In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

Just as Xie Yige was about to get off the bus, he grabbed her hand.

She turned around, her eyes filled with confusion. Why was he being so clingy today?

"Oh right, I didn't ask Her Majesty the Empress to put down that post." Cui Yutang finally remembered the important reason he came today.

Xie Yige looked at him with a half-smile: "Cui Yutang, you actually came to see me today about this, didn't you?"

"Yes, that's right." Cui Yutang felt a little guilty, and the tips of his ears turned slightly red. He continued, "Make sure you eat something before you go. Avoid eating anything in the palace except for wheat porridge. I'll find a time to bring you some food."

"Also, don't let strangers get too close to you. If some important person wants to see you privately, stall and wait for me to come; don't go to see them yourself."

Xie Yige's eyes were filled with subtle smiles as he gave her his instructions, like a lake filled with starlight.

She nodded earnestly: "I've remembered it carefully, Mr. Cui."

"It would be even better if we could remove the surname." A smile flashed in his eyes, but there was no ambiguity, only a hint of seriousness.

Xie Yige's face flushed slightly, but she didn't reply.

"Go ahead, I'll watch you go in."

Xie Yige got out of the car, and his gaze followed her until she disappeared through the door.

After Cui Yutang returned to Liantang Residence, the light in his study remained on until the hour of Yin (3-5 AM).

He rubbed his sore neck and stretched his stiff shoulders and back.

He gently kicked Baoyu, who was sleeping soundly in the chair.

"Go back to sleep, don't get in the way."

Bao Yu stood up with a yawn, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and muttered, "Master, if you stay up like this every day, Miss Xie will cry if she finds out."

Cui Yutang smiled slightly and said softly, "It'll be fine in the next couple of days. Don't say anything to her."

Early the next morning, Li Zhiwei arrived at Xie Yige's Pear Garden.

Bichun was serving Xie Yige breakfast. On the table were several plates of delicate side dishes and a bowl of hot porridge, steaming gently.

"Zhiwei, why are you here so early? Come and have some breakfast with us." Xie Yige's eyes lit up when she saw Li Zhiwei.

"You rarely ask me out first, but you wake up early when you're excited."

Li Zhiwei touched her high ponytail shyly, a hint of arrogance on her face.

She didn't actually have any very close friends in the capital, Xie Yige was the only one, so she cherished this friendship very much.

"What are we going to do today?" Li Zhiwei asked expectantly, her eyes sparkling.

"Can you teach me how to ride a horse today?" Xie Yige asked a little shyly. "I think there's a spring hunt after the spring plowing ceremony in a couple of days."

"Of course!" Li Zhiwei clapped her hands. "After I teach you, we can go horseback riding and enjoy the spring scenery together."

She paused, leaned closer to Xie Yige, and raised an eyebrow at her, "But why don't you ask your Cui Langjun to teach you? Such a good opportunity for intimate contact."

Xie Yige blushed.

"I'm afraid I'm too stupid and it would be embarrassing if I never learned it. Besides, he's been very busy lately."

Xie Yige was carefully nurtured by her parents from a young age. She was not only proficient in the eight arts of women, but also had some knowledge of the Four Books and Five Classics and even medical books.

But when it comes to martial arts, horsemanship, and archery, she is indeed quite clumsy.

After finishing their breakfast, the two went to the stable together.

"Wow! Is this the legendary 'Snow Treading'? It really is!"

Li Zhiwei was so excited that she even blurted out her favorite phrase from when she was at the border, her voice full of surprise.

In the stable, a pure white steed was tethered, its coat shimmering with a silvery sheen in the morning light. Its fur was as smooth as satin, and its posture was elegant and composed, yet its eyes held a defiant glint.

"It is indeed called 'Treading Snow'," Xie Yige said, looking at Li Zhiwei with a puzzled expression. "Is 'Treading Snow' very famous?"

"You didn't know?" Li Zhiwei's eyes widened. "This was a gift from your Cui Langjun?"

Xie Yige nodded.

"Ta Xue is a top-class Akhal-Teke horse!" Li Zhiwei circled the horse twice, admiring it more and more. "Its parents both served the late emperor and made meritorious contributions in battle."

She suddenly leaned close to Xie Yige's ear and whispered, "Its father was the late emperor's mount. Your husband really spoils you."

Xie Yige was also taken aback. Cui Yutang had given her the horse so casually, but she had no idea that it had such a distinguished background.

How could he give such a good horse to her who knows absolutely nothing about riding?

"Xie Yige, you must study hard today." Li Zhiwei patted her shoulder. "We can't let such a good Ta Xue be idle in the stable."

"Okay, I will try my best." Xie Yige clenched her fist to encourage herself.

Upon arriving in the suburbs, Xie Yige was immediately devastated.

Because she couldn't even climb onto the horse's back. Ta Xue was taller and stronger than the average horse, and the saddle reached almost to her chest.

She tried several times, but she couldn't lift her legs high enough, and she couldn't get any strength in her hands. She ended up hanging on the saddle, swaying back and forth.

Li Zhiwei quickly came over to help her, and it took the two of them quite a while to finally get Xie Yige onto the horse.

The start was quite disastrous.

"Yige, don't be nervous." Li Zhiwei helped her adjust her posture. "Horses like Taxue are very intelligent. The fact that it didn't throw you off means it accepts you. Relax and let your body move with the horse."

Xie Yige was genuinely a little scared up there. The snow-covered path was so high; looking down from horseback, the ground seemed incredibly distant.

Last time, with Cui Yutang behind her, she didn't think much of it, but now, sitting alone on it, her palms are sweating.

Li Zhiwei mounted another horse and circled around her, saying, "Steady your back, loosen the reins, and go with the flow."

Ta Xue had just taken a light step out—

"Ah—" A scream rang out.

The noise bothered Ta Xue's ears, and it impatiently shook its mane. Then it felt the woman on its back cling tightly to its back, her legs clamped tightly together, her whole body pressed against it like a frightened koala.

That's incredibly stupid.

"Yige, don't be afraid!" Li Zhiwei quickly spurred his horse closer. "Ta Xue has stopped. Sit up and grab the reins again."

Xie Yige slowly sat up, her body trembling. Her face was pale, and tiny beads of sweat clung to her long eyelashes, shimmering in the sunlight.

Ta Xue already knew the level of the little girl on its back.

It sighed, then took its first step again.

This time, it only moved its hoof slightly, then moved forward at an extremely slow pace, like a tortoise. Every step was taken with extreme caution; it was too embarrassing, considering it was the renowned Snowwalker.

"Zhiwei, I think I can do it!" Xie Yige's voice was filled with surprise. "Ta Xue is such a good girl."

Of course you can; at that speed, it's almost asleep.

Li Zhiwei couldn't bear to dampen her enthusiasm, so she simply kept her reins in place, ready to lend a helping hand at any time.

After practicing for most of the day, Xie Yige's horseback riding skills progressed from a slow, leisurely stroll to a leisurely walk. He was still a long way from "running," and even further from "galloping."