Chapter 183: Learning to Ride a Horse

Beiting Xizhou was the location of the ancient Kingdom of Gaochang, corresponding to today’s Turpan area in Xinjiang. Thanks to its warm climate, which allowed two harvests of rice and wheat and supported sericulture, it was once the most economically prosperous region in Beiting and even throughout Anxi.
It was also a necessary passage from Beiting to Anxi. As early as the Han and Jin dynasties, it served as a strategic military stronghold under imperial rule. Later, it became independent as the Kingdom of Gaochang. In the 14th year of the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, sent General Hou Junji on a campaign to Anxi, where he destroyed the ancient Kingdom of Gaochang, established Xizhou, and set up five counties—Gaochang, Liuzhong, Jiahe, Puchang, and Tianshan—while stationing 5,000 troops in the Tianshan region.
That afternoon, a group of about 500 people arrived on the official road north of Xizhou. Li Qingan, dressed in a white military robe, pointed at a crimson mountain range in the distance and said with a smile, “Look! That’s the Flaming Mountains. That’s where the Iron Fan Princess, that Rakshasi woman, lives—just as I told you last night.”
The women behind him followed his gaze and saw a red mountain range stretching across the vast landscape. The early summer sunlight illuminated the mountains, making them appear to be ablaze with flames. The women all exclaimed in awe.
Li Qingan’s visit to Xizhou was not a formal official duty but rather a mix of work and leisure. Therefore, he brought Ruohua, Wuyi, and three others along for a trip to Xizhou to relax.
Ruohua wore a fiery red robe and rode a horse alongside him. Wuyi, who couldn’t ride, sat in the carriage, with Ruohua accompanying her.
“Brother, does that Rakshasi really have a banana fan that can blow people 84,000 li away?” Ruohua asked curiously.
Li Qingan chuckled. “Yes! If you don’t want to travel all that way, she can just blow you back to Chang’an with one fan stroke.”
Ruohua laughed from inside the carriage, “Silly sister, you’re not planning to ask for the fan three times, are you?”
“I would! I’m not Sun Wukong.”
Li Qingan glanced at Wuyi, who seemed lost in thought, and asked, “Wuyi, what are you thinking about?”
Wuyi smiled gracefully and said, “I’m wondering how beautiful that Jade-Faced Princess must be, since the Bull Demon King abandoned his immortal wife to become her son-in-law.”
Looking at her face as beautiful as ice and jade, Li Qingan thought to himself, “It’s a shame the Bull Demon King never met you; otherwise, he wouldn’t want ten Jade-Faced Princesses either.”
He checked the time and then turned around to order, “Alright, let’s set up camp and rest early today!”

This area is vast grasslands with few inhabitants. A small river winds its way across the grasslands into the distance. The soldiers immediately set up camp, and tents appeared one after another on the grasslands.

Rushi Ruhua and Wuyi lived in a white tent, surrounded by Li Qingan’s personal guards. The tent was covered with thick carpets. Although the furnishings were simple, they had a unique charm.

Rushi Ruhua changed into another dress and was sitting in front of the mirror combing her hair, while Wuyi held a six-stringed zither and gently played “Moon River,” a song she had just learned. She too had changed into a long dress with a white background and red floral patterns. Despite the hardships of the journey, she was in an especially good mood.

“Are you free now?” Li Qingan’s laughter came from outside the tent. “I’m looking for Wuyi.”

Rushi Ruhua had just gotten up. Hearing that Wuyi was being sought, she reluctantly sat back down. Rushi Ruhua pinched her hand and gave her a wink. Realizing what to do, Rushi Ruhua quickly said to Wuyi with a smile, “Sis Wuyi, your brother is looking for you!”

Wuyi stood up shyly and slowly walked to the tent entrance. She saw Li Qingan leading two horses, looking at her with warm eyes. She lowered her head and said softly, “What do you want from me?”

“I want to teach you how to ride a horse. The grasslands here are perfect for that.”

“Well…” Wuyi hesitated. She had been afraid of riding horses since childhood.

At that moment, Rushi Ruhua came over and said with a smile, “Sis Wuyi, give it a try! Even Lian Yunu can ride now. It’s very inconvenient not to be able to ride in Anxi’s Western Court.”

“Well… okay!”

Wuyi finally agreed. She glanced at Li Qingan anxiously. Li Qingan smiled and said, “Don’t worry! I used to be a key player on Anxi’s horse team. Can’t I teach you?”

With that, he led over a white Ili horse—pure white with not a single stray hair—and said, “This horse is called Xuehua. It’s an excellent horse, only three years old. It belongs to you now.”

Wuyi slowly stepped forward and examined the beautiful horse. She wanted to touch it, but she didn’t dare. As if the white horse were sentient, it gently lowered its head and rubbed against her shoulder. Finally, Wuyi reached out to stroke the gentle horse, touching its long white fur on its nose. She immediately fell in love with it. Turning to Li Qingan, she said with a smile, “I want to learn. Please teach me!”

“Great! Let’s go ride outside.”

Li Qingan took Wuyi out of the tent and onto the grasslands. The grasslands were filled with colorful flowers—white, pink, green, yellow—each one delicate and lovely, swaying gently in the wind. Not far away was the clear river water, flowing into the distance.

Wuyi picked small flowers as she walked, softly humming the tune of “Moon River.” Li Qing’an followed behind her, leading the horse, admiring her slender and delicate figure. Every movement of hers exuded an elegant beauty—a grace that could only come from long exposure to music. Like a orchid or pear blossoms glistening with morning dew, her figure was soft and slim. Her full breasts and rounded hips showed that she was no longer a naive girl; she was like a fruit gradually ripening, filled with tempting fragrance.

“Where can we learn to ride a horse?”

Wuyi had picked a bunch of wildflowers by then and realized they were already quite far from the camp.

“Right here!” Li Qing’an said with a smile, reaching out. “Ride my horse first. Give me your hand!”

Wuyi felt shy. No young man had ever held her hand before. Her face turned red with embarrassment as she lowered her head, but still handed him her hand. When his warm hand grasped hers, it felt like an electric shock. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand back, but Li Qing’an held it tightly, preventing her from withdrawing it.

She glanced at Li Qing’an secretly. In the sunlight, his smile was especially gentle. A strange feeling arose in Wuyi’s heart. She wished his warm hand would keep holding hers forever, never letting go.

“Put your right foot on the stirrup,” Li Qing’an said softly. Seeing that Wuyi didn’t know how, he knelt down and helped her place her foot on the stirrup. Suddenly, he accidentally saw a patch of snow-white, delicate skin.

Wuyi felt the coolness on her leg and her face turned even redder. “No!” She quickly tried to pull her foot away from the stirrup, but Li Qing’an moved swiftly. Without stepping on the stirrup himself, like a herdsman raised on the grasslands, he mounted the horse directly, gripping the horse’s body with his strong legs. Then he turned and wrapped his arms around Wuyi’s soft waist, lifting her onto the horse.

Wuyi let out a cry. She closed her eyes in fear. After a while, Li Qing’an’s gentle voice reached her ears, “Don’t be afraid! It’s okay now.”

She slowly opened her eyes and realized she was already sitting on the horse, so high above the ground. She felt dizzy and couldn’t sit still, fearing she might fall off. But Li Qing’an held her waist tightly and comforted her in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid. Once you get used to it, it’ll be fine.”

Wuyi was panicked and scared. She couldn’t even think about scolding Li Qing’an for his roughly aggressive actions—actions typical of nomads when seizing women. He had grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the horse. She couldn’t even pay attention to his hands tightly wrapped around her waist. Li Qing’an had done the same to her once a year ago, but it had been just a light touch, after which she had left in anger. Now, however, his hands were so strong, his palms pressed firmly against her waist, and his four thick fingers even touched her soft abdomen.

She couldn’t worry about any of this for now. At that moment, Li Qing’an’s hands were crucial to her, holding her firmly so she wouldn’t fall off the horse.

Li Qing’an recklessly explored her soft waist. The thin silk dress allowed him to feel the smoothness of her skin, and the faint fragrance emanating from her intoxicated him slightly. Though reluctant to leave, he moved his hands away from her waist before she could react and took hold of the reins, gently urging the horse to move forward.

“Don’t be nervous. Relax.”

“That’s right! Keep it like this. Don’t look at the ground. Look straight ahead.”

Li Qing’an whispered softly in her ear, and Wuyi’s heart gradually calmed as she gazed at the undulating Flaming Mountains in the distance.

After riding for about a mile, she gradually adapted and relaxed. Then she suddenly remembered his rudeness earlier—how he had lifted her onto the horse, how he had peered inside her dress while helping her mount, and how tightly his hands had clutched her waist…

Wuyi no longer had the courage to scold him. After all, wasn’t she currently nestled in his arms?

“Maybe this is what learning to ride a horse is like?”

Her face turned red with shame as she tried to comfort herself. In fact, she had never seen any other women learn to ride. She didn’t know that women usually started by riding donkeys or slowly walking alongside a horse. Even noblewomen began by riding small pony breeds. No one rode a tall horse like Li Qing’an’s, let alone share one with a man.

“Hold the reins!” Li Qing’an wanted to hand them to her.

“Wait!”

Wuyi adjusted her posture and pulled her dress together. Tang women’s dresses were very loose and full of folds, making it easy to ride without exposing one’s legs.

She took the reins, her hands leaving the saddle. Fear crept back into her heart as she felt unsure of her ability to stay balanced. Just then, Li Qing’an’s arms naturally wrapped around her waist, stabilizing her. Wu Yi bit her lip lightly—she realized that learning to ride like this was certainly not the way it should be. That scoundrel must have deliberately used teaching her to ride as an excuse to flirt with her.

Yet his chest was so broad, his arms so strong, providing her with a solid and dependable support that made her feel weak inside. This sense of dependence was something she had longed for on countless cold and lonely nights.

“You rascal!” she sighed inwardly.

Suddenly, Li Qing’an pressed his legs tightly against the horse’s flanks, and the warhorse galloped forward at full speed. Wu Yi let out a cry of surprise, but Li Qing’an held her tightly in his arms as they raced across the vast grasslands. Terrified, she closed her eyes as the wind howled around her.

“Open your eyes!” Li Qing’an ordered loudly. He kept the horse moving smoothly, trying not to let the woman in his arms feel the jolts.

At his stern command, Wu Yi slowly opened her eyes. In the distance lay a magnificent scene—the setting sun illuminated Flaming Mountain, as if flames were soaring into the sky.

To the right ahead, her Snowflake Horse was racing at lightning speed, its snow-white mane fluttering in the wind. She had never experienced such beauty in speed before. A strange excitement surged in her heart. She felt like a bird freed from its cage, fully enjoying the joy of freedom. Fear and restraint had vanished without a trace, and she laughed joyfully like a silver bell.

Li Qing’an also sensed the woman’s joy and laughed out loud. “Go!” He pressed his legs together again, speeding the horse up even more.

……

The sun had set behind Flaming Mountain, its afterglow turning the mountain range red, giving it an eerie and dazzling beauty. A pale moon appeared in the golden sky.

On a small hill near Flaming Mountain, Li Qing’an and Wu Yi sat side by side on the grass, quietly watching the golden sky gradually darken.

“I’ve lived in my uncle’s mansion like a oriole trapped in a cage. For all these years, I’ve longed for freedom like I have today.”

The night breeze swept across the wildflowers on the hills, brushing against her face. Her hair came loose, so she removed her hairpin and let her long black strands flutter in the wind. With a sad smile, she said, “Do you know? I once thought about ending my life so that my soul could be free, free from the helplessness of relying on others, free from the marriage contract that bound me like a web. When Lady Cui tried to take me away, I was desperate. My uncle told me to run away, but I didn’t know where to go. I just thought, let me die along the way! Turn into soil like a petal. But… I never imagined I could be this free and happy today.”

Two glistening tears appeared at the corners of her eyes.

Li Qing’an reached out and wrapped his arms around her delicate shoulders, wiping away the tears from her eyes. His lips touched her smooth forehead briefly. Wu Yi’s body trembled as she raised her head and stared at him blankly.

Li Qing’an gazed into her deep, beautiful eyes and slowly said, “Do you remember two years ago during the New Year, when we knelt in front of the Buddha at Ci’en Temple? I silently prayed to the Buddha: ‘Lord Buddha, please let me take this lonely girl away and take care of her for life.’ The Buddha granted my wish. But today, I want to pray to Him again: ‘Lord Buddha, please give me this beautiful girl as my wife.’”

Wu Yi shyly lowered her head. At that moment, her enchanting figure, her stunningly beautiful face, her pitifully delicate shoulders, her dazzlingly fair skin, and her slightly lazy posture as she sat on the grass all seemed to emit a faint fragrance, conveying a uniquely feminine charm—a tender affection, something indescribable that could make one’s heart pound and stir certain emotions. Of course, it certainly didn’t inspire fear.

Li Qing’an gently lifted her chin and stared at her soft red lips. His face slowly moved closer. Wu Yi closed her eyes, her lips meeting his in a tender kiss. Her mind went blank. It was her first kiss, and she appeared so awkward. His tongue stubbornly pushed aside her teeth, entering her mouth and greedily sucking at her sweet lips.

She weakly resisted as his advances broke through one barrier after another in her heart. Unconsciously, she stretched out her delicate arms like white lotus stems and wrapped them around his back.

Li Qing’an slowly released her. A cold night breeze blew in. Losing his warm embrace, Wu Yi shivered instantly, her body curling in on itself as a sense of emptiness filled her heart.

Only then did she realize it was completely dark. Li Qing’an picked her up again and held her in his arms. “Lord Li!”
Wuyi let out a soft sigh, resting her head gently on his shoulder.
“We need to go back. It’s very cold at night on the grassland. You’re wearing too little and might catch a cold.”
Wuyi’s heart was filled with happiness at her beloved’s care. She kissed him on the face willingly, nodded with a smile, stood up, took his hand, and ran toward the horses grazing leisurely not far away.
“I remember you said you’d teach me to ride, but I’ve never ridden my own white horse before.”
Wuyi pinched him lightly with her long nails and teased, “Tell me, are you trying to tease me on purpose?”
Li Qing’an chuckled, led over his red horse, and said, “Alright, let’s start teaching now. Come on! I’ll teach you how to mount the horse.”
“I won’t fall for it. I want to ride my own horse. Let’s go back slowly.”
“No problem. But there are wolf packs roaming at night on the grassland. If they see a beautiful woman like you, they might kidnap you, and I won’t be able to save you.”
“Wolf packs!” Wuyi was startled. She glared at him and said, “Then agree that you won’t tease me anymore.”
“I’m a decent man. How could I tease you?”
“You call yourself a decent man! No one else kisses like that.”
Thinking of how that troublemaker had put his tongue in her mouth, her face flushed with shame. She slowly walked up to the horse and said, “I don’t need you to carry me up. I’ll do it myself.”
“Alright, do it yourself then.”
Li Qing’an stood aside with his arms crossed, watching her smilingly. Wuyi thought of how Li Qing’an usually mounted the horse and stepped into the stirrups, but she didn’t know how to climb up.
She glanced back at Li Qing’an. Under the moonlight, he looked mischievously smiling, and she felt discouraged. “Forget it. Just carry me up! I’ll let you tease me once more.”
Li Qing’an stepped forward smiling, wrapped his arms around her waist, and lifted her onto the horse. He then mounted the horse himself and took out a thick blanket from the saddle bag to wrap her tightly in.
Wuyi was deeply moved. She stopped talking and clung tightly to him, pressing her face against his chest. Li Qing’an controlled the horse with his legs and held her delicate body with his arms. The two walked slowly across the grassland. The sky was like a blue curtain covering the entire dome, with countless stars shining like gems embedded in the curtain. A long Milky Way stretched across their heads, resembling a bright and sparkling jade belt.
Seeing her beloved gazing at the Milky Way in thought, Wuyi asked softly, “Lord Li, what are you thinking about?”
“I remembered a piece of folk music.”

“Is it ‘reading the sword by lamplight in drunkenness, dreaming of the bugle calls across the camps’?” Wu Yi looked at him with a half-smile.
“No, I’m thinking of a folk poem for you.”
“Tell me then.”
Li Qing’an gazed at the Milky Way in the sky and recited slowly, “Delicate clouds play tricks, flying stars convey sorrow; across the vast Milky Way, we secretly meet. When golden winds and jade dew bring us together, it’s better than countless earthly joys. Tender feelings are like water, our sweet moments like dreams—how can I bear to look back at the path home over the Magpie Bridge? If true love endures, why must it be day and night?”
“If true love endures, why must it be day and night?”
A dazed expression appeared in Wu Yi’s eyes. She sighed, “I’ve never heard such a beautiful folk poem before.”
She raised her head and gazed lovingly at her lover. Li Qing’an slowly turned her around, seated her on his lap, bent down to kiss her red lips, and slipped his hand into her skirt, gently caressing her smooth, round thighs like jade. This time, Wu Yi’s heart opened up; she no longer resisted. She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips against his, allowing his hands to explore her body.
The Tang woman wore no undergarments. Li Qing’an’s hand slowly moved upward, touching her round, plump buttocks. The smooth, delicate sensation intoxicated him. Just as his hand was about to slide further down, Wu Yi stopped him. “Li Lang, don’t…”
His hand moved upward again, grasping her full, soft, and elastic breasts. His fingers skillfully teased her nipples, which resembled small cherries. Wu Yi’s breathing grew faster, and she let out soft moans as his touch gradually awakened her virginity.
“Wu Yi, give yourself to me!” Li Qing’an whispered in her ear while sucking on her earlobe.
Wu Yi was burning with desire. She nodded gently. “I’ve never been with anyone before; please be kind to me!”
Just then, barking dogs were heard in the distance. Li Qing’an realized they had returned to camp. “Come to my tent.”
“Rushi Ruhua will laugh at me.”
“She won’t. If they dare laugh at you, I’ll divorce them!”
Wu Yi’s heart was already conquered by him. She buried her face in his arms, no longer resisting. Li Qing’an sped his horse into the camp. It was quiet inside—the soldiers were already asleep. A few sentries saluted him from afar.
“The general is back!”
Rushi Ruhua’s tent was still lit. Hearing the shout, the light was quickly blown out. But Li Qing’an pretended not to see it. He went straight to his own tent, dismounted, and carried Wu Yi down.

With infinite shyness, Wu Yi was pulled into Li Qing’an’s tent by him. The curtain was drawn, the lamp was lit, and soon after, it was turned off. In the tent next door, Ru Shi Hua squeezed herself into a gap by the tent edge and peeked over in secret. Seeing the lamp in the tent go out, Ru Shi Hua covered her mouth and giggled. It was truly “The flower path has never been swept for guests; today, the humble door is opened for you.”