazes collided, igniting an atmosphere charged with such explosive potential that a single spark could have triggered a cataclysmic conflagration.
And then, Xie Jianyu drained the tension by taking the flowers from his husband.
"Thank you, Muchen," he said.
Zhang Fengxi was beyond devastated. Beneath the strong and unyielding facade was a heartbroken tiger, who was about to broke down into a wail and throw a tantrum.
Jiang Muchen, on the other hand, was the very picture of schadenfreude.
His immense delight was evident from the smile broadening across his features.
Xie Jianyu took a sniff at the small bouquet. And then, he handed it over to Xie Jianshen, effectively wiping the smile off Jiang Muchen’s face.
To his astounded nephew, Xie Jianyu sighed and solemnly said, "I wish you remember the rules of the hunt. Presenting pink orchids to non-participating parties, alphas or omegas, basically means handing over your voting rights to others."
In this case, the voting right landed right in Xie Jianshen’s hand.
"Jianbao, you are so wise!" Zhang Fengxi almost squealed like one of Xie Jianyu’s omega fans.
The Supreme General was so happy that he might just tackle Xie Jianyu to the ground and suffocate him with kisses then and there.
A single glare in his direction stopped him from doing just that.
Good that he managed to hold back, otherwise he might earned himself well-deserved punishment from his wife and the Heavenly Emperor.
Xie Jianshen fingered the bouquet and smirked at his son.
"Interesting. Three pink orchids."
Jiang Muchen said nothing in response. Silence was, in this case, his best act of defense.
One by one, the hunt participants returned to the base. They all looked several levels shabbier than before.
Some were satisfied and some were dissatisfied with their performance, but almost everyone scored a better kill than the Shuiran Palace Master, who might as well just shoot an ordinary deer and drag it back to the mount base.
The mature participants were seen nodding toward Jiang Muchen respectfully while saying, "His Highness does not like to brag. A very humble personage, befitting the position of a Palace Master indeed."
The young, immature participants were seen cackling among each other while mocking, "Every dog has a bad day, including the Shuiran Palace Master."
Once the majority of the hunt participants returned, Head Eunuch Lu shuffled over and started counting the amount of pink orchids, the ones that had been given to the waiting omegas, and the ones that had not.
"All alphas, please kindly dedicate your killing to the omega of your liking," he went around and reminded the alphas one by one.
"The winner shall be crowned the Ethereal Beauty of the year!"
Head Eunuch Lu repeated this procedure three times before he announced, "The hunt has concluded! All participants have returned to the base!"
"Wait a moment."
The eunuch turned around and found Jiang Muchen standing behind him.
The lion alpha scanned the crowd of returnees one by one before he stated, "Two people have yet to return."
"Oh?"
Head Eunuch Lu was utterly confused.
"But I counted the amount of pink orchids thrice already. Your Highness, could you be mistaken?"
"No, I am not. Two wolves have yet to return," Jiang Muchen insisted.
And so they all waited.
And waited.
And waited.
True to Jiang Muchen’s words, almost half an hour passed by before said two wolves returned.
Their appearance was ordinary, but the kill they dragged behind them was simply extraordinary.
"Oooohhhh!!!"
Everyone gathered to take a look.
"What an exceptional kill!" They cried out.
"This is no doubt the best kill of the hunt!"
The royal family stepped away from their watch tower and approached the winners.
Xie Jianshen stared at the dead fish-serpent monster and the two wolves, who allegedly killed it. They looked disheveled, yes, but not from expending efforts to kill the monster but to drag it all the way back to the base.
He then looked at his own son, who up until a moment ago was drenched from head to toe.
Jiang Muchen looked back at him, no single word of protest leaving his lips.
Oh well.
Xie Jianshen heaved a sigh.
With or without winning the hunt, Jiang Muchen remained the most desirable alpha in today’s hunt, so Xie Jianshen couldn’t care less about the details.
The more important thing to do now was selecting the year’s Ethereal Beauty.
Due to the amount of omegas and alphas participating year after year, some freshly differentiated while the others simply had yet to find their matches yet, it was usually difficult for an omega to earn more than one pink orchid.
Usually, brothers or cousins would help by offering their pink orchids to those omegas, until of course they found themselves enchanted by other omegas.
That being said, the three pink orchids in Xie Jianshen’s hand were instrumental to win the beauty pageant.
As Xie Jianshen drew closer, the omega rose as one, their spines straightening with military precision. Despite the rigid formality, a subtle allure emanated from their posture, a beguiling blend of deference and defiance.
"This servant greets Your Majesty," they all said in unison.
"Hmm. Dispense with the formalities," Xie Jianshen answered.
The omegas did not know that their anxiety was all for naught, for Xie Jianshen made his decision way before the hunt began.
He extended the small bouquet of pink orchids in a specific omega’s direction, who fell into a graceful curtsy in gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
It was Qin Yanmei, a male omega from Qifeng Palace. He was an extended relative of Xie siblings’ mother, the late first Heavenly Empress of the previous generation.
With three additional pink orchids courtesy of Xie Jianshen, he easily became the Ethereal Beauty of the year.
On their way back to Golden Dragon Palace, Xie Jianshen turned to his son with a smile, "Which one do you prefer, Muchen? Being locked in the dungeon for a week and eating only chicken bones three times a day or asking Qin Yanmei out on an exciting date?"
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Author’s note :
Mini theater!
Jiang Muchen : Chicken bones sound tasty.
Xie Jianshen : Prepare a plate of chicken bones for the Shuiran Palace Master. Make sure to strip every bit of flesh meticulously.
Jiang Muchen : Mother is too kind...