CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 48: HORSE MEAT FEAST

Xie En, but Yun Jiao didn’t understand the Emperor’s reasoning for agreeing.

Could it be that he favors this kind of thing?

Forget it, it’s not important. What’s important is that she can bring her beloved Little Red Rabbit back to the palace ^3^.

After a brief stroll together, Xie Zhixing returned to handle the aftermath of Qiu Lie, leaving her to enjoy herself alone. Upon seeing Yun Jiao’s completely unconcerned expression, he couldn’t help but grind his molars.

On her way back riding Little Red Rabbit, Yun Jiao heard the sound of approaching hooves.

She looked towards the sound and saw Concubine Jiang racing towards her on her white horse. A gentle squeeze of the horse’s sides brought the spirited creature to a halt in front of Yun Jiao.

Yun Jiao dismounted to pay her respects.

"Are you still riding that little stubby horse?"

Concubine Jiang sneered.

Indeed, she deserved her distant kinship with the Emperor.

Even her opinion on Little Red Rabbit was equally aligned.

Yun Jiao was in high spirits, so she didn’t mind. She covered Red Rabbit’s ears as she replied, "Concubine Jiang, it’s called Red Rabbit, not a stubby horse."

"I’ll call it whatever I want. As Yan Chi’s consort, riding such a stunted mutant horse in the hunting ground, what would Kesha’s nobles think of us Yan Chi? It’s humiliating for the Emperor!" Concubine Jiang’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she smiled sweetly: "By the stable’s rules, such a small horse should be dealt with accordingly, why let Attendant Lady Xi ride it? But I am not one to waste. Make use of it, take it to the stable and turn it into a horse meat feast."

Cows and horses, the former being an agricultural resource and the latter a military one.

Due to their significant roles, they are not to be killed unless under special circumstances. Even princes and nobles must adhere to this, not daring to break precedence for mere gastronomical pleasure.

However, for horses so short and small, they’re seen as a blemish on the bloodline and thus can be slaughtered.

"Hiss hiss!"

Little Red Rabbit skittered nervously, whimpering twice.

The eunuch following Concubine Jiang stepped forward, attempting to snatch the reins from Yun Jiao’s hands.

Yun Jiao bit her lip. Her last save point was right before the Emperor agreed to let her bring the horse back to the Imperial Palace. Fearing the save wouldn’t work if she tried again, she stepped forward: "The Emperor has permitted me to take Red Rabbit back to the palace. Are you defying the decree, Lady?"

"How could that be!?"

Concubine Jiang’s face changed.

How could the Emperor with his perfectionism agree to this sorry horse?

She had been at the palace for some time and had dealings with Xie Zhixing before he became the Eldest Prince. Though there was no childhood sweetheart bond formed, she knew of his obsessive pursuit for perfection, and she chuckled: "Who doesn’t know you haven’t been summoned by the Emperor since you outdid Concubine Lan that first night at the hunting ground? How could he possibly agree to let you bring it back to the palace? I think it’s just your excuse to protect this horse, falsely claiming an imperial decree is a grave offense!"

Concubine Jiang’s assumption wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even if Yun Jiao requested it, the Emperor found the horse displeasing to the eye and preferred offering her a better one instead of letting it be brought back to the Imperial Palace.

But in Yun Jiao’s eyes, Little Red Rabbit was the best.

So what if it was small? It was the young version of an Akhal-Teke horse!

"No way!"

As the eunuch approached again, Yun Jiao refused to budge.

At that moment, as the standoff continued, a dense sound of hooves came from not far off.

Both looked over, and Concubine Jiang’s expression changed, reluctantly dismounting to greet.

"Your servant pays respects to Lady Shufei!"

A large entourage accompanied Lady Shufei, dressed in riding attire.

The horse she rode was taller than Concubine Jiang’s, its coat gleaming and glossy; the front half was jet black, while the back half was a pure white. As the light filtered through the woods, it cast a halo on the coat, making it dazzlingly beautiful. Yun Jiao had only seen Lady Shufei at the stable once; she wasn’t fond of horseback riding, preferring a stroll.

"Having a chat here?"

She asked with a smile.

Concubine Jiang recounted truthfully.

Firstly, she did not dare conceal anything.

Secondly, she figured Lady Shufei and Attendant Lady Xi had no connection, and even if not aligned with her, would ignore her bullying of Attendant Lady Xi.

"Attendant Lady Xi is awful, flaunting her favor arrogantly, so I thought to give a small punishment."

As Concubine Jiang finished, Lady Shufei’s calm and beautiful face revealed no change in emotion.

Only after Jiang had finished did Shufei curve her lips: "Does Concubine Jiang want horse meat? How coincidental, I also wish to taste it."

Upon hearing this, Yun Jiao turned pale.

It was said that Lady Shufei was favored above all in the harem, and even after a previous miscarriage that left her unable to conceive, her status remained unaffected.

Concubine Jiang wore a joyful expression.

However, Lady Shufei’s next words delivered her a crushing blow:

"I don’t want to eat the little one; I want to try yours instead."

Concubine Jiang was stunned, unable to believe what she heard.

She stammered: "Sister Shufei, how could you eat Treading Cloud?"

"Isn’t it a horse?" Lady Shufei responded, puzzled.

"It is, but..." Concubine Jiang broke into a sweat, quickly thinking: "According to Yan Chi rules, unless the horse is sick or injured, it can’t be put down. Sister, take Attendant Lady Xi’s stunted horse instead!"

Jiang loved horses and was particularly fond of them.

This Treading Cloud was her beloved horse brought from the Imperial Palace’s stable and had deep emotional ties.

To her suggestion, Shufei didn’t respond directly, merely signaling her eunuch with a glance.

"What are you doing!? Bold! I am the Emperors appointed Concubine Jiang, do not touch my Treading Cloud!"

The eunuchs serving Lady Shufei were formidable, and apart from lacking beards, were no different from standard guards. They worked in tandem; a few restrained the horse’s head while others felled it. Lady Shufei gently tugged her reins, causing her own horse to act up and stride forward to trample Treading Cloud’s hindleg.

"The horse Concubine Jiang was riding startled me; those loyal to their masters shall be rewarded."

"Sadly, this excitable horse injured its hindleg; it wouldn’t have survived either way. Take it back and prepare it for Concubine Jiang’s horse meat banquet."

After Lady Shufei finished, her head eunuch respectfully asked, "How shall the horse meat be prepared, my Lady?"

"I’ve suddenly lost my appetite; leave it for Jiang, she likes this horse," she paused, turning to Yun Jiao: "Would you like some?"

Lady Shufei had a pair of captivating eyes.

Yet, under her gaze, Yun Jiao found herself drenched in cold sweat: "No need for me, thank you for your generosity, Lady."

Lady Shufei departed grandly.

Concubine Jiang wept uncontrollably, her wounded Treading Cloud was drugged into unconsciousness and soon taken by people to the stable. Understanding that a horse with lame legs couldn’t survive, she requested to give Treading Cloud a swift end once she had recovered somewhat.

But that night, she was still served the horse meat banquet she wished for.

Concubine Jiang broke down a second time, reportedly suffering nightmares all night and was only able to board the return carriage the next day with the support of the palace maids.