Lu Meng was absolutely not going to go outside to see a horse, nor did she intend to get involved with any of the secondary male characters.
After glancing a few times, she clicked her tongue in amazement through the tent’s curtain—these secondary male characters in this world were way too high-quality.
The dagger-wielding secondary male from last night, plus the one today, looked completely different from each other, each with their own unique charm.
If this were really an otome game, Lu Meng would definitely be laughing her head off. But unfortunately, she was the damned “tragic female lead” in a torture-fest novel.
So Lu Meng clicked her tongue again, pulled down the tent curtain, and lay back down on the bed.
The arguing outside died down after a while—probably that honey-voiced man had led the horse away.
Lu Meng closed her eyes and thought that although Wu Linxuan’s bed was bigger than hers—big enough for two people without any trouble—the mattress was inexplicably not soft enough, nor warm enough...
She wasn’t sleepy, so she tried hard to recall the plot. She realized that aside from these high-quality secondary male characters who, for various reasons, found the female lead special and all loved her desperately, the male lead had her but didn’t cherish her. Also, the male lead was described as sexually formidable. Most of the other plot details were fuzzy.
You could say the female lead was Mary Sue? No, she was a total mess.
You could say she was miserable? It seemed like all her misery stemmed from her love for the male lead.
Anyway... Lu Meng couldn’t make sense of it for now, so she just stopped trying.
She closed her eyes, actually a bit craving some food, but there was nothing tasty here. All her snacks had been eaten by the horse brother.
And now it still had the nerve to bring its owner to find her?
They said it was “to play with her,” sounding all nice.
Did it think Lu Meng didn’t know it was just hungry and begging for food again?
No more!
She had none left. All the snacks and treats she had prepared for days at home had been devoured by that big horse mouth in just a few bites.
Lu Meng turned over, closed her eyes, and emptied her mind, then felt her body slowly sinking down, down...
Half asleep, half awake, she felt something fiddling with her head. Lu Meng thought it was that big horse mouth again, so half-dreaming, half-waking, she didn’t even think twice and slapped out with a “No food left, scram!”
The crisp slap landed squarely on Wu Linxuan’s face as he bent over, about to kiss his princess.
He froze.
Wu Linxuan had been framed, chased, and suffered all kinds of things in his life, but he had never been slapped so hard before.
He stiffened for a moment, then his anger exploded. The hand that had been gently caressing Lu Meng’s face immediately grabbed her neck.
“How dare you hit me! Are you looking for trouble?” he growled fiercely.
Only then did Lu Meng fully wake up and realize that the face she had just slapped so loudly belonged to Wu Linxuan.
She should have panicked, should have hurried to apologize—after all, it’s not every day you get to slap the boss’s face! And her neck was being grabbed!
Ancient novel male leads always loved to grab necks; no one knew what was up with that.
But maybe because the hand on her neck wasn’t very forceful, Wu Linxuan’s fierce but timid demeanor made it impossible for Lu Meng to feel any real tension.
She even couldn’t help but laugh out loud, the sound muffled deep in her throat, sounding more like a creepy, mischievous chuckle.
“Sorry, Your Highness,” Lu Meng said without much sincerity, “I mistook you for the horse that bit my face last night.”
“Do I look like a horse?” Wu Linxuan hadn’t let go of her hand yet, his expression darkening.
The slap Lu Meng had just given him was no light tap; he could still feel the sting burning on his left cheek.
“Of course, Your Highness, you don’t look like that horse. You don’t have such a long face, and your eyes aren’t nearly as big. Besides, that horse’s coat was really a glossy black, just like Your Highness’s hair, so there is a bit of resemblance…” Lu Meng’s words grew more ridiculous by the moment, and Wu Linxuan’s expression only grew more sour.
Lu Meng lay there, feeling completely limp. The sense of security Wu Linxuan gave her right now relaxed her entire being, sparking a playful urge to tease him.
But seeing that if she went on any further, Wu Linxuan might just bite her, Lu Meng quickly changed the subject: “Wasn’t I just having a nightmare? In the dream, it was always Your Highness coming to my rescue, brave and unmatched. That horse was holding me tight, so of course I had to hit it.”
Wu Linxuan’s expression softened just a little, though he still looked rather grumpy. Lu Meng caught the dampness of his skin, still moist from washing, and gently rubbed his arm. “Your Highness, lean in—I have a secret to tell you.”
Wu Linxuan had been practicing horseback archery all night and had just returned from the mountains. He had just finished washing up, and it was past midnight.
Though he was energetic, he was also a bit tired.
“Why can’t you just say it out loud?” he muttered, uncooperative, but soon lowered his head to lean closer to Lu Meng.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he playfully bit her ear.
“Your Highness was truly amazing last night, like a god descending from the heavens, saving me from danger.”
Lu Meng didn’t hold back her praise; Wu Linxuan had indeed been impressive the night before.
“I was so moved, and I have already pledged myself to you. There is nothing else I can give. I wish Your Highness an early ascension to the throne, to rule the world with wisdom and strength. You will surely be a wise and mighty emperor.”
Wu Linxuan had heard such words many times before; everyone who joined his cause praised him from start to finish.
But hearing this from the woman in his arms, whispering such rebellious yet heartfelt words into his ear, completely melted away any lingering irritation from the slap.
“Smooth talk,” Wu Linxuan said, lowering his head to look at Lu Meng. “If you were a man, you’d be a first-class rake.”
Smooth-talking, oily-tongued, a scoundrel who only thinks of pleasure and debauchery.
“That’s not necessarily true,” Lu Meng said, hugging his neck. “What if I were the pillar of the nation?”
Wu Linxuan smiled.
“If you were the pillar of the nation... then the nation would be doomed.”
“What if I were a man, a rake, then what if Your Highness were a woman?” Lu Meng whispered close to his ear. “If Your Highness were a woman, you’d surely be a refined and graceful lady from a noble family, skilled in needlework and embroidery.”
Wu Linxuan tilted his chin up slightly, wearing an expression of complete nonchalance. But Lu Meng tugged his head down a bit and said, “No matter how much you uphold traditional female virtues, what’s the use? You said it yourself—I’m a playboy. In the end, I still won’t be worthy of you. So I’ll just have to capture you first… then this, then that. Before long, you won’t be able to resist me.”
Lu Meng’s words were whispered right next to Wu Linxuan’s ear, especially the “this” and “that” she mentioned—those were rather indecent things. Hearing her vivid descriptions, Wu Linxuan’s face flushed deeply. He felt as if his arms and ankles were bound by heavy chains, and he glared at her with a mix of annoyance and resentment.
After a moment of close eye contact, both of them burst out laughing.
He was made to laugh by his princess consort—and laughed heartily too. Usually, when he was serious, he appeared older, but when he laughed, he looked much younger.
Lu Meng looked at him closely and realized for the first time that he had two very sharp canine teeth.
She hadn’t noticed them during their previous kisses.
They were actually kind of cute.
“Prince… aren’t you going out? Come up here.” Lu Meng threw back the covers and patted the space beside her, scooting over to make room for Wu Linxuan.
Wu Linxuan really wasn’t going out; he was just about to sleep. But now, with his princess consort so eagerly inviting him to bed, and with those suggestive words she whispered earlier, his expression grew rather intriguing.
His princess was an incredibly assertive woman. Wu Linxuan had never seen her so forward before. Usually, women were shy about such intimate matters and tended to take a more passive role.
But his princess was different…
Seeing him hesitate, Lu Meng patted the bed again, then—just like a reckless playboy—leaned back, propping one arm on the pillow and resting the other on her bent knee. She flicked the hair hanging over her face and said, “Come on, Prince, why are you just staring like that? It’s just sleep, don’t worry, I won’t touch you.”
Her words sounded exactly like a rakish flirt teasing a young lady. Wu Linxuan felt awkward all over, his brows slowly furrowing, and his sharp canines hidden behind tightly pressed lips.
“Not a bit serious,” Wu Linxuan scolded sternly, though the back of his neck was inexplicably warm.
With mock solemnity, he began unfastening his belt, took off his outer robe, and slipped under the covers. This was the first time the two of them lay in the same bed fully awake, without desire clouding their minds.
As soon as Wu Linxuan lay down, he felt an arm wrap around the back of his head. Lu Meng’s quick reflexes caught him, and she immediately looped her arm around his neck.
It was as if Wu Linxuan was a little bird nestling comfortably in her arms.
He hurriedly tried to get up, thinking, “What kind of behavior is this!”
But Lu Meng grabbed a handful of his hair, preventing him from moving. Wu Linxuan winced in pain.
Quickly, Lu Meng swung a leg over his waist and pulled the covers over both of them.
Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, “It’s just the two of us, no one’s watching… let me hold you, okay?”
“Prince, you have two particularly adorable sharp teeth.”
Wu Linxuan: “...Are you not planning to sleep?”
Wu Linxuan said, “Well, you’ve been unconscious for so long, now you’re full of energy.”
As he spoke, he turned to look at Lu Meng. In this position, when he turned, his face ended up right against Lu Meng’s chest.
Wu Linxuan’s breath hitched for a moment, then he propped himself up on his arms and shifted positions with Lu Meng—him on top, her beneath.
“Want some?”
“No, not at all...” Lu Meng replied, “Don’t you have the archery competition tomorrow?”
Having been here for a while, Lu Meng could read an hourglass now. She glanced at the hourglass on the nearby table and roughly estimated the time.
She said gently and considerately, “You should get some rest, Prince, or you won’t have any strength tomorrow...”
“Hmph...” Wu Linxuan sneered coldly, “Who do you think won’t have strength?”
Lu Meng: “...” The damned competitive spirit of a high schooler.
Lu Meng wrapped her arms around Wu Linxuan’s back, gently patting him. “Go to sleep, go to sleep. Aren’t you supposed to compete to be first among the princes?”
Wu Linxuan did need to conserve some energy, but right now, he was a little reluctant to stop.
They shared a silent gaze for a while, and Lu Meng couldn’t help but laugh.
The moment she smiled, Wu Linxuan’s damned competitive spirit couldn’t be held back.
“Don’t worry, no matter how tired I am, I would never wrong my princess.”
The bed in this camp was truly uncomfortable. Even though it was nailed to the ground, every time they turned over, the friction between the wooden planks and iron legs caused painful squeaks.
Lu Meng almost laughed at the sound. They lay side by side, with Wu Linxuan embracing her from behind, his lips planting delicate, continuous kisses on the nape of her neck.
This was a tenderness and calmness between them that had never happened before. Lu Meng liked the warm heat radiating from Wu Linxuan’s body—it made the somewhat chilly blanket feel cozy and warm.
They didn’t indulge in passion, just once, gentle and slow—more like a relaxing moment before sleep. Wu Linxuan was the first to fall asleep.
He had been showing off all day, but deep down, he was very nervous about tomorrow’s competition. After releasing some tension, now holding his gentle and soft beloved in his arms, he fell asleep quickly.
On this late autumn night, Lu Meng opened her soft embrace to Wu Linxuan for the first time, sharing a brief night of warmth and tenderness.
It was her way of repaying his heroic rescue.
The next morning, before Lu Meng woke up, Wu Linxuan had already washed up and left for the training grounds, preparing for the hunting competition.
Lu Meng was also awakened early, roused by the maids who began dressing her at dawn—layer after layer of clothing, with hair ornaments even more elaborate than usual.
Sitting in front of the mirror, Lu Meng was still drowsy. Getting up early was an extremely painful ordeal for her.
But in ancient times, everything was done according to auspicious timing. The start time for the hunting competition had been set, but Lu Meng
had no idea what time it really was, nor did she bother to ask.
She still couldn’t convert the traditional time units into modern ones.
Anyway, she was being attended to by maidservants, supported wherever she went, so she half-closed her eyes and let the maids fuss over her.
After getting ready, she ate a simple breakfast but still had no appetite.
The food at the hunting grounds was just too rough.
Once she was dressed and had finished breakfast, Xin Ya came over and told her it was her turn to take her seat. At that moment, Lu Meng wished she hadn’t become Prince Jian'an’s primary consort.
If that were the case, she could have found a quiet corner to sit in, and even if some people spoke to her coldly or indifferently, Lu Meng wouldn’t have cared one bit.
But now she was the legitimate wife of Prince Jian'an, officially appointed by the emperor’s own red-ink edict, as Xin Ya reminded her.
So she had to go pay respects to the emperor and the consorts the emperor had brought out from the palace. Her final seat was also near the front, slightly lower, sitting together with the consorts of the princes.
Just thinking about it made Lu Meng’s head swell several sizes.
She wasn’t even sure what to call whom, and such occasions were so easy to mess up.
Embarrassment was one thing, but if she were accused of some great disrespect, that would be an even bigger headache.
So, regardless of whatever nonsense Xin Ya might be thinking, Lu Meng pretended to be extremely nervous before leaving—and in truth, she really was.
She then asked Xin Ya who would be present and how she should behave.
Xin Ya patiently explained everything to her, showing no surprise that Lu Meng didn’t even know these basic protocols.
While tidying her clothes and jewelry, Xin Ya spoke softly and gently to teach her.
After all, in Xin Ya’s eyes, it wasn’t strange for a consort not to understand such things—Lu Meng came from a modest background, had been mistreated for years by her father’s concubines at home, and had never been taught by a proper tutor. Not knowing these formalities was perfectly natural.
Lu Meng studied carefully and earnestly, then was supported and surrounded by Xin Ya and the maidservants, dressed in a somewhat dark green brocade robe embroidered with a kind of bird she didn’t recognize.
It was, at any rate, understated luxury. The jade and pearl hair ornaments she wore were mainly dark green, not really fitting for her age but suitable for her status.
Supported, Lu Meng entered the arena—the very same one she had seen on her first day here.
On the far east side of the grounds stood a tiered wooden platform, decorated with various brocades and silks. Nobles and their female attendants were seated according to rank.
At the very top sat naturally the emperor and the empress. Xin Ya said that this time, accompanying the emperor was Consort Duan Su.
She was the same woman who had been publicly reprimanded in the palace over the incident involving Lu Meng.
Given Emperor Yan’an’s cold and indifferent nature, a woman who had caused him to lose face in front of his ministers would hardly be able to regain favor easily.
Yet Consort Duan Su was able to co-manage the imperial seal with the Empress Dowager, which clearly wasn’t solely due to the emperor’s favor—she had some skill.
In any case, the emperor had forgiven her and was willing to bring her out.
This was not good news for Lu Meng—it was like enemies meeting, their hatred flaring all the more.
She obediently followed Xin Ya’s instructions and stepped forward to bow deeply to the emperor and Consort Duan Su.
“Rise,” the emperor said to the consort of Prince Jian'an, personally appointed by his red-ink edict, with no warmth in his voice.
Based on what the emperor had learned about her, he thought this woman was a restless seductress, never content to stay in her place.
Even his cold and indifferent son was utterly confused by her.
Yet he still agreed to Wu Linxuan’s request, simply because he no longer needed a virtuous and influential consort to support his son.
Why not go with the flow and make things easier?
In such a setting, even Consort Duan Su dared not openly embarrass Lu Meng. After Lu Meng finished paying her respects, she calmly took her seat.
She wasn’t far from Consort Duan Su, but the platform she sat on was slightly lower than that of Consort Duan Su and the emperor.
Several women dressed in elegant clothes gathered around Lu Meng. When she walked by, they glanced up at her with curiosity.
They whispered in small groups, exchanging quiet chatter, punctuated occasionally by soft, birdlike laughter.
Lu Meng didn’t recognize a single one of them. Most wore light-colored dresses, blooming like a garden of flowers, dazzling to the eyes.
She kept her gaze straight ahead, trying to stretch her face longer than a big black horse’s, hoping to keep them from coming too close.
Normally, Lu Meng wouldn’t sit so upright—especially in the prince’s mansion, where she usually leaned against the noble consort’s couch, never sitting straight.
But today, she sat perfectly straight, as if wearing a posture-correcting brace, though her eyes drooped, fixed only on the small square table before her.
She dreaded sudden, unsolicited attention from those beside her.
Fortunately, she probably appeared so unapproachable—like a big unfortunate soul—and, after all, she was the consort of Prince Jian’an. This gave her a status that even the emperor’s other consorts and the princes’ concubines couldn’t challenge. Thus, no one came over to strike up a conversation.
A eunuch’s sharp voice suddenly announced that the auspicious hour had arrived.
Lu Meng exhaled in relief.
Good. Once the hunt began, no one would pay attention to her; all eyes would shift to the arena.
This was Lu Meng’s first time seeing all the princes gathered together, but aside from Wu Linxuan—whom she recognized at a glance—she didn’t know a single other one.
They all wore various styles of soft armor. After all, the princes were all born to concubines, so their appearances were naturally quite striking.
When Lu Meng had just paid her respects to the emperor, she naturally caught a glimpse of him—Emperor Yan’an—who looked dignified and commanding.
But the princes’ faces, while bearing some resemblance, didn’t look like brothers at all.
There were all kinds of types, but none truly looked related.
If any bore a resemblance to the emperor, it would have to be Wu Linxuan.
All the princes held bows in their hands. First, they saluted the emperor but said nothing.
The arena fell silent as the princes drew their longbows taut, aiming at some targets Lu Meng couldn’t comprehend from afar.
Then they released their white-feathered arrows.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”
The arrows sliced through the air, passing cleanly through several rings—like those used in dog agility competitions, only much smaller and without fire.
At the end of these rings hung a small bell.
Remarkably, several arrows flew straight toward that bell. One arrow’s tip struck it, causing the bell to clang against a yellow gong hanging among a row of wind chimes in the distance.
Ding-ling-ling, clang-clang-clang, dong! A burst of sounds rang out, and the quiet arena immediately erupted with cheers and applause.
Lu Meng: …Quite the variety of tricks, as long as you’re all happy.
A eunuch recited something in a complicated, almost classical Chinese style, but no one really understood what it was about.
Lu Meng caught every word but couldn’t piece together the meaning in her mind…
It was something like… celebrating a bountiful harvest or blessing a successful hunt.
Anyway, that was that. Accompanied by another round of cheers, the archery competition officially began.
In the distance, a young eunuch approached holding the arrow that had struck the bell, cupping it respectfully with both hands and announcing toward the emperor’s direction: “Prince Jian’an takes the lead!”
The crowd cheered again.
Wu Linxuan instinctively glanced toward Lu Meng’s direction, his chin slightly raised.
Lu Meng had honestly no enthusiasm for this kind of event. Given the choice, she’d rather be lying in bed; what’s so interesting about a bunch of people shooting arrows?
But then she caught Wu Linxuan’s “please praise me” gaze.
Hearing that, Lu Meng smiled and clapped along. Well done, first up, Pikachu.
The emperor stood up and took a longbow from the eunuch attending him.
Lu Meng thought the emperor was about to show off some skill, but instead, he said, “This is this year’s prize.”
“Oh my, it’s the Imperial Lin Bow!”
Lu Meng followed the voice and glanced down. The source of the sound was not far from her—a girl dressed neatly and sharply, wearing almost no jewelry, but clad in a fiery red outfit.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the bow in Emperor Yan’an’s hands, clearly very fond of it.
“I’m old now. To keep this bow by my side would be a waste. This year’s winner will receive it as the prize.”
The crowd erupted in cheers again, almost like special effects—right down to the ending sound. Had they rehearsed this?
When the arena fell silent once more, Emperor Yan’an continued, “This year, the Kingdom of Fengqu has sent a fine horse as tribute.”
“Fengqu, as our vassal state, has long been known for breeding warhorses. This year, Prince Yin Linxu of Fengqu personally delivered this tribute horse. I hereby declare that anyone who can tame this horse will be rewarded handsomely: one hundred thousand gold coins, or I may grant other favors—any request you desire.”
Lu Meng thought, here it comes, the classic setup.
Fengqu really had too much time on their hands—sending a horse as a gift instead of selling it. Usually, in these provocative scenarios, the male lead steps in and settles things immediately.
This was clearly laying the groundwork for the future world-dominating hero.
Lu Meng vaguely remembered that the character named Yin Linxu, a supporting male role, had indeed made outstanding contributions to the male lead’s burgeoning empire.
However, his condition was to have the female lead, and in the end, the male lead led troops to annihilate his entire kingdom.
How tragic!
“My ministers,” Emperor Yan’an continued, “whoever tames this warhorse will receive one hundred thousand gold coins, or I may grant a favor—any request, no matter how bold.”
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the big black horse that had been brought to Lu Meng late last night in the dead of night, along with its owner—the sweetly nicknamed “Great Mage” Yin Linxu—led the horse into the arena.
It was the first time Lu Meng really took a good look at this horse. Indeed, it was magnificent—its coat a sleek, glossy chestnut that draped down past its neck, flowing with the wind, exuding an untamed, free-spirited aura.
Two braids were woven across its forehead, seemingly adorned with sparkling jewels. Right between its brows was a tuft of red hair.
Most striking were its four white fetlocks, as if the horse was treading through fresh snow.
Yin Linxu led the black stallion to a halt in the center of the arena and bowed slightly to Emperor Yan’an. “Your Majesty, peace and blessings.”
“This horse is named ‘Treading Snow in Search of Plum Blossoms,’ the king among horses, capable of leading ten thousand steeds into a gallop.”
Yin Linxu’s voice took on an unusual tone as he said, “If anyone can tame it and win its willing loyalty, then besides the hundred thousand warhorses of Fengqu Kingdom, I am willing to offer an additional promise.”
He glanced at Emperor Yan’an and added, “You may propose any terms you wish.”
The princes in the arena, along with the noble sons who gradually entered, all seemed electrified, as if they had been injected with adrenaline.
Lu Meng felt the excitement surge within her too.
This routine was all too familiar. Wasn’t this the same ploy that “Wu Da Gou”’s male lead had? The prized possession that ultimately granted him unlimited horses to conquer the realm.
In this world, cavalry was invincible on the battlefield.
And the Emperor had promised a hundred thousand taels of gold.
Wasn’t this the seed money for a bid to seize the throne—no, to vie for supremacy?
Lu Meng understood now: this autumn hunt was entirely Wu Da Gou’s stage. She felt a thrill for him; after all, she was, strictly speaking, a fan of Wu Da Gou’s cause.
And a hundred thousand taels of gold—wow.
Soon, Yin Linxu led “Treading Snow in Search of Plum Blossoms” away, and the princes and noble sons in the arena began dividing into teams.
The hunt was split into several types. Eunuchs nearby explained to the distinguished guests and ladies watching that there were solo hunts, team battles, and even undercover missions…
Lu Meng only caught bits and pieces, her attention drifting. All she knew was: the food was coming.
Having the Emperor present truly made a difference—the dishes looked far better than the usual fare she was used to.
Two women nearby whispered softly to her, discussing the fire that had broken out in the ladies’ tents last night.
Lu Meng gave them a cold look, not knowing who they were. They didn’t introduce themselves, but Lu Meng guessed they must be the consorts of some prince.
After all, she was now the Princess Consort of Prince Jian’an. Those sitting beside her should be of similar status.
In her heart, she thought, “Sorry, sister, no appointments.” Out loud, she gave curt responses—“Mm-hmm” and “Ah”—just enough to brush them off. Then she calmly resumed eating.
Most people were watching the teams form, already starting to compete in archery, whispering and chatting animatedly, laughter filling the air.
The weather was especially fine today; the sun had risen high, its warm rays pleasant on the skin.
Lu Meng was the only one eating slowly and deliberately. She hadn’t eaten properly for several meals now, and today’s food was delicious.
Indeed, being with the Emperor meant there was meat on the table.
And this was Wu Linxuan’s home turf… Lu Meng held onto a flicker of hope as she recalled fragments of the story she barely remembered, wondering how to avoid the pitfalls.
In the original plot, the heroine was trampled by a horse—when Wu Da Gou was taming the stallion, danger arose, and the heroine recklessly charged in…
Lu Meng sighed softly—so the original female lead truly loved Wu Da Gou.
Lu Meng decided that when Wu Linxuan was taming horses, she would find an excuse to leave the scene and spend time with her small mercenary team.
After all, now that she was living inside Wu Da Gou’s tent, her mercenary team could stay close by.
This gave Lu Meng a sense of relief. Besides, Wu Da Gou had brought quite a few loyal warriors this time, and Yue Hui was surely among them; Yue Hui would protect her as well.
Lu Meng carefully planned everything in her mind. Sitting right under the emperor’s watchful eye, there was no chance for any reckless troublemakers to come looking for trouble.
With her eyes closed, Lu Meng basked in the sunlight while enjoying delicious food. Aside from not being able to sprawl out on the ground, she was quite content.
Below the stage, the archery competition had already begun. Instead of heading straight to the hunting grounds, they started with archery contests.
Lu Meng couldn’t tell which team was which. She munched on a plate of slightly sweet peanuts, treating the occasional cheers from the young noble sons of prominent families as mere background entertainment.
Those young lords were truly handsome.
Each one was at the delicate age of blossoming youth. Lu Meng glanced around at the young ladies from noble families nearby—they were clearly paying much more attention than she was.
Perhaps they were already scouting out the men they hoped to marry someday. The stirring of first love was truly the most beautiful time.
At this moment, the sun was warm and gentle, the autumn breeze pleasant. Lu Meng kept eating until she was full.
When someone eats too much, drowsiness often follows. Coupled with the sun’s warmth, Lu Meng’s once-straight back began to slump.
Before long, she started nodding off, her head bobbing like a little chick pecking at grain.
Xin Ya knelt beside her, constantly attending to her. Whenever Lu Meng was about to fall asleep with her head on the table, Xin Ya would nudge her with an elbow.
Lu Meng was truly grateful for her. Although most of the time Xin Ya’s loyalty was firmly with Wu Da Gou, that was understandable—after all, she was one of Wu Da Gou’s people.
Lu Meng herself was now wholeheartedly on Wu Da Gou’s side, relying on him for everything.
From time to time, the eunuchs’ announcements of competition results drifted over. None of the names were familiar to Lu Meng.
In this world, Lu Meng mostly recognized people by their faces, and there was a certain pattern: the especially handsome ones were all supporting characters, whether male or female.
Even the beautiful horses were important secondary characters—like the horse named Treading Snow, Seeking Plum.
“Your Majesty, Young Lord Cen Xishi wishes to try taming a horse,” a young eunuch announced, his voice tinged with excitement. Though, he probably wasn’t truly happy—his forehead was drenched in sweat from running around, and he was likely cursing under his breath.
In times like these, palace servants, experienced in reading their masters’ moods, knew exactly what tone and appearance their lords preferred.
Lu Meng once again thanked her lucky stars she wasn’t dressed as a servant. She didn’t even have the skills to smile properly.
“Approved.” Emperor Yan’an’s voice was lazy and indifferent.
Even Lu Meng could tell that this Cen young lord probably wasn’t favored by the emperor. At least, he hadn’t managed to tame the horse in His Majesty’s eyes.
But starting to train horses so early? When exactly did the original story say the training began?
She couldn’t remember at all.
Lu Meng thought back to…
The system quickly forgot about it again. The system probably didn't realize that relying on capturing lines to bluff the main system was just trash AI nonsense—what could she possibly expect from it?
But since the horse taming had begun, it was clear that when this one failed and that one failed, it would inevitably come down to Wu Linxuan.
So Lu Meng had to come up with a way to slip away quickly.
She glanced left and right, wondering why no one was getting up to use the restroom. After all, everyone has their urgent needs.
When someone finally stood up, she took the opportunity to follow.
Lu Meng reached out and rubbed her round, swollen belly, suddenly understanding why none of the women seemed to eat or drink much of the delicious food on the table... they were afraid of having to go to the restroom, weren’t they?
She cast a sideways glance at Xin Ya, who immediately leaned in and whispered into her ear.
Lu Meng wasn’t really in need of the restroom, but aside from that excuse, she couldn’t just faint and leave—it wouldn’t be convincing. After all, she had already eaten everything on her plate, so when the imperial physician came later, it would be hard to explain her fainting as weakness; it would just look like she had overeaten and passed out.
Thinking it over, Lu Meng asked Xin Ya, “Would it be inappropriate for me to leave now to use the restroom?”
When Xin Ya bumped into her earlier, it was a subtle warning to eat and drink less. Now, with no one else leaving, standing up wasn’t impossible, but... Consort Duan Su kept glancing over this way from time to time, probably struggling to find a reason to cause trouble.
Of course, she wouldn’t pick a fight just because someone went to the restroom, but if she was determined to make things difficult, she could always find some kind of etiquette flaw.
And Lu Meng had so many little etiquette slip-ups that could terrify even someone with trypophobia; Consort Duan Su could easily grab one of them with a single hand.
So Xin Ya asked Lu Meng, “Can the princess endure a little longer?”
The princess’s seat was just too conspicuous.
“There are a few wives of ministers here with daughters, and they’re not young anymore. They’ve been sitting for a long time, so some of them will definitely get up soon.”
Xin Ya said, “When that happens, the princess can just stand up along with them.”
Lu Meng wasn’t really in a hurry—she was anxious inside, anxious to avoid the storyline.
If no one got up soon, she could just get up herself. It was better to have Consort Duan Su pick on her for etiquette than to get trampled by a horse.
As for why sitting so high up would get her trampled by a horse—Lu Meng had no idea. But she didn’t trust the plot. To be honest, she was afraid the horse might fly up... and if the rider happened to be Wu Da Gou, then it wouldn’t be horse taming anymore—it would be an assassination. After all, the very top seat was occupied by the Yan’an Emperor.
The ending would be: the late emperor’s grand endeavor left unfinished, cut short halfway.
So Lu Meng still decided to hide, but she could wait a little longer. After all, to highlight the male lead’s prowess, there had to be a bunch of cannon fodder before him—the ones who failed to tame the horse first, coming out to make fools of themselves.
After receiving the Yan’an Emperor’s permission, Yin Linxu led the horse named Treading Snow in Search of Plum Blossoms into a specially fenced area beside the venue.
Lu Meng casually looked toward the young man who was about to tame the horse, then froze for a moment.
A graceful young gentleman, gentle as jade.
That was all her mind could think.
This young man looked like a delicate scholar, and for some reason, Lu Meng felt he seemed vaguely familiar.
Why is he training horses? With such good looks, could he possibly be a secondary male lead?
Lu Meng’s mind wandered, and sure enough, up ahead there was a lady—Madam Cen. She couldn’t help but react!
Madam Cen was seated not far from Lu Meng, who immediately nudged Xin Ya under the table. Of course, Xin Ya noticed as well.
Moreover, after seeing the lady rise, Xin Ya slightly hesitated before gently helping Lu Meng to her feet.
Lu Meng followed Xin Ya as they moved aside. Consort Duan Su’s gaze lightly swept over Lu Meng’s face, but in the end, she didn’t hastily reach out to tug at her little braid.
Lu Meng thought to herself, “You better hold steady today. If you don’t pull my braid now, after today, you won’t see me again—hahaha!”
She felt a bit happy as Xin Ya supported her down from the high platform. Wu Linxuan had said last night that only today required all the ladies to be present; on other days, attendance was voluntary.
Once off the platform,
Xin Ya helped Lu Meng follow behind Madam Cen.
Madam Cen was also being supported, but judging by the attire, the person assisting her wasn’t a maid but a young lady from a prominent family whom Madam Cen had brought along.
They walked slowly; Lu Meng and Xin Ya quickly caught up, but Lu Meng didn’t pursue further—she didn’t know them and had no desire to strike up a conversation.
It was just a chance to exit together.
Before long, Xin Ya leaned close to Lu Meng’s ear and whispered, “That’s Madam Cen.”
Lu Meng gave a soft “Mm.”
Then, a curious “Mm?” followed.
She quietly asked Xin Ya, “Which Cen? Is she related to that young master?”
Lu Meng was asking if they belonged to the same family.
Xin Ya nodded and looked at Lu Meng, asking, “Does the Princess want to go greet her?”
The Cen family was the maternal clan of Prince Jian'an’s consort.
Since the death of Changsun Lu Meng’s mother, the Cen family had severed ties with the Vice Minister of Revenue, that pale-faced man. In recent years, there had been no private exchanges with the two granddaughters either.
From the start, Lu Meng had no intention of associating with her maternal family.
She didn’t even know her own biological mother’s name—how could she dare to visit and claim kinship?
All she knew was that the original woman was a tragic figure: forward-thinking but unfortunate, with poor judgment in whom she trusted.
As for her name, Lu Meng hadn’t managed to extract it from Changsun Xianyun’s lips last time.
So, Lu Meng shook her head, refusing to speak. She had long since forgotten that she even had a maternal relative named Cen.
Xin Ya nodded in understanding, and the two of them slowly followed behind the elderly lady and the Cen family young lady.
At this moment, Cen Xishi had already entered the horse training ground. The art of horse taming required strength first—to hold the reins firmly—and then skill, to avoid falling off when the horse went wild.
Ultimately, it was about making the horse submit, to willingly accept being ridden.
Cen Xishi, who looked refined and gentle, almost like a delicate scholar, was the second young master of the Cen family.
The Cen family had held sway over the Ministry of Justice for many years. This second young master served within the Ministry as well, specializing in interrogation and the manufacture of torture instruments.
Despite his mild and gentle appearance, his hands were most skilled at being soaked in fresh blood, extracting the truth from hardened criminals through harsh methods.
He especially enjoyed pulling out people’s teeth.
His martial skills were impressive—not with bold, overpowering moves, but with a mastery of softness overcoming hardness. He favored using a flexible weapon, a soft whip, with great finesse.
The onlooking young gentlemen, well acquainted with Cen Xishi’s style, watched as he effortlessly approached the horse named "Treading Snow in Search of Plum Blossoms." With a swift flick, he threw a rope around its neck. His waist twisted like a twisted rope, supple and graceful, as he spun midair and smoothly settled onto the saddle.
A burst of cheers erupted from the crowd.
Lu Meng and Xin Ya, following behind the elderly lady and the young miss, heard the applause and turned their heads. They saw that elegant, jade-like young gentleman, his long robe fluttering, already riding "Treading Snow in Search of Plum Blossoms" as it began to gallop.
He had some serious skills.
But before he could fully settle, the horse suddenly went wild.
Seeing Lu Meng and the elderly lady about to turn toward the specially prepared resting area for the ladies—both a place to rest and for convenience—the horse suddenly ran a circle around the arena, then began bucking wildly. Unable to shake off its rider, it suddenly bolted backward and charged fiercely toward the edge of the enclosure.
The fence was custom-built to match the horse’s size, standing nearly six feet tall, with slender wooden slats spaced to allow spectators a clear view.
Lu Meng heard the horse’s frantic neighs, followed by a chorus of gasps.
She glanced over and saw the horse, "Treading Snow in Search of Plum Blossoms," leaping through the air like the legendary flying horse from a school textbook illustration—its four hooves kicked out in an astonishing display of height and breadth, soaring straight over the tall fence that even Lu Meng would have struggled to climb.
Screams erupted all around. Lu Meng gasped sharply. The jade-like young gentleman on the horse was caught completely off guard by this wild leap and was thrown off the saddle.
Though he didn’t fall to the ground, his legs were tangled around the horse’s head, gripping the rope with a precarious, swaying hold on the frenzied animal. It was clear he couldn’t hold on much longer and would soon risk being trampled.
Reacting swiftly, Lu Meng immediately broke into a run.
But the excitement wasn’t over yet.
The most thrilling part was yet to come.
After landing, the horse paused briefly on the spot, then suddenly turned and charged madly in Lu Meng’s direction—
