Chapter 6: Riding the White Horse, Marrying Away

Chapter 6: Riding a White Horse to Get Married

Ning Xishi subconsciously flipped through the booklet in his hand.

A single glance through the gap under the red veil was enough to make his ears burn. He flung the booklet away in a flash.

So fast the matchmaker didn't even see him move.

Ning Xishi's heart raced as he cursed inwardly: These ancient people—sure, they lived in a feudal era, but their attitudes toward men and women, and even men with men, were surprisingly open-minded.

Right then, his mother arrived. The moment she entered, she wailed, "My boy!"

Her voice choked with sobs, and Ning Xishi had no time to think about the booklet, leaving his heart filled with nothing but sorrow.

In the seventeen years he'd been in this world, his mother had been the kindest to him, caring for him with the utmost attention. Now that he was leaving home, who knew if he'd ever make it back alive to see her again...

Ning Xishi was choked with emotion, tears welling in his eyes.

He suddenly rose, stepped around the chair, and knelt before Qin Rong. He kowtowed three times, each thud heavy.

His action nearly broke Qin Rong's heart, which was already heavy with grief. No one knew better than she did how precious and spoiled her youngest son was.

Even during the annual ancestral rites, her youngest would slack off whenever possible, half-assing it and going through the motions. Kowtowing that hard must have hurt Xi'er terribly.

"My boy..." Qin Rong's legs nearly gave out, and she had to be supported by the maidservant behind her. She could only watch as the matchmaker handed a red silk cord to Xi'er, then led him away from the small courtyard he'd lived in for over a decade.

"Xi'er, my boy!" Qin Rong saw his figure about to disappear behind the flower bushes and tried to chase after him, but the older women in the room held her back.

"Madam, it's the custom. We can only accompany him this far."

"Yes, Madam, don't cry yourself sick."

"In three days, the Second Young Master will come back for the visit. You'll need to host him properly then."

Qin Rong sat in the chair Xi'er had just been sitting in, tears streaming endlessly.

·

Ning Xishi held the red silk knot flower, refusing the matchmaker's help.

The matchmaker tried to say something, but Ning Xishi said, "This is my home. I know it better than you. Even blindfolded, I won't stumble."

The matchmaker had no choice but to lead the way without another word.

As they passed the main courtyard, Wang Meng showed up again like a persistent ghost, whispering in Ning Xishi's ear, "Second Young Master Ning, I want you to remember this humiliation for the rest of your life."

Ning Xishi hadn't wanted to argue with him earlier when he'd had a knife at his throat. But now, with the spirit wall in sight and the general's wedding party just on the other side, he wasn't afraid anymore.

Ning Xishi suddenly tore off the veil, revealing eyes still wet with tears—no panic, no humiliation, only a young man's fury.

Before anyone could react, Ning Xishi murmured to Wang Meng, "Wang Meng, you've been played. Go find Wang Liniang—she'll tell you everything."

With that, Ning Xishi ignored Wang Meng's shocked and suspicious gaze, didn't bother with the fallen veil, and strode out the main gate.

At the entrance, Ning Xishi saw his eldest brother, whom he hadn't seen since the coming-of-age ceremony.

Ning Lanzhi had gotten thinner, his gaze far sharper than before. If looks could kill, every person from the general's estate would have been dead a thousand times over.

He was clearly startled for a moment upon seeing Ning Xishi in a dress, but quickly hid his surprise, stepping forward to pat Ning Xishi's shoulder.

"Don't worry. Your big brother's got your back."

Ning Xishi suddenly recalled the eldest brother from the original novel—the one who would take on the whole world to avenge his younger brother.

This Ning Lanzhi really was starting to look like that character now.

But actually... Ning Xishi had always been a little scared of his eldest brother. Because his brother was the type to smack his palms with a ruler when he didn't study properly.

Last year, when Ning Xishi got into trouble and was nearly expelled from the Imperial Academy, Ning Lanzhi—the academy's star alumnus—learned what happened and gave Ning Xishi thirty smacks on the palms.

Their parents had watched, hearts aching, and tried again and again to persuade their eldest son to stop.

But faced with Ning Lanzhi's disapproving glare, they dared not intervene.

Just then, Ning Xishi remembered that the original novel had mentioned Ning Lanzhi saying "Don't worry. Your big brother's got your back" on the day of Ning Xishi's 'marriage.' But what was the original Ning Xishi's response?

The original Ning Xishi had said: "Big brother, I'm so scared. Please, save me. Marry that cripple for me. Big brother, I'm begging you."

Ning Xishi suddenly smiled at Ning Lanzhi. Even with tears still in his eyes, the smile was exactly like the fearless, troublemaking rascal he'd always been.

"Big brother, don't worry about me. I'm going to the general's estate to run the household, not to sell myself as a laborer. What's there to fear?"

Wang Meng had been stunned by Ning Xishi's earlier words and only now shook himself out of his daze, chasing after them. When he heard Ning Xishi's remark, a cool breeze happened to blow by, and this stubborn soldier suddenly calmed down.

Ning Xishi glanced back at Wang Meng—calm and unreadable—then, as he looked away, let a hint of disdain show.

This made Wang Meng so furious his whole body shook, almost convinced Ning Xishi had been toying with him.

But Ning Xishi had already turned to the general's party and asked, "Since this is the general's estate coming to fetch a bride, wouldn't riding in a sedan chair be beneath the estate's dignity? How about letting me ride a horse instead?"

The estate steward instinctively opened his mouth to refuse, but then noticed that no one from the Ning family was objecting—especially Wang Meng, who said nothing.

The quick-witted steward immediately brought forward the pure white steed leading the procession.

"Of course. This is a Flying Cloud divine horse that the general tamed some days ago—one of the betrothal gifts for the Second Young Master. Please, mount up." The steward's words were flawless, granting Ning Xishi's request while explaining the horse's origin, leaving everyone satisfied.

Even Ning Lanzhi's expression softened slightly, though looking at his brother in that dress still pained him.

His naive, carefree brother—who only knew how to raise hawks and play with birds—had been full of childish energy just a while ago. Now he was going to be someone's wife, managing another household's affairs.

Ning Xishi clasped his fists in farewell to his family, then swung onto the horse.

Fortunately, the wide skirt didn't hinder his movements at all.

An expert sees the craft, a layman only the show. The estate steward, noting Ning Xishi's practiced mounting and his complete lack of fear toward the tall horse, began to feel some respect for this soon-to-be master of the household.

From atop the horse, Ning Xishi turned back to look at the Ministry of Rites' gate, clasped his fists and bowed once more, then took up the reins and urged, "Hyah!" The white steed broke into a trot.

Ning Lanzhi didn't know why, but his heart was pounding violently, as if something terrible would happen once his brother left.

"Second brother!" Ning Lanzhi called out involuntarily, but his voice was soft—only Wang Meng beside him heard it.

Only after the last dowry cart of the wedding procession left the Ministry's gate did Ning Lanzhi turn to Wang Meng, his courtesy as impeccable as ever, but his eyes utterly cold.

"My second brother has gone to the general's estate. Your task as Chiliarch should be complete. This humble home has little to offer, so I won't keep you."

It was a clear dismissal.

Wang Meng, preoccupied with Ning Xishi's words, felt restless waves stirring in his heart. He had no desire to linger either. After clasping his fists in salute, he hurriedly withdrew from the Ministry.

Ning Xishi rode ahead on horseback, listening to the orderly footsteps of the soldiers from the General's Mansion as they carried the luggage behind him. He thought to himself, these are truly elite troops, well-trained and disciplined.

If he were to truly do something to wrong their general, these people would surely tear him limb from limb.

He must not repeat the fate of a thousand cuts as in the original story.

Ning Xishi thought, whether in his past life or this one, he'd never liked any girl.

Now, to save his life and be forced to marry a man, he might as well think of it as becoming a monk, living a life of celibacy forever.

The other party was a general, though he had fallen from his horse in the most recent battle and lost the use of both legs, he still stood at the very top of the power structure. He probably wouldn't give a useless playboy like him a second thought.

Even if the rumors that General Xie Jingxing was into men were true, Ning Xishi was self-aware enough to know the general would never take a liking to him.

Therefore, as long as he didn't stir up trouble, he wouldn't set off the events of the original story.

Besides, Wang Meng, who wanted him dead the most, had been mostly pacified. All that was needed was for Wang Liniang to come forward and explain, and everything would be cleared up.

At that point, even if he couldn't get Wang Meng to come and apologize, just having the man stop wanting to kill him would be enough for Ning Xishi.

After all, it was the Emperor who had recruited Wang Meng, and the situation was too complicated. Ning Xishi had no desire to wade into that mess.

Ning Xishi's horse wasn't moving particularly fast, but since he wasn't in a sedan chair, he still arrived at the gates of the General's Mansion fifteen minutes earlier than expected.

As he rounded the corner, Ning Xishi saw the mansion gates decked out with lanterns and banners, with a huge crowd gathered at the entrance—a hundred times more lively than the Minister's residence.

Someone shouted first: "He's coming, he's arrived."

"Hurry, set off the firecrackers."

"That's our mansion's horse, no doubt. Quick, set off the firecrackers."

The celebratory bang of firecrackers couldn't drown out the noise of the crowd. The place was buzzing with excitement, and only now did Ning Xishi truly feel like he was getting married.

Seated atop the tall horse with an unobstructed view, he raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping down from the top of the gate—and it happened to collide with a pair of eyes as deep and calm as a still lake.

The man wore a crimson brocade robe, a purple-gold jade crown upon his head, with handsome, well-defined features and a high-bridged nose. He sat in a grand armchair, sunlight streaming down from beneath the plaque, falling just below his nose, making him appear all the more dignified and imposing.

—So this was General Xie Jingxing?

Ning Xishi froze for a moment. He had imagined soldiers and generals to look like Wang Meng—broad-shouldered and burly.

He never expected this general to be so striking in appearance and extraordinary in bearing.

Well, at least talking to a face like that was far better than facing Wang Meng's.

Xie Jingxing was actually far more shocked than Ning Xishi, but since people rarely dared to look him directly in the eye, he appeared composed and awe-inspiring.

He had never imagined that the handsome young man from the painting would burst into his sight so unexpectedly, in such a manner.

Truly, a young man in fine clothes riding a spirited steed.

==========Author's Note:==========

Good night.