Chapter 87 That stubborn guy really holds a grudge.
Just after the Lantern Festival, before the snow on the eaves had completely melted, Xiao Yuanzhong and Xiao Yuanshuo were about to set off.
Inside Jingsong Hall, Madam Qin was packing Xiao Yuanshuo's luggage, giving him clothes for the period from spring to winter.
As she folded the last piece of clothing, Qin's eyes reddened slightly, and she finally couldn't help but say, "When will this war finally end? Isn't it enough that my elder brother's family is guarding the northern desert? Why do we need you to go? Your martial arts skills are not good, and you can't fight on the battlefield. What good will it do you if you go?"
Xiao Yuanshuo was sitting at the table having breakfast, holding a bowl of pigeon soup that his wife had cooked herself. Hearing this, he said, "My elder brother is brave and upright, and he is invincible on the battlefield. However, the situation in the northern desert is ever-changing, and he is not good at scheming and calculating. My two nephews have inherited his personality and are too straightforward. With me by their side, I can always protect the three of them and prevent them from being secretly plotted against."
Qin raised her tearful eyes, turned her head to glare at him, and said, suppressing a sob, "If you go to protect them, then who will protect me?"
She became increasingly agitated as she spoke, her movements as she packed her bags becoming heavy, filled with unspeakable resentment: "I've been managing the household for three years, and even cats and dogs dislike me. How many people in this Marquis's mansion are outwardly respectful but secretly hate me? Heng'er is never home, Shu'er is still childish, and Ye'er is even more disappointing. I don't even have anyone to confide in or share my burdens with. What have I done to deserve this..."
Qin tried to hold back, but finally couldn't. Her voice trembled and choked with sobs: "So many nights, I couldn't help but secretly shed tears. I don't know when this will end."
Xiao Yuanshuo couldn't bear it, so he got up and pulled her into his arms, patting her shoulder to comfort her, "It'll be soon, it'll be soon. If we can successfully negotiate peace with the Eastern Turks and achieve peace on the border, I will resign from my post and come back to be with you. We'll never be apart again."
Qin lifted her head from his embrace and asked anxiously, "What if the Eastern Turks are unwilling to negotiate peace?"
Xiao Yuanshuo wiped away the tears on her face, his voice becoming slightly heavy: "There are only two paths to peace on the border: war and peace. There is no third option. Since they are unwilling to negotiate peace, we have no choice but to fight."
Qin quickly covered his mouth with her hand, saying repeatedly, "Pah, pah, pah! Let's make peace, let's make peace! I don't want anything, I just want you to come back alive and safe!"
Her tears flowed even more freely as she buried her face in her husband's chest, nestled tightly in his arms.
The next day, before dawn, the air was still chilly.
Xiao Yuanzhong and Xiao Yuanshuo, accompanied by their entourage, rode out of the mansion and were about to set off when they heard an old man calling out from behind them.
Outside the side gate, Wang Shi was supported by her maid. She was wearing a heavy cloak, and her white hair was blown by the cold wind. She looked as lonely as a dim lamp.
Seeing this, Xiao Yuanzhong hurriedly dismounted, strode forward, grasped his mother's cold hand, and said with heartache, "It's so cold. We agreed not to let you see us off, why did you still come out?"
Madam Wang gestured to the nanny behind her to hand over a package, her expression loving: "Inside are some of Chang'er and Ping'er's favorite snacks, which I made myself. Take this with you, and have a few bites if you get hungry on the way. Don't neglect your stomach just because you're traveling, or your body won't be able to handle it."
Xiao Yuanzhong's eyes instantly reddened, and he choked up, unable to speak.
Madam Wang raised her trembling hand and gently stroked her eldest son's weathered face, just as she had when he was a child, and murmured a lot of words of advice to him, one by one.
"My son, please take good care of yourself on your journey. Your mother will be waiting for you at home, waiting for you to come home safely with the children."
Xiao Yuanzhong nodded heavily, then knelt down on the cold ground with a thud and kowtowed deeply to his mother, his voice hoarse and heavy: "Your son is unfilial and has worried you, Mother. Don't worry, your son will definitely come back soon and fulfill his filial duty to you!"
Wang, suppressing a sob, helped her son up and said, "Your words are enough for me. The road is long and the sky is high, so set off soon. When you get to the northern desert, remember to write a letter home. Knowing that you have arrived safely will allow me to sleep soundly at night."
Xiao Yuanzhong burst into tears, wiping his eyes with his hand: "Take care, Mother!"
After saying this, he resolutely stood up, exchanged a glance with Xiao Yuanshuo, who was also bidding farewell to his mother, and the two brothers mounted their horses.
"drive!"
With a command, the group set off against the wind and frost, their figures gradually disappearing at the end of the long street, leaving only hoofprints imprinted in the dust.
...
In early February, after the Dragon Head Raising Festival, the weather gradually warms up.
The provincial examination, held solely for Xiao Qiyu, was scheduled to take place on time, primarily assessing horsemanship and archery skills.
Xiao Qiyu grew up on horseback, and his passing of the provincial examination was a foregone conclusion. Even when Wang heard about it, she was not too surprised.
Only when she saw Xiao Qiyu would she proudly boast, "Look, our family's scholar has returned."
Several of the aunts joined in the commotion, calling him "Master Juren" repeatedly.
Xiao Qiyu felt awkward being called that, so to avoid some peace and quiet, he took on a job training new students' physical fitness at Luming Academy.
Located on Luming Mountain in the western suburbs of Beijing, Luming Academy is accessible via a winding stone staircase leading to the mountain gate. The mountain is not steep, but it has a unique and elegant atmosphere. The pavilions and towers are nestled among the pines and cypresses, with their upturned eaves peeking out from behind, creating a picturesque scene.
On the first day of Xiao Qiyu's admission to the academy, he was personally led by the old headmaster to tour the academy inside and out.
The academy had very strict rules, and because it was a co-educational institution, it was divided into east and west academies along the central axis. Each academy had its own dining hall and did not interact with each other in the morning and evening. Even the only undifferentiated training ground was often occupied by the east academy, and it was only this year that the west academy gradually became active.
"Originally, there were no physical education courses in the West Campus."
The old headmaster stroked his goatee as he walked and said, "But after last year's polo match, the Empress Dowager decreed that equestrianism be made one of the compulsory courses in the West Campus. Since then, polo matches are no longer divided by gender, and playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football) has become the students' first choice for leisure activities."
Xiao Qiyu's gaze swept over the white walls and black tiles, the staggered eaves and brackets, and he silently asked, "Is it because of Cui Ying?"
Her charm that day was truly unforgettable.
The old headmaster smiled and nodded: "That's right, it's precisely because of your wife."
The word "Madam" entered Xiao Qiyu's ears, the syllables flowing through his heart, making his heart flutter slightly.
Since their argument in the front yard that day, he and Cui Ying haven't spoken much, partly because they each have their own things to do and rarely meet in the morning or evening.
Secondly, that stubborn guy really holds a grudge. Just because he disliked her saliva, whenever they met, she would only glare at him, hold her chin high, and completely ignore him.
Just as she doesn't despise him, on their wedding night when they accidentally kissed, she was so disgusted that she vomited and cursed him. How could she have the nerve to criticize him now?
The mountain air was fresh and crisp, and as Xiao Qiyu breathed in, the image of Cui Ying involuntarily came to mind.
I wonder what she's doing right now.
Are you still angry with him?
It's better to be angry than to not think about him at all.
Just then, Xiao Qiyu suddenly heard a familiar voice.
He instinctively tensed up, subconsciously thinking he had misheard.
But when the voice came a second time, Xiao Qiyu no longer hesitated. He nodded hurriedly to the old mountain chief and walked quickly in the direction of the voice.
Passing through the corridor and around the bamboo grove, the spacious training ground came into view.
The field was divided into east and west sections. On the east side, young men were lined up neatly, practicing horse stances under the guidance of martial arts instructors, while on the west side, the neighing of horses could be heard.
The sunlight was scorching, and the mountain breeze, carrying the scent of pine needles, swept across the training ground.
Cui Ying wore a narrow-sleeved brocade robe in begonia red, with the hem gathered at the bottom. Her dark hair was tied up high with a ribbon, and her face was unadorned, her fair cheeks flushed red by the wind.
Completely different from her usual charming and lively demeanor, she exuded an aura of efficiency and competence. With one hand firmly holding the reins of a fine horse and the other gently patting its neck, she explained the essentials of rein control to a timid girl on the saddle, her tone steady and powerful.
At the same time, another girl lost her footing when dismounting, twisted her ankle slightly, and cried out in pain.
Cui Ying immediately stepped forward, reached out and supported the girl's ankle, took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out some medicinal oil, rubbed it in his palm to warm it, and then massaged it for the girl with moderate force, asking in a low voice as he massaged, "Does it hurt here? Bear with it for a moment, move it around and see if it gets better."
Xiao Qiyu was unconsciously controlled and quietly looked at Cui Ying, his eyes gradually becoming deep and dark.
The bell rang.
A clear and resonant voice pierced through the walls, drifting from the heights of the academy and echoing through the mountains and forests.
The boys who were practicing horse stance felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they all collapsed to the ground, rubbing their sore legs and feet, with cries of pain and laughter rising and falling.
The girls, still wanting more, didn't disperse immediately. Like a flock of cheerful birds, they chirped and chattered around Cui Ying, asking all sorts of questions about the key points of the riding technique.
"Actually, riding a horse isn't that scary. Unless the horse is startled, it won't throw you off easily."
"On horseback, you mainly use your waist and legs to generate power. If you want to be stable on horseback, you should practice your waist and legs more often. Anyone who rides a horse well must have strong waist and legs."
Cui Ying shed her serious and focused demeanor in class, regaining some of her usual liveliness, and mingled with them, patiently answering their questions.
The sunlight was dazzling, outlining her slightly flushed cheeks and flowing hair, making her seem to glow.
Looking at Cui Ying, who was surrounded by girls and had a bright smile, Xiao Qiyu felt a slight, bittersweet feeling welling up in his heart.
He took a slight step forward, wanting to ask her why she was there.
However, before he could take a step, a slender figure rushed ahead and ran up to Cui Ying.
The young man was well-mannered and bowed respectfully to Cui Ying, his back view exuding humility.
It cut off Xiao Qiyu's steps forward.
This also cut off Xiao Qiyu's entire line of sight towards Cui Ying.
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Author's Note: The biggest assist has appeared!
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