Chapter 23: Horse Farm Reunion
Since that first day of riding a horse, Su Wanrou's life seemed to have been infused with a fresh vitality. The half hour she spent with Gu Yangui at the horse farm every afternoon became a secret and eagerly anticipated time for her. Although her initial fear had not completely dissipated, it gradually transformed into a desire to conquer and become familiar with the horse under Gu Yangui's steady guidance and Zhao Yebai's docile cooperation.
Gu Yangui was a strict yet patient teacher. He spoke very little, but his guidance was incredibly precise.
"Relax your shoulders."
"Look into the distance and focus on the direction you are heading, not on the horse's head."
"Lower your heels and press your calves against the horse's belly, but don't squeeze them tightly."
"The reins are a bridge to communicate with you, not a rope to tighten its throat."
His voice was deep and steady, clearly reaching Su Wanrou's ears in the empty riding arena. She tried her best to adjust according to his instructions; sometimes, a simple sitting posture or the action of holding the reins required repeated practice before she could reach his standard of "acceptable." Whenever she frowned slightly because she couldn't get it right, Gu Yangui would not scold her, but would silently lead the horse forward, or personally come forward and gently correct the angle of her wrist with his calloused fingers, or pat her back to signal her to straighten up.
The warmth of his fingertips seeped through her thin autumn clothes, always making Su Wanrou's heart skip a beat and her cheeks flush slightly, but this was followed by a strange sense of security. Under his tutelage, she gradually became familiar with Zhao Yebai. She began to be able to sense the emotions and intentions of this docile mare through the subtle tension of the reins and the rise and fall of her back, no longer seeing every jolt as a sign of danger as she had at the beginning.
On this day, the autumn sky was clear and crisp, a pristine blue. Su Wanrou was now able to control the Zhao Ye Bai horse independently, walking slowly within a designated area without being guided. Dressed in her crisp begonia-red riding attire, she sat upright on the horse, the sunlight casting a soft glow around her. Although her posture still carried the awkwardness of a beginner, a newfound composure had appeared in her eyes.
Gu Yangui stood with his hands behind his back at the sidelines, his gaze calmly following the man and his horse. He wasn't wearing his usual martial attire today, only a simple dark-colored robe, yet his posture remained sturdy, his aura powerful. Watching Su Wanrou's transformation from initial panic to her current improved performance, a barely perceptible hint of approval flickered in his deep eyes. She was more resilient than he had imagined.
“Husband,” Su Wanrou gently reined in Zhao Yebai, turned to him, her eyes sparkling with a hint of pride and anticipation, “I think… I’m walking more steadily now.”
Gu Yangui walked over to Zhao Yebai, stood beside her, and looked up at her: "Hmm. Want to try jogging?"
Jogging? Su Wanrou's heart skipped a beat. Walking slowly was already the limit of what she could manage; the jolting sensation from jogging...
Seeing a hint of hesitation in her eyes, Gu Yangui said, "I'm here."
Those three simple words strangely soothed Su Wanrou's anxiety. She looked into his calm eyes, which held a compelling power. She took a deep breath and nodded: "Okay."
Gu Yangui didn't let her start immediately. Instead, he explained in detail the rhythm and techniques for trotting with the horse, how to cushion the bumps using the strength of the waist, abdomen, and legs, and how to rise and fall with the horse's rhythm. "Remember, relaxation is key. The more tense you are, the more the horse can sense it, and the easier it is to lose control."
Su Wanrou focused her mind and memorized it, then silently practiced it several times in her mind.
"Ready?" Gu Yangui asked.
"Hmm." Su Wanrou tightened her grip on the reins, then quietly loosened them slightly, trying to relax herself.
Gu Yangui said no more, only raised his hand and lightly patted Zhao Yebai's buttocks, giving the order: "Go!"
Upon receiving the order, Zhao Yebai immediately switched from a leisurely stroll to a brisk jog. The sudden increase in speed and the noticeably more intense jolting made Su Wanrou gasp softly, her body instinctively leaning back, her hands subconsciously gripping the saddle tightly, and she instantly forgot half of the key points she had just memorized.
"Su Wanrou," Gu Yangui's deep voice rang out, carrying an undeniable calmness, "look at me."
His voice seemed to possess a magical power, piercing through Su Wanrou's panic. She forced herself to look up at Gu Yangui, who had somehow started jogging alongside her. His steps were composed, his breathing steady, and his deep gaze was fixed on her.
"Look straight ahead, relax your body, and follow its rhythm!" His instructions were concise and powerful.
Su Wanrou bit her lower lip, trying to ignore the whistling wind and the swaying of her body, focusing all her attention on controlling her body. She tried not to fight against the rise and fall of the horse's back, but to rise and fall slightly with that force, searching for that rhythm of "becoming one." At first, she was still stiff, and several times she almost lost her balance from the jolting, but whenever she swayed, Gu Yangui would always be there to help. His presence was like an invisible barrier, letting her know that even if she fell, she would definitely fall into a safe embrace.
Gradually, she started to get a feel for it. Her body was no longer so stiff, and she was able to keep up with Zhao Yebai's jogging pace, albeit with difficulty. Although she was still nervous and her palms were sweating, a faint sense of control that transcended fear and the thrill of speed began to sprout in her heart.
Just then, Mingxuan's excited shouts came from the sidelines: "Father! Mother! You're running a horse race!"
It turned out that Mingxuan had finished his home lessons and, hearing that his parents were at the horse farm, had excitedly run over with his wet nurse. The child's clear voice broke the focus of the crowd. Su Wanrou instinctively turned her head at the sound, and in that moment of distraction, the reins loosened, and her rhythm faltered. Zhao Yebai seemed to sense the rider's panic, and its steps shifted slightly, causing the jolting to intensify!
"Ah!" Su Wanrou exclaimed in surprise, her body tilting uncontrollably to one side!
In a flash, a figure in black robes swept in like a gust of wind! Gu Yangui reacted with astonishing speed. The instant Su Wanrou fell, he stretched out his long arm, precisely catching her around the waist. Using the momentum, he spun around to dissipate the force, steadily bringing her down from the horse and holding her protectively in his arms. The entire sequence of movements was fluid and seamless, as if he had rehearsed it countless times.
Even the Night-Shining White seemed to understand human nature, stopping and pacing uneasily while snorting.
Still shaken, Su Wanrou pressed her cheek against Gu Yangui's firm, warm chest. She could clearly hear the strong, steady heartbeat within his chest, and the cool, pine scent mingled with a faint trace of sweat emanating from him, surprisingly reassuring. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and her legs felt weak; she was only kept from collapsing to the ground by the arm around her waist.
"It's alright." Gu Yangui's deep voice came from above, with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible. His arms were tightly wrapped around her, as if he wanted to embed her into his body.
"Mother! Are you alright?" Mingxuan's face turned pale with fright. He rushed over and nervously grabbed Su Wanrou's sleeve.
The child's call brought Su Wanrou back to her senses, and she realized just how intimate their position was. In front of everyone, she was practically pressed against Gu Yangui's chest, her cheeks instantly turning bright red. She struggled to straighten herself up, saying, "N-nothing... thank you, husband."
Gu Yangui released his arm as instructed, but still placed one hand on her lower back to ensure she was steady. "Are you hurt?" His gaze swept quickly over her, scrutinizing her.
Su Wanrou shook her head, but her heart was still beating fast and her voice was trembling slightly: "No, I was just startled."
After confirming that she was alright, Gu Yangui turned his gaze to the little troublemaker and said in a slightly stern tone, "Xuan'er, you must not make loud noises on the horse track and disturb the riders."
Knowing he had made a mistake, Mingxuan hung his head, pouted, and his eyes were red. He whispered, "Father, I know I was wrong... I was just so happy to see that Mother can ride a horse..."
Seeing her son's pitiful appearance, Su Wanrou felt heartbroken. Forgetting that she was still scared, she quickly squatted down and hugged Mingxuan into her arms, gently comforting him: "Xuan'er, don't cry. Mother is fine. It was Mother's carelessness. It's not Xuan'er's fault."
Gu Yangui watched the mother and son crouching on the ground, embracing. Su Wanrou softly coaxed him, while Mingxuan leaned against her, the golden rays of the setting sun casting a warm glow upon them, creating an incredibly tender scene. His heart, which had been taut from the near-miss, gradually relaxed, a complex emotion flickering in the depths of his eyes. This feeling of being needed, relied upon, and required to protect and comfort others was unfamiliar to him, yet… not repulsive.
"That's enough for today," Gu Yangui said, his tone now regaining its usual calm. "You've done very well. Jogging needs to be done gradually; you can't rush it."
Su Wanrou raised her head and looked at him. Backlit, his tall figure appeared even more imposing, and his hard features softened slightly in the setting sun. She recalled his unwavering rescue when she fell from the horse, the warmth from his chest and the beating of his heart, and an indescribable warmth and flutter welled up in her heart.
"Yes, my husband," she replied softly, taking Mingxuan's hand as she stood up.
On the way back, Mingxuan held Su Wanrou's hand with one hand and tried to reach for Gu Yangui's hand with the other. Gu Yangui looked down at his son's expectant little eyes, hesitated for a moment, but still reached out his big hand and wrapped the soft little hand in his palm.
And so, in the late autumn sunset, on the path leading to the inner courtyard of the Duke's mansion, this scene unfolded: the cold and dignified Duke Zhenguo held the hand of his skipping son, with his young wife beside him, her cheeks slightly flushed and her eyes smiling. Their shadows were elongated and intertwined, as if it were meant to be this way.
Mingxuan chattered on about the interesting things that happened at home, while Su Wanrou listened with a smile, occasionally responding softly. Gu Yangui remained silent most of the time, only occasionally glancing at the serene profile of the woman beside him and his son's cheerful smile. When no one was watching, the corners of his resolute lips would slightly curve into an almost imperceptible arc.
The unexpected incident at the horse farm was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake; the ripples it created were not a disturbance, but rather an indescribable sense of closeness. A warmth called "home" quietly flowed between the three of them in this autumn twilight.
End of Chapter 23
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