The Rise of Xueyue

The next day, the trio boarded the carriage and rode into the capital after having their breakfast.

"Where are we going?" Xueyue asked Wenmin.

"Father has discovered your skills in archery and wants us to hone it by buying a horse for you to practice with." Wenmin patted Xueyue's dainty head, ruffling her hair in the process.

Xueyue swatted at his annoying hand. The maidservants had spent the entire morning doing her hair after finding out she was heading into the capital.

Wenmin chuckled at her feeble attempts of pushing his hand away. He finally relented to her wishes and removed it, settling it onto the window of the carriage.

Xueyue stared out the window, watching the thick bamboo forest go past her.

She thought about the idea of owning a horse. When she was younger, she used to own one.

Before Viscountess Bai came into the picture, Xueyue was allowed to freely ride the horse for hours to come.

But after her stepmother discovered Xueyue's fondness towards the horse, it mysteriously disappeared. Viscount Bai was too infatuated with his new wife to even care about buying her a horse.

Not wanting to be a burden, Xueyue kept quiet. She didn't ask about a new horse until Tianai received a prestigious white horse the color of clouds. Viscount Bai had brought it for her after discovering Tianai's fondness towards archery, despite the fact that she wasn't good at it.

Xueyue's lips thinned. She remembered asking her father for another horse, but he was furious at her. He had slapped her for not taking "proper care" of her previous horse. It was the horse that her mother used to own, and the realization that Xueyue had "lost" it, send his blood boiling.

That week, Xueyue was locked in her room without food and water for three days.

After hearing Tianai's laughter when horseback riding, Xueyue became persistent. She begged the Viscount and when she pestered on, it was the first time she got beat by him.

Ever since that incident, Xueyue rarely voiced her desires. She was scared of approaching Duke and Duchess Li to ask them a favor...What if she gets kicked out the house for being so worrisome?

"What type of horse do you want, Yueyue?" Wenmin asked her.

Chenyang stared out the window with a nonchalant expression. Everyone thought he was bored, but secretly, he had been watching Xueyue. He noticed how quiet she was. She only talked when someone talked to her...And the realization was beginning to disturb him.

"Uhm...the least expensive one?" Xueyue hesitatingly said.

Wenmin laughed, thinking it was a joke, but when Xueyue stared at him confusedly, he realized she was serious.

His smile wavered.

"Yueyue, mother and father are very rich. They can buy you the most expensive horse that money could buy." He told her.

"I-I don't want to waste their money-"

"Father instructed us to buy you the most expensive horse." Chenyang interrupted her. He turned towards her, a frown on his face. Usually, girls would want the best that money could buy. Why was she so different?

"And we won't settle for anything less than that." Wenmin grinned at the dumbfounded Xueyue.

"Young Masters and Young Miss, we have arrived to the horse ring." The footman announced right on time.

"Come on, let's go!" Wenmin excitedly said. He climbed out of the carraige and Chenyang followed after him.

Without waiting for anyone, Wenmin walked to the closet food stall.

Xueyue struggled to climb out of the carriage with her long hanfu. The maidservants came forward, but Chenyang brushed them aside.

"Here." He grumbled, offering her a hand.

Xueyue stared at his outstretched hand, her brows knitting together in confusion.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up, my hand is tired." Chenyang muttered, avoiding her curious gaze.

Xueyue giggled, her laughter sounding like the beginning of a symphony.

"Thank you." She gratefully said.

Placing her hand on his, he gently guided her out of the carriage.

"Your welcome." He grunted, walking off without her.

Xueyue couldn't wipe the amused smile off of her face. Chenyang was so awkward with girls and it amused her to see him like that.

"Well, are you coming or not?" He called back to her.

Xueyue laughed and instantly ran to catch up to the twins.

"Coming!" She happily said, following in his footsteps as they walked to the excited Wenmin.

The servants were awestruck and surprised by the scene they just witnessed.

Their aloof Young Master Chenyang, finally cared about someone! He deliberately made moves to help a girl, even though he despised them!

From afar, they watched Xueyue interact with the twins. Her face was bright with a smile as she laughed with the twins.

Chenyang was uttering small responses, but he had a small smile on his face. The servants swooned. They had never seen their Young Master act like this!

Instantly, they began to admire Xueyue even more. It seemed little by little, she was beginning to crack the stony exterior of their Young Master.

- - - - -

"Wenmin, be careful! You're going to choke if you keep stuffing the buns into your mouth!" Xueyue reprimanded as she watched him inhale the red bean buns within a few bites.

"He'll be fine. Let him choke." Chenyang mused while taking a slow bite from his bun.

He ate the way a refined gentleman should, whereas Wenmin was too busy trying to finish his portion and steal Xueyue's too.

"You can have mine. There's no need to rush!" Xueyue sighed when she realized Wenmin was hurriedly eating so that he could finish his before Xueyue.

"Rweally?" His voice was muffled by the buns causing Xueyue to laugh. His cheeks were overly stuffed with food and he looked like a little hamster.

"Yes, really. Now eat slowly." She mused, wiping the crumbs off of his face with a handkerchief.

"You're the best, Yueyue." He grinned, nudging her shoulders.

Xueyue rolled her eyes.

"You only say that because I offer you food." She said.

Wenmin laughed, but didn't bother to deny the truth.

After finishing the food, he finally said, "Alright, let's go to the horse ring now." He began to walk in the opposite direction.

"The horse ring is this way, you dimwit." Chenyang grabbed Wenmin by the back of his collar when he noticed Wenmin was walking towards another food stall.

"Aw, come on!" Wenmin whined when he was dragged further and farther away from the Tanghulu [1] vendor.

Chenyang rolled his eyes at the glutton in his hand. "Mother wants us back for the afternoon meal. We've already had enough food for the day."

"YOU had enough food, I didn't!" Wenmin grumbled as he stomped towards the horse ring.

Xueyue chuckled upon seeing Wenmin grumble and sulk to himself like a child. Sometimes she forgot he was older than her!