Quick Transmigration: Leisure

Chapter 375 The Runaway Princess is Forcibly Taken Away (24)

Horse farm,

The competition was hosted by an old man named Chu Di, who claimed to be the gatekeeper of the horse farm.

After bowing, he briefly explained his background, saying that he was originally the manager of the horse farm, but after the farm changed hands, he was fortunate enough to stay and become a leisurely old gatekeeper. He also chuckled and told Xia Youmi that he would not show favoritism based on who the master was, and that he would definitely treat this competition fairly.

Xia Youmi smiled in response.

During the preparation period,

Thinking of the horse Chunyu Xi had hastily summoned, which hadn't yet been broken in, Xia Youmiti said, "Your Highness, perhaps you should warm it up?"

She is confident and doesn't want to take advantage of others.

Although the chestnut horse recognized its owner, it was easy to tell that the two were somewhat unfamiliar with each other. Based on her experience, the horse itself didn't seem to have been engaged in strenuous activity recently.

I might not be able to get away for a while.

Xia Youmi didn't want the Fourteenth Prince to embarrass himself or lose face, as that would hinder her from achieving her goal.

Upon hearing this, Chunyu Xi looked at the woman and offered his warm-up suggestion with great sincerity. He wasn't joking; his gaze occasionally drifted to the limbs of his mount, as if he were assessing something.

“Alright! I’ll go for a run first, Miss Xia, please feel free to do as you please!” Chunyu Xi readily accepted the somewhat strange suggestion.

It's no wonder he was inexperienced; even soldiers rarely have such keen insight to discern from his and his horse's demeanor the awkwardness that a skilled horseman was hiding.

He spent most of the year indoors. Even when he did go out, he traveled in a carriage covered with thick black cloth, shielding him from all prying eyes.

Chunyu Xi thought that a simple competition was just about having fun.

But now it seems that the Xia family is very serious about their work and doesn't like to be sloppy, which is a good quality for him.

"drive--"

Chunyu Xi's mount was named Feizhou, and it was a lively creature.

They ran this lap at a leisurely pace, both rider and horse trying to recapture the feeling of yesteryear.

Xia Youmi didn't join the warm-up; instead, she fed her partner Dai Shuang candy at the starting line.

She muttered to herself, "Sister Daishuang, I'm counting on you from now on!"

Compared to Chunyu Xi and Fei Zhou, whose relationship was more distant due to time, Xia Youmi and Dai Shuang, whom she had her eye on, were truly not close.

At the Xia residence, Rao Yuan did try to dissuade Xia Youmi from learning horseback riding, saying it was dirty and tiring. But Xia Ji considered himself from a military family, and how could his children not know martial arts, riding, and archery? So, besides Xia Youmi and Xia Jiechuan, the other children adopted by the family also had the opportunity to learn riding and archery. However, how much they grasped depended entirely on the individual, and resources were relatively limited.

The original owner only learned to a passable level, and especially after the four guards gradually became more skilled, she had even less opportunity to demonstrate her abilities.

It wasn't until six months ago, after securing the Mu Shi Manor, that she began searching for suitable horses. In the few days since arriving at the manor, she had chosen Dai Shuang from the four horses selected for her training.

The man and his horse often frolic in the mountains and forests, their tacit understanding growing day by day, enabling them to travel a thousand miles in a single day.

Therefore,

It was the aura they exuded that convinced Chunyu Xi that the competition was not a joke.

"Uu——"

Chunyu Xi still had a slight blush on his face, a sign of his relaxed state of mind. He raised his hand to signal Xia Youmi to get ready. The two walked side by side to the makeshift starting line, the horses excitedly swishing their tails, full of energy.

The riding arena isn't large, but it has quite a few obstacles. In addition to the racetrack and wooden fences, there are ponds, ditches, and steep slopes, making it more like a simulated battlefield environment that severely tests the horses' endurance and the riders' skills.

Xia Youmi glanced at Chunyu Xi. Could it be that he invited her to experience the racetrack just to showcase his scheming? Was he trying to force her onto their pirate ship?

Chunyu Xi's smile held a new sincerity.

It's as if it's an affirmation.

"You two!" Chu Di shouted, and at the same time, three guards stood ready to observe the surroundings and rescue him as soon as possible.

On the field,

One was dressed in pink and white, riding a black horse; the other was dressed in black and white, riding a red horse—both were eye-catching and striking.

Others, including Nianzhu, shouted "Wow!" and Manager Luo also gave Chunyu Xi a token encouragement before starting to cheer for Xia Youmi.

As the two men rode their horses closer together...

"Your Highness, if I win, could you possibly make a small concession in our future cooperation?" Xia Youmi suddenly revealed the purpose of the contest to Chunyu Xi.

"What?" Chunyu Xi wanted to ask more specifically, but Chu Di didn't hear what they were talking about and only thought they were provoking each other.

"It won't affect you and the Fourth Prince; on the contrary, it will be quite beneficial." Xia Youmi lowered her voice, a smile playing on her lips as she looked into the other person's eyes.

"Eh?"

"Begin!" Chu Di waved the flag.

"Giddy up!" Xia Youmi took the lead, her voice carrying far away, "Then, I'll take that as a yes..."

"drive--"

Chunyu Xi was momentarily distracted, but quickly regained his composure and focused on the horse race.

"Hahaha!"

Xia Youmi reacted faster than him at the start, and even had the leisure to let out a laugh. However, this cheerful voice seemed to be able to stir up people's emotions, making them feel high-spirited during the horse race.

Chunyu Xi stared intently at every obstacle in front of him, and reassured himself that Miss Xia might be trying to distract him so she could win the competition by feinting.

"Miss! How heroic!" Nianzhen was already captivated by the graceful movements.

"Dai Shuang, how agile!" Nianzhu didn't forget to bring water.

Only Zhu Cang was worried. He saw that although the Fourteenth Prince was a bit slow at the start, he quickly adjusted. Furthermore, he and his mount moved in perfect harmony, showing no unfamiliarity or hesitation in the face of the obstacles below. That was the swiftness of someone who had experienced countless battles.

The gap between the two is narrowing.

"Dai Shuang, well done!"

Xia Youmi is good at encouraging others; her upper body is relatively relaxed, and she maintains a moderate grip on the horse's body. Each time the horse clears an obstacle, she gently pats Dai Shuang's neck to convey a reassuring message.

Therefore, their progress is steady and positive.

Chunyu Xi seemed to be keeping up, but Dai Shuang would always manage to pull ahead, panting heavily. This black horse seemed to be just as annoying as its master, occasionally flicking its tail against the snow-white flying boat beside it.

The airship was enraged.

"drive--"

The two stood close together, their colors a blend of red, black, and white, with a subtle touch of pink serving as a striking focal point. Adrenaline surged in tension and focus, the will to "fight" fueled by the cheers from the sidelines.

Chunyu Xi felt joy in each pursuit.

He exhaled the pent-up frustration, his body gradually relaxing. He imitated Xia Youmi, laughing loudly as he moved, his chest rising and falling. He let the strong spring breeze caress his face, bringing a collision of coolness and heat, and also a long-lost sense of joy and freedom.

Xia Youmi became increasingly focused. Instead of asking Niannian to keep an eye on her position, she planned to use her knowledge and skills to seriously compete with her opponent. Her subtle advantages boosted her confidence, making Niannian feel very gratified.

Witnessing Xia Youmi living her life earnestly is a blessing for her.

Just as they were about to maintain their advantage, they arrived at the final hurdle. A trench filled with muddy water lay ahead, a considerable challenge for the horses that had just finished the race.

Especially given the tight timeframe, a running start is still needed.

Dai Shuang and Xia Youmi were able to jump over it during warm-up, but now they are more anxious and need to calculate the distance while being chased.

"There's rice!!"