The Gilded Cage

Probably because it snowed continuously a few days ago, the sun was exceptionally good on this day, and it shone on the body and dissipated the cold from the wind a lot.

The snow on the way down the mountain has almost melted, and is cleaned by the servants every day, and it is already unimpeded.

Chu Ning took the two Guo'er and led a few servants. After walking down the mountain road, he rode a carriage, and in a short while, he arrived in the wide horse farm.

She wore a winter riding outfit today, with her hair full of black hair and a simple and generous hair accessory. She looked upright, a bit more heroic than the usual dignified and feminine, and she was beautiful. His appearance became more dazzling, and he almost attracted countless eyes as soon as he walked into it.

She was used to this situation for a long time, and there was not the slightest wave in her heart. She only glanced at the nearby figures and saw that there were many noble children and girls, and several Qianniuwei guards, and she knew that Xiao Kezhi must be there. This has attracted so many people.

Guo'er on the side was still very shy. Seeing many people's gazes, she immediately retreated behind Chu Ning a little bit twistedly, pulling her sleeves and daring not to move forward.

This child is born with such a nature, and Mrs. Xu is always a little worried about this. Today, let her follow Chu Ning to learn to ride a horse, but also to teach her how to let go of her temper and practice courage.

The two of them were used to the days when they were in the countryside. Even if they suddenly changed from ordinary Tian Shelang to nobles, there will be no big waves in the future. Guo'er is still young, and she will marry and set up a family in the future. Parents naturally hope that she will live as well as other noble girls in Chang'an.

When Chu Ning looked at this old couple so lovingly towards the only daughter, he naturally thought of his late parents.

Her parents did the same to her daughter back then, and they wanted to let her grow up carefree. Looking at the whole Changan, there are very few high-ranking families in the family, and her parents are so upright and upright. A gentle, loving, and dependent couple.

It is a pity that her mother went early, and her father was later killed by Xiao Yu, leaving her, an orphan, destined to not be as worry-free as the husband and wife expected.

On the contrary, Guoer, both parents and happy family, suddenly gave birth to a lot of sustenance. If she is destined to live a torment, it is better to help this child and see that the child can live well. It is also to her own. A relief.

"Guo'er, let's pick a horse first, okay?" She smiled and bent down slightly, tightening the collar and little fur hat for Guo'er, and pointed to the stable not far away.

Guo'er's shy eyes lit up when he met the stables. After all he was still a playful kid, he nodded at her after hesitating for a while.

Upon seeing this, the servants who followed hurriedly led the two to the stable and called Manu to choose for them.

Chu Ning was not the first to come back to Lishan. He already had familiar horses raised here, so he took the fruit to choose.

Na Manu was very clever. Seeing Guo'er was young and shy, he hurriedly led the two to an underage mare: "Your Majesty, this horse is a breed of a famous horse with a temperate temperament. She has strong feet and is suitable for the little lady to learn to ride a horse."

Guo'er looked at the little red horse, who was smaller than the average horse, but still much taller than her. There was expectation and tension in her eyes. For a while, she didn't dare to step forward: "Your Majesty, I'm a little scared."

Chu Ning stood beside her, holding her in one hand, and stroking the pony as a demonstration with the other hand, and then holding a handful of forage to feed it.

The little red horse snorted, and slowly rubbed it in the palm of Chu Ning's palm, showing a little closeness.

Guo'er looked more and more excited, and finally stepped on the **** prepared by Manu, carefully stretched out his hand, and touched the little red horse.

The little red horse shook his head and approached her actively. It seemed that he was not afraid of life, and soon he became familiar with it.

Seeing that it was almost done, Manu stepped forward to open the door, led the little red horse out, and took the two of them to a wide area outside.

It's just that the three of them turned their heads, but they met Xiao Kezhi who was looking here.

He was wearing this uniform, and only two guards from Qianniuwei followed him. It seemed that he hadn't seen how long he had been behind.

"Your Majesty!" The Manu was taken aback, and hurriedly knelt down to salute.

Guo'er was also rushed, facing his cousin, for a while, he subconsciously hid behind Chu Ning.

Only Chu Ning took her very calmly, glanced at the still lively situation outside, smiled two steps forward, and saluted him meticulously and without flaws: "I don't know if your majesty is here, it's rude."

Xiao Kezhi glanced at her blankly, as if thinking of something, a somewhat complicated color flashed in his eyes, and then he said in a deep voice: "Nothing, get up."

He didn't look at Chu Ning anymore, but walked to Guo'er's eyes, bent down and asked, "Does Guo'er learn to ride a horse today?"

Guoer squeezed Chu Ning's hand, blinked and nodded, in a small and thin voice: "Yes, Guoer will learn how to ride a horse with His Royal Highness."

He probably felt that his dignified and stern appearance frightened this shy cousin, Xiao Kezhi tried his best to ease his face, looked at the little red horse behind them, nodded and said, "This horse is well chosen and is suitable for beginners."

Guo'er's blushing cheek had a little heart: "His Royal Highness took me to pick it."

"Yeah." Xiao Kezhi also didn't know if it was intentional to avoid it. He didn't even glance at Chu Ning, only motioned to lead the little red horse to the court with fewer outsiders.

Several people passed silently all the way, and immediately attracted the attention of many people. Several ministers, messengers, and a few young noble men and women rode over. Among them, Zhao Yu'e, who was just coming, attracted Chu Ning to take a quiet look.

"Your Majesty is going to teach the little lady to ride horses personally?" A clan family looked at the little red horse and asked with a smile.

Guo'er was shocked when he heard the emperor's teaching himself, subconsciously holding onto the corners of Chu Ning's clothes with a pale face, causing everyone on the side to be a little bit ridiculous.

Chu Ning was about to open the siege. Zhao Yu'e had already taken the lead and said, "It is not a matter of one or two days for the little lady to learn how to ride horses. Your Majesty has everything to do, and I don’t think there will be time to teach Lady Wei. In my opinion, you might as well ask your Majesty to choose one. A girl who is good at riding, teach a guardian lady well."

She came from Lishan only after the snow stopped these few days.

Although she is a high-ranking lady, she is not a close relative of the royal family. Her brother Zhao Lun is far away in Banzhou, and she is naturally not good for her official family to come without permission.

Only recently, she received news from her elder brother from Banzhou, knowing that some people were inquiring about her father's life and Nanzhao's affairs in Banzhou recently, and she heard that Xiao Kezhi had also summoned several local generals to come to Beijing to report on duty. It was inevitable in her heart. I was a little nervous, so I thought of entrusting the other relatives of the Zhao family to take advantage of their in-laws with the Xiao family to come and see the situation a few days earlier.

It was easy to meet Xiao Kezhi on the racecourse, and she naturally wanted to seize the opportunity.

No matter how dull the people around him were, they somewhat understood her intentions. After all, girls learn to ride horses mostly for outings and fun. Very few can be called superb. In terms of riding skills, almost no lady in Chang'an City can compare to her, the daughter of a general. She obviously wants to borrow Take this opportunity to show up in front of the emperor and leave a good impression.

And Zhao Yu'e was not shy at all, and continued: "If your Majesty doesn't know which girl to pick, it is better to let everyone compete first. Who can win the first place is naturally the best riding skill."

Xiao Kezhi did not answer, but suddenly glanced at Chu Ning, and said solemnly: "What does my nephew think? I remember Cai Guoer said that she wanted to learn how to ride a horse with you."

Chu Ning raised his head in response, met his sharp gaze, and immediately understood that he didn't want her cousin, the princess to teach him.

"My nephew's poor riding skills, I was afraid of delaying Lady Wei. If there is a lady with excellent riding skills to teach, it is naturally best. Everything depends on your majesty."

Xiao Kezhi said with a "huh", then raised his hand and said, "Then let a few girls compete."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked to the side of the stand, no longer paying attention to others, but the few girls underneath suddenly became nervous and turned their heads to their horses. Even if they knew that they were not better than Zhao Yu'e, no one wanted to be ashamed on such an occasion.

The emperor only gave a comparison, but didn't say how to compare. These self-employed people immediately took care of it. In a short while, the girls were led to a black flag, using this as a starting point, a bunting was inserted on the ramp in the distance, and the winner was the one who pulled the bunting first.

Before Chu Ning passed, he simply took Guo'er to the stands, planning to watch the game with great interest.

Several ministers and clan members sat down chattering, talking and laughing, one of Xiao Ke sat on the high seat in the middle, glanced at Chu Ning who was holding Guoer, and said: "Niece-in-law is not going?"

"Nie-in-law dare not show her ugliness." Chu Ning turned her head and smiled at him, with a natural expression, but with a bit of anger in her eyes, as if she said again: "It's clear that you didn't let me go."

Xiao Kezhi looked at her beautiful white and crimson face reflected in the golden sunlight. His heart slipped inexplicably, as if returning to that day, leaning in the Tangquan Pond, hugging her while kissing her wet neck while holding her. She looked mediocre when she dodged with a smile.

He pursed his lips without saying a word, slowly looked away, and quietly squeezed the hand resting on the handrail.

"His Royal Highness," Guoer said bitterly, pulling on Chuning's sleeves, "Guoer wants His Highness to teach horse riding..."

Chu Ning just wanted to comfort her, but a low voice came from behind: "You are my cousin. If you want to learn to ride horses, naturally you should let the person with the best riding skills teach you."

Chu Ning thought he was mocking her for poor riding skills.

She glanced back at him lightly, turned her head and said nothing.

Without squinting his eyes, he took another step closer, standing side by side with her, only a few inches away, bowed his head and patted Guo'er's head, and said solemnly: "Don't worry, none of them dare to bully you."

Guo'er raised his head and looked at Chu Ning and Xiao Kezhi. Although he was still reluctant, he still nodded and did not dare to refuse.

I don't know if it was intentional or unintentional, Xiao Kezhi didn't move any more, but stood quietly beside Chu Ning, looking at the situation off the stage with her.

A few inches apart, the cold wind blew from time to time, blowing up the robes of the two of them, bumping into one place from time to time, rubbing and entanglement ambiguously in mid-air.

Both of them were silent, but there was a strange harmony in the atmosphere.

The girls underneath competed extremely fast. Amidst the cheers of the young boys, Zhao Yu'e came out on top without any surprise, holding the colorful flag and turning around and riding back.

She held her head high, smiled, and the riding attire on her body was tightened a bit. She pressed against her body in the oncoming wind, showing her mature charm, which was especially eye-catching.

Chu Ning looked at it for a moment and whispered, "Guo'er, you see, Lady Zhao's riding skills are so good, you can learn from her, and you will become as good as possible."

Guoer Nene nodded, but Xiao Kezhi, who had been silent, suddenly glanced at her unclearly.

After a while, Zhao Yu'e was close, turned over, dismounted, and stepped onto the stage. In the eyes of everyone, he held the colorful flags and handed them to the guards aside. When he saw Chu Ning standing side by side with Xiao Kezhi, he froze for a while before rushing towards Xiao Kezhi The first said: "Yu Niang is ashamed, she made an axe at the front door of your majesty."

Xiao Kezhi didn't look at her, only patted Guo'er on the shoulder, and said, "Well, since you have won, I will hand over my cousin to you, hoping that you can teach her well."

Zhao Yu'e was a bit disappointed by the attitude of lukewarm or lukewarmness. But this was an opportunity she had won by herself, and she couldn't regret it anyway, so she could only smile and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, Yu Niang will not reserve it and give it to her."

Seeing that things were settled, Xiao Kezhi seemed to be out of interest, and waved to everyone: "Okay, let's go down separately, don't have to stay in front of me, I should go back to the palace."

When everyone saw this, they all consciously mounted their horses and scattered around, no longer gathering in the stands.

Chu Ning glanced at Guo'er, who was leaving with Zhao Yu'e, and after instructing the maid beside him to look at them from a distance, she also left and returned to the stable, took out her own burgundy horse, and trot along the edge of the racecourse alone.

There is no one here, only the north wind of hunting blows from time to time, and from time to time the ground is covered with dry grass. When the horses' hoofs passed, she seemed to hear the crisp sound of dead grass and broken branches.

Although the weather is cold, it makes people feel very comfortable.

She didn't simply pull the reins, just let the horse trot freely, feeling this rare tranquility and freedom.

But the comfort did not last long, and there was a sound of horseshoes from far and near behind him, followed by a deep and familiar voice.

"Your riding skills are really not very good."

Chu Ning turned his head and saw Xiao Kezhi who was riding a horse.

She raised her eyebrows at him and then clamped the horse's belly, and before he could react, she suddenly urged the horse to gallop out quickly.