Volume One, Chapter Nine: She Decides to Let Go

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But framing her was useless!
She simply could not endure the hardships of marriage! Not to mention in this ancient era where women’s status was as low as dust, she would never intertwine her fate with that of the woman buried in the grave.

Yet, as Xiao Kaixin said, a child’s yearning for paternal love is innate.

Moreover, she knew her own child’s stubborn temper all too well! If something she believed in didn’t go her way, she could throw a tantrum indefinitely, nonstop for three days and nights.

Just thinking about it was enough to give her a headache!

As her thoughts raced, Yan Weiyu had already decided to lie low.

Aren’t they one wanting to claim the father, and the other eager to be that father?

As long as she wasn’t forced to marry, let them play their game themselves.

Besides, there was one undeniable advantage: if one day Xiao Kaixin’s biological father caught them, having this ‘not-so-biological’ father in front could give her some room to maneuver.

With that in mind, Yan Weiyu no longer felt angry over the chaos her two little “divine beasts” had stirred up.

Having successfully convinced herself, Yan Weiyu crouched down and looked Xiao Kaixin in the eyes solemnly, asking, “If you insist on having a daddy, then from now on you can only live at daddy’s house. You won’t be able to come back with mommy.”

Xiao Kaixin blinked her big, innocent eyes and asked with pure curiosity, “Mommy, where is ‘back’?”

Yan Weiyu was momentarily speechless.

Xiao Kaixin was now three years and eight months old, and they had moved at least a hundred times.

From the northern frontiers to the southern rivers, Xiao Kaixin had practically lived all across the vast realm of Greater Yu.

If asked where their home was, she honestly couldn’t define it.

After all, they were either running away or on the run.

No thoughts, no words; thinking too much only brought tears!

Back then, she only wanted to borrow a seed. Who would have known that man would be so petty as to insist on dragging her back!

The moment Shu Zijun heard that Xiao Kaixin could live at his house, he couldn’t hide his excitement. He scooped Xiao Kaixin up and assured Yan Weiyu, “Miss Yan, rest assured. From now on, I am Xiao Kaixin’s true father. Our whole family will cherish her and never let her suffer even a little.”

Yan Weiyu hid a secret smile and nodded expressionlessly, “Alright then. I have to leave the capital for a while. It’ll be over a month before I return. During this time, Xiao Kaixin is in your care.”

As she spoke, Yan Weiyu took out a small pouch and handed it to Xiao Kaixin, “Here’s the allowance for this month. Keep it yourself. Of course, if you want to give some to your ‘cheap’ father, that’s not forbidden either. After all, it’s costly to raise you.”

A child’s pocket money, in a tiny, light pouch—no one paid it any mind.

Xiao Kaixin casually stuffed it into her pocket and hugged Shu Zijun’s neck, “Daddy, you haven’t taken me to ride a big horse yet.”

Yan Weiyu, about to leave, stopped in her tracks. She glanced at the eager Xiao Kaixin, then at the large black horse nearby, her gaze stern. “Is this the horse you chose?”

She knew this little girl was never easy to please!

She had been holding back from letting her ride, fearing this reckless spirit.

She was only three, not thirty, and had never ridden a horse before—yet she dared to pick an untamed fiery steed right away!

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Xiao Kaixin immediately smiled sweetly, trying to appease, “Mommy, don’t worry. I’m not riding by myself. Daddy will be with me. Please let me try just once, okay?”

Yan Weiyu turned and mounted the big black horse with a nimble leap.

“Be careful!”

“That horse isn’t tamed yet!”

“Too dangerous!”

The crowd gasped in alarm.

Shu Zijun’s hands and feet went cold with fear.

Such a fairy-like beauty—if she fell from the horse…

He couldn’t bear to imagine it.

He put Xiao Kaixin down and was about to rush over.

But Xiao Kaixin, as if foreseeing this, grabbed his sleeve.

Shu Zijun struggled but couldn’t break free.

This little one’s strength was almost unreal.

“Mommy will be fine. She’s very skilled at taming horses,” Xiao Kaixin assured confidently.

Skilled? How skilled could she be?

Everyone scoffed at Xiao Kaixin’s claim.

This was the King of the Grasslands—the wildest, most untamable horse that even the top royal trainers of Greater Yu couldn’t subdue!

Yet in the next moment, everyone was dumbfounded!

The once wild, rebellious horse that would buck everyone off at first sight, after Yan Weiyu gently patted its head and whispered something in its ear, merely lifted a forehoof in acknowledgment and obediently carried Yan Weiyu off at a lively trot.

Yan Weiyu rode a lap, dismounted with a graceful leap, patted the horse’s head gently, and patiently spoke to it, “My daughter wants you to play with her. I’m not comfortable with her riding alone. See that man? His name is Shu Zijun. He will take my daughter riding from now on.”

The black horse snorted, as if agreeing with Yan Weiyu. Then it slowly walked over to Xiao Kaixin and nuzzled her.

“Ticklish—” Xiao Kaixin giggled while dodging.

All the horse trainers were stunned.

Is this the King of the Grasslands?

This is a chestnut horse, isn’t it?

They were the ones getting bucked off.

A great beauty arrives, and it obediently submits?

Shu Zijun was the first to snap back to reality. He turned to the horse trainers and asked, “Is it true that at the royal stables there’s a rule: any horse not tamed by a trainer belongs to whoever tames it?”

The trainers nodded instinctively.

The founder emperor had indeed set such a rule. But this situation had never occurred before—this was the first time a horse that trainers couldn’t tame was tamed by someone.

“Xiao Kaixin, this horse is yours from now on. Happy?” Shu Zijun cautiously reached out to stroke the horse’s head.

“Happy! Very happy!” Xiao Kaixin eagerly tugged on Shu Zijun’s sleeve, “Daddy, take me riding!”

Yan Weiyu saw that her daughter didn’t even spare her a glance and smiled gracefully, turning to leave.

Shu Zijun instinctively glanced back, secretly following her retreating figure.

“Daddy, daddy—”

Xiao Kaixin called several times, but Shu Zijun was still lost in thought.

The little girl, ignored, was unhappy!

She let go of Shu Zijun’s sleeve, walked to the big black horse, and commanded, “Lie down.”

The horse obeyed and lay down.

Xiao Kaixin grabbed its mane, puckered her little bottom, and tried hard to climb onto its back by herself with short, determined steps.

“Miss, wait a moment. I’ll put on the saddle and reins before you ride,” the horse trainer said with a smile.

Shu Zijun snapped back to reality and laughed seeing Xiao Kaixin’s adorable determination. Ignoring a faint, inexplicable sadness in his heart, he stepped forward and lifted her down gently.

Yang Chenghe and a few others watched Xiao Kaixin’s irresistibly cute demeanor and, seeing her mother’s unmatched grace, regretted even more not having taken the little girl with them!

After a few laps around the riding ground, they rested and saw a group of women laughing and chatting as they approached.

Yang Chenghe exchanged a glance with Song Qing. Song Qing immediately turned to Shu Zijun and called out, “Zijun, our little girl’s skin is delicate. It’s her first time riding; she can’t ride for too long. Let’s take a break.”

Shu Zijun pulled the reins to stop the horse. As he turned, he saw five women approaching at the entrance and frowned deeply.

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