The seasons shifted, gradually reaching March. Ice and snow slowly melted, and the wind that blew against one’s face carried a hint of freedom. The long, bitterly cold winter had finally passed.

After the ground in the large open areas around them began to thaw, Jiafu sowed vegetable seeds in the several plots she had cultivated in front of the house. Within days, tender leaves peeked out from the soil, a truly delightful sight. She also had Pei You’an build her a chicken coop and bought several chicks from town. The male foal born in the first lunar month was often fed by Jiafu, who personally bathed it and groomed its coat. Under her attentive care, it grew day by day.

Strangely, its black coat at birth gradually turned red, becoming sleek and glossy all over. Its four hooves also shed their black color, revealing snow-white feet that seemed to tread on snow when running. It was extremely beautiful. Though only two or three months old, it already ran like the wind. It could easily leap over the yard’s wall, which stood a zhang high, with a single bound.

Its temperament was completely different from its mother’s—it often sneaked out to run wild and was quite fierce. It only recognized Jiafu and was affectionate with her, not allowing anyone else to touch it. Even when Pei You’an approached, it didn’t seem particularly pleased.

An old soldier in the yard who had raised horses all his life and claimed to know how to judge horses said that while the mother horse had good features but nothing special, this colt was no ordinary horse. Looking at its frame and hooves, it was not the offspring of a common stallion. It seemed as if the mare had secretly gone out and mated with some wild horse from an unknown place. At just two or three months old, it already showed such excellent qualities. When it grew bigger, it would surely become even more magnificent. Delighted, Jiafu gave it a name, calling it “Taxue” (Snow-Treader).

On this day, Taxue had gone out early in the morning and hadn’t returned by evening. Pei You’an and several old soldiers were training recovered horses in the open area of the stable yard. Jiafu watched for a while, then grew worried about Taxue and, after telling Pei You’an, went to wait anxiously for it near the main gate. Finally, she saw its black silhouette racing toward them from a distance, but behind it pursued a group of about ten mounted men, shouting incessantly. Taxue seemed frightened and, upon seeing Jiafu in the distance, let out a neigh as if wronged, and galloped toward her. When it reached her, it stopped behind her, sweating profusely, its breath coming in bursts, anxiously swishing its tail, and rubbing its face against Jiafu’s arm as if seeking protection.

Seeing its frightened appearance, Jiafu felt extremely distressed. Turning her head, she saw those dozen or so men drawing closer in pursuit. They appeared to be military men. She hurriedly led Taxue inside, but those men quickly arrived. A man in his twenties spurred his horse forward, crashing through the yard’s gate, and galloped up to Jiafu, blocking her path with his horse. He raised his riding crop and shouted, “Is this colt from the fodder station? Excellent! I’ll take it…”

Before he finished speaking, his gaze fell on Jiafu, and his eyes became fixed. The hand raising the riding crop also froze in mid-air.

Seeing him staring at her without blinking, Jiafu felt disgusted. She quickly led Taxue around the mount blocking their path and hurried inside.

Outside, the soldiers who appeared to be attendants now also galloped in noisily, shouting at Jiafu’s back: “Do you know who this is? The younger brother of Commandant Hu himself! Surrender the horse at once!”

This man was named Hu Liangyou, indeed the younger brother of Suye Commandery’s Commandant Hu Liangcai. He had come here with his brother when the latter took up his post last spring and had rapidly risen to the position of Assistant Commander. After being cooped up in the city for a boring, tedious winter, he could no longer contain himself. Seeing the weather turn warmer, he took his trusted men out hunting today. By chance, they encountered this small red horse in the wilderness. Although still small in stature, it was no ordinary animal. He tried to catch it with a lasso, but unexpectedly, the small red horse was extraordinarily agile and escaped. Hu Liangyou led his men in hot pursuit to the fodder station. Seeing the small red horse being led away by a woman, apparently its caretaker, he relied on his status and charged in on horseback. Unexpectedly, he encountered such a beautiful young woman. Not only in this frontier region but even in his previous life in the south, amid the famous pleasure quarters, it would be difficult to find such a beauty. Lecherous thoughts immediately arose. Seeing his followers shouting, he hastily dismissed them and smiled at Jiafu: “Is this little red horse raised by the young lady? Very well, I’ll leave it with you. I am General Hu’s younger brother, named Liangyou. May I ask how the young lady is addressed and what is your age this year?”

Jiafu led Taxue away, hurrying off with her head down. How could Hu Liangyou let her go so easily? As they say, lust makes one reckless. He dismounted with a leap and quickly blocked Jiafu’s path, uttering a sound of admiration and smiling frivolously: “Young lady, this place is desolate and must be lonely. Why not let me take you into the city? You can come with me to the commandant’s residence where people will serve you, you’ll eat and drink well, wear silk and satin—it would be incomparably better than here…”

As he spoke, he coiled his riding crop and extended it impertinently, attempting to lift Jiafu’s chin. Unexpectedly, the small red horse suddenly erupted in anger, letting out an angry neigh and raising its front hooves to kick at Hu Liangyou.

Although only a few months old, this small red horse stood taller than a person when it reared up. Its sudden rage and powerful kick immediately knocked Hu Liangyou to the ground. Humiliated and enraged, he loudly ordered his men to shoot and kill the small red horse. The dozen or so soldiers surrounded Jiafu and the small red horse, drawing their bows and nocking arrows.

“Kill this beast! Let’s see if it dares kick me again—”

Hu Liangyou, helped up from the ground, limped toward the small red horse, raised his riding crop, and viciously swung it toward the small red horse’s head.

“Elder Cousin—”

Jiafu threw herself beside the small red horse without hesitation, extending her arms to embrace its neck, using her own body to shield it, closing her eyes, and screaming.

A lasso descended from above, catching Hu Liangyou around the neck. Before he could react, the slipknot had already tightened. The rope suddenly went taut, and Hu Liangyou’s entire body immediately fell backward.

The force from behind was tremendous. The rope dug deep into his flesh, and Hu Liangyou’s vision darkened as he struggled to breathe. He could only grab the rope with both hands, instinctively struggling desperately as he was dragged backward several zhang across the ground before finally stopping, leaving two deep furrows in the yellow mud behind his feet.

Jiafu, who hadn’t felt the riding crop strike her back, suddenly turned around and saw that Pei You’an had arrived, standing there with a rope taut in his hands. She sighed with relief, quickly turned, and ran toward Pei You’an.

The small red horse hurriedly followed with clopping hooves, stopping behind her.

“Fu’er, are you all right?” Pei You’an asked softly.

Jiafu bit her lip, glanced at Hu Liangyou on the ground, and shook her head: “I’m fine.”

Pei You’an squeezed her hand in reassurance, then motioned for her to step back as he released the rope.

“Second Young Master Hu has quite a temper. But it’s just an animal after all, why take such offense at it?”

Hu Liangyou, who had nearly suffocated, was finally released and took a deep breath as his mind slowly cleared. His throat was both painful and itchy, and he coughed for a long while before stopping. His body was covered in yellow mud, presenting a disheveled appearance. Looking up, he saw that the speaker was a handsome man in his mid-twenties, tall and straight, who at first glance resembled a scholar incapable of tying up a chicken. It was hard to believe that the rope that had nearly strangled him had been wielded by this man. Suppressing his fear, he said sternly: “So you’re Pei You’an? How dare you! Do you still think you’re a high official of the imperial court? You are now a criminal serving a sentence! My elder brother arranged for you to guard this station only out of respect for your father’s memory. Instead of showing gratitude, you not only fail to welcome a superior but even dare to act against one! I’ll charge you with disrespect right now! Men! Bind him!”

The soldiers, hearing this, looked at each other in confusion.

Pei You’an’s reputation in the imperial court had been too great, and Duke Wei had served as Military Governor here for many years, commanding the region with far-reaching influence. Although many years had passed, the Pei family name was still renowned. These men knew this well, and seeing Pei You’an’s gaze fall upon them with implicit authority, they dared not approach immediately. Urged by Hu Liangyou, they hesitated before slowly surrounding him.

Pei You’an smiled slightly: “Second Young Master, you should leave now. This place is remote, so I won’t detain you.” Having said this, he turned, leading Jiafu with one hand and the small red horse with the other, and walked inside.

Hu Liangyou, seeing that he was completely disregarded and with all his followers watching, gritted his teeth and snatched a bow and arrow from someone nearby. He drew the bow, aimed at the retreating figure.

Pei You’an, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, stopped and slowly turned around. The smile had vanished from his face, and his cold gaze looked back like that of an eagle. He then released the horse’s reins, whispered something to Jiafu, and turned to walk toward the bow.

Hu Liangyou’s hand gradually trembled. Seeing him approaching, he did not dare to release the arrow.

Pei You’an stopped in front of Hu Liangyou, staring at him, slowly raising his hand to grip the shaft of the arrow on the bow.

“Hu Liangyou, your riding roughshod through the marketplace disturbs the people and violates military regulation number three; harassing women is an even greater taboo in the military. According to our Great Wei military law, such offenses warrant fifty strokes of the rod. Now that you have been promoted to Assistant Commander, has Commandant Hu never taught you this?”

His fingers suddenly exerted force, and with a “crack,” the arrow shaft broke in half and fell from the bowstring to the ground.

Hu Liangyou’s face alternated between red and white as he stood frozen in place, motionless.

…

The group departed dejectedly on horseback. Night fell, and the fodder station returned to its former tranquility.

Jiafu tied Taxue back into the stable. The small red horse seemed to know that it had caused trouble earlier. Usually reluctant to enter the stable, this time it stood obediently without moving and stretched its head over, trying to lick Jiafu’s face to ingratiate itself with her. Jiafu pushed its face away and poked its forehead with her finger, admonishing: “This was all because of you today, causing trouble! Next time you sneak out, I won’t look after you anymore!”

Her tone was stern. The small red horse blinked its eyes and continued to bring its head close, rubbing against Jiafu’s arm. She pushed it away, and it hung its head dejectedly, making whimpering sounds in its throat as if pleading for forgiveness.

Jiafu scolded it a few more times, then turned to see Pei You’an standing nearby, smiling at her. She finally let it be, put food in its trough, and they left. Along the way, she didn’t speak again. After returning to the house, while changing clothes and washing hands, Pei You’an questioned her.

Jiafu hesitated before saying softly: “Elder Cousin, I’m a bit worried. Today you offended Commandant Hu’s brother because of me and Taxue. What if Commandant Hu causes trouble for you…”

Pei You’an helped her remove her outer garment. “Don’t worry. This Hu Liangcai has led troops for many years and is considered capable, but he’s been in this place for less than a year, so his foundation isn’t stable. Although he secretly pushes aside my father’s former subordinates, he’s still outwardly polite to me. Today’s incident isn’t enough to make him openly turn against me.”

“Then why did he send leftover food at the end of last year, openly humiliating you?” she asked, then realized herself: “I understand now! Could it have been this Hu Liangyou who sent it?”

Pei You’an patted her head approvingly and nodded: “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”