Chapter 45: Danger

Chapter 45: Peril

Jiang Wan feigned chasing her brother on horseback, though it was merely a playful tease. Horseback riding, much like cycling, demands practice to overcome clumsiness.

As the two galloped ahead, their second sister, anxious, was surely striving to catch up. With the guards trailing behind, there was little cause for concern.

Chasing her brother's joyful laughter, Jiang Wan's own smile brightened. In this antiquated world, horseback riding seemed to be the sole legitimate and enjoyable pastime.

The harmonious bond between rider and horse swiftly outpaced the smug Jiang Yaozu, provoking his indignant cries. He spurred his horse forward, leaving his guards behind in a desperate dash.

"Big sister, that's not fair! Last time you went easy on Second Sister, why not me this time?"

Jiang Wan reined in her horse, radiating high spirits.

"You little rascal, your second sister is frail and not skilled at riding—what's wrong with me being lenient with her? You're robust and sturdy; why would I need to go easy on you?"

"Who's robust and sturdy? Master Zhao said I'm all muscle! Big sister, you're so biased, spouting nonsense without a second thought. Why don't you mention I'm the youngest in the family? Why won't you cut me some slack?"

"Yes, that's right, I'm biased."

Jiang Wan couldn't be bothered with the "sourpuss" any longer. The boy wasn't inherently bad; he'd simply been overly indulged by his grandparents since childhood, leading him to act foolishly. It was already a significant achievement to have guided him to this point.

"Let's go, slow down a bit, and wait for your second sister to catch up."

With a gentle tug on the reins and a slight squeeze of her heels, the horse clip-clopped forward, ambling towards their pre-arranged destination.

"You finally bring me out to play, and now I have to wait for Second Sister and that donkey of hers? Big sister, is that fair?"

After a few grumbles, Jiang Yaozu trotted his horse alongside his sister and hesitantly offered a suggestion.

"...Big sister, if Second Sister truly can't master riding and archery, perhaps she should just give up? After all, we're here for her—no one would dare bully her.

You have no idea how much Li Jingxiu and the others mock her behind her back. I end up losing face right along with her. At the end of the month, when everyone else is on horses and she shows up on a donkey, I can't even imagine the pointing and gossiping there'll be..."

Listening to her brother's reluctant muttering as he slowed to follow, Jiang Wan smiled amusedly, scanning their surroundings while casually chatting.

"Your second sister may not be physically adept, but she's brilliant. From what I know, among your Xuan Class, she's likely one of the top students, isn't she? She's never mocked you for being bad at your studies, has she?

Siblings should unite, a single heart against outsiders. When others ridicule your second sister, you should stand up and defend her. How can you think she's embarrassing you, Jiang Laosan? Or have I been too lenient with you lately?"

"I did defend her! I even fought Chang Laosi! Big sister, can't you be fair for once? If you keep being this biased, you might fall into a ditch while walking!"

To her brother's complaints, Jiang Wan retorted with reason and evidence.

"Hah, if you'd been as well-behaved and obedient as your second sister from the start, I wouldn't have spent a month stuck in a ditch back then.

Besides, Grandma and Grandpa at home dote on you, and Mom and Dad are too busy to pay much attention to us. If I didn't show a little favoritism toward your second sister, wouldn't she end up like a rotten cabbage forgotten in the field?

This world already favors men—how dare you complain about it in front of me? Do you want a beating?"

"I was just saying... Why bring up the past all of a sudden? Everyone makes stupid mistakes when they're young. Seriously..."

Hearing his big sister mention past grievances, Jiang Yaozu, who now considered himself grown up, guiltily fell silent.

The siblings rode slowly, one after the other, but as they neared the pine forest, their horses suddenly halted, neighing uneasily.

Jiang Wan alertly reined in her horse, positioning herself in front of her brother.

Though she saw nothing, she trusted that Ru Hua was not prone to fits—it wouldn't act so unusually without reason. She pricked up her ears, faintly discerning chaotic sounds carried by the wind from not far away.

"Third Brother, stop, turn around quickly!"

"Big Sis, what's wrong?"

"No questions! Ma Fei, protect Third Brother and go!"

The guard who caught up was quick-witted and asked no unnecessary questions. He swiftly turned the young master's horse around, preparing to gallop back the way they came.

Just as the child turned, an arrow flew through the air, streaking straight for his back. In this critical moment, his eldest sister proved reliable. Her whip, swift and agile, lashed out, successfully knocking down the stray arrow.

Thank goodness Master Zhao had trained her precision and had her choose the whip as her defensive weapon—otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

"Go quickly!"

"Understood!"

In just a few months, Jiang Yaozu had developed an excellent habit: obeying his eldest sister seemed to have become an instinct. Especially in times of danger, his frantic slapping of the reins made the choice for him before he could even think.

The three horses, carrying the Jiang family master and servant, galloped away.

But Jiang Wan, while fleeing, habitually glanced back to assess the situation behind her. Her eyes widened, and she jerked the reins hard.

"Run quickly! Go back and bring reinforcements!"

She yelled, her voice ragged, then immediately wheeled her horse around and charged back, whip in hand.

"Eldest Sister!"

"Young Master, go quickly, don't hinder Eldest Miss! I'll protect you and reunite you with Second Young Miss. You go back to bring reinforcements—I'll return to help Eldest Miss!"

"Alright! Giddy up!"

Jiang Yaozu didn't bother wiping away his fearful tears. He could only use all his strength to drive his horse into a frantic run.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wan ignored everything else. She urged her horse toward the figure in blue robes running desperately ahead, bending down and reaching out her hand.

"Li Chengxiu, grab on!"

"Wan Jieer!"

The already injured young man's eyes suddenly lit up. From afar, he had seen someone in this direction, but as he drew closer, he immediately recognized the familiar red figure on horseback.

So he hadn't dared to call for help, afraid of implicating Wan Jieer. But now, she had come back to save him!

He grabbed the outstretched hand, stepped on her foot for leverage, and heaved himself onto the horse. Jiang Wan cracked her whip, striking one of the masked pursuers in the eye and blinding him.

"Hold on tight!"

Though she was strong, her martial skills were not very refined. Apart from the whip techniques she had recently learned, she knew little else.

She could only hold the reins with one hand and the whip with the other, using all her strength to deflect the incoming arrows while driving her horse to flee in the opposite direction of her younger siblings.

"Hold on tight, giddy up!"

Li Chengxiu wrapped his arms tightly around Jiang Wan's waist. The handsome young man was crying hard, tears streaming down his face, and he vowed to himself:

If he managed to escape with his life today, he would follow in his father's footsteps. No matter what, he would become sworn siblings with Wan Jieer! After all, such a loyal and brave pal was truly hard to find!