Chapter 298

Chapter 298

As the front slowed down while the other side refused to, the infuriating distance that had always been just out of reach finally began to close.

When the gap narrowed to just a horse's length, Kangxi took action. Abandoning his own horse, he leaped onto Su Yi's mount in one swift motion, wrapping one arm tightly around her—his muscles rigid as stone, locking her in place—while his other hand immediately seized the reins from her grasp.

His actions made it clear: he wanted this horse to stop. Now.

The abrupt halt sent the horse rearing, its front legs lifting high into the air, nearly half its body suspended midair before it finally settled back down.

Finally, they came to a stop. What everyone thought was just another grueling drill had turned into a frantic chase, leaving everyone struggling to keep up, almost falling behind and still having to memorize the route—what a pain.

Meanwhile, the other horse, now riderless and exhausted from the run, gradually slowed until those who had caught up could take its reins.

Keen to redeem themselves after the earlier blunder, they acted busy, pretending to be occupied.

Kangxi dismounted first, still gripping the reins tightly. "Get down," he ordered, his voice eerily calm, though his face was dark. He extended a hand toward Su Yi.

It didn’t look like an offer to help her down—more like he was ready to strangle her.

Hmm. Su Yi considered the possibility of him yanking her off the horse. Then, with an innocent and guileless smile—the kind worn after causing chaos, all faux innocence and zero remorse—she replied in a soft, delicate voice, "I wouldn’t dare trouble Your Majesty."

With that, she slid down from the horse’s back, her movements smooth and effortless. Once on the ground, she stood quietly, hands behind her back like a scolded child—a model of perfect compliance.

A total act. That docile act was pure deception.

Real meekness? Not even close!

Noticing this, Consort Ping also hurried to stop and dismount, refusing any assistance as she stepped down on her own.

She wobbled, barely catching the saddle for support before steadying herself properly.

Only now did she realize—despite the riding skills granted by the system, her spoiled-rotten body wasn’t built for this. It was like a couch potato forced to run a mile, left wheezing like an asthmatic afterward.

She was drenched in sweat, utterly spent. Though she wanted to stir the pot right now, she was too drained to do much more than lean on her attendants, slowly recovering while still keeping an eye on Rong Noble Consort’s situation.

Talk about commitment.

She fumed silently—had it not been for Rong Noble Consort’s sudden stunt, she wouldn’t be in such a sorry state. Seeing Kangxi’s icy expression, Consort Ping was itching to see Rong Noble Consort get hers!

Well, death was unlikely, but Kangxi was sure to tear into her publicly. The thought made Consort Ping fight (and failed) to keep a smirk off her face, leaving her expression frozen instead.

As soon as Rong Noble Consort dismounted, Kangxi immediately had the horse led away. Then, still scowling, he pulled her aside, clearly intending to vent his anger further from the crowd.

Though they remained within sight, the distance ensured their words wouldn’t carry clearly. Worse, Kangxi’s back was turned, blocking any glimpse of his face—or Rong Noble Consort.

Consort Ping’s composure shattered. Her face went blank, a single ‘???’ echoing in her head.

She instantly pinged her system to find out what was being said.

"Stand straight," Kangxi said coldly, releasing her.

Su Yi actually did stand straight—she didn’t even lean on the tree right beside her.

Standing there like a simpleton, with an innocent smile on her face, she looked the picture of obedience.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth!

No well-behaved person would’ve pulled that stunt!

And yet, she could still smile.

"How can you still be smiling, Consort? Hmm?" Kangxi's temple throbbed with visible veins, his suppressed voice dripping with anger. His strained smile in the dappled shade looked almost sinister.

"Because... people who smile often have better luck?" Su Yi’s voice trailed off.

Otherwise, she couldn’t very well say that her natural expression was just always smiling—that’d just add fuel to the fire. Seeing Kangxi’s expression, she decided against it.

But that reply wasn’t much better either.

Still sassing him, still testing his patience.

Kangxi had the same headache as a parent whose kid got caught misbehaving but put on a butter-wouldn’t-melt look while actually being anything but. It was a constant test of his patience.

Not even Baocheng and the rest were this much trouble!

"Turn around," Kangxi snapped, irritation creeping in.

Looking at the Consort’s faux-innocent expression, he almost raised a hand to massage his temples.

Su Yi obediently turned her back to Kangxi, facing the tree instead.

Though, "Isn’t this a little... improper? It’s still broad daylight," she mused, her tone laced with exaggerated concern—enough to invite misunderstanding.

Her words and tone made it sound like a full-blown, daylight daydream was about to happen.

Then, in her mind, Su Yi took it a step further—a wild, open-air fantasy.

Only to receive a sharp knuckle rap to her skull from Kangxi, his face utterly blank.

"I told you to face the tree and reflect on your actions," Kangxi said, his initially controlled voice rising slightly.

What on earth went through the Consort’s mind? Eight hundred ideas a minute!

Though momentarily derailed, he quickly steered back to the main issue. He needed to address her earlier behavior properly, or who knows what she’ll do next? Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Kangxi exhaled slowly.

"Do you have any idea how reckless that was? I told you not to ride so fast—did you just ignore me? What were you thinking?" His tone was calm now, his expression neutral.

Su Yi: *Guess the wind blew your words in one ear and out the other.*

She couldn’t very well admit that yes, she had heard him and deliberately ignored him.

"Yes, I know it was wrong. I apologize and won’t do it again," she said, her tone oozing faux remorse.

*Next time’s a problem for future me. Heh.*

Her voice sounded earnest, but with her back turned, her expression was anything but.

The classic non-apology: say sorry, swear you’ll change—then do zip.

"You’re already planning a next time?" Kangxi seized on her wording, clearly well aware that her apologies never translated to actual change. "If that’s 'unskilled,' then you’re downright humble."

What 'unskilled' rider would even attempt that speed? Not a single person had managed to catch up, and her playing dumb just rubbed salt in the wound. Thankfully, nothing had happened—but the thought alone darkened Kangxi’s expression again. Hopelessly defiant.

Su Yi wasn’t one to eat her words, not a hint of hesitation in her voice. “I’m really not that good. I didn’t do any fancy tricks.”

She hadn’t performed a single one of those elaborate equestrian stunts.

“No special techniques—just pure passion.”

She just went full throttle, and look, none of them could keep up with her.

That’s what raw adrenaline does.

Kangxi was mad enough to laugh. “Pure passion”? Just as he was about to retort, he seemed to hear faint rustling sounds coming from in front of Rong Noble Consort.

Though she stood with her back to him, head bowed as if in reflection, Kangxi knew better. He stepped forward and immediately saw the situation.

"Rong Noble Consort!"

Su Yi quickly withdrew her fingers from the tree bark she had been picking at, playing innocent. But the fine layer of bark she had scraped off, along with the bits clinging to her fingers, was undeniable. Her tight sleeves left no room to hide the evidence.

Kangxi felt like a parent dealing with a child caught playing in the mud, hands covered in dirt.

"Hold out your hand."

His tone warned unmistakably of an impending spanking.

Seriously? She’d barely scratched the tree’s surface—just breaking the skin. She hadn’t even poked a hole in it!

Su Yi extended her hand, palm up, pursing her lips in silent challenge, as if to say, *Go ahead—I’ll just make you regret it later.*

Maddening. That bratty, unrepentant look.

The outstretched hand, once smooth and unblemished, now bore a reddened palm, the chafing from white-knuckling the reins still visible. Kangxi’s expression darkened further. He reached out, his grip looked harsh but was surprisingly gentle, carefully avoiding any harsh tugging.

His much larger hand descended with a loud clap—just air, no sting.

Using his sleeve, Kangxi worked briskly but gently to brush away the wood shavings from her hand, his motions impatient yet careful to avoid the reddened skin. He then checked her other hand for any broken skin. Seeing only redness and no wounds—which would make applying medicine easier later—his expression softened slightly.

"Don’t do this again. Do you think I enjoy read you the riot act in front of so many people? Riding so recklessly—you’re lucky nothing went wrong. What if—" He cut himself off, then continued, "You’re happy now, but tomorrow you won’t be able to move."

His gaze lifted. "And then Noble Consort Rong will surely find a way to blame me for it."

Right now, she still looked somewhat guilty and obedient. But by tomorrow, her attitude would be entirely different.

Su Yi protested quickly, though she sounded less than convinced herself. "How could I?"

Was she really the type to throw tantrums so easily?

At most, it was just sulking because they got off easy.

This time, Kangxi said nothing, merely watching her with a quiet, knowing smile.

"Your Majesty, Noble Consort Rong was simply caught up in the moment and didn’t think of the consequences. Please don’t be angry with her." Consort Ping had slipped over unnoticed and stopped a few meters away.

Her pointed interruption broke the moment.

Though she pretended to defend Rong Noble Consort, her words subtly implied that Rong Noble Consort had lost control, trying to stoke Kangxi’s temper.

It burned Consort Ping up. She had thought Kangxi’s icy expression meant he was about to unleash his fury on Rong Noble Consort. But instead, he had moved away, blocking everyone’s view of her.

So much for anyone getting to see Rong Noble Consort’s humiliation!

The system finally pulled its weight and let Consort Ping understand what was being said. At first, it actually made some sense.

But then what the hell happened?!"

All bark and no bite?!"

No, not even much bark!

Though exhausted, Consort Ping was so enraged that she pushed away the attendants and strode over to interrupt.

Of course, the most important thing was that it was about time—she needed to get Rong Noble Consort away from Kangxi.