Xiao Jingduo quickly jumped down from the tree branches, landing on the high wall of the Marquis’ mansion. Just then, the out-of-control horse ran past on the street. Xiao Jingduo ran a few steps along the wall, then leaped, jumping directly onto the frightened horse.
The person on the horse seemed to have some riding skills. Realizing she couldn’t control the horse, she immediately bent down, firmly grasping the horse’s mane. This made it convenient for Xiao Jingduo. He tightly pulled on the reins, forcing the horse to stop.
The horse seemed to be in extreme pain. It neighed and reared up on its hind legs, turning in a circle before stopping. As the startled horse finally came to a halt, Xiao Jingduo also breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did he have time to ask the person in front of him, “Are you alright?”
The person lying in the horse’s mane struggled to prop herself up. Xiao Jingduo then realized it was a young woman, and upon closer look, it turned out to be someone he knew.
“Princess? How did you…”
Rong Ke seemed unwilling to say much and weakly said, “Help me down.”
Xiao Jingduo belatedly jumped down and helped Rong Ke off the horse.
Once her feet touched solid ground, Rong Ke felt alive again. She casually wiped her hair and immediately began inspecting the horse.
Xiao Jingduo was thoroughly impressed by these royal noble ladies. Rong Ke was so young, yet she dared to ride such a spirited horse. He stood to the side, silently watching as Rong Ke walked around, wondering what she was trying to do.
“It’s indeed here!” Rong Ke circled to the horse’s tail area, looked for a moment, and said resentfully. She stood on her tiptoes, seeming to want to grab something, but she wasn’t as tall as the horse’s hindquarters. After two attempts, she was swatted away by the horse’s tail.
Xiao Jingduo couldn’t stand by any longer and stepped forward, tentatively asking, “Princess, what are you trying to get?”
Only then did Rong Ke realize someone was still beside her. She immediately assumed the bearing of the Crown Prince’s daughter, Princess Yangxin, and pointed her chin haughtily, “There’s a needle near the horse’s tail. Get it for me.”
A needle in the horse’s hindquarters? Xiao Jingduo was shocked for a moment, then immediately became serious. He walked to where Rong Ke pointed and examined carefully. Indeed, Xiao Jingduo pulled out a thin needle from near the horse’s tail. The horse neighed in pain and anxiously pawed the ground.
“There really was a needle. No wonder the horse was startled,” Xiao Jingduo felt alarmed. Hidden by the tail hair, no one would have noticed anything unusual on the horse’s hindquarters. But once someone rode the horse, the needle would cause pain, making the horse speed up. The faster it ran, the deeper the needle would dig in, creating a vicious cycle. One can imagine what would happen to the rider.
Xiao Jingduo silently handed the thin needle to Rong Ke, not asking any unnecessary questions. It seemed that even within the royal family, things were not so peaceful.
Rong Ke appeared to have recovered from the horse incident. She adjusted her sleeves and said to Xiao Jingduo with an air of importance, “You saved my life. I always repay my debts and won’t treat you unfairly. What do you want?”
“No need,” Xiao Jingduo shook his head. “I said I would repay you. Consider this as returning the favor for your help at the Duke Zhao’s mansion.”
Rong Ke stared at Xiao Jingduo steadily, then suddenly smiled, “Do you know who I am?”
“Of course, the daughter of the Crown Prince, Princess Yangxin.”
“And yet you still say that?”
Xiao Jingduo sighed. Was the infighting in the palace so severe? How could Rong Ke, at such a young age, speak with such worldliness?
“I said I would repay you, not that I had ulterior motives. If you’re still uneasy, then just sit with me for a while.”
With that, Xiao Jingduo took the lead and sat on the stone steps. Rong Ke looked at the stone several times before finally sitting down.
After sitting down, Rong Ke adjusted her sleeves while praising Xiao Jingduo: “You’re quite strong. That was my grandfather’s horse. It’s usually very temperamental, let alone when it goes berserk. You were actually able to rein in the crazed horse. Not bad at all.”
Xiao Jingduo thought for a moment. Rong Ke’s grandfather… isn’t that the current emperor? She had just ridden an imperial horse? Xiao Jingduo was about to break into a cold sweat. “Could it be one of the six war horses that accompanied His Majesty in conquering the realm?”
Rong Ke gave him a strange glance: “What are you thinking? Those six horses are extraordinarily significant. Dozens of people watch over them daily. Do I look like someone foolish enough to use the six war steeds without permission?”
No, she doesn’t. Xiao Jingduo also realized this should be a tribute horse for the emperor. Rong Ke, itching for a ride, had secretly gone horseback riding, only to fall victim to someone’s scheme. As for who schemed against her and why, that wasn’t something Xiao Jingduo should ask about.
“After returning from Duke Zhao’s mansion that day, did your stepmother give you any trouble?” Rong Ke turned her head and only then noticed Xiao Jingduo’s plain-colored clothes. Her voice suddenly halted. “You…”
“My mother died.”
After a long silence, Rong Ke said softly, “My condolences.”
“It’s alright. It’s all in the past now.” Xiao Jingduo wasn’t usually talkative, but perhaps because he hadn’t really talked to anyone since Zhao Xiulan passed away, or maybe because the pressure of the past few days had overwhelmed him, he found himself telling this girl he had only met twice about the recent events on this quiet, deserted afternoon.
Xiao Jingduo spoke, and Rong Ke sat quietly listening. When he mentioned how his stepmother wanted to banish him to a temple under the pretext of exorcising evil, Rong Ke couldn’t help but interject, “It sounds like you’ve been set up, haven’t you?”
Xiao Jingduo smiled bitterly, “I naturally know that, but after Xiao Ying invited Master Mingjue over, even Master Mingjue said my karmic burden from killing was too heavy.”
“If Mingjue said so, then his words can be trusted. It seems to be true, then,” Rong Ke nodded. I was wondering why I hadn’t seen Mingjue, so he came to the Dingyong Marquis’ mansion.”
Xiao Jingduo also remembered Xiao Ying mentioning that Anguo Temple was holding a ceremony today. Anguo Temple was an imperial temple, and one can imagine the level of importance required to utilize its ceremonies. Xiao Jingduo finally understood why he saw Rong Ke here: “Did you sneak out of Anguo Temple?”
“Mm-hmm.” Rong Ke nodded nonchalantly, even showing some disdain, “You’ve only just figured it out?”
Xiao Jingduo was at a loss for words. He shook his head with amusement. Rong Ke was so young, even younger than his three cousins. Why was he arguing with a little girl? What’s more ridiculous was that he had been pouring out his troubles to a little sister for so long. After expressing his inner turmoil, Xiao Jingduo indeed felt lighter. He stood up, intending to take his leave: “I’ve imposed on the Princess for too long today. It was rude of me. Princess, it’s not safe for you to be out alone. You’d better return to Anguo Temple soon.”
Rong Ke also stood up, lowering her head to adjust her appearance. She casually asked, “So, what do you plan to do in the future? Of all the people I’ve met, your situation seems to be the most miserable.”
Xiao Jingduo laughed, surprised that one day he would hear “how miserable you are” from a little girl. With a smile, he said lightly, “She couldn’t kill me with poisonous bees, so what harm can a mere temple do? At worst, I’ll be confined in some remote mountains, but taking my life won’t be so easy.”
“Poisonous bees?” Rong Ke tilted her head, her eyes gradually brightening. “What’s that about?”
As expected of a child raised in the palace, so alert to things like poisons and drugs. Xiao Jingduo sighed and could only tell Rong Ke the less frightening parts of the story.
After listening, Rong Ke nodded thoughtfully, “Do you still have any of these bees?”
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