Chapter Seventy-Nine: Riding a Horse

In the following days, the small kitchen in Weiyang Palace became unusually quiet.

The wisps of smoke were replaced by the dust billowing from the royal horse farm, followed by Jiang Huan's occasional gasps of alarm and Ayina's signature exasperated scolding.

"Jiang Huan, stand up straight! Are you a noodle? You'll fall over in the wind?"

"Squeeze your legs together, squeeze them together, understand? I'm not telling you to knee the horse in the belly, it's not your enemy!"

"Look ahead! Why are you staring at the horse's ears? Can they tell you the way?"

Jiang Huan was wearing a well-fitting riding outfit and was currently clinging tightly to the horse's neck, her face pale, as if she wanted to stick to the horse's back.

"Ahhh! Slow down, slow down!"

The mare Ta Xue, whom she had chosen, was said to be the most docile foal at the horse farm, but in Jiang Huan's eyes at this moment, she was even more terrifying than the wild horses of the northern desert.

Every time Tread Snow snorts or flicks its tail, it sends a chill down her spine.

Jiang Huan's inner voice screamed wildly, "Do the children in the northern desert grow up eating bear bile? Even a three-year-old can ride one?"

Jiang Huan no longer wanted to think about her heroic figure galloping on horseback; all she wanted to do now was hug a pillar and cry!

Ayina rode a tall, magnificent chestnut horse, pacing around the disheveled Jiang Huan. Her blue eyes held a mixture of disdain, helplessness, and a barely perceptible smile.

She rolled her eyes at Jiang Huan's death-defying posture as she clung to the horse's neck.

"Let go. It's uncomfortable that you're holding it by the neck like that, that's why it's moving around. Relax, just treat it like a stone pillar in your yard!"

The stone pier won't suddenly kick up!

Jiang Huan mentally complained, but still tremblingly and slowly loosened her grip.

She tried hard to recall the key points Ayina had taught her and regained her focus.

Although Ayina was sharp-tongued and scolded fiercely, whenever Jiang Huan was truly on the verge of falling, she would always be the first to ride her horse close to steady the reins or lend a helping hand.

"Alright, that's all for today!"

As the sun rose higher and Jiang Huan grew exhausted, Ayina finally took pity on her and announced the end of get out of class.

"It's better than yesterday; at least he's not screaming for help anymore."

She slightly raised her chin, trying to suppress the slight curve of her lips, maintaining her master's dignity.

"We'll continue tomorrow. If you're still this clumsy, this princess will have to give you extra training!"

Jiang Huan felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She practically slid off the horse using both her hands and feet, her legs trembling.

She leaned against the fence of the horse farm, watching Ayina gracefully dismount her horse with fluid and elegant movements, and she was filled with envy.

Sigh, when will she be able to be like Ayina?

Ayina took the water pouch handed to her by the maid, took a hearty gulp, glanced at the exhausted Jiang Huan with her blue eyes, and spoke seemingly casually.

What should we eat for lunch today?

Jiang Huan spread her hands with a bitter face: "Princess, my arms and legs are almost not my own anymore, I'm afraid I don't have the strength to cook. How about we eat at the Imperial Kitchen instead?"

The expectant light in Ayina's eyes dimmed instantly, and the corners of her mouth turned down.

He muttered something in the northern language under his breath, which sounded like a complaint, but ultimately said nothing more.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study was oppressive.

Huo Lin had been reviewing memorials for several hours. Military affairs were complicated, and the drought also needed to be dealt with.

But several old ministers kept arguing about some old matters, giving him a headache.

What bothered him even more was that the small kitchen in Weiyang Palace had been silent for three whole days!

The person who used to bring him food in all sorts of creative ways seemed to have vanished into thin air.

At first, he thought that Jiang Huan had something to do or was tired and needed to rest.

But a day or two passed, and not only did he not make any desserts by hand, he didn't even see Huo Lin.

When he asked Wang Degui, Wang Degui only stammered and said that Jiang Huan seemed...very busy?

Huo Lin irritably threw a memorial on the table, and used his vermilion pen to poke a large ink dot on the character "准" (approved).

Are you busy figuring out with that Northern Desert princess how to infuriate him?

Huo Lin's mind was filled with the unsightly silver bells around Jiang Huan's waist, and Ayina's face, which was just so irritating no matter how he looked at it.

"Your Majesty, Consort Jia requests an audience, saying she has personally prepared ginseng soup for you," Wang Degui announced, forcing himself to be respectful.

Huo Lin frowned even more deeply and said without thinking, "I won't see her. Let her go back!"

He's so hot-tempered right now, why would he want ginseng soup!

What is truly needed is...

He rubbed his temples in frustration, the second half of his thought automatically fading away, but the longing and resentment almost burst through the roof.

Consort Jia was blocked outside the door, and even her exquisite makeup could not hide the embarrassment on her face.

She had heard that Jiang Huan hadn't sent food to the Emperor these past few days, and assumed that the Emperor was tired of Jiang Huan's cooking, so she personally prepared ginseng soup to give the Emperor a change of pace. But who would have thought that she couldn't even get through the door?

Consort Jia waited outside the door for a while before Wang Degui came out.

Just as she was about to step forward to ask, she heard Wang Degui say, "Your Highness, please return."

Consort Jia bit her lip, feeling somewhat unwilling.

“Eunuch Wang, I may not go in, but this ginseng soup was prepared by me personally. Please present it to His Majesty.”

Wang Degui lowered his eyes and did not answer.

"Please, Your Highness, don't put this old servant in a difficult position."

Consort Jia looked at the stubborn person in front of her and knew that nothing she said would make a difference.

She carried the bowl of carefully stewed ginseng soup, but in the end, she could only leave sadly.

Two more days passed in the blink of an eye, and Huo Lin returned to the Imperial Study exhausted.

He looked at the still bland and watery dinner on the table, and had no desire to even pick up his chopsticks.

I haven't seen her for several days now, why doesn't she come to see me?

That princess can only ride a horse, right?

I can do it too, why don't you let me teach you?

The feeling of being "abandoned" in Huo Lin's heart made him exude a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay.

Just as Huo Lin was grumbling about dinner and had no appetite, Wang Degui carefully carried in a familiar food box.

This is the food box that Jiang Huan often uses!

Huo Lin suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with an astonishing light, like rain after a long drought.

The moment the food box was opened, a familiar, mouthwatering aroma filled the air.

Inside, there were several delicate side dishes that he loved, a plate of crispy and delicious-looking pastries, and a pot of milk tea!

It was definitely Jiang Huan who did it!

"Where is she?" Huo Lin pressed.

Wang Degui shrank his neck and replied with a stiff upper lip, "Your Majesty, the Empress did not come. This food was brought by Miss Xiao Zhao. She said that the Empress was having a meal with the Princess and could not come."

The light in Huo Lin's eyes went out instantly, like a flame extinguished by cold water.

Why was it that only the princess could see Jiang Huan?

Thinking of this, even the most delicious food tasted bland and tasteless to Huo Lin.

If he hadn't been so busy with official duties, he would have gone to Weiyang Palace to arrest people himself long ago!