A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 80.2

“They call it communication and friendly competition, but everyone is holding back, aren’t they? It’s a matter of the Great Court’s face; we can’t be slack.”

Another lady chimed in, “Isn’t that, right? We women folk see it as a competition for those children, something to be amused by. But what they see is completely different from us. Every single one of them is tense. The one at my home even said, ‘What is this? It’s a struggle between the strong and weak of nations.'”

Only after the voices behind the hall faded into the distance did Chen Liangyu and Xie Wenjun realize that they had both instinctively held their breath, becoming silent and still.

Chen Liangyu pressed her fist against the tip of her nose, trying to cover the sudden rise in tension in the atmosphere.

She didn’t know why, but it made her face feel hot and her ears flush, much like the furtive concealment of lovers stealing a moment.

A secret rendezvous?

Chen Liangyu was flustered.

Why would that word pop up out of nowhere? It was puzzling.

She anxiously searched for a distraction outside. “Who is that child?”

Xie Wenjun followed her gaze to the side of the racetrack. A young boy in riding attire stood tall with a bow on his back, fully focused on tuning the bowstring.

When Bu Qijun dismounted, the boy immediately entered the arena.

“The seventh son of the Marquis of Chengyang, Yue Zhengyang. Among all these children this year, he is the only one who can still compete against Bu Qijun. Look, everyone was hoping these two would face each other. Today, their wish is finally granted.”

Chen Liangyu said, “How is it that your news is better in the palace than mine outside?”

Xie Wenjun said, “Where is the news more well-informed than in the palace? Since I’m trapped here, I have the Court Records Officer transcribe the competition progress and present it to me daily.”

They had arrived at an inconvenient time; this round was the final match for the youth group.

Yue Zhengyang swiftly mounted his horse. As the horse began to gallop, he reached behind, retrieving an arrow from his quiver. His posture as he drew the bow was vigorous and powerful.

With a shot, the arrow struck the bullseye, winning a round of applause.

Chen Liangyu nodded approvingly, “He’s a promising talent.”

“Interested?”

“Not much.”

As they were talking, they saw several burly men, wearing fur-lined vests, driving a heavy carriage pulled by four horses. It was covered with a black silk cloth embroidered with the Beiyong emblem. Faint sounds of something hitting iron bars could be heard from inside.

It sounded like a fierce beast.

Xie Wenjun pointed to it for Chen Liangyu. “Look there. What’s under the black cloth is Zhai Ji’s big prize.”

Yue Zhengyang remained composed, and his arrow trajectory was still steady.

Chen Liangyu focused on the heavy-duty carriage. “What trick is Zhai Ji playing now?”

Xie Wenjun said, “This is the excitement I brought you to see. Beiyong’s treasury was severely overdrawn in the past few years, and now the granaries of its various prefectures and counties are more than half empty. The precious prize offered by the Second Prince of Beiyong is quite significant.”

The black silk cloth was pulled down by the rough men. The smooth silk slid over the black iron cage and drifted down, revealing the ‘fierce beast’ inside the cage.

It was an untamed horse with a completely snow-white coat. Its fur was as smooth as white satin, its muscles were strong and sinewy, and its gaze was sharp. It was fiercely crashing against the iron bars of the cage that imprisoned it.

The Jade Lion!

An excellent steed, only existing in legend. It was fiery-tempered and difficult to tame, a creature seen only once in a hundred years.

Countless famous generals, obsessed with horses, searched for them their entire lives but never found one. Now, one was presented before the world.

Chen Liangyu gasped, finally abandoning her nonchalant demeanor, and secretly rubbed her palms.

Her hands were itching.

In the arena, Yue Zhengyang was about to release his final arrow, but his attention was caught by the Jade Lion. Distracted for a moment, the arrow skewed by half an inch, grazing the edge of the straw target.

Chen Liangyu couldn’t help but choke slightly. “Using such tricks to disrupt people’s minds, Zhai Ji hasn’t improved after all these years. He still has the same petty demeanor.”

Yue Zhengyang walked out of the arena with his head lowered, not daring to look at anyone, his expression neither one of disappointment nor shame.

“Everyone!”

Zhai Ji leaned against the edge of the pavilion and announced loudly, “The Lin Dynasty is a place of exceptional people and resources. It is my great fortune to witness so many heroes here. Beiyong loves and cherishes talent. This Jade Lion is a gift to everyone. Whoever has the ability to tame it can not only take the horse but, when you visit Beiyong in the future, this Prince will treat you as a most honored guest.”

The crowd instantly erupted in a clamor. The previous condemnation turned into a discussion of the rare and fine horse.

Liang Quting, who was beside him, peered down, suddenly becoming energetic.

Whether it was a misconception or not, Zhai Ji seemed to glance toward the tree that hid their figures on the cliff, smirking provocatively.

A sharp, high-pitched voice came along with the winding, yellow imperial procession. The officials and gentry’s children watching the competition immediately rose to welcome the Emperor.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

“Rise.”

Xie Yuan dismounted his horse and ascended the Beast-Taming Platform. “I heard the Beiyong envoy has a treasure to present today. I’ve also come to see what kind of treasure it is.”

Zhai Ji bowed, clutching his hands to his chest. “It is an honor that Your Majesty has graced us with your presence!”

The female attendant immediately cleared the tea cups from the table and replaced them with new tea and pastries.

Xie Yuan said, “Dispense with the formalities. You have come a long way and are honored guests. If the hospitality is lacking, please forgive us.”

The Kuirong leader, Kuiwu, immediately expressed his sincerity. His large, bushy beard concealed his mouth. The hair around his lips moved as he spoke, obscuring his teeth. “What is the Emperor of Central Lin saying? We are having a very pleasant time here.”

Xie Yuan said, “It’s good that you are enjoying yourselves. Please continue. Don’t let me spoil your fun.”

A young woman behind Zhai Ji leaped up from her seat. She wore a red embroidered silk jacket with gold thread and a silver fox fur collar, with her hair tied in playful small braids. She spoke before Zhai Ji could reply. “Emperor of Central Lin, my Imperial Brother cherishes this white horse. I begged him for days, but he wouldn’t give it to me. Today, in Great Lin, you have the final say. I beg a favor from you, please allow me to go first. May I?”

Zhai Ji lightly scolded her, “Do not be rude to His Majesty.”

Then he turned to Xie Yuan and said, “This is the Fourteenth Princess of Beiyong, Zhai Yu. She offers her greetings to Your Majesty. This girl is habitually rude. I ask Your Majesty not to hold it against her.”

Xie Yuan laughed heartily. “Granted!”

The girl was overjoyed and skipped down the wooden steps.

The Jade Lion had been released into the arena and was leisurely looking for tender grass at the foot of the wooden stakes to eat.

The girl wore thick protection pads on her knees and elbows. She grabbed a handful of hay and slowly approached the Jade Lion. The horse snorted warm air, sniffed, and took the hay to chew. She used this opportunity to move around to the side of the horse.

Chen Liangyu rested her arm on the railing, watching intently, and suddenly commented, “Beautiful.”

The posture was graceful, the fur glossy, and the thigh muscles were powerful.

This horse is truly magnificent!

Truly beautiful.

Xie Wenjun glanced at her, then looked at the bright and outgoing girl in the arena.

Chen Liangyu saw Xie Wenjun’s lack of interest and sat down cross-legged as well.

Peering down through the vertical gaps in the railing, Zhai Yu had taken advantage of the Jade Lion’s inattention to abruptly swing onto its back. The horse’s powerful front hooves immediately bucked up, letting out a violent neigh.

Chen Liangyu said, “Indeed a fine horse.”

Xie Wenjun: “Are you talking about the horse?”

Chen Liangyu: “What else?”

Xie Wenjun picked up a withered leaf, turning it over and over. “Just the horse.”

In the arena, the Jade Lion ran wild as if insane, neighing, and attempting to throw off the person on its back. No matter how Zhai Yu pulled the reins, it was useless.

Xie Wenjun said, “If you truly like it, you can go down and try.”

“Not the right time.” Chen Liangyu wasn’t comfortable sitting cross-legged, so she propped her elbows on the low table and crossed her legs.

Six visiting envoys, half of them enemies.

“It’s better not to show my face in front of the civil and military officials and make things difficult for the Emperor. Furthermore, people from Beiyong, Dongyin, and Qiudi are all here. If I show up, it will surely cause a huge commotion.”

As they were speaking, their attention was drawn by the gasp that made their hearts skip a beat below.

Predictably, Zhai Yu fell off the horse. She couldn’t even last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, rolling several times on the dusty ground, covered in dirt.

Zhai Yu only managed to steady herself after rolling a few times, kneeling on one shoulder. She didn’t wait for assistance, shook out her sleeves, and brushed the dust off her clothes.

Xie Yuan put down his cup, praising her loudly, “Excellent! I have long heard that the women of Beiyong are brave and unrestrained. Seeing the Fourteenth Princess today, you truly live up to the title of incomparable grace.”

Zhai Yu also called out, “Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. I am crude, perhaps not as gentle and charming as the beautiful ladies of the Capital of Yong. Your Majesty is too kind.”

The Marquis of Chengyang was quite displeased that Beiyong had used a trick to cause Yue Zhengyang’s arrow to miss, and he couldn’t sit still.

He stood up and called out to the long pavilion, “Princess, your heroic stance reminds me of a female general in our court, who is also renowned. Princess of Beiyong, you possess some of her spirit. It’s only a pity that she is not here today, or she would surely have a sparring match with the Princess.”

As soon as he spoke, the faces of the Beiyong group all changed.

Of course, the Marquis of Chengyang did not mention Chen Liangyu’s name just to bring her up. He was truly using veiled sarcasm to taunt Beiyong about their past military defeat.

Zhai Ji raised his eyes again and glanced at the cliff-side side hall where they were.

Zhai Yu’s expression, however, remained unchanged. She continued in a cordial tone, “If there truly is such a person as this official says, this Princess will certainly seek an opportunity to get to know her.”

Xie Yuan gave the attending eunuch, Zheng Hechuan, a look. Having served the Emperor for a long time, these people were all sharp. A single look was enough to tell them the Emperor’s intention.

Zheng Hechuan quickly walked to the Marquis of Chengyang, bowing and taking small, quick steps, and quietly persuaded the Marquis to return to his seat.

Xie Wenjun said, “This Marquis of Chengyang, at his age, still can’t control his temper.”

Chen Liangyu also said, “Well, now it’s even more crucial not to show my face. Otherwise, people might try to hack me to death with a thousand cuts.”