Xing Muzheng handed the reins toward her and shook them twice for her to take, but Qian Jiaoniang didn’t reach out. She stiffly said, “Marquis, I don’t want to learn horseback riding. Let me down.”
Xing Muzheng sneered inwardly. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to learn—she clearly just didn’t want to learn from him.
Everyone around was in a fog. After that whole dramatic scene just now, they’d all thought blood was going to be spilled. And in the end, it turned out he just wanted to teach Qian Jiaoniang to ride a horse? Liu Ying and Tian Linwen exchanged bewildered glances.
Ah Da helped Wang Yong up. His sleeve had already been torn, and a red welt marked the skin beneath—fortunately, the Marshal had shown restraint, or that whip could’ve gone straight to the bone. Ah Da whispered, asking what exactly Wang Yong had done to offend the Marshal. Wang Yong was practically choking on grievance—if he knew what he’d done wrong, would he have dared to do it?
Tian Bilian’s mouth was pursed so high it could hang a kettle. Why was her cousin still bothering with that cast-off woman? She shoved her brother, urging him to go stop things. Tian Yongzhang’s old bones had nearly fallen apart from horseback riding. That shove made him yelp, and everyone turned to look at him again. Embarrassed, he scratched his head and hobbled toward his horse.
Only Qian Jiaoniang and Xing Muzheng remained locked in a standoff—one on horseback, the other below. Xing Pingchun tiptoed over and had just called out “Mother” when Xing Muzheng told him, “Your father is teaching your mother to ride. You go on ahead with your great-aunt.”
“Chou’er, come help Mother down,” Qian Jiaoniang also said.
Xing Pingchun was caught in the middle. Xing Muzheng’s brow furrowed, and his sharp glare made the boy scurry off at once, clutching his backside as he ran. Even as he fled, he didn’t forget to comfort her: “Mother, Father used to be a great general! He could ride a horse and fight at the same time—he’s amazing!”
She didn’t care whether Xing Muzheng was some great horseman. All she knew was—this little brat had betrayed her! Qian Jiaoniang fumed. One glare and he ran off like a coward. Couldn’t he grow a spine?
No one dared disobey Xing Muzheng’s orders. Ah Da quickly signaled for the caravan to move. Tian Bilian was unwilling but didn’t dare step forward. She could only board the carriage angrily, cursing Qian Jiaoniang in her heart. Qingya kept her eyes fixed on Xing Muzheng. Even as she climbed into the carriage, her gaze didn’t leave the two behind. Inside, as the carriage started to move, she lifted the curtain and peeked out. The two of them were still where they stood. That look in Xing Muzheng’s eyes—Qingya had seen it once before in someone else. Qian Jiaoniang might want to escape, but it wouldn’t be easy.
Watching the caravan disappear into the distance, Qian Jiaoniang ground her teeth in frustration. Suddenly, something hard pressed against the back of her neck and slid down her spine. She gasped from the pain and straightened her back. Furious, she turned her head—Xing Muzheng had pulled the whip back and said mildly, “Sit up straight when riding.”
So it was him using the whip handle to prod her! Her back probably had a layer of skin scraped off. Qian Jiaoniang just didn’t get it—why did he have so much time to torment her? Wouldn’t it be better to just stab her once and be done with it?
Xing Muzheng lowered his gaze to hide his regret. He’d already held back his strength—was it still too heavy? Women truly were far too delicate.
“Marquis,” Qian Jiaoniang said with a sarcastic smile, “I really don’t want to learn to ride. Sitting in the carriage is so comfortable—why suffer like this? And besides, how many proper women do you see riding horses?”
“In Xie Dynasty, many noblewomen are skilled riders,” Xing Muzheng replied. “Ladies of noble families love to play polo.” With her temperament, she’d probably enjoy polo too. Maybe once she learned to ride, he could teach her polo as well.
Xing Muzheng lightly tossed the reins into her hands, then patted the horse’s flank to make it move forward. Lightning, his steed, was notoriously hot-tempered—born wild and unruly. The moment it sensed the person on its back wasn’t its master, it started bucking. Qian Jiaoniang swayed violently and nearly fell. Xing Muzheng pressed his big palm against her slender waist to steady her and growled at the horse, “Behave!”
Lightning neighed in protest but finally calmed down after a few reprimands. Xing Muzheng turned to Qian Jiaoniang again. “Sit straighter. Sit firm. The more you squirm, the more it bullies you.”
Even the horse dares to bully her now. Qian Jiaoniang slapped his hand away, gritted her teeth, and slid off the horse’s right side while clutching its neck. The horse neighed in surprise, flinging her hands away. She was about to fall headfirst when Xing Muzheng caught the horse’s leg and, like a swallow, slid under its belly. Qian Jiaoniang fell right onto him, both of them letting out a muffled grunt.
The pain she expected didn’t come. Disoriented, Qian Jiaoniang looked down—his face was right in front of hers. Their eyes met. In that instant, the horse’s hooves kicked up a cloud of dust, and Qian Jiaoniang got a mouthful of it. Covered in grime, they both climbed to their feet. Xing Muzheng gave her a once-over and only relaxed when he confirmed she wasn’t hurt.
Qian Jiaoniang spat several times to get the dirt out of her mouth. She wiped her lips and glanced at him—his face dark as thunder. She patted her clothes and turned to leave, but a thick arm wrapped around her waist and tossed her back onto the horse. Still dizzy, Qian Jiaoniang blinked in disbelief. She was an adult, for heaven’s sake! How could she be tossed around like a rag doll? What on earth was he trying to do?
“Learn to sit steady first. You get off when I say you can.” Xing Muzheng dusted off his clothes, as if the harrowing moment just now had never happened. His voice was cold.
He must still have worms gnawing at his brain, or maybe there was another gu still messing with his head. Qian Jiaoniang gave a cold laugh. She was sure of it now.
She couldn’t outfight him. Couldn’t outrun him. All she could do was resign herself, grip the reins, and let him have his way. Seeing she had settled down, Xing Muzheng said no more. He patted the horse’s neck to move forward, taking part of the reins into his own hand.
The official road was fairly smooth. Lightning, the horse, was led by its master, stepping steadily on the yellow earth, each hoof leaving a distinct print. On both sides were wheat fields. The sun wasn’t too harsh, and the breeze came in waves, carrying the scent of ripening grain. Several farmers were laboring in the fields with hoes on their shoulders. Seeing strangers pass by, they couldn’t help but steal a few glances.
Qian Jiaoniang kept her eyes forward, letting Lightning carry her slowly onward. Secretly, she tried to learn how to control the horse. Xing Muzheng walked silently beside her, only speaking when she failed to sit up straight. Qian Jiaoniang wondered how many eyes he had—he clearly hadn’t looked up, yet each time her back bent even slightly, he somehow always knew.
They continued in silence for about an hour. In the distance, Qian Jiaoniang saw Xing Pingchun riding back for a look. But he only looked briefly before galloping away with Wang Yong. This brat sees I’m still alive and just leaves again? Qian Jiaoniang ground her teeth so hard they creaked.
Later, Xing Muzheng let go of the reins, allowing Qian Jiaoniang to ride on her own for a bit. She was so nervous her scalp tingled, but she clenched her teeth and kept a calm face. Finally, Lightning stopped testing her and carried her steadily forward. Xing Muzheng walked just slightly behind, eyes never leaving her. As he watched her ride with growing skill, a faint smile surfaced in his dark eyes.
Women were usually scared of riding such tall horses, but his Jiaoniang was indeed bold and clever.
