Once again riding a horse, as the wind brushed across her cheeks, Shang Ruyi felt a sense of bewilderment akin to time travel.
Though, it had only been two days.
Perhaps because these past two days, or rather, since her engagement during her illness, were so oppressively heavy, making her bear a weight greater than the past ten years combined, that sitting on horseback now, it seemed as if her soul had returned.
Especially after leaving the city, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but urge her horse to trot along the road.
The crisp sound of hooves beside her ears merged into a cheerful tune.
Tushere also rode a horse, following her from behind, and said softly: "Miss, slow down a bit, the groom is already left behind by you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Wenye said: "No problem."
Tushere hurriedly closed his mouth.
Only to see Yu Wenye leisurely trotting behind, neither rushed nor slow, while ahead, Shang Ruyi was as joyous as a swallow, seemingly about to spring off the horse at any moment.
After running for a while, Shang Ruyi pulled on the reins to slow down her horse, then turned around to look at Yu Wenye behind her, unable to suppress the smile on her face, her rosy cheeks illuminated by the sunlight, making even her smile glow.
She asked: "How much longer until we arrive?"
Yu Wenye replied: "It’s just ahead, near the military camp; if there are no battles underway, galloping is forbidden, so we should proceed slowly."
Shang Ruyi simply held the reins with one hand, reclining slightly, leisurely trotting ahead.
Yu Wenye watched her and said: "Your riding skills are truly impressive."
Unexpectedly receiving praise from him, but noticing that Yu Wenye rarely wasn’t cold-faced and cold-voiced, knowing that in the presence of outsiders he needed to put on an act, she felt at ease "performing" as well, laughing: "I used to compete in riding and archery with Turkic children when I was in the Turkic area, and I didn’t lose. Though these years I haven’t ridden much and have grown rusty."
Yu Wenye said: "You’re not modest."
"Being overly modest would be fake."
"So you’re saying you can shoot arrows too?"
"I can, but I was too young at the time to draw a large bow,"
Shang Ruyi said, and then laughed again, adding: "Back then, I loved using a small bow to shoot mice on the grassland. The mice on the grassland were so big, roasted they’d be like eating rabbits."
The more she spoke, the more excited she became, gesturing repeatedly, her entire face becoming animated.
After quite a while, she realized that she had been speaking while Yu Wenye remained silent, merely watching her, so she immediately stopped talking.
He surely found her annoying.
Shang Ruyi said: "Sorry, I—I went too far."
Yu Wenye looked at her slightly flushed face but didn’t say much, merely lifted his head to look forward, then raised his hand to point: "We’re here."
Shang Ruyi lifted her head, seeing ahead a towering mountain rising steeply from the ground, over a thousand feet high, standing as a barrier to the land, and at the foot of the mountain, a sprawling military camp was built against the mountain. Barracks arranged in a tight, orderly fashion like fish scales, where countless soldiers were drilling on the drill grounds, flags fluttering, shouts roaring, all presenting a scene of solemn hostility.
Shang Ruyi instinctively held her breath.
A gust of wind swept through, carrying with it the killing intent borne from swords clashing, suddenly making the horses under Shang Ruyi and Tushere restless, shaking their heads, snorting loudly.
Shang Ruyi hurriedly leaned down to stroke the horse’s neck, soothing it.
Yu Wenye said: "Afraid?"
Shang Ruyi shook her head.
Yu Wenye smiled lightly, urged his horse: "Let’s go."