Chapter 13: Humiliation
Even after stepping out the door, He Yun Sheng couldn't stop replaying He Yan's words in his mind.
"Do you want to go to school, Yun Sheng?"
Of course he did. Schools had scholars to teach literature and masters to train martial arts. He could study alongside boys his own age, and when the time came, whether through civil examinations or military selection, he could carve out a future for himself. Not like now, haphazardly practicing on his own—it was truly dreadful.
Before, their family hadn’t had the money. But now they did, and the long-suppressed desire in He Yun Sheng’s heart slowly began to resurface.
He stole a glance at the girl walking beside him. Since He Yan had recovered from her illness, it seemed everything in their home had improved. No longer stagnant like a lifeless pond, the waters had been stirred by a passing breeze, rippling away the old gloom, replaced by vibrant colors.
It was spring.
Noticing his gaze, He Yan suddenly touched the veil covering her face and warned him again, "Remember, when we see Father later, don’t let anything slip, got it?"
"Got it," He Yun Sheng replied with difficulty.
The training ground was located in a large open area east of the city gates. He Yan had never been there before. After returning from the battlefield to the capital, He Rufei had taken her place, and from then on, she had been excluded from all activities related to the "Flying Goose General." Only once, during an outing as the wife of the Xu family, had she passed by it briefly—back then, she had longed to enter.
The capital’s training ground was vast. Flags fluttered atop the poles, and sometimes officers would gather there for military reviews, making the place even more imposing. But in recent years of peace, the grounds had mostly become a playground for the sons of wealthy families to practice archery and horsemanship. Targets and tracks were set up everywhere, and the weapon racks were filled with an array of arms.
The moment He Yan stepped onto the field, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
She had once owned a sword named Qinglang—indestructible, sharp enough to slice through iron. It had accompanied her through years of battle. When she married into the Xu family, she hadn’t brought it with her, no matter how much she wanted to.
He Yuansheng had told her, "The Xu family is a scholarly household. If you bring a sword, your husband and mother-in-law might disapprove."
Her own father, He Yuanliang, had chimed in with concern, "It’s inauspicious."
So she had left Qinglang at home, instructing her family to take good care of it. Yet, when she returned for her first visit after the wedding, the sword was already hanging from He Rufei’s waist.
When she confronted him, before He Rufei could even speak, He Yuansheng had interjected, "Rufei is the Flying Goose General now. If he doesn’t carry the sword, people will suspect something!"
"Exactly! Besides, you won’t need it anymore anyway," He Yuanliang had added.
The joy of her homecoming had been doused in cold water, chilling her to the bone. It was then that she suddenly realized what marriage truly meant, what surrendering the title of Flying Goose General entailed. From then on, she was the Xu family’s young mistress, the legitimate daughter of the He family’s second branch—expected to tend to her husband and children, to live in harmony with her spouse. The swords, the warhorses, the comrades, the freedom, the merits and victories earned with blood—all of it would be handed over to someone else.
And no one would ever know.
First, it was her Qinglang. Then her warhorse. Then her subordinates. Everything. Decades of toil, all sewn into a bridal gown for another.
She had nothing left.
He Yun Sheng asked, "Hey, what’s wrong? You look terrible."He Yan was startled for a moment before snapping back to reality with a smile. "It's nothing," she said, glancing around. "Why don't I see Father?"
"They seem to be over there," He Yun Sheng pointed toward the track on the other side. "Probably taming horses."
The training ground often acquired new horses, some of which were unruly and needed to be broken in. Nowadays, the rank of the city gate captain was extremely low, and when not patrolling the city, they practically became training partners for noble youths who came to the grounds for archery and riding.
"Let's go over," He Yun Sheng said.
He Yan nodded but suddenly paused, picking up an iron-headed staff from the top of the weapon rack and gripping it firmly.
He Yun Sheng frowned. "What are you doing with that?"
"Just getting a feel for it," He Yan replied. "Let's go."
He Yun Sheng had no retort, and the two walked toward the track near the stables. Before they could get close, they heard a commotion. Looking up, they saw two horses galloping past—one ridden by a young nobleman in fine robes, the other by a burly, dark-skinned man who could be none other than He Sui.
Who was He Sui racing against?
"Young Master is amazing!" A servant watching nearby exclaimed excitedly. "Three rounds, and you've won every time!"
Hmm, already three rounds? He Yan looked over, and her brows furrowed at the sight.
The horse beneath He Sui clearly hadn’t been properly tamed yet—wild and restless, its steps erratic. He Sui was barely managing to stay on, while the nobleman deliberately steered his own horse to collide with He Sui’s. He Yan even saw him whip He Sui’s horse on the rump.
The wild horse bucked violently, nearly throwing He Sui off. He Yun Sheng cried out, "Father!" His heart clenched in fear.
The nobleman, however, burst into laughter.
The race finally ended. He Sui’s horse came to a stop, though it struggled for a while before settling down.
The nobleman had already dismounted with assistance, smugly remarking, "Captain He, your skills are still lacking. Can’t even tame a horse. But this round was better than the last—at least you didn’t get thrown off and kicked twice."
Thrown off? Kicked twice?
He Yan’s gaze sharpened as she took in He Sui’s bruised and battered face, his clothes bearing the imprint of a hoof. He had clearly taken a bad fall. This guy… She couldn’t help but feel furious.
The nobleman tossed out a silver ingot with a grin. "Not bad, not bad. This young master is pleased—consider this your reward."
The silver fell to the ground. Ignoring the onlookers, He Sui bent to pick it up, then thanked him with a chuckle. "Many thanks, Young Master Zhao."
Never having seen his father act so subservient, He Yun Sheng was enraged. "Why are you thanking him? Can’t you see he’s mocking you?"
"Yun Sheng?" Only then did He Sui notice He Yan and his son. "Yan Yan, what are you two doing here?"
"And who’s this brat?" Young Master Zhao asked.
"This is my son, Yun Sheng," He Sui replied with an apologetic smile.
"Oh—" Young Master Zhao drawled. "Your son seems to have quite the attitude toward me."
"Not at all! He’s just young and doesn’t know any better." He Sui pressed down on He Yun Sheng’s head. "Apologize to Young Master Zhao right now.""I won't—" He Yun Sheng struggled. This Young Master Zhao was clearly humiliating He Sui, treating him like a servant to toy with. But why? No matter how low his rank, He Sui was still an official, not a servant of the Zhao family. Why should he endure such disgrace?
He Yun Sheng stiffened his neck, refusing to yield no matter what.
Young Master Zhao watched him, seeming to grow amused. "Alright then. I was originally going to have your father accompany me for another round, but I've changed my mind. You come with me instead, and I'll reward you with a silver ingot." He stretched out his hand, and a servant promptly handed him the silver.
"No!" He Sui was startled at first, then bent forward with an ingratiating smile. "Yun Sheng has never touched a horse before. Let me accompany you for the practice instead."
Though He Sui usually doted more on He Yan, it didn't mean he didn't love his son. This Young Master Zhao was no good man, but He Sui had endured plenty of such humiliations from wealthy young masters before—he could bear a little more. At He Yun Sheng's age, he ought to be looking for a school. And there was also He Yan to consider; he needed to save up for her dowry so she wouldn't be looked down upon by her in-laws after marriage. But he had no other skills—aside from selling his labor, the only way to earn money was to please these young masters.
Yet today, his own children had witnessed his pitiful, groveling state. Shame and sorrow twisted in He Sui's heart.
Yun Sheng, with the fiery pride of youth, couldn't stomach such insults, but he didn’t understand the cruelty of people. If he were to race against Young Master Zhao today with his current physique, he’d be lucky to escape with half his life intact. This horse was a newly arrived, untamed stallion with no owner—never once broken in. Forget racing; merely mounting it would be a feat.
He couldn’t let his son come to harm.
"I'll do it," He Sui said with a forced smile.
"That won’t do," Young Master Zhao shook his head. "I want him."
He Sui's smile froze.
Amid the standoff, a crisp voice suddenly broke the silence.
"How about... I race you instead?"
Everyone turned to look. The girl who had remained silent until now spoke up, and only then did they notice her standing there. She wore a short-sleeved outer robe in pale vermilion with white floral patterns, layered over a long gown and a crimson skirt. Graceful and poised, her face was veiled in white gauze, revealing only a pair of exquisite, smiling eyes.
"And who are you?" Young Master Zhao asked.
"Me?" The girl gave a slight nod. "Just a horse tamer."
(End of Chapter)
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