Wiping the beauty cream off my face, I excitedly took Zhao Ye, preparing to go out with Situ You.
Axiu watched the gloomy sky with some worry. "Miss, why don't we change the day? Look at this weather, what if it rains?"
Situ You waved his hand grandly. "It's fine, autumn rain doesn't have thunder, it won't spook the horses. We won't eat tofu pudding today, we'll be quick and back."
Axiu still tried to stop us. "Second Prince, let's change the day. What if we don't make it back in time? You'll catch a chill if you get wet."
"Then we'll go out the west gate. If it really starts raining, we can hide in the villa for a while."
"When did you get a villa in the outskirts of the capital?"
"My elder brother's."
I immediately lost the desire to go. I had finally managed to hide for so many days, only to run into his villa and walk into a trap? I wasn't that foolish. What if he asked for an explanation again? I hadn't figured out what to say yet.
I put on a shy expression. "Isn't this inappropriate? The Crown Prince isn't here, how can we just go in without permission?"
Situ You waved his hand again. "Brothers are family, what can't be shared except wives? Besides, my elder brother is busy with state affairs, the villa is just going to waste. We can liven it up a bit."
The temptation of the Blood-Sweating Horse was too great. According to Situ You, if he brought the horse out today, the Emperor would be alerted, and who knew when I would get to ride it again. But I still had my principles. "We can hide from the rain, but staying overnight is absolutely out of the question. My mother is still arranging marriage prospects for me. If I spend the whole night with you, won't my reputation be ruined?"
"That's why you're so troublesome. Why don't you just marry me, and everything will be solved."
I couldn't be bothered to reply.
I learned riding and archery from a young age, so my equestrian skills were naturally good. However, a Blood-Sweating Horse wasn't something anyone could ride. I guarantee this was the wildest horse I had ever ridden. After more than half an hour of struggling, I finally managed to sit securely on its back. Galloping was out of the question; being able to have it carry me for a leisurely ride was already satisfying.
Situ You mocked me for a while, but he also knew when to be gentle. Seeing the Blood-Sweating Horse's reluctant demeanor, he even offered to hold the reins for me.
Before the reins were even handed to him, a sudden clap of thunder roared out of nowhere. The Blood-Sweating Horse shook its head and bolted.
What happened to the promise of no thunder in autumn? I lowered my body and hugged the horse's neck tightly, too preoccupied to even curse Situ You. At this speed, if I fell off, I'd surely break my neck.
Situ You's shouts grew further away. Branches in the forest whipped past, stinging my skin.
The sky grew darker, and the path in the woods narrowed. The Blood-Sweating Horse, however, ran faster as if it had taken stimulants. The branches still lashed at it, but it seemed completely unfazed by the pain. Blood-Sweating Horses were intelligent creatures, and its sudden frenzy was abnormal. Forgetting my pain, I tried my best to open my eyes and find a way out.
But the sky was too dark, and the horse was too fast. Finally, with all my might, I grabbed a protruding branch, which lessened the force of being thrown. I narrowly avoided a fatal fall.
But I also heard a crisp crack of bone.
Damn it, it was probably broken.
The Blood-Sweating Horse had vanished without a trace. I sat on a pile of dry leaves, waiting for Situ You to rescue me.
While being carried by the horse, I hadn't had time to be afraid. Now, I broke out in a cold sweat, but I didn't have much time to dwell on the fear, because the forest itself was quite terrifying. Heavy rain began to pour down, forming streams that washed away the wet leaves, revealing dark brown earth and tangled tree roots.
The sky wasn't completely dark, but it was eerily gloomy.
I shifted my position, but couldn't find a path. I could only comfort myself that this was the outskirts of the capital, there were no large wild beasts. It was only afternoon, and Situ You would surely bring people to find me.