After I traveled through the book, I fought back in the Hou Mansion

Chapter 180 Riding a Horse

Chapter 180

Entering the stables, she discovered they were even more spacious than she'd expected. The stables were vast, and with so many horses housed within, it was difficult to see from one end to the other. Each horse stood tall and straight, each appearing tall and strong. Though their coats appeared slightly dull due to the dim lighting inside, their smooth, lustrous appearance was evident, a testament to the meticulous care they received. The occasional neighing of horses, a high-pitched, resonant sound, pierced the silence, adding a touch of life and energy.

Seeing her face full of shock, Ye Yunzhou lowered his voice and asked, "How is it?"

Luo Shuiyao turned her eyes slightly to glance at him, nodded slightly, and said slowly, "I know very little about horses, so it's difficult for me to distinguish their subtleties. But just by looking at their coats, I can tell that they are all rare and fine horses. But looking at this stable, why are there only tall horses? There is not a single smaller colt?"

Seeing her hesitant expression, Ye Yunzhou spoke softly, "Go ahead and take a look. There are quite a few foals over there. When you get over there, just pick one out. They're not yet fully grown, so they're not too big, so they're just the right size for you."

After listening to this, Luo Shuiyao nodded slightly and walked forward.

Ye Yunzhou slowed down his pace, followed her at a leisurely pace, and walked side by side with her.

Their sleeves crossed, then separated. Ye Yunzhou looked down at the girl beside him, a sudden warmth welling up in his heart. He desperately wanted to take her hand, hoping to walk with her forever. But she was too wary. He sighed inwardly. After all, this matter couldn't be rushed; it needed to be done slowly. No matter, the years were long, and they still had countless days and nights to spend together. He was also a very patient person. He would let time slowly transform everything.

Luo Shuiyao walked slowly, carefully looking at the horses passing by, trying to find one that suited her. She didn't pay any attention to what the people around her were thinking at the moment.

After they walked a dozen meters, Luo Shuiyao's eyes suddenly lit up. Looking around, there were at least a dozen foals. Their fur was of varying colors, some pacing nimbly, others gathering quietly in a group. They looked adorable.

She immediately took a liking to a reddish-orange pony. Its color, like a ripe date, rich and mellow, stood out among the other horses. Filled with joy, she headed straight for it. As she approached, she realized it was slightly shorter than she was. Its coat was a pure orange-red, without a trace of other colors, as if meticulously tempered by fire. Its mane swayed gently in the breeze, like a dancing flame. It was grazing leisurely, its demeanor serene. Seeing someone approach, it glanced up nonchalantly, then lowered its head again, continuing to enjoy its delicious grass, ignoring the visitor.

At first glance, she was instantly drawn to this horse. Its coat was pure, lustrous, shimmering and full of life. It possessed a proud demeanor, casually glancing at others as they approached before returning to grazing, seemingly unconcerned with its surroundings. If it could be tamed, it would surely make a perfect riding partner.

Ye Yunzhou's eyelids drooped slightly, and what caught his eye was the unconcealed joy on her face. He immediately raised his head and carefully examined the horse. After a long moment, he turned back to Luo Shuiyao and said slowly, "You have good taste. This horse is a rare and fine one."

"Of course." Luo Shuiyao raised the corner of her mouth slightly, with a smug look on her face, as if to say that the horse she had chosen must be an extraordinary good horse.

Ye Yunzhou laughed. Ever since arriving in Kyoto, Luo Shuiyao had always appeared calm and composed in front of him. This slightly playful look was truly rare, and it made him lose his composure for a moment. "Then I'll untie it and lead it outside the courtyard, and you can ride it."

Luo Shuiyao nodded and raised her hand to untie the horse's reins. However, as soon as she stretched out her hand, Ye Yunzhou stopped her. Their fingers accidentally touched, and Luo Shuiyao was slightly startled. Then, she quickly withdrew her hand with a bit of awkwardness.

Ye Yunzhou seemed unaware as he focused on carefully untying the rope, explaining, "This method of tying the rope is unique to the military. It may seem simple at first glance, but if someone who doesn't know the rope tries to untie it, it will only make things more complicated and might even hurt their hands. So, let me do it."

Luo Shuiyao secretly blamed herself for being useless, then quickly composed herself and replied softly, "Okay."

Ye Yunzhou skillfully untied the reins, then steadily led the horse out of the stables with Luo Shuiyao. He stopped when they reached the open racecourse. He then walked to a nearby rack and carefully selected a saddle suitable for the horse. He placed it on the horse's back, securing it securely. After confirming it was secure enough, he turned to Luo Shuiyao and said, "I'll help you up."

Luo Shuiyao didn't act coy, after all, it would have been difficult for her to mount the horse on her own. With Ye Yunzhou's assistance, she finally sat firmly on the horse. Ye Yunzhou was extremely attentive the entire time, his manners revealing a touch of grace. He held her arm until she was safely seated.

Luo Shuiyao sat upright on the horse's back. At first, she thought the horse was just okay, not too tall. But now, looking down from above, she suddenly felt that the horse was much taller. After all, it was her first time riding a horse, so she couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Seeing this, Ye Yunzhou said, "If you ride a horse by yourself, you won't be able to control it yet, and you might hurt yourself. First, you should get used to the horse. Just sit on its back and get a feel for it. I'll hold the reins and lead you around the arena twice. After that, I'll teach you how to ride on your own."

"Thank you, brother."

Ye Yunzhou couldn't help but frowned slightly after hearing this, with a hint of helplessness: "Didn't you say you would call me like before?"

Luo Shuiyao was stunned for a moment after hearing Ye Yunzhou's words, and paused briefly. Then, she opened her mouth again and whispered, "Thank you, Brother Yuan Zheng." However, this time, as she uttered those three words, something seemed to be holding her back, and her voice carried a subtle hesitation, not as smooth and natural as before.

Seeing that Luo Shuiyao finally called him what he wanted, Ye Yunzhou revealed a look of satisfaction. Then, he pulled the reins and walked ahead without saying a word, leading Luo Shuiyao and the horse to slowly stroll around the horse farm.

After walking two laps, he handed the reins to Luo Shuiyao and began to teach her the essentials of riding. Afterwards, Ye Yunzhou stood in the middle of the horse field, his eyes following Luo Shuiyao closely, always paying attention to her situation to prevent her from accidentally hurting herself.