Chapter 3 — The Tigress Who Craved Mantou

Bui Tri Hanh personally inspected the mount once more, then addressed the crowd with a sneer: "Let us see what other little tricks she has up her sleeve this time." The gong sounded. Xie Hanyan took the lead, spurring her horse forward. Her posture while riding was undeniably elegant; her back was straight, her ribbons fluttering in the wind, presenting the very picture of a refined noblewoman. Yet, the horse's pace was sluggish. The polo mallet in her hand swung with grace, but her aim was aimless. Time and again, the young noblemen by her side would act as her shield, blocking others and maneuvering the ball directly to her feet. I followed behind, gently pulling on the reins. My white horse was itching to run, but I held it back. It grew so impatient that it shook its head, and I whispered a plea: "Be patient. My mother said I must appear fragile." The white horse snorted a cloud of hot breath against my face, leaving me feeling even more helpless. Near the sidelines, the murmurs grew louder.

"It is just as I thought. Switching horses did not help her at all."

"They said there was no trickery before, but look, the truth is coming to light now."

"Miss Xie is the only one here with genuine skill."

Bui Tri Hanh laughed loudly. "Lin Wandang, stop dragging your feet. I thought you were such an excellent rider?"

Xie Hanyan turned her head to look at me, her eyes brimming with triumph. She quickly scored a goal. A smattering of polite applause drifted down from the high stands. I felt that I had done enough; by losing, no one would continue to claim the horse had been tampered with, and I would not have to waste my energy riding back and forth. But just as I was preparing to completely give up, a young man in a blue robe spoke from the sidelines:

"That is not right."

His voice was not loud, but it held a firm resonance. Steward Van looked toward him. "Does the heir of the Ducal Manor of An have a different opinion?"

The man was the heir of the An National Duke, Yen Huaican. It was said he had served in the Northern Border army during his youth, returning to the capital only after being wounded. He leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the field. "Her horse is not the issue."

Everyone stood stunned. Yen Huaican continued: "Her grip on the reins is perfectly steady. Even though her seat looks relaxed, her waist and legs are maintaining masterful control over the horse's belly. This is not the work of someone weak or ailing." Bui Tri Hanh’s expression soured. "Are you misjudging the situation, Heir?"

Yen Huaican offered him a cold, indifferent glance. "If you do not believe me, go lead that white horse yourself. It is currently restraining its own strength; if you were to mount it, it would have you thrown to the ground in three strides."

Bui Tri Hanh was left speechless, and I was stunned as well. Oh no, I had been found out. Would my mother punish me by allowing me only half a bowl of bird's nest soup tonight? I was so frightened that I instinctively loosened the reins. The white horse, as if finally resurrected, tossed its head and prepared to bolt, but I reflexively pulled it back again. The entire field fell silent. Bui Tri Hanh’s face turned ghastly, and the smile on Xie Hanyan’s face faltered. She turned her horse and said in a soft, mocking tone: "Since Miss Lin possesses such skill, why did you deliberately delay just now? Could it be that you were merely playing with us?" I opened my mouth to reply.

"My mother said a lady must be fragile."

The sidelines were deathly silent at first, followed by an explosion of laughter. Someone even sprayed their tea in amusement. My mother sat among the ladies, her face cycling through shades of white and red. Xie Hanyan looked as if she were choking on my words. It took her a long moment to speak: "The matriarch taught you propriety for your own good. To use your elders as a punchline is, I fear, unfilial." She was quick to pin that label on me. I felt a bit wronged.

"I am not joking."

My mother truly said that. She even forbade me from eating. But I did not know if I could speak of it; she had always said that a woman must not discuss household matters with outsiders, lest she be looked down upon. I hesitated, and Xie Hanyan seized the advantage. "Miss Lin, today's events have grown increasingly absurd. One moment you claim hunger, the next you cite your mother's instructions, and then you deliberately hold back your horse. Which of your words is actually true?"

Bui Tri Hanh immediately chimed in: "She is simply acting like a shrew. After being caught trying to drug the horse, she now feigns stupidity."

I raised my eyes to look at him. "Has the poison been found?" He froze. "You..."

"If the poison has not been found, you have no right to claim I drugged the horse. Now that you see me holding the reins, you claim I am mocking you. Do you all speak without any evidence?"

Bui Tri Hanh remained stubborn. "Evidence? A sickly creature who needs help just to walk, yet suddenly knows how to control a horse—that is evidence enough."

I asked: "And what if I am not sickly?" He let out a cold laugh. "Who in the entire capital does not know you are as weak as paper? Do you dare to say you are not weak?"

I wanted to say that I was not, but my stomach chose that exact moment to let out a loud rumble. I rubbed my midsection. Very well. I suppose I was a bit weak at the moment. Finally, Xie Hanyan regained her composure and sighed softly. "Miss Lin, if you truly possess such horsemanship, you could have won fairly from the start. Why show off your edge only to hide your talent later, causing everyone to misunderstand?"

She looked up at the high stands, her expression appearing sincere. "Today is a banquet hosted by the Ning Prince’s estate, and everyone has come for the spring hunt. For Miss Lin to flip-flop like this makes it difficult for us to know how to judge the situation."

What a masterful way to twist the narrative. It was clearly they who accused me of poisoning the horse first, yet now I was the one being painted as unreasonable. Steward Van’s forehead was beaded with sweat, and the Princess of Ning frowned. As the situation reached an impasse, my mother finally could no longer sit still.