The journey from the capital to the northwest was extremely long, involving crossing mountains and valleys. At such a rapid marching speed, ordinary carriages simply could not keep up; only horses well-suited for galloping were suitable.
The subordinates brought in several brave and tall warhorses. The horses, some black and some red, stood tall and proud, towering over the soldiers. They were all well-trained and stood quietly without shaking their heads.
However, his unruly expression still shone through his fist-sized eyes. When he saw Tong Su being carefully helped off the carriage by Xi Chenzhou, he even let out a disdainful snort as if he were possessed!
Tongsu: ...
She needed help getting out of the car, but it was only because her dress was too tight and made it difficult for her to move around; she wasn't as fragile as she appeared!
Yun Zong wanted to spoil her by indulging in frivolous pursuits, so he coaxed her into going to cockfighting, dog walking, horse riding, and hunting from a young age.
If the occasion weren't so inappropriate, she would have tucked her skirt into her waistband, grabbed a whip in one hand and candy in the other, and performed a demonstration of taming a wild horse right there on the spot!
In the last six months or so, after she had her first period, the imperial physician kept a close eye on her and wouldn't allow her to run around anymore.
Furthermore, she was furious because Yun Zong kept thwarting her plans to study, and she lost all interest in going to the hunting grounds, choosing instead to cultivate her mind and character.
Within her petite frame lies an untamed spirit. No matter how much she is manipulated by treacherous officials, no matter how childish her personality may appear, she still carries the blood of the royal family of this dynasty!
Qinghe, unaware of Tongsu's true nature, looked at the warhorse with concern: "Your Majesty is in poor health, how can you ride such a Ferghana horse? If you ride all the way to the Northwest, you might faint from exhaustion!"
She was only sent to the capital by Xi Chenzhou in the last six months to secretly infiltrate the palace and serve His Majesty.
That real palace maid was a spy planted by other forces to monitor His Majesty, and Qinghe had already dealt with her.
Even the bones were turned into a pool of liquid by the bone-dissolving water and poured into the dry well in the cold palace.
Qinghe arrived late and had never seen the little empress at her most rebellious and arrogant. She thought that the little empress who was now "cultivating herself, drinking tea and reading stories" was a real porcelain doll that would break at the slightest touch.
Tong Su looked at Da Ma with a hint of envy.
She had never ridden such a spirited horse before. Even though the horses in the palace looked heroic and majestic, they were actually castrated and lacked any spirit. The racetrack was also too small and boring.
How exhilarating it would be to tame a horse myself and ride it freely across the land...
Although Tongsu was willing to try, the soldiers around her, seeing her thin arms and legs, refused to let her actually ride a horse. The deputy general laughed and said, "How dare we let His Majesty risk his life? Lady Qinghe, don't be anxious. The Marquis has already ordered us to prepare a special carriage."
Before long, someone specially delivered a uniquely styled carriage.
The vehicle had unusually large wheels covered with thick straw rubber, and the floor was made of two layers of wooden planks with shock-absorbing springs sandwiched between them.
The carriages were also filled with cushions, blankets and soft pillows to minimize the bumps and jolting.
Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief and said with emotion, "Your Excellency is truly thoughtful. In this way, His Majesty's journey will not be too arduous."
The carriage was harnessed to a few reluctant horses, and with a slight movement, it moved very swiftly, not much slower than the riders.
Tongsu knew they were in a hurry, and although she still longed to ride a horse, she didn't say it aloud. She let the man help her into the carriage, and the group quickly continued on its way.
Looking at her reluctant gaze, Xi Chenzhou felt a mix of amusement and heartache.
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