??Chapter 64: 064 Harvesting a Host of Little Fangirls (Second Update)
Chapter 64: 064 Harvesting a Host of Little Fangirls (Second Update)
After the competition ended, Li Xianyun leaned forward, raised her delicate hand, and gently stroked the dazzling mane of the white horse, smiling as she spoke, “Xiaoxue, you were truly amazing. I’ll reward you with several sweet carrots when we get back.”
The white horse “Xiaoxue” seed to understand, joyfully snorting and pawing the ground a few tis in place.
Just then, Li Xianyun caught a glimpse of several ladies approaching on horseback from the corner of her eye.
Could it be that soone was looking for trouble again?
She sat up straight and lifted her eyes, which were as enchanting as autumn waters, and saw seven or eight ladies riding toward her with beaming smiles.
Amongst them were the ladies who had given up their spots for her, so it seed they were not here to cause trouble.
Li Xianyun’s smile widened in response.
As they ca near, the young ladies bent their arms in a respectful gesture and said, “Greetings to the Royal Consort.”
“No need for formalities,” Li Xianyun said with a smile to the ladies who had made way for her. “Thank you for giving up your spots for
just now.”
The ladies smiled sheepishly, “You are too kind, Your Highness.”
A fourteen or fifteen-year-old maiden, with a gleeful smile, said to Li Xianyun, “Your Highness, your horsemanship is truly impressive.”
Another spoke, “Yes, especially that final sprint; it was so exciting.”
“We couldn’t help but cheer.”
“Your Highness, how did you manage to ta this white horse?”
“Yes, indeed, we heard that only the Khan could ta this horse.”
These girls chattered like little orioles, one after another, which was quite endearing.
Li Xianyun replied with a smile, “I didn’t ta Xiaoxue; it has a very gentle temperant.”
“Xiaoxue?”
“It’s the na I gave it.”
“That’s a lovely na.”
At that mont, a simple Khitan girl, hearing that Xiaoxue was gentle, reached out to touch it.
Xiaoxue snorted vigorously.
The Khitan girl was taken aback.
Everyone laughed.
The Khitan maiden said with a smile, “Indeed, a fine horse recognizes a hero.”
Hearing this, her companion laughed, “But the Consort is a woman, how could she be called a hero?”
“Why not a heroine?”
“Of course, of course!”
The group was conversing and laughing, enjoying a harmonious and pleasant ti.
Seeing how easygoing Li Xianyun was, even more ladies rode over.
However, the mothers of these young ladies in the stands were far from relaxed, sitting on pins and needles, anxiously glancing toward the Grand Imperial Consort, their faces filled with worry.
Guli’s expression was indeed very displeased.
However, as more young ladies gathered around the Consort, these mothers felt increasingly less worried.
There is a saying that there is safety in numbers, and it wasn’t just their daughters smiling and talking with the Consort—many noble maidens were gathered around her.
Moreover, the Consort’s horsemanship was indeed superior.
The Khitan people have always respected the strong—what was wrong with admiring a strong person?
Thinking so, the mothers felt reassured.
Guli’s gaze shifted to the maids standing by at the edge of the high platform, ready to be called upon.
Rong Ge imdiately approached, bowing deeply as she said, “My lady, do you have any instructions?”
Upon hearing this, Guli glanced at her indifferently.
Just now, her awkwardness and incompetence were a nuisance, and Guli felt irritated just looking at her.
Feeling unwanted, Rong Ge nearly let tears fall and quickly retreated.
Upon seeing the situation, a maid from the Empress Dowager’s Palace approached with utmost respect and propriety.
“Has there still been no ssage from the Hall of Diligent Governance?” Guli asked in a soft voice.
The maid replied, “Xiaowu and Xiao Liu have already gone to deliver the ssage, but they haven’t returned yet.”
Guli glared coldly at Li Xianyun’s radiant smile, gnashing her teeth in anger—how detestable, today fortune favored her again.
Not only had she avoided embarrassnt in public, but she had also beco the center of attention, winning the affection and admiration of nurous foolish girls.
Thinking about this made Guli’s stomach ache with irritation.
She said coldly to the maid, “Send soone reliable imdiately to investigate what has happened. Why has the Khan not arrived yet?”
“Yes,” the maid responded and hurriedly withdrew.
Ji Chuchu watched Li Xianyun with cold eyes.
Familiar noble ladies rode up to comfort her, but Ji Chuchu didn’t wish to face anyone and turned her horse around, riding up to the gate of the paddock.
“Open the gate, I, the Commandery Princess, am going out.”
Two palace servants hastily opened the paddock gate.
Ji Chuchu left without turning her head back.
The maids and young servants who had accompanied her quickly followed.
A maid approached Guli and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, the Grand Imperial Consort, the Commandery Princess has left in anger. Should we send soone to follow her?”
Guli, with a smile watching the retreating figure of Ji Chuchu in a huff, said, “No need. The angrier she gets, the more she will loathe Li Xianyun. The Ji Family will certainly not let this slide, and then there will be a good show to watch.”
She paused and added, “We will just wait and see how it unfolds, and if it doesn’t burn fiercely enough, I’ll send soone to fan the flas.”
The maid said with a sly smile, “The Grand Imperial Consort is wise.”
After the paddock gate was opened, Zhuo Ma rushed in, and the other maids followed, each handing their masters water flasks made of cowhide.
Zhuo Ma passed the water flask to Li Xianyun and looked up at her mistress, saying, “Your Highness, your horsemanship is truly excellent.”
Li Xianyun took a sip of water, wiped the corner of her mouth with her fair hand, and smiled, “It’s passable.”
Zhuo Ma’s lips curled into a smile. Her mistress was being far too modest.
The chief palace servant approached Li Xianyun and made a respectful gesture, “Her Highness the Empress Dowager requests your presence and the other ladies at the viewing platform to receive the prizes.”
The ladies followed Li Xianyun on horseback towards the viewing platform.
Seeing the ladies approaching, Guli personally led the group of officials’ families down from the platform, smiling brightly at Li Xianyun.
As they drew closer, the young ladies dismounted from their horses.
Guli approached Li Xianyun with a warm smile, “Xianxian, I had no idea your horsemanship was so good. You’ve outshone all the ladies, even the Commandery Princess has conceded to you.”
The ladies who had co down from the platform exchanged glances, so tugging at the corners of their mouths.
They had been speaking ill of soone behind their back, and now they were praising them like they were blooming flowers.
It was indeed quicker than flipping through a book.
Guli’s insinuations were all too obvious.
How could Li Xianyun not understand? She smiled and said, “Mother, winning and losing is common in warfare, and the sa goes for competition. Uncertain as the outco may be, there’s no need to dwell on it. As long as we enjoy the process, that’s all that matters, otherwise, we would lose the very aning of the horse racing event.”
Guli’s lips trembled slightly as she said, “You do have a clear understanding.”
She then glanced at a nearby palace servant.
A palace servant stepped forward with a box of jewelry for Li Xianyun.
Guli watched Li Xianyun with a smile, “You won the race, so rightly, the grand prize belongs to you.”
Li Xianyun smiled, “Thank you, Mother.”
Everyone knew how to act politely on the surface—what difficulty was there in sweet-talking?
Hearing this, Zhuo Ma stepped forward to receive the jewelry box.
Guli had no reason to detain Li Xianyun further and had to let her and the other ladies disperse.
Just then, a sudden and piercing voice of a woman rang out, “My lady, what has happened to your face?”
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