Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 107.2

Although Qin Feiyan had traveled through many places, this was the first time she had seen a steed with such excellent physique.

Of course, Qin Feiyan didn’t know that this black horse was a qīnlǐ liángjū (a thousand-li steed) offered as tribute by the Kingdom of Dayuan, which Princess Changning had specially arranged to be transported from the Royal Stables in the capital to Qingzhou.

Princess Changning couldn’t ride a horse but went to such great lengths to send one to Qingzhou. This grand gesture had already spread among the royal and noble families in the capital.

Her action had even prompted the Empress to send a letter, specifically chastising her that matters of love were minor and she must remember to prioritize the greater good and not become blinded by infatuation.

The horse was very haughty. Seeing Qin Feiyan approach, it lifted its head and snorted a rough plume of air.

Qin Feiyan raised her hand and slowly moved the back of it toward its nose. The horse still held its head high and flared its nostrils, but it didn’t reject her approach.

She gently stroked the horse’s nose with the back of her hand. The horse nudged her hand in response, but its head remained cocked high.

This proudly aloof demeanor struck Qin Feiyan as incredibly familiar. She abruptly turned and looked at Princess Changning beside her, “Look, this horse is like you…”

Princess Changning’s chin lifted slightly, her phoenix eyes radiating a cold, imposing look. Qin Feiyan wisely swallowed the last two words, changing her statement to, “…doesn’t it look like me?”

“It does,” Princess Changning nodded in satisfaction, fully agreeing. “Just as black as you.”

“I’m not black, my face is just a bit tanned,” Qin Feiyan touched her own face, chuckled twice to defend herself, and rolled up her sleeve to show the Princess her arm. “The rest of my body is quite fair.”

Her long arm was placed next to Princess Changning’s fair face; the whitest part of her inner arm was still two shades darker than the Princess’s face.

The black horse let out a strong snort, as if refuting Qin Feiyan’s claim.

“Even the horse doesn’t believe you,” Princess Changning said playfully.

“Your taste is good, though,” Qin Feiyan stroked the horse’s long neck in praise. “Compared to her, even the fairies in heaven can’t match.”

She then turned and winked at Princess Changning.

A-Lǜ, standing behind them, lowered her gaze to her feet, truly unable to bear the direct and coarse compliments of Commander Qin.

“Flowery words,” Princess Changning chided, though the smile in her eyes grew wider.

Qin Feiyan smoothly mounted the horse. The horse’s ears flicked, and the muscles on its back tensed slightly. Qin Feiyan patted it lightly, and the muscles relaxed.

“Good boy,” Qin Feiyan praised with a smile.

The horse held its head high, lifting its front hooves and crossing them, clearly appreciating her words.

Qin Feiyan nudged the horse’s belly. The horse slowly walked a few steps and then began to run gently. After getting used to the rhythm, Qin Feiyan patted its rump, and the horse stretched its legs into a full gallop.

She rode with nimble grace, her clothes fluttering in the wind, as enthusiastic and unrestrained as when Princess Changning first saw her.

The wind whistled past her ears. Delighted by the rare chance for a good run, Qin Feiyan circled the field twice. After confirming that the horse was truly obedient, she guided it to a stop beside Princess Changning.

“Want to try getting on?”

Qin Feiyan jumped off the horse and reached out her hand to Princess Changning. Before she could answer, A-Lǜ quickly stepped forward to stop her, “Commander Qin, the wind on the field is strong! The Princess absolutely cannot ride a horse!”

How could someone who coughed at the slightest draft ride a horse?

Secretly chiding herself for her oversight, Qin Feiyan looked at the Princess with apology. While riding, she had seen a flash of envy in the Princess’s eyes and had wanted to take her along, completely forgetting about her weak health.

“Don’t worry about me. You go ahead and ride,” Princess Changning smiled carelessly at her.

Frowning in thought, Qin Feiyan suddenly smiled. “We can just ride slowly, we don’t have to run.”

“No, no,” A-Lǜ was still worried. “The Princess has never ridden a horse. What if she falls?”

The horse’s back was bumpy, and the Princess’s constitution might not be able to handle it.

“With me here, how could I let her fall?” Qin Feiyan looked at A-Lǜ with amusement.

Her worried look was more like that of a nanny than a maid.

“But…”

“It’s fine.”

A-Lǜ was about to mention that the Empress strictly forbade the Princess from riding a horse when Princess Changning interrupted her.

“Be a good boy, don’t move around,” Qin Feiyan turned and patted the black horse, then wrapped her arms around Princess Changning’s waist, lifting her onto the horse. With a smooth motion, she quickly swung herself up behind her.

Her actions were so fast that Princess Changning didn’t even realize she was seated on the horse.

It was her first time riding, and Princess Changning felt a little uncomfortable. Qin Feiyan scooted forward, letting her lean against her, and said softly, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.”

“Mhm.” The tension in her back eased slightly, but she was still somewhat reserved.

“Hold the reins like this,” Qin Feiyan guided Princess Changning’s hands to the reins. “Give a slight pull, and he’ll walk. This horse is very clever.”

As she demonstrated pulling the reins, Qin Feiyan nudged the horse’s belly, and the horse started walking.

“Walk slowly,” she commanded.

Qin Feiyan patted the black horse’s shoulder, and the horse obediently walked slowly.

The feeling of riding was subtle. The bumpiness on the horse’s back made Princess Changning a little fearful, but she also enjoyed the feeling of being in control.

“How does it feel?” Qin Feiyan leaned forward, resting her chin on Princess Changning’s shoulder.

“It’s alright,” Princess Changning replied blandly, but Qin Feiyan could sense her enjoyment.

After riding slowly for a while, seeing that she had completely adapted to being on horseback, Qin Feiyan took out her personal kerchief from her breast pocket, folded it into a triangle, and held it out in front of her.

“Wear this, and you won’t get windburn. Do you want to try the feeling of a run?”

Princess Changning only looked at the kerchief and didn’t speak.

“The kerchief is newly washed, and I haven’t used it yet. It’s very clean,” Qin Feiyan immediately explained.

Princess Changning wasn’t bothered by her kerchief but felt that using a folded triangular kerchief to cover her face seemed a little too bandit-like.

Yet, seeing the expectant look in the other woman’s eyes, she only asked, “How do I wear this?”

“I’ll help you put it on.”

Qin Feiyan’s kerchief was originally meant for protection against wind and sand while riding, making it larger than ordinary ones.

After helping her put on the kerchief, Qin Feiyan nudged the horse’s belly again, controlling the horse to increase its speed into a gentle trot.

The scent in the wind was exceptionally fresh. The rush of air across her cheeks gave her a sense of soaring freely.

Riding a horse really was as free and unrestrained as it looked.

Feeling exhilarated, Princess Changning instinctively shook the reins, urging the horse to go a little faster.

Seeing the horse pick up speed, A-Lǜ, standing in the distance, felt her heart leap out of her chest. Fortunately, the horse slowed down again shortly after.

Princess Changning turned her head to look at Qin Feiyan, her eyes filled with a look of unfinished pleasure and slight reproach.

“It’s your first time riding, and I’m afraid your body can’t handle too much time. If you like it, I’ll bring you to ride often in the future,” Qin Feiyan explained with a smile.

“I don’t like it that much,” realizing she had completely exposed her preference, Princess Changning turned her head away proudly to deny it.

“Mhm,” Qin Feiyan saw through her but didn’t point it out, nodding with a smile. “I’m the one who likes it. Will you often ride with me in the future?”

After a brief silence, Princess Changning replied flatly, “I may.”

Time quickly passed to June. The case of the pig iron had new developments, and Qin Feiyan’s and Princess Changning’s relationship had grown more harmonious until the arrival of the Prince of Pingxi’s Heir.

The day the Prince of Pingxi’s Heir arrived, Qin Feiyan led the constabulary in raiding the bandit den that had ambushed Lu Huacheng.

After arresting the bandits and bringing them to the office, Qin Feiyan had just returned to the yamen when she saw a massive, gilded, brightly painted, and luxuriously decorated carriage parked at the entrance. Beside the carriage were four servants dressed in extravagant clothes.

Qin Feiyan frowned, subconsciously finding the carriage an eyesore.

The moment she stepped through the door, she ran straight into Princess Changning walking out. Beside her was a stranger.

The man was dressed in a court robe of emerald green silk embroidered with gold thread, and he was handsome, especially his smiling, peach-blossom eyes that seemed constantly to shimmer with spring water.

Princess Changning was originally speaking with the man when, at his reminder, she looked in Qin Feiyan’s direction.

At the moment their eyes met, Qin Feiyan saw a flash of displeasure in Princess Changning’s eyes. She looked down at her own clothes and awkwardly rubbed her head.

She had been camping in the mountains for two days, and after a fight to capture the bandits, her clothes were already dirty and torn.

She was about to bypass them via the side corridor, but the man next to Princess Changning called out to her.

“Oh? Is this the renowned Qin Feiyan?” The man opened his jade fan, lifted his chin, and addressed Qin Feiyan by her full name in a frivolous, provocative tone.

Qin Feiyan stopped in her tracks, glanced at the man, and said to Princess Changning, “Is this your great-nephew?”

“How dare you speak to me like that!” The man’s face instantly changed.

“You were the one who just called the Princess ‘Auntie.’ Why are you accusing me of slandering you?” Qin Feiyan crossed her arms and looked at him askance, her condescending glare inheriting the Princess’s true essence.

She was slightly taller than the man, which unconsciously gave her an added measure of imposing confidence.

“Hmph!” The man snorted arrogantly, seeming unwilling to argue with her further. He turned to complain to Princess Changning, “Ningning, this guard of yours is terribly rude! How could such a person be worthy of…”

“Jing Yu,” Princess Changning cut him off, her tone gentle. “It’s getting late. You should go back to the inn to rest early.”

Hearing Jing Yu’s form of address for the Princess, and observing the Princess’s attitude toward him, Qin Feiyan instantly grew alert and looked at him with hostile eyes.

“Don’t be like that,” Jing Yu closed his fan, clearly reluctant. “I’ve booked a dinner at Qingfeng Restaurant. Come with me tonight, okay?”

“I still have official business to attend to, so I can’t go. Tell Shuqing to put it on my tab; consider it my welcome gift to you,” Princess Changning said to Jing Yu, noticing Qin Feiyan’s face darkening.

She knew instinctively that if she dared to accept Jing Yu’s invitation, Qin Feiyan would rush over and give Jing Yu a good beating.

“I traveled a thousand miles from the capital to see you, and you won’t even have one meal with me,” Jing Yu complained unsatisfactorily. “No matter what, we grew up together as childhood swee—”

Princess Changning’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Jing Yu closed his mouth, knowing when to stop. “Fine, I won’t bother you today. I’ll come find you again when you have your next break.”

Support