Wang Yue Niang went over and hugged Han Lingze’s arm, saying, “Sister Han, please come with us. It’s more fun when we’re all together. If you don’t go, none of us will go.”
Han Lingze reluctantly allowed herself to be dragged along by Wang Yue Niang.
Ji Cheng could tell from Han Lingze’s expression that she truly didn’t know how to ride a horse and didn’t want to embarrass herself. Yet Wang Yue Niang, thinking she was being kind with her enthusiasm, insisted on forcing Han Lingze to go, which was truly putting her in a difficult position.
Knowing they would be riding horses today, Ji Cheng and the other young ladies had their horses brought to the Wang family villa by grooms. Han Lingze didn’t have a horse, so Wang Yue Niang gave her horse to her.
This was truly another case of good intentions gone wrong. Wang Yue Niang’s horse was as proud and arrogant as its owner. Han Lingze’s heart sank as soon as she saw the tallest horse, while Wang Yue Niang kept reassuring her not to be afraid.
In the end, Han Lingze managed to mount the horse trembling with fear, but she didn’t dare move at all. Ji Cheng could see that she was so frightened her hair was standing on end. If something went wrong and she fell off the horse, death would be considered lucky; it would be pitiful if she was seriously injured.
But riding horses without any excitement wasn’t much fun. The Wang sisters liked to compete in everything, so they suggested a race where the loser would have to sing a song or dance.
Although all the young ladies were skilled in singing and dancing, being forced to perform as a punishment would be embarrassing, so no one wanted to lose and be subjected to criticism.
Ji Cheng felt that racing horses with these young ladies was pointless. She had already shown off during the Chuiwan game earlier, and now she couldn’t stand out again. Originally, she had no choice but to perform well earlier to prevent the Shen family from losing face to the Wang sisters.
“I won’t participate. I’ll just cheer for you from the sidelines. I was too focused during the chuiwan game, and my hands are still shaking,” Ji Cheng said.
Wang Yue Niang glanced at Ji Cheng sideways and said with a pout, “Is Miss Ji afraid of losing?”
Ji Cheng went along with Wang Yue Niang’s words, saying, “My riding skills are just mediocre. I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
“Is this another case of false modesty?” Wang Yue Niang’s words were now too blatant. Fourth Miss Wang reprimanded her, “Yue Niang, guests are to be respected. How has Mother taught you to behave?”
Being scolded by Fourth Miss Wang in public naturally made Wang Yue Niang even more unhappy. She muttered under her breath, “Who likes her coming as a guest anyway?”
These words were truly unpleasant, but her voice was very low. Although everyone heard it, they couldn’t bring themselves to argue with her. Ji Cheng simply pretended not to hear.
After Fourth Miss Wang and the others rode off, only Ji Cheng and Han Lingze were left riding side by side at a leisurely pace. Han Lingze had been standing next to Wang Yue Niang earlier and naturally heard what she said. She apologetically said to Ji Cheng, “Yue Niang is just straightforward. She doesn’t mean any harm.”
Ji Cheng smiled at Han Lingze. This Miss Han was truly a peacemaker who tried to smooth things over. If Wang Yue Niang was just being straightforward, then wasn’t Ji Cheng truly an unwelcome guest? As for whether Wang Yue Niang had bad intentions or not, that was hard to say.
“I didn’t take it to heart. She’s still young,” Ji Cheng said. In reality, how much younger could Wang Yue Niang be compared to Ji Cheng?
“Does Miss Ji also not like horseback riding?” Han Lingze looked at Ji Cheng, noticing that her horse was also barely moving, thinking she was the same as herself.
Ji Cheng was just accommodating Han Lingze.
” I quite enjoy it. When galloping on a horse, there’s a sense of freedom, as if nothing in the world can constrain you,” Ji Cheng said.
“Really?” Han Lingze was skeptical. Her father had studied for thirty years before passing the imperial examinations, and his scholarly air had turned into pedantry. He expected women to be chaste, quiet, gentle, and obedient. If Han Lingze hadn’t reached the age of marriage, he wouldn’t have allowed her to go out as a guest.
Ji Cheng turned her head to examine Han Lingze carefully. She was average-looking and, at best could be called delicate. She rarely made direct eye contact when talking to people, indicating that she was quite introverted and perhaps even insecure. She was timid and tried to get along with everyone. Ji Cheng wondered why such a person would catch the eye of the Wang sisters.
Ji Cheng couldn’t help but think of Han Lingze’s father – Minister of Personnel Han Cheng Lin. Consort Wang probably wanted to win over Minister Han to gain another advantage for the Crown Prince’s future ascension to the throne. However, Ji Cheng didn’t believe that someone like Han Lingze could influence her father’s decisions.
Nevertheless, Ji Cheng had a mischievous side. If the Wang sisters wanted to win someone over, she wanted to as well – there was certainly no harm in it. And when it came to winning over naive young ladies like Han Lingze, Ji Cheng had her ways.
So Ji Cheng winked at Han Lingze and said, “Do you want to try?”
Han Lingze shook her head repeatedly, “No, I’d better not.”
Ji Cheng said, “It’s all right. We can ride together, and I’ll take you for a lap.”
Hearing this, Han Lingze couldn’t help but be tempted. Her father was like an old-fashioned scholar who thought it was shameful to let men teach her horseback riding. Han Lingze’s older sisters had all married, and they didn’t ride horses much themselves, so she had never really learned to ride.
But today, seeing the Wang sisters, Shen sisters, and Xue sisters all able to ride horses and play chuiwan, they looked so impressive. Han Lingze felt out of place not being able to do any of these things.
“Come on, I’ll take you for a round first. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell me,” Ji Cheng smiled.
Seeing Ji Cheng’s bright and sincere smile, and her apparent confidence, Han Lingze nodded. But she still asked nervously, “Your hands aren’t shaking anymore, right?”
Ji Cheng playfully raised her hands and said, “They were never shaking. I just didn’t want to show off after winning.” To win over a girl like Han Lingze, who was used to looking up to others and following orders, the best way was to demonstrate one’s abilities. She would naturally be convinced.
Han Lingze giggled at this, but she still didn’t quite believe it. In her mind, the Wang sisters, especially Fourth Miss Wang, were like goddesses – not only extremely beautiful but also skilled and proficient in everything.
As for Ji Cheng, although she was also stunningly beautiful, she looked delicate and fragile, like a cherry blossom in the mountain mist, so tender that a gust of wind could scatter its petals.
Ji Cheng dismounted and reached out to help Han Lingze, “Let’s ride my horse. It’s faster, and I guarantee we’ll arrive before them.”
Han Lingze looked at Ji Cheng’s unremarkable little grey horse and shook her head directly this time, “We’re not in a hurry.” She was considering Ji Cheng’s face, thinking Ji Cheng’s horse couldn’t catch up with Fourth Miss Wang and the others who had left a while ago.
Ji Cheng smiled without saying anything. She helped Han Lingze onto the little grey horse, then mounted herself, sitting in front of Han Lingze. She took off her shawl and wrapped it around both their waists, then said, “Hold on tight to me.”
Han Lingze nodded heavily, “Mm.”
At first, Ji Cheng only gently squeezed the horse’s belly, and the little grey horse lazily started to trot. When Han Lingze had slightly adjusted to the up-and-down motion, Ji Cheng lightly patted the horse’s rump.
Riding on clouds and mist is what every mortal dreams of, and galloping on horseback is probably the closest to this feeling. Of course, there’s another way – the legendary lightness skill that Ji Cheng knew of. At this moment, Han Lingze experienced for the first time the feeling of the wind stinging her face while her heart raced with excitement. She hugged Ji Cheng’s waist tightly, hiding her face behind her, watching the trees on the roadside fly by at a speed her eyes could barely keep up with. Several times she saw branches about to scratch Ji Cheng and herself, and she quickly closed her eyes in fear, but when she opened them again, nothing had happened.
A small stream appeared not far ahead. Ji Cheng shouted, “Hold on tight!” and Han Lingze felt the little grey horse suddenly surge forward, leaping over the stream that was about ten meters wide. She felt as if she was about to fly into the sky.
Han Lingze let out a startled “Ah—” and then began to laugh “Hehe hehe.”
When the little grey horse slowly slowed down and stopped, Ji Cheng untied the shawl around their waists and dismounted, asking Han Lingze, “How did it feel?”
Han Lingze stood unsteadily, holding onto a tree, “It was okay.”
Ji Cheng said, “You’re already very impressive. Many people get sick the first time they ride a horse this fast. It shows you’re very suited for horseback riding.”
Han Lingze’s face lit up, “Really?”
“Mm,” Ji Cheng nodded.
Han Lingze leaned against the tree for a while before she recovered, then let out a long sigh, “Horseback riding is really fun.”
Ji Cheng said, “If you like it, I can teach you.”
Han Lingze immediately agreed, but looking at the sky, she knew there was no time left today and looked disappointed.
“It’s all right, next time you come to play at Jing Yuan, I’ll teach you,” Ji Cheng said.
After this exchange, Ji Cheng and Han Lingze had almost become close friends who could talk about anything, although usually, it was Han Lingze doing most of the talking.
When Fourth Miss Wang and the others returned from their horse race, they saw the rapport between Ji Cheng and Han Lingze, and Fourth Miss Wang couldn’t help but look at Ji Cheng several times.
Wang Yue Niang’s face was puffed up with anger that she couldn’t hide. She just snorted coldly, threw the horsewhip to the groom, and turned away.
Shen Cui, with a smug look on her face, walked over to Ji Cheng to explain, “Don’t mind her. She lost the horse race, so she’s upset with everyone.”
Ji Cheng asked, “Who won?”
Shen Cui puffed out her chest, raised her chin, and put on a “isn’t it obvious” tsundere expression.
Fourth Miss Wang came over and said, “The chestnut horse Ah Cui rode is truly a fine steed. Yue Niang has been nagging our brother to find her one, but such horses are extremely rare and not easy to find. I heard this horse belongs to Miss Ji. May I ask where Miss Ji found it?”
Ji Cheng thought to herself, why does Fourth Miss Wang’s tone sound like she wants me to give up the horse?
“This horse was found by my father at the request of Cousin Jing. It’s kept at Jing Yuan. Cousin Jing didn’t use it today, so Fifth Sister rode it out,” Ji Cheng said.
Although this horse was indeed prepared for Shen Jing, firstly, it wasn’t requested by Shen Jing, and secondly, Shen Cui didn’t know this yet. But hearing Ji Cheng say this, she immediately understood and didn’t expose the truth.
Fourth Miss Wang stared at Ji Cheng again, thinking she was truly ungrateful. She had wanted to turn hostility into friendship and give her a way out, but Ji Cheng didn’t appreciate it.