In the evening, Jiang Shaohua rode out of the military camp.
The spring breeze was gentle, like a soft hand caressing the cheeks.
Jiang Shaohua was in a particularly good mood all day, her cheeks flushed, her black eyes sparkling brightly: "Let's reach the city gate before dark, we'll ride together, faster."
Qin Hu, who won the third round competition in the afternoon, responded energetically.
Meng Sanbao, who took second place, glanced jealously at the black steed under Qin Hu: "Qin Hu got a new horse today, how can we outrun him."
Qin Hu grinned, revealing two tiger-like canine teeth: "Sanbao, it's no shame to lose to your elder brother, so don't be bitter."
Meng Sanbao spat in response.
In today's third round competition, each camp sent young trusted aides. Qin Hu narrowly defeated Meng Sanbao by one move, winning the steed. Meng Sanbao was feeling rather sulky.
The young aides laughed heartily.
Jiang Shaohua also found it amusing, her eyes like crescent moons.
Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao were among the best of their generation, selected last year to serve in the Prince Mansion. Everything was fine except their lively and free-spirited nature.
Oh well, seeing that the Commandery Princess is happy, let's spare these two rascals this time.
Song Yuan glanced over, then quickly withdrew his gaze.
It was already dusk, and looking ahead, there were almost no travelers on the official road. Everyone enjoyed galloping freely. Just then, a sudden change occurred.
A hundred meters ahead, the sound of something breaking through the air was faintly heard.
Something was falling from the sky.
"Assassin!" Song Yuan shouted alertly: "Protect the Commandery Princess!"
The group of trusted aides all slowed their horses, watching cautiously as a black dot fell from the sky.
Jiang Shaohua used all her sight, staring at the falling shadow from afar, her expression suddenly changed.
Something's wrong!
She kicked her horse's belly forcefully, and the red steed dashed out instantly.
Song Yuan chased after without hesitation.
He was a step slow.
The Commandery Princess was already a horse's length ahead, and was the first to rush under the shadow. With a flick of her whip, she wrapped up the falling shadow from high above.
Thanks to her Divine Power, she would otherwise have withstood the impact of the great force. Despite this, the force still caused her to sway immensely.
Song Yuan also flicked his whip, wrapping it around the shadow, pulling hard in the opposite direction.
The two of them exerted their strength together, barely stabilizing their bodies. They exchanged a glance, both shocked in their hearts.
The shadow entangled by the two long whips was actually a small-statured young boy.
This boy had extremely short hair, only an inch long. His attire was very strange, different from the long and short robes of the current times, and his sleeves were torn off by someone, exposing half of his fair arm.
The boy was unconscious and lying on the ground, his face unclear.
"Commandery Princess," Song Yuan's voice carried a hint of reproach: "In the future, when encountering people of unknown origins, let me handle them. How can someone of your noble stature easily risk themselves."
Jiang Shaohua honestly admitted her fault: "I was indeed impulsive just now."
Her attitude was so sincere that Song Yuan instead felt a bit embarrassed, coughed and said: "It's not the Commandery Princess's fault. The situation was urgent just now, if the Commandery Princess had reacted a moment later, this boy would have been a bloody pulp."
Jiang Shaohua pursed her lips and smiled.
Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, and other trusted aides gathered around. Qin Hu was the first to dismount, swiftly untying the whip, and roughly turned the young boy on the ground over.
Jiang Shaohua glanced over.
The boy looked about ten years old, his face pale as paper, eyes tightly closed. His appearance was rather handsome.
Meng Sanbao also dismounted, grabbed the collar of the young boy, shaking him vigorously: "Wake up, honestly confess, what's your name, where did you come from, how did you suddenly fall from the sky."
The boy was shaken awake, and without opening his eyes, he vomited with a "wa" sound.
Unfortunately, he vomited onto Meng Sanbao's clothes. A foul sour smell instantly permeated.
Meng Sanbao's face turned black with anger.
This was the new aide uniform issued this year, and it was the first time he wore it today.
Song Yuan frowned and said in a deep voice: "All of you step back."
Meng Sanbao restrained his impulse to kick, sulkily responding.
The young boy was about to vomit his bile out, his face covered in tears and snot, looking as miserable as could be.
A clear and pleasant girl's voice sounded above: "Who are you? Why are you here?"
The young boy raised his head.
A pair of bright black eyes came into view.
The small face was as white as snow, the clothes red like flames.
He was dumbstruck.
Is there really someone this beautiful in the world?
Jiang Shaohua was used to the initial amazement of others upon seeing her. Even though the dazed expression of the young boy lasted a bit longer, she did not get angry.
She waited for a moment, then opened her mouth again to ask: "Who are you? How did you suddenly fall from the sky?"
The young boy opened his mouth, but it was as if something was stuck in his throat, preventing him from speaking.
Jiang Shaohua furrowed her brows.
Song Yuan's gaze swept over, speaking sharply: "The Commandery Princess is asking you a question, answer immediately."
Commandery Princess?!
The young boy looked shocked, quickly glanced at the attire of the girl in front of him, then at the clothing of the tall and strong youths surrounding him, as well as the tall steeds...
He then struggled to turn his head and look around at the unfamiliar surroundings...
Heaven! Where on earth is this place!
The young boy painfully closed his eyes.
Clang!
A sharp long knife pressed against the boy's throat.
Qin Hu stared fiercely, his presence cold: "If you don't confess honestly, I'll end you with one slash!"
Meng Sanbao, still upset about the vomit on his new clothes, angrily said: "Stop talking nonsense with him. Falling from the sky like that, and landing right in front of the Commandery Princess, could this be a coincidence? If it's deliberate, then one slash to solve it!"
Jiang Shaohua looked over: "You two, don't start with killing and slaying. Let's find out first and then decide."
Qin Hu immediately sheathed his knife.
Meng Sanbao instantly shut his mouth.
The young boy instantly understood that among this group, the one with the highest status and the most authority was this astonishingly beautiful young girl.
His fate depended on whether she was willing to show mercy.
Commandery Princess, I'm not a bad person.
He attempted to open his mouth, but no sound came out. It was as if something was blocking his throat. He was so anxious that sweat dripped from his forehead.
The middle-aged man next to the Commandery Princess furrowed his brows, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
Desperately and hopelessly, he grabbed his own throat.
Speak! Why couldn't he speak?
Was he going to die confusedly right here?
When he raised his hand, he discovered another horrifying fact. His hand was half its original size, and his body had greatly shrunk...
"Commandery Princess, this boy seems to have some mental issues." Song Yuan murmured in a deep voice: "Or, he might be feigning it intentionally. It's getting dark now, and there's no village or shop around here, let's take him back to the Prince Mansion and interrogate him carefully."
Jiang Shaohua slightly nodded.
Song Yuan's gaze swept over: "Meng Sanbao, you take the charge of him."
Meng Sanbao: "..."