Chapter 148: Hello Chang’an
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Chapter 148: The Snowstorm
Liuhuo?!
Chang Suining stared again, quickly confirming that she wasn’t mistaken. That was indeed Liuhuo!
She was utterly astonished.
Liuhuo was still alive!
When she left Da Sheng Dynasty all those years ago, she had entrusted Liuhuo to the Xuanzhe Manor, where Old Chang and the others had been looking after him.
Previously, she had asked Ah Dian if Liuhuo was still around, but Ah Dian had shaken his head, sadly informing her that Liuhuo was no longer with them.
She had accepted that Liuhuo must have passed away.
After all, horses generally lived no more than twenty years, and Liuhuo was a warhorse. He had endured many injuries alongside her, so it was possible that he had passed away earlier than expected.
She had already reconciled herself to the fact that Liuhuo was gone, but now—suddenly—she had seen him again in the Hibiscus Garden!
In that moment, it felt like meeting an old friend, a long-lost companion, returned to her.
Yet, given the current circumstances, there was no time for her to savor this emotional reunion.
She saw Ming Jin on horseback, his face flushed with frustration, and immediately understood.
No wonder he had dared to challenge her brother in a race—he was relying on Liuhuo.
But no matter how good Liuhuo was, without the ability to truly control him, Ming Jin could not fully unleash the horse’s power.
The truly useless ones always had a knack for turning potential into failure.
Now, Liuhuo had aged. His temperament had become calmer, less fiery than before. If this had been more than a decade ago, Ming Jin would have never even had the chance to mount Liuhuo.
"Go!" Ming Jin snapped.
He was furious.
What talk of the Crown Prince’s warhorse, what comparison to the Red Hare? It seemed all just empty words, exaggerated beyond measure!
Originally, he had thought this horse was aging, but still looked impressive. But now that they were racing, he found that Liuhuo couldn’t even catch up to the worn-out horse that Chang Sui'an was riding!
“If this race causes me to lose, I’ll skin you alive!” he shouted.
“Crack!”
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He swung his whip, landing a heavy blow on Liuhuo’s side, shouting again, “Go!”
Liuhuo neighed loudly and surged forward.
At this moment, the rider and horse were passing not far in front of Chang Suining, and she could almost see the faintly white rings around Liuhuo’s eyes and the corners of his mouth, signs of aging and wear.
Chang Suining clenched her fists.
“Pah! Not as good as others, and now throwing a tantrum at the horse…” Yao Xia spat, before glancing toward the lead, where Chang Sui'an was still ahead. She let out a sigh of relief. “Sister Chang, it looks like it’s almost over. Only half a lap left, and it seems Brother Chang will win!”
But Ming Jin would never let Chang Sui'an win without a fight.
He had been relying on the rumored legendary warhorse, Liuhuo, thinking that he could finally defeat Chang Sui'an in a “fair” race. He wanted to humiliate the Chang family, to ensure they lost without room for excuse!
But now…
Ming Jin gritted his teeth.
He was the one who had proposed this race. With so many people watching, he had to win!
Not only did he need to win, but he also wanted to teach that little bastard of a brother a lesson!
After another lash of the whip, his horse surged ahead, and he swung another blow.
At the same time, he yanked the reins tightly, forcing the horse off its path and directly toward Chang Sui'an—
A cold, calculating smirk appeared in Ming Jin’s eyes.
Isn’t this a warhorse? Shouldn’t it be good at injuring the enemy?
Liuhuo was strong and imposing. If he charged into Chang Sui'an, surely both man and horse would be knocked down!
With another jab of his heels, Liuhuo let out another loud whinny.
This shrill cry echoed across the racetrack.
Liuhuo, as a battle-hardened warhorse, carried an aura of death and destruction that no ordinary horse possessed. Due to his superior build, he was also the most intimidating among the tamed horses in the Hibiscus Garden.
At the sound of his neigh, the horse beneath Chang Sui'an seemed to sense the danger, becoming agitated and uneasy.
“Suian, be careful!”
“Brother Chang, get out of the way!”
At this moment, many spectators realized something was wrong. Those close to Chang Sui'an, such as Cui Lang and others, shouted anxiously to warn him.
“Damn it!” Cui Lang cursed angrily. “Truly worthy of being cousins with that Chang Miao—both are sore losers who rely on underhanded tricks!”
However, the horses were running too fast, and the remaining distance was too short. It seemed inevitable that Chang Sui'an would be struck. Even if a god—or Cui Lang’s elder brother—were present, they wouldn’t be able to stop it in time!
It’s over. This time, Brother Sui'an is doomed!
In Cui Lang’s mind, Chang Sui'an’s fate was already sealed.
Chang Sui'an, of course, heard the shouts of warning. However, the horse beneath him had become so agitated that he was preoccupied trying to regain control, leaving him unable to respond to anything else.
Meanwhile, Ming Jin, closing in from behind, had a triumphant gleam in his eyes, as though victory was already in his grasp.
Chang Sui'an’s horse was clearly panicking, its spirit already broken. In contrast, the warhorse Ming Jin rode had the upper hand both in size and presence. At this speed, knocking Chang Sui'an and his horse aside would be effortless.
It was just a horse race, after all. A few bumps and collisions were only to be expected.
He hadn’t tampered with the horses in any way.
Besides, if the other horse suddenly hesitated out of fear, it wasn’t his fault—it would just be an unavoidable accident!
Among the participants in the race was Chang Miao. Seeing this unfold, a flash of excitement lit his eyes; he was just short of cheering outright.
Though he restrained himself, some of the more reckless young nobles watching the spectacle began to shout excitedly, reveling in the chaos.
Someone even whistled, egging on the commotion.
The racetrack was filled with the sound of galloping hooves, flying dust, and the uproar of cries and cheers.
But despite the apparent chaos, everything happened within a fleeting moment.
Yao Xia screamed, covering her eyes in horror, unable to bear the sight of Chang Sui'an about to be knocked off his horse.
At that very instant, a young woman curled her index finger to her lips and let out a sharp, clear whistle.
The spectators' attention was fixated on the imminent collision. In the cacophony of shouts and cheers, the whistle went unnoticed by everyone—except Liuhuo.
To Liuhuo, this sound was the most piercing and unmistakable signal in the world.
Although it had been more than a decade since it last heard this whistle, the sound was one it had learned to recognize as a colt, during the first days of training with its master. Through years of battlefield camaraderie, the signal had been etched deep into its bones, never to be forgotten.
In an instant, Liuhuo reacted like a soldier receiving a direct command after losing its way. Obedience was its most fundamental instinct.
Different whistles conveyed different commands, and this one ordered it to immediately return.
Almost immediately, Liuhuo halted its forward charge. With its well-honed discipline and powerful limbs, it steadied itself despite the momentum.
Ming Jin, caught completely off guard, was flung off the horse by the sudden stop, the force of inertia violently throwing him to the ground.
“Thud!” His body hit the dirt heavily.
Gasps of shock erupted from all around.
The unexpected turn of events left Chang Miao, who was close behind, with no time to react. He was riding an exceptionally fast horse, and it was now barreling directly toward Ming Jin, who lay groaning in the dirt.
Both men were struck with terror. Chang Miao frantically yanked at the reins.
The horse reared up on its hind legs, its front hooves pawing the air as it was forced to stop. However, it couldn’t retreat in time. A moment later, its raised hooves came down—directly onto Ming Jin.
Fortunately, Chang Miao’s swift efforts to control the horse reduced the impact somewhat.
If the hooves had landed on Ming Jin’s torso or limbs, the pain would undoubtedly be severe, but it might not cause life-threatening injuries.
But…
One of the hooves landed squarely between Ming Jin’s legs.
Crack.
In that instant, Ming Jin seemed to hear something shatter, the sharp sound cutting through the air.
Then, his pupils violently shook, and it felt as if the corners of his eyes were splitting. His entire body convulsed as he let out a gut-wrenching scream, resembling the cries of a slaughtered pig.
“Ahh—!”
“Cousin!” Chang Miao quickly dismounted.
Ming Jin’s face had gone pale as a sheet. He curled up, clutching his legs, writhing in agony.
Chang Miao froze, his lips trembling. “...?!”
He couldn’t help Ming Jin in time. As his gaze shifted, he saw the brown-red warhorse charging toward them like a flash of lightning. Panicked, he hastily tried to step aside.
But it was too late. The horse was moving much faster than when it had collided with his cousin. Despite his attempt to dodge, he was still knocked aside and thrown to the ground.
Liuhuo did not stop.
The other young nobles, seeing the chaos, scattered in all directions.
The racetrack became a scene of utter turmoil.
Yao Xia stared in shock, witnessing the chaotic situation unfold before her.
Chang Sui'an was safe...
But Ming Jin, the heir to the Ming family, was in trouble!
She briefly closed her eyes, trying to make sense of the situation.
“Miss, run!” a maid grabbed Yao Xia and pulled her to safety, shouting in panic, “That horse is going crazy!”
Such a massive horse could be fatally injured with a single impact!
“Sister Chang!” Before they could escape, Yao Xia instinctively reached for Chang Suining’s sleeve.
However, just as her fingers were about to touch the young woman’s clothes, she saw Chang Suining not retreating but instead stepping forward to meet the charge.
Liuhuo was searching for her.
The whistle earlier had caused Liuhuo to stop, but this long-absent command was now sending it into a frenzy, making it prone to losing control.
Liuhuo was charging wildly, having veered off the racetrack, and was about to collide with a moon-blue figure in its path.
It was the heir of the Rong family.
He wasn’t skilled in horsemanship due to his frailty. He had been standing by the lake near the racetrack, playing his flute. He had only come over after hearing about the race between Ming Jin and Chang Sui'an.
Seeing the warhorse charge toward him, he panicked and tried to retreat, but his haste caused him to fall to the ground.
“Your Highness!”
His personal attendant rushed to him in alarm.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Yao Xia screamed, her heart in her throat.
Heavens, she was about to close her eyes again, but she couldn’t!
Because her Sister Chang was already running toward the danger!
“Suining!” Chang Sui'an cried out, rushing forward in panic, “Suining, don’t!”
Although he didn’t know the origins of the horse, it was clear that it wasn’t an ordinary steed.
He had no choice but to shout, even though it seemed like he was disregarding the Rong family’s heir...
But his sister was in far more danger!
But she wasn’t listening.
The crowd watched as the young woman sprinted toward the oncoming warhorse, and, to everyone’s astonishment, she leapt onto its back!
For a moment, all they could see was the fluttering green mountains of her dress and gauzy cloak. She moved with the grace of a bird soaring into the clouds, yet with strength and poise.
Her timing and movements seemed flawless, as if everything had been planned down to the finest detail, and she managed to land firmly on the warhorse’s back amid its frenzied gallop!
After mounting the horse, she immediately grasped the reins, leaning forward and pressing her body low. Her feet gripped the stirrups tightly, her entire form resembling a taut bow, ensuring she wouldn’t be thrown off immediately.
This action caused a chorus of shocked exclamations.
The horse was exceptionally sturdy, and its rider appeared even more fragile and small in comparison.
The visible disparity in strength made it hard for anyone to feel optimistic about the situation.
Sure enough, the horse reacted violently. After the girl forced it to change direction, it continued to neigh and gallop wildly. The speed was like lightning, jostling her so violently that one side of her hairpin came undone, and one of her embroidered shoes was flung off.
Chang Suining was so scared that she could no longer make a sound. She quickly grabbed a nearby horse and mounted it, preparing to chase after her sister.
But that horse was far too fast!
“General, that… that seems to be the young lady of the Chang family!”
Seeing the scene, Cui Jing, who had just arrived after hearing that someone had taken Liuhuo, visibly changed his expression.
“General, what should we do…” Cui Yuanxiang began, but before he could finish, the young man in the brocade robe was already hastily moving toward the nearest horse.
At this point, the girl on the horse had shifted her grip to one hand on the reins.
She bent even lower, using her other hand to encircle the horse’s neck as though embracing it.
“Liuhuo—”
“Keep running like this, and I’ll have no life left.”
“Even if you accidentally kill your master, you’ll be dealt with according to military law.”
It was the familiar motion, the familiar tone, though her voice wavered slightly due to the violent bumps from the ride.
The sound of hooves echoed.
The horse’s pace began to slow.
As the dust kicked up by the galloping horse gradually dispersed, the girl, who had previously been hunched over, slowly straightened up.
Half of her hairpin had come undone, and her thick black hair hung loosely, with her red-gold South Pearl hairpin swaying as if about to fall. But despite her disheveled appearance, there was no sense of chaos or discomfort.
The horse beneath her was gradually slowing down, almost trotting gently, carrying her forward in a calm manner.
Cui Jing, who had originally planned to intercept Liuhuo head-on, now stopped his horse, remaining on its back as he watched the girl and her horse draw closer.
Once again, he had done something unnecessary. Once again, he hadn’t been able to help her.
But this time, there was something... different.
As he watched the girl approaching on the horse, he seemed to hear the whistling sound of wind and snow once again.
The first time he saw Liuhuo was on that snowy day.
It was the first time he saw such a mighty and imposing horse—one with iron hooves and armor—like a formidable warrior. It had carried its rider through the snowstorm and stood still afterward, both the horse and its rider staring at him.
Just as now, at this moment, it was looking at him again, with the girl on its back.
Cui Jing silently tightened his grip on the reins, his eyes reflecting a sense of wind and snow swirling within them.
“Ning Ning!”
Chang Sui'an’s voice snapped him back to reality.
The girl had dismounted.
Soon, many people rushed toward her, asking if she was injured.
Cui Jing quietly observed the girl for a moment, confirming that she was indeed unharmed. He then stepped away, walking a short distance to pick up the pale pink embroidered shoe.
He instinctively brushed off the dust and grass from it.
Then, he returned to her and handed it to her.
“Thank you, General Cui,” Chang Suining said as she took the shoe, letting Xi'er help her put it on.
Cui Jing’s gaze shifted back to Liuhuo.
It seemed to have received some sort of reassurance, as it no longer displayed any signs of agitation. All its aggression had been quelled, and it stood quietly, guarding by the girl’s side.
At that moment, a trembling, enraged shout rang out.
“Someone… skin that mad horse for me!”
Good night, everyone! See you tomorrow~
(End of Chapter)
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