Lu Gu, however, came from a rural area outside the region and, not being from a prominent family, naturally had no opportunity to come into contact with such things.
Jin Shu was afraid he would be trampled to death by the horse.
Lu Gu, however, remained steadfast and stood up without hesitation.
"What's wrong with that? What's so difficult about riding a horse?"
"Well, if you think you can do it, then go for it."
With all three children competing, Jin Shu, as their mother, naturally sat in the front to watch the competition.
Jin Shu, who had planned to stay until dark and then go home, was instead brought up to the leaders to showcase her talents just before the end of the event.
Jin Shu gave a few instructions before we started.
"Lu Xu, just do your best and don't be nervous. If you do well, I'll make you a braised pork knuckle when we get home."
"Lu Huai, just perform as usual."
After arranging these two, there was only one left, Lu Gu. Jin Shu looked at him and whispered.
"Lu Gu, pick that black horse with white hooves. Feed it some food before you mount it, and it will listen to you even without whipping it."
Do you think I'm inferior to Lu Huai?
He only said one simple sentence to Lu Huai, but gave him so many instructions. In the end, it all boils down to the fact that he felt Lu Huai was inferior to him.
Jin Shu looked at him and said expressionlessly.
“Yes, you are indeed not as good as Lu Huai in horseback riding and studying.”
"..."
Jin Shu patted him on the shoulder.
“But you have one advantage over Lu Huai: you are more obedient than him, and mothers like obedient children.”
Lu Gu kept a straight face and his head down, muttering a sentence with resentment.
"Oh, I see."
The match is about to begin.
Jin Shu sat in the first row, and the Empress was seated in the middle.
At this moment, Hu Jin was smiling and talking to her. As the concubine of His Majesty's younger brother, she often had the opportunity to come to the palace to attend royal banquets, and naturally she could also exchange a few words with the Empress.
Jin Shu wasn't sitting far away, so she could hear their conversation clearly.
"The Lu family has been military families for generations. The Duke of Dingguo once helped the late emperor conquer the country. Now, the descendants of the Lu family are naturally like father and son."
"This opportunity to see the descendants of the Lu family on horseback is truly an eye-opening experience for me."
Hu Jin praised the three children of the Lu family to the best of her ability.
The Empress nodded slowly, her gaze also falling on Jin Shu sitting to the side.
“Good, very good. Our dynasty is in dire need of such warriors on horseback. If these three children can indeed show their prowess on horseback, I am willing to offer a few words of advice to His Majesty and give them a chance to enter the military camp for a trial.”
Upon hearing this, Hu Jin's face revealed an barely suppressed joy.
The Empress was busy with palace affairs and naturally did not know that the three children of the Lu family were all born to collateral relatives.
He has probably only been exposed to some basic riding and archery techniques since birth, which is far inferior to that of a true eldest grandson of a noble family.
Now that Her Majesty the Empress has focused her attention on these three children, if they misbehave and leave a negative impression on Her Majesty, the future careers of the Lu family descendants will be very difficult.
Hu Jinyan looked at Jin Shu with a smile and waved to her.
"The Lu family's lady is exceptionally talented and skilled in raising her children; we'll see for ourselves soon."
Jin Shu stood up, bowed, and smiled slightly.
"You flatter me, Your Highness. I'm just a child, how can I accept such praise?"
The Queen nodded.
"That's true. He's just an eight or nine-year-old child. Let's see how he is first."
Children of similar ages were grouped together.
Six children are playing polo, sitting on horseback and hitting the ball with long-handled clubs. They are divided into groups of three, and whoever scores the most goals wins.
This is also one of the most popular games played by the descendants of imperial relatives and noble families in the capital today.
Lu Huai, Lu Xu, and Lu Gu formed a group, facing the sons of the Prince of Liang, the Prince of Beigu, and the Minister.
The six children were all about the same age, but their height and size varied, and the horses they rode on were all foals that were not yet adults.
As the red flag fell, the six children rode forward on horseback to grab the polo ball beneath them.
The son of the King of Liang was the first to hook the ball and dribble forward. He was agile and skilled on horseback. At the very beginning of the game, he effortlessly dribbled past his opponents and then struck the ball into the hole.
A chorus of cheers erupted from the audience.
Hu Jin sat up straight, glanced at Jin Shu, and then smiled.
"It was just luck. The three children from the Lu family were being lenient with us. Jin Shu, tell your son not to be so polite. Show the Empress what he's really capable of!"
Jin Shu didn't even glance at her, her gaze fixed on the six children on the field, her calm expression masking a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.
Before long, the team led by the son of the King of Liang scored two more goals.
Meanwhile, the three children from the Lu family on horseback were already sweating profusely and in disarray.
With the sound of a gong, the first round ended, and the six children dismounted to rest. The second round would begin after an incense stick had burned.
Hu Jin glanced at Jin Shu, her face full of helplessness and surprise in front of the Empress.
"What's wrong with these three children from the Lu family? Is it because it's their first time competing in such a setting and they're flustered? It's normal to be nervous in front of the Empress, they're just children."
Upon hearing this, the Empress shook her head slightly and said in a low voice.
"How can a man be so cowardly and afraid of trouble? If he were on the battlefield and saw blood, wouldn't he be even more afraid?"
Hu Jin wiped her son's sweat while continuing to speak up for him.
"They're probably nervous. Let them rest for a while, and they definitely won't perform like this in the second half. Your Majesty, please give them another chance and wait and see."
At this moment, the three children stood in front of Jin Shu. Lu Xu was covered in sweat and his eyes were wet. As for Lu Huai and Lu Gu, they gritted their teeth and endured it, looking pitiful with their heads down and shoulders drooping.
Jin Shu looked at them, her expression unchanged.
"It's normal to lose. Those three are all sparring partners for His Highness. They were all generals who had retired from the battlefield and were trained by them. They started training as soon as they could ride horses. It's normal that you can't beat them. It would be abnormal if you won."
Jin Shu handed each of them a glass of water.
"Drink some water, remember what I'm about to say, and do as I say."
Hu Jin, who was waiting to see the joke, turned her head and saw the Lu family mother and her two children huddled together, talking about something.
She turned her head and sneered.
A bunch of ignorant fools! The Lu family probably won't last much longer, and Jin Shu still dares to yell at us!
Today, she not only wants to make Jin Shu lose miserably, but she also wants to make her never be able to hold her head up in the capital again!
A widow from a declining noble family has no right to stand and speak to her!
The incense stick burned out quickly.
Jin Shu looked at the three children with a stern expression in her eyes.
"Did you all remember what I just said?"
"I've got it!"
"Okay, let's go then."
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