Free Web NovelChapter 182: Chapter 181: Going Too Far
Mu Lianxiao nodded and walked over to Du Yunluo, helping her dismount from the horse.
Du Yunluo had just steadied herself when she saw Princess Yunhua riding towards them.
The Crown Prince’s horse steps were incredibly long, and Princess Yunhua was riding at such speed it seemed like she was about to crash straight into them.
It was so fast it seemed it would almost collide.
Du Yunluo stared wide-eyed in astonishment.
Just as she was almost upon them, Princess Yunhua pulled the reins tight, and the horse reared its front legs, stopping abruptly just three steps away from them.
The dust kicked up heavily, Du Yunluo choked and coughed for quite a while.
Princess Yunhua sat atop the horse, panting, her eyes stinging from the dust, she was waving her hand incessantly, and after a moment said, "Ah Shao, why didn’t you dodge?"
Mu Lianxiao raised an eyebrow.
The princess came in all bluster and bluff; her goal was obviously not to crash into them, just to scare them. If he deliberately dodged, it would only make Princess Yunhua more annoyed.
Nobody replied, and Princess Yunhua didn’t mind, she turned to Du Yunluo and said, "Yunluo, the way you ride so slowly, it can hardly be called horse riding, you can’t do that."
Du Yunluo lowered her eyes and said lightly, "Just started learning, don’t dare to gallop like the princess."
Princess Yunhua raised an eyebrow and patted the neck of the horse led by Mu Lianxiao: "It’s not running to its fullest either."
Before she finished speaking, she swung the long whip in her hand, it landed on the horse’s rump.
The horse was startled, neighed, and began to sprint, still held by Mu Lianxiao, who was almost pulled off balance.
Du Yunluo called out softly, she saw Mu Lianxiao step onto the stirrup, adjust his posture, mount the horse, and exert force to control the racing horse.
In the blink of an eye, Du Yunluo’s heart raced.
Princess Yunhua giggled: "Ah Shao, you do have good skills."
Mu Lianxiao was also quite frightened. If he alone were affected, it might be bearable, but if Du Yunluo were still on the horse, Princess Yunhua’s sudden action would have surely caused trouble.
Du Yunluo knew this clearly, but facing Princess Yunhua, no matter how worried or angry she was, she had to endure it first.
Li Ke approached, striding over: "Nonsense!"
Princess Yunhua snorted, jumped off her horse, and shoved the reins back to Li Ke: "I’m heading back first."
Li Ke pursed his lips, glaring at her. Once Princess Yunhua walked away, he spoke: "Ah Shao, she just has that terrible temper, don’t bother with her."
Mu Lianxiao acknowledged softly.
After this outburst, no one was in the mood to ride anymore.
Mu Lianxiao handed the horse over to the eunuch, and Du Yunluo followed him as they walked out of the palace.
Neither of them spoke a word on the way out, until they exited the palace where Du Yunluo lifted her gaze and saw the Du Family’s carriage waiting nearby.
Jin Rui bowed to Mu Lianxiao and was about to help Du Yunluo into the carriage when Mu Lianxiao interrupted.
"Yunluo," Mu Lianxiao said, "If I’m not around, don’t go learning to ride horses."
Du Yunluo looked at him in a daze, slowly nodding.
In her memory, meeting Mu Lianxiao in this life, there were rarely such tense moments when they spoke; whether it was crying or laughing in the past, her mood was quite different from now.
Mu Lianxiao’s admonition showed he knew well Princess Yunhua’s nature, fearing she might again trouble Du Yunluo.
Du Yunluo took a deep breath and asked in a low voice: "I’m one thing, but with the Princess giving you such a hard time, once the Holy Emperor hears of it..."
Mu Lianxiao pursed his lips, his black eyes darkening, he read the concern in Du Yunluo’s eyes, the same concern he was feeling right now.
The unabashed worry made Mu Lianxiao feel much more at ease, he smiled faintly: "The Princess doesn’t dare go too far with me, just now the Crown Prince was present, he wouldn’t let her have her way."
Du Yunluo pouted.
All Li Ke did was admonish "Nonsense."
But to be fair, beyond saying that, what else could Li Ke do? He couldn’t have Princess Yunhua taken back to her quarters and punished, right?
Even if the Crown Prince had the resolve, there was still the Holy Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager above him.
Princess Yunhua’s antics could be considered just childish mischief, the Holy Emperor might punish her once or twice at most, but the princess, being so vengeful, would only fixate on them more later on.
Du Yunluo recalled Old Mrs. Xia reprimanding Du Yunying and Du Yunnuo during the Ghost Festival last year, basically saying it was due to her not being sharp enough that she got targeted by the princess.
Old Mrs. Xia said, unless she could climb higher than Princess Yunhua.
On this note, Du Yunluo had no aspirations, she was simply the youngest daughter of the Du Family and the betrothed of the Heir of Duke Dingyuan, her family background was set, and she wouldn’t surpass the princess in this lifetime.
Thus, her options in dealing with the princess were limited.
Either let the princess marry early into the Duke Zhen Guo Mansion, a married princess would be busier and shouldn’t have time to bother with her;
Or, the princess finds a new target, someone more interesting to tease, and wouldn’t waste time on her anymore.
Mu Lianxiao noticed Du Yunluo pouting, knowing she didn’t agree, he hesitated, then said: "Recently, the Holy Emperor mentioned to me, upon returning from the hunting ground, he wants me to make a trip to Lingxi, a round trip would be about two months."
Du Yunluo’s attention was drawn back immediately: "Leaving again?"
Her voice was soft, with a hint of reluctance, and she subconsciously reached out to pinch Mu Lianxiao’s sleeve.
Mu Lianxiao’s heart softened, taking her hand in return, his thumb brushed lightly over her palm only to see Du Yunluo inhale sharply with crinkled nose.
"What is it?" Mu Lianxiao lifted her hand to look.
Du Yunluo’s fair palm had a blister.
Mu Lianxiao frowned; he knew Du Yunluo’s hands were delicate and soft, as tender as tofu, holding the reins for a while earlier had left her skin chafed.
Du Yunluo bit her lip against the pain, noticing Mu Lianxiao examining her palm intently, she felt a bit flustered, trying several times to pull her hand back unsuccessfully.
Jin Rui, standing not far off, had been watching her lady and the future son-in-law closely.
She had started getting twitchy when she saw Du Yunluo reach for Mu Lianxiao’s sleeve earlier, and now, seeing them tugging and pulling, her pretty face turned crimson, she felt quite conflicted whether she should go over and interrupt.
If she did, Du Yunluo would surely not be pleased; if not, when Mrs. Zhen heard of it, she’d be in trouble too.
Jin Rui was deeply conflicted, but made up her mind and took a few steps forward, about to speak when she spotted Du Yunluo’s palm, gasping aloud.
"Miss, how did you injure yourself like that?"
Du Yunluo glared at Jin Rui.
Mu Lianxiao released Du Yunluo’s hand, saying, "I’ll take you home, but first, come with me to get some medicine."
Du Yunluo hesitated, lowering her head, "We have some at home."
Mu Lianxiao bent down, speaking softly, "Listen to me."
