Spring in the Hall of Paintings

Yun Wei urged the horse to gallop on the racetrack, savoring the fleeting thrill of freedom in the wind. Although she didn’t ride often and wasn’t fond of going out, her equestrian skills were taught to her by her father, Rongxuan. As the saying goes, a skilled teacher produces an excellent student, and Yun Wei’s basic riding skills were solid, like a blazing flame, sweeping across the racetrack with wild abandon.

When Yun Wei reined in the horse, the pony slowed to a trot, its little white hooves tapping rhythmically. No longer galloping, it leisurely trotted, offering a different kind of scenery. Yun Wei smiled contentedly, enjoying the rare sense of freedom. No wonder Fourth Sister always liked to ride horses. It wasn’t just because of Fourth Prince, but because there were fewer restrictions on horseback.

“Eh, where’s Sister Jing Yi?” Yun Wei glanced around and only saw her older brother, Cheng Wu. “Where did she go?”

“Of course she didn’t follow you,” Cheng Wu said, patting the horse’s neck with a smile on his honest, kind face. “Guess who Sister Jing Yi has taken a liking to?”

Yun Wei shook her head, indicating she didn’t know, and casually said, “She can’t possibly like Fourth Prince, only Fourth Sister thinks well of him.”

Cheng Wu chuckled. He didn’t understand much about girls’ affairs. Fucha was strict and wouldn’t let him meddle in such matters, and he wasn’t fond of gossiping. He lowered his voice and said, “I heard Cheng Bin mention it casually. I think it’s some nobleman—probably not worse than the one Fourth Sister likes.”

A prince, too? Yun Wei rubbed her head. What could she say? Even though the Tong family had great prestige, not all girls were suitable for a prince. After the shock, a sense of joy filled her heart. One loss could lead to another gain. Her path to being selected would be smoother because of her two sisters soaring to greater heights.

Yun Wei nimbly dismounted and led the pony to the stream. The little horse lowered its head to drink the water. Yun Wei crouched by the bank, watching the clear water reveal the bottom, with pretty little fish swimming around. She playfully dipped her hand into the water, trying to catch the fish or block their movements, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Cheng Wu tossed the reins over the horse’s neck. Fucha had instructed him not to let his sister out of his sight. Although he had agreed, he thought Fucha was overreacting. But when he saw his sister’s joyful face reflected in the clear water, he realized that his little sister was not only thoughtful and intelligent, but also grown up beautifully in the years that had passed.

The reflection in the water was Cheng Wu’s. Yun Wei’s eyes shifted, and she leaned over, plunging her hand into the deeper part of the stream. With a swift motion, she flicked her hand, sending a spray of sparkling water into the air. She turned and smiled at Cheng Wu, teasing, “Brother, let’s see if you dare bully me. I… I…”

Her mischievous smile froze on her face when she saw the young man who had been splashed with water. Yun Wei became flustered, stood up, and anxiously apologized, lowering her head in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to! I was just playing with my brother. I didn’t expect you to suddenly appear. I’m sorry!”

After a long silence, Yun Wei felt even more uneasy. It was rare for her to act so recklessly. Hesitantly, she raised her gaze. The young man was dressed in a deep blue robe, with a jade belt encrusted with pearls around his waist. His thick, braided hair was tied behind his ears, and he wore ruby-gold earrings. His tall stature almost overshadowed Yun Wei’s petite frame.

The young man’s features were rugged, and his dark skin contrasted with his striking, bright eyes. Seeing the playful and lively girl before him now show signs of hesitation, he spoke in a low, reassuring voice, “Don’t… don’t be afraid, I… I’m not angry. I’m really not angry. You teased me well, just as I was about to change my clothes.”

To prove that he wasn’t upset, the young man grinned. Yun Wei blinked and smiled sweetly, her pure, bright smile spreading across her face again. The young man was unsurprised, staring at her in a daze. The girl before him was like a white lotus on a snow-covered mountain—untouched by the world, a clear stream in a green, rough terrain. At that moment, the setting seemed to frame her perfectly, making her even more beautiful.

Yun Wei, after all, was Cheng Wu’s sister. He had a better ability to resist charms. He inwardly sighed, wondering why his teasing had landed on him. He cleared his throat and said, “Ce Ling, Brother Ce Ling.”

Ce Ling stared at Yun Wei for a while, then turned his head and smiled, “Tong Cheng Wu, I saw you come to the racetrack, so I followed. I didn’t expect…”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Yun Wei quickly apologized again, stepping toward Cheng Wu. She shot a playful, reproachful glance at Cheng Wu, who was still smiling.

“Who told you to be so mischievous and try to get others into trouble? This is…”

Yun Wei had always had a good relationship with Cheng Wu. He doted on her, so Yun Wei playfully stepped on Cheng Wu’s foot. Cheng Wu winced in pain but quietly reminded her, “Brother Ce Ling is still watching.”

“You’ll never get me to stitch you another pouch again,” Yun Wei whispered threateningly.

Cheng Wu touched his nose in response. Both he and his father, Rongxuan, had small embroidered items and undergarments made by Yun Wei. Not only were they unique, but her embroidery skills were top-notch, earning praise from many. The items added a sense of prestige to their appearances.

“Little sister, good little sister,” Cheng Wu coaxed Yun Wei in a soft voice, “Next time, I’ll make sure you tease him successfully, alright?”

“Hmph,” Yun Wei pouted, saying indifferently, “I’ll remember this, and we’ll see how you perform next time.”

“Cheng Wu, is she your sister? She really is from a prestigious family. Her riding skills are not something an ordinary young lady can compare to.”

It was precisely because he had seen the wild, free-spirited fire that Ce Ling, who had grown up on horseback, followed them over, witnessing the fiery, playful sweetness of Yun Wei.

“You’re too kind. It’s nothing to speak of; it’s because my brother and father taught me well.”

Yun Wei was graceful, courteous, and carried herself with the poise of a noblewoman, with no flaws to be found. But Ce Ling preferred to see the playful, sweet Yun Wei from earlier, the one who coquettishly teased Cheng Wu. That side of her was more vibrant and alluring.

Ce Ling, who hailed from the Mongolian ethnicity and had a bold and straightforward nature, took a step closer. Yun Wei instinctively stepped back. Ci Ling stepped forward again, and Yun Wei, as if testing him, stepped back again. This repeated several times, with the only change in distance being that Ce Ling’s strides were longer than Yun Wei’s.

“Just stand there.”

Yun Wei, who was usually respectful and rarely exposed to outsiders, felt intimidated by the tall and muscular Ce Ling, especially by the intensity of his gaze, which was burning with heat.

Ce Ling remembered the words about a lady’s decorum. She was not a Mongolian maiden, and he should not act too hastily. He spoke, “Miss Tong, my name is Bo’erjijite Ce Ling, a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, the 18th generation.”

“Lord Ce Ling, peace to you,” Yun Wei curtsied. Ce Ling’s face stiffened. He did not want things to be so formal. Just as he was about to speak again, loud voices from nearby interrupted.

At that moment, Yun Wei, like a nimble little rabbit, suddenly jumped over to her little horse. She grabbed a sheer veil from the saddle and used it to cover her delicate face. Watching Yun Wei’s series of swift movements, Ce Ling smiled, though there was a hint of wistfulness in his eyes.

“Majia Jing Yi, are you too scared to compete?”

“I… I…”

Yun Wei was a bit stunned, not understanding the situation. Had Cousin Jǐng Yí offended some noble person? The voice sounded proud, with an air of arrogance. Which noble lady was this?