Chapter 24: Feng Yin
The time for the hunt passed quickly. Before long, it was high noon, and the sun was hot even in the forest.
After some playful fun, they had a decent amount of game. The group started to head back.
They hadn’t even left the forest when they heard a group of people arguing again.
Zhao Yuan was round, but his speed was surprisingly fast. He dismounted and THUMP-THUMPED over, then THUMP-THUMPED back a moment later. He looked at Xiao Li like an eager puppy. "Reporting to the Princess, it’s Princess Chen and Miss Chen arguing with someone. It seems someone mocked Princess Chen, and Princess Chen is helping the Princess Consort discipline that person."
The other three turned their heads away. ’We don’t know this sycophant.’
Xiao Li wasn’t surprised. Liu Xueyin’s whole schtick was being a saintly, fragile damsel. She tried to lecture everyone but could never win an argument, and the moment people saw her, they felt an urge to mock her.
"Let’s go."
Peace and quiet could only be found far away from them.
Bonfires, roasted meat, strong liquor, fine food, music, and dance.
If you were exhausted from work, days like this were indeed relaxing and pleasant.
Xiao Li had a little to drink, a rare indulgence for her. Her head hurt the next morning, so she didn’t go out when Xiao Jingyi came looking for her.
She slept until almost noon before getting up. After washing up and eating, she went out with Hong Yue and the others.
"You all go ride for a while. I’ll just stay here and enjoy the breeze."
Hong Yue and the others wanted to go have fun too, so they quickly set up a table with tea and snacks for Xiao Li before heading off to ride.
Yang Jun and twenty guards were stationed not far behind her, so there was no need to worry about her safety.
The sun was bright, but Xiao Li was under a tree. Plus, it was a breezy spot, making it very comfortable to lie there.
"Stop! Stop! Tangtang... Tangtang..."
CLIPPITY-CLOP!
The sound of urgent hoofbeats approached. Xiao Li turned to look and saw a figure in white desperately clinging to a bolting horse, with a woman and four or five others chasing frantically behind.
’What kind of drama is this?’
When the woman saw people over here, she waved frantically and screamed her lungs out, "Please, sir, help stop him! His horse is out of control! I’m begging you, save him!~~~~~"
Hearing her clearly, Xiao Li shot to her feet.
Yang Jun and his men heard it too and rushed over, their longswords drawn. From their stance, it was unclear whether they planned to intimidate the horse into sensibly turning away or just fight it to the death when it arrived.
The crazed horse was a curious thing. It had been heading in another direction, but upon seeing the group of people, it suddenly veered and charged straight for them.
The group faced it as if confronting a great enemy. "On guard! We absolutely cannot let it harm the Princess!"
"Princess, get behind the tree, quickly!"
Of course Xiao Li was going to hide. "Stand aside, but don’t hurt the person on the horse."
Xiao Li had barely finished speaking when the mad horse was upon them. Following her order, the men hesitated to kill the horse and were sent flying by its charge.
Xiao Li: "..."
’As expected of cannon fodder subordinates in a historical novel. Their main trait is being fragile and easy to kill.’
As Xiao Li was complaining internally, she suddenly caught a glimpse of the young man on the horse, his expression tense and his face pale as a sheet.
"Princess!"
Hong Yue and the others rushed over, gathering around Xiao Li worriedly.
Xiao Li had no time to talk to them. She vaulted onto a horse and quickly gave chase to the crazed animal.
The mad horse ran for a bit, then suddenly began to buck, seemingly trying to throw the person off its back.
The young man on its back finally lost his grip, fell, and rolled several times on the ground. But the mad horse wasn’t finished. After throwing him off, it actually turned around and charged, intending to trample him to death.
Xiao Li’s eyes narrowed. She cracked her whip hard and simultaneously drew her bow, nocking an arrow.
SWISH!
THUD!
The long arrow pierced the mad horse’s back, and at the same time, Xiao Li’s mount slammed violently into it.
The mad horse tried to get up again. Seeing its blood-red eyes, Xiao Li quickly put two more arrows in its head, ending its life for good.
Once she was sure the danger had passed, she dismounted, still shaken.
She patted the head of her mount. ’This is a good horse.’
"Tangtang! Tangtang, are you all right?"
The group shouted as they rushed over from a distance. Only then did Xiao Li turn her gaze to the person slumped on the ground.
His white brocade robes were stained with dust, his clothes were in disarray, his hair was a mess, and his cheek was injured, with fresh blood dripping from the cut.
He looked pathetic and wretched in every way, yet Xiao Li’s first thought wasn’t to comfort him, but to marvel.
’Sure enough, my fleeting glimpse wasn’t wrong. He’s a beautiful young master. But isn’t he a little too... baby-faced?’
He had a fair, delicate baby face, and his expression was cold, though he still seemed a bit shaken from the ordeal.
Xiao Li’s hands started to itch. ’I want to squish his cheeks!’
’But now isn’t quite the right time.’
"Tangtang, Tangtang..."
The woman who had been screaming the whole time finally reached them. She scrambled off her horse and rushed to the young man’s side, tears instantly welling up. "Tangtang, are you okay? Where are you hurt? Don’t scare me like this!"
When he didn’t answer, the woman immediately shouted to the others, "Quick, take him back! He must be hurt! Find a doctor, now!"
The others were just as nervous, but though they crowded around, they were all thumbs, not daring to touch the young man. They could only watch and worry helplessly.
In the end, it was the woman and someone beside her who carefully helped the young man up.
Just as they were about to help him onto a horse, the young man seemed to finally come to his senses. Life returned to his vacant eyes. He gently pulled away from the arms supporting him and limped toward Xiao Li.
Xiao Li watched as this adorable, baby-faced young man solemnly dusted off his sleeves, straightened his lapels, and then performed a standard, formal deep bow to her.
"This humble one is Feng Yin. Thank you, milady, for the grace of saving my life."
Xiao Li glanced at his still-bleeding cheek and raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you called Tangtang?"
His sister finally seemed to notice Xiao Li. Upon seeing her clearly, she hurried over. "Your subject failed to recognize the Princess. May the Princess forgive me."
"I am Feng Yu. I greet the Princess. My grandfather is Feng Yuan. This is my younger brother. Thank you, Princess, for saving his life. Our Feng Family will forever remember your great kindness."
Her emotional display didn’t seem fake; it was clear she was truly grateful.
Xiao Li’s only question was still the same. "His name is Tangtang? What’s the ’tang’ from?"
’It’s one thing for him to be cute, but why is his name so sweet too?’
Feng Yu quickly replied, "It’s the ’tang’ from ’haitang,’ the flowering crabapple. It’s his pet name."
With her question answered, Xiao Li waved her hand. "You should hurry and take him to a doctor."
’He looks so dazed. He didn’t get knocked stupid from the fall, did he?’
The young man was carefully helped onto a horse, and a servant led it away.
Xiao Li could feel him glance back at her, and she couldn’t help but smile.
’This little fellow is quite cute.’
’It wasn’t that she had never seen cute boys before, but his baby face was absolutely top-tier.’
"Princess, your hand..."
At Hong Yue’s cry of alarm, Xiao Li finally felt the pain. She looked down and saw that the reins had cut into her palm, drawing blood.
Xiao Li: "..."
’I don’t really want to admit it, but I really am a sucker for a pretty face.’
’There are all kinds of handsome people in the world, each with their own charm, but I have absolutely zero resistance to cute boys.’
’Risking my own safety to save a strange boy all for the sake of this weakness of mine... I’ve really outdone myself!’