3 Chapter 3
◎Some people say you are my male consort◎
Scholar Song was a fifth-rank civil official from the Hanlin Academy who was on duty for the lecture today. The old man had spent his whole life with no ambition and was just waiting for a peaceful retirement. However, today, as usual, he stood on the platform with his classics in hand. When his cloudy old eyes saw the people sitting below the platform, he felt his vision go black and wished he could just end the get out of class immediately.
Princess Ning'an, Xie Yutang, sat upright before the table. She wore a front-opening, narrow-sleeved, water-patterned shirt, and her cascading black hair was tied high on her head like a man's, secured with an antique-style gold hairpin. Her whole being exuded a grand and radiant air rarely seen in ordinary palace women.
Sitting beside her was Su Lu, the heir of the Muqing Prince's Mansion, a servant she had just taken in from the Third Prince Lin Tan.
The commotion at Happy Valley yesterday was so great that even the old scholar Song had heard about it.
"May I ask, Your Highness, what brings you here?"
"Come and listen to the lesson."
"Tangtang, this is not a place for a woman like you."
Lin Tan spoke up at the opportune moment, his tone striking a perfect balance between authority and persuasion, "It's one thing to be angry with me, but needlessly disrupting the school's order is ultimately inappropriate. You should obediently return to your residence first, and I will deal with it myself after school—"
"Your Highness, as I have already said, I am here to learn."
Xie Yutang was disgusted by his words, but now was not the time to confront Lin Tan completely. She desperately suppressed her urge to roll her eyes immediately. "You are a man, holding the books of sages, yet you do not think about national affairs and classical studies, but are preoccupied with your personal matters and family gossip. Who is disturbing the order of the school?"
Lin Tan: "..."
“Princess, if I may be so bold as to say something.”
The speaker was Qian Ji, the eldest son of the Ministry of Revenue. He had just filled in for Su Lu last night to be Lin Tan's study companion, which was a good thing. However, Qian Ji's writings on classics and policy essays were clearly inferior to his predecessor's, and he did not receive a good look from Lin Tan. So he thought of seizing this opportunity to show off in front of the Third Prince.
"It's not that you can't attend the lectures, but the daily lectures are obscure and difficult, and each session lasts for two hours. As a princess, you might find it tedious and boring."
Ah, that's a roundabout way of saying she didn't understand.
Xie Yutang flipped through the Mencius book spread out on the table: "Is this the text we're going to study today?"
Qian Ji: "Exactly."
"I did some homework last night in preparation for today's lesson, but there are some parts of the text that I don't quite understand. May I ask Young Master Qian for some guidance?"
"Please speak, Princess."
Xie Yutang's slender, pale fingers turned the pages of the book. "Shun rose from the fields, and Fu Yue was raised from among the builders... Does this mean that recommending talent should not be based on family background? Is that correct?"
"Exactly."
“Fu Yue and Guan Zhong were once criminals, Jiao Ge was a fishmonger, and Baili Xi was once a slave in the dowry of the wife of Duke Mu of Qin. They were still able to be entrusted with great responsibilities by Heaven and to display their ambitions in the court. So why should I be met with so many obstacles just for coming to listen to lectures today?”
"Just because I am a woman, am I not even as good as a prisoner, a fishmonger, or a slave?"
The woman's voice was soft and gentle, yet her question left everyone in the classroom speechless.
"The ruler is the guide for his subjects, and the husband is the guide for his wife. As a woman, one should be virtuous and gentle, and regard one's husband as one's heaven." Qian Ji said firmly, "This is the way of destiny. If one goes against this way, it will be unforgivable by Heaven!"
Xie Yutang laughed as if she had heard a joke, her shoulders shaking with laughter. After finally stopping laughing, she slowly swept her gaze over the students in the classroom, her bright eyes sparkling with beauty: "If this is fate, then I will defy fate. If it is against all reason, then I will rebel against it."
The tone was extremely calm, as if he were simply saying that the flowers in the garden weren't growing well and should be pruned.
But to everyone, it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, leaving them all feeling their heads spinning, both shocked and frightened.
The one with the worst expression was Lin Tan. Ever since she carried Wu Zhui's coffin to Happy Valley, he felt that Xie Yutang seemed to have become a different person.
When Lin Tan saw her at the school earlier, he was secretly pleased for a moment, thinking that she was just trying to save face and had come up with this way to make peace with him. But when she came in, she didn't even look at him!
Looking at his master's expression, Xiao Fuzi understood most of the situation. She whispered in his ear, "Your Highness, look over there."
Su Lu, that little bastard, was dressed up like a proper human being and was washing Xie Yutang's brush and grinding ink for him.
Lin Tan tapped his fan irritably: "Do you need to tell me?!"
She had close relationships with other men before she was married.
What kind of behavior is this!
Xiao Fuzi chuckled: "Your Highness, congratulations."
Lin Tan glanced at him sideways.
Xiao Fuzi: "My family is a eunuch, so we don't know much about matters between men and women. But I've only read in those storybooks that girls' minds are all twisted and complicated. If they take a fancy to a young master, they won't say it to his face, but will deliberately bring a handsome young man to test his reaction."
Lin Tan stopped holding the folding fan.
"Not only that, but you also have to deliberately be cold to the other party in words, pretending not to care at all. If the young master gets upset because of this, then he has taken the bait."
Oh.
I see.
Lin Tan chuckled.
"Will she also participate in the later equestrian archery competition?"
Xiao Fuzi thought for a moment and said, "Since the princess said she came to listen to the lessons, she will probably finish all the lessons today."
Lin Tan pondered for a moment, then beckoned to Xiao Fuzi: "Go to Happy Valley immediately and tell them it's my will..."
*
Xie Yutang looked at the horse that was obviously "smaller" than she had been given and raised her eyebrows in dissatisfaction.
Xiao Fuzi bowed to Xie Yutang and said with a smile, "Princess, this young pony was specially found for you by His Highness the Third Prince. Women are frail and not suitable for riding horses, so His Highness the Third Prince kindly invited you..."
Before Xiao Fuzi could finish speaking, Xie Yutang walked straight around the small horse in front of him and led a tall, fine horse out of the stable.
The horse was entirely black except for a patch of white on its forehead. It was a famous steed presented as tribute from Sichuan. It was fierce and had been kept in the stable for a long time because it was too difficult to tame. When Xie Yutang suddenly led it out, it neighed excitedly.
Lin Tan frowned.
Xie Yutang's reaction dashed his hopes once again.
He used sweet talk and a few harmless benefits to win this woman over, but now none of it works.
He suppressed his unease and agitation, walked to Xie Yutang's side, and said with tender affection, "Tangtang..."
Before his outstretched hand could even touch Xie Yutang, it was blocked by the other party with a riding whip.
"Dare to have a contest with me?"
Xie Yutang didn't even look at him when he said that.
The woman's long, slender, fair fingers stroked the horse's mane, her entire focus on the fine steed before her, like a swordsman who had regained his grip on a knife, or a painter who had seen the light again. The brilliance that burst forth from her eyes startled Lin Tan.
Before he could react, Xie Yutang had already mounted his horse and ridden around a small lap while getting familiar with his new mount.
...
Lin Tan frowned.
Where is there even a trace of the quiet gentleness that a young lady should have?
Then he thought back to yesterday, right here in Happy Valley, she was dressed in a striking red dress, with a soft whip at her waist and a dagger hidden in her sleeve, and she had equipped herself with all the things he didn't like!
If it weren't for the military power of the Xie family's collateral branch, he wouldn't even glance at her, let alone humbly beg for peace time and time again.
But this woman was truly ungrateful, and even dared to dream of taming this wild horse.
Fine, it's good to let her suffer a little. Otherwise, if she's always thinking about swords and archery and wants to study the classics, what will happen when she gets married?
Xie Yutang didn't bother to figure out Lin Tan's thoughts at all; she was just filled with joy.
The feeling of being on horseback is so exhilarating!
Xie Yutang grew up on the frontier battlefield. Before she could even walk, she was carried onto a horse by General Xie. Although she had lived in the palace for a long time after marrying Lin Tan in her previous life, she did not lose the instincts ingrained in her bones. After a few gallops, she gradually learned to control the spirited horse beneath her.
"I'm asking you, are you going to compete or not?"
Lin Tan stroked the jade pendant on the fan without saying a word.
Archery and horsemanship were not his forte, and Xie Yutang had grown up on the frontier since childhood, not the kind of princess raised in the palace in luxury. As a man, competing with a woman in archery and horsemanship would inevitably be seen as an unfair victory even if he won, and losing would be even more humiliating.
Xie Yutang is definitely deliberately making things difficult for me!
Xiao Fuzi spoke up at the right moment: "Princess, why don't you have a match with Young Master Tan first? If you win against Young Master Tan, it won't be too late to challenge the Third Prince."
Tan Cengguang had served in the patrol battalion and was considered a skilled horseman and archer. When his name was suddenly called, he subconsciously looked at Lin Tan, hesitating and not responding.
Xie Yutang naturally knew what Lin Tan was thinking, but did not expose him. While adjusting the bow straps on horseback, she said, "Young Master Tan, are you perhaps considering whether to deliberately throw the game and lose to me later?"
Tan Cengguang was speechless when his thoughts were exposed.
He cursed Xiao Fuzi in his heart. Everyone knew about Lin Tan and Xie Yutang's relationship. They were just a young couple having a fight, and he, an outsider, was being used as a shield.
Lin Tan was quite satisfied with the suggestion and walked up to Tan Cengguang, patting him on the shoulder.
"Just focus on the competition. I believe in you, and I'm sure you can win."
The word "certainly" was spoken slowly and deliberately, carrying an undeniable air of authority. Tan Cengguang's heart skipped a beat, and he bowed his head, clasping his hands in a fist salute: "Yes!"
The term "riding archery" refers to two aspects: the accuracy of the arrow and the speed of the horse.
Although Xie Yutang comes from a military family, almost no one genuinely believes she can win. Most people are just there to watch the spectacle. Besides, she is tall and slender, with narrow sleeves and a cinched waist, making her look even more dashing and elegant as she rides her horse. People are more excited to see her beauty than to watch the competition.
Having received Lin Tan's explicit order, Tan Cengguang mounted his horse with a smug look on his face, still pondering how much he should give the princess a handicap so as not to let her lose too badly.
The two were ready at the starting line, and at a command, they spurred their horses and galloped away.
Xie Yutang's sharp features painted a powerful, ink-wash-like stroke across the vast wilderness after the first snowfall.
The wind whistled past my ears.
Sunset, lone smoke, wild horses, yellow sand.
It felt like I had returned to my distant hometown.
Her blood was boiling with excitement, and she laughed loudly, drawing her longbow to its fullest extent.
The arrow pierced the sky like a silver streak.
With a short, sharp whistling sound that tore through the air, an arrow pierced the target from a hundred miles away.
Hit the bullseye.
The surrounding murmurs abruptly ceased. Those who had just been agreeing that women were too weak to ride horses stared blankly at the arrowhead, almost unable to believe their eyes.
Archery on horseback is extremely difficult, requiring skill in horsemanship, the strength to draw a bow, accuracy, and technique—all are indispensable. These young masters from noble families don't actually go to the battlefield; they can just practice enough to catch a rabbit in the spring and autumn hunts. But Xie Yutang's arrow was like a merciless blade, tearing away their glamorous facade and revealing their inner corruption, already tainted by extravagance and hedonism.
Is this really something a woman could do?
This question struck Tan Cengguang like a thunderous bell, making his eyes widen in shock.
I thought we could win easily, but I never expected this...
no.
We can't lose!
He had already lost face in front of that little bastard Su Lu yesterday. If he were to lose to a woman as well, Lin Tan would surely discard him like trash.
In terms of accuracy, he has already lost. To turn the tide, he must reach the finish line before Xie Yutang.
Tan Cengguang drew his dagger from his waist and plunged it fiercely into the horse's back!
The white horse beneath him neighed in pain and galloped off like a madman.
The red silk was right in front of her when Xie Yutang suddenly heard a gust of wind coming from behind. She instinctively spurred her horse to the side, and Tan Cenguang's horse hoof just barely grazed her temple before kicking down.
The sudden change caused everyone in the arena to gasp in surprise.
If Xie Yutang had been even a fraction of a second later, he would have been seriously injured, if not dead.
Once she had ridden her horse to safety, Su Lu breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed his half-drawn sword. If she hadn't dodged, the horse would have been cut down by his sword by now.
Tan Cengguang had heard about the horse's speed-up technique from several veterans, but he had never tried it himself. In his haste, he tried to poke the horse but failed miserably. The horse, in pain, neighed wildly and stopped running forward, instead jumping wildly. After several large leaps, it threw Tan Cengguang off its back and charged towards the crowd.
The crowd gasped in alarm and scattered in all directions.
Lin Tan was escorted to a safe place by his subordinates. He was still panting heavily, feeling uneasy and doubtful. Xiao Fuzi was busy comforting and taking care of him.
The panic among the crowd only highlighted the composure of one person.
Su Lu guided everyone in the room to evacuate, glancing at Xie Yutang from time to time to make sure she was in a safe area.
Once the last person was sent out of the horse farm fence, he became the sole target of the attack.
The mad horse reared up and neighed, then galloped towards him with lightning speed.
Su Lu neither dodged nor avoided.
There are too many wounded and frenzied horses on the battlefield; no one is more experienced than him.
Her long, thick eyelashes drooped, and when she looked up again, her gaze became as sharp as a knife, her arms taut and arched.
He waited for the right moment, then leaped onto the horse and took control of it.
Time seemed to stretch out infinitely, and in that extended time, he caught a glimpse of a graceful and elegant figure.
Immediately afterwards, something soft wrapped around my waist.
The mad horse, capable of taking a life, was only inches away ahead, but he suddenly released all his strength, abandoning his plan to leap onto its back, and letting the thing bind him tightly.
He was suddenly pulled around the waist and thrown into the air.
At his closest point, he could even see the mud and blood stained on the raised horseshoes.
The air seemed like a colorless vortex, and the scorching sunlight hit him head-on. The restraints around his waist loosened for a moment, then wrapped around him again, clearly reminding him of who was controlling him.
Xie Yutang used a horsewhip.
The texture was familiar to him.
But what he was familiar with was the sensation of the whip lashing across his skin and tearing through his flesh, not...
He was bound at the waist and lifted onto the horse's back.
Xie Yutang deliberately left space in front of her, waiting for the young man to sit down steadily. She controlled the reins and with a graceful pull, avoided the oncoming mad horse.
"Young Master Su, you didn't clean up the mess properly. Isn't there still one person left?"
The breath, carrying the scent of spearmint, patted the thinnest patch of skin behind his ear, sending a small shiver down his spine.
Xie Yutang's voice was slow and deliberate, with a hint of malice.
Tan Cengguang scrambled to his feet, the horse following closely behind. Whether it recognized the assailant who had stabbed him or not, the horse refused to let him go no matter how Tan Cengguang dodged left and right.
A man and a horse, the former fleeing in a disheveled state, the latter chasing and kicking wildly, the scene was somewhat comical.
"Luckily, I stopped it in time, otherwise we wouldn't have seen this good show."
"..."
Knowing that the other person was just teasing him, Su Lu couldn't refute it. He opened his mouth, about to admit his mistake, when the sudden touch on his waist threw him off balance.
In his panicked vision, a slender, pale wrist reached up and caressed his waist through the riding crop.
"Wow, is it possible for a waist to be this thin?"
"How can a riding whip be wrapped so many times?"
"Is there any room left?"
Xie Yutang's voice gradually turned dissatisfaction.
Su Lu: "..."
The boy had completely lost the ferocity he once possessed when facing the mad horse alone. The skin exposed between his collars began to turn a light pink, contrasting with the thin golden chain around his neck.
"I heard you're half Hu (non-Han) ancestry. Are all Hu people's ears as prone to turning red as yours?"
While controlling his mount to dodge the mad horse, Xie Yutang flirted with the boy in front of him as if no one else was around.
More and more people are turning their attention to this area.
The boy's restless fingers twirled the black horse's mane, while Xie Yutang placed one hand on his waist, controlling the reins in a protective posture.
“I heard a lot more.”
"They say you have a feminine appearance and a face that's destined to cause trouble."
"If I hug you like this, people might immediately start saying you're my gigolo."
"Do you mind?"
This question is simply impossible to answer.
Su Lu could only be thankful that Xie Yutang couldn't see his face now.
This princess is different.
It's so different.
She remains kind, still grieving for the deceased Wu Zhui, and still protecting him when he is in a sorry state. Yet, it's as if something has broken her free from her constraints.
Xie Yutang, who slapped Lin Tan across the street; Xie Yutang, who declared "I'll rebel!" in the school; Xie Yutang, laughing heartily on horseback as he drew his bow to its fullest extent—
They were all shining brightly.
It was so bright that he couldn't take his eyes off it.
He had told himself that as long as he could be by her side in this life, he would be willing to serve her, fight for her, and risk his life to protect her. But at this moment, Xie Yutang's touch through his clothes and the whip had thrown him into a state of chaos.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.
Even knowing it was just a whim of hers, perhaps even a subtle probing, she still couldn't help but succumb.
Like a fish washed ashore by the waves, even knowing that a swamp of honey awaits it, it is hopelessly thirsty.
"Yesterday you were calling me 'master' all the time, why are you suddenly silent today?"
Xie Yutang found this person really interesting. Just a few teasing remarks and he would tense up, looking helpless and unable to escape. It was really cute. If only he could see his expression face to face...
With a "whoosh".
Brief and subtle.
But anyone who has been on the battlefield knows that it is the sound of an arrow piercing flesh to the bone.
Xie Yutang glanced at him sideways.
Crazy Horse crashed to the ground, dying without even having a chance to utter a mournful cry.
Tan Cengguang collapsed to the ground, his chest heaving violently, covered in blood and mud, his face blank with shock and disbelief. He was taken away by the soldiers who had been waiting on both sides.
"Who dares to spoil my enjoyment!"
Xie Yutang shouted sharply, and a whole group of people around her knelt down in a flurry. Outside the fence, a middle-aged man in black robes and soft armor put away his crossbow and bowed calmly: "This humble servant has arrived late to save Your Majesty. Please forgive me, Princess."
Xie Yutang narrowed his eyes.
She called it a "disappointment," but the person saw it as a "rescue," and in the back and forth, she managed to glorify herself.
Xie Yutang paused when his gaze fell on the dark embroidered patterns on his body; they belonged to the imperial guards serving the emperor.
The man's tone was calm but brooked no refusal: "His Majesty requests that you go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation immediately."
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