Chapter 25: I Want Him, Break His Legs

In the following days, Xie Yunzhao’s figure was nowhere to be seen in the Duke of Lu’s mansion’s conference hall. Xie Yunzheng should have been happy, but instead, his face was clouded with gloom. He found out that Xie Yunzhao was spending every day with the Commandery Princess.

They had been engaged for four years, and yet Xie Yunzhao spent more time with her in just a few days than Xie Yunzheng had over the entire engagement!

At the racetrack in the imperial city, a figure in red dashed past, the bright riding outfit accentuating the woman’s charm. To ensure freedom of movement, her hair was styled simply yet elegantly.

Her spirited appearance as she galloped through the air captivated everyone around her.

Xie Yunzhao’s eyes followed her in circles, gazing at the girl he loved, who had blossomed into a stunning beauty.

Lu Ziqian was also drawn in. Such a wonderful woman was wasted on Xie Yunzhao.

Before he could finish his sigh, he was kicked. “Stop being an eyesore and go find them to play.”

“Prioritizing romance over friendship, look, ever since you got engaged…”

“Shut up!” Rongrong was coming over.

After a few days, the weariness in her body had dissipated significantly. Shen Shurong wanted to dismount and take a rest, and Xie Yunzhao kicked Lu Ziqian away, rushing over to help her.

“Tired?”

“Mm, Brother Yunzhao, the piece of land next to my house is the racetrack I’m giving you.”

???

You’re giving him a racetrack?

What an idiot, why was he still in a daze? “I know you like to play, so I specifically asked Grandmother for it. By the time our house is finished, the racetrack will be about ready too.”

They had just gotten engaged, and she was giving him such a grand gift?

Xie Yunzhao felt like he was floating, surely he had to be dreaming; otherwise, how could he be hallucinating?

It was over; Shen Shurong could tell by his expression that she had moved him.

She grabbed his hand and shook it. “Brother Yunzhao, I haven’t practiced archery in a long time. Will you teach me?”

By the time Xie Yunzhao came to his senses, he already had her in his arms, her back pressed against his chest, her small hands for archery surrounded by his larger hands.

“Brother Yunzhao, is this how you shoot?”

Xie Yunzhao’s heart raced, thumping wildly as if it would leap out, his face flushed from his neck up.

In a flustered and low voice, tinged with barely concealed delight, he instructed, “Find the right angle, a bit higher, left a little, come back a bit…”

They adjusted again and again, yet the arrow remained perfectly positioned on the bowstring.

Returning from the other side, Lu Ziqian thought to himself that Xie Yunzhao was right; it hadn’t taken long at all for him to win the Commandery Princess’s heart.

Disturbing in such a situation could lead to trouble, so he quietly turned back to find other friends to play with.

Finally, they released the arrow, hitting the target.

Shen Shurong picked up another arrow. “Brother Yunzhao, teach me again.”

Lu Ziqian hurriedly exited the enclosure, only to bump into someone who was watching the two shoot arrows intimately.

The man paused, glancing around, and seeing no one, quickly bowed. “What brings you here, Sir?”

The man raised an eyebrow. “Seems like you’re having fun?”

Lu Ziqian lowered his head. Wasn’t he the one who let them play and didn’t allow Xie Yunzhao to deal with serious matters? What was wrong with that?

“You ordered it.”

“Play where there are more people. I want you to break his legs!”

Lu Ziqian’s eyelids tightened. Were they really brothers?

The person beside him was quite capable, and his horsemanship was top-notch. “That might not be easy.”

“That depends on your methods.”

“I will think of a way.”

After Lu Ziqian left, the man continued to stare at the two in the field, his hands cracking with tension.

Taking advantage of her innocence and finding an opportunity to exploit her—this despicable act could only be done by him!

Yongjia, don’t be afraid; I will take care of him soon, leaving him powerless!

Shen Shurong wanted to shoot again, but Xie Yunzhao had reached his limit. At such a passionate age, and with the person he loved in his arms, he was already flustered.

“Rongrong, I need to go talk to them.” He made another escape.

The person hiding in the shadows had already left; otherwise, he would have been discovered.

With no one else around, Shen Shurong took an arrow.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

One by one, she shot arrows, all hitting the bullseye.

Suihan and Yinzhi laughed; the Commandery Princess was being deliberate.

After a brief rest, Xie Yunzhao finally calmed the heat rising in his body and ran over to Lu Ziqian’s side, feeling triumphant.

“Let’s play polo another day,” Lu Ziqian suggested, and several young masters agreed. They were all second sons of their families, not very valued, and often gathered to have fun together.

Xie Yunzhao thought it was a good idea; it would give Rongrong a chance to see how impressive he was.

…

Playing polo?

“Sure.”

“Who does Rongrong want to invite?”

“None from the palace. Also, I don’t like them, so we won’t invite anyone.”

“Alright, I’ll arrange it.”

On the way back, Shen Shurong was in the carriage, the man sitting beside her with a small furry head resting on his lap. She had fallen asleep again.

For several days, this was the routine; as soon as they got in the carriage, she would doze off. Xie Yunzhao felt it was a privilege.

Today, when they reached the Grand Princess’s residence, the person lifting the carriage curtain was not a maid but an elderly face. It was easy to see through the eyes that this person had been quite handsome in youth.

“What kind of behavior is this!”

Shen Shurong jolted awake, and Xie Yunzhao, fearing she would bump her head, hurried to steady her. “Elder Shen, please forgive us; the Commandery Princess is just too tired.”

Elder Shen released the curtain and swished his sleeve as he turned to leave. He had been waiting deliberately today, only to find that it was entirely his granddaughter’s doing; otherwise, who would dare enter her carriage?

With no target for his anger, Elder Shen stormed back to the main courtyard.

The Grand Princess, seeing the old man’s head steaming, couldn’t help but ask, “Who dared to offend you?”

“That rascal from the Xie family, how outrageous! He actually let Yongjia sleep on his lap. I’ve told him to watch out for Yongjia’s reputation.”

The Grand Princess laughed heartily. “It was your granddaughter who wanted to lie down; he would have upset her if he refused. Between you and Yongjia, he chose to listen to her.”

“You might as well throw all manners to the wind.”

“Come on, when you were arranged to be the prince consort, didn’t I also fight to have you by my side? You stole someone’s job, and even Madam Wang feared I wouldn’t need her anymore.”

“Cough, cough, what’s the point of talking about those things? It’s been so many years.”

“If Xie Yunzhao is willing to care for her, we should be happy. If it were Xie Yunzheng, would he lower himself to do that?”

Elder Shen understood everything but felt anxious in his heart. “Just wait another two years.”

“She’ll be eighteen soon; otherwise, she’ll be a leftover girl.”

Elder Shen walked gloomily to his study, not wanting to listen anymore.

Before Shen Shurong could reach Qiu Tong Courtyard, the Grand Princess called for her.

She smiled sweetly, linking her arm with her grandmother’s. “Grandmother, you were looking for me?”

The Grand Princess scolded her lightly, “You’ve been playing too much, going out every day.”

“Granddaughter went to practice riding and archery. After falling into the water, my body was weak, but after a few days of practice, I feel much better.”

Sitting on the couch, the Grand Princess rubbed her granddaughter’s head. “Do you like him?”

Shen Shurong’s cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze, not responding, clearly caught by her grandmother.

The little girl was shy, and the Grand Princess bit her lip, smiling but not daring to laugh out loud. “Don’t you think he’s not as good as Xie Yunzheng?”

Shen Shurong continued to lower her head, hiding the resentment in her eyes. “It’s just… being with him makes me feel relaxed.”

“Xie Yunzheng is the same; he’s excellent. Many people envied you before. But when you were with him, you always felt you had to restrain yourself, fearing you wouldn’t be worthy.”

The Grand Princess nodded. “You’ve played with Yunzhao since you were little; he’s someone who can make you happy.”