“Han Ziqing, what exactly do you think you’re doing!” Chu Feiyan demanded, torn between fury and panic.

But no matter how much she raged and shouted like some clownish spectacle, Ziqing paid her no mind at all, instead turning calmly to Jun Beiyue. “Your Highness, might I borrow your dagger?”

A dagger?

What did she need a dagger for?

Jun Beiyue’s cold eyes remained remarkably calm. Without asking a single question, he simply handed over the dagger.

To everyone’s shock, Ziqing used it to cut straight through the Blood-Sweating Horse’s reins! Then, without pause, she cut away its headgear as well, leaving nothing but a simple saddle!

The Blood-Sweating Horse immediately reared its front legs, seeming both startled and strangely delighted, while the onlookers nearly dropped their jaws in disbelief!

Had this woman lost her mind?

What exactly was she trying to do?

Without reins, how could she possibly control the horse? Without headgear, how could she possibly guide it?

Though the Blood-Sweating Horse had been tamed, it remained, after all, one of the fiercest breeds of horse in existence. Remove its headgear and reins, and its wild nature could easily reawaken—at that point, forget Han Ziqing, even Jun Beiyue himself would struggle to bring it back under control.

Amid the crowd’s astonishment, Ziqing once more cradled the horse’s face, pressing it gently against her own cheek—but only for the briefest moment before slinging her bow across her back and swinging up onto the horse!

To the crowd’s continued shock, she remained just as silent as ever, her head lowered in complete focus as she wound the severed reins around the saddle, coil after coil, binding herself tightly to the horse’s back until she was completely secured in place.

“Pfft…”

Emperor Tianhui spat out a mouthful of tea, staring in utter astonishment.

For a moment, the entire venue fell completely silent, not a sound to be heard, heaven and earth alike hushed.

Ziqing folded her hands in a formal bow, her voice calm and even. “Father Emperor, Ziqing is ready.”

“You… you’re…” Emperor Tianhui stared at her, so stunned he couldn’t even finish his sentence.

“Father Emperor, we may begin now. Let’s not keep the Western Chu princess waiting any longer.”

Ziqing continued speaking calmly, her pale little face the picture of gentle obedience—and yet her actions were so brazen, so utterly unrestrained.

If she behaved with such wild audacity even in complete silence, what might she be like when she wasn’t being quiet at all?

Just what kind of woman was this, truly?

Jun Beiyue couldn’t quite read her. Chu Tiange couldn’t read her either. Even Xuanyuan Lige found her impossible to fathom. All three men found their attention fixed entirely on her foot, resting lightly in the stirrup—clearly touching it without applying any pressure at all.

Finally, Chu Feiyan’s voice, barely concealing her panic and fury, broke the silence. “Han Ziqing, what exactly are you playing at? Since when does anyone compete like this? Are you trying to cheat?”

Only then did the crowd snap back to their senses. The Tenth Prince immediately spoke up in protest. “Chu Feiyan, watch your mouth. How exactly is this cheating, in front of everyone’s eyes? Riding without reins or headgear is simply her own skill—if you don’t like it, go ahead and try it yourself!”

“You!” Chu Feiyan seethed with anger. “This princess doesn’t care—a contest has its rules, and she can’t just do whatever she pleases! How is this even horsemanship? This is nothing but a circus trick!”

“Princess, you may eat carelessly, but you shouldn’t speak so carelessly. Ziqing is riding a horse, nothing else—how could that not count as horsemanship?” Prime Minister Han, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up in obvious anger.

“Exactly! You’re allowed to play the zither blindfolded, but she’s not allowed to ride without reins?”

“Look closely—this is a display of exceptional skill, not cheating. If you want to try it yourself, no one’s stopping you. Do you dare?”

In an instant, the crowd’s sentiment turned entirely in Ziqing’s favor. Chu Feiyan glanced anxiously at Chu Tiange—every move Han Ziqing made now left her increasingly uneasy. This contest was supposed to be entirely within their control; she couldn’t afford any more complications now!