Li Mu had already chosen his bow. When he came out with Madam Li, he saw Li Wan and the emperor riding on the same horse, circling in the parade ground.
Li Mu's pretty face was full of admiration and envy: "Wow! What a majestic horse!"
Mrs. Li's focus was that Li Wan was actually riding on the same horse with the emperor. Although she had guessed something from the various signs she had discovered today, she still couldn't help but feel frightened and worried when she saw the two of them so close with her own eyes. She didn't feel happy at all.
"I'll take you for a few laps." The emperor said in Li Wan's ear. Before Li Wan had time to refuse, he heard the emperor suddenly shout "Gee!", and the black horse immediately started running!
Li Wan had finally relaxed, but she immediately tensed up again. The cool breeze that brushed her face suddenly turned into a cold wind, whizzing across her face and sliding past her ears. She clung to the emperor, her heart almost jumping out of her throat.
The emperor held the reins with one hand and held his beloved girl tightly in his arms with the other. His handsome and delicate face broke into a hearty smile, and he was in high spirits, like a god.
Li Wan was infected by the emperor's laughter, and unconsciously relaxed with a smile on her face.
The emperor ran with her for a few laps, and when he saw Qin Lin coming, he slowly stopped.
He swiftly jumped off the horse, then reached out his hand to Li Wan who was on the horse. Li Wan grabbed his hand, then was pulled down, fell off the horse's back, and fell into his arms, where he held her tightly.
When she looked up, she saw the emperor's eyes sparkling and a smile on his lips.
The emperor let her go and asked Li Mu, who was standing aside and looking at him with admiration, "Can you ride a horse?"
The palace servant next to him took the horse away.
Arriving at the training ground, Li Mu relaxed a little, not as nervous as he was at the beginning. When he heard the emperor asking about his strengths, he immediately straightened his back and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty, I have been able to ride a horse since I was five years old!"
The only difference is that he was riding a pony that he raised at home.
The emperor smiled and said, "Then you are much better than your sister."
Li Wan at the side: “???”
Li Mu blinked, looked at the emperor, then at his sister, and couldn't help saying, "Your Majesty, my sister has had a bad health since she was a child, and my parents don't allow her to do these things, so she is not good at riding and shooting. But my sister has her own strengths, such as her excellent embroidery skills!" As he spoke, he picked up the sachet on his waist to prove it, "Your Majesty, look! My sachet was embroidered by my sister, it's so beautiful!"
The emperor took a look at the sachet and smiled slightly, then looked at Li Wan with a smile on his lips, but his eyes clearly showed some dissatisfaction, as if asking, why do you give sachets to everyone?
He even carries it with him every day like a treasure.
Li Wan avoided the emperor's gaze, patted Li Mu's head, and said with a smile: "Sister's love for you is not in vain."
The emperor saw the bow in Li Mu's hand and said, "Choose your bow. Go shoot a few arrows for me to see. I want to see if your sister has lied to me."
Li Mu bowed and left.
The emperor said to Qin Lin again: "We haven't had a match for a long time. Come and have a round with me later."
Qin Lin agreed.
Then they all looked at the small figure.
The targets in the shooting range were at different distances, and Li Mu was taken to an area ten meters away.
He held a small bow that matched his height, and the arrows were also specially made.
He drew the bow with full confidence, stretched it to the limit in one breath, then closed one eye and aimed at the target. Three seconds later, he let go and the arrow shot out instantly!
The bowstring in his hand was still trembling, but the arrow was already firmly stuck on the target.
He did not look at the target, nor did he stop. He picked up the second arrow and the third arrow and shot them one after another. He shot ten arrows in a row before he stopped.
The palace maid ran over to see, then trotted over and said, "Your Majesty, the young master shot ten arrows in a row, two hit the tenth ring, five hit the ninth ring, and three hit the eighth ring!"
The emperor raised his eyebrows slightly, but first glanced at Li Wan. Seeing that she was also looking at him, with a smile on her lips and a look of pride in her eyes, he couldn't help but smile as well: "Well, although it's not as good as I used to be, it's already very good. Cao Yu, go get the little bow I used when I was a child and give it to him as a reward."
Li Mu was stunned and felt a little at a loss.
Madam Li was also surprised. It was a great honor for the emperor to bestow an old item upon her. Seeing that Li Mu was still standing there stupidly, she hurriedly reminded him, "Why don't you thank him?"
Li Mu knelt down hurriedly, his pretty face flushed with joy, and he said loudly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward!"
The emperor said, "Get up."
Li Mu stood up.
The emperor said, "You must practice diligently in the future and don't slack off. Your sister boasted in front of me, you must not embarrass her."
Li Mu said confidently, "I obey your order."
The emperor raised his voice again: "Go and get my bow and Qin Lin's bow."
The palace maid went in and got the emperor and Qin Lin's bows.
The emperor and Qin Lin took their bows and stood at the 20-meter shooting range.
Li Mu looked at the two of them without blinking, his eyes excited.
The emperor and Qin Lin's archery skills have long been famous. Today, he was able to see the two of them compete on the spot, and he was extremely excited.
The emperor and Qin Lin drew their bows to full length, one after the other.
Only the sound of breaking air was heard.
"Huh! Huh!" With two sounds, two arrows hit their respective targets one after the other.
Without stopping, the two men picked up the second arrow one after the other.
Pull the bow, release the string, and break through the air.
In the blink of an eye, ten arrows were shot.
The palace servants went up to the target, then ran over and reported:
"Your Majesty's ten arrows have six in the tenth ring and four in the ninth ring."
"Guard Qin shot ten arrows, five of them were in the tenth ring and five were in the ninth ring."
Li Mu opened his mouth slightly.
These ten arrows are shot at a target. The ten rings on the target can only accommodate six arrows at most.
But even though the emperor had clearly won, he was not very happy. He frowned and asked, "Qin Lin, you didn't use your full strength?"
Qin Lin bowed his hands and said, "I dare not, but I haven't practiced archery for a long time, so my skills are a little rusty. I will practice diligently in the future."
The emperor was skeptical, and suddenly turned to Li Mu and asked, "Li Mu, how is the Qin guard's archery skills?"
Li Mu said excitedly: "Master Qin is so amazing!"
The emperor smiled and said, "What do you think if Guard Qin becomes your archery master?"
Li Mu was stunned, at a loss, and subconsciously looked at Li Wan.
Li Wan smiled and asked Qin Lin: "We should first ask Guard Qin if he thinks Li Mu is stupid."
Qin Lin was slightly startled and his eyes met Li Wan's smiling eyes.
Li Mu looked at Qin Lin with anticipation and excitement.
Qin Lin said: "I have never accepted a disciple, so I may not be a good teacher, but I will do my best."
Li Wan smiled and said, "Why don't you become my disciple?"
Li Mu reacted and immediately knelt on the ground, saying excitedly: "Master, please accept my disciple's greetings!" After that, he kowtowed to Qin Lin firmly.
Li Wan added: "This is the teacher appointed by the emperor. Why don't you thank the emperor quickly?"
Li Mu kowtowed to the emperor again and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! I will definitely learn from Master! I will never be lazy!"
Mrs. Li stood aside, unable to hide her joy on her face.
Qin Lin was a genius in archery. When he was young, he followed the late emperor on an autumn hunt and actually shot a rabbit, which was highly praised by the late emperor. He became famous from then on.
Putting this aside, just talking about Qin Lin's prominent family background, Li Mu's being able to worship him as a teacher will be of great help to his future career.
Li Mu received a bow as a reward from the emperor. Receiving a reward from the emperor was already a great honor, enough to make Li Mu famous in Kyoto. This bow was no ordinary bow, it was the bow the emperor used in his childhood. He also got an archery teacher. This archery teacher was no ordinary archery teacher either, he was an archery genius, the legitimate son of General Qin, and the emperor's confidant.
Even if the Li family wanted to keep a low profile, they couldn't do so.
The news soon spread throughout the palace and outside.
This once again confirmed the rumors that Li Wanzheng was favored.
Otherwise, how could Li Mu, the son of a fifth-rank official, have the opportunity to see the emperor?
Not only did he meet Li Mu, he also went to the training ground to test his archery skills in person. In the end, he rewarded him with his childhood bow and asked him to become Qin Lin's disciple.
Many noble families in Kyoto wanted to get in touch with the Qin family but had no way to do so.
This small branch of the Li family was connected so easily, and was even chosen by the emperor.
It is probably only a matter of time before Li Wan is canonized.
The family that sent their daughters into the harem two years ago now regretted their decision. After all, they were not as cunning as the empress dowager, who could actually think of this method to put people right under the emperor's nose.
For a while, there were many more posts sent to the Li family.
…
Xiwu Palace.
When the Queen Mother heard the news, she raised her eyebrows slightly and sneered, "It's true that even a hero can be tempted by beauty. He knew that Li Wan was my woman, but he still plunged into her head... Men in the royal family are really romantic." At the end, the corners of her mouth raised slightly, but her eyes were filled with cold hatred.
She did not summon Li Wan again, but sent a palace maid to convey her "care".
In Yuanxi Palace, Concubine Yi cut a potted plant.
In Pingyang Palace, Princess Anyang broke some porcelain.
…
Ever since the day the emperor took Li Wan to ride a horse in the parade ground, he ordered Li Wan to go to the parade ground every day to practice horse riding.
"I won't force you to learn archery." The emperor looked at Li Wan's thin arms and legs and said, "You are so weak that you can't even lift a bow. But you must learn to ride a horse. How can my queen not be proficient in both riding and shooting?"
Li Wan could only be taken to the training ground by the emperor to learn how to ride a horse.
The emperor specially picked a docile mare, which was much shorter than the black horse.
Li Wan no longer felt afraid of heights after riding up.
The emperor walked in front, holding the reins: "You are the only one in the world who can let me lead the horse for you."
Li Wan rode on the horse, holding the handles tightly with both hands, his feet on the stirrups, and a bitter look on his face.
I thought to myself, she doesn’t care.
She would rather embroider in the West Palace than come here and be frightened and eat dirt.
After practicing for a long time, she was finally able to pull the reins by herself. However, after getting off the horse, the inside of her thighs were rubbed and burning, and it was hard to explain.
After returning to the West Hall, he immediately asked Cuizhu to bring ointment to apply.
Just after applying the medicine, Xiao Qianzi brought the ointment given by the emperor.
The next day, Li Wan looked at the bruises on the inside of his thigh and wanted to pretend to be sick to get away.
The emperor summoned the imperial physician for consultation, and he was found out without ruthlessness.
Even the imperial physician claimed that riding horses could strengthen the body. Li Wan had a weak constitution and lacked exercise for a long time.
After hearing these words, Li Wan no longer had any excuse to refuse.
After a few days, Li Wan's progress was slow and he could only ride a horse and walk slowly.
On this day, the emperor came out of court and summoned several ministers to the East Hall to discuss matters.
Li Wan thought she could finally have a day off today. She was almost exhausted from riding horses every day.
Unexpectedly, the emperor, although busy with government affairs, did not forget to urge her and actually sent Qin Lin to supervise her.
…
West Parade Ground.
Li Wan looked at Qin Lin beside her, who jumped onto the horse swiftly, his black clothes fluttering, even looking a bit elegant.
He looked at her and motioned for her to mount the horse.
She forced a smile, then stepped on the stirrup and climbed onto the horse's back with great difficulty, without any grace at all.
For her, the most difficult thing is not riding a horse, but getting on and off the horse.
Qin Lin pulled the reins, lightly squeezed the horse's belly, and walked forward.
Li Wan rode his horse and followed slowly.
Qin Lin gradually slowed down and fell behind Li Wan by half a marathon. He was as quiet as ever, only occasionally pointing out the mistakes in Li Wan's posture.
Li Wan was riding a horse and asked Qin Lin: "Did Li Mu make you angry?"
Qin Lin said: "Li Mu is very talented, willing to endure hardships, and practices very diligently."
Li Wan was slightly surprised that Qin Lin thought so highly of Li Mu, and then asked, "Guard Qin, how old were you when you learned to ride a horse?"
Qin Lin said: "Three years old."
Li Wan: “…”
After stomping around for a few times, Qin Lin said, "You can try running now."
Li Wan hasn't reacted yet.
Qin Lin said: "Hold the reins tightly."
Before Li Wan had the time to refuse, Qin Lin swung the whip and lightly hit the horse on the butt.
The mare under Li Wan was whipped and started to speed up.
Li Wan suddenly leaned back, grabbed the reins tightly, and managed to steady himself.
In comparison, the emperor's teaching style can be described as gentle.
Although he always said harsh words, he would stop immediately whenever Li Wan showed a frightened expression.
Qin Lin didn't say any harsh words, he just had a cold face and did things directly.
However, it was Qin Lin's strictness that allowed Li Wan to successfully progress from pacing on horseback to trotting.
And he always kept a half-horse distance away from her, keeping a close eye on her to prevent any accidents.
After Li Wan got used to the rhythm of the horse's running, he gradually relaxed and even found some fun in riding.
This is probably what they call a strict teacher produces excellent students.
Li Wan trotted around the training ground a few times.
Suddenly, a red figure riding a horse came towards this side from a distance.
Li Wan glanced sideways.
Princess Anyang was wearing a red riding suit and riding on a horse, holding the reins in one hand and the whip in the other. Her riding posture had a kind of unbridled beauty.
Li Wan quickly put away her admiration, because Princess Anyang was riding her horse straight towards her, with no intention of slowing down at all!
Li Wan panicked and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Qin Lin!"
The first time Qin Lin heard Li Wan calling his name, he felt his heart tremble. He immediately rode forward and forced Princess Anyang's horse to stop.
Princess Anyang looked at Qin Lin. Contrary to her usual behavior, she was not angry. She just pretended to be angry and said, "Brother Qin Lin, you scared me."
Li Wan was still frightened. When he heard Princess Anyang's coquettish tone, he knew that Princess Anyang was probably coming for Qin Lin.
Qin Lin said expressionlessly: "Princess, you are a noble person, you should not put yourself in danger."
Princess Anyang snorted and asked, "Why are you here? Did my brother force you to come here?" Then she suddenly stared at Li Wan and said, "You have seen me, why don't you dismount and pay your respects?"
Hearing this, Qin Lin dismounted first and walked to Li Wan's side. When she dismounted, he raised his arm for her to hold on to.
The moment Li Wan's hand held his arm, his arm unconsciously tensed up.
As soon as Li Wan landed on the ground, he withdrew his stiff arms.
Li Wan looked at him gratefully before bowing to the princess: "Greetings to the princess."
Princess Anyang was furious at Qin Lin's action of helping her off the horse. She looked down at Li Wan and said, "Li Wan, you don't even care about me because you got a little favor from my brother, right?"
Li Wan said: "Princess, please forgive me."
The princess did not get angry. She looked down at Li Wan for a few times and suddenly smiled and said, "I heard that you have been learning to ride a horse for a few days. Now you can get on the horse and let me see how you are doing."
Li Wan had a feeling that Princess Anyang had bad intentions.
But the emperor was not there at the time, and the princess was still a princess after all, so she had no choice but to look at Qin Lin.
Qin Lin nodded calmly.
Li Wan was certain that Qin Lin would not let anything happen to her.
She climbed onto the horse's back with great effort, then gently squeezed the horse's belly and rode forward.
Princess Anyang rode her horse to catch up and said, "Is this called riding a horse? Why don't you let me teach you what riding a horse is?" After she finished speaking, she suddenly whipped Li Wan's horse!
Qin Lin was unable to stop it.
The horse under Li Wan was hit hard by the whip, and suddenly accelerated and rushed forward!
Fortunately, Li Wan was prepared. She immediately bent down and grabbed the handle of the saddle tightly. However, the horse was running too fast and she was still frightened and her face turned pale, her hands and feet became cold, and her heart almost jumped out of her chest.
Qin Lin glanced at the princess with cold eyes and rode after her.
Qin Lin stopped the horse that was carrying Li Wan, then dismounted, walked over and stretched out his hand to Li Wan on the horse.
Li Wan's face was pale. She held Qin Lin's hand and got off the horse weakly. She was accidentally tripped by the horse's back and almost fell off the horse. Qin Lin quickly hugged her waist and after a moment of hesitation, he carried her off the horse.
Princess Anyang's smug expression suddenly changed.
The emperor, who had rushed to the parade ground, happened to see this scene and his expression froze slightly.
Cao Yu was shocked.
Li Wan was about to thank him when her face suddenly changed. She pushed Qin Lin away, staggered to Ling's side, and couldn't help but bend over and vomit.
The expression on Princess Anyang's face suddenly turned into disgust.
Qin Lin walked over and stood quietly on one side, with no expression on his face. After Li Wan finished vomiting, he took out a handkerchief from his arms and handed it to her: "It's clean."
Li Wan didn't look up. Just as he was about to take the handkerchief, he heard a familiar voice, coldly: "What happened?"
Qin Lin's outstretched hand froze for a moment.
Li Wan had already taken his handkerchief, said thank you, wiped his mouth, then crumpled the handkerchief into a ball in his hand before looking up.
Before she could say anything, Princess Anyang spoke up first: "I was teaching her to ride a horse, but who knew she was so weak that she vomited after running a few steps."
Li Wan stood up and said lightly, "Yes, Her Royal Highness the Princess was teaching me how to ride a horse. She whipped my horse with a whip. I was not prepared and frightened the Princess. It's my fault."
Princess Anyang's face suddenly froze: "You!"
When the emperor saw Li Wan's pale face, his brows furrowed, and his phoenix eyes stared coldly at Princess Anyang: "Come down."
Princess Anyang got off the horse with a stern face: "Brother, don't listen to her. I taught her to ride a horse with good intentions -"
The emperor interrupted her: "Shut up."
This was the first time Princess Anyang was scolded by the emperor in person. Her face changed and her eyes suddenly turned red.
The emperor said, "Make amends and apologize."
Princess Anyang opened her eyes wide: "Brother, you let me follow a slave--"
The emperor interrupted her again with a cold face: "She is not someone's slave, but my beloved one. Apologize or be confined for a month, your choice."
Li Wan looked at him, somewhat surprised.
Qin Lin had already expected this and was not surprised. He just stood aside in silence.
Princess Anyang said in disbelief: "She is from the Li family!"
The emperor asked, "So what?"
Princess Anyang said stubbornly: "I would rather be locked up than apologize to her!"
The emperor said, "Okay, you have guts. You don't have to go to the autumn hunt next month."
Princess Anyang's eyes widened immediately. "What? I have been going hunting every year since I was three years old. I have never missed a year in all these years. Why can't I go this year?"
The emperor said mercilessly: "Because you are in solitary confinement."
Princess Anyang's face flushed, and she suddenly stared at Li Wan fiercely: "I just made a mistake, I'm sure you won't blame me, right?"
Li Wan curled the corners of his mouth without any warmth: "I dare not."
The emperor frowned, staring at Princess Anyang with displeasure: "Are you apologizing?"
Princess Anyang's face turned red with anger. She clenched the whip in her hand and suddenly said to Qin Lin, "Brother Qin Lin! Please help me say something!"
Qin Lin said calmly: "Since Princess has done something wrong, she should correct it."
Princess Anyang was so angry that she almost cried. Neither her brother who had doted on her since she was a child, nor the person she loved stood on her side, but helped Li Wan.
Anger and grievance surged in my heart.
Finally she stamped her feet and ran away crying.
The palace maids accompanying her hurriedly chased after him.
The emperor frowned and looked at Li Wan: "How are you?"
Li Wan shook her head: "I'm fine, thanks to Guard Qin."
The emperor's eyes swept over the handkerchief in Li Wan's hand, his expression darkened slightly, and he said, "Don't practice today, go back."
Li Wan was still in shock, and nodded quickly, and thanked Qin Lin again: "Thank you, Guard Qin, for today."
Qin Lin said coldly: "It's my duty."
Li Wan nodded and followed the emperor away.
After the two men left the parade ground, the emperor said, "This handkerchief is already dirty, why are you still holding it? Why don't you throw it away?"
Li Wan said honestly, "I just couldn't find a place to throw it away. Besides, it was Guard Qin's stuff, so I couldn't just throw it away in front of him."
Speaking of Qin Lin, the emperor thought of the scene where Qin Lin carried Li Wan down from the horse. Although he knew that there was no love between them, he still couldn't help feeling angry. He was angry that he shouldn't have let Qin Lin teach him, and he was also angry at himself for caring so much about Li Wan's affairs.
Li Wan never seemed to care.
When she saw him with Concubine Yi before, she left him with Concubine Yi and went to look at rabbits with Yuan Rong.
Now thinking back carefully, he was already unhappy when he saw her being close to Yuan Rong, and it seemed that he had already started to care about her at that time.
But when she saw him with Concubine Yi, she didn't react at all.
Of course, he cared so much because he loved her too much.
What about her? Why doesn't she care?
The more the emperor thought about it, the more he cared.
That night.
Li Wan read to the emperor as usual.
As he was reading, the emperor suddenly asked, "When did you start to like me?"
Li Wan was interrupted, looked up at the emperor, and was stunned for a moment.
The emperor looked at her and said unnaturally, "Go ahead."
Li Wan was a little stumped by the question. After thinking for a while, he said, "It's hard to say when it started. If I were to say when I was sure of my feelings, it should be the day you came to save me in the rain. You hugged me, called my name, and fed me medicine with your own hands..."
The emperor listened without blinking, feeling half ashamed and half secretly happy.
But then he thought again, isn't that because he likes to be in the front? When he went to Rongjing Palace with her, he couldn't help but pay attention to her.
I felt a little unhappy suddenly.
The emperor asked, "Then when I first took you to Rongjing Palace, what did you think when you saw Concubine Yi?"
Li Wan was stunned. Why did they bring up Concubine Yi again?
She looked at the emperor in confusion.
The emperor felt guilty and didn't want to reveal his true intentions, so he urged, "Tell me quickly, what were you thinking at the time?"
Li Wan thought for a moment and said cautiously, "At that time, Yipin called me Sister Wan, which was very warm. I was a little surprised because we had only met a few times outside the palace and had never even spoken a few words."
Emperor: "What else?"
Li Wan: "......anything else?"
The emperor reminded her: "What did you think when you saw me and Concubine Yi talking together?"
Li Wan was confused: "I didn't think much of it at the time. I remember that soon His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi asked me to go and see his rabbits."
She thought about it over and over again, but couldn't remember any details about that day that were worth pondering.
The emperor was immediately furious.
She really didn't care about him at that time.
I was actually the one who fell in love first.
The emperor was a little unwilling, and always hoped that she would like him first and like him more.
But now it seems that he likes her so much that he can't bear to see her standing with any other man. It was he who liked her first.
The emperor looked at Li Wan and felt a little aggrieved.
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