Explaining the meaning behind the title of the chapter 骑龙 is a bit tricky. On one hand, it’s an allusion to the death of the emperor (Chinese google can explain it better than I can), and on the other, it implies the idea of having an ambitious or audacious goal, similar to how riding a dragon would require great courage and boldness. After reading the chapter, you’ll see that it’s a bit of both (Feng Luan was dying inside only though, LOL). Happy reading!
The next day, after Feng Luan finished his morning court session, he dispatched a young eunuch to accompany Ye Yang to the military training grounds where the Imperial Guards usually practiced their horsemanship. Meanwhile, Feng Luan himself waited within the training grounds.
On regular days, the Imperial Guards trained here. However, as Feng Luan needed to temporarily use this training ground, Shen Shaoheng adjusted the training schedule for the Imperial Guards. He personally waited at the training ground, anticipating any unforeseen circumstances.
Today, Ye Yang still felt some soreness and fatigue in his body, but it was much better than yesterday. With Feng Luan’s favorability score remaining at only 20 points, he didn’t dare casually reject Feng Luan’s proposal. Adopting an attitude of doing his best, he followed Feng Luan to the area outside the training ground. He thought that, since it was his first day learning to ride a horse, it shouldn’t be too hard and there was no reason to be scared.
Feng Luan had changed into riding attire and was waiting for him at the edge of the training ground. It was the first time Ye Yang had seen him dressed so neatly. The dog emperor, who usually wore wide robes and sleeves, now appeared in a more streamlined outfit. The fitted sleeves and cinched waist highlighted his handsome features and slender figure. On the other hand, Ye Yang, not being someone inclined towards wielding weapons, searched through his belongings and managed to find a less elaborate outfit that was more suitable for the occasion.
Feng Luan looked at his attire and couldn’t help but furrow his brow. He led Ye Yang to the side of the horses and then spoke, “Do you know that the autumn hunt is scheduled for next month?”
Ye Yang shook his head, “I don’t.”
“Following tradition, the upcoming autumn hunt will involve the participation of all the imperial concubines,” Feng Luan’s brow furrowed thoughtfully. “While zhen doesn’t anticipate you’ll be mounted and engaged in hunting, it would be fitting to have attire appropriate for the event.”
Leaning forward, Ye Yang nodded earnestly, “Indeed, Your Majesty. Tomorrow, I will have my parents send over a few pieces of clothing to the palace. Don’t worry, even if it’s for the autumn hunt, with such attire, I might even be able to take down a tiger for you.”
Feng Luan, “……”
Feng Luan turned around and addressed Kang Ning. “Kang Ning, later on, have someone prepare a hunting outfit for Yun shijun.”
Kang Ning promptly received the command, and then Feng Luan turned his attention back to Ye Yang. He spoke, “Considering your current status within the palace, there is no need for your parents to provide you with clothing.”
Ye Yang hesitated for a moment and then asked in return, “Why not?”
Feng Luan raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “Wouldn’t that lead to mockery of zhen if it became known?”
Ye Yang, “……Male chauvinism is not admirable.”
Feng Luan didn’t quite understand his statement, but he didn’t delve into it either. After all, Ye Yang often spoke incoherently. He simply had someone bring a horse over and proceeded to instruct Ye Yang on how to mount it.
As per Ye Yang’s prior exposure to equestrian scenes in movies and shows, the act of mounting a horse seemed to involve stepping onto the stirrup and effortlessly propelling oneself onto the horse, radiating an air of confidence. Yet, once faced with the reality of the situation, things unfolded quite differently from his envisioned scenario.
Ye Yang’s physical strength was too weak. He followed the key movements that Feng Luan had mentioned and tried to flip himself upwards. However, when he was halfway in the air, he nearly lost his balance and almost fell. Fortunately, Feng Luan was right behind him and quickly reached out to support him. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Yang then—
Sat on Feng Luan’s shoulder.
Feng Luan, “……”
Ye Yang, “……”
The air seemed to freeze, and an awkward stillness settled in the surroundings. The only sound was the horses swishing their tails and releasing puffs of hot breath. Ye Yang found himself immobilized, uncertain of how to shatter the suffocating silence. He figured that no matter what he said right now, it might only lead to Feng Luan’s decreasing favorability score. He chose to remain silent, hoping Feng Luan would speak first. As they stood in this deadlock, it was Shen Shaoheng who eventually burst into laughter, unable to contain himself any longer.
Kang Ning practically lunged forward almost immediately, trying to put a stop to Shen Shaoheng’s audacious behavior of disregarding the emperor. Ye Yang sensed that Shen Shaoheng’s laughter had, to some extent, managed to break the ice of the awkward moment. He should make the most of this opportunity!
Ye Yang glanced to the side and lowered his head, mustering a faint smile at Feng Luan. He raised his thumb and said, “Your…… Your Majesty…… caught me just in time.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Mfcu Oejc, “……”
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has decreased by 1, current favorability score is 19」
It… It can’t be.
Xlnfc atf meggfca fzafca bo atlr fwyjggjrrlcu rlaejalbc, tbk mbeiv tf rjs remt j atlcu!
Tf Tjcu abbx j vffq ygfjat jcv yfujc cfgnberis, “Tbeg…… Tbeg Zjpfras, ktja j ragbcu qtsrldef! Ktlr tjr ab yf ogbw gfueijg fzfgmlrlcu……”
Rb wjaafg tbk vfilmjaf Tf Tjcu wjs yf, tf’r ralii j wjc. Jbcrlvfglcu tlr yjrlm kfluta, atf ojma atja Mfcu Oejc mbeiv jmaejiis mjggs tlw jcv rajcv tfgf obg rb ibcu kjr delaf lwqgfrrlnf. Pa rffwfv atja atlr vbu fwqfgbg kjr mjqjyif lc wjcs batfg jrqfmar.
He thought his flattery had hit the mark, but to his surprise, as soon as he finished uttering those words, Feng Luan’s favorability score underwent another shift.
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has decreased by 1, current favorability score is 18」
Ye Yang, “……”
Ye Yang felt flustered.
He really didn’t know what to do. After struggling for a while, he looked at Feng Luan with a pitiful expression and finally gave in, saying, “Can you let me down? My butt is getting sore.”
Feng Luan , “……”
There were no more decreasing favorability points flashing on his body this time. With one hand supporting Ye Yang’s waist, Feng Luan gently placed him back on the ground. His expression remained cold and indifferent, seemingly displeased by Ye Yang’s previous words. He continued to remain silent, and Ye Yang nervously looked up, ready to say something to please him. However, he suddenly noticed that Feng Luan was struggling to conceal his slightly faster breathing. Upon closer observation, it seemed like the emperor’s hands were trembling ever so slightly.
Ye Yang, “……”
If you can’t do it, then just don’t. Wouldn’t it have been better to let him down earlier…..
Stubbornly holding onto one’s pride like this, look at what it had led to—suffering!
To protect Feng Luan’s pride, Ye Yang had to pretend he hadn’t noticed anything. He stood awkwardly beside Feng Luan, observing Shen Shaoheng’s efforts to suppress his laughter, his feelings a complex blend of emotions.
After a moment, Feng Luan took a deep breath.
“Zhen shall help you up,” Feng Luan thought for a moment, then added, “On the day of the autumn hunt, you should just stay behind with the others and watch.”
Ye Yang, “……”
Ye Yang felt a bit dissatisfied.
He disliked it the most when others said he couldn’t do something. Right now, he hadn’t even attempted it yet, but Feng Luan seemed to have already determined the outcome. And if according to Feng Luan, the autumn hunt was at least a month away, wasn’t it just about riding horses? He didn’t believe he couldn’t learn in this timeframe.
He didn’t want to say much to Feng Luan either. When Feng Luan mentioned helping him onto the horse, he used Feng Luan’s hand to climb onto the horse’s back. The horse he chose had a gentle temperament and didn’t move without commands. Once he was settled, with Shen Shaoheng leading the horse from the front, he straightened his back and tried to control the horse by himself, following the many pointers Feng Luan had given him.
After all, he had some talent, and the horse was quite responsive. He soon managed to control the horse’s pace, with Feng Luan trailing behind on horseback to prevent any accidents. While Feng Luan seemed composed, Ye Yang was quickly starting to have a hard time.
He still struggled with his physical stamina.
Yun Yang’s body was truly too weak. He hadn’t been on the horse for long before his back began to ache and the saddle caused his legs to hurt. It seemed that if he wanted to learn how to ride a horse…… it was time to arrange for some long runs in the Imperial Garden.
He planned his future exercise routine while on horseback, and after riding around in circles for a while, Feng Luan was quite surprised. He didn’t expect Ye Yang to endure for so long. After waiting for a while, he finally spoke up, “Shall we take a break for a moment?”
As the onset of autumn approached, the weather remained rather warm. Beads of perspiration had formed on Ye Yang’s brow, prompting the desire for water. He acknowledged the idea with a nod, and dismounted with Feng Luan’s assistance, almost being half-carried in the process. Once his feet made contact with the ground, a sudden realization struck him that something might be amiss.
While riding the horse earlier, he had noticed that the saddle was causing discomfort to his buttocks and thighs. He had considered that such a rigid seat might not be suitable for someone as delicate as Yun Yang. Yet, now that he dismounted, he couldn’t help but realize that his own thighs and buttocks were still aching!
Feng Luan asked him, “What is the matter?”
Ye Yang forced himself to stay calm, shaking his head repeatedly. As he took a few steps, the fabric of his clothing rubbed against him…… and Ye Yang felt an even sharper pain in his thighs and buttocks.
If this were in the modern world and the people around him were his friends and close ones, he would probably have already let out a cry of pain. However, in his current situation, things were embarrassingly different. Walking beside him was his ‘husband’ in name, and also his husband’s close subordinate. Therefore, he had to suppress all his discomfort, endure the burning pain in his buttocks and thighs, and grit his teeth as he continued to walk.
At least for today, he dared not continue riding the horse. Feng Luan allowed him to practice riding with the company of palace servants and informed Shen Shaoheng in advance. After that, Feng Luan accompanied him back to the palace. When they finally parted ways, Ye Yang climbed onto his sedan chair. The moment his buttocks touched the soft seat, he nearly burst into tears.
Chafed; he felt like his buttocks had been chafed raw.
As Yun Yang’s pain threshold was exceptionally low, even a minor abrasion made Ye Yang grimace in pain. He sat awkwardly in a corner of the carriage, barely occupying a third of the cushioned seat. He arched his back and raised his buttocks, trying to alleviate the discomfort, but his legs were still aching. He was contemplating spreading his legs slightly when the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Feng Luan standing outside, his brows slightly furrowed.
“Your posture is quite peculiar,” Feng Luan raised an eyebrow. “Have you actually been learning etiquette these past few days?”
Ye Yang, “……”
Considering Feng Luan’s favorability score stood at a mere 18 points, he endured it, bore the discomfort, and managed to bring his legs together while mustering a strained smile. He inquired, “Your Majesty, what is it that I can help you with?”
Feng Luan took a step forward and climbed into his carriage. Before taking a seat, he was standing in front of him and said, “The journey back to the palace is quite a distance. Sitting alone might be a bit boring.”
Ye Yang blurted out, “It’s not boring at all! I’ve been thoroughly entertained!”
Feng Luan, “……”
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has decreased by 1, current favorability score is 17」
Ye Yang, “……Well, it’s actually rather boring. Without someone to chat with, I might just fall asleep.”
He said that, but he stubbornly refused to budge, hoping Feng Luan would understand that the carriage’s interior was too small to accommodate the two of them comfortably.
But as he remained still, Feng Luan didn’t move either. The interior of the carriage was already cramped, and squeezing together made the situation even more awkward. Ye Yang sat rigidly, his gaze fixed on Feng Luan’s face, which was growing increasingly grim and displeased……
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has decreased by 5, current favorability score is 12」
Ye Yang swallowed hard, his hand supporting himself on the cushion as he cautiously avoided the sore areas. He painstakingly shifted his buttocks to the side, delicately lowering himself down in a way that created space for Feng Luan.
Feng Luan let out a slight hum, his expression easing a bit. He sat down beside Ye Yang with a cold face, yet remained silent, contrary to his earlier claim that he was concerned about Ye Yang being bored and wanted to strike up a conversation.
As the carriage started moving, Ye Yang couldn’t help but take in a sharp breath, his pain causing him to grit his teeth. Seeing his expression, Feng Luan furrowed his brows and observed him for a moment before speaking, “You seem to have gotten close to Ming Yan recently.”
It was only at this moment that Ye Yang understood Feng Luan’s intention.
No matter how you look at it, he was Feng Luan’s shijun, while Ming Yan was the Empress Dowager’s favored candidate to marry Feng Luan. The two of them are of different genders, and in the imperial harem, being a shijun was already an awkward position to hold.
Feng Luan couldn’t possibly misunderstand and think that I’m trying to steal what is rightfully his, right?
A sense of unease swept over Ye Yang, and he made an effort to find words to explain.
A fire in the backyard was something to be avoided at all costs. If he couldn’t come up with a good explanation, he might get implicated in this matter and even face dire consequences.
However, Feng Luan only told him, “Keep your distance from her. She is not an easy one to deal with.”
Ye Yang was startled, “But she’s not……”
Feng Luan countered, “She’s not what?”
Ye Yang responded, “I thought the Empress Dowager wanted His Majesty to……”
Seeing Feng Luan’s expression darkened slightly, he suddenly remembered that Feng Luan had a somewhat distant relationship with the current Empress Dowager and seemed to dislike others mentioning her. He cleared his throat and quickly changed his words, saying, “I thought His Majesty liked her.”
Feng Luan was someone who really valued looks, and Ming Yan was quite good-looking. Plus, she was already a chosen concubine and the emperor’s childhood friend. Ye Yang couldn’t help but think that his deduction had some truth to it.
However, Feng Luan’s expression turned even darker. He raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Ye Yang didn’t say anything out loud, but he had already figured it out in his heart.
Oh, so Feng Luan doesn’t like Ming Yan. It seems that in the book, he ends up marrying Ming Yan as an Imperial Noble Concubine, which is just your run-of-the-mill arranged marriage among royal families.
“Zhen holds no fondness for those individuals,” Feng Luan spoke softly. “You need not let your imagination run wild.”
Ye Yang felt that he had completely understood Feng Luan’s intention.
“Your Majesty has a profound understanding of noble principles,” Ye Yang complimented, making an effort, “To ensure the stability of our country and its prosperity, one is willing to put aside personal desires—that’s truly admirable!”
Feng Luan, “……Is that how you see zhen?”
Ye Yang, “Huh?”
Feng Luan raised a quizzical eyebrow, an air of displeasure faintly lingering in his expression. His tone took on a cooler note as he remarked, “It appears zhen has misinterpreted the situation.”
Ye Yang, “???”
Hold your horses, what is this dog emperor talking about? Why can’t he understand a single word?
Ye Yang was completely confused and at a loss, and in the next moment, he saw the change in Feng Luan’s favorability score.
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has decreased by 5, current favorability score is 7」
What in the world? How is he supposed to do anything at this point!
Almost 0 now. Better stop talking then😁
I also don’t understand oue Emperor at all!
Thank You for the new chapter ♡⃛ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )
and ty for reading~
Ye Yang, do learn to hold your tongue sometimes. Favorability score gonna end up in the negatives at this rate, lol.
Thanks for the chapter!
thanks for reading love!!
I do believe His Majesty was reassuring Ye Yang that he is not attracted to any of the female harem, and Ye Yang is clueless🤦. Like thinking Feng Luan was distressed by his weight earlier, when it was more likely having Ye Yang’s butt right next to his face 😂😂😂 love that part!