Chapter 51
Xiao Huan's body was slightly stiff, but his face showed no change in expression.
"All the students in the world are my subjects. Why should I be happy?"
Xie Ling just passed the imperial examination. When I saw him, I just took a look at him...that's all.
Xiao Huan said one thing and meant another, and Xie Ling didn't believe it at all. His Majesty would definitely be happy if he passed the imperial examination. Not to mention the manpower and material resources His Majesty had invested in order for him to take the imperial examination, Xie Ling didn't believe His Majesty's pretending to be casual now. After spending a long time with His Majesty, he could roughly see that His Majesty was not saying one thing and not thinking another.
Just as he was about to say something, he turned around and met that half-smiling gaze.
"Besides, I have specially invited Zheng Wanyun to attend this provincial examination. If you fail, that would be eye-catching."
Xie Ling: …
Okay, okay, that makes sense.
"But your majesty, it's not easy to pass the imperial examination. There's still time for the imperial examination next year so you can prepare for it."
"How about we celebrate today?"
The first time he passed the imperial examination, if Xie Ling hadn't found his ancestor here, he would have at least burned a stick of incense to celebrate.
Seeing that he was so happy that he could hardly sit still, Xiao Huan curled the corners of his lips slightly.
"Well, I've thought about it for you."
"I can really relax today and don't have to study anymore."
Xie Ling's eyes became brighter and brighter, and he saw His Majesty called Wang Bao, and Eunuch Wang turned the car around.
Hey, what is your majesty going to take him to do?
Xie Ling was feeling curious and couldn't help but glance at the opposite side on the way. However, Xiao Huan remained calm and just lowered his head to read a book.
Xie Ling hesitated for a moment, then secretly stretched his head out to take a look.
Wait, how did you get here from the wilderness?
Before Xie Ling could react, he saw the eunuch Wang in front of him driving along, and the guards on the roadside saluted one by one. Then he realized that this seemed to be a royal place.
It was only when they arrived at the place that Xie Ling recognized him.
"Is this Xiyuan?"
He slowly remembered the direction they came from, and there was only one place that matched the direction.
Xiao Huan glanced at him and said, "You do know this place."
This guy was so sleepy in class that he had a good memory of these places for fun. Xiyuan was the nearest enclosure in Daganjing, which was specially used for the royal family to ride horses and hunt.
In recent years, no one has been able to get close to Emperor Xiao Huan.
Xie Ling didn't expect His Majesty to bring him here. He was a little confused and blinked innocently: "But I don't like riding horses."
“Not to mention hunting.”
Did Your Majesty give the wrong reward?
Xiao Huan looked at him and suddenly chuckled.
"Don't love it or don't know how to do it?"
Xie Ling: …
Wait, what does your majesty mean?
He was just about to think about it, when he heard His Majesty ask again:
"Do you want to learn?"
A faint sentence poured into his ears, without any other meaning. Xie Ling suppressed his messy thoughts and slowly reacted.
So, Your Majesty brought him here specifically to teach him how to ride a horse?
The heart that had died after seeing the paddock suddenly came back to life and was beating vigorously.
Xie Ling hesitated and said tentatively: "Actually, I do know a little bit."
He was not wrong. The original owner did have some basic kung fu skills.
Xiao Huan glanced at him with a smile, without commenting on his words. He just got off the carriage and asked someone to bring two horses.
One was the Ferghana horse that Xie Ling was familiar with, and the other... was a red horse that was slightly shorter than the Ferghana horse, very delicate in appearance, and looked very docile, with a reddish-brown color.
Xie Ling was actually quite afraid of horses, but when he saw the little red horse, his eyes lit up.
Why does this little horse look... well, quite polite, not at all like the condescending Ferghana horse just now?
Xiao Huan patted Ben Xiao and explained.
"There are other Arabian horses in the paddock, but this breed has a fierce temperament and is not suitable for learning."
"If you learn it, you can choose a Ferghana horse."
Most people would prefer the Ferghana horse, so Xiao Huan specifically agreed.
Xie Ling quickly shook his head: "No, no."
"I think Xiaohong is fine."
Not only did she not look down on him or sneer at him, but she also lowered her head and rubbed him actively.
What kind of fairy pony is this!
Xie Ling reached out his hand tentatively and touched it, and the specially selected little red horse immediately extended its ear to him. Just this one touch made Xie Ling smile so much that the corners of his mouth almost stretched to the back of his ears.
So cute. So cute.
"The system is so cute!"
system:……
"Which is cuter, Little White or Little Red?"
In a short period of time, the delicate-looking little red horse was given the name Xiaohong.
Xie Ling thought for a moment and said, "Tsk, it's hard to decide."
"But let's praise Xiaohong first while she's here."
After watching Xie Ling getting familiar with the little red horse for a while, Xiao Huan took the horse grass from the guard and handed it to him.
"Try to feed it."
"Let it get familiar with you."
Xie Ling took the horse grass and tentatively gave some to Xiao Hong. Xiao Hong was indeed a fairy pony, she ate very gently, not at all like Ben Xiao who was eating with a haughty attitude, at this time she lowered her head and ate the horse grass bit by bit.
Xie Ling's heart almost melted.
Xiao Huan couldn't stand the way this guy fed a horse as if he had found a pet, and he let out a light "tsk".
But given his status, it seemed that he couldn't argue with a horse. Xiao Huan paused, suddenly patted Ben Xiao beside him, and collected the horse grass.
The tall Arabian horse, which had no grass to eat, reacted immediately. After looking around and finding no grass, it turned a corner and pushed the little red horse away.
Xie Ling was just looking at the immortal eating horse grass, but when he raised his head, he saw a horse face, which almost scared him.
"Depend on."
“I was scared to death.”
"Who knows how shocking it is to see a little red horse turn into a white-eyed horse when you look up? This system is so rude."
He also stole Xiaohong's horse grass.
system:……
Pretending not to see what Emperor Wu had just done.
Xie Ling originally thought that Ben Xiao would snort again after eating this time, but he didn't expect that after snatching the little red horse grass, this guy would be a little more obedient and condescend to give him a rub. Although this rub almost knocked Xie Ling to the ground again, he barely put down his arrogance.
The corner of Xiao Huan's mouth twitched, and his face darkened again in an instant. He grabbed Ben Xiao's reins and pulled the horse back, saying lightly: "They are fed every day. Just now I just fed them something by hand to familiarize them with it."
"Start learning now."
ah?
Is that so?
Well, he was still thinking that Xiao Hong was not full, so he would ask the guard brother for some more. But he didn't know much about horses, so since His Majesty said so, it should be true.
Xie Ling withdrew his hand and comforted Xiaohong twice.
He thought that His Majesty was riding Benxiao while he was walking Xiaohong slowly, but who knew that His Majesty gave the reins of Benxiao to the eunuch next to him, and then he walked over.
As Xiao Huan held the red horse, he turned to look at Xie Ling.
"Will you get on the horse?"
ah?
Xie Ling was stunned for a moment. Of course he could, but wait, Your Majesty wants you to hold the horse for him?
The scene in front of him was too horrifying. Xie Ling was shocked. Even if he had been unbridled recently and had made a little joke with His Majesty, he would not dare to ask His Majesty to lead his horse. You know, in ancient times, this was usually done by subordinates, and the person opposite was the emperor.
Seeing that his face turned pale with fright, Xiao Huan raised his eyebrows.
"Since it's a reward, I won't care about it."
"What are you afraid of?"
Xie Ling: …
It's not a question of whether he is afraid or not, it's that everyone around him is afraid. He turned his gaze and found that the eunuchs around him had turned their heads away the moment His Majesty led the horse. Even the eunuchs acted as if they didn't see anything.
Xie Ling took a deep breath and stepped tentatively into the stirrup.
After all, he had ridden it once before in the camp outside Beijing, so his body still remembered it. Although he stumbled a little, Xie Ling finally got up.
At this time, his brows relaxed slightly and he looked eagerly at the opposite side.
"Your Majesty, I am coming up."
Xiao Huan nodded, responded, and suddenly the corners of his lips curled up.
"You didn't need to shake your legs so much and press your body so low just now."
“This horse is very docile.”
It can be said that there is no horse in the entire Xiyuan that is more docile than this red horse.
Xie Ling didn't expect that His Majesty saw it, and his face turned red.
Help, Your Majesty, why are you staring at him for no reason?
Can't he just not get used to it?
Seeing the host being so cowardly, the system couldn't bear to watch.
Xie Ling coughed lightly and defended himself.
"I was afraid of crushing Xiaohong. After all, I've gained a lot of weight recently."
Gained weight?
Xiao Huan looked over suspiciously, looking left and right, but couldn't tell where Xie Ling had gained weight. He was still the same as before, thin and lean, except that there was a little more flesh on his face.
He glanced at the other person's cheek, and thinking of the way Xie Ling had put his face close to him for him to pinch, his throat rolled and he withdrew his gaze.
"Um."
"Hmm what?" His Majesty is not laughing at him anymore? Xie Ling sat up straight again.
Xiao Huan led the horse for a while, and when he saw that Xie Ling had adapted, he began to talk about the key points of his experience.
"When you start running, keep your legs close to the horse's belly and don't leave your feet in the stirrups. If you are scared, you can lean forward and press down."
"Like when you first get on the horse."
Xie Ling felt as if he had been shot by an arrow again, and looked towards His Majesty with some resentment.
Xiao Huan reacted after he finished speaking and coughed lightly.
"I just said it casually."
"Let's try it."
He returned the reins to Xie Ling, who was skeptical. But to be honest, after walking on the hillside with His Majesty for a while, he did feel less nervous. When he was forced to ride a horse in the camp outside Beijing, he was so scared that his calves were shaking. If he was not afraid that His Majesty would doubt his identity, he would definitely not get on the horse.
Taking the reins, Xie Ling took a deep breath under the gaze of His Majesty, and let Xiaohong run slowly according to the instructions.
Xiaohong was indeed a well-trained royal horse. She noticed that the owner on her back was a little panicked, so she ran slower at the beginning, which made Xie Ling subconsciously breathe a sigh of relief.
Xiao Huan watched from afar as Xie Ling started running. He reached out to take Ben Xiao's reins and jumped onto the horse.
Just when Xie Ling thought that he had run quite far and could no longer see His Majesty and the others, he heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance. Turning back, he found that it was His Majesty riding Benxiao and catching up with him.
Because Benxiao had a fierce temperament and liked to compete with other horses, Xiao Huan did not approach him after catching up with him, but just watched him from a distance.
“Keep running.”
"I'll follow you from behind."
With someone watching over him from behind, Xie Ling felt more at ease. He had just been trotting, but now he was gradually relaxing. The little red horse was also getting better and now it had returned to its normal speed.
This was the first time for Xie Ling to ride a horse like this. He had never understood the fun of those who liked riding horses, but now he finally understood it.
"System, ahhhhh, it feels so good."
Who understands? Although the feeling of the autumn wind blowing on your face is a bit stinging, it is so cool to watch the surrounding scenery retreat little by little when Xiaohong jumps up.
Xie Ling finally realized that there is a reason why every enduring outdoor sport exists.
Seeing that he was getting more and more excited as he ran, Xiao Huan raised his eyebrows slightly and followed him.
The two of them ran all the way to the pavilion in front before stopping. Xie Ling tightened the reins, and Xiaohong obediently slowed down and stopped after seeing the building in front.
After running for nearly an hour, Xie Ling was sweating all over, but he felt very refreshed. He even didn't feel cold, which was rare in such weather.
"His Majesty."
Seeing Emperor Wu coming over, Xie Ling patted Xiaohong's head and dismounted.
"Hehe, thank you, Your Majesty."
"I love it so much."
Xiao Huan had been in a bad mood for a while, but today, influenced by Xie Ling, he finally relaxed a little, and his brows relaxed a little.
"This red horse was originally given to you. If you like it, come and ride it again next time."
Xie Ling's eyes lit up and he touched the little red head excitedly.
The two of them rested in the pavilion for a while, and Wang Bao came over to ask if they wanted food. His Majesty had arranged a trip to the West Garden yesterday, so he brought food with him.
After hearing Wang Bao's words, Xiao Huan paused and looked at Xie Ling.
"Do you want to eat the food brought from the palace, or do you want to eat game?"
"There are plenty of rabbits and pheasants in the woods."
There is also game? Xie Ling hesitated for only a second before decisively choosing to hunt.
"Your Majesty, I'm rested. Let's go hunting."
Now that you are here, how can you not experience the joy of hunting? It would be a pity to only eat the meals in the palace.
I didn't expect Xie Ling to be so energetic. Even Xiao Huan was surprised for a moment, but it was only for a moment before he began to question:
"Can you fight?"
He remembered that Xie Ling couldn't even draw a bow.
Xie Ling: "Isn't this His Majesty here?"
He looked at me eagerly again: "Your Majesty will not let me starve, right?"
Xiao Huan choked and said with a bit of amusement: "Then what are you doing?"
Xie Ling thought about it carefully and asked tentatively: "Then I will cheer for His Majesty?"
Wang Bao curled the corners of his lips slightly and forced himself to hold back his laughter.
Xiao Huan glanced at him and was somewhat speechless: "I don't need any cheering for just catching a few rabbits."
Xie Ling coughed lightly, and when he heard His Majesty's words, he knew that it was settled!
Sure enough, after wiping his hands casually, His Majesty stood up.
"Let's go."
Just as Xie Ling was about to follow, he saw Emperor Wu stop again and look him up and down. Just as Xie Ling was looking at him in confusion, he heard a voice from the front.
"Someone, bring him a cloak."
This guy doesn't exercise like him all year round. He rode a horse for half a day today, and if he catches a cold in the afternoon, he might get sick.
Xie Ling blinked, a little surprised. He did feel a little cold. After all, the temperature in the mountains in the afternoon was definitely cooler than at noon. He didn't expect His Majesty to notice it.
Is your majesty so attentive?
When Eunuch Wang Bao brought the cloak, Xie Ling put it on obediently and climbed back onto the little red horse. Then he saw the eunuchs in front of the emperor bringing a bow and arrow.
This bow and arrow is not new and looks like it is often used. Just by picking it up, one can tell that it is a good bow. I wonder how many preys have been killed with it to give it such a fierce aura.
Xiao Huan picked it up.
Xie Ling didn't expect that he also had one. He looked down and found that Eunuch Wang also gave him one.
Xie Ling: "I can't."
Wang Bao: "Well, Master Xie, isn't it true that we can't be partial to one and neglect the other?"
"It looks good to hold anyway."
This sentence convinced Xie Ling, and he took the bow at this time. Fortunately, his bow was not as big as Emperor Wu's, but just a normal size, and it looked like a new one, which was simply an excellent artifact for show.
"System, do you know what is missing now?"
"What?" the system asked subconsciously.
Xie Ling sighed: "Now I just need a skilled painter who can draw me looking so handsome and majestic."
System: ...The host seems to have some misunderstanding about handsomeness and might?
Seeing the host posing happily, the system hesitated and reminded: "Host, there is someone next to you."
Don't let it fly like that.
Xie Ling quickly came back to his senses and saw His Majesty Emperor Wu looking at him. His expression became strange after seeing the way he had just drawn the bow.
"you"
Xie Ling was hit on the head and felt his toes touch the ground belatedly:...
Ahhh, how could he forget that the others were at the back, but His Majesty was at the side.
How do you look at this?
——Your Majesty, you don’t think he is a fool, do you?
Xie Ling felt that all the face he had saved after traveling through time was about to be lost, and he stammered, "Your Majesty, I was just testing the bow, hahahaha."
“It’s the first time I see it, and I’m a little curious.”
Xiao Huan raised his eyebrows, looked at the guy's red face, and curled the corners of his lips. But he didn't expose him in the end, just said: "Let's go."
Because he was going hunting, he walked a little further from the pavilion and entered the path. Xie Ling held his breath and looked at the trees around him, silently driving his horse to catch up with His Majesty. Fortunately, he didn't know whether His Majesty was waiting for him deliberately, but he was always within ten feet of him.
Xie Ling breathed a sigh of relief, and suddenly heard a "whoosh" sound beside his ear, as if something had rushed past. His mind, which had just been excited by the hunting, calmed down and began to have wild thoughts.
"System, is there something next to me?"
Xie Ling swallowed.
Who would dare to imagine that in the dim jungle at dusk, there are huge trees blocking out the sun and unknown creatures.
The system was also startled, because when it just scanned it, it seemed that there was indeed something on the right side not far away from the host.
The air stagnated for a moment, and it seemed that only the sound of the wind remained.
I will not move unless the enemy moves. Just when Xie Ling was thinking about how to remind His Majesty without making any noise, he saw His Majesty suddenly turn around.
As soon as he drew the bow, the arrow shot to his right, which was exactly the direction the system had just reminded him.
A fluttering sound came from through the bushes, as if something was struggling violently. When Xie Ling slowly recovered and turned around, he saw a hare lying on the ground.
Xie Ling: …
I was so scared, it turned out to be a rabbit?!
No, is this rabbit making so much noise?
Xiao Huan dismounted and picked up the rabbit, explaining, "The slightest sound in the woods will be amplified." Seeing that Xie Ling seemed to be frightened just now, he rarely said a word of comfort.
"Don't be afraid."
When meeting the gaze of His Majesty, Xie Ling realized that it was a misunderstanding and felt a little embarrassed.
Ahhhh, why would you mistake a rabbit for a wolf or something like that?
It made him look like a coward.
He touched his face, trying to act as calmly as usual, but as if confused by his previous performance, His Majesty turned around after putting away the hare.
"you"
Xiao Huan paused for a moment, then said, "If you are afraid, come and ride with me."
Xie Ling was stunned for a moment and still a little hesitant: Well, isn’t this a bad idea?
But it seems that this is not the first time that he and His Majesty have ridden together? After hesitating for a moment, Xie Ling decisively chose to follow his heart in the gloomy atmosphere of the jungle. At this time, he entrusted the little red horse to Eunuch Wang, and then timidly climbed onto the Benxiao.
As soon as Ben Xiao was glanced at by Xiao Huan, he immediately became very obedient.
Xie Ling sat in front of the horse, and felt a little safer when he felt someone behind him. However, when His Majesty Emperor Wu drove the horse forward, he thought: "Oh, Your Majesty, will my behavior affect you?"
Xiao Huan raised his eyebrows.
"Won't."
Xie Ling: “Really?” With one more person present, it would be somewhat inconvenient whether chasing prey or drawing the bow.
Just as he was thinking this, there was movement in the woods ahead. Xie Ling held his breath and saw the person behind him stretched out his hand and drew his bow, aiming at the tree from a distance.
In just a moment, Xie Ling saw the arrow clearly.
He didn't watch it carefully when he was rescued. Just now he observed His Majesty drawing the bow at such a close distance. He was shocked when he saw it.
Okay, he took back what he said just now. It seemed that it would not make much difference whether he was there or not.
Perhaps because he saw His Majesty shoot the arrow with his own eyes, Xie Ling was not afraid this time. After he put away the bow, he turned back to look at Emperor Wu. Xiao Huan saw what he was thinking at a glance and pulled the reins to signal Ben Xiao to squat down.
"Let's go and take a look."
Xie Ling climbed down panting, then walked into the bushes, poked his bow, and saw a pheasant hit by an arrow.
Twice in a row, Your Majesty hit the target with one arrow.
It was the first time that Xie Ling had seen such amazing archery skills. After picking up the pheasant, his face turned red with excitement.
“That’s amazing!”
"The history books say that your majesty is good at riding and shooting, but I didn't know that he was this good."
"It's not an exaggeration to say that he can shoot an arrow through a target from a hundred paces away."
The two prey were not close just now, but Your Majesty caught them so easily. It is no exaggeration to say that when Xie Ling saw the pheasant, his heart beat faster, and he felt a surge of adrenaline in an instant.
He took a deep breath, put the pheasant into the basket behind him and continued on his way back.
The two of them continued to fight until it was completely dark before they got out of the jungle.
"Let's go back to the mountain pavilion and grill it."
Xiao Huan glanced at the young man who was so excited that he was at a loss, and found that the way Xie Ling looked at him had changed since he had hunted several prey.
Even though Xiao Huan knew that Xie Ling admired him, he still seemed to be... too enthusiastic at this moment.
Xiao Huan coughed lightly and turned his head, trying hard to ignore Xie Ling's sparkling eyes just now. However, the more he ignored it, the more conspicuous it became, especially after he took down the hunting basket.
Xie Ling ran over and hugged him.
"Your Majesty, I'll come, I'll come."
Xiao Huan: ...
Even though he never showed his emotions, he still found Xie Ling's look a little unbearable.
Xie Ling couldn't control himself either.
His Majesty was so amazing, especially just now, it was really hard for him not to admire him. God knows how handsome he was when he calmly drew the bow without changing his expression.
Xie Ling still felt dizzy.
"Hey, system, it turns out that this is my preference."
"I've been single for so many years, and I finally know."
system:……
It's unbearable to watch. It's simply unbearable to watch.
The system went offline in a second, fearing that if he didn't leave, Xie Ling would say something shocking again.
Without hearing the system's response, Xie Ling screamed in his heart for a long time and felt that he had to calm down. However, he did not notice that the Emperor Wu inadvertently glanced at the top of his head.
What does this orientation mean?
But he understood being single.
What you mean is...Xie Ling has never liked anyone except me?
Not before he traveled through time?
Thinking of this, Xiao Huan's throat suddenly felt dry, and his mood subconsciously became a little out of control.
Xie Ling just sat next to His Majesty. After he and Eunuch Wang took out the hunted prey, everyone had already lit a fire.
He watched the eunuchs cleaning together and wanted to help, but was stopped by Eunuch Wang.
"Thank you, Master. We can handle this matter."
"You should take a rest. It's okay."
Seeing that Eunuch Wang insisted, Xie Ling had to give up his plan and went to pour a cup of tea. He had been immersed in the atmosphere of hunting and didn't notice that he hadn't drunk any water for almost the whole afternoon. He was so thirsty.
Only after he gulped down a large glass of warm water did Xie Ling feel alive again. At this moment, he thought of His Majesty looking over.
Um?
"Would you like some tea, Your Majesty?"
Seeing His Majesty looking in his direction, wondering what he was thinking, Xie Ling raised the teapot in his hand.
Xiao Huan came back to his senses and nodded. He told himself that he shouldn't think about it any more, but he just couldn't help himself.
Xie Ling reached out and poured a cup. Just as he was about to hand it to His Majesty, he looked up in surprise after moving a little closer.
"Your Majesty, your heart is beating so fast."
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