“Miss Xing’er,” the man smiled ingratiatingly, his smile full of undisguised worry and embarrassment. The eight-year-old girl stood on the hillside wearing a snow-white fox fur vest, her eyes bright and sparkling, looking adorable and lovely.

“Please select a horse.”

Chu Qiao looked at the more than ten horses in front of her. She saw that they were all young horses without horseshoes, with clean coats, obviously raised at home and had never been outside. The child trudged through the snow, swaying back and forth with a small riding crop, pretending to be arrogant as she said: “I don’t want these. I want to ride a big horse.”

A guard stepped forward with a troubled expression, about to speak, when Song Lian quickly stopped him, bowing repeatedly as he said: “If Miss Xing’er wants to ride a big horse, that’s certainly a small matter. You few, go down and bring some good horses, remember, they must be big.”

Song Lian deliberately emphasized the word “big.” Two guards understood and went down to fetch horses. Shortly after, five large horses were brought out. With just one glance, Chu Qiao could tell these were a group of old horses whose ability to run was questionable. She didn’t expose this but turned to Song Lian and said: “These horses look robust. I’m young and have never ridden such big horses. Why don’t Guard Song demonstrate first to show me?”

Song Lian’s brows immediately furrowed tightly, his face quickly falling. Zhu Cheng asked in confusion: “Hurry up, don’t tell me you can’t ride. Then why were you so eager to come earlier?”

Song Lian had troubles he couldn’t express, thinking to himself, “If I had known I would be serving this little ancestor, I wouldn’t have come even if beaten to death.” Reluctantly, he walked to the old horse, reached out to pat its drowsy head a couple of times, then carefully stepped on the stirrup as if the horse beneath him was made of paper, afraid that the slightest force would collapse it.

Taking a deep breath, the horse proved worthy, and though its four legs trembled, it didn’t collapse. Song Lian sighed in relief and smiled, saying: “The snow is heavy today, and Miss Xing’er is still young. Today we’ll just learn how to mount a horse, and tomorrow we’ll learn how to run.”

Just as Zhu Cheng was about to nod in agreement, Chu Qiao suddenly stepped forward and slapped the horse’s rump forcefully, saying with a smile: “Enough talk, let’s see a lap first!”

With a loud thud, instead of running after being slapped on the rump, the horse’s hooves weakened and it collapsed to the ground. Song Lian took a big tumble, falling head-first into a snowbank, with only his boots visible above.

The guards immediately rushed forward in panic. Zhu Cheng frowned as he looked at the horse lying on the ground, barely breathing, and said discontentedly: “This is your best horse? I think you’re not taking the Fourth Young Master’s instructions seriously.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Song Lian scrambled up, quickly saying: “I absolutely wouldn’t have such thoughts. It’s just that Miss Xing’er is young, we didn’t dare bring strong war horses!”

Zhu Cheng nodded and said: “That makes sense. Xing’er, you’re still young, ride a small horse for now, alright?”

“If Brother Zhu Cheng says to ride a small horse, then Xing’er will ride a small horse.” The child raised her head, her delicate little face with crescent-shaped eyes looked extremely adorable.

Zhu Cheng was pleased. He turned his head and glared at Song Lian: “Hurry up and get the horse!”

Song Lian limped away to fetch a horse. Amid Zhu Cheng’s continuous cautious reminders, he helped Chu Qiao onto the horse. The child lowered her head and said with a smile: “Big Brother Guard, I don’t know how to ride yet. Please hold the reins for me, and let’s walk a circle slowly.”

Song Lian couldn’t ask for more, nodding his head repeatedly in agreement. The pony was very docile, following slowly behind Song Lian. After a while, they had walked over a hundred steps away. Song Lian looked up with a flattering smile: “Miss Xing’er, isn’t this horse nice? It was born not long ago. When the Seventh Young Lady asked me for it recently, I couldn’t bear to give it away. If the young miss likes it, I’ll give it to you.”

“How could Xing’er take something the Seventh Young Lady likes? That wouldn’t be proper.”

Song Lian immediately grinned: “What are you saying, miss? Although the Seventh Young Lady is the General’s biological daughter, in terms of status, there’s a world of difference between her and the Fourth Young Master. Young miss is in the Fourth Young Master’s favor; your status is much more noble than theirs.”

“Is that so?” The child smiled slightly and said: “I truly didn’t know I had such a high status, especially since not long ago, I was still someone you, Guard Song, could beat and scold at will.”

Song Lian’s face immediately turned pale. Chu Qiao’s eyes grew cold as she swiftly pulled out the sleeve dart from Song Lian’s arm and forcefully embedded it into the pony’s rump. The pony was startled, letting out a long, painful neigh, kicking away Song Lian’s restraint and galloping rapidly uphill!

The child immediately cried out in panic: “Guard Song! What are you doing?”

From a distance, Zhu Cheng and the others saw the pony bolting in panic. Everyone was alarmed, shouting as they ran forward, but they couldn’t match the four legs of the animal.

“Quick! Mount up and rescue Xing’er!”

More than ten steeds rapidly ascended. Chu Qiao pretended to be frightened while her eyes surveyed the surroundings, looking for a safe place to land.

Just then, a yellow stallion suddenly descended from the sky. The youth on horseback had a fair complexion, eyes like lightning, and lips with an unusually deep red color. Dressed in a deep purple embroidered robe with dark patterns, he galloped wildly towards them, drawing his sword like lightning and stabbing it between the pony’s eyes. The pony, under attack, screamed more pitifully, immediately rearing up, shaking its head wildly!

Simultaneously, a soft whip flew forward, instantly winding around the child’s small waist and pulling her down!

“Haha, that was close, that was close.” Yan Xun, dressed in a lake-green brocade robe, with a handsome face, smiled as he held Chu Qiao, his voice carrying a hint of knowing mischief.

Zhuge Yue pulled out the sleeve dart from the pony’s rump, turned his head to coldly look at Song Lian, and said to the servant beside him: “Take him away and send him to the Steward’s Office for Zhu Qi.”

Two guards immediately rushed forward and bound Song Lian in a few moves. The man shouted: “Fourth Young Master, it wasn’t—”

In an instant, with a loud bang, the lightly dressed Yan Xun flashed forward and kicked out, instantly shattering Song Lian’s yellow teeth, and leaving him unable to speak. Zhuge Yue’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he turned his head to look sideways at Yan Xun.

“Such a servant would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago in my Prince Yan’s residence. How could he be given a chance to explain himself?” Yan Xun smiled and said: “The Fourth Young Master is too merciful. Yan Xun took action on your behalf, please don’t take offense.”

Zhuge Yue snorted lightly: “Not at all. The Crown Prince’s skills are impressive. I was truly blind at the Dianjiang Hall before.”

Yan Xun waved his hand and laughed: “It’s just some flashy moves. How can it compare to the Fourth Young Master’s military expertise from commanding troops at a young age?”

Zhuge Yue nodded slightly with an ambiguous meaning, then waved his hand. His subordinates immediately took the bloodied Song Lian away.

“Crown Prince Yan, thank you for personally returning the lost horse to our manor today. But in the future, such matters can be handled by servants; there’s no need to trouble the Crown Prince. I would like to invite you to stay for a meal at the manor, but knowing the Crown Prince is busy with important matters, I won’t impose. Zhu Cheng, escort the Crown Prince out.”

Yan Xun smiled nonchalantly, exchanged pleasantries with Zhuge Yue, and was about to leave. As he passed by Chu Qiao, he suddenly whispered in her ear: “Hard-hearted little girl, you’ve caused another person harm.”

Chu Qiao was stunned. She raised her head to see Yan Xun leaving with a casual smile, his posture upright, already showing the bearing of a grown man, his expression calm. Where was the playful young master who had been grinning at her earlier?

“Xing’er,” a deep voice suddenly sounded from behind. The child turned around to see Zhuge Yue looking displeased, his gaze sweeping over her like a knife, as he slowly said: “Come back with me.”

Chu Qiao sighed slightly. How unfortunate to be caught in the act. She’d better think about how to deal with this little fox first.

The eight-year-old child followed behind Zhuge Yue dejectedly, her mind rapidly fabricating tales of her miserable past of being bullied. She failed to notice Zhuge Yue’s expression ahead—beneath the gloom was a hint of childish satisfaction, though it wasn’t clear what exactly he was feeling smug about.

Second update. Taking a short break, the third update coming later.