Hong Yingrong took a deep breath, temporarily put these heavy memories behind her, and refocused her eyes on the spring scenery before her.
The arrival of Li Yunting and Zhang Xianzhi undoubtedly added a unique color to this youth outing.
Everyone was wondering whether the purpose of their trip was simply for fun or if they had other intentions.
No matter what, Hong Yingrong didn't want to get involved in Princess Xianning's family affairs. Everyone has their own destiny and choices. She couldn't change anything and could only hope that they could find their own way out.
Li Yunting wore a gold and jade hairpin with a phoenix spreading wings on her head, showing her noble status. She was dressed in a skirt embroidered with gold and colorful flowers, and her makeup was bright and radiant. Every smile and every nod of hers was full of unstoppable aggressiveness, which made people feel awe and involuntarily step back.
She strode with her head held high, unafraid of the gazes of the crowd.
County Horse Zhang Xianzhi followed her silently with his head lowered. The bloodstains on his face were like a brand of humiliation in the sunlight, particularly glaring.
"Why aren't you following?" Li Yunting's voice was charming and gentle, with a tone of wantonness, as if she was teasing a kitten that refused to obey.
However, Zhang Xianzhi seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move.
At this moment, the brocade curtain of the gorgeous carriage that the two of them had just ridden in was slowly lifted up again, and a young man with skin as white as jade stepped out of the carriage on a horse stool.
The lake-blue silk gauze on her body was light and flowing, and a white crabapple flower was pinned on her temples. She looked like He Lang, a man dressed in powder, walking out of a painting, so handsome that it was breathtaking.
The young man looked at Zhang Xianzhi with a hint of provocation between his eyebrows, and opened his red lips slightly: "I am of humble status, how dare I go out to appreciate the flowers with Your Highness." His tone seemed respectful, but it was difficult to hide the sarcasm in it.
Li Yunting heard this, but smiled nonchalantly. In front of the crowd, she openly lifted the young man's sleeve and said in a domineering tone: "This princess says you can, who is so fearless as to dare to stop me?"
After saying that, she walked forward without looking back, and her entourage followed her to the viewing platform of Liquan Mountain.
County Horse Zhang Xianzhi clenched his fists tightly with an expressionless face, as if he was trying hard to endure something.
The other people who were out for an outing to enjoy the flowers were originally immersed in the warm spring sunshine and the fragrance of flowers, but at this moment they all stopped in their tracks and stared at the scene in amazement.
Only after the princess and her entourage had gone far away did people dare to whisper about it.
"Could that be the rumored male favorite in the Princess's mansion?"
"Oh my God, this is so disgraceful!" Someone turned his head away indignantly, as if looking at it any longer would dirty his eyes.
"Look at Zhang Xianzhi. He is usually a handsome and elegant young man, but now he has ended up in such a situation. It's really pitiful." Someone noticed Zhang Xianzhi who was silently following the princess and couldn't help but sigh.
Inside the tent where the Marquis's group was resting, Qiao Heyuan watched the scene and spoke bluntly.
"That young man also got off the carriage? Could it be that when they came here, the three of them shared a carriage?"
"He'er, be careful with your words." Second Madam Qiao immediately warned her niece, clearly quite wary of the matter. "This is a royal family affair, and this behavior is simply unorthodox. If anyone hears, they'll start making stories about the Qiao family being vulgar."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Heyuan fell silent, knowing she had slipped up. However, she nodded somewhat unwillingly, yet couldn't help but mutter, "Aunt, those wealthy families always secretly laugh at our Qiao family, but in my opinion, that's the real shamelessness. That Duke is truly pitiful."
"These are other people's family affairs, we can't interfere so much." Qiao sighed and looked at the observation deck in the distance with complicated eyes. She remembered that Zhang Xianzhi and her son Jiang Lun had been classmates for several years. She didn't expect that after marrying the princess, the family seemed prosperous on the surface, but was so corrupt in secret. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Zhang Xianzhi.
Thinking of this, she looked at Xue Huichun with satisfaction and silently chanted "Amitabha" in her heart, hoping that after the results were announced, her son's marriage would go smoothly and that he could complete this important event in his life as soon as possible.
On the other side of the observation deck, Li Yunting seemed to feel everyone's gaze. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smug smile. She turned to look at the young man beside her, with no concealment of doting and possessiveness in her eyes.
"Wai En, are you afraid looking from this observation deck?"
The young man named Huai En smiled slightly and shook his head: "With Your Highness here, how could I be afraid?" His voice was soft and gentle, as if it could soothe all the restlessness in his heart.
Li Yunting nodded with satisfaction. She put her arms around the boy's waist and held him tightly against her.
At this moment, she seemed to possess the most beautiful scenery in the capital, and all the discussions and ridicule seemed so insignificant.
Zhang Xianzhi, standing at the bottom of the stairs, watched this scene, the anger and humiliation in his heart intertwined, as if to devour him.
Huai En looked into the distance, where someone was riding a horse, looking heroic and valiant. He was moved and wanted to experience the feeling of galloping through the mountains and forests, so he turned to Li Yunting and said, "Your Highness, I want to ride a horse too."
Li Yunting frowned slightly and advised: "Huai En, riding a horse is not a joke. You are as delicate as a daughter. What if you fall?"
However, Huai En was in high spirits and would not listen to any of this. He kept acting like a spoiled child: "Your Highness, just obey me."
Seeing Huai En's persistence, Li Yunting had no choice but to give up. She instructed Zhang Xianzhi beside her, "Go and bring Feixue here."
Zhang Xianzhi's face suddenly turned pale. Feixue, the white horse, was his beloved mount. Normally, he would not let anyone ride it except himself.
But at this moment, he had to obey Li Yunting's orders.
Seeing Zhang Xianzhi obey his orders and lead Feixue over, Huai En arrogantly ordered him, "Help me get on the horse quickly and pass me the reins."
Zhang Xianzhi was unhappy in his heart, but he did not show it on his face. He held his anger, helped Huai En onto the horse, and handed the reins to him.
However, at the moment of handing over the reins, he patted the horse's hind hoof.
The white horse was frightened and suddenly raised its front hooves high. Huai En lost his balance and fell heavily off the horse's back.
There was a crisp "crack" sound, followed by Huai En's scream. His right hand was broken when he supported himself on the ground.
"Ah!" Huai En screamed in pain, his face turning pale in an instant.
Li Yunting was shocked when she saw this and hurried over to check Huai En's injuries.
Zhang Xianzhi stood aside and watched coldly, sighing inwardly, "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."
But he didn't say much. Instead, he turned around to comfort the frightened white horse and stroked its back.
Li Yunting was extremely angry. She suddenly grabbed the horsewhip and whipped Zhang Xianzhi hard.
Zhang Xianzhi suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back. He instinctively turned around and raised his hand to block it, but he only heard the sound of clothes tearing. For a moment, he was unable to fight back.
"Still want to hide!" Li Yunting shouted angrily, holding the whip high, ready to bring it down again.
However, at this critical moment, a loud shout rang out: "Stop!"
The whip was tightly held by a powerful force, and Li Yunting could no longer move it at all.
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