Chapter 56 A Wild Horse Flying Freely
"Oh, my ancestors!"
Startled by the sudden jump, Eunuch Chen, his face pale, watched as Emperor Xuanpei and Consort Jiang left. He hurriedly called to his men, "Quick, follow them!"
With Ah Zhu causing such a commotion, there aren't many people in the mood for hunting right now.
The crowd huddled together in a slightly chaotic murmur, but in the end, the Crown Prince stepped forward and led the group into the hunt.
As the old man was getting on in years, he naturally did not ride horses and shoot arrows with the young people. He and his wife sat together on the lower side, and Lu Yinyue was also beside the old lady at this moment.
"The Jiang family...sigh."
Looking in the direction where Emperor Xuanpei had left with that utterly willful so-called Consort Jiang, Lord Wen shook his head, his eyes filled with disappointment, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
"After all, they were once from a prestigious family."
"And the entire family..."
"How come the Jiang family has now left behind only such sycophants who use their beauty to please others and bewitch the emperor?"
"Not only does he lack any integrity, but he has also committed all sorts of despicable and wicked acts."
Ah Zhu's reputation, both inside and outside the court, is really not good these days.
After all, which of the ladies in the palace would like to endlessly monopolize the emperor's attention and enjoy his exclusive favor, even if it's Jiang Zhu who has to pick and choose all the best tributes first?
The problem is not scarcity, but inequality.
Ah Zhu is truly detestable.
Empress Wang also harbored deep hatred for Azhu.
She wished that the fact that A-Zhu was a foot-washing maid would spread all over the streets, so why would she bother to cover it up for her?
It would be best to make it public that she was a palace maid in the inner palace and a criminal slave in the Jiang family. If it could force Emperor Xuanpei to kick Azhu aside for fear of damaging her reputation, that would be truly satisfying.
It's no wonder that A-Zhu's reputation is bad.
Furthermore, Empress Dowager Shu was unwilling to be labeled as harsh for the fact that she had suffered a miscarriage at Shou Kang Palace.
The more infamous A-Zhu became, the more universally reviled he was, the more innocent and innocent Empress Dowager Shu appeared. Consequently, various rumors about A-Zhu were spread with added embellishments.
Having such a beautiful yet wicked woman serving you is surely an ominous sign.
The worried old man, Lord Wen, spoke with great distress about Jiang's unbearable misdeeds.
These words pierced Lu Yinyue's heart like countless needles.
Lu Yinyue's hand, hidden in her sleeve, was clenched tightly into a ball.
Even the pain of her fingernails digging into her palm and drawing blood couldn't compare to the heartache she felt at that moment.
The Jiang family suffered a bloodbath, but they ultimately left behind a good reputation.
Most people felt pity and sorrow, and some even helped her escape... But this good reputation has now been tarnished by others using Jiang's name.
We can no longer allow this girl to use Jiang's name to do all sorts of despicable things.
Lu Yinyue gritted her teeth and swallowed all her grief and indignation. Even though she had formed a bond with Prince Rui outside the palace and met the Crown Prince... it was all too slow.
The position of Crown Prince is also coveted by Prince Qi.
His Majesty is currently in his prime.
If unforeseen circumstances arise, the Crown Prince's situation becomes unfavorable, and Empress Wang is determined to obstruct things, when will it be possible to clear the Jiang family's name?!
Lu Yinyue slowly loosened her grip.
Now that things have come to this, why should this "wandering ghost" be so careful with her life?
Lu Yinyue, who had been hesitant because of the Crown Prince and Prince Rui, decided to enter the palace.
Even if it costs him his entire life, even if he is shattered to pieces, he would not hesitate to do so as to clear the name of the Jiang clan.
As she got older, the autumn winds would blow on her for too long, and she would get a headache.
Madam Wen was Lord Wen's first wife. Seeing that she was unwell, Lord Wen accompanied her back to rest.
Lu Yinyue helped Old Madam Wen back home.
After entering the house, she knelt down in front of the two elders.
"What are you doing, child?"
Madam Wen greatly admired Lu Yinyue, who was beautiful, dignified, and had a scholarly air about her, and kept calling out to her.
"Whatever happened, we can talk it out. Get up."
"Grandparents, please come up next."
Lu Yinyue, who was kneeling, kowtowed to the two elders.
“Yin Yue is unfilial, but she has something to ask of me.”
Lord Wen stopped Madam Wen from getting up and looked calmly at Lu Yinyue kneeling on the ground.
"Moon, what do you want?"
Lu Yinyue raised her eyes and looked at Elder Wen.
“Grandfather, Yin Yue wishes to enter the palace to accompany the emperor.”
"Hidden Moon!"
Madam Wen was startled, and then her tone became more urgent.
"Your Majesty now has countless concubines in the palace, each with her own methods, and numerous princes under your tutelage. Why should you get involved in this mess?!"
Emperor Xuanpei was not the kind of person who wanted to bring all the most beautiful women in the world into the palace.
On the contrary, the emperor and his court officials still had a certain degree of tacit understanding.
When the princes reach the appropriate age, if they are interested, the emperor will arrange a marriage after careful consideration.
As for the old ministers who have served the court diligently and loyally for many years, the court is naturally willing to give them some face and lend a hand in the marriages of their children and grandchildren.
Therefore, Madam Wen was not worried about Lu Yinyue's participation in the imperial concubine selection. The current emperor has seen countless beauties and would not only focus on their Yue'er.
If all else fails, we can have Lord Wen swallow his pride and plead with the Emperor; that would at least save face.
"You met Prince Rui at the Wang family's birthday banquet that day."
It was clear that Madam Wen had been very concerned about Lu Yinyue's marriage these days, and had given it a lot of thought.
“Prince Rui is your age match, has an extraordinary status, and is deeply loved by the Emperor and the Empress. He has not yet married a princess. If you are interested…” The granddaughter of Grand Secretary Wen cannot be said to be unworthy of His Highness Prince Rui.
“Grandmother.” Lu Yinyue shook her head.
She looked at Madam Wen and said only, "Yin Yue and His Highness Prince Rui have only met a few times."
After saying that, Lu Yinyue looked at Elder Wen.
“Grandfather, now His Highness Prince Qi and the Crown Prince are deliberately fighting each other. The two sides are like fire and water, and it seems that they are almost at each other’s throats. Who can guarantee what will happen in the future?”
Lord Wen remained silent.
The crown prince is the crown prince, but he is not the emperor after all.
The Yuan Dynasty was conquered on horseback.
The princes always seemed to carry a hint of unruliness and defiance in their bones. Think about it, how many crown princes have been dethroned since the founding of the dynasty?
Moreover, the conflict between the Crown Prince and Prince Qi was the result of their Emperor's willful indulgence.
"The nobles in the palace are not easy to deal with."
"If you enter the palace seeking wealth and honor, I'm afraid your status won't be as prestigious as one obtained through arranged marriage."
Lu Yinyue looked solemnly at Lord Wen, her words sincere and almost like an oath.
“When Yin Yue enters the palace this time, no matter what she does, she will not seek glory or fame, but only wish to emulate Ban Zhang’s virtue of turning away the imperial carriage.”
There is truly no one from the Wen family serving the emperor in the palace these days.
The lives of wealthy and powerful families were always closely intertwined with those in the palace, complementing each other.
Lu Yinyue is beautiful, intelligent, and clear-headed. If she could enter the palace... Lord Wen would truly be at ease.
"Let me think about this matter some more."
It's done.
Lu Yinyue bowed her head and kowtowed three more times.
She carried the weight of a blood feud and the last hope of restoring the Jiang family's reputation; she simply could not give up.
I feel guilty towards the Lu family and the Wen family in this life, and I only wish to repay them in the next life.
......
The black horse galloped extremely fast, as if it were having a great time.
The vast clouds surged like waves, and as far as the eye could see, everything was a deep blue-green. The rolling mountain peaks rose and fell, and in the distance, dozens of horses galloped past against the light.
Under a clear blue sky, riding a horse across the vast hunting grounds, the passing scenery seemed to be bathed in a bright hue.
This is a completely different, expansive view from the imperial city where palaces are every three steps and halls every five steps.
Seeing that A-Zhu was not only not afraid, but even becoming more and more excited, Emperor Xuanpei rode his horse for a while before slowly slowing down.
Seeing that A-Zhu was still not satisfied, Emperor Xuanpei touched her face, which was chilly from the wind, and then reached out to hold her hand, warming it in his palm.
"This is your first time riding a horse, so the time shouldn't be too long."
Just now, he had been unconsciously keeping his back straight, but as the horse slowly moved along, A-Zhu suddenly relaxed.
She leaned lazily against Emperor Xuanpei's chest, gazing at the green hills and forests in the distance.
Neither of them spoke; for a moment, only the clatter of horses' hooves could be heard.
After walking slowly for a while, Emperor Xuanpei untied the water bag next to the saddle and fed Azhu some water.
Seeing Azhu frown, Emperor Xuanpei shook his head.
“When I’m not looking, you either make excuses not to drink or secretly pour some.”
"Now that you are in my presence, you should at least have a drink."
"Listen to me, there's a hot spring in the backyard. I'll take you there to relax tonight."
Upon hearing this, Azhu swallowed all the water in one gulp.
Emperor Xuanpei also drank some, and then hung the water bag back on the side of his saddle.
After helping Azhu sit down, he reined in his horse, placed the reins in Azhu's hand, and then dismounted.
A-Zhu was stunned, gripping the reins stiffly, not daring to move an inch.
Emperor Xuanpei looked at Azhu, and Azhu stared straight at Emperor Xuanpei.
"Your Majesty..."
After a moment of silence, A-Zhu regained her composure from when she was in the palace; she was almost ready to burst into tears.
"Your Majesty, I am afraid."
Emperor Xuanpei did not mount his horse or carry Azhu down; he simply reached out to adjust Azhu's position.
"Stand on the stirrups and grip the reins tightly."
“A-Zhu, if you’re not afraid of it, you can control it.”
"Now, riding it, you can slowly walk by gently swaying the reins."
Pooh!
You make it sound so easy!
A-Zhu immediately cursed Emperor Xuanpei, who stood by and watched.
Even though we had already agreed to teach her to ride a horse when she was still in the palace, taking her for one lap is considered a proper lesson?
How could there be such an irresponsible man in this world?!
If you try to collect donations, you definitely won't get a single copper coin, and you'll probably get a good beating!
Even as she cursed under her breath, A-Zhu knew that if she cried now and begged softly, Emperor Xuanpei would definitely let her go, but... A-Zhu bit her lip, trying hard to hold back the tears that were uncontrollably welling up in her eyes with fear.
She gripped the reins tightly in her hand.
After a long pause, Ah Zhu's stiff arm finally twitched slightly. She gently shook the reins and managed a whispered command, barely audible, "Giddy up!"
As soon as A-Zhu made that move, the black horse she was riding actually started to stride around.
Not far away, Eunuch Chen watched Ah Zhu riding alone on horseback, and he was terrified.
Normally, if Consort Jiang coughed even once, His Majesty would have to summon the imperial physician to inquire about it carefully.
If he falls off the horse and something bad happens... oh dear, may everything be fine and may you have peace and good fortune.
"Your Majesty."
Chen Gonggong, who was silently chanting Amitabha Buddha's name, couldn't help but step forward and say, "Your Majesty is riding a horse for the first time."
"It's not quite right for one person to ride like this; perhaps it would be better to have guards escorting him..."
Emperor Xuanpei only looked at Azhu and did not speak.
It was only when they arrived at the hunting grounds that Emperor Xuanpei suddenly realized that there was something different about Azhu.
The concubines who entered the palace through the imperial selection process were originally from outside the palace.
Whether it's banquets, spring outings, sacrificial rites, lantern festivals, etc., people would go out to some extent.
Even gerbils can roam freely around the border, digging burrows wherever they please.
Only A-Zhu entered the palace when she was very young, or even when she couldn't remember much.
What's inside the palace?
There are only square walls and countless rules.
Emperor Xuanpei stood with his hands behind his back, his grip on the riding whip tightening and loosening repeatedly, but he never called for Jiang Zhu, who was riding on horseback, to stop.
The emperor's horse would naturally not have any strange temperament.
This black horse was trained early on, specifically for Ah Zhu to practice riding.
As Ah Zhu rode along, she became less afraid and gradually increased her speed.
The green mountains are vast and desolate, with few human voices and a boundless sky and land.
Ah Zhu held the reins himself, inhaling the cold, rustling wind, but he couldn't suppress his excitement and exhilaration.
With the world right before her eyes, it seemed that she could go wherever she wanted with just a slight movement or a shake of the reins.
"Thump, thump—"
Ah Zhu's heart started beating faster and faster uncontrollably.
If Ah Zhu were in his thirties or forties, he might not have had that passion and impulse; he would only repeatedly weigh the pros and cons.
But Azhu is not.
She's still young, at an age where she's prone to acting impulsively and without thinking.
With eyes full of excitement, Ah Zhu gripped the reins tightly and boldly spurred the horse forward.
"drive--!"
Emperor Xuanpei suddenly gripped the horsewhip in his hand tightly.
"A-Zhu!"
Azhu did not turn around.
Watching Ah Zhu rush away without looking back, Emperor Xuanpei simply stood there quietly, watching her seemingly unrestrained as she plunged headlong into the mountains.
Eunuch Chen: ......
He initially thought that A-Zhu was a palace maid who desperately wanted to rise to a higher social status but was also rather dull and lacked skill... For his misjudgment, Eunuch Chen secretly blamed himself.
Later, he felt that A-Zhu was loyal and obedient... Now, looking at that figure riding a horse without turning his head, Eunuch Chen wanted to slap himself twice.
"Your Majesty."
As he observed Emperor Xuanpei's expression, Eunuch Chen began desperately trying to find a way out.
"It's understandable that Your Highness might lose control of the horse for a moment since it's your first time riding... In your haste, you might not even be able to speak properly, and you might be terrified right now."
Emperor Xuanpei glanced at Eunuch Chen.
Chen Gonggong's heart tightened suddenly. He then bowed, lowered his head, and quietly retreated to the side, not daring to utter a single word.
Also standing quietly was Commander-in-Chief Wei.
Seeing that Eunuch Chen had retreated, he became even more silent, keeping his eyes down and not uttering a sound.
Emperor Xuanpei remained silent, and no one dared to speak; even the horses led by the imperial guards behind him made no sound.
The group waited quietly for a while, but the "pulling back from the brink" never happened.
Emperor Xuanpei gently closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, he simply and calmly ordered, "Bring her back."
"yes."
Commander Wei dared not delay and quickly took out a specially made bone whistle from his pocket.
He puffed out his cheeks and blew with all his might, "Here it comes!"
This specially made bone whistle has a loud and long sound with great penetrating power, and can travel very far.
Ah Zhu heard the whistle, and the black horse heard it too. Seeing that it began to slow down, Ah Zhu was taken aback and tried to shake the reins, but he couldn't control the horse.
Not only that, the black horse turned around and ran towards the direction of the whistle with Ah Zhu in its wake.
For a moment, Ah Zhu really wanted to jump off the horse.
But she quickly regained consciousness—
Why is she jumping off the horse? Isn't she learning to ride? It's normal that she couldn't control herself and ran a little too fast, isn't it?
Ah Zhu, returning the way he came, tried his best to stay calm.
She even squeezed out tears into the wind, and when she saw Emperor Xuanpei again, she thought about jumping off her horse and throwing herself into his arms to act pitiful.
But the look in Xuanpei Emperor's eyes sent a chill down Azhu's spine, and her mind became exceptionally clear in an instant.
She didn't dare to rashly jump off the horse—shh, the snake moved, coiled up and raised its head.
The dark horse slowly came to a stop.
Looking at Consort Jiang's expression on horseback, Eunuch Chen and Commander Wei couldn't help but exchange a secret glance.
Seeing Emperor Xuanpei walk toward his horse, Eunuch Chen and Commander Wei quietly retreated a bit with the others.
Ah Zhu sat on the horse without moving.
It wasn't until Emperor Xuanpei approached and extended his hand to her that Azhu placed her hand in his palm and was led off the horse.
"They ran really far."
Hearing Emperor Xuanpei's four words, which seemed to express both emotion and displeasure, Azhu tried to compose herself. Just as she was about to go over and act coquettishly, she found that her legs were weak and her excitement had subsided, leaving her feeling uncomfortable all over.
Especially on both sides of my thighs, there was a burning, stinging pain.
Ah Zhu's crying this time was truly heartfelt.
She stumbled and fell into Emperor Xuanpei's arms.
Because her legs were so weak and painful, Ah Zhu couldn't even stand up and started crying.
"Your Majesty, I am terrified."
"Waaah, you clearly promised to teach me how to ride a horse."
"As a result, you suddenly let go and abandoned me, leaving me alone on horseback."
Ah Zhu, who had turned the tables on him, felt extremely wronged, and tears like tiny pearls streamed down her face.
"The concubine rode the horse alone, sitting there stiffly and dumbfounded, not daring to move at all, and then it started running again..."
"Just now, while I was on horseback, I was worried that I would fall to my death, and I didn't know where the horse would take me... Waaah, I thought I would never see you again."
"Your Majesty."
A-Zhu hugged Emperor Xuanpei tightly, looking up at him with a pitiful and aggrieved expression, and said, "You can't leave me alone again, Your Majesty, I'm so scared."
Emperor Xuanpei held Azhu in his arms.
Listening to her whimpering reproaches, he looked into Ah Zhu's eyes and asked, "Really?"
What's real and what's fake?
Ah Zhu insisted it was true, nodding repeatedly, "When have I ever lied to Your Majesty?"
"I am truly terrified."
"Your Majesty, you can no longer leave your concubines to live in fear and anxiety."
Gently stroking A-Zhu's head, Emperor Xuanpei nodded.
Ah Zhu, who was sobbing as she proclaimed her innocence, suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
Emperor Xuanpei seemed to completely believe her words, nodding and shouting, "Guards, drag this beast away and deal with him."
"Your Majesty!"
Ah Zhu instinctively stopped him.
Emperor Xuanpei looked at Azhu with a somewhat strange expression.
"I have chosen it."
"I just wanted to make sure you could ride safely and make you happy."
"But it is so inhumane, unruly, and willful, what use is it to keep it?"
Azhu looked up at Emperor Xuanpei, unable to avoid his gaze.
Emperor Xuanpei's eyes were not like Azhu's, which had amber hue; in fact, they were darker than those of ordinary people.
When those dark, deep eyes stare intently at someone... it's no wonder that Ah Zhu couldn't help but compare them to a venomous snake.
A-Zhu felt a chill run through her heart, but she stubbornly refused to back down, her face displaying a timid yet benevolent "saintly" demeanor.
"Your Majesty."
"All things have a spirit; this horse is so pitiful..."
Seeing that Emperor Xuanpei remained unmoved, Azhu immediately changed her tune and said softly, "Besides, this is its first time, and also Your Majesty's and my first time."
"This is the first time you have ridden a horse with your concubines."
"Your Majesty, I have always been a greedy person."
Ah Zhu stood next to Emperor Xuanpei, looking as sincere as could be.
"You have shown me boundless kindness and affection, which I have always cherished. Therefore, ever since I began serving you, I have always wanted to preserve everything related to you..."
"This is your first time being a 'teacher,' and even though you've abandoned your students, they still want to stay."
When Ah Zhu's big eyes were filled with tears as she pleaded, she looked incredibly pitiful.
She repeatedly pleaded with him, emphasizing her "first time" and with tears in her eyes, and Emperor Xuanpei finally relented.
"This will not be repeated."
"Yes, yes, yes." Ah Zhu nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice. "Your Majesty is so kind."
Judging that the hunting season was about to begin, Emperor Xuanpei wanted to take Azhu back, but Azhu shook his head and refused to get on the horse.
"Your Majesty."
With a blush, A-Zhu leaned close to Emperor Xuanpei's ear, somewhat embarrassed.
"My concubine, my legs... are scraped on both sides."
Emperor Xuanpei: ...He was truly caught between anger and laughter.
"You, do you still dare to ride your horse recklessly?"
Ah Zhu looked aggrieved, her nose and eyes were red, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Your Majesty, I am both afraid and in pain, and you still scold me."
Seeing that A-Zhu was truly upset, Emperor Xuanpei reached out and wiped away A-Zhu's tears, whispering, "It's all my fault."
"I shouldn't have let you ride alone."
"Let's not ride horses today, let's take a sedan chair back together, okay?"
Ah Zhu then stopped crying and started laughing. A moment later, Emperor Xuanpei carried her to the palanquin.
Emperor Xuanpei did not leave until he arrived at Songxiu Pavilion and the imperial physician prescribed medicine.
Because this medicine can also be applied externally, and fresh hemp leaves are best for relieving pain and swelling, people from Kowloon Garden were specially asked to collect these herbs to make the medicine patches.
Outside, carrying a basin of hot water, preparing to carefully wash the green hibiscus off A-Zhu's body, she saw a group of people dressed as female doctors walking in.
Since the imperial physicians were all men, they naturally couldn't examine the wounds or apply medicine to the concubines' private parts. These female physicians were the ones who specialized in doing these miscellaneous tasks.
Green Lotus led the people inside.
In a moment of impulsiveness, Ah Zhu, who couldn't even enjoy the festivities outside for a while, lay listlessly on the couch waiting for her medicine to be applied.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice any noise around her.
Until she heard a voice, however soft, that couldn't hide its excitement.
"Sixth Miss".
!!
Upon hearing this address, A-Zhu was startled.
Nowadays, only the people of the Jiang family still call her Sixth Miss!
She looked closely and saw that it was a young female doctor with a small face and light eyebrows.
......
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Author's Note: Here they come! *pats* My little darlings! Thank you all for your support! [heart][heart][heart]
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