An Ke knew from the moment the Empress Dowager spoke that she couldn't refuse her. So, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.
*
After leaving the Cining Palace, the four of them headed straight for the Imperial Horse Garden.
The horse ranch is right next to the horse garden. An Ke had only visited this place once before, back when she was in the palace, with the Fifth Prince Yongqi. After that, whether she was accompanying General Zhaohui on campaigns or living with the Empress Dowager on Mount Wutai, she never came here again.
Upon arriving here, Anke realized what it meant to feel apprehensive about being close to home. She was afraid of hearing bad news about her old horse, or that the horse might have forgotten her.
After stepping down from the carriage and looking at the familiar horse ranch, Anke felt as if she had come back to life; here, even the air felt free.
Upon hearing the report from his subordinates, Eunuch Li, who was in charge of the horse farm, immediately rushed over.
They watched as Eunuch Li ran over, still panting heavily when he arrived. He paused briefly to catch his breath before speaking, "This servant respectfully welcomes the Fifth Prince, Princess Yong'an, Princess Qing, and Master Fu. May I ask how many horses you gentlemen have come to the horse farm to choose today?"
"Eunuch Li, please rise." An Ke was tormented by her conscience, yet she also wanted to inquire about the condition of the horse she had ridden. "I wonder, is Yingfeng alright?" An Ke asked cautiously.
Eunuch Li recalled the temperamental and arrogant horse and realized it was the same one Princess Yong'an used to learn to ride. He immediately replied, "Princess Yong'an, that horse is currently at the horse farm on the right, and it's quite well-fed and strong now. It's just that this horse has a bit of a temper. If anyone tries to ride it and doesn't please it, it will throw them off."
Thinking of this, Eunuch Li's face showed some worry. Many nobles and generals came here to choose horses. Some even specifically requested this particular horse, but were soon thrown off. This horse was also the most difficult to care for in the stable. It was impossible to give it away, and it was extremely picky about food. It wouldn't eat anything that wasn't fresh.
Upon hearing that Yingfeng was still well-fed and healthy, Anke's eyes lit up instantly. Her excitement grew even more pronounced. "Really? Then take me there quickly!" It had been several years since she'd seen this "childhood playmate."
“Yes,” Eunuch Li pointed to the young eunuch feeding the horses beside him. “Take Princess Yong’an over there.”
The young eunuch ran over quickly with his head down. "Yes, Princess Yong'an, please come with me."
Anke didn't forget Qing'er either, pulling her along to see her "childhood friend." Yongqi didn't care what kind of horse they rode, so he followed closely behind them. Ertai, needless to say, had come to visit the princess; wherever the princess was, he would be there too.
"Eunuch Li, you go ahead with your work. We'll just take a stroll around," Yongqi said politely. "We're just here to ride horses and relax. It's nothing serious."
Eunuch Li was a veteran in the palace, so he was naturally very tactful. "Yes, then this servant will not take his leave yet." He first bowed and took a few steps back. Then he slowly straightened up and walked away.
Seeing that no one else was around, Yongqi and Ertai strode towards Anke's side.
"Fifth Brother, why aren't you choosing your horse? What are you doing following us?" An Ke looked at the two boys who had suddenly walked up to him, completely puzzled.
Upon hearing this, Yongqi first gave Ertai a teasing look. He had initially intended to tease him, but then reconsidered and decided to cover for him. "Haven't I seen Yingfeng in a long time? I'll go see him with you. I remember you loved this horse when we were little, and Yingfeng especially liked you too." Recalling his childhood, Yongqi seemed to return to those carefree days, which softened his demeanor.
“That’s right. Fifth Brother learned to ride horses with me back then. He even tried to take Yingfeng from me. But he almost got thrown off by Yingfeng.” Thinking of those days, An Ke couldn’t help but sigh at how fast time flies.
"Alright, you two stop reminiscing about the past. It's making it impossible for Ertai and me to get a word in edgewise." Qing'er saw that the two of them seemed to be getting more and more into conversation, and gradually stopped paying attention to them.
Hearing this, Yongqi awkwardly scratched his bald head. He felt embarrassed; he had come to help his brother, but he had almost run off with his cousin.
"Reporting to Princess Yong'an, this is the stable facing the wind." The little eunuch bowed his head respectfully, not daring to look directly at her.
"Okay, thank you for your hard work. You can go back now," An Ke said without looking at him.
"Yes!" The little eunuch followed the example of Eunuch Li and went downstairs.
The wind in the stable stirred violently. The horses' forelegs were already raised high, as if they were about to charge.
Hearing the noise, Anke could no longer suppress her longing and rushed inside. Seeing that her fur was indeed glossy and healthy, even neatly combed and fluttering in the wind, Anke instantly relaxed. Looking at her childhood friend, her old buddy, she smiled faintly.
Yingfeng seemed to catch a whiff of the little girl who used to whine and try to conquer him when he was a child. His initial restlessness subsided. His raised hooves gently landed on the ground, and Yingfeng nuzzled closer to his young mistress. It was as if he wanted to ask where she had been all these years, and why she hadn't come to see him even once.
Seeing the horse swaying in the wind, Anke immediately reached out and hugged its neck, gently stroking its mane. Her silent yet tender touch soothed it, as if trying to calm all its emotions.
The three watched this scene in tacit silence, as if afraid to disturb the beautiful moment between the man and the horse.
After gently stroking it for a while, Anke removed the rope from its post. He opened the small door to the stable and led it out. Yingfeng was, after all, a magnificent red Akhal-Teke horse, a symbol of passion.
The combed, fluffy hair, bathed in sunlight, appeared so vibrant, as red as blood, and radiated a golden glow.
"Yingfeng is indeed well-bred." Yongqi also silently stepped forward, patted the horse's back, and did not dare to linger near the horse's hooves, for fear that the horse would disrespect him and throw him off.
"So this is Yingfeng, the horse you've been longing for! Just like his name." Qing'er couldn't help but step forward. She was originally a little afraid of riding horses, but after seeing Yingfeng and An'an getting along, she felt that if she had a horse like Yingfeng, she wouldn't be so afraid.
“Yes, do you want to pet it?” Anke held the reins in one hand and stroked the horse’s mane with the other. Her eyes were fixed on Qing’er as she encouraged her, “Yingfeng has a very gentle temperament.”
"Can...can I?" Qing'er really wanted to touch the horse, but she remembered hearing that Yingfeng had thrown many people off. She also didn't quite believe An'an's statement that the horse was very docile.
"Okay, don't worry!" Anke was still encouraging Qing'er. How could Anke not know? Qing'er was afraid of riding such a tall and mighty horse? But if Qing'er wanted to overcome it, Anke would silently support and encourage her from behind. If she didn't want to, then Anke wouldn't force her.
Qing'er decided to take that step anyway, lifting her foot to walk towards Yingfeng and reaching out to touch it. Yingfeng lowered its noble head, as if begging to be touched, and even tilted its head slightly in Qing'er's direction.
Qing'er immediately felt her morale soar, and even thought she could choose a horse herself. She was even more eager to ride a horse.
Yongqi seized the opportunity and asked Qing'er, "Qing'er, why don't I pick out a horse for you? An'an hasn't been to this horse farm in a long time, so I'm more familiar with it." As if afraid Qing'er wouldn't understand, he even winked at her.
Qing'er immediately understood and got his point. She found an ally; it turned out he was also a shipper!
“Yes, An’an, I’ll go with Yongqi over there to pick out some docile horses first. You go run a few laps first! Get to know Yingfeng better. You two can also work together to improve your familiarity.” Qing’er continued, following Yongqi’s lead.
"Ah, alright then!" An Ke didn't insist. It was true that she had been living with the Empress Dowager on Mount Wutai for years and was no longer familiar with the horses at the horse farm. Some might be foals of horses she used to know, while others might be prized horses she had acquired. In short, Yongqi definitely knew more than she did. Besides, Qing'er was practically family; Yongqi wouldn't betray even his own people. Moreover, since Qing'er had said so, how could she refuse?
After An Ke agreed, Qing'er immediately gave Yong Qi a look.
Yongqi immediately understood and turned to Fu'ertai, who seemed rather idle, saying, "Ertai, you accompany my cousin for a couple of rides. Take good care of her. If anything happens to her, I'll hold you responsible!" With that, he turned and left without a second thought. Qing'er quickly followed, afraid of giving herself away.
"Sigh..." Anke wanted to say something, but seeing their hurried pace, she realized she probably couldn't stop them anyway, so she turned and exchanged a glance with Ertai.
"What are you still standing there for? Go pick out a horse and ride it with me for a couple of laps," An Ke said somewhat awkwardly. What's wrong? An Ke, you're Princess Yong'an! You've seen so many grand occasions, what's making you so uneasy?
"Ah, oh." Ertai, who had been staring intently at the princess, seemed a little dazed upon hearing her words.
Seeing Ertai's stunned expression, Anke couldn't help but find it amusing. Watching Ertai's departing figure, Anke realized she had a stereotypical impression of the character. Now, it seemed that stereotype had been shattered. Ertai seemed to have come alive. Indeed, who is born to be the protagonist? And who is born to be a supporting character? In one's own world, one is the shining protagonist!
Although Ertai seemed somewhat insignificant in the drama—in fact, An Ke didn't really remember his scenes, only that he later married Princess Saiya of Tibet in place of his brother—An Ke felt it was time to carefully examine Ertai and give him a more accurate positioning.
A short while later, Ertai led out a pure black horse. This horse was rather tall, and next to his own Akhal-Teke, it seemed to have an imposing presence that was no less than his own.
"How about we have a race? From here to that big banyan tree, let's see who gets there first." Anke took the lead, hopping onto Yingfeng and shooting off like an arrow. Although they hadn't run together like this for several years, Yingfeng and Anke's teamwork was excellent. It was as if those years hadn't passed at all.
Although Ertai was a bit late in mounting his horse, catching up with Anke was relatively easy for someone as skilled in horsemanship as he was from a young age. He was simply hiding his true abilities most of the time. What man doesn't dream of a life with an eagle overhead and a magnificent steed beneath him? It's just that the Fu family already had a Fu Erkang, so Fu Ertai could live the life of a spoiled brat.
An Ke watched as Ertai caught up, gradually keeping pace with her. She was somewhat surprised, but not much, and a look of appreciation slowly crept into her eyes. Everyone said that Fu Erkang was an unparalleled genius in both literature and martial arts. But in An Ke's opinion, this Fu Ertai was the one who had the deepest hidden strength.
"Alright, that's good too. Otherwise, there's no point in racing against someone so much weaker." Now, this suits Anke perfectly. Anke felt his competitive spirit rising, so he spurred his horse and shouted, "Giddy up!"
It immediately began to sprint forward, adapting to the wind.
Ertai gazed affectionately at the pale purple figure riding the Akhal-Teke horse. At this moment, she was so vibrant and lively, just like when he first met her as a child.
Remembering Yongqi's instructions along the way—that the princess didn't like men who were far inferior to her—she quickly quickened her pace and ran towards the princess.
But Ertai had just recovered from his daze, so Anke was the one who ultimately won.
But Anke didn't dampen her spirits. Instead, she dismounted and quietly tethered the horse to the old banyan tree. She leaned against the tree, slowly closing her eyes, listening to the cicadas chirping. Everything seemed so beautiful.
When Ertai arrived, this was the scene he saw resting under the beautiful tree. This scene remained unforgettable for Ertai for a long time, so much so that many years later, he could still talk about it with his son and grandson, reminiscing about the heroic figure of his mother and grandmother back then.
Ertai carefully dismounted, afraid of disturbing the princess. He tied his horse to the banyan tree as well, then quietly walked over and leaned against the tree alongside the princess.
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