In the riding field, Langtao Xuejin was unstoppable—the uncrowned king beneath Hongyan Mountain. Even frontier warhorses from Biansha rarely found themselves its match. Xiao Chiye played a couple of rounds before calling it quits, then came down to drink the tea Shen Zechuan had left on the table, the rim of the cup still holding the warmth of the Prefect.
“Since it’s a rare day,” Xiao Chiye said after finishing the tea, wiping his hands with a warm cloth, “let’s set up a prize and let them have some fun.”
“There are plenty of prizes already,” Shen Zechuan turned his head and told the attendant nearby, “go tell them—whoever wins gets a grand reward from me.”
Xiao Chiye sat down, his long legs crowding Shen Zechuan’s space. “What kind of reward?”
Shen Zechuan only smiled and didn’t answer.
The riders on the field all came to a halt. Hearing there was a prize, Dantai Hu grinned. “That’s just taking advantage of us Zhongbo folks.”
The generals from Libei were all skilled horsemen, while the Zhongbo guards were not as adept. Gu Jin and Wu Ziyu alone could easily take the prize—there was hardly any suspense in this race.
Fei Sheng sat astride his horse and said to Qiao Tianya, “How about you go?”
Qiao Tianya pulled the reins and waved to Gu Jin behind him. “You represent the Prefect’s honor—how can you surrender without a fight? Taozi, get up here. Run this one with your Tenth Brother.”
Ding Tao rode over, gripping the reins, and said to Fei Sheng, “Don’t worry. Back in Libei, Jin-ge never beat me. I’ll block him for you—you focus on outrunning Wu Ziyu.”
“I’m not worried,” Fei Sheng said quickly when he saw Qiao Tianya retreating. “But you can’t back out either—we’re in this together!”
Qiao Tianya pointed behind them with his whip. Fei Sheng turned and saw Huo Lingyun. Qiao Tianya said, “The last stretch is narrow. Don’t get tangled up with Wu Ziyu—just close your eyes and ride hard. Plenty of people behind you will block for you.”
He meant to let Huo Lingyun and himself support Fei Sheng, giving him the spotlight. Fei Sheng didn’t know what to feel and cupped his fists at Qiao Tianya. “You’re my brother!”
Though Yao Wenyu couldn’t hear their words, he understood from Qiao Tianya’s retreat what they intended.
Xiao Chiye held his teacup, watching the field with amusement. “This Qiao Tianya is a little too yielding.”
It was just a casual race for fun, but that didn’t mean the Embroidered Guards could afford to lose badly. With Libei’s iron cavalry and Zhongbo’s garrison present, Qiao Tianya still chose to give up his chance.
Xiao Chiye’s words hinted that Qiao Tianya lacked edge.
Yao Wenyu stroked Hu Nu and said nothing.
Shen Zechuan flicked open his folding fan slightly, then closed it again. He seemed completely at ease—silent, unhurried.
“Little Sheng!” Yin Chang climbed onto the railing, straddling it as he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Run faster! Faster! If you win, this old man will take you out drinking—”
Before he finished, Gu Jin’s horse shot forward like the wind. Yin Chang swallowed a mouthful of dust and nearly jumped up in frustration.
Gu Jin and Wu Ziyu worked together, blocking Fei Sheng’s path. Fei Sheng lagged half a step behind and couldn’t pass. Behind him, Ding Tao shouted “Hyah!” and surged past, cutting in from the outside to press against Gu Jin’s horse, forcing him to slow and yield the lane to Wu Ziyu.
“Jin-ge! Did you hide a tael of silver in your old boots? It’s all damp now! Before we left, Sixth Aunt at our gate was asking when you’d repay the money you owe for wine—I felt so embarrassed!” Ding Tao chattered on, gaining momentum. “So I made the call and took the money from your boots to pay half of it back. Half! Just how much do you owe? I’ve already lost track…”
Gu Jin snapped, “Shut up!”
The moment he was distracted, Fei Sheng seized the inner line. Gu Jin cherished his horse and refused to force it, so the two ran side by side, pressing Wu Ziyu ahead.
The track narrowed and widened unpredictably. After this stretch came a broader curve. Both Gu Jin and Fei Sheng aimed to take the lead there. They rode in silence, racing through the dust. Just as they reached the curve, Gu Jin tightened his grip—but Ding Tao had already fallen back, replaced by Huo Lingyun.
The instant Huo Lingyun closed in, Gu Jin sensed the pressure. This rider’s skill rivaled Fei Sheng’s, if not exceeded it. As the curve tightened, Gu Jin’s horse veered—only for Huo Lingyun to accelerate sharply, his stocky mount forcing inward, pressing Gu Jin toward the inside.
Gu Jin yanked the reins, but the horse couldn’t stop in time. Forced inward, it collided toward Fei Sheng. Fei Sheng’s space shrank instantly; to avoid impact, he instinctively pulled hard to the right. The horse veered, scraping the railing—crack!—splintering the wood. Startled, the warhorse stumbled as its hooves caught the broken railing and pitched forward.
“Damn!” Dantai Hu leapt to his feet.
As the horse fell, its foreleg twisted. Fei Sheng reacted instantly, curling in to protect his head, rolling across the ground in a cloud of dust, his back soaked in cold sweat.
Gu Jin had already stopped. He dismounted first and helped Fei Sheng up.
Fei Sheng pushed himself to his feet, clothes covered in dirt. He wiped his face, spat out a tooth, and called to Qiao Tianya behind him, “I’m fine!”
Huo Lingyun cracked his whip, surging forward. On the narrowing track, he began to overtake Wu Ziyu.
Hearing the commotion, Wu Ziyu said as Huo Lingyun closed in, “That’s not exactly fair, brother.”
Huo Lingyun leaned low, like an arrow cutting through the wind. His momentum was fierce—he didn’t care about the railings, letting them scrape his legs bloody just to pass.
Wu Ziyu’s stirrup struck the railing, sending splinters flying. He cursed hoarsely, “What the hell…”
The railing, already weakened by Fei Sheng’s crash, gave way with a crash. Wu Ziyu didn’t dare keep pushing against Huo Lingyun and immediately pulled out of the track.
He spat and leaned over his horse’s neck, muttering, “My Cangwei’s been wronged…”
Huo Lingyun charged ahead, unstoppable in the final stretch. His breathing quickened, the world’s noise falling away—his eyes fixed only on the finish line.
His future had to be fought for.
Here, he had no brothers, no old ties. He knew what it meant to be placed among the Embroidered Guards—but that wasn’t enough. His ambitions lay on the battlefield. He had to prove himself before Shen Zechuan to earn real trust.
Yin Chang slapped his thigh in agitation, wishing he could run after him himself. “You can’t cheat like that! How can you do this to your own people—”
In a flash, hooves struck mud like lightning tearing through dust, closing in right behind Huo Lingyun.
“Qiao Tianya!” Dantai Hu leaned over the railing, roaring, “Qiao Tianya!”
Yao Wenyu’s throat went dry. He saw Qiao Tianya’s hair streaming wildly in the wind, the fierce spirit between his brows—like ice shattering with a crack.
Huo Lingyun frowned, glancing sideways to see Qiao Tianya pressing close.
Qiao Tianya tasted dust on his tongue and gave a short laugh. Both men leaned forward, fighting for the same narrow path amid the collapsing rails.
Qiao Tianya rarely felt the urge to win—but today, in the boiling roar of the crowd, he was once again the young lord of the Qiao family, galloping through Qudu ten years ago.
The arena erupted in deafening cheers. The ribbon of prize silk hung just ahead. The rails, like snapped ropes, toppled one after another beneath pounding hooves.
Huo Lingyun clenched his teeth, determination surging through him. Just then, a metal bar suddenly jutted across the path—enough to send a rider flying if struck head-on.
Without hesitation, Huo Lingyun let go and flipped off his horse mid-gallop, hitting the ground and rolling clear of the bar. As he landed, he saw Qiao Tianya still charging forward and cried out in shock, “Qiao—”
The chestnut warhorse leapt over the bar—with no rider.
Yao Wenyu gripped the handles of his wheelchair, his breath stopping.
In the blink of an eye, Qiao Tianya flipped back onto the horse from its side. The crowd exploded. Xiao Chiye said, “Beautiful.”
As the Embroidered Guards rushed forward, Qiao Tianya pulled down the prize silk and laughed loudly. All his past frustrations and failures melted under the sun, becoming shining sweat as he sat tall and radiant on horseback.
Yao Wenyu’s face remained calm, betraying nothing. He loosened his grip—only to find Qiao Tianya looking his way.
Qiao Tianya withdrew his gaze, dismounted, and bumped shoulders with Fei Sheng, blocking Fei Sheng’s view of Huo Lingyun. Fei Sheng said nothing. After the race, they went to receive their reward from Shen Zechuan.
Holding his fan, Shen Zechuan stood tall. “Since I promised a grand reward, I won’t insult you with money or trinkets. The position of Commander of Duanzhou’s Embroidered Cavalry has long been vacant,” he paused briefly, “today, it goes to Qiao Tianya.”
As expected.
Fei Sheng knelt, head lowered in disappointment. But with everyone watching, he couldn’t show displeasure—he forced himself to remain composed.
“Fei Sheng is appointed Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Cavalry. Huo Lingyun holds the same rank. The Zhongbo Embroidered Guards are hereby renamed ‘Embroidered Cavalry.’ You retain the right to report urgent matters directly,” Shen Zechuan’s tassel swayed in the wind. “You are not under Duanzhou’s garrison—you answer directly to me, Shen Lanzhou.”
A private cavalry.
Dantai Hu and Gu Jin exchanged glances, surprised. Everyone knew about the formation of this unit, but they had assumed it would be incorporated into the Duanzhou garrison.
A private cavalry meant the Embroidered Guards essentially remained unchanged—still Shen Zechuan’s personal force. They were not subject to oversight by the six prefectures of Zhongbo; instead, they could oversee them. Unlike regular troops bound by hierarchy, they served only Shen Zechuan.
Xiao Chiye poured himself another cup of tea, glancing at the darkening sky. “Sort out the horses and return them to the stables. Take good care of them.”
Fei Sheng immediately rose to direct the cleanup of the screens and braziers. Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye left first. Yao Wenyu bent to pick up Hu Nu, and when he looked up again, Qiao Tianya stood before him.
Qiao Tianya blocked Huo Lingyun behind him, pointing toward Fei Sheng. “After cleanup, report to the courtyard.”
The atmosphere around Huo Lingyun was tense. He nodded coldly and walked past.
Yao Wenyu looked down at the cat when suddenly a silk ball dropped into his lap. He lifted his gaze—Qiao Tianya was still watching Huo Lingyun. In his hand, Yao Wenyu held the prize silk, still warm with Qiao Tianya’s sweat.