Chapter 658 A Dream of Youth 190
Madam Xu came from a scholarly family, and as they chatted, she began to test Xie Qi, asking him what books he had read. The more she tested him, the more satisfied she became, as she loved those who were well-read, and Xie Qi was exactly what she wanted for a son-in-law.
However... Madam Xu glanced at Xu Hongying, her heart filled with worry. What if the Xie family found out that their daughter was illiterate and only knew how to fight with swords and spears?
Today, she dressed up beautifully, at least giving off a touch of noblewoman's elegance, but she's just a paper lantern, easily broken with a single poke.
Xu Hongying kept a straight face. When she saw Xie Qi gleefully looking over from time to time, she couldn't help but glare at him. Then she was caught by her own mother, so she pretended to be obedient and lowered her head.
Xie Ning was just about to go to sleep last night when Xie Qi woke her up, instructing her to take good care of Xu Hongying. Seeing this, Xie Ning couldn't help but suggest, "Sister Ying and Sister Ru, would you like to go horseback riding down there?"
Then he looked at Madam Xu and Chen Wanniang, "Mother, Madam Xu, how about we hunt some rabbits for you to eat later? I'm very good at riding and archery!"
Madam Xu's face stiffened, and she secretly nudged Xu Hongying's arm, wanting to refuse. After all, if this continued, it would be fine for Rujie, but Yingjie would definitely reveal her true nature!
No! I can't go!
She had worked so hard to spread her daughter's reputation for elegance, but what if she saw such a good family and her true nature was exposed, causing the marriage to fall through?
Xu Hongying didn't pick up on the rejection message from Madam Xu at all; she just nodded with bright eyes.
"Chunxing, bring me my bow and arrows!"
Xie Qi smiled and told Mo Qi to fetch the bow and arrows.
Madam Xu forced a smile, tears welling up in her eyes as she pondered how to smooth things over. She had told Madam Xie that her daughter was exceptionally talented but not good at rough activities like riding and archery.
Chen Wanniang was unaware of Madam Xu's deep regret, but she only instructed Xie Qi to take good care of his sisters and make sure they did not get hurt.
If they were to go hunting, they would naturally need guards to accompany them, so the Xu family provided two guards and the Xie family also provided two.
Qiu Yu, who was pacing around below, saw Xie Ning come down and spurred her horse over. "Young Lady Xie, are you going to race your horse?"
"We're going hunting in the woods, would you like to come along, Miss Qiu?"
"want!"
Qiu Yu was good at riding a horse but not so good at archery. When she saw Xu Hongying and Xie Ning's bows and arrows, she couldn't help but open her mouth wide and exclaim, "You, you are so strong?"
Xie Ning's bow was of two stones, as was Xie Qi's, while Xu Hongying's was of three stones, which shows that they were of similar quality.
The two exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.
"How many stones of bow can Miss Xie draw now?"
This refers to the power bow, which is different from the bows and arrows they are holding now. The power bow is specifically used to train strength.
Xie Ning was somewhat frustrated, "I can pull things that are a little heavier than two stones, but I can't pull things that are three stones."
One stone weighs sixty jin, and three stones would weigh one hundred and eighty jin. Although she practiced often, it was not so easy for her to increase her strength.
"That's already very impressive. Miss Xie is so young. Your strength will grow as you get older." She was using a three-stone bow, but in terms of strength, she could only pull a two-hundred-pound bow.
Xie Qi silently wiped away his sweat. He could barely draw a bow with a strength of two stones, and now he was asking Mo Qi to bring out a bow with a strength of two stones, purely so that he wouldn't lose face in front of his sweetheart.
Qiu Yu looked on with admiration, while Ru Jie'er, standing to the side, was somewhat curious.
My stepmother always said that wielding swords and spears was no good. She said that my elder sister had learned such martial arts skills, and it would have been better if she had read more books so that she wouldn't be speechless at banquets.
So she buried her head in her books, but now it seems that being good at riding and archery can also earn one the admiration of others.
And then there was Miss Xie. She had met her before. At that time, she was accompanying her mistress to perform rituals at the Taoist temple when she was suffering from severe abdominal pain. Miss Xie, who was with a group of noble ladies to appreciate flowers and discuss literature, noticed her discomfort on the artificial hill, took her hand, and gave her acupuncture, quickly curing her.
She was wearing a veil at that time, so Miss Xie probably wouldn't remember her.
Hiding in the distance, listening to the cheerful laughter of the group of young women, she was truly envious...
So what if he's a marquis?
No noble ladies were willing to befriend them, let alone a concubine's daughter like her. They were always ignored at banquets, but they had no choice but to go. If they didn't go, no one would remember that there was a Xu family in the capital.
Only the eldest sister did not go, because the lady was afraid that her sister's reputation for being untalented would spread and make it difficult for her to get married.
Women like them cannot marry down; they either have to find a family of average means or marry into a high-class family.
The young lady asked her if she wanted to go to the palace, but did she have a choice?
Like a young girl gazing at the azure sky, riding a horse at full gallop, the wind whistling past her ears, so...free.
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