Chapter 48 : At a Glance, She Knows She Has a Secret Affair with King Xuan

Xue Qingyin looked around and confirmed that she was not mistaken: King Xuan’s hand was indeed reaching out to her.

She nodded slightly: “I do.”

But soon, she shook her head, with no sign of disappointment on her face, merely stating a fact: “I can’t ride. After being jolted on horseback for seven or eight bumps—no, maybe three or four—I won’t be able to handle it.”

King Xuan curled his fingers and said in a casual tone, as though it was a trivial matter: “Well then, you’ll ride with me.”

At the sound of his voice, Xue Qingyin instinctively looked back at Manager Zhao. He turned his head in the opposite direction, pretending not to have heard.

As for Zhao Xufeng, he was still sitting on the ground, half raising his hand, as though he wanted to grab her clothes but didn’t dare.

Xue Qingyin spoke softly: “Won’t it trouble His Highness King Xuan?”

“How is it any different from before?” King Xuan countered.

Xue Qingyin thought for a moment… Oh, that’s true. She had never stopped bothering him. It was like when they were flying kites, or at Princess Jinque’s mansion, or when borrowing a horse from him… Fortunately, King Xuan had a good temper!

She stopped hesitating and smiled brightly, extending her hand to grasp King Xuan’s wrist.

The way she held his wrist made King Xuan lower his head to look at her for a moment longer.

Her fingers were slender but firmly gripping his. The intimate sensation between their skin became more tangible as her body heat was transferred, growing warmer despite the mountain wind.

At that moment, Xue Qingyin lifted her skirt and struggled to step into the stirrup, then pushed hard…

She couldn’t get up!

She awkwardly looked up at King Xuan, but perhaps because of the light behind him, she couldn’t clearly see his expression.

However, the next moment, King Xuan leaned down, extended his arms, and pulled her waist.

Xue Qingyin hadn’t reacted in time. She only felt a blur before realizing she was now firmly seated on the horse’s back.

… Or rather, seated in front of King Xuan.

Or perhaps in his embrace?

Because King Xuan’s arm was still wrapped around her waist.

It wasn’t tight, but it was undeniably strong.

Xue Qingyin lowered her head and glanced at King Xuan’s hand on the reins. His fingers were long, leading up to a strong wrist, and above that… she could already imagine the lines of muscle beneath his sleeves.

She sighed softly, glancing down at the horse beneath her.

It was still quite high! She couldn’t imagine how King Xuan had so effortlessly placed her on the horse…

King Xuan urged the horse forward.

Xue Qingyin instinctively leaned back, which brought her deeper into King Xuan’s embrace.

She quickly said, “Wait.”

King Xuan halted, his voice low as it reached her ear: “Afraid?”

But Xue Qingyin turned to look at Manager Zhao and asked, “Does Young Master know how to ride?”

Only then did Manager Zhao turn his head back, replying, “Perhaps when he was younger? Back then, the Duke didn’t realize the young master was born a bit slow, so to comfort him, he took him horseback riding. But as he grew up… it became more and more difficult to let him ride.”

“Should we try?” Xue Qingyin asked.

Manager Zhao hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and replied, “Fine!”

Zhao Xufeng still didn’t know what had happened. He scrambled up from the ground, his eyes wide as he saw Xue Qingyin sitting in King Xuan’s lap.

“Mother! Mother!” he shouted twice before changing to, “Ayin, Ayin…”

It was as if he wanted to rescue Xue Qingyin from the terrifying King Xuan, so he stepped forward.

Manager Zhao quickly grabbed his sleeve: “Young master, ride the horse and chase! Otherwise, we won’t catch up.”

Just as Manager Zhao was wondering if Zhao Xufeng understood, the young master suddenly dashed to the fence, grabbed a horse, and swiftly mounted it.

The movement was so quick, it didn’t match his size at all.

Manager Zhao was dumbfounded.

“Yah! Yah!” Zhao Xufeng shouted.

King Xuan narrowed his eyes, then urged his horse forward at a gallop.

Xue Qingyin only heard him say, “Hold on tight.”

His voice was as cold as usual, but the wind carried it to her ears, giving it a warmth that softened the tone.

But having never ridden a horse before, Xue Qingyin felt a bit lost.

Hold on?

Hold what?

She certainly couldn’t hold the reins; those had to be controlled by King Xuan.

Afraid of falling off and hurting herself, Xue Qingyin hastily grabbed the edge of King Xuan’s clothing, desperate to sit deeper into his embrace.

She quickly shifted her body.

She heard King Xuan make an unexpected grunt.

Xue Qingyin:?

She seemed to have… sat on his thigh.

Xue Qingyin instantly froze, every sense heightened. She couldn’t even tell if the hardness she felt was from his waist accessories or something else.

She dared not move again.

She was completely enveloped by King Xuan’s cold, domineering aura.

They soon entered the racecourse.

The other horses scattered quickly, as if in awe of a king.

Zhao Xufeng was still shouting “Yah” as he chased after them, disappearing in a flash.

Manager Zhao was completely stunned.

How did it come to this?

He quickly rushed to find a horse for himself.

The spring air still carried a chill.

Before long, Xue Qingyin felt the wind rushing into her bones. Her face was nearly frozen.

She couldn’t handle the cold!

Without thinking, she grabbed onto King Xuan’s robe, then hid herself in his outer garment.

King Xuan lowered his head to glance at her.

He allowed her actions.

Soon, Xue Qingyin realized… the speed had slowed down?

Was it because he was thinking of her?

She grabbed King Xuan’s hand a bit harder and shouted, “Don’t slow down, it’s much more fun to ride fast!”

She was bad at riding but loved the thrill.

King Xuan spoke two words: “You’re cold.”

Xue Qingyin pressed herself against his chest: “Now I’m not cold anymore! Wrapping in this robe, riding fast is even more fun!”

Besides, King Xuan’s body was emitting a steady warmth.

It was like being wrapped in an air-conditioned blanket on a hot summer day!

How joyful!

It was King Xuan who was braving the wind, not her!

King Xuan: …

He had never encountered such a unique woman as Xue Qingyin.

King Xuan didn’t speak again. His arm suddenly tightened, pulling her firmly into his embrace.

After running eight laps, Xue Qingyin still felt unsatisfied.

She was getting more and more excited.

She felt as though her soul was about to break free from her body, savoring the freedom…

But just then, King Xuan pulled on the reins and stopped.

Xue Qingyin pouted: “Are we not riding anymore?”

“If you can still get out of bed tomorrow, we can ride again another day,” King Xuan said calmly.

Xue Qingyin thought to herself, don’t underestimate me. Since you blocked the wind for me, how could I fall ill?

“Your Highness, don’t worry. I’ll definitely come again tomorrow,” Xue Qingyin said, then paused and quickly added, “But I’m not sure if you’ll still be here tomorrow?”

“…I will be.”

“That’s good!” Xue Qingyin sighed. “It’s just a pity that in a few days, it won’t be possible.”

“Why not?”

She might be married to King Wei, Xue Qingyin thought with a sigh.

Before she could respond, King Xuan seemed to have guessed.

Xue Qingyin’s older brother was close with King Wei. That day on the lake, it was obvious that King Wei had fallen for Xue Qingyin. Naturally, her brother would find a way to marry her off to King Wei.

But Xue Qingyin didn’t like King Wei.

The one she liked… was him.

This thought briefly crossed King Xuan’s mind, and it tasted quite different.

It was a feeling King Xuan had never experienced before.

He didn’t ask any further.

He dismounted from the horse, then opened his arms to Xue Qingyin.

As the saying goes, “First time is a stranger, second time is familiar.”

After the experience of climbing the wall last time, Xue Qingyin didn’t hesitate at all. She threw herself into King Xuan’s arms.

He caught her firmly and gently placed her back on the ground.

Not far away, Manager Zhao saw this scene and had no time to feel happy for Zhao Xufeng’s change.

He sighed inwardly. It seemed Xue Qingyin was really involved with King Xuan. If this continued, there was no way she could marry into King Wei’s house.

“Princess!” someone shouted behind.

Manager Zhao looked around, seeing a familiar person galloping forward.

Xue Qingyin turned her head back.

Her eyes instantly lit up!

“Xue Zhaoyang!”

Zhaoyang’s horse was galloping at full speed.

“Xue Qingyin!” Zhaoyang called as he raced forward, a deep frown furrowing his brow.

The joy in Xue Qingyin’s heart quickly vanished.

She suddenly felt a strange silence.