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Rong Shu's lips curved up in a gentle "Mm-hmm." "He offered to teach me himself. Who else should I turn to?"

Looking at the warm and sweet smile on her lips, Mu Nijing couldn't help but smile as well.

Her brother had never been able to make Zhaozhao laugh so sweetly. No matter how much she wished for Zhaozhao to marry into the Mu family, she had to admit that the Crown Prince was the best match for her friend. Fortunately, Zhaozhao was unaware of her brother's feelings.

Mu Nijing said cheerfully, "That's great. I've always wanted to explore the depths of the forest. I'll go have some fun on my own, and you can find His Highness. I'll come back for you later in the afternoon."

Mu Nijing had longed to venture into the inner part of Minglu Mountain's forest.

Gu Changjin was already waiting for her. Upon seeing her in a fiery red riding outfit, he was slightly taken aback.

Her appearance was as bright and delicate as a lotus or a peony.

However, with this riding attire on, she exuded a touch of bravery alongside her brightness, like the sun or a kapok tree standing tall even after shedding its green leaves.

Gu Changjin strolled over and asked, "Feeling like horseback riding today?"

Rong Shu nodded and said, "Isn't there someone who could draw a bow at the age of three and catch small prey at five, offering to teach me horseback riding and archery? If that's the case, let the lessons begin today."

Gu Changjin lifted his gaze to look at the lady sitting on the horse, raising an eyebrow.

" Aren't you tired anymore?"

Yesterday, this lady kept yelling on the bed that she was exhausted and didn't want to continue. She even mentioned that she wouldn't ride a horse today but would only admire the scenery in the woods and watch them hunt.

After a night's rest, she seemed full of energy now.

"I'm not tired. I just woke up at dawn," Rong Shu said with a smile, urging him, "Hurry up and teach me. Ideally, I'd like to be able to gallop back and forth twice today."

Gu Changjin took the reins and led her to an open space. Picking up a wooden branch, he said, "Your riding posture is incorrect."

Since she appeared in his line of sight, the man's eyes had never left her. He had observed her riding posture clearly.

He lightly tapped her waist, hips, and thighs with the wooden branch, saying, "It's too arched, too curved, and here—"

The branch slowly moved upward, tapping her shoulder. "You're too tense, Zhaozhao. Relax."

Rong Shu endured three strikes in a row, suddenly realizing why he had brought her to this empty field for her lesson.

This man was indeed strict as a teacher.

In that brief moment of distraction, the wooden branch in the man's hand gently tapped her back, saying, "Don't lose focus. When riding and archery, you must concentrate fully to react swiftly and avoid injury."

Rong Shu promptly gathered her wits and diligently followed his instructions. It took her nearly half an hour to pass the test of proper riding posture.

When she dismounted, her legs were trembling.

Seeing her drenched in sweat, Gu Changjin unscrewed a waterskin and asked, "Are you tired? Should we call it a day?"

"No, no," Rong Shu replied, taking the waterskin and taking a few gulps. "I finally got the posture right, so let me at least run the horse."

Gu Changjin studied her expression, ensuring she wasn't being overly stubborn before nodding. "I'll ride Chasing Shadow and accompany you at a gentle pace."

With that, he whistled, and a magnificent black steed immediately galloped over with a "clip-clop" sound.

Rong Shu, being the owner of several ranches and having spent months selecting foals in Da Tong, had a keen eye for horses. Upon seeing the animal, she knew it was a horse of ordinary lineage.

Yet, despite its common lineage, the horse possessed an extraordinary presence, surpassing in elegance any of the renowned steeds Rong Shu had encountered before.

Observing her unwavering gaze fixed on Zhi Ying, Gu Changjin chuckled and said, "Zhi Ying is a wild stallion. After being injured in the snowy plains of Liaodong, I rescued him and brought him back to the capital with me. Despite his wild nature, he has a gentle disposition and would never harm anyone."

He whistled again towards Zhi Ying and nodded slightly in Rong Shu's direction.

Promptly, Zhi Ying approached her with a rhythmic clip-clop, his dark eyes gazing at her intently. He then obediently lowered his head, allowing her to stroke him, revealing his exceptional docility.

Rong Shu felt a surge of affection and reached out to touch him.

Just as her hand reached out to touch the mane of her steed, Shadow Chaser, the foal behind her immediately expressed its displeasure with an indignant snort, lifting a hoof and sidling up to Rong Shu, thrusting its head beneath her palm, craving her touch.

This colt is called Xiao Zui, a purebred Hequ horse with an esteemed lineage. It was among the gifts presented to the palace as part of an initial tribute.

Little Cone has always been gentle-tempered and incredibly affectionate towards people. Yingyue and Ying Que practically dote on it like a precious treasure. It's unexpected that its jealousy could be so intense.

Rong Shu couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Gu Yunzhi, look, Xiao Zhi is just like you – a jealous pot."

Chapter 124: Palace Intrigues and Romantic Tangles

Autumn shadows, geese taking flight.

The autumn days in Minglu Mountain were the most delightful of the year, with crisp winds rustling through the multicolored foliage.

A group had spent the day riding and hunting in the mountains, not returning until the late afternoon was near.

That night, Shen Yizhen arranged an impromptu barbecue feast in the old plum grove. Formalities were cast aside; one could help themselves to whatever they pleased, even grill their own meat if they wished.

It was Xiao Huaian's first time dining without the constraints of numerous etiquette rules. Although it felt somewhat unfamiliar, observing the carefree enjoyment of those around him seemed... rather pleasant.

Having spent considerable time in Da Tong, Mu Nijing had come to love hunting herself and then roasting her prey, spicing it with a variety of fiery seasonings, accompanied by strong liquor – a delightfully indulgent experience.

However, today her mind was elsewhere. Rong Shu, seated beside her, had noticed her distracted state and offered her a wine cup, about to inquire when she caught sight of a small cut on Mu Nijing's lip and paused.

"How did your lip get bruised? Did you scrape it during the hunt?"

As the words left her mouth, she found them peculiar. Today, Nijing had ventured into the inner forest of Minglu Mountain but returned without any game, unlike her usual habits.

Mu Nijing brushed her lips with the back of her hand, saying, "It's nothing, just a minor injury."