The wind lifted the white gauze on her face as He Yan kept her head lowered. She heard He Yunsheng draw in a sharp breath beside her, seemingly muttering under his breath, “Commander Xiao!”

Perhaps it was seeing his hero that drew out such an admiring exclamation.

“Commander Xiao… what brings you here?” Young Lord Zhao, who had been so arrogant before He Sui and the others, now behaved like a fawning dog before Xiao Jue, making others shudder in disgust.

“How much silver did you pay for this horse?” the young man asked calmly from atop his mount.

“Eh?” Young Lord Zhao was confused but answered honestly: “Thirty taels of silver.”

Xiao Jue tugged at the corner of his mouth, and in the next moment, two ingots of silver flew out from the dark blue fragrance pouch in his hand, landing in the grass. Only then did everyone realize that what had struck Young Lord Zhao’s wrist earlier was also a silver ingot.

“I’m buying your horse,” he said.

Young Lord Zhao trembled, speechless.

He had wanted to salvage his dignity by killing this troublesome beast, but Xiao Huaijin had spoken. That was the Second Young Master of the Xiao family! Unable to offend him, Young Lord Zhao had to swallow his anger and smile, “What are you saying, Commander Xiao? If you want this horse, I’ll simply give it to you.”

“No need,” he said, “I won’t accept unearned favors.”

He Yan breathed a sigh of relief. As a fellow commander, Xiao Jue naturally couldn’t stand to see someone killing a horse in the street. This horse had escaped death by encountering Xiao Jue.

Just as she thought this, she suddenly saw He Yunsheng step forward beside her, looking at Xiao Jue with admiration, and said, “Thank you, General Feng Yun, saving a horse’s life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda! How admirable!”

He Yan was speechless.

Even if He Yunsheng wanted to strike up a conversation with his hero, he shouldn’t have said it like that. It was embarrassing that he could say such awkward words – she had told him to study more, otherwise this would be the result. Xiao Jue must be sneering at him now.

However, today Xiao Jue didn’t offer any sarcastic remarks, instead turning to look at He Yunsheng with clear, star-like eyes, saying flatly, “You like this horse?”

He Yunsheng looked at it and answered honestly, “Yes.”

“Then it’s yours,” he said.

“Thank you… eh?” He Yunsheng was shocked and about to speak, but Xiao Jue and the yellow-robed youth had already spurred their horses forward, not wanting to linger. He could only take a few steps before stopping, watching their departing figures with disappointment.

He Yan walked in front of him, waving her hand before his face, “Back to earth?”

He Yunsheng withdrew his gaze and turned around with a “Yi?” sound, “Where’s Zhao?”

“Left long ago,” He Sui rolled his eyes, seemingly also disapproving of He Yunsheng’s foolish behavior, “While you were staring at Second Young Master Xiao.”

Though Young Lord Zhao was unwilling, he dared not trouble Xiao Jue and could only leave angrily with the silver.

He Yunsheng walked to the abandoned stallion and stroked its head, as if caressing a lover’s token, saying, “This is General Feng Yun’s gift to me…”

“Why don’t you take it home and enshrine it? Set up a memorial tablet?” He Yan asked.

He Yunsheng glared at her, “What do you know? If Commander Xiao hadn’t passed by, this horse would have been killed by that Zhao! Commander Xiao truly has a young hero’s spirit, drawing his sword to help when seeing injustice…”

“Stop, stop, stop,” He Yan interrupted him, “Talk about something else.” She thought to herself that He Yunsheng was truly like a child who didn’t understand the world’s dangers – that Xiao Huaijin was no chivalrous hero who helped the weak, he was quite heartless.

“Yanyan, why are you wearing a veil outside?” He Sui, who had barely spoken, finally found a chance to speak, “And how do you know how to ride? You really scared Father just now, you can’t be so reckless in the future. If anything happened to you, how would I explain to your mother?”

He Sui had many more words for He Yan than for He Yunsheng.

“This is my recent style, it’s fashionable in the capital to go out with a veil now, it looks mysteriously beautiful,” He Yan made up a serious explanation, “Father, don’t you think it looks good?”

He Sui: “Yes, yes, yes! It looks wonderful!”

He Yunsheng rolled his eyes – He Sui believed such a poor excuse.

Of course, He Sui believed it – he didn’t understand these girlish things, only knowing that He Yan had always loved dressing up and following trends was natural. Moreover, he would never imagine that his pampered, delicate daughter would go to a gambling house to fight with people – that must have been someone else they saw!

“As for horse riding, I learned it with friends, and I only know a few moves. I’ll practice more in the future,” He Yan said vaguely.

…

Meanwhile, Xiao Jue and the yellow-robed youth were riding towards the training ground’s exit.

“That was quite interesting,” the yellow-robed youth said with a grin. “Uncle, did you see? That girl on horseback secretly intervened, that’s why Zhao fell. How amusing, how amusing!”

Xiao Jue remained expressionless.

He had indeed seen it, as they happened to be passing by the outer edge. That woman moved nimbly, and even when Zhao was about to kill the horse, he believed that even if he hadn’t spoken up, she would have acted – her hand had already reached for the iron staff at her waist.

“Too bad she kept her head down, couldn’t see what she looked like,” the yellow-robed youth stroked his chin. “Why don’t we go back now and ask her name? Maybe we could see her face?”

“Go by yourself,” Xiao Jue remained unmoved.

“That won’t do – she lowered her head after seeing you, surely struck shy by your appearance. I think there have been more interesting young ladies in the capital lately. Just the other day I saw a girl fighting ten men outside Drunk Jade Tower, and today a girl riding horses at the training ground. With so many fine ladies in the world, why isn’t a single one mine?” At this point, the yellow-robed youth began beating his chest and sighing deeply.

Xiao Jue looked at him calmly, “Cheng Li Su, if you don’t shut up, I’ll send you back to the Cheng family.”

“No!” the youth called Cheng Li Su immediately sat up straight, “You’re my uncle, you can’t abandon me to die – I’m depending on you now!”

As they were talking, they suddenly saw several people standing not far from the weapons rack, led by a blue-robed young lord, slender as an immortal in exile. He smiled at them, having stood there for who knows how long, but from this position, he must have seen everything that happened at the training ground.

“Isn’t that the Fourth Young Master of the Shi Jin Earl’s mansion?” Cheng Li Su said softly, “What’s he doing here?”

Xiao Jue didn’t answer. His horse stopped, and Cheng Li Su put on his usual warm smile, “If it isn’t Brother Zi Lan! What brings Brother Zi Lan to the training ground?”

This was Chu Zhao, the fourth son of the current Earl of Shi Jin.

“Just taking a walk, happened to come here, didn’t expect to meet Commander Xiao and Young Master Cheng,” Chu Zhao smiled slightly. “Out enjoying the spring as well?”

“Naturally, the spring scenery has been too beautiful these days – wouldn’t it be a waste not to come out and enjoy it?” Cheng Li Su laughed heartily, then muttered, “Though it would be better with beautiful ladies.”

Chu Zhao pretended not to hear, his smile unchanged.

Throughout the entire exchange, Xiao Jue hadn’t said a word to Chu Zhao, only slightly nodding to him as they rode past.

After they passed, a servant grumbled indignantly, “This General Feng Yun is truly too discourteous!”

Chu Zhao didn’t mind, just shaking his head with a smile: “Well, that’s Xiao Huaijin for you.” After speaking, he looked again at the empty track, as if thinking of something extremely interesting, and chuckled softly.