18 – Racing with the Nine Thousand Years (Revised)
“Hehe.”
Shang Guanqi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Going out on the streets dressed as a woman?
That little fox’s calculations were truly clever.
If she won, she’d get the money; if she lost, she could still go out on the streets—either way, she wouldn’t lose out!
“Alright, let’s compete.”
Shang Guanqi swung onto his horse with fluid grace.
“Wait.” Jiang Lige grabbed his reins.
“Nine Thousand Years, your horsemanship is exceptional. Beating me on horseback wouldn’t be a fair victory. To ensure fairness, I’ll set the rules for the competition.”
Knowing she wasn’t skilled at riding, Shang Guanqi didn’t make things difficult and readily agreed. “Fine.”
Jiang Lige clapped her hands, and Li Fu, Luzhu, and a few eunuchs came out carrying a bundle of bamboo poles.
“Set them up!”
Soon, two rows of bamboo poles were planted on the field, spaced less than a meter apart. At the far end of the field, a silk ball was placed.
“Nine Thousand Years, we’ll each choose a mount, start from here, weave around each bamboo pole without knocking any over, and whoever grabs the silk ball first wins.”
Shang Guanqi glanced at the white jade horse beneath him. The white jade horse was fast, but its back was high and its body long. For weaving around poles like these, a smaller horse would have the advantage.
Her horsemanship was poor, so he’d let her have this advantage to avoid her losing too embarrassingly.
“Fine, let’s begin.” Shang Guanqi tugged the reins, ready to start.
Jiang Lige smiled and summoned Li Fu, who led over a small horse while holding a copper gong.
“Lord of a Thousand Years, the competition begins when the gong sounds.”
“Are you ready?”
“Dang—”
With the sound of the gong, Shang Guanqi spurred his horse forward. The white jade horse hadn’t been trained for weaving around poles, but it cooperated seamlessly with Shang Guanqi. Though the first two poles were tricky, Shang Guanqi quickly mastered the turning points, pulling the reins just right as the white jade horse weaved through smoothly.
He even glanced back at Jiang Lige, who hadn’t mounted her horse but instead blew a sharp whistle toward the sky.
A yellow figure shot out of the stables like lightning.
Jiang Lige blew two short whistles, and the yellow figure sprinted swiftly, weaving through the gaps between the bamboo poles like a streak of yellow light.
Soon, the big yellow dog caught up to Shang Guanqi’s distance and quickly overtook him.
“Woof—”
Dahuang leaped up, snatched the red silk ball in its mouth, and dashed back to Jiang Lige in one breath.
Jiang Lige took the silk ball from its mouth and tossed it a large piece of dried meat.
“Dahuang, you’re amazing!”
The big yellow dog wagged its tail happily, devouring the meat.
Shang Guanqi rode back, and Jiang Lige held up the silk ball. “Nine Thousand Years, I won.”
Wuhuan protested, “That’s cheating!”
Jiang Lige shamelessly replied, “How is this cheating? I only said to choose a mount—I didn’t say it had to be a horse or that you had to ride it. The silk ball is in my hands, so I won.”
Wuhuan was about to argue further, but Shang Guanqi stopped him. “The competition stands. I lost.”
Jiang Lige smiled happily. It was worth staying up all night training with Dahuang, and fortunately, Dahuang was an exceptionally clever dog. She’d definitely reward it properly when they returned.
“Nine Thousand Years, a bet is a bet. I won, so you have to give me a monthly allowance.” Jiang Lige said expectantly.
She had checked the palace regulations in advance. According to rank, the Empress Dowager received two hundred taels per month, and the Empress received one hundred and fifty taels. As the Emperor, she should at least receive the same treatment as the Empress.
“Fine.” Shang Guanqi nodded. “The Emperor’s enthronement is three days short of a full month. I’ll be merciful this once and give you a month’s allowance in advance. How about that?”
“Great, great.”Jiang Lige was filled with joy, stretching out both small hands, waiting to receive the money.
Shang Guanqi smiled, taking a bulging money pouch from Wuhuan.
Jiang Lige’s eyes seemed glued to his hands as he slowly opened the pouch, took out the smallest piece of silver, and placed it in Jiang Lige’s palm.
“The Emperor himself said that your merit is not as great as Wuhuan’s, and your toil is equal to Li Fu’s. In the palace, rewards are distributed according to labor. The Emperor’s monthly allowance is six taels.”
Jiang Lige looked at Shang Guanqi’s sinister face, then at the six taels of silver in his palm.
Shang Guanqi, may you die without descendants and your sons be born without anuses!!