Gu Moran.
" Uncle Fu, lead my black-maned horse."
Uncle Fu reminded him, "His Highness went horseback riding with Madam Murong at night. What if Madam Lin finds out...?"
"I'm afraid of her? Who really calls the shots in this Prince's mansion?"
"Will I need her permission to sleep in someone else's yard from now on? Don't they understand who's in charge and who's in charge?"
Uncle Fu remained silent for a moment.
"Yes, Your Highness, this old servant was just afraid that Madam Lin would be jealous and make you feel uncomfortable."
"I don't care about her, get the horses ready!"
The stable smelled strongly of hay, and the black-maned pony snorted.
Gu Moran stroked the horse's neck.
"Let's do our best tonight."
The horse shook its head.
Gu Moran mounted his horse.
He didn't call out to Murong Xue, but followed at a distance.
Murong Xue paused for a moment when she reached the edge of the open space in the backyard of the Prince's mansion.
"Come out."
Gu Moran rode his black-maned horse through the shadows of the trees.
"Princess, you have excellent hearing."
Murong Xue did not turn around.
What are you doing here?
Gu Moran did not answer immediately.
If he said he was worried, she would think he was meddling.
Saying you were just passing by is too fake.
Gu Moran had her horse move to her side, about half a horse's length away.
"Can't sleep, looking for someone to ride with."
Murong Xue looked at him for a moment.
Do you know what "riding side by side" means?
Gu Moran in the Northern Territory Language, "Comrade-in-arms, fellow traveler."
Murong Xue's eyebrows twitched slightly after hearing this.
"Your pronunciation is terrible."
"The meaning is conveyed."
Murong Xue spurred her horse forward.
"Keep up."
Two horses were pacing around in the backyard.
The night breeze carried the damp scent of grass, and the sound of horses' hooves pounding the wet earth was softer than during the day.
Gu Moran maintained a safe distance, neither rushing ahead nor falling behind.
Murong Xue spoke up, "Aren't you going to ask me why I came out tonight?"
Gu Moran said, "If you want to say it, you will."
"Are men from the Central Plains so good at enduring hardship?"
"This king does not represent the men of the Central Plains."
Murong Xue glanced at him.
"The moon is full today."
Gu Moran waited.
She continued, "On our grasslands, on the night of the full moon, we ride horses past the tents to a place without firelight, and offer sacrifices to the Eternal Heaven facing the full moon."
" Eternal Heaven?"
Murong Xue's hand touched the horse's mane.
"It's like the Heavenly Emperor for you people from the Central Plains. My father said that the Eternal Heaven will see all those who ride side by side under the moonlight."
Gu Moran loosened his grip on the reins slightly.
This statement carries significant weight.
The belt distance that Batuer mentioned came to mind.
The Northern Territory ' friendliness doesn't come from sweet words, but from bringing you close to the edge of the knife, into the stable, and riding side by side under the moon.
He didn't rush to answer.
Murong Xue added, "On the grasslands, women don't casually ride alongside men under the moon."
Gu Moran looked ahead, avoiding her gaze.
"Now that the princess regrets it, she can still kick me out."
Murong Xue asked, "You're leaving?"
Gu Moran said, "This king is pleased."
She reined in her horse.
"Real?"
Gu Moran also stopped his horse.
Why would I lie to you?
Murong Xue looked at him; the moonlight shone on the brass buckle of the saddle, making it gleam.
"Why?"
Gu Moran pondered for a moment.
He opened his mouth. "Because I don't like to force people; I require both people to be willing."
Murong Xue remained silent.
The black-maned horse lowered its head to nibble on some grass, but Gu Moran gently pulled it back.
Don't embarrass yourself.
Murong Xue watched him talk to the horse and suddenly asked, "You speak the Northern Territory Language, know our warrior etiquette, and even know a bit about belt distances. Where did you learn all that?"
The worst possible scenario flashed through Gu Moran's mind.
The system has a seventeen-month death sentence.
We can't say anything.
He touched the reins.
Those who have concerns will naturally learn a lot in advance.
Murong Xue asked, "What are you worried about?"
Gu Moran looked at her.
I worry that one day, the people standing beside me will be implicated by me.
Murong Xue's horse took half a step forward.
"Including me?"
"Include."
"You see me as a weakling?"
Gu Moran immediately shook her head.
I consider you one of my own.
Murong Xue's hand stopped on the reins.
The wind passed between the two, carrying the scent of horse sweat and grass.
Gu Moran slowly said in his broken Northern Territory Language, "Don't think about anything unpleasant. At least what Eternal Heaven saw tonight was that I was with you."
Murong Xue understood.
She didn't laugh, but instead turned her horse around haughtily and continued riding forward.
"Your pronunciation is still terrible."
Gu Moran followed.
"The princess will get it after a few more lessons."
You learn slowly.
"Then the princess should stay a few more nights."
Murong Xue turned around.
Gu Moran.
"Exist."
"If you try to take advantage again, I'll make you crawl to the Iron Plum Courtyard tomorrow morning."
Gu Moran up.
Two horses circled the open space, their shadows stretched long in the moonlight.
Gu Moran remained silent.
Murong Xue did not send him away.
At the end of the third lap, she suddenly threw her water pouch over.
Gu Moran it and smelled a faint scent of milk wine inside.
"You want me to drink?"
"Drink."
He took a sip, the taste of the liquor rushing up his throat, carrying the aroma of grassland milk and a slight sourness.
Gu Moran coughed twice.
Murong Xue looked at him.
"Weak."
Gu Moran returned the water pouch.
"This wine is like how you people in the Northern Territory praise someone—it's powerful!"
Murong Xue took the water pouch and drank a sip herself.
The same opening.
Gu Moran saw it, but didn't say anything.
Some things become mundane when spoken aloud.
Under the moonlight, Murong Xue flowed gracefully.
She lifted the water pouch, scattered the remaining milk wine into the wind, and then made a prayer gesture.
When they returned to the Azure Wolf Courtyard, Batuer was standing at the door, holding a horse brush in his hand.
She saw the two of them return side by side, unusually quiet.
Gu Moran dismounted and handed over the reins.
Batuer asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, did you drink from the princess's water pouch?"
Gu Moran glanced at her.
"You saw it?"
Batuer clasped his hands together in front of his chest.
"I didn't see it, but I smelled it; the Eternal Heaven saw it."
Gu Moran frowned.
"Don't bring up the Eternal Heaven to scare people."
Batuer is very serious.
"Sharing a drink from the same bag on the grasslands is no small matter."
Gu Moran remained silent for a moment, then looked up at the gate of Azure Wolf Courtyard.
Inside the gate, Murong Xue hung the water pouch back on the saddle, her finger pausing briefly at the pouch's opening.
[System notification: Murong Xue's favorability +10.]
[Current favorability: +2.]
[Tag upgrade: Riders side by side under the moon.]
Gu Moran hadn't finished reading when Murong Xue's voice came from inside the door.
" Gu Moran, remember to switch to a big horse tomorrow night."
The black-maned pony snorted.
Gu Moran patted the horse's neck.
She thinks you're too short.
The small arena of Dragon Abyss Martial Arts School was set up on the open ground at the Shun'an Lane, only two hundred steps away from Ye Qingyun's courtyard.
Early in the morning, people selling steamed buns, carrying water, and unloading goods at the dock all crowded outside the wooden fence.
The porridge bucket was twice the size of usual, and there was more minced meat than usual.
Shuhe, holding the bowl he had brought, stood at the edge of the crowd, his nose drawn to the aroma of the porridge.
Ye Qingyun walked to his side.
"What's the rush? Register first."