If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

next day

The morning light streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow.

Xi Lingxian put on her coat, got up, and opened the window. A crisp autumn breeze carrying the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted in, causing the stray hairs at her temples to flutter gently.

It was a fine day with clear skies and a gentle breeze.

"Miss," Tao Zhi said with a smile as she entered carrying a copper basin, "Miss Shen and Young Master Ji have arrived. They want to invite you to go horseback riding at Jiulong Mountain."

Xi Lingxian raised an eyebrow slightly: "This is indeed a good time to ride horses through the mountains and forests."

Tao Zhi smiled as she helped her with her washing and dressing, and said while tying her hair up, "Miss Shen said that the autumn air has been crisp and clear these past few days, and the maple leaves on Jiulong Mountain are turning red. If we don't go now, we'll have to wait until next year. Young Master Ji also said that he has acquired a fine new horse and wants to show it to you, Miss."

Xi Lingxian looked at herself in the mirror and, recalling what her father had said last night, felt relieved and at ease.

"Bring me that crimson riding outfit."

Tao Zhi responded and happily went to fetch it.

The riding outfit was bright red with black trim on the collar and cuffs, and a matching leather belt around the waist.

Xi Lingxian changed into the new clothes and stood in front of the mirror, examining herself for a moment.

The crimson color made her already fair skin appear even more radiant, and the melancholy in her eyes dissipated, replaced by a fiery brilliance.

Taozhi stared in amazement for a moment, then sincerely said, "You look beautiful today, young lady."

Xi Lingxian straightened her cuffs in front of the mirror, and a long-lost vitality returned to her eyes.

In the front hall, Shen Qingdai was waiting. When she saw Fanfan come out, her eyes lit up immediately: "Fanfan! You look so beautiful in that outfit!"

Shen Qingdai circled around her, clicking her tongue in amazement, "You should dress like this; bright colors are only suitable for a great beauty like you."

As soon as the three of them reached the second gate, they saw two burly men standing there, followed by a group of about ten strong guards.

The leader, a man in his early thirties with a dark complexion and sharp, eagle-like eyes, greeted Xi Lingxian with a fist and palm salute.

"Miss, the general has ordered that two of us accompany you for protection."

Xi Lingxian nodded, "Thank you for your trouble."

She mounted the horse, spurred it on, and the horse began to move steadily, with the guards following behind her in single file.

Once outside the city gate, the view suddenly opened up.

The autumn fields are golden, and the distant Jiulong Mountain is ablaze with color, its red maples like fire.

The wind brushed past my ears, carrying the scent of earth and grass, so refreshing that I wanted to shout it out.

Xi Lingxian rode her horse for a while and felt her whole body relax and stretch.

The pent-up frustration that had been weighing on my heart for days finally dissipated completely in this wind and on this open field.

She slowed down, waiting for Shen Qingdai and Ji Ruchuan to catch up.

Shen Qingdai: "Fanfan, slow down! I can't keep up!"

Ji Ruchuan rode a white horse, the young man full of vigor, a hint of pride in his eyes: "What do you think of my horse? It came from the Western Regions last month, and it took me a lot of effort to get it."

Xi Lingxian glanced at the horse and nodded: "You can tell it's a good horse just by looking at its coat."

Ji Ruchuan clicked his tongue in amazement: "You seem to be in a very good mood today. What good news is it? Tell us and let us have some fun."

Xi Lingxian's gaze passed over the two of them and landed on Jiulong Mountain in the distance.

The maple leaves on the mountaintop were as red as a ball of fire, burning fiercely in the sunlight.

"It's nothing. With such beautiful scenery and such a wonderful day, what reason do I have to be unhappy?"

Ji Ruchuan: "You're now the most sought-after person in the entire capital. How does it feel to be the center of attention?"

Shen Qingdai: "I don't think either is good. Those frivolous young men are unreliable. Fanfan, don't be fooled by their sweet talk. Men's mouths are the best at lying."

Ji Ruchuan: "Hey hey hey."

"I wasn't talking about you. What are you 'hey' for? We've known each other for so long, I haven't considered you a man for a long time."

Ji Ruchuan: "..."

Xi Lingxian laughed heartily. "The weather is so nice today, I'm going to have a great time and not talk about men, they're a downer."

She raised her whip and gave it a light lash. The chestnut horse neighed and galloped forward.

The crimson riding attire fluttered in the wind, like a flowing flame burning freely across the autumn fields.

"Let's go! Let's have a race, whoever reaches the top last treats everyone!" Her voice was carried back by the wind, carrying a rare air of exhilaration.

Shen Qingdai and Ji Ruchuan exchanged a glance, smiled, and urged their horses to catch up.

Behind him, a troop of guards followed closely, their hooves thundering, startling a flock of birds in the roadside grass, which fluttered and soared into the azure sky.

……

When the secret guards relayed the message to the Wang family,

Wang Jue was practicing calligraphy in his study.

"The Xi family's daughter went to Jiulong Mountain, saying she was going horseback riding with Miss Shen and Young Master Ji."

"General Xi sent two personal guards with a dozen or so men to follow him."

Wang Jue paused for a moment.

A drop of ink fell onto the rice paper, spreading out into a small black cloud.

He glanced at it, put down his pen, and remained expressionless.

The guard stood and waited for a while. Seeing that he had no other instructions, he was about to leave when he saw that the guard had already stood up, walked around the desk, and headed towards the inner room.

"Young master?"

"Prepare the horses," Wang Jue's voice came from the inner room.

Chang'an paused for a moment, then replied, "Yes."

Wang Jue changed into a black riding outfit, which was shorter than his usual dark robe, with narrower cuffs, and a dark leather belt around his waist.

Compared to his usual gentle and refined snow-white robe, he exuded a more somber and murderous aura, like a majestic sword hanging between heaven and earth.

The guard Chang'an, leading the horse, glanced at him cautiously: "Young master, where are we going?"

Wang Jue sat down on his horse, his gaze passing over the courtyard wall and landing on the faint outline of Jiulong Mountain in the distance.

"Nine Dragons Mountain".

After saying that, he gently squeezed the horse's belly.

The maple trees on both sides of the road have begun to turn red, and sunlight filters through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Thinking about the purpose of his trip, Wang Jue frowned slightly.

He wasn't used to this kind of behavior.

He had plenty of methods and patience to navigate the power struggles in the imperial court and the intrigues between powerful families.

But when facing Xi Lingxian, those methods...

It's not that it can't be used.

She is intelligent in some ways, but also rather naive... she is indeed a bit naive.

He had seen too many people rise and fall in the midst of scheming, but her thoughts were as transparent to him as a sheet of rice paper.

If he really wanted to use any means, he had a hundred ways to make her obediently submit.

If you really push him to the brink, what do love poison and puppetry matter?

From her initial infatuation and adoration to her sudden avoidance of him, and then to her father's attempt to win over Lady Xi for his own use, Wang Jue felt for the first time that God was playing a cruel joke on him.

It would be best if we could coax them back.

The horse's hooves rustled softly on the fallen leaves.

As the mountain road ahead rounded a bend, the faint sounds of horses' hooves and a young girl's laughter could be heard in the distance.

Wang Jue remained calm, slowed down, and focused his gaze on the intersection ahead.

"Young master, there seems to be someone ahead," Chang'an reminded him.

Wang Jue hummed in agreement.

As the mountain road bends, a group of people comes into view.

Leading the way was a chestnut horse, on which sat a girl dressed in crimson riding attire, her radiance like a flowing flame in the autumn sunlight.

Wang Jue's gaze fell on her and lingered for a moment.