Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

On an early morning in September, a cool autumn breeze blew across the red walls and green tiles of the imperial palace.

Chu Ning stood in the martial arts arena, looking at the small figure in the distance who was waving a red tasseled spear that was taller than her.

Eight-year-old Chu Xiuning was wearing a neat outfit, with her long black hair tied up in a high ponytail, which drew sharp arcs in the air as she moved.

"Father!" When Chu Xiuning saw Chu Ning's figure, he immediately put away his gun and saluted, his little face flushed with excitement.

Chu Ning walked over and patted his daughter's shoulder gently: "Your shooting skills have improved, but the third wrist turn is not smooth enough."

He took the gun from his daughter's hand, shook his wrist, and the tip of the gun drew a silver arc in the air, making a "whoosh" sound.

Chu Xiuning opened her eyes wide, staring at her father's movements without blinking, "Father is so amazing!"

"Come on, try again."

Chu Ning handed the gun back to his daughter, stood behind her, put his big hand on her small hand, and guided her to complete the complicated wrist turning movement.

In the morning light, two figures, one big and one small, practiced the same movement over and over again in the martial arts field.

Fine beads of sweat oozed from Chu Xiuning's forehead, but she bit her lips and showed no sign of being tired.

Chu Ning looked at her daughter's stubborn profile, feeling both relieved and distressed - this child was very much like her mother Wu Zhao in character.

"Okay, let's take a rest."

Chu Ning finally stopped him: "Let's go to the hunting ground outside the city later to see if your archery skills have deteriorated."

Chu Xiuning's eyes lit up immediately: "Really? Father wants to take me hunting?"

She jumped twice in excitement: "I'm going to shoot a big deer!"

Chu Ning smiled and ruffled his daughter's hair. "Don't brag yet. The deer in the hunting ground are very clever."

After breakfast, Chu Ning changed into a simple hunting suit, and Chu Xiuning also changed into a specially made small hunting suit with an exquisite short bow on her waist.

The father and daughter rode out of the imperial city on horseback, followed only by a small group of guards.

The hunting grounds are covered with colorful trees in autumn, with golden ginkgo leaves and fiery red maple leaves interwoven into a gorgeous picture.

Chu Ning slowed down the horse so that his daughter could fully enjoy the beautiful scenery.

"Father, there's movement over there!" Chu Xiuning suddenly lowered her voice and pointed her little hand to a bush.

Chu Ning looked in the direction his daughter pointed, and sure enough, he saw a hare with its ears pricked up in vigilance.

He made a hushed gesture, indicating to his daughter that she could try archery.

Chu Xiuning held her breath, slowly drew out a small arrow from the quiver, and put it on the bow.

Although her movements were childish, she was extremely focused.

The bowstring sounded slightly and the arrow flew out, but unfortunately it missed by a few inches and the hare jumped away in fright.

"Almost!" Chu Xiuning stomped her feet in frustration.

"Don't worry," Chu Ning comforted him, "The most important thing about archery is to keep calm. Come, let your father teach you."

He dismounted, stood behind his daughter, and adjusted her posture hand in hand.

“When drawing the bow, keep your breathing steady, your eyes fixed on the target, and don’t be distracted by your surroundings.”

His voice was low and gentle: "At the moment of releasing the arrow, your heart should be as calm as the surface of this autumn lake."

As he was speaking, another hare jumped out from the woods.

Chu Xiuning followed his father's instructions and slowly drew the bow. This time the arrow hit the target accurately.

"I hit it! Father, I hit it!" Chu Xiuning cheered, jumped off the horse, and ran to pick up her trophies.

Chu Ning looked at his daughter's cheerful back, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.

At this moment, he was no longer the emperor shouldering the heavy responsibility of the world, but just an ordinary father who was proud of his daughter.

At noon, they built a bonfire in a clearing in the woods and roasted the game they had hunted.

Chu Xiuning sat next to her father, with some charcoal ash on her little face, but she couldn't hide her excitement.

"Father, I want to be like you in the future, leading thousands of troops and galloping across the battlefield!" She said vaguely but firmly while biting a piece of barbecue.

The skewers of meat in Chu Ning's hand suddenly stopped in mid-air.

He turned to look at his daughter's young yet resolute face, and his heart ached.

He thought of the King of Zhao who died in battle - his brother, who also said that he wanted to fight alongside him.

"Xiuning," Chu Ning put down the food and looked into his daughter's eyes seriously. "Father will pacify the world so that you and your brothers will never have to go to the battlefield again."

Chu Xiuning tilted her head and asked in confusion, "But I want to help my father. Imperial Concubine Feng said that women can also be generals!"

The autumn wind blew through the forest, bringing with it a rustling sound.

Chu Ning reached out and brushed a fallen leaf from his daughter's hair. His voice was low and firm: "The death of Prince Zhao is an eternal pain in my father's heart. I don't want to see any of my relatives fall on the battlefield again."

He paused and said, "So, I will personally end all these disputes."

Chu Xiuning nodded, not quite understanding, but the fighting spirit in her eyes did not fade.

She leaned on her father's shoulder and whispered, "Then father, please promise me that you will come back safely."

Chu Ning hugged his daughter's thin shoulders and did not answer.

Who can guarantee what will happen on the battlefield?

The hunting in the afternoon went more smoothly, and Chu Xiuning shot two more hares and a pheasant.

As the sun sets, the father and daughter return home with a full load.

On the way back to the palace, Chu Xiuning was so tired that she dozed off on the horse, her little head nodding.

Chu Ning gently carried her to his horse and let her sleep in his arms.

"Your Majesty, the princess is very happy today." The accompanying captain of the guards whispered.

Chu Ning looked down at his daughter's sleeping face and said softly, "Me too."

After returning to the palace, Chu Ning personally sent Chu Xiuning back to the bedroom and handed her over to the nanny who had been waiting for a long time.

After seeing his daughter settled, he turned and left, but he had already begun thinking about how to teach the eldest prince Chu Tian to read tomorrow.

The next morning, Chu Ning came to the Wenhua Hall of the East Palace.

Five-year-old Chu Tian was already sitting at the desk with the "Analects of Confucius" spread out in front of him.

When he saw his father come in, the little guy immediately stood up and saluted with meticulous movements.

"My son, I will meet my father."

Chu Ning smiled and helped his son up: "Tian'er, there's no need to be so polite. Would you mind your father accompanying you to study today?"

Chu Tian's eyes lit up immediately. "I was just reading the chapter on governing with virtue, and I have some questions I'd like to ask Father."

Chu Ning sat down next to his son and looked at the neat annotations on the pages. He couldn't help but be amazed at the knowledge of this five-year-old child.

"Tian'er can already understand these?"

"I read it every day. Although I cannot fully understand its meaning, I feel that the words of the sage are very reasonable."

Chu Tian answered seriously, his face full of concentration: "I wonder if your Majesty can answer this for me?"

Chu Tian didn't spend much time with his father. Most of the time he heard from others how powerful his father was.

Now that he finally has his father to teach him personally, he naturally expects his father to give him an answer.