Honored Lady Jiang's rise and fall went unnoticed in the Harem; it didn't even stir a ripple of interest. With the Emperor not in the palace, the Concubines also had much less to strive for. Each of them became much more well-behaved.
Outside the palace, however, things were different. This was the first time the Emperor had led Ministers and the Royal Clan on a hunt since his accession to the throne. The men were full of excitement. Without women in tow, everyone rode horses, and as soon as they left the city, they galloped away, exhibiting the vigor of a battlefield campaign. The horses ran at full speed, kicking up dust all along the way, making the men feel as if they harbored boundless heroic passions in their hearts—passions they could only express by spurring their horses and cracking their whips.
