Chapter 19 If the heat of his breath were to alert the Prince of Yan, he would discover his younger siblings in his arms…
Yuan Chaolu walked to the cage and met the gaze of the guard beside it. Unexpectedly, the guard's gaze passed over her and he asked Pei Xi, "Lord Pei, are you truly certain that this young lady will be tested?"
Yuan Chaolu said, "I will handle this; you all step back."
The guard said, "Pegasus is prone to losing control and becoming enraged. If it accidentally injures you..."
“I have my own way.” She gripped the bone whistle tightly with her fingertips, her eyes resolute, and gestured for the two to step back.
The guards exchanged a glance, then stepped aside with some skepticism.
Inside the iron cage, the Pegasus exhaled foul air and hissed, ramming the cage violently, wanting to unleash all its imprisoned rage on the bars. As soon as Chaolu reached out and touched the cage, the Pegasus turned and bit her.
She quickly withdrew her hand, only to find that her sleeve had been torn to shreds by sharp teeth.
Yuan Chaolu no longer hesitated, raised her hand and brought the bone whistle to her lips. When the first whistle fell, the celestial horse was still frantic and did not stop its frantic charging. When the second whistle was slowly blown out, the celestial horse paused for a moment, and then the celestial horse's breathing gradually calmed down.
The melody she sang as she tamed the animal was long and melodious, like a mare calling to her foal.
All things have a spirit. To tame them, you don't have to force them to obey. The key is to follow their nature. No matter what kind of bird of prey it is, some things are etched into its bones. For example, it will stop attacking when it hears its mother calling.
This was the first tone the foals heard when they were born, and also the first tune their mother taught them to tame animals.
Today, in front of Pei Xi, she used the same tone to make the other wild horses obey.
It sounds easy, but such a skill requires the trainer to distinguish the unique call of a mare calling her foal from among hundreds of horse neighings, and then to imitate it through years of practice in order to learn the sound perfectly.
Mother's lips were always covered in scabs, and she would practice whistling for several hours every morning. Young Chaolu would imitate her movements.
My mother's voice was so gentle, as she imparted all her animal taming skills to me without reservation, bit by bit...
Yuan Chaolu quickly focused her attention on the heavenly horse in front of her.
The celestial horse, having traveled thousands of miles from the north, was utterly exhausted, its eyes bloodshot. It preferred to charge forward until its head bled rather than bend down. But at this moment, at the call of its mother, its restlessness gradually subsided.
Even though it is thousands of miles away from its hometown, and even though it has been separated from its mother for a long time, it still remembers this tune.
Those eyes also lost their wildness, gradually becoming moist as they looked at Yuan Chaolu.
She gently reached her hand into the iron cage, and in her tentative exploration, Pegasus did not resist. Finally, she allowed her hand to land lightly on Pegasus's forehead, where the fur was damp with sweat, and drops of sweat trickled down.
Yuan Chaolu said softly, "Open the cage door."
The celestial horse first reared up warily and let out a neigh, then lowered its head. As she stepped out of the cage, its violent aura had already subsided.
Seeing this, the fierce warriors of the Tiger Legion outside the arena couldn't help but whisper to each other, "Did you see that clearly? How did she do that?"
No one saw what she did, but the wild horse inexplicably became docile.
Just as Yuan Chaolu was about to raise his hand to signal the guards to be gentle, a loud clanging sound was heard as the iron cage was lowered.
Pegasus was startled, as if waking from a dream. Anger resurfaced in his eyes, and he frantically shook his head, letting out a warning "hiss".
It flung away the guards who had put the saddle on it, and its iron hooves pounded the ground.
The situation took a sudden turn for the worse. Everyone saw the celestial horse circling around Yuan Chaolu, its four hooves kicking up dust as if it were about to attack, its muscles bulging.
The girl surrounded in the center was so thin that her clothes fluttered in the strong wind. Her figure seemed so fragile that she could not withstand a collision from a celestial horse and had nowhere to hide.
Just as everyone gasped in surprise, to everyone's astonishment, the horse, which was less than an inch away from Yuan Chaolu, suddenly stopped the impact, lowered its head, and gently rubbed against her sleeve as if it were a foal looking for its mother.
Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Yuan Chaolu put the reins on the horse's head, gripped the reins, and with a twist of her waist, she mounted the horse as nimbly as a swallow.
Pegasus was startled to realize it was being controlled by someone, and leaped almost upright.
Yuan Chaolu leaned close to the horse's neck, her legs clamping tightly around its belly like iron hooks. After several rounds, she was not shaken off and instead gained the upper hand.
The celestial horse gradually submitted and ceased its rebellion, leading her across the grasslands. Wherever its hooves trod, waves of grass surged, and its pristine white figure flashed like a streak of snow-white lightning, truly a celestial horse that could "travel a thousand miles in a day."
With banners fluttering on both sides, her clothes billowing, and her braids swaying gently, she was truly a heroic and spirited woman.
The Tiger Legion soldiers watching from below the stage could no longer contain themselves, and cheers erupted like thunder.
When the celestial horse passed by Pei Xi, it saw the saddle in his hand and immediately wagged its tail restlessly. Yuan Chaolu blew a unique animal-taming whistle with a bone whistle, and the celestial horse gradually relaxed and accepted the saddle.
The deafening roar around me was like a tidal wave crashing in.
On the high platform, Grand Marshal Cui Ming turned slightly to the side and whispered to the Duke of the Founding Kingdom beside him, "She actually managed to tame that heavenly horse."
Jia Li frowned slightly, as if pondering something, and said, "Indeed, he has extraordinary courage."
The envoy from the Gaoche who presented the heavenly horse finally breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "Many skilled horse trainers failed along the way, but this young lady has subdued them! Indeed, the Great Prayer has the spirit to control all things."
Cui Ming quietly raised his eyes and saw that the emperor's expression had finally cleared up. He raised his hand and clapped his hands together, the jade ring in his hand touching his palm, producing a clear and melodious sound.
In the grassland, Yuan Chaolu dismounted, panting heavily.
A group of curious young men rushed over the railing and surrounded her.
Yuan Chaolu had never seen such a scene before. She subconsciously stepped back to the horse, shyly clutching the heavenly horse's mane, and could only hear the noisy flattery and inquiries.
Pei Xi stepped forward, and the excited young men stepped back.
"Congratulations, Miss Zhou."
Yuan Chaolu stroked the heavenly horse and smiled, "Thank you, Lord Pei, for giving me this opportunity."
Today, upon hearing the commotion from the training ground, she volunteered to tame the horses. At first, Pei Xi naturally didn't believe she could ride the heavenly horse, but she didn't argue and simply walked towards the stable.
The other wild horses that the Gaoche Kingdom had presented as tribute were no less unruly than the celestial horses, yet they all became obedient and docile under her command. Pei Xi's expression gradually became serious, and he finally agreed to deliver her message.
She looked up and saw a figure riding a horse galloping from a distance. As the person drew nearer, a tall and imposing figure stepped down.
The people around bowed in unison, saying, "Greetings, Grand Marshal."
"Reveal His Majesty's oral decree."
Yuan Chaolu knelt down and bowed to the crowd, when she heard a majestic voice from above say, "This spirit has come from the west and has not found a master for a long time. Now that it has been tamed by you, young lady, it is the will of Heaven. A good steed chooses its master, and this horse shall belong to you, young lady."
These words were like a pebble thrown into a lake, causing an uproar throughout the room.
The precious steed, brought as tribute from afar by a high carriage, was presented to His Majesty on such a solemn occasion. However, His Majesty paid no heed to this and bestowed it upon her, sending the Grand Marshal of the Empire to offer his congratulations.
The Grand Marshal said, "Please, Miss Zhou, bestow a name upon the Heavenly Horse."
Yuan Chaolu was also flattered. When she met Pei Xi's gaze and received his nod, she picked up her pen and wrote on the white paper.
The Grand Marshal put away the letter, ascended the high platform, and presented it to the Emperor.
The emperor's gaze swept over the two words on the paper, and he exclaimed, "Looking at the entire court, with all the officials present, there is not a single one who can surpass him."
The ministers remained silent, except for the clear sound of the paper rustling in the wind.
The emperor's voice seemed to come from the heavens, resounding with unwavering authority.
"The brave warriors tamed the heavenly horse with their strength, and though they were the bravest in the army, they could not understand the horse's heart. This woman is gentle and frail, but she can understand the heavenly horse's fierceness with her heart. Her spirit and wisdom are a perfect match for this divine creature of heaven and earth."
The Grand Marshal, knowing that the Emperor was in high spirits, smiled and said, "Today, the steed has met a wise ruler, just as a virtuous talent is fortunate to meet a sage king. This is truly an auspicious omen."
The Emperor said, "The name 'Treading Snow' for the Heavenly Horse is excellent. Take it with you as a reward."
**
Today's grand occasion is unprecedented, and it will surely spread throughout Luoyang within a day.
The Gaoche Kingdom presented a divine steed, which the warriors could not subdue. In the end, it was tamed by a woman, and this event was destined to be recorded by the historians.
With the matter of the heavenly horse concluded, the martial arts performance immediately began. Inspired by the previous feat of taming the horse, the young men on the field were even more passionate, and the drums thundered.
Yuan Chaolu was led to an open space in the back area by herself. Zhong Changjun said with a smile, "Young Master saw the young lady's heroic figure from the high platform."
Yuan Chaolu asked, "How is it?"
"It is your ability to gain His Majesty's favor. Since His Majesty has already appreciated you, why do you need to praise me further? You will come to see the young lady later."
She pulled Zhong Changjun back, saying, "Young Master, you need to stay by His Majesty's side. You don't need to take time to see me."
Zhong Changjun said, "It's nothing, this servant will go and invite the young master."
He walked forward and asked the eunuch waiting for him, "Has His Highness the Prince of Yan not arrived yet?"
The eunuch bowed and replied, "His Highness the Prince of Yan was kept in the palace by the Empress Dowager, which delayed him a little. He should arrive in a little later."
As soon as Zhong Changjun's figure disappeared at the end of the road, Yuan Chaolu looked at the celestial horse in front of her. The spirit beast seemed to understand human nature, nuzzling her neck affectionately with its head and its breath brushing against her neck.
Yuan Chaolu had a sudden thought, grabbed the saddle, and jumped onto the horse, wanting to try riding it.
Pegasus, however, only asked her to blow the bone whistle and seemed unwilling to let her mount the horse, so it ran impatiently.
“I have never had a mount that is truly mine.” Yuan Chaolu crouched down, placed her arms on its shoulders and neck, and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. I will be here from now on, and I will never lock you in a cage. Snow Steed, you are my first horse…”
As the emperor and Zhong Changjun entered the empty horse field, they saw a snowy shadow sweep across the field.
The girl's slender figure clung to the horse's body, her long braid hanging down to one side and fluttering in the wind, intertwining with the flowing mane. Her laughter drifted on the wind, and her brows were filled with joy, clearly showing how much she cherished this celestial horse.
The girl on horseback straightened up as soon as she saw him coming. Just as she was about to speak, she saw a huge creature slowly walking out from behind the emperor.
When the celestial horse saw the cheetah kept by the emperor, its fur stood on end like needles, it let out a hiss, and suddenly stood up, raising its hooves high.
Xiao Zhuo shouted, "Golden Lion!"
The cheetah stopped, but the Pegasus was already startled.
Thunder rumbled overhead, startling the already panicked Pegasus, which then bolted into a frenzy.
Chaolu's heart pounded like a drum. She put the whistle in her mouth and made whatever sound she made, but the horse never stopped, carrying her on a wild and chaotic journey.
At this moment, the guards were all in the parade ground, and no one was guarding this place.
Zhong Changjun's face turned pale. He quickly turned around and called out to the eunuch in the distance, "Go and call for someone!"
Just as the man and horse were about to crash into the stone steps a few feet away, Yuan Chaolu tightened her grip on the reins. She saw a figure in a black robe leap forward, and in the instant the startled horse reared up, he grabbed the saddle with one arm, used the momentum, and with his robes fluttering, he leaped onto the horse's back.
His black robes fluttered in the wind as he controlled the reins with one arm, his left hand gripping the reins so tightly that the veins bulged, finally bringing the wild horse under control. With his other hand, he steadily held her leaning body.
The wind howled past Yuan Chaolu's ears, still shaken, and a faint fragrance wafted into his body.
Amidst her frantic heartbeat, she suddenly turned around and hugged him.
Xiao Zhuo gently steadied himself and looked down.
The rain poured down, her face was pale, her hair was wet and water droplets slid down her sides, it was hard to tell whether they were sweat or rain, her body pressed against his, trembling incessantly.
At that moment, the sound of an arrow suddenly came from behind. A cold arrow flew through the air, barely grazing the body of the Pegasus before disappearing into the grass in front of it.
The celestial horse stopped, but remained restless and agitated.
Xiao Zhuo turned around and saw Prince Xiao Luo of Yan standing ten zhang away.
The young man's gaze was sharp as a blade. He raised his arm again, nocked an arrow, and drew the bow to its fullest extent, the arrowhead aimed directly at the startled horse's throat.
Seeing that the horse had stopped, Zhong Changjun grabbed his arm and finally managed to draw the bow.
Xiao Zhuo turned around, placed his five fingers on Tianma's sweaty back, and applied slight pressure to soothe it. Tianma snapped out of its rage and bent down.
Just as he was about to dismount and turn away, he saw Yuan Chaolu lean forward. He immediately reached out his arm to support her, but she seemed to lose all her strength and suddenly crashed into his arms.
A soft moan escaped her lips, "It hurts so much..."
He asked, "Where are you injured?"
"My leg seems to be injured, it hurts so much, I can't walk..."
The rain poured down, and her wet skirt clung to her body, vaguely outlining her exquisite figure. Xiao Zhuo was about to call for the Prince of Yan behind him, but she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, and he felt as if he were being branded with a hot iron.
She was completely unaware that the Prince of Yan was there. Her hands gripped his clothes as if they were soft, boneless vines, gently entwining around him.
Rainwater slid down Xiao Zhuo's high, straight nose, dripping onto her collarbone, then slowly sliding down her neck, into the deeper curves of her skin...
With the Prince of Yan right behind her, she leaned into another man's arms right in front of her fiancé. Did she know what she was doing?
The younger sister-in-law persisted, while the sound of the younger brother's footsteps grew closer behind them.
Xiao Zhuo pressed his thin lips together into a thin line, and saw her open her moist eyes.
"If you hadn't brought the Golden Lion, the Heavenly Horse wouldn't have been enraged, and I wouldn't have been injured..." Even at this moment, she still had time to blame him.
Xiao Zhuo finally said, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought it. It hurt you."
Her moist, rosy lips brushed lightly against his chin, her warm breath like a feather, grazing his earlobe, making Xiao Zhuo want to distance himself from her.
Her warm breath had returned, and she nodded gently, saying aggrievedly, "I wasn't injured at all when I rode the Heavenly Horse today, but now it hurts so much because of you, young master..."
Xiao Zhuo absolutely could not allow the Prince of Yan to see this scene.
Zhong Changjun, who was behind him, saw the emperor pick up the person horizontally and quickly turned around and grabbed the Prince of Yan, saying, "Your Highness, the heavenly horse has been subdued."
Xiao Luozhi's hair fluttered in the wind as he watched the two figures in the distance disappear into the rain, and then walked towards a side room behind the horse farm.
He was somewhat surprised: "Brother, is that...a woman in your arms?"
Zhong Changjun showed no sign of surprise and was about to answer when the Prince of Yan asked, "Is it the girl who appeared at my brother's Zen temple?"
Zhong Changjun said, "The rain is too heavy. Your Highness should go back and talk about it. Don't get soaked."
Xiao Luozhi handed the bow and arrows to Zhong Changjun and followed him into a side tent in front of the reviewing stand.
The heavy rain pattered on the tent, and Xiao Luozhi looked up as he waited for Zhong Changjun to brew hot tea.
The light inside the tent flickered, illuminating his brow bone, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
“Zhong Gong, I feel that the girl’s figure looks somewhat familiar.”
Zhong Changjun froze as he poured tea, feeling the curtains behind him burst open, letting in wind and rain. He turned around, but the figure who had just been sitting by the tea stove was gone.
His heart sank, and he quickly lifted the curtain.
The direction the Prince of Yan went was the very place where the Emperor and the Second Miss Yuan disappeared into the rain.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Morning Dew: I am a mighty warrior who can ride a heavenly horse!
Prince of Yan: Why does my imperial brother seem so strange?
Sorry for the long wait, everyone. The next chapter will be available for purchase early Thursday morning. There will be three updates that day. The identities of Emperor and Chaolu are also in jeopardy.
The first few chapters lay a lot of background information before the paid chapters, and the romance officially begins after the paid chapters start. The two characters will have a lot of interaction. Subscribing to paid chapters is very important for a book, so please support it! Mwah!
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