Chapter Forty-six
Thirteen quickly dismounted his horse, turned around and looked at Minmin who was also getting off her horse. He said slowly, word by word: "Princess! Please spare my life, Thirteen is eternally grateful!" After finishing speaking, he fixed his gaze on Minmin.
Ming Ming's footsteps stopped, turned back to look at me and fourteen who had just dismounted, her gaze swept across our faces, then turned back to look at thirteen.
Thirteen, clad in a tight-fitting white riding suit with silver trim, stood beside a black stallion, his bow slung over his back. In the sunlight, he looked majestic and elegant, exuding an aura that commanded respect. Yet, his eyes were as clear and warm as spring water, filled with pleading, hope, and trust.
Dazed and confused, he stared at thirteen, transforming into a stone pillar.
Emperor Kangxi dismounted his horse slowly and asked, "What's going on?" I and the Fourteenth Prince hastily bowed to greet him, but the Thirteenth Prince and Mingming remained still, staring at each other. Emperor Kangxi casually waved his hand for us to rise, his eyes filled with puzzlement as he looked at the Thirteenth Prince and Mingming. I turned my head to look at them, clenching my fists tightly, my palms sweating.
The princes who came later also dismounted their horses after seeing Kangxi get off his horse. The fourth prince's eyes, filled with thought, swept across our faces and landed on Thirteen and Minmin. The eighth prince looked at me and Fourteen with a hint of worry in his eyes, also focusing on Thirteen and Minmin.
Su Wan Guai Jia Wang Ye had not yet dismounted his horse when he shouted: "Min Min, why haven't you paid your respects to the Emperor?" At the same time, he smiled and said to Kangxi: "This little girl has been spoiled by me all along, and she spends her days running wild on the grasslands. She doesn't know much about etiquette, unlike the princesses in the Forbidden City!"
Minmin finally turned his head and averted his gaze, bowing to the Kangxi Emperor. Thirteen smiled slightly and turned around to pay respects to the emperor. The Kangxi Emperor let them rise, looking at Minmin with a warm expression: "Why do you look angry? Has Thirteen bullied you?" I clenched my fists tightly, holding my breath to listen.
Min Min smiled and said: "It's just that Min Min wants to race horses with Ruo Xue! Thirteen Ge doesn't agree, so they had a few words!" I exchanged a bewildered glance with Fourteen, looking at Thirteen, who also looked puzzled, none of us could guess what Min Min was up to.
Kangxi looked at Thirteen and asked, "Why don't you agree? Although Ruo Xi hasn't been learning horse riding for long, it's not a big deal to try it out!" Before Thirteen could respond, Minmin bowed and said, "Your Majesty has agreed to let Minmin and Ruo Xi compete in horse racing?"
Su Wan Guaijia Wangye shouted: "Min Min! Don't be naughty!"
Kangxi smiled at me, then looked at Suwan Guwalgiya Wangye and said: "The Manchu and Mongols are originally a nation on horseback. Let them compete with each other, we can also have some fun watching it, it's not nonsense!" The guards beside him heard this and quickly went to prepare.
Minmin got up and walked to my side, her eyes were looking at Thirteen and said in a low voice: "Looking at Thirteen Gege's face, I'll give you another chance! If you win, we'll forget everything, if you lose, then I can only tell the Emperor. But then no one can blame me!"
Ling Han snorted, "This is also considered an opportunity? Why don't you compete with me?" Minmin tilted her head to look at us, pursed her lips and smiled, staring at me and saying: "Go ahead and choose a horse! Don't lose too badly! This time I won't intentionally let you win like last year!"
Thirteen walked up, gazing at Minmin and nodded with a smile: "Thanks, Princess!" Minmin smiled slightly and took her leave. Thirteen furrowed his brow, smiling wryly as he looked at me and Fourteen: "Do your best! Don't be afraid to lose! I'm here too!" After finishing speaking, he turned around and mounted his horse to chase after Minmin, muttering to himself: "I just hope my 'pretty boy plan' works!"
Even under the dark cloud, I couldn't help but curve a wry smile at the corner of my mouth. Alas! Let's go and pick out a horse then!
The eighth brother looked at fourteen with a questioning gaze, and fourteen slightly shook his head towards him. He furrowed his brow, glanced at me, and lowered his eyes in contemplation. The fourth brother also watched as thirteen walked away, similarly furrowing his brow. However, the crown prince's gaze kept shifting between my face and fourteen's. As everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Kangxi suddenly mounted his horse and said, "Let's go first, and let them choose good horses before catching up!" The princes all responded with a yes, mounted their horses, and followed Kangxi away.
Fourteen accompanied me to carefully select a horse, both of us were silent! When we rode our horses to the competition venue, Kangxi, Suwan Guwalgiya Wangye, Taizi Ye, Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother were already seated inside the tent.
Min had been waiting for me at the starting point, with Thirteen by her side. She was smiling and chatting with Min, who had a faint smile on her face as she listened intently to their conversation. When they saw us approaching, they fell silent and looked at us.
Fourteen said in a low voice, "Don't force it!" I nodded slightly and smiled at Minmin, asking: "Does Gege's words count? If I win, will Gege forgive me, put everything aside and not mention it again, and still be friends?"
Meng Meng smiled proudly: "Not bad! We grassland people admire those who ride horses well the most. If you win, I won't mind even if you learned a few months and can beat my horse skills!"
I nodded and didn't say anything else. Thirteen and Fourteen exchanged a glance, mounted their horses, and retreated. The guard standing beside me bowed and asked, "Your Highness, may we begin?"
Mianmian tilted her head and looked at me, I took a deep breath and said: "Alright!"
As soon as the word "Start!" was heard, both my horse and Mianmian's horse shot out. I held the reins tightly in one hand and whipped the horse with the other, but unfortunately, I was no match for her skills, and I gradually began to fall behind, half a head, half a body. Mianmian urged her horse on, laughing as she looked ahead: "Sorry! I'm going to take the lead!" As soon as she finished speaking, she clamped her legs around the horse's belly, the whip cracked in mid-air, and her horse had already surpassed mine. All I could do was watch her back as she rode away.
I gazed at her receding back, steeled myself, whipped the reins, pulled off my hairpin, tightened the reins to ensure they wouldn't come loose, gritted my teeth and jabbed the pin viciously into the horse's rump. The horse let out a pained whinny, its front hooves reared up violently, and it suddenly burst into a frantic gallop. I grasped the reins tightly, my legs straining to hold on as I rode the bucking horse away.
Minmin tilted her head to look at me as I rushed up, with a surprised expression, hastily whipping the horse, but my horse was bleeding non-stop, running wildly in pain. How could her horse catch up? Moreover, her horse seemed to be afraid of this injured and wild horse, and didn't listen to Minmin's commands, giving way to my horse instead. Minmin gradually fell behind, I was already dizzy from the tossing, she shouted from behind: "Are you crazy?! Aren't you afraid the horse will throw you to death?!"
The finish line is approaching, but Mianmian hasn't appeared yet. It seems I've won. I feel like my bones have been softened by the horse's speed, and my brain is reacting slowly. All I know is to tightly hold onto the stirrups and reins, absolutely not letting it throw me off.
The horse galloped past the finish line like a mad wind, but I couldn't stop it and could only let it run wildly. The guards stood in front of the tent, carefully preventing my horse from getting out of control. The crown prince, Fourth Prince, Eighth Prince, and Ninth Prince all rushed out of the big tent.
As I passed by the account, I was still in a daze and saw this scene clearly. The horseshoes sounded urgent behind me, it seemed that there were many horses chasing after me! I thought to myself, it seems that nothing will happen to me, as long as I hold on and don't fall off the horse before being rescued.
It's strange to say, but I wasn't afraid at all, and even had a thrilling and pleasant feeling, like riding a roller coaster, although it was extremely thrilling but also very refreshing! Maybe it was because life in the Forbidden City was too oppressive, or maybe it was because I knew there was no danger to my life. I just felt dizzy and disoriented, but somehow it was quite an enjoyable thrill.
The guards surrounded me from front and back, using a horse rein to hold the horse still. When 14 helped me down, I was already seeing three or four shadows of everything. I looked at the three anxious faces of 14 lined up in front of my eyes, and saw three mouths opening and closing simultaneously. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but just found it hilarious, and couldn't help but lean against his arm and burst out laughing.
Thirteen and Minmin rushed over, and saw Thirteen's three faces, as well as one of Minmin's four faces. Their mouths were opening and closing, and I leaned against Fourteen, laughing loudly: "This is too much fun! I didn't think that after the stimulation, we could see such a comedic effect!" Then, pointing at Minmin, I shouted: "I won! Don't try to cheat!"
Laughter continued, fourteen had already hugged me onto the horse, not daring to gallop, just slowly walking the horse, I lay horizontally in his arms shaking my head, holding up my hand to check if it was still a heavy shadow.
Slowly, the sound of "Ruoxi, Ruoxi, are you okay?" became audible, faint at first but gradually clearer. Her hands also slowly merged into one, without any overlapping shadows.
I let out a sigh and thought that there was nothing fun to do anymore! I said to the 14th: "I'm so good, it can't be helped! If you can make me sit up straight and not slouch like this, it would be even better!"
Fourteen suddenly pulled the reins, looked down at me, I smiled and looked back at him, he asked: "Can you hear what I'm saying?" I nodded, smiling: "Can you hear what I'm saying?"
He let out a long sigh of relief and said: "Thank goodness!" The thirteen and Minmin who followed behind also caught up and exclaimed: "Amitabha!"
I heard a faint voice, hastily got up and looked at her nervously. Minmin didn't wait for me to speak, she hurriedly said: "You really are as the 13th brother said, you have a 'desperate' temper! Don't worry! I won't mention that matter again! Let's just pretend it never happened!" She turned her head and smiled at the 13th, saying: "Actually, when I was choosing horses, I had already thought it through, I wouldn't tell the Emperor, I just wanted to scare you a bit more! I'm really angry that you deceived me!"
I gazed at thirteen, thirteen's mouth corners curled up with a hint of helplessness and smiled, winking at me. The 'beauty plan' took effect! At the cost of speaking ill of me to no end! The reputation of fighting and drinking spread from the Forbidden City to the grasslands!
I insisted on getting off the horse, and Fourteen hurriedly got off first to help me down. Thirteen and Minmin were still on their horses looking at me. I smoothed out my clothes and bowed my head to Minmin, who quickly jumped off her horse and supported me, scolding: "I've already said I wouldn't blame you, what are you doing?"
"I got up and said: 'It's not your fault, it's your generosity. But I was wrong to act like that, so I should kowtow to you.'"
Just then, Wang Xi rode up on horseback in a hurry, jumped off the horse, and repeatedly asked for peace. He also rushed to say to the thirteenth and fourteenth: "The emperor and the king are worried! The two masters hurry back to give an answer to the emperor first!"
Thirteen laughed on horseback: "Trouble you, sir! Let's go!" Fourteen asked, "Can you ride a horse?" I smiled and nodded: "Ride slowly and it'll be fine!" Fourteen led his own horse over and said, "You ride this one!" I took the reins, and he turned around to lead another horse from the guard.
I only now saw that the horse I had ridden earlier had bloodstains on more than half of its legs, which was quite shocking. I felt that I myself was also heartless and quickly turned my head to say: "When we get back, find a good groom to take good care of it."
The guard beside me looked at the horse and hurried forward a few steps, presenting the hairpin with both hands. Although it had been wiped clean, I still shook my head and said: "Throw it away! I don't want it!"
The guard stood there, unsure of how to react. Shiyan casually took the hairpin and waved his hand, telling him to withdraw.
Thirteen laughed on horseback: "This kid doesn't dare look anymore! First tie up his head, really didn't hold back!"
I didn't pick up his words and flipped over on horseback, four people riding slowly away.
As I entered the grand hall, the four of us hurried to pay our respects to Kangxi. The Fourth Prince and Eighth Prince on the side both looked me up and down before casting their eyes at Thirteen and Fourteen. Kangxi gazed at me and asked, "Are you injured?" I replied respectfully, "No!"
Kangxi nodded angrily: "Do you think you can win like this?" I quickly knelt down and bowed my head, saying "I was wrong!" Minmin also knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, it's not her fault, it's me who forced her to compete with me."
Kangxi asked: "What exactly did you bet on, if Yu Xi must win?" Su Wan Guar Jia Wangye shouted 'Ming Ming' but before he could stop him, Ming Ming had already blurted out: "Nothing." After speaking, he looked at Ama with a puzzled expression.
Kangxi looked at me coldly and said, "Ruo Xi has been by my side for many years. If she didn't have an unavoidable reason, would she be the kind of person to act this way just because of winning or losing?"
Inside the grand tent, the sparrows and crows were silent. I lowered my head and quietly knelt on the ground, my mind racing quickly, but not a single suitable idea came to me. Kangxi was indeed Kangxi, perceptive and astute, it's really not easy to deceive him, could it be that today I won't be able to pass this hurdle?
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Hehe! Thank you all for your support! Bowing! Thanks!