Chapter 29 – So Blinding

“Mu Nanjin, this princess has come to help you find your destined match!”

Princess Xueyu ran straight up to Mu Nanjin.

“Miss, I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop her.”

Zhenzhu’s eyes turned red with worry, afraid Mu Nanjin would be angry and dismiss her over this.

“It’s not your fault. You may go.”

Once Zhenzhu withdrew, Mu Nanjin turned to the princess and asked, “Your Highness, what did you just say about finding a match?”

“I already heard that the Tang family is arranging a husband for you,” Princess Xueyu said earnestly. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, I won’t let you marry anyone you don’t want to, and definitely not any crooked melons or cracked dates.”

She thumped her chest in assurance. “I’ll take you to Xiang Yinyuan right now to find someone you like, and who likes you back, and then I’ll ask my royal father to bestow the marriage.”

Mu Nanjin politely declined. “Thank you for your kind intentions, Your Highness, but I’m still recovering from my injuries. I’d rather not go anywhere for now.”

Ancient people had such backward thinking. Once a woman got married, her days were miserable, serving her parents-in-law, often being bullied by her mother-in-law. If she couldn’t bear a son, she’d lose all standing in the household, and even if she could, she’d be forced to keep having children. She’d have to be a fool to willingly marry into that.

Princess Xueyu stomped her foot in frustration. “Your complexion is glowing, and you look full of energy! You don’t look injured at all. You just don’t want to go with me!”

Mu Nanjin thought to herself, “Exactly. You already know, so why bother saying it out loud?”

Princess Xueyu refused to give up. “It’s just a visit. It’s not like I’m asking you to marry someone right away. What are you afraid of? Even if you’re not looking for a match, you can treat it as an outing.”

“An outing?” Mu Nanjin’s eyes lit up. “Where to?”

“I’m hosting a flower-viewing festival in Baodian Lake,” Princess Xueyu said proudly. “I’ve invited the young ladies from various noble families and the talented young gentlemen of the capital to appreciate flowers and enjoy a boat ride. Oh, and I’ve also invited all the top courtesans in the capital to entertain the guests. I promise you’ll have so much fun you won’t want to leave.”

“In that case, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

Mu Nanjin jumped up immediately, grabbing the princess’s hand to pull her toward the door.

Princess Xueyu quickly stopped her. “Wait, wait! I have something for you first.”

“What is it?”

“A gift from Father Emperor.”

She clapped her hands, and ten guards entered, each carrying a tray draped with red cloth.

Mu Nanjin frowned, puzzled. “Didn’t His Majesty already reward me?”

Just the day after they had returned from Jingtuo Temple, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had already sent plenty of gifts.

“This reward is for your horse.”

Princess Xueyu clapped again, and the guards lifted the red cloth, revealing an array of horse gear: saddles, saddle pads, bridles, bits, reins, stirrups, girths, breastplates, browbands, nosebands, leg guards, wraps, padding, hoof bowls, horse earrings, muzzles, tail guards, everything imaginable for a horse.

And every single item was made of solid gold, gleaming blindingly under the sunlight.

“Wow… my eyes!”

Mu Nanjin quickly turned her head away from the dazzling sight.

“There’s more.”

Princess Xueyu took out an imperial edict and handed it to her. “This is a decree from Father Emperor. He’s conferring your horse the title of First Rank Horse King. I can’t be bothered to read it aloud, so here, see for yourself.”

Mu Nanjin blinked. “A horse has ranks now? Do I need to bring it to court too?”

An image popped into her mind, a horse solemnly attending morning court among officials. The thought was so absurdly funny that she almost burst out laughing.

Princess Xueyu rolled her eyes. “Of course not! It just means that from now on, anyone who dares to harm or disrespect your horse will be executed.”

“Well, that’s actually kind of useful.”

Mu Nanjin opened the edict, skimmed through it, then rolled it back up. She instructed the butler to lead the guards to the back courtyard to outfit Heitan with the new gear.

“Can we go now?” she asked.

“Mm-hmm.”

Together, Mu Nanjin and Princess Xueyu stepped outside, only to find the streets had changed drastically.