Qin Yining originally didn’t want to go, but she thought this was a rare opportunity to go out and scout the terrain. Regardless of whether she wanted to find a way to escape, being familiar with the surrounding environment would give her some peace of mind.

The maid lifted the door curtain and respectfully helped Qin Yining go outside.

Outside the tent was a lush green grassland, with white dome-shaped tents arranged in orderly rows, and colorful banners fluttering in the wind.

Five hundred paces away, many people gathered in one place shouting. In the field was a group of men and women on horseback. They held reins with bent waists, leaning over their horses, legs exerting force, hips slightly raised, letting their steeds gallop across the field like arrows released from bowstrings. Each time they passed the crowd, it triggered a burst of cheers, especially when A’na Ri in red riding attire on a white horse passed by—the cheering was most enthusiastic.

“Good! Good!”

“The Khan is mighty!”

“The Khan is truly a heroine among women!”

“The Khan is the most outstanding woman of our Tatar people!”

…

The crowd was boiling with excitement, cheering along with the sound of hoofbeats, making one feel waves of exhilaration from the bottom of their heart.

Even Qin Yining, who had been kidnapped and brought here as a hostage, couldn’t help but feel her mood improve a little watching such a scene.

The maid pointed at the horse track and said something in a low voice, looking at her with curved eyes and brows, as if waiting for her answer.

Qin Yining now understood. The maid wanted to invite her to watch the horse racing.

Qin Yining smiled and nodded in thanks: “Good, I’ll follow your suggestion. Thank you for telling me about the excitement outside.”

The maid couldn’t quite understand Qin Yining’s words, but seeing her gentle smile and beautiful face, she couldn’t help blushing, her eyes bright as she said something, pointing at the horse track again before pulling Qin Yining in that direction.

Qin Yining looked around and confirmed that although people were following and monitoring her after she left the tent, no one was stopping her. This naturally couldn’t be something a small maid could decide—it should be Si Qin who had given her the freedom to move around.

Just how confident was this man? Wasn’t he afraid she would escape midway?

Qin Yining followed the maid’s steps, treading on grass as she slowly walked toward the horse racing venue. With each breath, the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and the faint scent of livestock. Such air wasn’t unpleasant—instead, it made one feel relaxed in body and mind. Even the sky and white clouds seemed particularly vast and distant here.

As Qin Yining approached, many tall men among the spectators on the periphery noticed her.

Although she was considered tall among Jiangnan women, in Tatar her height was only average. But with the same height, her figure was more delicate compared to most Tatar women. Most importantly, the deportment and etiquette she had learned through strict education gave her an air of distinction when walking, completely different from the simple Tatar women they usually saw.

She seemed to emanate nobility from her very bones, not to mention she possessed an indescribably beautiful face.

The men on the periphery couldn’t help but stare at her in fascination, gradually stepping aside. As more people saw her, both men and women couldn’t help but stare in fascination, parting like the Red Sea to make way for her.

Even the continuous cheering and encouraging shouts suddenly weakened.

Qin Yining felt somewhat uncomfortable being stared at. After all, whether in Great Yan or Great Zhou, she had worn a veil when going out to see outsiders for the past two years. Although she had to show her face in public for survival when she was young, no one had stared at her like this then. Moreover, these Tatar herders had simple folk customs—they liked what they liked and disliked what they disliked. Their gazes at her were completely unrestrained, so burning that she felt uncomfortable all over.

But even though she felt uncomfortable, Qin Yining absolutely couldn’t show timidity.

She walked expressionlessly with unobstructed passage to the front of the field, looking through the wooden fence at the horses galloping in circles in the field, pretending to watch the horse racing seriously while inconspicuously directing her gaze toward more distant areas, observing the surrounding terrain.

A’na Ri was happily enjoying the praise and cheers of her subjects. Hearing those voices of worship and admiration, her heart was greatly satisfied. She couldn’t help but work even harder to display her horsemanship to gain more praise and let people know that although she was Tatar’s only female Khan in decades, she was also a heroine who didn’t yield to men.

Who would have known that the cheering that had originally made her blood boil somehow suddenly weakened.

A’na Ri felt somewhat puzzled and somewhat displeased.

She spurred her horse to gallop wildly, and when she circled to where the crowd gathered, she displayed a confident smile. But she actually saw that pretty figure in the crowd who was completely out of place among all the herders.

A’na Ri frowned in displeasure and urgently reined in her white horse. The horse, suddenly stopped, neighed loudly, raised its front hooves high, then stamped restlessly on the ground several times.

A’na Ri sat upright on her horse, looking down at Qin Yining from her elevated position, raising her eyebrows and lifting her chin: “Who gave you permission to come out? This Khan never permitted you, an ugly monster, to wander around the camp!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining merely smiled faintly: “No one stopped my movements, and I’m powerless—I can’t escape from your camp. I heard that Tatar is the most hospitable people. The Khan shouldn’t violate the customs passed down by your ancestors, right?”

“You…” A’na Ri was rendered speechless, frowning in displeasure and sneering: “Who doesn’t know you have a glib tongue and are best at exonerating yourself from blame? You’re just relying on your beauty to have people give you conveniences, going around seducing other people’s men.”

Qin Yining’s brows furrowed tightly.

As a fellow woman, this person could say such vicious words to her, another woman, in front of everyone. Most importantly, her trumped-up charges had no basis whatsoever—they were entirely based on her speculation.

This Khan had clearly been pampered growing up. Even after marriage, she had always been like this. Yet such a straightforward person had an extremely complicated Prince Consort.

Qin Yining didn’t want to meddle in others’ affairs, nor was there any need to warn her enemy. She only knew that at this moment she couldn’t lose her composure and become a laughingstock.

“The Khan is so young and beautiful—why speak such evil words? I always thought only women lacking confidence would be suspicious and paranoid about their own husbands. Moreover, I am a married woman. My husband is a great hero who commands respect throughout the world. From my boudoir days, I was well-versed in ‘Women’s Instructions,’ ‘Women’s Precepts,’ and I also studied ‘Biographies of Virtuous Women.’ I understand the principle that a good woman doesn’t serve two husbands. I would never do anything that would bring shame to my ancestors. If the Khan wants to fabricate a crime for me, it would be better to find one that doesn’t compromise your own dignity.”

Although Qin Yining’s words didn’t contain a single curse word, she had satirized A’na Ri from learning to character to dignity in one sweep.

The surrounding herders were whispering to each other, many secretly discussing who Qin Yining was. Some who didn’t know her identity were also asking around.

A’na Ri heard the buzzing sounds from the crowd, and anger flared in her heart. She pointed her riding whip at Qin Yining and angrily said: “You Great Zhou people only know how to move your lips! We Tatar women don’t understand your twists and turns—you’re just showing off with your tongue!”