Chapter 5 Two Foxes "Your Highness, I am too kind. This is my duty."
Suburbs.
Min Shian stood on the reviewing stand, looking at the weeds that were almost as tall as her, and fell into silence.
Meanwhile, Grand Tutor Zhang and his servant were talking to the remaining soldiers. The distance was too far for her to hear clearly, but she only saw the soldier clasping his fists and then leaving.
The scorching sun poured down upon the earth. Min Shian slowly walked towards Master Zhang, squinting his eyes and helplessly saying, "Teacher, it's so sunny, why are you bringing your students to this abandoned training ground?"
This place was originally where the Five Armies Ministers trained their troops. Later, Duke Ling of Song allocated a larger area, so it was abandoned.
"How is An'er's riding and archery?"
After saying that, Master Zhang waved at her and pointed to the shooting range not far away, motioning her to follow.
Min Shian had no choice but to walk a few steps faster before she could catch up with Master Zhang. When she reached the canopy held up by the servant, the sunlight was completely blocked out. She thought for a moment and said, "I haven't practiced much, but I've gotten the hang of it."
"That's great. The second test is horseback archery."
Bows and arrows were ready at the shooting range. She looked around and saw a horse lazily sleeping in a stable not far away, with a vague figure behind it.
Although Min Shian had been mentally prepared, she still felt baffled. She asked in confusion, "But the teacher hasn't taught us horseback riding and archery yet, so why are we already testing us?"
Zhang Taifu looked at her wrinkled face, stroked his beard and laughed. "Look carefully, who is teasing the horse?"
Her eyelids twitched and she squinted, trying to see more clearly.
The man's moon-white clothes were not stained with a speck of dust in the stable. His ice-silk coat fluttered in the breeze, and from a distance it looked like rippling water.
Their eyes met, and the man smiled gently and nodded in greeting.
It’s Song Sheng.
She couldn't help but think of the Beifeng fierce horse that Song Tinglan mentioned, and looked at the reddish-brown horse suspiciously.
It is red all over, with shiny fur, about ten feet long, with strong limbs and a thick black tail.
Red Hare?!
Min Shi'an turned around, still in shock, and said in disbelief, "Teacher! Are you taking advantage of me because I don't know the value of a horse? That Red Hare has the most aggressive temperament. Song Yanxuan tamed it for over half a month. I'm just a weak woman..."
Before she could finish her words, Grand Tutor Zhang interrupted her lightly, "That's wrong. An'er is so heroic and brave that a mere Red Hare is definitely no problem for him."
"Besides, I'm not such an unreasonable person. Let Yan Xuan teach you for two hours before testing you."
While they were talking, Song Sheng came over with his Red Hare and soon appeared in front of the two of them.
The horse paced on the spot, rubbing its head against Song Sheng repeatedly, just like a docile big cat.
Song Sheng looked at Min Shian and said kindly, "I heard that the teacher wanted to test your highness's riding and archery skills. I dared to guess that the teacher would not follow the rules, so I prepared a hakama for your highness. [2]"
"I will take Your Highness to change clothes."
Min Shi'an nodded in agreement. Just as the two were about to leave, Grand Tutor Zhang glanced at Song Sheng and scolded him with a smile, "An'er is your fellow disciple and is also good friends with Lan'er. Why are you being so distant?"
Song Sheng was startled for a moment, then chuckled and said obediently, "Teacher, your words make sense, but the princess is of noble status, so etiquette cannot be abandoned."
Upon seeing this, Master Zhang said nothing more. He knew too well that his disciple was full of tricks, so he thought out of sight, out of mind. He waved his hand and told him to leave quickly.
Min Shian and Song Sheng kept half a step apart. She spoke in a harsh tone, saying, "I'm so sorry that Song Pushe took the time out of his busy schedule to come here and even specially chose his beloved Ferghana horse to practice with me."
"That's really kind."
She deliberately emphasized the word "good intentions" and lowered the tone at the end, making her intention of praising in public and criticizing in private obvious.
"Your Highness, I am overly kind. This is my duty."
Min Shian was so angry that he laughed when he punched the cotton. She snorted coldly and stopped talking.
In silence, she felt something was wrong. After pondering for a long time, she finally realized what was going on.
Wasn't she trying to get close to Song Sheng? How did it turn out like this?
"Your Highness, all the clothes and utensils are inside the house. I will wait outside."
Song Sheng's gentle voice brought her back to reality. Min Shian looked calm and responded as he walked into the rest area which was a bit simple but had everything he needed.
After she changed quickly, she found that it fit her perfectly and her mood improved slightly. Fortunately, Song Sheng seemed to be very efficient and would not make any mistakes that could give people any reason to criticize him.
"Song Pushe is very thoughtful and considerate. I am far from being able to match him. I believe that if Pushe personally takes action, he will definitely be able to protect me."
Min Shian deliberately praised Song Sheng sincerely in front of Master Zhang to prevent him from tripping her up and causing her to break her arms or legs.
It is quite strange to say. She and Song Sheng were introduced by Song Tinglan, and they were also from the same school. They only had their initial contact recently.
She didn't know if it was because the two of them were born to be incompatible, but every time she met Song Sheng, she couldn't control her emotions. But Song Sheng always smiled as gentle as jade, which made her seem unreasonable.
His mind was in a tangled mess, but he could still hear every word of the conversation between Song Sheng and Master Zhang.
"You have to be more careful later. Although An'er has some basic skills, this is a wild horse after all. You must not be negligent in the slightest." Taifu Zhang looked serious, which was unusual for him, and gave serious instructions.
"Yes, don't worry, teacher."
"As An'er said, I am naturally relieved by your work."
After saying that, he waved his hand, went to the rest area and sat on the wooden couch, watching the two people's backs as they headed to the horse farm from afar.
Min Shian subconsciously wanted to make a few sarcastic remarks, but she swallowed them back. She carefully considered her words and slowly said, "I have never seen the heroic figure of the Minister of Public Security on horseback."
"I wonder if I might be lucky enough to witness it now?"
Min Shian's eyes moved slightly, recalling how the charming and moving eyes were revealed in the storybook. The corners of her lips rose slightly, and her fox eyes stared at Song Sheng.
Unexpectedly, Song Sheng suddenly lowered his head, and the distance between them instantly shortened. Min Shi'an's heartbeat accelerated, and he held his breath unconsciously. He stared blankly at Song Sheng's flawless face without blinking.
"Your Highness, do you know what you look like now?"
Min Shian's mind went blank, and the faint scent of Song Sheng filled her body. She subconsciously asked, "What?"
Song Sheng stepped back and said softly, "Like a young and ignorant fox."
Min Shian, feeling remorseful for his own lack of ambition, pretended to be calm and replied, "Does the Minister of Justice know what you look like now?"
Song Sheng didn't respond, but handed her the reins and reminded her, "Your Highness, we've arrived at the stables. Please get on the horse first. I will help you watch Wushuang."
Min Shian gritted his teeth, thinking that the cunning fox would be skinned alive sooner or later.
"I understand. But Song Pushe should be careful. Don't let Wushuang accidentally break his leg, otherwise Tinglan will be upset."
"Of course, Your Highness."
Min Shian took the reins, but did not rush to get on the horse. Instead, she pulled the reins, making Wushuang lower its head. She thought it would resist, but unexpectedly, Wushuang looked at her contemptuously and lowered its head obediently.
He even leaned into her arms.
Min Shi'an was stunned for a moment, then tentatively touched its head. Wushuang paced on the spot, wagging its tail and making a high-pitched neigh.
Fortunately, she was prepared and was not frightened. She heard Song Sheng's laughter and scolding in her ears: "Ungrateful little thing."
I don't know who he was scolding.
Hearing this, Min Shian patted the horse's head without even turning his head, and coaxed softly: "Wushuang, be good, Wushuang, be good, don't play with bad guys."
She played with Wushuang for a while, and after making sure that it did not resist her, she stepped on the stirrup and climbed onto the horse nimbly, with her back straight and her thighs gently clamped around the horse's back.
"It seems Wushuang likes me more. What do you think, Song Pushe?"
"Your Highness is as beautiful as a fairy. It would be strange if Wushuang didn't like you." Song Sheng touched Wushuang, looked at Min Shian and said, "Your Highness, why don't you run a few laps and give it a try?"
The ends of her hair, tied up high, fluttered in the air. She shifted her center of gravity forward, leaning over the horse's back. The sound of the wind whistling past her ears was in her ears, and in front of her was the vast and desolate horse farm.
She ran for about three quarters of an hour before she pulled the reins. Wushuang didn't seem to be satisfied, but she stopped obediently and walked slowly to a stop in front of Song Sheng.
Min Shian dismounted, feeling relieved. She even looked at Song Sheng with a more favorable attitude. She shook her arms and said with a smile, "As expected of a Ferghana horse!"
Wushuang seemed to understand what he said, his ears pricked up, and he circled around Min Shian.
Seeing that Master Zhang showed no intention of coming over, Min Shian had no choice but to look at Song Sheng and ask, "Song Pushe, can we switch to archery?"
Song Sheng nodded, pulled the reins, and replied, "Your Highness, please go to the shooting range and wait. I will take Wushuang back to the stable."
Min Shian went to the shooting range, put on the ring Song Sheng had prepared for him, took the horn bow [3], drew the bowstring, and tested the strength.
After putting the iron arrow on, he squinted his eyes and aimed at the target a hundred steps away. Feeling the wind direction for a moment, Min Shian moved slightly to the left, and the arrow was shot out with the string pulled.
It was a little far from the center of the target and almost missed it.
Min Shian put down his bow and sighed, "I am not good at horseback archery. If Wushuang had not liked me, I would not be able to get on horseback yet."
Song Sheng looked at the target, and after a moment he picked up a bow and arrow from the side. Without even aiming, the arrow flew out of the string and hit the center of the bull's eye.
"What does Song Pushe mean?" Min Shi'an's heart tightened, his face darkened, and he said unhappily.
He put the bow back in its place, bowed and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I just want to..."
"I know where the problem lies, Your Highness."
Min Shian also put his bow aside and asked with interest, "Does the Minister of the Court know the reason now?"
After thinking for a moment, Song Sheng replied in a gentle voice, "Perhaps there is a difference in wind speed perception. Your Highness, I will take you to see the teacher first."
The two of them walked in silence.
Min Shian was thinking about the credibility of what Song Sheng had just said. She was not sure whether Song Sheng had seen through her deliberate miss.
Although she wanted Song Sheng to look at her differently, she didn't want to expose herself too soon. People as cunning as Song Sheng must be guarded against.
Song Sheng still had that same smile on his face, which was hard to understand. After seeing it for a long time, Min Shian felt that he looked like a mask, rigid and boring.
Zhang Taifu smiled and praised: "Wushuang, a wild and unruly horse, has become so docile in An'er's care. It seems that An'er has a talent for this."
"As for archery, just take your time."
"Teacher, you are so kind." Min Shian paused and followed Master Zhang's words, saying, "Then I will trouble you to teach me archery in the future."
Zhang Taifu stroked his beard and looked at Song Sheng with some surprise. He asked, "Yan Xuan, you haven't told An'er that you will be the one teaching her the art of riding and archery from now on?"
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