Chapter 889: Side Story: Xia Hongming and Tang Huaixiao
8
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
As soon as the ruler hit the child, the child’s delicate palm immediately turned red. The boy cried, “You demoness, you’re hurting my hand. I’m going to tell Mother. Boohoo…”4
After being hit by Tang Huaixiao, the prince immediately threw away his bow and ran away.
The other princes and princesses were sizing up Tang Huaixiao.
Tang Huaixiao was wearing a mask. No one could see her expression. She bent down and picked up the bow.
Her strictness would never change because of a child who could not take hardship.
She walked to the next prince with a stern gaze and said in a low voice, “Keep your lower body stable.”
Hearing her cold voice, the princes and princesses were nervous. The eldest was already sensible and knew how to suppress her emotions. The two youngest princesses already had tears in their eyes.
Not long after, they threw away their bows and arrows and ran away in tears. The palace servants hurriedly chased after them to comfort them.
Tang Huaixiao vaguely heard that they were going back to complain to their mother.
There were not many students in the imperial school. When the last prince left school, Tang Huaixiao put away all the bows and arrows.
Of the other three women, one who taught saber techniques was called Xiang Hong, one who taught sword techniques was called Wang Xinlan, and the other who taught whip techniques was called Tong Xia. They were all not young. Speaking of which, Tang Huaixiao was the youngest, although she was already in her thirties.
The few of them packed their teaching materials.
Tong Xia said to Tang Huaixiao, “If you’re too strict, you’ll be in trouble.”
These princes and princesses only learned this for fun. To put it bluntly, they were just going through the motions. It did not matter if they could master archery or not.
Tang Huaixiao was too rigid and even hit the princes. She would probably offend all the women in the harem.
They were called heroines by the commoners and were nothing like the women in the harem. Tong Xia believed that Tang Huaixiao was the same, but she was not flexible.
Tang Huaixiao casually picked up a bow and shot an arrow. The arrow flew through the air and steadily pierced through the bullseye. She said calmly, “If they don’t really want to learn, why did they come?”
Xiang Hong, who was wielding the saber, smiled. “Sister Tang, you’re being too serious. Look at us. Our hands are like tree bark. All the children in my family who used a saber since they were young have calluses on their hands. Look at the people in the palace. They’re all soft-skinned. How is it possible for them to train like us?”
Xiang Hong made a beautiful saber move, and every move was filled with power.
After sending the princes off, the four of them would have free time, so they began to practice.
Wang Xinlan did not speak. Her sword technique was strange. After practicing a set of sword techniques, she said, “I heard that there’s a person with superb swordsmanship in the capital. I’ve decided to challenge him and see if his swordsmanship is better than mine.”
Staying in the palace was boring and a waste of time for them.
Therefore, after school, they would ask around to see who was good at martial arts.
Tang Huaixiao went to hold the reins of the horse. “I’m going to hunt.”
Seeing that Tang Huaixiao was not angry with the princes’ behavior, they nodded and let her go.
Tang Huaixiao rode the horse. After passing through many checkpoints, she took the reins from the eunuch. “Alright, go back yourself. I’ll come back after hunting.”
The eunuch straightened his back and let out a long sigh.
Tang Huaixiao frowned and realized that something was wrong.
Xia Hongming exhaled and said with a smile, “It seems that I disguised myself well. Even you couldn’t recognize me.”
He had been paying attention to Tang Huaixiao at all times. Since Tang Huaixiao was going to hunt, he naturally had to go too. However, he was the emperor, so he couldn’t leave the palace casually.
Xia Hongming pretended to be an eunuch and helped lead Tang Huaixiao’s horse out of the palace gate. While doing this, Xia Hongming felt his heart beat faster and his blood boil.
When Tang Huaixiao realized that it was Xia Hongming, she said expressionlessly, “Let’s go.”
Since he was suffering because of her, he might get better after interacting with her more.
Tang Huaixiao’s coldness made Xia Hongming a little disappointed. However, unknowingly, his desire to win had been aroused by Tang Huaixiao. He wanted to conquer Tang Huaixiao, so he clenched his fists and followed.
There was a mountain forest in the suburbs. For safety, Tang Huaixiao did not intend to go deep into the mountains. After tying the horse up, she walked into the forest with Xia Hongming.
Xia Hongming looked at her in a daze.
Tang Huaixiao’s vision was very good. She locked onto a rabbit and took out an arrow before shooting it. Xia Hongming saw the arrow piercing through the neck of a black rabbit. The rabbit was still kicking, but it was useless.
Xia Hongming praised sincerely, “Your archery is really good.”
Tang Huaixiao replied coldly, “I’ve trained since 1 was young.”
Xia Hongming was delighted that Tang Huaixiao was willing to talk to him. He went to pick up the rabbit. “Let’s eat this rabbit tonight. What flavor do you like? I’ll get the imperial kitchen to make it.”
Tang Huaixiao said coldly, “Whatever.”
Holding the rabbit, Xia Hongming was in a good mood.
Tang Huaixiao caught another pheasant and picked it up. Xia Hongming continued to praise her.
Tang Huaixiao looked up. There was a bird’s nest on the tree. The tree was very tall. Xia Hongming wondered if she was going up the tree.
As expected, in the next second, Tang Huaixiao reached out to hug the tree and quickly climbed up.
Not long after, Tang Huaixiao came down with a few wild eggs.
After a good harvest, Tang Huaixiao decided to leave.
Xia Hongming looked at the horse and couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Tang, there’s only one horse. How can we go back?”
Xia Hongming looked away from Tang Huaixiao and lowered his head to look at his toes. “I’m a little tired.”
If they could ride the same horse, how romantic would that be?
Tang Huaixiao got on the horse and hung the pheasant and rabbit on both sides. She put a few wild eggs in her sleeve. Tang Huaixiao reached out and picked Xia Hongming up. Before Xia Hongming could speak, she clamped the horse’s stomach and whipped it..