On the way to the horseback archery field, An Jing encountered Su Chengyu and Dongfang Tianyang. Dongfang Tianyang, upon learning that An Jing was going to tame the horse his imperial father had gifted to the Emperor of Xiyun, was very surprised, and immediately interested also followed to the horseback archery field to watch.
Su Chengyu naturally came along as well.
For a time, many people gathered around the archery field.
Dongfang Tianyang strode over to Xiao Changyi with a casual grace and said with a smile, "Prince Yi, before the Princess begins taming the horse, Tianyang must sincerely tell you that the horse is indeed very wild. Even you, Prince Yi, may not be able to tame it, let alone a lady aiming to subdue it, which is as hard as ascending to heaven."
After a pause, Dongfang Tianyang added, "If you don’t want the Princess to get hurt, Tianyang thinks it’s better not to let her take the risk of taming the horse."
Xiao Changyi didn’t even glance at Dongfang Tianyang, his gaze fixed on An Jing at the very center of the horseback archery field, but his thin lips parted to say, "If it’s as hard as ascending to heaven, then this heaven, the Princess of this Prince will ascend regardless."
Dongfang Tianyang immediately laughed loudly, "Worthy of Prince Yi, renowned for countless victories—your confidence is even greater than others."
With good intentions, Su Chengyu interjected, "Seventh Prince, my Imperial Brother never brags."
But Dongfang Tianyang remained incredulous, still laughing, "In all of Dongqing, no one can tame this horse. A fragile woman like the Princess—can she do it? Not to say that Tianyang doesn’t believe it, but even if told, others wouldn’t believe it either. Crown Prince, if you said it was Prince Yi taming the horse, Tianyang could believe a bit, as Third Brother Tianyang said, under these vast skies, probably only Prince Yi could tame this horse."
In other words, he came to the horseback archery field to enjoy the spectacle and possibly to witness a farce.
Some things don’t need to be argued; the outcome would eventually come back to slap people in the face harshly. Xiao Changyi, as if he hadn’t heard Dongfang Tianyang’s words at all, continued to stand there, watching An Jing.
Su Chengyu had special faith in Xiao Changyi. Since Xiao Changyi had spoken, Su Chengyu felt certain that An Jing would definitely be able to tame the horse. Therefore, he did not bother to argue with Dongfang Tianyang any further, but instead moved toward his imperial father, taking his seat below him.
The Emperor of Xiyun sat in a higher place, having heard the conversation among Xiao Changyi, Dongfang Tianyang, and Su Chengyu, yet he said nothing and continued sitting there, sipping tea while watching An Jing, who had changed into light travel clothes suitable for riding a horse.
Actually, he was somewhat apprehensive.
Even though his son Yi Er had said so, he was still a bit worried that An Jing would not be able to tame the horse.
However, even if An Jing could not tame the horse, it wouldn’t diminish the pride of Xiyun.
After all, no one in Dongqing had been able to tame the horse, and if An Jing couldn’t, it would not be a disgrace.
But the Emperor of Xiyun had made up his mind.
If An Jing could not tame the horse, he would then let Xiao Changyi step in. He was confident that his son Yi Er would certainly be able to tame it.
Since the horse was to be tamed, it must be subdued, so that Dongfang Tianyang would have nothing left to say.
No one in Dongqing could tame the horse, but if someone from Xiyun could, regardless of who that person was, it would be a point of glory for him.
An Jing had changed into clothes more suitable for horse riding and began warming up her body. Once she felt limber, An Jing asked those standing around the horse to step back; she was ready to start taming the horse.
"My husband!" Before An Jing began the horse taming, she even defiantly smiled and called out loudly to Xiao Changyi.
Xiao Changyi said nothing, his gaze shifting with An Jing’s movements. His attention now was almost entirely on his wife.