The azure sky was like a clear spring, and as the sun gradually rose, the horse farm in the imperial garden was bathed in its warm rays.

The imperial garden's horse ranch was vast, and the viewing platform was so large that it would take half an incense stick's time to walk from one end to the other. Today, the Crown Princess was hosting a dinner, and all the guests were relatives of officials of the fourth rank or above, with those arriving later indicating their higher status.

When the carriage of the Xu family from the Rongguo Duke's Mansion stopped, someone came to lead the way. When they arrived at the viewing platform, the seats next to the Crown Princess were already filled with the wives of officials, with only a few seats on the left remaining empty.

"It's been a long time since I've seen the Duchess of Rongguo. Hmm, this unfamiliar young lady is someone I'm seeing for the first time."

Li Shiyue sat beside Xu Lingzi, while Xu Lingqing and Xu Lingwan sat on her other side. Her gentle almond-shaped eyes carefully observed the situation, noting that the Xu family had been arranged to sit in the first seat to the left of the Crown Princess.

She couldn't help but glance at the dignified woman sitting opposite her. The woman's eyes darted around as she spoke, a hint of goodwill playing on her lips; she had probably already scrutinized her carefully. The woman wore a magnificent brocade robe with wide sleeves, her hair styled in a high bun, adorned with a set of pure gold jewelry, and a pair of dazzling gold bracelets inlaid with jewels on her wrists.

Yang's attempt to get close to the woman didn't appear particularly intimate. She took Li Shiyue's hand, glanced at the crowd on the viewing platform, and introduced Li Shiyue's identity with a smile.

"Oh my, so this is the cousin who entered the manor before the New Year. Look how beautiful she is!" The woman didn't step forward, but clapped her hands and said several compliments, leaving Li Shiyue completely confused.

The woman grinned, scrutinizing her more closely with her eyes: "Forgive my poor eyesight, how old is Miss Li today?"

Madam Yang smiled subtly, pulling Li Shiyue's hand and unconsciously drawing her back: "She's two years younger than my sixth aunt, so let's take this opportunity to let everyone meet Yan Yan."

Li Shiyue received a glance from Madam Yang and gracefully bowed, saying, "Li Shiyue greets all the ladies."

The woman's smile faded considerably, and her tone lost its previous intimacy: "Shiyue... The two characters 'Yanyan' bestowed by the Emperor, meaning 'the sun and moon shine together,' Miss Li is truly blessed."

"Alright, Yan Yan, you can go play with Sixth Sister and the others." The Crown Princess spoke, and Li Shiyue bowed and walked out of the viewing platform.

Madam Yang and her eldest daughter exchanged a glance, then sat down together and began talking with the officials' wives.

After leaving the viewing platform, you have to go down five or six steps to get to the huge horse riding arena. Li Shiyue spotted Xu Lingzi, who was about to mount her horse, at a glance. She had already changed into riding clothes, with only a thin skirt covering her trousers. She moved quickly, raising her hands and feet.

“Yan Yan, you’ve come at just the right time. Qi Lang, let me play a game with Yan Yan first.” Xu Lingzi sat on her horse, looking at Xu Yunxu on another brown-red horse.

Xu Yunxu was the first to object: "That won't do. Wouldn't that mean I'd be with Fifth Brother? No way! I made a bet today, and I'll beat Fifth Brother first."

Xu Lingqing, who hadn't even mounted his horse yet, hurriedly walked up to Li Shiyue and said, "That's perfect, since Fifth Brother and Cousin are in the same group, I won't join them."

"No way, no way. You come here and then you don't play. What's the difference between that and staying at home?" Xu Lingzi wasn't about to give up. She'd finally managed to get the little bookworm out of the room, and now she wasn't going to play anymore.

Xu Lingqing reached out and pulled Li Shiyue to her horse, ignoring Xu Lingzi: "Cousin, don't worry, this horse was chosen for me by my second brother. It's very docile, so feel free to ride it. As for me, I'll go ahead and wait for my brothers and sisters' good news."

After saying that, she ran very fast and was far away in the blink of an eye.

Xu Yunxu, holding the polo mallet and carrying it on his shoulder, said with a smile, "I told you Ninth Sister couldn't play, that's perfect, today Sixth Sister and I are determined to beat Fifth Brother."

Xu Yunyao, who had been silent all along, shook his head, dismounted, walked to Li Shiyue, and took the reins from the servant: "This horse is called Bai Ling. You can try it out and run a lap first. If it doesn't work out, I'll go with you to pick another one."

Xu Lingqing's horse was pure white, even its mane was as white as snow. Li Shiyue reached out and touched it, and the horse lowered its head and rubbed against Li Shiyue's palm like a baby.

"Fifth cousin, give me the reins." Li Shiyue opened her palm and smiled sweetly. A few years ago, it was Old Madam Li who taught her polo. She missed the feeling of galloping on horseback.

Taking the reins, Li Shiyue didn't need the servant to bring her a step; she stepped onto the saddle, mounted the horse, and gripped the reins: "Giddy up!"

As if by telepathy, Bai Ling didn't rush to run, her limbs moving steadily. Li Shiyue held the reins, facing the three of them: "Come on."

She laughed so brightly that Xu Yunyao was momentarily stunned. But when she came to her senses, she was full of energy again. She mounted her horse and said, "It seems that today will be a fierce battle. Cousin Yan Yan, let's win against them together."

“Okay, what’s the prize?” Li Shiyue’s eyes crinkled into a smile. Today she was wearing that light blue riding outfit, and her skin looked even more delicate in the sunlight.

Xu Lingzi laughed and said, "The prize is the jade hairpin that my elder sister gave me when I came of age. Li Yanyan, let's see who can win it."

"Okay, if I win, don't go back on your word, cousin." Li Shiyue raised her chin, and seeing her childish appearance, Xu Lingzi couldn't help but laugh.

The four people were on horseback in pairs. Xu Yunci, who was on the viewing platform, watched for a long time. Seeing his little cousin smiling so happily, he was reluctant to go over and disturb her.

"Prince Xu".

A soft call came from behind him. Xu Yunci turned around and saw a young girl calling him.

When Fu Yun Ning saw him turn around and look at her, she couldn't help but feel overjoyed, and the emotion in her eyes was almost impossible to suppress. Suppressing her excitement, she smiled sweetly: "Young Master Xu, what a coincidence."

I don't remember.

Xu Yunci's gentle gaze vanished, replaced by a coldness befitting an outsider. Fu Yunning's hands clenched tightly beneath her robes, her eyes lowered to conceal the sorrow within.

"Miss Fu."

Fu Yunning's eyes lit up. She looked up at his cool and aloof face, her voice trembling with barely suppressed excitement: "Your Highness remembers me."

Xu Yunci nodded: "I met you on the Lantern Festival."

Fu Yunning felt a bitter pang in her heart. It wasn't just the Lantern Festival that she had seen him; she had clearly seen him many times before, but Xu Yunci himself didn't remember.

Following Xu Yunci's gaze, she saw Li Shiyue riding on horseback talking to Xu Lingzi. They were laughing so happily that even the bright sun in the sky seemed less dazzling than them.

"Is that Yan Yan? So Miss Yan Yan can play polo."

Xu Yunci looked at the light blue figure and took the baseball bat: "Hmm."

Fu Yunning's smile was a little stiff. She looked at Xu Yunci's profile with caution and expectation, and said in a gentle voice, "Yan Yan is so amazing. Unlike me, I don't know any of these things."