Chapter 36 – Hunting (2)
It’s a pity that she hasn’t at least taken two wide strides earlier! Ye Zhen was beyond frustrated.
Now, Lu Lingzhi had already drew nearer with his horse. Narrowing the distance between them, Lu Lingzhi acknowledged Mister Shan then looked at Ye Zhen. Afterwards, he smiled, the smile Ye Zhen knew all too well.
“Yao Yao, I have heard that you often go hunting with your fourth brother in the border town. Your fourth brother is now in the woods. Do you want to join him?”
Not at all! Ye Zhen refused deliberately in her heart, but with a smile on her face, she replied, “Eldest brother, if I go hunting, my mother will break my leg. She will not allow me to be as crazy as I have been in the border town.”
“How can hunting be crazy? You are not the only one in the woods. The princesses in the women’s palace are also there, riding their stallions!” Lu Lingzhi urged. Before Ye Zhen could refuse again, he called out the near servant boy.
“Young man! Bring the horse over.”
Ye Zhen saw the lad unsaddle the horse dutifully then she frowned at Lu Lingzhi before sternly refusing, “I don’t want to go.”
On her side, Mister Shan felt helpless, and was a bit concerned at Ye Zhen turning down her eldest brother’s request blatantly. This might create a stain on her name!
At a moment’s notice, he intervened. “Go ahead. You will have to take the entrance examination and take the royal riding examination. It’s a good idea to practice now.”
Lu Lingzhi glanced at Mister Shan gratefully. He didn’t want the emperor to meet Lu Yaoyao at this time. Although he felt that the emperor might not remember the appearance of Ye Zhen, he still wanted to avoid it. And one way to be certain of this was to keep her by his side.
Even if Mo Rongzhan can’t remember, what about the people around them?
Ye Zhen could not reject the invite anymore so she seized the reins, mounted and maneuvered the horse cleanly.
In fact, both Ye Zhen and Lu Yaoyao’s riding skills were good. The difference is that Lu Yaoyao was trained purely for playing and hunting. On the other hand, riding for Ye Zhen was a necessity.
Her father taught her personally. Whether it was only for playing polo or hunting, she showed the demeanor of a miss of a n.o.ble family in the capital.
Mister Shan was also from a well-known family. Just looking at the posture of Ye Zhen handling the horse, he knew that the little girl was not bad at riding.
“Let’s go.” Lu Lingzhi looked at Ye Zhen with a slight squint. His handsome face cheered up and his mood seemed to mirror the tranquility of the place, although still a little skittish inside.
Ye Zhen nodded and bid her companion goodbye. “Sir, I’ll go first.”
“I hope there will be fresh rabbit meat to cook tonight,” Mister Shan said in jest.
“Sir, rest a.s.sured that as long as there are rabbits in the woods, I will make a hot pot for you.” Ye Zhen smiled and looked ahead to their destination. Mounting the horse, she seemed to reminisce the past, her previous life.
At that time, no matter how infuriating she was just as what her mother claimed her to be, her father always embraced her and made her feel better.
Father…
Ye Zhen remembered her father’s generous and gentle smile as he taught her how to ride a horse. Her father’s soothing words throughout her angina pectoris*.
*T/N : Angina pectoris is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort due to coronary heart disease.
Overwhelmed with emotions, she threw the reins in her hand and galloped out like an arrow in full swing! The people nearby were startled.
Lu Lingzhi and his companions raced to catch up while people watched the scene of bustle. Riding behind him was Tang Zhen whom he urged them to keep up with his pace.
“It’s really nice to extend the riding skill to the girls of the family! Her skills is not a bit like those spoiled girls’ in the capital!” Tang Zhen couldn’t help but remark.
He too was amazed that a girl such as Ye Zhen harbors such impressive skills!
“Yao Yao! Slower!” Lu Lingzhi shouted amidst the wind.
Despite Lu Lingzhi’s yell, Ye Zhen didn’t hear a word — or chose not to. She could only enjoy herself at this moment where she felt like is herself again, when she didn’t feel the need to be careful to keep her disguise, just letting her hands take the reigns as the horse galloped freely on the vast land.
With her swift pace, she shortly entered the woods and cast aside the people that was hot on her trail.
However, Lu Lingzhu and his colleagues was honed in the harsh conditions of battlefield — riding was like a picking plaque stuck between their teeth. They soon caught up with Ye Zhen.
They warned her to stop but when they saw her hold the arrow hanging on the side of the horse, they were lost for words…
Ye Zhen, like a true marksman, drew the bow and arrow fluidly with her frail arms..
The arrow was too fast for their eyes to follow its glide…What they only saw as soon as Ye Zhen released the arrow was a grey rabbit flopped down on the ground, the arrow plunged deep in its head. From its position, it could be disclosed that it was hiding behind the tall gra.s.s.
How did Ye Zhen managed to shoot it?
Lu Lingzhi was stupefied while he looked at Ye Zhen’s delicate side face and the rabbit she shot like an ace.
“Yao Yao!” Lu Xiangzhi heard of the ruckus and came quickly. Seeing Lu Xiangzhi, saw Ye Zhen came to him happily at once.
“Brother, I shot a rabbit!” Ye Zhen beamed at Lu Xiangzhi. In her mind, there are only three people in the Lu family she would not resent. That is Pei s.h.i.+, Lu s.h.i.+ming and Lu Xiangzhi.
Without them, how could her sister live so splendidly?