Song Yihuan only waited in place for a short while before Ji Lingchuan came back leading two bay horses.
Having gone through a dangerous adventure with her, even though his clothes were torn in many places, when riding on the horse, Ji Lingchuan was still the mighty God of War of the Yu State, looking valiant and imposing.
Leading the horses up to her, Ji Lingchuan dismounted nimbly. His robes fluttered in the wind, making him look even more handsome and dashing.
Song Yihuan propped herself up and stood up. Although she tried her best to restrain herself, a hint of admiration for the man could still be seen in her deer - like eyes.
"Brother Ling, you're so amazing! You managed to tame two wild horses in such a short time!"
Stared at by her with such a look, Ji Lingchuan rarely felt a bit embarrassed.
Covering his lips with his fist, Ji Lingchuan coughed lightly. "This one on the side has a gentler temper. I'll give it to you."
Song Yihuan followed his finger and looked at the horse on the far right. It did seem gentle - tempered. As if sensing her gaze, the horse blew out two puffs of air from its nose and flicked its tail.
Song Yihuan had never ridden a horse before. Seeing the horse, she was extremely delighted, and a rare look of innocence and playfulness appeared on her face.
"Can I touch it?" she asked the man.
Ji Lingchuan's gaze was gentle as he nodded. "Of course you can. This horse is yours now. You can do whatever you like with it."
Song Yihuan then stepped forward and tentatively reached out her hand towards the horse. The horse sensed her approach and actively leaned its head over, allowing her to touch it. Feeling the warm fur under her palm, Song Yihuan's smile became even brighter.
"Do you know how to ride a horse?" Ji Lingchuan asked. Without waiting for Song Yihuan's answer, he continued on his own. "Right, you don't even know how to shoot an arrow. Naturally, you don't know how to ride a horse either. If you could study at the Imperial College, they would teach you all these things."
Hearing him mention the Imperial College, Song Yihuan's eyelashes fluttered.
She smiled at Ji Lingchuan. "I'll have to trouble Brother Ling to teach me how to ride a horse again."
Ji Lingchuan didn't say anything. He stepped forward and began to teach her seriously.
"This horse doesn't have a riding harness. Do as I say and get on the horse first."
Song Yihuan climbed onto the horse's back smoothly as instructed. The back of the horse without a harness wasn't very comfortable to sit on, but it was still within Song Yihuan's tolerance.
"Clamp your legs gently around the horse's belly, hold onto the horse's neck with both hands, and urge it to move forward."
Song Yihuan tried it, and the horse indeed lifted its front hooves and started to walk. She let out a startled cry and quickly hugged the horse's neck tightly. The horse, being choked by her, stopped in its tracks.
Ji Lingchuan suppressed his laughter and said, "Don't be nervous. It's very gentle. Relax and try again."
Song Yihuan nodded, took a few deep breaths, and then tried again. This time, she was fully mentally prepared and finally wasn't so nervous. She successfully urged the horse to move forward.
The view from the horse's back was extremely broad, completely different from when walking. At this moment, in Song Yihuan's eyes, the terrain in front was vast, the sky was as blue as washed, and the sunlight poured down unhindered, but it didn't make people feel unbearably hot. A gentle breeze blew, and the green grass fluttered in the wind. It seemed that she could ride the horse and gallop freely on it the next moment.
This feeling was the freedom she yearned for the most.
She must learn how to ride a horse. When she took Xuan'er and left in the future, she could use the horse as a means of transportation. It would be more free and safer than taking a carriage, and it might be possible to avoid the pursuit of the enemy.
But Xuan'er's heart disease... Ji Lingchuan said he would send people to look for that divine doctor. She didn't know if they could find him smoothly.
She squinted her eyes slightly and suddenly got brave. She urged the horse to take big steps and start running slowly.
She was very smart and quickly mastered the skills of riding a horse. It was all so new to her on her first time riding. From time to time, happy laughter escaped from her mouth, making Ji Lingchuan can't help but raise the corners of his lips.
He looked at the dead pheasant not far away, his gaze deep.
Song Yihuan rode the horse around the nearby open space for a lap and then returned to Ji Lingchuan. When she got off the horse, she might have moved the sprained foot just now and almost fell forward.
Ji Lingchuan was right in front of her. Before his brain could react, his hands had already caught her steadily.
This time, Song Yihuan really forgot that her foot was sprained and that was why she fell. However, after being steadied by Ji Lingchuan, she heard the man say coldly above her head:
"Song Yihuan, once or twice is fine, but if you do it too many times, it seems deliberate."
"If this is a trick you're playing, then let me tell you, your deliberate seduction methods won't work on me. You don't think that by doing this, you can catch my eye and smoothly enter the Prince Ning's Mansion and become my concubine, do you?"
Song Yihuan looked at his bobbing Adam's apple and inexplicably wanted to laugh.
It didn't work? Who said it didn't work? If it didn't work, why did he come forward to support her and care about her safety?
Song Yihuan took a step back and lowered her head. "Brother Ling, you've misunderstood. I really didn't notice my footing."
Ji Lingchuan said in a solemn voice, "You should know my character. I don't intend to take concubines. And I definitely won't let you sisters serve me together."
A dense, stabbing pain came from Song Yihuan's heart. She replied softly, "I know."
"Since you know, don't do these useless things." Ji Lingchuan said. "It's true that our being alone together these days is likely to attract criticism. After we go back, don't mention these days to others, especially your elder sister."
Song Yihuan replied, "Okay."
After getting Song Yihuan's answer, he helped her onto the horse. Then he climbed onto the stronger horse beside him. He also managed to put the prey Song Yihuan had hunted in the mountains these two days on the horse. Then they left this place and headed towards the camp.
On the way back, Song Yihuan restrained herself a lot. She no longer deliberately did those things to test Ji Lingchuan. Instead, she feasted her eyes on the surrounding scenery.
It was a rare opportunity to come to the Xingzhou area. Walking around and seeing more could broaden her horizons. When she got back, she could even make up stories and tell them to Xuan'er.
When they were about to approach the camp, Ji Lingchuan stopped moving forward and whistled a long, drawn - out note.
They waited in place for a short while, and then they saw Fuzhou leading a group of men coming towards them.
Not having seen Ji Lingchuan for a few days, Fuzhou was extremely excited. After dismounting, he immediately knelt down. "Your subordinate pays respects to the young master!"
Ji Lingchuan said "Get up". Fuzhou's eyes were filled with tears. "Young master, where have you been these days? You've worried your subordinate to death!"
His appearance actually made Song Yihuan laugh. Hearing the laughter of a woman behind Ji Lingchuan, Fuzhou was greatly shocked. After seeing clearly that it was Song Yihuan, Fuzhou was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out.
"My lord, this this this..."
A young man and a young woman had been out for several days. Could it be that there was going to be another mistress in the Prince Ning's Mansion?