Gongshang Confidante

As soon as we approached the school grounds, we could hear the voices of people, see colorful flags fluttering in the wind, and horseshoes splashing yellow sand and rolling. , galloping and jumping in the school field, raising his head and screaming, and there are wicker standing in it.

All civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty gathered here, especially the female officials of the court, dressed in scarlet or sky blue official uniforms, with excited expressions on their faces. Seat, what my daughter's family has in mind is to find their favorite son in this riding and shooting ceremony. Those generals and guards are all very heroic.

The drums sounded, the yellow sand rose, and several armored horses galloped out in the distance. The generals on horseback, all with thin armor and tassels, were straight and handsome. There was noise outside the stadium, attracting everyone's attention.

Although the Zhou Dynasty promoted the style of writing, the ancestors laid down the mountains and rivers from horseback, so the annual riding and archery ceremony and Qiu Wei are the precedents handed down by the ancestors, which are absolutely indispensable.

The second prince, Zhou Ren, rode his horse boldly and walked at the front of the queue. Zhou Ren was good at learning, but not good at riding and shooting. He led the horses and circled the field to signal, with a rare embarrassment on his elegant face, and helplessly looked in the direction of the emperor.

The second prince led the elites of the school guards. He was outstanding in formation, riding and shooting. He rode his horse to run and jump, attracting cheers. The best candidate for this is because it attracts the attention of many ladies and gentlemen.

Only the beating drum sounded again, and three loud shouts were made, several people drove their horses to disperse, and performed riding skills at a dizzying speed.

Leave the stirrup with the right foot, get up on the saddle, bend down and hang lightly on the horse's mane, step on the pedal with the left foot, reach forward with the left hand to grab the long mane of the horse, and gallop around the field with the rein in the right hand;

Bend down, grab the stirrup with both hands, stand upside down with your shoulders against the saddle bridge, let the horse gallop slowly, and stand still;

Someone stepped on the stirrup with one foot, and his whole body was on the other side of the saddle bridge. He held the saddle in his left hand, held the mane in his right hand, and his other foot stood straight along the horse's body. It was astonishing.

"Master Su, this is offering a saddle and standing on your head..." Lin Huai explained with a light smile when he saw Su Muxue's slightly surprised look.

Su Muxue pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Master Tuolin's blessing is an eye-opener", "I'm afraid that Mr. Su will miss out on the wonderful things", Lin Huai smiled back at her, quite happy.

Although the seemingly thrilling and interesting equestrian skills are flashy, they cover up the second prince's slightly clumsy riding and shooting skills.

After bursts of cheers and applause for winning, the second prince gestured towards the emperor with a slight embarrassment, and led the elites under him to retreat to the side. Immediately, the riding and shooting competition became more and more intense.

"This is Ye Fu, the imperial commander under the tutelage of Princess Zhaoning," Lin Huai said with a smile. Su Muxue turned her head to look at it. The atmosphere is coming, and people applaud loudly from time to time.

Only three loud howling arrows were heard from a distance, several horsemen galloped forward, the leader was wearing a red gold armor, under the scorching sun, the armor was shining, very eye-catching.

Seeing the young man in purple robes, with a handsome face, narrow eyes, slightly sinister, holding the mane in his hand, he got off the horse, followed the horse for a few steps, and then jumped onto the horse's back, neatly drawing the bow and setting the arrow, with white feathers Like electricity, the strings blared continuously, bursting out of the air, and clustered on the slender willow targets on the sidelines.

The purple-robed boy triumphantly held his longbow high, rode his horse around the arena, and gestured towards the direction of the emperor in the distance. The queen and noble concubine sat beside the emperor, especially Concubine Xue with a charming smile.

"The third prince's riding and archery skills have become more and more refined," Lin Huai sighed. Among the emperor's heirs, the second prince has a restrained and gentle personality, similar to the emperor's personality. He likes to read, the third prince is good at riding, shooting and hunting, and the fifth prince is still young.

"The ancestors of the Great Zhou Dynasty won the mountains and rivers on horseback. Although they developed a style of writing, they could not fail in riding and shooting. The sons of the Great Zhou Dynasty are heroic and brave." Su Muxue praised,

Hearing her praise, Lin Huai's face changed slightly, he raised his hand in embarrassment and touched his nose, secretly guessing that Su Muxue would underestimate the civil servant, and wanted to speak again, but saw her eyes focused on one place, the armored white horse in the distance, Come from the dust.

There is no entourage to follow, no gorgeous lineup, riding alone is like a sharp arrow, shooting out with a string, with a swift and fierce momentum, galloping like flying.

The sun, which is as bright as red and golden, sprinkled all over the sky, as if jumping out from the horizon and under the blue sky.

The silver armor of the man on the horse is shining, the horse under the seat is white all over, the rider is skilled, and gallops like a god, in this blue sky, it is like a strong wind blowing, raging rampantly, dyeing the surrounding riders to be overshadowed.

The iron hooves passed by on the sand, and a scorching gale was set off, which seemed to burn people's faces. They galloped like the wind, and the horse stood upright. The man drew his bow and set his arrows for only a moment, and in the blink of an eye, he heard the sound of the wind and arrows. , without stopping.

The wind calmed down and the sand fell, and she fell into silence. She held her bow and reined, and stood proudly among the generals of the army.

The target not far away was still trembling. The twenty black-feathered arrow clusters that were proud of the original target's head had been scattered and scattered on the ground.

All was silent.

Everyone outside the arena was stunned and speechless, even the female officials who were excited and chattering were silent.

The momentum is as smooth and gorgeous as splashing ink and dragons, with a clear face, sharp corners of the eyes, unconcealed grace and unique momentum,

Su Muxue stood and watched, her fingertips felt cold and hot, her heart felt tense, and she even forgot to restrain her breathing.

She is only twelve years old, she is honored as a princess and enjoys the king's pampering, but she has never been proud of being favored.

The thin internal strength, the precise guidance of the arrow, the time and mental strength of his years of hard training, it is much more difficult than ordinary people.

She turned around and looked around, her eyes swept across Su Muxue, making her body stiff, before she had time to signal, she saw that she was expressionless, staring in the direction of the emperor for a few moments, retracted her bow and let go of her reins, and slowly raised her arms Tall, with his chin raised slightly.

In an instant, the crowd erupted with cheers and applause everywhere, and the sound shook the sky and lasted for a long time.

Not far away, the third prince Zhou Yue, with a livid face, slammed the longbow in his hand on the ground and rode away.

Su Muxue stared blankly at the figures in the school grounds. Chao'er had changed, she had changed, the pride in her bones was still there, but she was stronger and more determined than before. Hold a long bow, draw a bow and shoot arrows, Princess Zhaoning who looks down on everything!

Even in this way, she still looks graceful, which made Su Muxue feel nervous.

"Master Su, the sun is poisonous, but is it uncomfortable?" Lin Huai's words woke up Su Muxue,

She stretched out her fingers and brushed her cheeks, but felt her skin was hot and her burning fingertips hurt, she couldn't help calming down, took out the silk from her bosom, brushed her cheeks, and said, "It's really hot."

The silk brushed over her cheeks, bringing a cool breeze, dissipating a little of the burning heat of her skin, but the heat in Su Muxue's heart was hard to calm down.

The two looked at it for a while, and as expected, the emperor allocated this year's money to Princess Zhaoning. The second prince stood elegantly and smiled at Princess Zhaoning.

At noon, the sun was scorching, and Su Muxue's footsteps were slow. She felt that every time she took a step, her heart would beat out of rhythm.

Seeing that Su Muxue might have suffered from heatstroke, Lin Huai dragged her to the Imperial Academy, turned around the pavilion and white bridge, and bumped into her by accident.

The silver armor on her body has not been removed, her black hair is bundled up, her slender figure is behind her a longbow and quiver that are taller than her, and she is playing with the winner of this year's riding and archery ceremony, the Eighteen Seeds of Canaan Fragrant Golden Millet Rosary beads, coral beads, Buddha head, stupa, hollow inside, openwork cloud patterns, emerald jade pendants, decorated with bundles of pearls, gorgeous yet simple, are the emperor's favorite things, and they are rewarded to her today.

"See Princess Zhaoning for a humble job." Lin Huai pulled Su Muxue who was in a daze, and bowed to Princess Zhaoning,

Zhou Chiyu turned around, nodded and said, "Lord Lin", his eyes fell on Su Muxue, faintly, Su Muxue looked up, and saw her more and more pure face, her expression was indifferent, as if, as if, watching, strangers.

Su Muxue frowned, feeling a little pain in her heart, the two looked at each other without saying a word, Lin Huai said, "Princess, this is a newcomer from the Imperial Academy...", "I know Mr. Su, this year's No.1", Zhou Chiyu said lightly,

Her voice was clear and clear, like the water droplets sliding over stalactites in a cave of thousands of years, falling into the Bitan, clear and pleasant, falling in Su Muxue's heart, the heat dissipated, and she felt comfortable all over her body.

"Chao...Princess Zhaoning," Su Muxue knelt and said in blessing, but Zhou Chiyu grabbed her by the wrist and helped her up, "You don't need to be polite. Mrs. Su was able to enter the Hanlin Academy because of my father's imperial education for women, and the imperial examinations." Your expectations, Mr. Su must not let you down."

At such a young age, Zhou Chiyu behaves calmly and speaks appropriately. He is worthy of being the heir of the royal family and the emperor's favorite princess. Su Muxue is gratified and distressed at the same time. Chao'er may have suffered a lot for this. She is too hard for herself up.

Thinking of this, the eyes looking at Zhou Chiyu unconsciously brought some pity, just wanting to cuddle her in his arms as before, Zhou Chiyu's face was slightly stunned, and he turned sideways, Su Muxue withdrew his gaze and looked down. without saying a word,

"Resignation from humble position", Lin Huai saw that Princess Zhaoning stopped talking, bowed knowingly and said, Zhou Chiyu nodded, Lin Huai stepped back, seeing Su Muxue still standing there in a daze, lightly pulled off her sleeve, Su Muxue suddenly Paused, walked back,

"Master Su, stop!" Zhou Chiyu said suddenly, Su Muxue looked up at her, her dark eyes were as silent as water, when she could no longer see through Chao'er's joy and anger, Lin Huai stepped back, leaving Su Muxue behind Stand alone.

She lowered her head for a while, and there was silence in her ears, so Su Muxue could only raise her head and look at her, "I don't like this thing", Zhou Chiyu just played with the Canaan Fragrant Golden Millet Rosary in his hand, and said softly,

Su Muxue was puzzled, Zhou Chiyu shook her hand, put the rosary on it casually and said, "I've given it to you",

"Princess..." Su Muxue was about to say no when she saw Zhou Chiyu turn around and leave.

The fragrance of Canaan incense came faintly, and the rosary seemed to still retain the warmth of her fingertips. The head of the riding and archery ceremony, representing status, and the extremely precious Canaan incense rosary, was forwarded because of a word she didn't like. to myself.

The rosary beads were twirling in the hand one by one, the coral knot, the Buddha's head, the stupa, and the pearls hanging down. The beads that should calm the mind were held in the hand, but it made Su Muxue's heart hard to calm down.