The jujube-red horse was a tribute from the Western Regions, standing quite tall.
Standing in front of it, Duoduo looked like a tiny little bean.
It felt as if the red horse could send Duoduo flying with a single kick.
Seeing this, the Emperor stood up from his chair.
Then, something astonishing happened.
Duoduo reached her hand out toward the horse, and to everyone's surprise, the horse actually rubbed its massive head against her hand.
The instructor ran over to Duoduo's side in shock.
Duoduo smiled brightly and patted the red horse's head.
The red horse opened its mouth, terrifying the instructor so much that he shielded Duoduo behind him.
Unexpectedly, the horse merely caught the hem of Duoduo's clothes in its teeth and tugged her to the side.
"Can I ride him?" Duoduo carefully pulled her clothes out of the horse's mouth.
The instructor hesitated.
Duoduo was simply too small.
He hadn't agreed to this in the first place, but he couldn't resist Duoduo's persuasion.
He had been bewitched into agreeing to let her try one lesson.
However, with the Emperor present today, he wanted to go back on his word.
"Princess, how about we forget it for today?" he asked tentatively.
The smile vanished from Duoduo's face, and she put on a stern expression.
"Instructor, as a role model for your students, you must keep your word!"
"Since I chose the horseback archery class, I will be responsible for my own safety."
"Don't worry, I've ridden a horse before!"
The instructor looked Duoduo up and down, finding it hard to voice his bitter grievances.
This was a massive steed, not some little pony from the royal manor!
The instructor gritted his teeth. "How about I ride with you!"
Duoduo took a step back. "Instructor, it is improper for men and women to touch!"
In the distance, the Emperor saw the two talking for a long time without making any progress.
While the other students watched the spectacle, he gave an instruction to Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li bowed and quickly walked over.
"His Majesty says that if the Princess wants to ride, let her ride."
Hearing this, the instructor didn't dare to argue further. "Yes."
He walked behind Duoduo, supported her under her armpits, and lifted her onto the horse's back.
Duoduo's legs were so short that she couldn't even reach the stirrups.
"Princess, the red horse is very docile. Just ride it slowly for a little while!"
The instructor was terrified she would fall off.
Duoduo gave the instructor an obedient, sweet smile.
"Instructor, rest assured!"
After speaking, Duoduo squeezed the horse's belly with her legs.
"Hyah!"
The red horse instantly galloped forward, leaving the stunned instructor behind.
The instructor never expected that the student who had smiled so sweetly at him a second ago would ride off the next.
How was this obedient?
She was simply a demon in sheep's clothing!
The instructor sprinted after her.
Seeing the red horse bolt, the boys cheered.
Some even whistled rowdily.
Duoduo leaned her entire body against the horse's back, loosened the reins, grabbed the mane, and became one with the horse.
The horse ran incredibly fast, leaving the instructor far behind.
"Princess! Pull the reins!" the instructor shouted as he chased her.
Duoduo turned her head and waved at the instructor.
The instructor's heart nearly leaped out of his chest in fright.
"Hold the reins tight! Hold the reins tight!" he gestured frantically.
Duoduo rode the red horse around the field once before finally patting the horse's neck.
The horse began to slow down.
By the time the horse stopped, the instructor had caught up.
Looking at the panting, sweat-drenched instructor, Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
"Instructor, I told you I know how to ride a horse!"
The instructor rested his hands on his knees, gasping for air.
Duoduo had indeed said that, but who could blame him for not believing her?
Besides, the Heir Apparent of Prince Ling's Manor had just had an accident earlier!
Duoduo wanted to dismount, but the horse's back was too high.
She could jump down, but that would easily expose the fact that she knew martial arts.
Xiao Yi had taught her that a person must have a trump card, one that others knew nothing about.
Thinking of this, Duoduo reached her hand out to the instructor.
"Instructor, if you would please!"
The instructor straightened up, supported her under her ribs, and lifted her down.
"Princess, your riding skills are excellent. Have you learned this before?"
Duoduo nodded. "Mhm, the private tutor at home knows a little."
The instructor nodded; he finally understood.
Duoduo and the instructor led the red horse back.
Everyone applauded enthusiastically.
"Princess Changle, I didn't expect that someone who isn't even as tall as a horse's leg could ride so well!"
The first person to speak was Xiao Yunshi, the classmate who sat to her left.
"That's right! Princess Changle, you ride much better than certain people!" someone echoed teasingly.
Xiao Yunchuan looked entirely unconvinced.
So what if Duoduo could ride a horse? What was there to praise?
Horseback archery was about drawing a bow and hitting a target from horseback. That was what truly mattered.
"What's so great about it? She didn't even dare to sit up straight on the horse."
"Riding like that, how could she draw a bow and shoot an arrow?"
"Changle, you'd better go back and embroider flowers with those girls!"
Xiao Yunchuan waved his hand dismissively at Duoduo with a look of disdain.
"Tch! You say that as if you could hit the target yourself!"
"Exactly, if you're so amazing, why don't you go off to war?"
Everyone spoke up in defense of Duoduo.
Duoduo was the youngest classmate among them, and a little girl at that.
They were all older kids; how could they bully a little kid?
Hearing this, Xiao Yunchuan snatched the reins from the instructor's hand.
"Of course I can hit it! Whoever is unconvinced, let's have a competition!"
The Emperor, watching the spectacle from the sidelines, suddenly became interested.
"Right! As men, if you're unconvinced, then fight!"
Since the Emperor had spoken, the instructor couldn't very well stop them.
Hearing this, the students eagerly accepted the challenge.
Xiao Yunshi walked up to Duoduo. Towering over her, he looked down his nose at her and scoffed.
"Just wait, I'll help you teach that arrogant guy a lesson!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand.
"Instructor, I'll be the first to accept the challenge!"
Duoduo watched Xiao Yunshi's proud demeanor, pressing her lips together in a smile.
This classmate had bullied her on the very first day, stealing her pastries.
And now, he was actually declaring that he would help her deal with Xiao Yunchuan?
He was just using her as an excuse to play.
Over here, Xiao Yunchuan had already mounted his horse, slung his quiver over his back, and was ready to go.
"There are three arrows in the quiver. Once they are shot, it's over."
The instructor briefly explained the rules of the competition.
Xiao Yunchuan rode his horse out.
A straw target stood in the middle of the field. He had to ride for a distance before he could shoot.
Seeing the distance closing, Xiao Yunchuan took the bow from his shoulder, drew an arrow from behind, and nocked it.
He drew the bow and shot; the arrow flew out.
Duoduo and the others craned their necks to look in the direction of the arrow.
The arrow pierced the very edge of the straw target, looking as if it were about to fall off.
"Ah!" Everyone let out a sound of disappointment.
Xiao Yunchuan then shot his second arrow. This one finally hit the target, though not the bullseye.
As the horse ran closer, Xiao Yunchuan shot his third arrow.
This arrow finally struck the bullseye.
Xiao Yunchuan was finally satisfied.
Smug, he rode his horse back.
"Xiao Yunshi, your turn!" Xiao Yunchuan triumphantly tossed the bow and arrows to Xiao Yunshi on the ground.
