Translated by Serena Love (ko-fi)

Translate Checked and edited by Pure (ko-fi)

Edited by Choko (ko-fi)

Chapter 15: Learn to Ride a Horse

"I picked this horse especially for you. Zei is gentle in nature, so there’s no need to be afraid!" General Zuo assured as he patted the shiny horse’s back.

"But... it looks terrifying..." Lin Xiaocha hesitated, and looked at the little red horse; her small fists tightened and her whole body became tense.

"Come, let me show you. Look, you just need to step on here." He demonstrated, shaking the stirrup and effortlessly mounting the horse. "See? It's that simple."

Lin Xiaocha's delicate face began to contort, and tears welled up in her eyes, "My legs are too short. I can't step that high."

"Your legs are not short. Despite not being tall overall, your legs are actually longer than those of most people your height. Don't worry, you can definitely get up here." General Zuo comforted Lin Xiaocha, reassuring her about her ability to mount the horse.

Han Yu shifted his gaze to Lin Xiaocha. Indeed, she was not tall, but her legs were quite long.

"I'm here, you can count on me. I'll make sure you are okay." General Zuo patted his chest.

"Okay." Lin Xiaocha said helplessly.

As soon as she stepped on the stirrup, General Zuo urgently stopped her .

"Wait, You can't step on your heels. Always step on the sole of your feet; if you irritate the horse and your feet get stuck inside, it could drag you on the ground. I recall a soldier whose face was tragically torn off in such an incident."

Lin Xiaocha covered her ears, desperately trying to block his words out, "Please, stop talking."

"Okay, I won't say anything. Just give it another try, but remember to step on it with the sole of your feet."

With nervous anticipation, General Zuo watched as Lin Xiaocha grappled with the stirrup, struggling to mount the horse. In that critical moment, his anxiety surpassed any battle he had fought. Beads of sweat trickled down his body, tormenting him.

He positioned himself protectively, arms outstretched, ready to catch her if she were to stumble.

And Han Yu, who was still watching on the side, looked at the overprotective General with an icy gaze.

Seeing that Lin Xiaocha was about to fall into the General’s arms, Han Yu’s brows furrowed as he contemplated looking away from this annoying ‘Soap Opera’. However, his attention was unexpectedly held when she independently mounted the horse, skilfully avoiding any contact with the man.

She then ecstatically cried out, "I did it!"

General Zuo gave her a thumbs up and exclaimed, "Great."

He anxiously rubbed his palm and sighed, repeating, "Awesome, awesome."

Han Yu's expression was gloomy. He was about to turn his gaze away when he suddenly noticed Lin Xiaocha staring at him, probably waiting for a compliment. Under the sun, she was laughing and was as lovely as a flower, dispersing the coldness in his body.

Despite his inner feelings, his demeanor remained cold, and he curtly stated, "Let's go."

But before Lin Xiaocha could respond, General Zuo interjected with concern, saying, "Go? She just learned how to mount the horse, and you expect her to be able to ride by herself on such a long journey? There’s bound to be an accident on the road."

Han Yu turned his face towards him, his gaze unwavering, "Then," he asked, enunciating each word deliberately, “how do you propose we go?”

When faced with such frigid glare, General Zuo, who was a battle-hardened veteran, couldn’t help but shudder.

Compared to the rough looking individuals usually surrounding him, the man on the horse looked as harmless as a delicate scholar. But, he was surprisingly more intimidating than the demons they met a few days ago.

The unseen pressure left him breathless, as if caught in an invisible grip.

Despite the suffocating situation, he boldly said, "Learning how to ride takes time. But since I can see how eager the Daoist Priest is to depart, I will take Lin Xiaocha on my horse and continue teaching her along the way. I shall escort you guys out of the city and return afterward."

Han Yu: Daoist Priest...?

Han Yu turned his chilly gaze to the girl, but she pretended she didn't notice it at all, and emotionally said to General Zuo, "Brother, you are so kind."

Han Yu's eyes frosted.

If they do ride on the same horse, they will inevitably come into close contact with each other. Conveniently, General Zuo was dressed in civilian clothes; they will not be separated by a layer of armor like last time.

General Zuo, focused on his task, was about to get his horse. However, Han Yu's judgmental remark, "Men and women should keep their distance," caused him, who stepped on his saddle, to abruptly halt in embarrassment and surprise.

Lin Xiaocha said, "Xianjun, I already recognized the general as my older brother."

Han Yu let out a cold scoff.

Brother?

This military commander obviously didn't see her as his sister.

But she stupidly believed their relationship was that of siblings..

"Brothers and sisters should also avoid any suspicion."

Besides, what kind of brother and sister could you two possibly be?

Lin Xiaocha's eyes grew dim, and she helplessly said, "Xianjun, but I really don't know how to ride a horse."

"Come down." He didn't even look at her when he said this but kept his eyes straight ahead.

"Huh?"

"I'll ride with you." He proclaimed, as if it wasn’t that big of a big deal.

General Zuo: ???

"Really?" Lin Xiaocha's eyes lit up, then she excitedly struggled down the little red horse.

She walked up to the Hanyu horse and looked at him with her chin up, "Xianjun, should I sit in the front or the back?"

"Get behind me."

Lin Xiaocha was a little regretful, but at least she achieved her goal of riding a horse with him.

She barely had the time to situated herself on the horse before Han Yu kicked its belly and galloped away.

Lin Xiaocha gasped at the speed, and hugged his narrow waist tightly.

General Zuo, who was frozen in place: ????

Didn't he say that men and women should keep their distance?

Han Yu only slowed down when they were quite a distance away from General Zuo.

But Lin Xiaocha still stiffly stuck to him, causing his back to feel numb.

"Let go." His voice was a bit huskier than usual.

Lin Xiaochat embarrassedly apologized, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to but you took off so suddenly…… I apologize, I thought I was going to fall...."

Han Yu: ...

"Okay." he replied gently.

Lin Xiaocha slowly let go of his back.

Not long after, Han Yu suddenly recalled what happened during the fight, and his face lost its gentleness , "Did you say to Feng Ziying that he was wise?"

The system said in a hurry, [I just told you not to be greedy, but you have to hook up with Feng Ziying. Now, you should deny it as soon as possible. ]

Lin Xiaocha did not listen to the system's proposal and answered, "Yes."

System: [!!!]

Sure enough, Han Yu no longer spoke to her, his whole body shrouded in a layer of chill.

In his eyes, people who praise Feng Ziying are treacherous villains who are only good at flattering.

The system sighed in Lin Xiaocha's mind.

Lin Xiaocha continued, "I believe if you always and only criticize a person, they will get worse. But if you sometimes praise them, they will definitely improve."

System: [??? Host, can you reverse right and wrong like this?]

Actually, Lin Xiaocha's reasoning was influenced by a book she read, which taught her about the significant impact words can have on others.

"I told the City Lord that he was wise because I also hope that he can become such a person. If he really changes for the better, the people in Dongling City will not be as miserable as they are right now. I didn't expect that he would actually agree to serve the porridge and not force the refugees to repair the Vermilion Terrace while still living in an inhuman condition. He also allowed me to exchange the reward for winter clothes, and give them to the refugees..."

Lin Xiaocha and the system immediately felt it when the male lead’s mood got better, so she bravely continued, "Xianjun, don't you think I was right?"

Han Yu did not answer.

While they were conversing, the horse had already left the inner part of Dongling City. As soon as they left the inner city, they saw the refugees scrambling to register for the repair of the Vermillion Terrace.

In their eyes, this was their only hope for survival.

It seemed to confirm what Lin Xiaocha said just now.

Han Yu's indifferent eyes softened more, and he whispered, "Yes."

The heart and insight of this little girl were far beyond his expectation.

However, his voice was drowned in the noisy street. The corner surrounded by many people was extremely noisy.

Lin Xiaocha poked her little head from behind Han Yu to find out what was happening.

She saw a group of refugees gathered around a woman holding her head down and squatting in the corner.

The refugees spit, and threw dirt on her.

From her clothes and plump figure, Lin Xiaocha thought it was probably Tao Ji, Feng Ziying’s ex-concubine.

After offending Feng Ziying during the banquet, she was thrown back among the refugees.

When Tao Ji became the City Lord’s concubine, she had completely forgotten her past and roots, and disregarded the rest of the refugees. Moreover, she had also helped Feng Ziying do horrible things to the people, so now that she was casted aside, everyone, refugees and civilians alike, took turns cussing her out and beating her up.

They only stopped when they realized Lin Xiaocha was present.

The people surrounding Tao Ji stopped paying attention to her and regrouped around Lin Xiaocha.

"Girl! Are you leaving?" They rushed over, blocking the way.

"Don't go."

Her ‘deeds’ spread like wildfire throughout the City.

Everyone, refugees and city natives alike, were grateful for being exempt from forced labor. Instead, they will receive accommodation and food in exchange for their work.

It’s only fair that they were so reluctant to part with her.

Embarrassed in the corner, Tao Ji slowly raised her head and looked at Lin Xiaocha, who was instantly surrounded and flattered upon her arrival. The contrasting treatment between them made Tao Ji resentful.

Without Lin Xiaocha here, she wouldn't have been despised by the City Lord so quickly. Now, she occupied the toilet but did not shit. She actually wanted to leave the city!

A weak woman holding a child squeezed through the crowd. It was the mother and daughter that Lin Xiaocha saved on the sacrifice day.

The woman put the girl down and got on her knees in front of Lin Xiaocha. Crying and thanking her for what she had done for them.

Lin Xiaocha immediately got off the horse, and pulled the mother and the kneeling child up.

"Please, don't do that."

The girl was very thin, she was merely skin and bones, so while Lin Xiaocha was helping her up, the prominent bones rubbed against her skin and hurt her hands. Regardless, Lin Xiaocha helped her up completely and even wiped the child’s dirty face with her sleeve.

Lin Xiaocha felt a pang of sympathy.

Lin Xiaocha sighed and muttered, "Heaven and Earth are impartial; they treat all of creation as straw dogs. The Master doesn't take sides; he treats everyone like a straw dog[1]."

Naturally, the refugees did not understand what Lin Xiaocha was talking about.

Han Yu asked her with a surprised expression, "Have you read this in a book?"

Lin Xiaocha turned her head and smiled at him, "Does Xianjun think I look like a person who hasn’t studied before?"

Her expression was a little triumphant. However, her posture and stance was done just right, it didn’t make her look spoiled, but rather a bit cute.

There was a fleeting smile in Han Yu's eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

At this moment, another woman squeezed in between the crowd around them.

She threw herself at the horse’s feet, then slowly raised her face to gaze at Han Yu.

Wait, isn’t this Tao Ji?

Lin Xiaocha immediately guessed what she wanted to do, and her face sank.

This Tao Ji, she actually wanted to snatch Lin Xiaocha’s target right under her nose?

.

.

.

Footnote:

[1] ‘Heaven and Earth are impartial; they treat all of creation as straw dogs. The Master doesn't take sides; he treats everyone like a straw dog’ (天地不仁以万物为刍狗，圣人不仁以百姓为刍狗) - This is a quote from a Chinese classics titled 'Tao Te Ching' by Laozi, written around 400 BC. 刍狗 (straw dog) are used as sacrificial offering, it’s a metaphor for humble or useless things. This verse is describing nature as something that is not benevolent nor partial, and treats all things on the earth the same and fairly. It just reflects the ideology of 道家(taoists); as they believed in 顺其自然(let nature take its course, don't intervene too much).

Back Index Next

If you enjoy this novel, please consider removing adblock! Thank you~