Chapter 11: A Silent Rivalry

The eldest sister-in-law was taken by force, and the crazed military marquis pressed her step by step.  Laughter and pleasantries.

… Almost squeezing out a few words from between her teeth.

Ling Xiao’s lips curled into a slight smile, and he finally took a step forward.

Yao took a deep breath, her anger rising, and she turned back to her courtyard.

Later, the hunt.

Yao got up and asked the maids to help her with her makeup.

After all, she was going hunting with the prince, and she couldn’t be careless about such an occasion. Her attire had to be attractive, but not too extravagant.

The maids helped her comb her hair into a low bun, with two rows of pearl and silver hairpins on each side, adorned with tassels that jingled with every slight movement. Then, they added two pearl hairpins for decoration, making her look gentle and lively, but not too flashy.

For her skirt, they chose a long one, light and airy, cinched at the waist, making her movements seem like clouds and mist.

“Good, husband.”

Yao looked in the mirror, unable to help but ask, “Will this be a little too flashy?”

She had never dressed like this before.

The maids widened their eyes, “This is already as simple as it can get, Madam.”

The maids replied truthfully, “Madam is too beautiful.”

Even with such simple adornments, she was still stunningly beautiful.

“It’s a pity that you’re a widow so young.”

Yao pinched her cheeks, “You’re just sweet-talking me.”

The maids giggled, “We’re just telling the truth, Madam.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Yao smiled, lifted her skirt, and stepped over the threshold, leaving the room.

She first went to bid farewell to the Old Madam, who again reminded her to take good care of the princess, as she should.

At the Marquis’s Mansion, she had just reached the gate when she saw two carriages. In front of the carriages, a tall figure stood, his sleeves embroidered with black patterns, his waist cinched with a leather belt. His broad shoulders and narrow waist were a striking contrast, making him stand out from the crowd. He was facing away from her, giving instructions to his attendants.

Hearing her footsteps, he turned his head, his eyes widening slightly, as if he had been startled.

“Your Highness, are you leaving now?” Yao asked.

He lowered his eyes, avoiding her gaze, his voice flat, “Get in the carriage.”

Yao was used to his indifferent attitude, and she didn’t mind. She nodded, turned, and lifted her skirt to get into the carriage.

He wasn’t very enthusiastic either.

Ling Xiao turned back and had already bent down to enter the carriage.

He withdrew his gaze, mounted his horse, and rode towards the front of the procession. He still had important matters to attend to.

Yao was pulled into the princess’s carriage by Huaining.

As soon as they were in the carriage, Huaining leaned in and whispered, “Has Your Highness decided on his marriage yet?”

Yao remained silent. She knew that the princess was so enthusiastic because she was trying to find out about Ling Xiao’s situation.

“Not yet.”

“Why not? Your Highness is already of marriageable age.”

“It’s just a matter of time.”

It was probably just that he hadn’t chosen anyone yet.

Huaining snorted, “Chen Shiyun is still putting on airs, thinking she’s already been chosen as the Military Marquis’s wife. Bah!”

Yao hesitated for a moment, then she couldn’t help but say, “I heard that His Majesty has other plans for the princess’s marriage.”

“No! Besides Your Highness, I won’t marry anyone!”

Huaining’s tone was firm, “For Your Highness, I will fight to the end!”

Yao was stunned. She looked at Ling Xiao, who seemed to have no intention of fighting.

She swallowed, but she didn’t dare to tell the truth. Besides, this princess didn’t seem as innocent as she appeared.

Maybe she was just too happy.

Or maybe she just had a bad temper when she was happy.

“If Your Highness doesn’t make any moves, you have to tell me immediately! We’re close, we can’t hide anything from each other.”

Yao nodded solemnly, “Please rest assured, Princess.”

Huaining relaxed, then excitedly pulled Yao and chattered incessantly, “Have you ever hunted before? We’ll go to the hunting grounds and hunt rabbits together!”

Yao shook her head, “No, I don’t even know how to ride a horse.”

Huaining patted her chest proudly, “I’ll teach you! I used to go hunting in the hunting grounds with my imperial brother in Youzhou.”

Yao’s eyes lit up, “Okay!”

The grand procession set off. Huaining chattered incessantly, talking about hunting, about Ling Xiao, and time flew by. Two hours passed, and it didn’t feel long at all before they arrived.

This time, the hunting grounds were at Longming, the imperial hunting grounds. The tents were already set up, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Yao was given a separate tent, right next to Princess Huaining’s.

Huaining ordered the palace maids to unpack her belongings, then she immediately pulled Yao to go horseback riding.

If she didn’t learn how to ride a horse, she would only be able to watch from the sidelines during the hunt. No fun!

Yao hadn’t planned on entering the hunting grounds, but she had never ridden a horse or hunted before. It was a new experience, and she couldn’t help but feel excited.

“Thank you, Princess!”

“You’re welcome! Let’s go to the riding grounds!”

They arrived at the riding grounds, where the palace maids were waiting.

The head eunuch, Zhang Gonggong, came forward respectfully and greeted them, “Princess, Military Marquis’s wife.”

He pointed to two horses, “These two horses are the most gentle, suitable for beginners.”

The two horses were a brown one and a chestnut one, both with fluffy coats and clear eyes.

Yao was already eager to try.

Huaining, however, was unhappy, “Why give her such good horses for her first time learning?”

Zhang Gonggong smiled awkwardly, “Princess, you almost fell off the horse last time, and you’re not very good at riding. It’s better to start with a gentle horse.”

Huaining felt embarrassed, “Who said I made a mistake last time? The horse was just disobedient!”

Zhang Gonggong’s attitude was respectful, but he wouldn’t budge, “His Majesty specifically instructed this.”

Huaining stomped her foot in anger, and Yao quickly pulled her, “Princess, it’s good to start with a gentle horse. If the horse is too strong, you might be scared.”

This was a way to save Huaining’s face, and Huaining snorted, “Fine, I’ll make an exception this time.”

Yao breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that the princess was easy to appease.

Huaining patted the brown horse’s back, “First, we need to mount the horse. I’ll show you how to do it.”

Yao nodded seriously.

Huaining grabbed the saddle, stepped on the stirrup, and flipped onto the brown horse in one swift motion.

Yao thought she could do it too. She followed Huaining’s example, grabbed the saddle, stepped on the stirrup, and tried to flip up, but the horse sneezed, startling her, and she didn’t dare to move.

Huaining instructed her, “Don’t be afraid, he’s very gentle.”

“Oh…”

Yao had never touched a horse before. Suddenly having such a living creature next to her, she was a little scared.

This horse, although shorter than the other horses in the stables, was still taller than her chest. It looked quite gentle, but she still felt a little intimidated.

She swallowed, took a deep breath, and decided to try again.

She stepped on the stirrup, grabbed the saddle with both hands, and mustered her courage to flip up. The horse probably found it boring, so it took a couple of steps, but it didn’t move much. Yao panicked and fell back to the ground.

Then, she heard a soft chuckle behind her.

Huaining’s eyes suddenly lit up, “Your Highness!”

Yao turned her head, her face still flushed from her panic, and she saw Ling Xiao standing in the distance, a smile playing on his lips.

“He’s making fun of me!”

Yao’s face burned with embarrassment. She bit her lip and turned her head, refusing to look at him.

“Your Highness, why are you here?” Huaining rode her horse over, excitedly asking.

“I passed by.” Ling Xiao looked at Yao’s back, seeing her flushed face, but he was holding the reins, so he couldn’t see her expression.

“You’re still embarrassed?”

“Even with such a gentle horse, she can’t even mount it. She can’t even get over it.”

“This horse, is it afraid of you?” Ling Xiao’s voice rang out behind her, laced with naked sarcasm.

Yao suddenly felt annoyed. She bit her lip, flipped up onto the horse in one swift motion.

Huaining was surprised, “Wow, you did it!”

Yao hadn’t realized she had suddenly flipped up. She was stunned for a moment, her eyes widening, then she looked at Ling Xiao, a silent challenge in her gaze.

Ling Xiao looked at her, “Hold the reins, don’t grab the saddle. The horse is afraid of you, don’t pull it.”