Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 148

The snow at the countryside horse field had indeed melted, but not long ago, leaving the grass still somewhat slippery. Many young noblemen had come and left disappointed. However, there were still some dry patches.

After stepping out of the carriage and onto the sedan chair, Wu Jing curiously peeked out from the curtain, taking in the earthy and grassy scent.

The horse field attendants didn’t show any special treatment towards this group but secretly brought over two high-quality horses and cleared the nearby area of people. They discreetly made space for the important guests who had arrived unannounced.

It seemed Ning Qinghong had given specific instructions. One of the horses was a small foal, while the other stood an imposing two meters tall.

When Wu Jing disembarked from the sedan and saw this, he turned his face away, sulking, “Why is my horse so small?”

Ning Qinghong patiently explained, “Since this is likely Wu Wu’s first time riding, an unformed foal is the most gentle and easiest to handle.”

“If you were to ride such a large, strong horse right away, what would happen if you got hurt?” Ning Qinghong approached the tall horse, which immediately snorted and paced restlessly. But the next moment, he firmly tightened the reins without warning.

With one hand gripping the reins and the other stroking the horse, no matter how the beast struggled, the reins remained taut and unmoving, preventing the horse from rearing up or neighing wildly.

Wu Jing could see the veins bulging on Ning Qinghong’s hand, but his face remained calm, as though he still had strength to spare.

After a moment, he gave the horse a slight release, and in the tension between tightening and loosening the reins, the horse gradually calmed down. Eventually, after a firm pat on its back, the highly trained horse knelt on its front legs, waiting for its new rider to mount.

Ning Qinghong handed the reins to a servant nearby, then slightly extended his fingers toward the boy behind him. “Since Wu Wu doesn’t want to ride the smaller horse, let’s ride together.”

Wu Jing gulped nervously, clearly scared, but still took small steps toward the horse. He clumsily placed his foot in the stirrup and easily climbed onto the kneeling steed.

The horse, sensing someone on its back, straightened up and let out a low whinny.

Sitting atop the large horse, Wu Jing dared not move. He looked down at the height beneath him, making his eyes squeeze shut in fear.

Ning Qinghong held the reins but didn’t mount the horse right away. He waited for the boy to settle. “Wu Wu, don’t be afraid. Listen to me—lean forward a bit and stroke the horse’s head.”

Taking a deep breath, Wu Jing cautiously lowered his head, daring to glance at the ground. After a while, when the horse didn’t move, he slowly relaxed and started to adapt.

Ning Qinghong’s gentle voice came again, “As the emperor, Wu Wu must learn how to ride a horse.” He guided patiently, “Lean forward, don’t be afraid.”

Following his words, Wu Jing leaned forward slightly, sitting less rigidly. Nervously, he reached out and lightly patted the horse’s head before quickly withdrawing his hand.

Ning Qinghong chuckled, “Do it again.”

Wu Jing hesitated before tentatively extending his hand once more.

Ning Qinghong encouraged, “Hold it there a bit longer.”

This was no ordinary horse. It was a top-tier steed, towering above the others and known for its fiery temperament. It was nothing like the gentle, well-trained horses in modern-day riding schools. This was a genuine warhorse.

And Wu Jing had never ridden a horse before. Carefully, he stroked the horse’s mane, his thin fingers slipping through the coarse hairs. The tough texture tickled his hand, completely different from the softness of petting a cat.

As Wu Jing continued to pet the horse, he became more curious, running his hand down its neck. Using the same technique he would use to stroke a cat, the horse let out a soft whinny, and Wu Jing wasn’t scared anymore.

Both horse and rider gradually grew accustomed to each other.

Ning Qinghong then instructed, “Wu Wu, tighten your legs and gently grip the horse’s belly.”

Wu Jing followed his words, pressing his legs together.

The horse stamped its front legs twice, leisurely swishing its tail, and took a few slow steps forward.

Wu Jing tensed up again, his whole body going stiff, afraid of falling off.

Ning Qinghong soothed him in a soft tone, “Wu Wu? It’s okay. Just hold onto the reins.”

Wu Jing responded, exhaling carefully as he gripped the reins tighter.

Ning Qinghong led the horse forward at a steady pace.

As Wu Jing gradually adjusted to the horse’s movements, he relaxed again.

But then, Ning Qinghong raised his whip and lightly tapped the horse’s back. Letting go of the reins, the horse immediately picked up its pace, slowly transitioning from a walk to a trot.

Because the change in speed was gradual, Wu Jing didn’t notice at first. It wasn’t until the horse sped up that he realized Ning Qinghong had let go.

At first, the boy tensed up, but after nothing bad happened, he relaxed once more.

Wu Jing tried pulling on the reins, cautiously attempting to control the horse’s speed. Tightening his legs should make it go faster, and pulling on the reins should slow it down. To make it go even faster, he would need to use the whip.

Finding this amusing, Wu Jing’s eyes curved into a smile. He instinctively looked around for Ning Qinghong, only to realize that his brother had stepped back.

He hesitantly tugged on the reins and awkwardly mimicked what he had seen in shows, “Whoa,” he called, trying to stop the horse in front of Ning Qinghong.

Hearing Wu Jing’s attempt at commanding the horse, Ning Qinghong couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head.

It took several tries before Wu Jing successfully halted the horse, though he ended up several hundred meters away from Ning Qinghong. He attempted to coax the horse, nudging its belly, “Yes, that way.”

“Right, go over there.”

“Stop, stop—”

Wu Jing managed to stop the horse again, his eyes gleaming with pride. “Brother, I did it!”

Ning Qinghong lightly tugged on the reins, and in the blink of an eye, before Wu Jing could even react, his vision was filled with the wind-blown fabric of Ning Qinghong’s robe. The next moment, Ning Qinghong’s long, slender hand reached out from behind him, gripping the reins tightly before sharply cracking the whip.

The horse let out a wild neigh as it suddenly took off, galloping at full speed.

Wu Jing immediately shut his eyes, feeling the cold wind whipping against his face, freezing his skin.

He barely managed to adjust to the sensation of rising and falling with the horse’s movements. Ning Qinghong pressed him down, making him lean against the horse’s back.

Ning Qinghong pulled the reins tightly once more, gradually slowing the horse to a stop.

Only then did Wu Jing dare open his eyes, muttering, “That wind was freezing.” But in the next moment, he was left speechless, staring wide-eyed at the scene around him.

The hills were blanketed in vibrant spring flowers, blooming wildly. The early spring sun cast a warm light, its gentle rays enveloping everything in a soft, golden glow.

Ning Qinghong raised his hand to brush against the boy’s cheek, smiling warmly, “Yes, it’s a bit cold.”

Wu Jing remained in awe, murmuring, “Brother, it’s so beautiful.”

Ning Qinghong replied softly, “In a few days, we’ll return for the spring hunt.”

“At that time, I’ll teach Wu Wu how to shoot arrows while riding.” His voice was unhurried as he added, “I imagine Wu Wu might be reluctant to shoot, but you’ll still have to learn. No slacking off.”

Wu Jing grumbled, “Who said anything about slacking?” But his imagination ran with Ning Qinghong’s words, and he smiled brightly. “Then brother will bring me again.”

“Every year, you have to bring me here!”