Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Ride Together
The rebels hid in an abandoned stronghold in Lingyun Mountain, which was remote and difficult to access. Especially in the past two days, when it rained heavily, the mountain was muddy, and one would be covered in mud when uncareful. If one was not agile enough, it was possible to roll down the hill.
More than 30 rebels were tied up and strung together like dried corn and were urged down the mountain by the Imperial Guards. The fake monk Lin Yu met in the temple was also among them.
Lin Yu sat awkwardly on Li Heming’s horse, holding an umbrella in one hand and carefully holding the reins with the other. She saw everyone going down the mountain road one after another, and she realized one thing belatedly: how would she go down the mountain later?
He San followed Li Heming’s instructions to look after Lin Yu. Seeing her nervously pulling the reins, he mistakenly thought she was afraid and asked with concern: “Miss Lin, have you never ridden a horse before?”
Li Heming’s horse was a war horse given by the Emperor. It was much taller than ordinary horses and had a strange temper. Li Heming took half a month to tame it. Unexpectedly, it was unusually obedient when Lin Yu rode on its back.
Lin Yu nodded gently: “I have only ridden it once or twice. When I was young, my brother taught me to ride a pony. I had no strength to hold the reins and almost fell off the horse. After that, my family never let me touch it again.”
He San was thirty-two years old this year. His parents passed away early, and he had been fed military rations in the army since he was a child. He had also grown up on horses. Hearing Lin Yu say this, he subconsciously glanced at her slender wrist. The skin was whiter than snow, and the bones were thin and noticeable. Indeed, it was not a pair of hands that could tame a fierce horse. Hearing her regret, he comforted her, “It doesn’t matter if you can’t ride; there are only a few girls in this city who are proficient in riding. You can use a carriage when you’re going out.”
Not far away, Li Heming told his men about going down the mountain. Hearing He San and Lin Yu chatting happily, he glanced over and walked over after giving instructions.
He San didn’t see anyone at first. He squinted at the team going down the mountain and muttered, “It’s raining so hard. Let’s hope the road won’t collapse.”
Lin Yu said, “Many people go to Lingyun Temple to pray for Buddha. The mountain road is repaired yearly, so there shouldn’t be any accidents.”
He San asked casually, “Miss Lin believes in Buddhism?”
Lin Yu smiled and shook her head, “No.”
“That’s a pity,” He San said, “I heard that praying for marriage in front of the century-old sycamore tree in Lingyun Temple is very effective.”
Li Heming has long legs and reached the two of them in three or two steps. Hearing this, he glanced at He San without any expression.
He San quickly straightened his expression and said, “Leader.”
Li Heming said, “Follow the team. There is fog in the mountains, so keep your eyes open.”
He San responded and ran to untie the horse tied to the tree, but when he was about to mount the horse, he suddenly felt something was wrong. Lingyun Temple was on the mountainside, and the location of this mountain stronghold was higher than the temple. They didn’t explore on horseback to avoid alerting the enemy, but when they heard Lin Yu was missing, they couldn’t care less about anything else. He and the leader rode first, quietly found out the rebels’ location, and then turned back to lead the others. In other words, from here to Lingyun Temple, there were only two horses, his and the leader’s. He rode away one horse, and there was only one left. How could the two of them ride?
He San thought of this and looked back. Lin Yu held an oil-paper umbrella in the hazy rain and looked confusedly at the scary Northern Leader. Evidently, she was also worried about this problem.
After looking at Lin Yu, He San looked at Li Heming, who looked normal and suddenly understood Li Heming’s calculations. He didn’t dare to disturb him for more, so he rode on his horse and left first.
The rain in the mountains was fine but dense, splashing like oil on the umbrella. Lin Yu thought about it and couldn’t help but ask, “Lord Li, we –how can you and I go back?”
Li Heming heard she changed her words halfway and glanced at her calmly. He said, “Let’s return to the temple first and send you to meet your mother.”
The rain slid down his face, and Lin Yu watched a drop of water fall into his eyes, but he didn’t blink. He seemed used to being drenched in the rain and had only raised his hand to wipe his face casually, looking unaffected compared to Lin Yu, who was half w*t under the umbrella.
Li Heming was indeed good-looking, with sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and a dignified bearing, but Lin Yu didn’t have the heart to appreciate him. She withdrew her gaze from his face, clicked the reins with her fingers, and frowned: “That’s not what I’m asking. There is only one horse now, and you and I can’t ride together.”
Li Heming said indifferently: “Then Miss Lin wants me to be your coachman?”
Lin Yu thought: I asked because I knew you didn’t want to be a coachman. Why would she ask him this if she hadn’t hurt her leg? She could have left with the team ahead, but now she has to ask him for help, even to get off the horse. As she was thinking, the black horse under her suddenly moved. She was so scared that she hurriedly pulled the reins and almost dropped the umbrella.
Li Heming stretched out his hand to hold her waist, waited for her to sit firmly, pulled the reins from her hand, and raised his leg to step on the stirrup. Then, he climbed onto the horse. His movements were neat, and Lin Yu didn’t react for a while. The umbrella above her head was knocked forward and was straightened by the hand stretched out from behind. His cold body pressed against her back, not close, but enough to make her stiffen and dare not move.
Li Heming did not offer a solution at all. He lowered his eyes and glanced at her, saying only: “This is my horse. If Miss Lin does not want to ride with me, get off the horse and walk.”
He pulled the reins and said softly: “Go.”
The horse started to move. Lin Yu was afraid of falling, so she subconsciously tightened her hand to the front. Then she felt that her other hand suddenly loosened; Li Heming took the umbrella from her hand and put it over her head. She blushed but could not refuse. Because Li Heming was right, this was his horse, and he had no reason to give it to her. To put it bluntly, she should thank him nicely when he willingly gave her a ride.