Chapter 24: The Princess Demon King's Daily Life of Slacking Off Chapter 24: Horse Riding

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Only hearing Yan Wang reply, "Because Father's horse sees Yue Ying, I hope my horse can one day catch up to Yue Ying, run as fast as Yue Ying, be just as formidable, and I too want to catch up to Father, be just as formidable as Father, just as capable of protecting home and defending the country." Upon hearing these words, Yue Yi secretly felt admiration for Yan Wang, that respect like a clear spring flowing in his heart, instantly giving Yan Wang a sturdy thumbs-up in his mind. As for An Wang, his son, usually taciturn, had actually spoken so many words, and his speech showed such sensibility and good behavior, causing An Wang to feel an indescribable sense of comfort in his heart, as if a warm current was slowly surging in his chest.

At this moment, Qianqian's tender voice sounded, as if she had also understood what everyone was saying, and she called out crisply: "Protect home and defend the country just like Father!" Hearing this, An Wang revealed a gentle smile on his face, he gently stroked Qianqian's little head, and said: "Protecting home and defending the country, leave it to the boys to do." Unexpectedly, Qianqian stubbornly replied: "No, girls can do it too!" An Wang did not take her words to heart, merely thinking children speak without restraint, so he did not continue to investigate further, nor say anything more.

Immediately after, An Wang carefully picked up Qianqian, lightly leapt onto the fine horse named "Yue Ying," and with a soft cry, the horse spread its four hooves and galloped across the entire spacious riding ground. Qianqian sat in An Wang's embrace, her little face flushed red with excitement, her eyes sparkling with light, listening to the whistling wind by her ears, not only without the slightest fear, but feeling extremely thrilled, that excitement as brilliant as flowers blooming in spring.

An Wang took Qianqian to gallop around the riding ground for a full circle, and when he stopped and put Qianqian down, Qianqian's little legs suddenly felt somewhat weak, almost unable to stand steadily. Seeing this, An Wang hurriedly said softly: "Don't rush, take it slow." Afterwards, he picked up Yan Wang as well, and similarly rode Yue Ying around the field for a circle. This circle came with greater speed and stronger thrill, undoubtedly further firming Yan Wang's resolve to ride a horse to protect home and defend the country, a blazing flame ignited in his heart, as if to illuminate the whole world.

After Yan Wang also got down from the horse, An Wang walked to the two with a smile, asking concernedly: "How do you feel?" Yan Wang's eyes flashed with determined light, and he loudly replied: "Father, I must learn to ride a horse." And Qianqian also said in a childish voice: "Thrilling and fun, Father, Qianqian wants to ride a horse." An Wang looked at the two before him with a gentle smile, quietly watching them. He lightly reached out, picked up Yan Wang, and steadily placed him on the horse's back named Zhui Ying. Afterwards, he himself took hold of the pitch-black, glossy reins, feeling the strength transmitted in his hand.

At first, Yan Wang was like a frightened little deer, his eyes full of fear, tightly gripping the reins, his whole body almost completely lying on the horse's back, as if afraid he would fall from this unfamiliar horse's back. Seeing this, An Wang felt a trace of pity in his heart, he softly said to Yan Wang: "Don't be afraid, I'm here, relax a little." While speaking, he soothed Yan Wang with a gentle voice, and constantly encouraged him to sit up straight.

Listening to An Wang's words, Yan Wang's heart gradually calmed down. He took a deep breath, did some mental preparation, then slowly sat up straight. He carefully pressed his feet hard into the stirrups, tightly gripping the reins with both hands, as if grasping the last life-saving straw.

Seeing Yan Wang was seated properly, An Wang revealed a satisfied smile on his face, and asked concernedly: "Seated properly?" Yan Wang nodded firmly, replying: "Seated properly." An Wang then said: "Then let's go." Yan Wang answered with an "en," indicating he was ready.

An Wang gently led the horse, the horse seemed to also feel its master's mood, and slowly began to move. Every step it took was very slow, as if giving Yan Wang time to adapt. And Yan Wang sat on the horse's back, but his body couldn't help swaying left and right, appearing somewhat uneasy.

An Wang noticed Yan Wang's condition, and hurriedly said: "Sit properly, don't be shaken off." Although Yan Wang did not speak, he clearly felt his body's swaying had become much smaller, he tried his best to keep his balance, moving forward with the horse's steps.

Just like that, they walked half the distance of the riding ground, Yan Wang gradually found the feeling, no longer swaying back and forth like at the beginning. His eyes also gained a bit of confidence and composure, as if he had already overcome the fear in his heart. Watching Yan Wang's change, An Wang secretly felt relieved in his heart, he knew this child was slowly growing and improving. An Wang sped up, and it no longer swayed, but An Wang still held a trace of apprehension and dared not easily let go, after all this was the first time riding a horse, examples of carelessly falling from that tall big horse were not rare, many people had been badly trampled by that temperamental horse just like that, so An Wang carefully led the horse, slowly circling the huge riding ground again and again. He was thinking wholeheartedly that today he would just let the child first learn to sit steadily on the horse's back, and next time gradually guide him to try driving the horse himself.

On the other hand, the clever and quick-witted Qianqian was basking in the radiance of Yue Yi's careful instruction, like a well-behaved little princess, finally sitting steadily on the bumpy horse's back. Then, under Yue Yi's tight hold on the horse rope, she happily circled the riding ground again and again, her face beaming with a satisfied smile.

In the following precious time, Qianqian and Yan Wang were like a pair of happy little birds, fully enjoying the endless fun brought by horseback riding. For them, who were contacting the sport of horseback riding for the first time, this was undoubtedly an extremely novel and thrilling experience, that feeling as if the whole world was galloping under their feet. Especially little Qianqian, the excitement in her heart simply could not be suppressed, she had long been impatient to fly back to the Shangshufang and tell Ai Jiao and Qi Xi all about her wonderful horseback riding experience in one breath, that pride and excitement were evident, really very interesting.

By noon, the sun hung high in the sky, like a scorching fireball emitting dazzling light. The two stood in the riding ground at this moment, both showing a trace of reluctance in their eyes, as if that world accompanied by horses had endless magic, tightly attracting their hearts. They slowly moved their steps, looking back at every step, their hearts full of attachment to this riding ground. An Wang turned his head and asked: "Yue Yi will lead the two horses to the Wangfu in a while, it's not early, what do you want to eat?"

Qianqian, upon hearing this, instantly became excited, her bright eyes flashing with light, like the most brilliant stars in the night sky. She shouted loudly: "I want to eat Beggar's Chicken~" Hearing this, An Wang had a trace of doubt in his eyes, he furrowed his brows, and curiously asked: "What is that?"

Yue Yi then patiently explained to An Wang: "Recently in Jingcheng, a new Jiu Lou opened, named Zui Xian Lou. This Jiu Lou was instantly packed upon opening, becoming a hot topic of discussion among the people of Jingcheng. Among them, a dish called Beggar's Chicken is even more famous far and wide, extremely popular. It is said that everyone who has eaten it cannot stop praising it, all exclaiming that the meat is extremely soft and tender, as if it would melt in the mouth with a light touch; the juice is abundant as if about to overflow, every bite can feel the rich fragrance spreading on the tip of the tongue; the melt-in-the-mouth texture makes one intoxicated, just a light sip, and the bones will easily separate from the chicken meat, simply indescribably wonderful. Moreover, this Zui Xian Lou has been open for ten days and half a month, but its popularity has not diminished at all, every day a large number of diners come to taste this delicious Beggar's Chicken."

After listening to Yue Yi's introduction, An Wang nodded thoughtfully, then said: "Alright, since that's the case, let's go to Zui Xian Lou." Yue Yi immediately instructed the coachman to drive towards the direction of Zui Xian Lou, while Qianqian had long been impatiently spinning in place, her heart full of longing for that Beggar's Chicken, as if that Beggar's Chicken was already placed before her, emitting an enticing fragrance, waiting for her to taste it.