Chapter 3: Riding
After Jun Zechen stepped out of Xiyan Palace, Miaoyun and Miaoxia entered the bedroom.
Su Jingyao stood up from the couch and moved to the dressing table. Miaoyun followed closely and began to wash and put on makeup for her gently and carefully.
After a busy period, the outfit was finally completed.
Today she was wearing a rose-scented bra made of gauze that was as thin as a cicada's wing. It was like the morning mist, emitting a faint fragrance.
She wore a soft, green silk skirt with scattered flowers tied around her waist, which outlined her waist in a slender and graceful manner.
The outer layer is covered with a floor-length white silk gauze, which flutters in the wind, making her look as ethereal as a fairy.
At this moment, the bright morning sunlight shines through the window lattice and falls on Su Jingyao's beautiful face.
She was facing the mirror, examining her face carefully.
Miaoxia, who had just made the bed for her master, walked quietly behind her with a slight frown on her face.
"Master, you and His Highness did not..." Her voice was filled with concern and anxiety.
"Well, His Highness doesn't like me and doesn't want to consummate the marriage with me."
Su Jingyao's voice remained calm, as if this incident had no effect on her at all.
Her gaze remained on herself in the mirror, without the slightest wavering.
Miaoxia looked at Su Jingyao with heartache. She grew up with the young lady and came to the East Palace with the young lady.
When the young lady was in the Shangshu Mansion, she was a pampered young lady. Now that she has come to the East Palace, she is treated so coldly by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
"How could His Highness treat you like this? He..."
Before Miaoxia could finish her words, Su Jingyao slowly turned around, her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and interrupted her in a firm tone.
"Be careful with your words. This is the East Palace. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the master of the East Palace. We cannot make any arbitrary judgments about his actions. Do you understand?"
"Yes, master." Miaoxia replied with her head down.
"Let's go and pay our respects to the Crown Princess."
Su Jingyao walked slowly and gracefully out of Xiyan Palace with lotus steps.
Outside the palace, the sky is as clear as jade and the clouds are as light as cotton.
There was always a sweet smile on her pretty face. She would stop from time to time, slightly looking up, and happily admire the blooming flowers along the way.
She is indeed an innocent girl who knows nothing about the world.
It was the first time for the palace maids and eunuchs of the Eastern Palace to see Concubine Su. They did not expect that she was so charming and beautiful, with an angelic appearance.
Moreover, there was always a friendly smile on his face, and he looked innocent, kind and approachable.
However, everyone couldn't help but reveal their regret. Ever since the Crown Princess entered the East Palace, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has doted on her alone and had a deep affection for her.
Now that Concubine Su has entered the Eastern Palace, she will probably be neglected and lonely in the future.
But they quietly raised their heads and observed Concubine Su, and they also had doubts in their hearts: Can His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really remain indifferent to such a beautiful woman?
When Su Jingyao was in the Shangshu Mansion, she was accustomed to the scene where maids would stare at her whenever she stepped out of the room.
Today, when she was walking on the corridor of the East Palace, many palace maids and eunuchs, whether they were cleaning or watering the flowers, looked at her intentionally or unintentionally, but she did not care much and took it for granted.
When they arrived at the Crown Princess's palace, Su Jingyao looked up and saw three large characters "Qiluan Palace" with flying dragons and dancing phoenixes coming into view.
Su Jingyao smiled. The name of the Crown Princess's palace was quite good. "Phoenix Perched on the Wutong Tree", "Luanfeng" and "Ming" all had beautiful meanings.
Afterwards, she walked gracefully into the hall, and as she walked slowly, she admired the exquisite decorations along the way.
Outside the Qiluan Hall, pavilions and towers are arranged in an orderly manner, and the rockery and pools complement each other.
In the water pavilion, the clear water reflects the blue sky and white clouds. The lotus flowers in the pond are graceful and beautiful, with clusters of flowers as dazzling as gorgeous clouds.
The entire building is gorgeous and elegant, with flying eaves, arches, carved beams and painted rafters, demonstrating its dignity and elegance.
After entering the hall, the Crown Princess was already sitting in the first seat with a dignified manner, her eyes calm and her face expressionless.
Ling Yue was used to the free and unrestrained life outside the Great Wall. When she entered the palace, she just wanted to be with the prince for the rest of her life. She also believed the prince's promise to her.
But she didn't expect that he would have a concubine in just two years. However, she also knew that it was difficult to disobey the imperial edict.
Ling Yue's free and open-minded heart is now filled with a lot of melancholy.
"I come to see the Crown Princess and pay my respects to her." Su Jingyao's voice was clear and pleasant, as gentle and melodious as a nightingale, which was a pleasure to hear.
"Get up."
"Thank you, sister." Su Jingyao's voice was full of respect.
After she stood up, Ling Yue looked at her appearance carefully and was distracted for a moment.
Concubine Su was so devoted to the country!
Her facial features were exquisite and beautiful, and her slightly curled eyelashes fluttered gently like butterfly wings. What made people fall in love with her most was her eyes, which were as clear as morning dew, with distinct black and white, and so pure that it seemed as if there was not a trace of impurities.
Seeing Su Jingyao's beauty, Ling Yue's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible wariness.
Does Aze really not like Concubine Su?
She began to feel a little insecure about herself and had doubts about her husband.
No, Aze is not a man who cares about appearance. If Aze likes beautiful women, he would have many wives and concubines in the East Palace by now. How could he have only two maids-in-waiting who have no official status?
She should have believed Aze.
Ling Yue's eyes flashed with determination. She knew clearly how much pressure Aze had endured in order to enhrone her as the Crown Princess.
She also knew clearly how much pressure Aze had endured from her mother and court officials in the past two years because she had not become pregnant.
The palace maid beside her gently brought the tea to Su Jingyao. Su Jingyao lowered her head slightly, her eyes lightly fell on the teacup, and then she stretched out her slender hand and gently picked up the tea from the palace maid's tray.
Her movements were graceful and smooth, like flowing clouds and running water.
When he stood up, his body leaned forward slightly, as naturally as a breeze, then he took a few steps forward, bowed slightly, and handed the tea over respectfully.
This series of actions fully demonstrates the dignity and grace of the noble lady.
Ling Yue grew up outside the Great Wall. She only complied with the palace's red tape out of courtesy, but in her heart she was actually quite annoyed by these rules.
However, she had lived in the East Palace for two years, and the Queen did not like her as the daughter of a military commander. In order to please the Queen, she had to let the maids teach her etiquette.
I originally thought that her manners were comparable to the elegance and grace of the young ladies from the aristocratic families in the capital. Although her manners were not as dignified as those of the empress and other concubines in the palace, they could still be considered graceful.
But today, after seeing Su Jingyao, the role model of a noble lady from a noble family in the capital, I realized that under the strict etiquette, a woman can not only be elegant and graceful, but can also be graceful and charming.
It turns out that this is the demeanor of a noble lady from an aristocratic family.
Ling Yue took the tea, lowered her eyelashes slightly, took a sip, and said slowly: "Princess Su, please sit down."
"Thank you, sister."
The corners of Su Jingyao's mouth slightly raised, and the innocent smile on her still tender face was like a flower blooming in spring, fresh and natural, revealing an innocence of a child.
She raised her head and saw the face of the heroine of the novel so closely for the first time.
Although Ling Yue's appearance is not as exquisite as hers, it also has a different kind of charm.
Her skin is delicate and has a faint glow. Her eyebrows are like distant mountains, slightly raised, with a touch of boldness and heroism. Her eyes are as bright as stars, sparkling and shining, and there seems to be flowing light when they move. Her nose is straight and beautiful, adding a three-dimensional sense to her face.
The whole person is like a horse galloping freely in the frontier, exuding a unique charm and showing a bit of stubbornness and unruliness.
Perhaps, it was her unique and unrestrained temperament that attracted Jun Zechen, who had lived in the palace for many years.
The free girl outside the Great Wall did have a fatal attraction to the young Jun Zechen.
After all, Jun Zechen grew up in the imperial palace and has always hated scheming women.
During the year when Ling Yue went out to fight in the war, Jun Zecheng observed and tested her. In his heart, he had already determined that Ling Yue was a person with a pure mind.
It was because of this that Ling Yue entered his heart.
Su Jingyao looked at Ling Yue openly, but her eyes were pure and showed only kindness.
She didn't look at it for long, and then slowly sat down on the chair next to it.
When Su Jingyao sat down gracefully, a barely perceptible hesitation revealed itself between her brows, and her expression seemed a little unnatural, as if she had some unspeakable words in her heart that she was hesitant to speak.
Ling Yue took in all of this and asked softly, "Does Concubine Su have anything to say?"
"I do have some things that I want to talk to you about, but... I don't know if it's convenient..."
Su Jingyao's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a hint of hesitation.
As she spoke, she lowered her head slightly, her eyes wandering around the ground, sometimes biting her lower lip, sometimes frowning.
Ling Yue was a little confused. It was only the first time she and Su Jingyao met. Could they have anything to talk about privately?
Although she didn't understand, she still waved her hand and said, "All of you leave."
Su Jingyao breathed a relief. If she had said it in front of the palace sigh maids, she really couldn't have said it.
Her hands moved unconsciously and her fingers trembled slightly, clearly revealing her inner hesitation.
When she raised her head again, her gaze met Ling Yue's.
Su Jingyao bit her lower lip lightly, mustered up great courage, and spoke in a soft and trembling voice.
"Sister, although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stayed in Xiyan Palace yesterday, he did not do anything to me."
As she finished speaking, a blush quickly appeared on her pretty face, like a ripe cherry, and the blush gradually spread to the tips of her ears.
At this moment, her head was slightly lowered, full of shyness.
Ling Yue showed a look of surprise on his face.
The prince had already sent someone to inform her of this yesterday, but she never expected that Su Jingyao would confess it to her in person.
"Why are you telling me this?"
There was a complex light in Ling Yue's eyes. She tilted her head slightly and her gaze fell on Su Jingyao.
Even she, the daughter of a bold and uninhibited military commander, found it hard to speak such words. How could Su Jingyao, a noble lady from an aristocratic family, be willing to bring such words up on her own initiative?
After all, what woman would be willing to admit that she is not loved by her husband?
"I know that my sister and His Highness have a love that is stronger than gold, and they are a perfect match made in heaven. I am helpless to appear here. The emperor's order is hard to disobey, so I have no choice but to marry into the Eastern Palace."
Su Jingyao's voice became softer, yet unusually firm.
"Yesterday, I asked Your Highness to stay at Xiyan Palace just to preserve the reputation of the Su family. I also promised Your Highness that I would personally clear up this misunderstanding with my sister. I really don't want there to be any grudge between my sister and Your Highness because of me."
Su Jingyao's watery eyes are full of sincerity and honesty, and the light in them is pure and hot, making it irresistible.
Ling Yue stared at Su Jingyao with eyes full of complex emotions.
Because of Su Jingyao's words, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty, her brows slightly wrinkled, and her lips pursed.
She knew very well that it was because of her infertility that her mother asked her father to decree an arrangement for Su Jingyao and Aze to marry.
Thinking back to her narrow-minded thoughts just now, she looked ashamed and her cheeks turned slightly red.
Originally, as the eldest daughter of the Su family, Su Jingyao could have married her ideal man and lived a happy life. But now, she can only live alone in the East Palace for the rest of her life.
The guilt in Ling Yue's heart grew like a tide.
Seeing that Ling Yue hadn't spoken for a long time, Su Jingyao thought that Ling Yue didn't believe what she said. She frowned slightly, bit her lower lip, and a trace of worry flashed in her eyes.
"Sister, although I have married into the Eastern Palace, I will never regard His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as my husband. His Royal Highness will always belong to you, sister."
Her voice was soft but firm, and her slightly trembling lips revealed her inner uneasiness.
Ling Yue's lips trembled slightly. After a moment's silence, she slowly spoke: "Sister, I am sorry for you. If I were not infertile, I would not have to marry into the Eastern Palace."
There was a genuine apology in her eyes.
When Su Jingyao heard Ling Yue calling her "sister" instead, she understood and knew that Ling Yue had believed her.
She lowered her eyelids to hide a hint of cunning in her eyes, chuckled secretly in her heart, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly.
What a deceptive thing, she is indeed a simple and kind-hearted heroine.
Afterwards, she quickly put away her smile and replaced it with an innocent look mixed with a hint of barely perceptible loneliness.
"There are too many people in this world who are helpless. I am one of them, and so is Your Highness. I will not blame anyone. However, I don't have anyone I know in this East Palace. I wonder if I can come to have tea and chat with you in the future."
After that, she paused for a moment and then added, "I will come when Your Highness is not here."
"Sister, you can come to me anytime for tea and chat. Qiluan Palace will always welcome you."
Ling Yue had a gentle smile on his face, his eyes full of kindness.
Su Jingyao's smile became more and more sweet and intoxicating, but she had another thought in her mind.
She didn't believe in fate at all.
Fate is nothing but the boring masturbation of losers.
She had long known that she would enter the East Palace because of the imperial decree, and this was her own decision.
In modern times, she is fed up with the helpless and pitiful life she had as a child, so she has been climbing up the social ladder since she became an adult.
In ancient times, she was a respected girl from an aristocratic family. However, due to the threat of imperial power, even if she was a first-rank minister, she could not escape the emperor's sentence of death.
In this case, she naturally wants to be a person in power. As a woman, even if she cannot control the world, she must play the man who controls the world in the palm of her hand.
She wants to act recklessly and be complacent.
At that time, Jun Zechen stood upright at the door, and heard the conversation between the two people in the room clearly.
Last night she said she would explain it to Ling Yue in person, but he just thought it was an excuse.
This morning, she even seduced him wantonly, which made it even harder for him to believe that Su Jingyao was a pure and kind person.
However, the words she had just said, whether it was her personal explanation that he did not touch her last night, or her firm statement that she would not destroy the relationship between him and Ling Yue, all hit Jun Zechen's heart like a raging wave, shocking him.
He knew clearly what the noble ladies of aristocratic families valued most. The wives of ministers in the court would never say this even if they were not favored by their husbands.
But Su Jingyao...she is so open-minded.
He probably owes her this life.
Jun Zechen couldn't help but sigh, feeling a little guilty, but he would definitely give her a lifetime of wealth and glory as compensation.
Having made up his mind, Jun Zechen took a step forward and walked into the house.
When Su Jingyao saw the prince coming in, a look of surprise appeared on her pretty face, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.
She quickly stood up and bowed respectfully: "I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Get up."
Jun Zechen's voice was neither high nor low, his tone was calm, and his eyes swept over her casually.
"Aze, why are you here?"
There was a gleam of joy in Ling Yue's beautiful eyes, the corners of her mouth raised in a cheerful arc, and her face was full of happiness.
"You said you wanted to ride a horse. Today, a precious horse has just arrived at the stable. I will take you there."
The corners of Jun Zechen's mouth rose slightly, and there was a hint of tenderness in his voice.
He married Su Jingyao yesterday, and in order to prevent her from being sad, he thought of taking her to her favorite horse farm today so that she would not be sad.
Ling Yue was so excited when he heard that he could go horse riding that his whole face was glowing with excitement.
"Aze, you're so nice!" Her voice was filled with joy.
Since entering the palace, Ling Yue has been silently thinking about the days of free horse racing outside the Great Wall. In the past two years, due to the rules and the fact that the Queen did not like her, she has only been to the racecourse a few times.
In the past, when she and Aze had free time when they were not fighting, they would ride freely in the wilderness and run wildly. Those were the happiest and most joyful times in her life.
Jun Zechen's eyes seemed to pass over Su Jingyao inadvertently. The young woman lowered her head slightly, with a hint of loss quietly revealed between her brows.
He couldn't help but feel an indescribable pity in his heart. After all, she was innocently implicated, and living deep in the East Palace, she was inevitably lonely. Perhaps going horseback riding together would make her smile a little.
Jun Zechen was about to ask when Su Jingyao raised her head slightly and forced a smile with great difficulty.
"Your Highness, Sister, please go ride your horses. I will return to Xiyan Palace."
Ling Yue was so excited at this moment that he completely forgot about Su Jingyao's existence.
"Well, sister, if you have nothing to do, you might as well go with us." Ling Yue turned her head and said to Su Jingyao with a smile.
When Jun Zechen heard Ling Yue's invitation, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes. Yue'er was still as kind as before.
Su Jingyao's eyes suddenly lit up with surprise, like a candle suddenly lit in the darkness, and her body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
She asked softly, "Really? Can I go too?"
Then she turned her gaze eagerly to Jun Zechen, gazing at him expectantly.
Jun Zechen nodded slightly.
Ling Yue then said softly, "Of course you can. The stables are large and riding horses together is the best way to relax."
Jun Zechen looked at Ling Yue, his eyes full of doting.
Ling Yue is lively and active by nature, and especially loves horse riding and archery. Unfortunately, the many rules and regulations of the palace still restrict her.
When they arrived at the stables, Eunuch Anshun, who had always been with the prince since he was a child, followed closely by three servants from the stables, each leading three horses and walking slowly towards them.
"Your Highness, the horse on the left is a fierce horse that was delivered a few days ago, specially prepared for the Crown Princess; the one in the middle is your usual mount; the one on the right is a gentle horse that I specially picked for Concubine Su." Eunuch Anshun introduced respectfully.
Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao was delighted and looked at Eunuch Anshun with gratitude.
"Thank you, Master Anshun. I really like this horse."
Ling Yue's gaze fell straight on the handsome black horse. His eyes could not conceal his excitement. He leaned forward slightly, leaping forward, and could not wait to get on the horse's back.
"Aze, then I'll start." Ling Yue smiled sweetly, with excitement flashing in her beautiful eyes.
Jun Zechen raised his lips slightly and replied with a smile: "Go ahead and have fun."
Ling Yue jumped onto the horse with a neat and elegant move. After sitting firmly, he raised the whip in his hand and swung it vigorously. The horse then galloped away like an arrow.
Jun Zechen's smile gradually faded, and he turned his gaze to Su Jingyao and asked casually, "Can you ride a horse?"
Su Jingyao was delighted and somewhat flattered. She had never thought that he would ask her about this matter. She lowered her head and replied softly, "I can...but my riding skills are a little lacking."
"You get on the horse first." Jun Zechen's voice was as calm as water.
"good."
Su Jingyao is not very good at riding a horse. In modern times, she had no money to learn when she was a child, and she had no time to learn when she grew up.
In ancient times, she was a lady from a noble family, her father was the head of the civil service, and she had always taken good care of her skin, so she had never learned it.
She knows a little about it, having ridden it before when she was out with a former boyfriend.
Su Jingyao carefully stepped into the stirrup, held the reins tightly with both hands, and climbed onto the horse's back with some difficulty.
Jun Zechen looked at her swaying appearance and knew in his heart that this woman didn't know how to ride a horse at all.
He shook his head helplessly and sighed secretly.
Yes, she is the apple of Minister Su's eye. She has been spoiled since childhood, so how could she have the opportunity to come into contact with such things?
After Jun Zechen got on the horse, he reached out to straighten Su Jingyao, who was sitting crookedly on the horse, with his brows slightly wrinkled and his voice slightly questioning.
"Are you sure you've ever ridden a horse?"
Su Jingyao's face turned red in an instant, like a ripe cherry. She lowered her eyes and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I was just playing around and just lied that I could ride a horse."
Jun Zechen didn't care about it. The two of them walked slowly and leisurely on the racecourse, while Ling Yue had already galloped several laps on his horse.
"Your Highness, aren't you going to accompany your sister to the horse race?"
Su Jingyao secretly raised her eyes and glanced at Jun Zechen.
"I came to the horse farm just to bring the Crown Princess here for fun. I just want her to have fun."
Jun Zechen's gaze was gentle and focused on Ling Yue.
No woman, no matter what her status, is allowed to enter the horse ranch without his guidance.
Jun Zechen usually handles many government affairs, including inspecting the army. Riding a horse is a common thing for him, so he is not too interested in it.
Except for the first time he accompanied Ling Yue to the racecourse and raced with her, he always watched her ride afterwards.
Ling Yue ran another lap and caught a glimpse of the two of them strolling leisurely on the racecourse, which made him feel playful.
She raised a sly smile, raised the whip in her hand, and without hesitation, she whipped Su Jingyao's horse's butt hard.
Su Jingyao's horse seemed to be suddenly awakened and immediately started to gallop.
She was completely unprepared and could only grab the reins tightly in panic. Her face turned pale in an instant and her eyes were filled with fear and helplessness.
Jun Zechen was really frightened by Ling Yue's whip. His face changed slightly and his brows were tightly wrinkled.
"Aze, you two are not riding horses at all, let me help you haha."
There was a hint of pride in Ling's joyful laughter.
"Yue'er! She doesn't know how to ride a horse." Jun Zechen's voice revealed anxiety.
Having said that, Jun Zechen squeezed the horse's belly with his legs and galloped away, chasing after Su Jingyao.
Soon he caught up with her and the two horses were riding side by side.
However, Su Jingyao's horse was completely out of control and galloping wildly. Jun Zechen was extremely anxious, but he didn't know how to save her for a while.
Su Jingyao's body was shaking violently on the horse's back. Her strength was almost exhausted, and her legs were weak, as if she might fall off the horse at any time.
At this thrilling moment, Jun Zechen stretched out his big hands, held her waist tightly, lifted her up, and carefully placed her in front of him.
Su Jingyao sat sideways on the horse, and the fear in her heart could not be calmed for a long time.
She hugged the man's waist tightly with trembling hands, leaned her head tightly on his broad arms, and tears flowed down involuntarily like a flood breaking through a dam.
Jun Zechen felt the wetness on his chest and was filled with worry. He asked softly, "Are you okay?" There was a hint of concern in his voice.
Su Jingyao's lips were trembled slightly and she shook her head silently.
When the horse gradually calmed down, Jun Zechen got off the horse carefully, then gently held Su Jingyao's waist and carried her off the horse safely.
After Su Jingyao landed, her body was shaking slightly, and her legs were swaying like leaves in the wind.
The horse's wild galloping just now caused her inner thighs to feel a sharp pain. Her eyebrows were tightly furrowed, her face was as pale as paper, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Jun Zechen was quick to support her in an instant and asked softly, "What's wrong?" There was a hint of concern in his tone.
"My thighs must be rubbed raw..." Su Jingyao's voice was as soft as a mosquito, and her slightly trembling lips revealed her pain at the moment.
Her body has been carefully cared for by various rare flower dews and nourished by specially made medicinal soups since she was a child, making her body unusually delicate and tender.
Su Jingyao bit her red lips tightly. The speed just now was so fast that the friction on her thighs must be serious and abnormal.
Jun Zechen didn't say anything and just picked her up horizontally.
Ling Yue also came galloping over on his horse at this time.
"Sister, I thought you could ride a horse, so I asked you to ride the horse as a joke and race with you. I didn't expect that I hurt you. Please don't mind."
There was a look of guilt in Ling Yue's eyes, and her hands holding the reins tightened slightly, obviously regretting her behavior.
Su Jingyao endured the pain, forced a smile on her face, and said softly: "Sister, it's okay, don't feel guilty, I just wanted to have fun and wanted to ride a horse. I'm sorry for disturbing your interest today..."
"Yue'er, her legs are rubbed raw. I will take her back to the palace for treatment. Anshun will stay at the racecourse. You can return to the palace after you have had enough fun."
Jun Zechen's gaze was always on Su Jingyao, with a barely perceptible hint of heartache in his eyes.
Before Ling Yue could answer, Jun Zechen hugged Su Jingyao and left in a hurry.
Ling Yue watched the two people's backs gradually disappearing into the distance. The regret in his heart grew stronger, and his originally high spirits receded like the tide. He instantly lost all interest in riding.
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