"I can explain! Listen to me!"
Qiao Yin wasn't sure whether Xie Yuan could hear him, but he still put his hands to his mouth and shouted to him.
"I heard that you had rejected Princess Ning Yao's offer of marriage, so I was timid."
If she admitted that she broke the appointment because of malicious speculation, Xie Yuan might be even more annoyed. She could only say that she had low self-esteem, belittle herself and promote Xie Yu'an at the same time, hoping that he would do the same.
"I have neither a noble status nor outstanding talents. I am not even worthy to carry Princess Ning Yao's shoes. How can I be worthy of the young master of the first family?"
Qiao Yin kept shouting with all her strength. The distant sound of horse hooves came back, and the tense face on the horse became clearer and clearer.
Before Qiao Yin could react, Xie Yuan rushed towards her like a bolt of lightning.
Just when she was about to retreat, a hand reached out.
Without thinking, Qiao Yin reached out her hand almost subconsciously, and then she flew up.
She spun half a circle in the air and landed firmly on the horse.
The strong wind blew against her face and rolled up her long hair and skirt. Qiao Yin felt as if she had grown two wings in an instant and was flying in the wind.
"You were timid, so you went to have fun, and even hired two people who looked like Lu Jinzhi, huh?"
The two rode together, Xie Yuan's hands passed through her waist and held the reins forward, while Qiao Yin seemed to be sitting in his arms, with her back pressed against his chest.
It's obviously such an ambiguous posture, why can't he not speak in such a scary tone?
Qiao Yin smiled and took a mouthful of cold air. "You have really good eyesight."
She didn't notice it for a long time, but he saw through it at a glance.
"Is this admission?"
"What do you admit? It has nothing to do with me. It was all caused by my elder brother. My elder brother saw that I was sad and wanted me to divert my attention."
Qiao Yin put everything on Qiao Mo. Qiao Mo cheated her so badly yesterday, he should be the one to take the blame.
But Xie Yu'an obviously didn't buy it, "Can my brother's civet cat and sword make you happy?"
Not only does Xie Yuan have good eyesight, but his hearing is also second to none.
Qiao Yin could clearly feel the displeasure of the person behind her. She was afraid that Xie Yu'an would knock her off the horse in anger, so she subconsciously grabbed his arm tightly.
"Can you blame me for this? When it comes to this, it's your fault."
Xie Yuan was really going to laugh at Qiao Yin's confident tone, "What's wrong with me?"
Qiao Yin turned to look at him and said seriously: "You are so good-looking and so capable. I didn't expect that your family background is so good. If you were me, you would definitely cry and crawl in the darkness with low self-esteem."
"So, it's my fault that I'm too good and I deserve to be in the rain all day?"
Xie Yu'an coldly exposed her attempt to get through by flattering her.
Qiao Yin was at a loss and apologized obediently: "I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I'm sorry, but can you give me another chance?"
Qiao Yin had an idea, reached out and grabbed his hand holding the reins, turned to look at him, and said eagerly: "Let's go to Xiangguo Temple now and enjoy the flowers."
Somehow, the horse, which was very obedient in Xie Yuan's hands, suddenly neighed, then bucked its back as if trying to throw off the person on its back.
Qiao Yin was startled, let go of the reins, hugged Xie Yuan's arm tightly with both hands, and leaned into his arms.
But Xie Yu'an tightened the reins, reined in the horse first, and put Qiao Yin down without saying a word.
"It rained heavily last night and the sweet-scented osmanthus fell. There are no more flowers to enjoy in Xiangguo Temple."
When Xie Yuan said this, it was obviously a plain statement without any intention of accusation, but Qiao Yin suddenly felt extremely guilty.
"The osmanthus is gone, but there are still plum blossoms in winter and peach blossoms in spring. I owe you once, can I pay you twice?"
Xie Yu'an forgot about his movements and lowered his eyes quietly to look at Qiao Yin's slightly raised face. The hair floating in the breeze seemed to have blown into his heart and scratched his heart gently.
But soon, another question popped up in his mind: She was so familiar, had she ever made such a promise to Lu Jinzhi?
"Huh? How about it, Xie Yu'an?"
Qiao Yin stared at Xie Yuan intently, waiting for his answer.
Xie Yu'an met her gaze with a cold face, touched her thin lips lightly, and asked softly: "Is this fair?"
Qiao Yin was stunned and looked puzzled: "Fair?"
Xie Yu'an didn't answer, but turned around and walked away.
Qiao Yin thought, Xie Yuan's expression had clearly softened just now, why did he fall out again in the blink of an eye?
I guess it was this missed appointment that really pissed him off.
Qiao Yin knew that she was in the wrong, so she didn't dare to argue anymore, so she could only lift up her skirt and follow.
Xie Yu'an rode very slowly, and Qiao Yin quickly ran in front of him. He turned around and put his hands behind his back, while retreating and looking up at him.
"Riding is fun. I want to learn it. General, can you teach me?"
The hands behind his back, the head raised, the adoring gaze, the slightly coquettish tone, all the actions were planned by Qiao Yin. This was something she had verified through the Western New Year, and it was most suitable for her peach-like face.
However, Xie Yu'an was no longer as talkative as before. He had a sullen face and said concisely: "No."
Qiao Yin stretched out her voice and begged: "I can pay you. How about I make you some snacks? In fact, the snacks I make are more delicious than those made by Zhang Ji."
Xie Yuan was unmoved: "I don't like snacks."
"Sweet or salty?"
"Sweet."
Xie Yu'an replied instantly, and after noticing it, he glanced at Qiao Yin angrily. Qiao Yin's smile was brighter than the flowers.
"Teach me, just like you did just now, I guarantee you will learn it in less than two days."
Qiao Yin was still begging, when a voice suddenly came from behind:
"If he doesn't teach you, I will teach you. Give me the snacks."
Qiao Yin turned around and saw a thin young man wearing blue-gray brocade clothes and a jade crown walking towards them.
Qiao Yin was stunned for a moment, then immediately knelt down and said, "I have met His Highness the Crown Prince."
The visitor was none other than Prince Jiang Huailu, whom Qiao Yin had met several times from a distance when she followed Lu Jinzhi.
"The second young lady of the Qiao family, right?" Jiang Huailu had already walked up to the two of them.
Qiao Yin was a little surprised: "His Royal Highness, do you know me?"
The prince and the third prince were mortal enemies, and as Lu Jinzhi was the third prince's cousin, he always kept a distance from the prince. Naturally, Qiao Yin had no connection with the prince.
Jiang Huailu smiled, "Of course, Miss Qiao Er's reputation spreads far and wide, and everyone in the capital knows her."
I understand. To put it bluntly, he, the prince, has also seen her jokes.
Qiao Yin smiled and didn't care.
Xie Yu'an didn't know when he got off his horse and stood in front of her. Whether intentionally or not, he blocked Jiang Huairu's scanning line of sight.
"The prince is here to be a teacher when he has time, so why not go back and practice your equestrian skills first. This autumn hunting, I hope the prince will not embarrass me, the master, again."
"Cough cough cough——"
Jiang Huairu covered his lips and coughed. He didn't know whether it was because of the cold wind or because he was angry at Xie Yu'an's behavior of forgetting his friends.
Qingxuan was indeed right, Xie Yuan fell into despair.
Tsk tsk tsk.
