Impératrice douairière Xiaoxuan

Chapitre 124

“No…” Mo Yan had only taken a few steps when she suddenly remembered something, her drowsiness vanished, and she hurriedly turned back: “Big brother, there’s something I don’t quite understand.”

"What is it?"

Why do you insist on going to the Iron Cavalry Battalion? Is there some reason for it?

Zhan Zhao smiled and shook his head, wiped the sword clean, and sheathed it.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Mo Yan was completely confused. She scratched her ear and asked, "But the princess went to Fuhu Forest, are you really at ease?"

"Isn't there you I still have?" Zhan Zhao said with a smile.

"..." Mo Yan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, "No wonder you've been pushing me to practice so hard lately, it turns out it was for this... Wait a minute, how could you have guessed so early that you had to go to the Iron Cavalry Camp?"

Seeing Zhan Zhao walk into the house, she followed him closely, her mind full of questions, but she couldn't do anything about it.

"Brother, what is it that you're hiding from me?"

Zhan Zhao took a towel and soaked it in water. He turned around and saw that Mo Yan was also covered in sweat, so he wrung it out and handed it to her, indicating that she should wipe it off.

Mo Yan took it, wiped it haphazardly, and handed it back, still insisting on asking, "Big brother, what exactly is it? Can't you just tell me?"

Reaching out, Zhan Zhao gently wiped the sweat from her forehead and temples, then withdrew his hand and smiled, "Remember to take good care of the princess. I will naturally find a suitable time to tell you when I return."

"The right time?" Mo Yan stared at him suspiciously, clearly not quite believing his words.

Zhan Zhao didn't answer, but only asked with a smile, "Weren't you sleepy? How come you're energetic now?"

"I am quite sleepy, but when I think about you..."

"Go get some sleep."

Seeing that he was changing the subject, Mo Yan became anxious and said, "I'm not leaving until you tell me!"

"Then you can sleep here for a while, I need to go out anyway."

Zhan Zhao was not offended at all. As he spoke, he put on his outer robe and actually left.

"..."

Mo Yan stared blankly as he closed the door and left. She was stunned for a while, first feeling a little annoyed, but then she suddenly remembered that she could rest in Zhan Zhao's room, and a smile couldn't help but bloom on her lips.

Zhan Zhao, standing outside, only breathed a sigh of relief after turning past the artificial hill and confirming that Mo Yan wouldn't follow. He understood Mo Yan's feelings perfectly, so he didn't blame her at all. However, the matter was far too dangerous, and she was a meticulous person; even the slightest slip of the tongue could allow her to deduce the truth. Therefore, no matter how she asked, he would remain silent.

He didn't know what would happen during his trip to Fuhu Forest, but since the man had promised to ensure the princess's safety, he had no other choice but to prioritize.

"Zhan Zhao didn't say anything?"

Zhao Yu said with great disappointment, but when she looked at Mo Yan, her expression seemed to say, "I knew you wouldn't be able to get anything out of him."

Mo Yan grinned and puffed out her chest: "Big brother said, I'm still here!"

“Yes,” Zhao Yu sighed, speaking truthfully, “You are here, but whether you are here or not, or whether Zhan Zhao is here or not, there is still a big difference.”

"Princess……"

Mo Yan felt somewhat dejected by what she said, but she knew very well how much she was worth compared to her older brother, so she wisely refrained from refuting it.

The two were standing in silence when a maid came to report: Yelü Hongji had sent several fine horses, and Lord Zhan invited the princess to go and try them out.

Inside the stable, Zhao Yu slowly scanned the dozen or so horses, finally walking towards a pure white horse. It was robust, with a glossy coat, and was simply pleasing to the eye.

Mo Yan stroked a black horse beside her with great interest and said to Zhan Zhao with a smile, "Brother, everyone says that the area outside the pass is not as good as the Central Plains, but that's not entirely true. The really good horses are all outside the pass, and no matter how good the horses in the Central Plains are, they can't compare."

Zhan Zhao smiled but did not answer.

Hearing Mo Yan's words, Zhao Yu couldn't help but nod in agreement. Such a horse was extremely rare and valuable in the Song Dynasty.

Seeing that Zhao Yu had chosen his horse, the groom quickly prepared the saddle and invited Zhao Yu to mount. Mo Yan and Zhan Zhao each chose their own horses, prepared their own saddles, and waited for Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu wasn't in a hurry to mount her horse. Instead, she slowly said to Zhan Zhao, "Guard Zhan, I'm sure you already have an idea of where to take your horse for a ride. Why don't you lead the way? I wouldn't dare to act rashly." She emphasized the word "rashly" with particular force.

"Your Highness is too kind. How could Zhan Zhao dare to say that?" Zhan Zhao said, while Mo Yan secretly chuckled beside him.

Too lazy to say anything more, Zhao Yu gestured with his hand, indicating that he should lead the way, and then mounted his horse.

The three men, along with six or seven guards, rode out of the north gate of Zhongjing. After crossing a small hill, they reined in their horses, and before them stretched a vast expanse of lush green grassland, extending straight to the horizon. It was summer, and the grass was tall and the birds were singing. Small wildflowers dotted the landscape, and butterflies chased and frolicked, creating a lively and beautiful scene.

Mo Yan was the first to sigh, "It seems that the advantages of coming to the area beyond the Great Wall are not just the horses. The Central Plains has its own scenery, but the scenery beyond the Great Wall is just as good. Brother, it's really good that we've found such a place to spend our old age."

Hearing her talking nonsense again, Zhan Zhao simply smiled and said, "If you like it, that's fine."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu sighed deeply, spurred his horse, and galloped off, startling several crows and sparrows into flight. The view was open here, and Zhan Zhao, knowing Zhao Yu was in low spirits, did not follow him personally, but instead signaled several guards to accompany him at a distance. He dismounted himself, casually sat down on the grass, and let his horse wander aimlessly beside him.

Mo Yan rode the horse around a few times, having had her fill of fun, and then returned to Zhan Zhao's side, sitting down next to him.

"How is the horse?" Zhan Zhao asked her.

"It's absolutely amazing!" she laughed. "It runs like the wind, brother, why don't you give it a try?"

Zhan Zhao smiled and said, "Just by looking at it, you can tell it's a good horse."

Suddenly, someone said coldly from behind, "When His Highness makes a move, all the horses are of good quality."

Startled, Mo Yan jumped up and turned around, only to see Yelü Pusa Nu standing less than five steps behind them, glaring at him angrily.

Zhan Zhao did not turn around, but smiled gently and said, "I didn't expect that the Vice Envoy would also have time to come here to enjoy the scenery."

Yelü Pusa Nu ignored Mo Yan's gaze and slowly walked forward until he stopped beside Zhan Zhao. He looked into the distance at Zhao Yu, who was still galloping deep into the grassland. After a long while, he shook his head and said, "This is not walking the horse. I think the horse is walking the person. You Central Plains people are really not good at riding horses."