The marriage was settled at 36, and the horse racing changed suddenly.

  Gu Yunxi stood alone in front of the window, outside the sky was still clear and bright, but at this moment it looked a bit gloomy to her. Gong Sunmo had been summoned away by an urgent decree from the Emperor for over an hour now, could something unexpected have happened again?

  Gu Yunxi didn't have time to think deeply, as at this moment the sound of the courtyard door creaking open came from outside. She raised an eyebrow and walked towards the entrance, where Zi Lan was leading a small maid she had never seen before into the room. The little maid bowed to her, "Is that Miss Gu?"

  Gu Yun Xi's eyebrows furrowed, as there were only a few people in the palace who knew her. The person in front of her seemed to know her identity, "Who are you?"

  The little maid's eyes slightly closed, "His Majesty has an invitation, please follow me, miss."

  Gu Yunxi's heart tightened, "But what happened to the prince?"

  Xiao Bi smiled and shook her head, "No need, just call me slave girl from now on."

  Gu Yun Xi slightly hesitated, nodded and followed the little maid out of the door. The little maid's back was slender and small, her footsteps neither hurried nor slow, not looking like she had any ghostly appearance at all. She walked towards the outside of the palace, until they saw the bustling hunting grounds and the high platform that had been set up, Gu Yun Xi's heart finally felt at ease.

  "Miss Gu, today is the horse racing competition at the hunting grounds, and the Prince is on the high platform, please go there yourself."

  At this moment, Gu Yunxi was dressed in men's clothing, with three thousand black hairs tied up with a silver fork, and it was also a handsome and elegant appearance. Her eyes swept across the table, where many people were seated, including men and women. In the middle of them, a middle-aged man wore a bright yellow brocade robe, his face carved like a knife, with wrinkles all over, but only his eyes gave off an intimidating aura even from afar. Gu Yunxi's eyes narrowed slightly, Yan Emperor - Gong Sunlie!

  On the left of Gong Sun Lie was the elegant and refined Shu Fei, while on his right was the Crown Prince dressed in a black brocade robe. Next to him was a woman wearing a bright blue palace attire, who should be Lang Hua Gong Zhu, the princess from Da Liang who had married into their family far away. Gong Sun Mo sat to the right of Lang Hua Gong Zhu, and there were also some men and women sitting around Gong Sun Mo, presumably also members of the imperial clan.

  Gu Yun Xue gazed at Gong Sun Mo's location from afar, thinking to herself whether she should go over. The place was currently filled with people of high status and power, and her own identity would inevitably arouse suspicion.

  "Yún xī!"

  Suddenly a soft call, Gu Yunxi turned her head and saw Gong Sun Chenglin coming towards her in a short and energetic outfit. Her eyes sparkled slightly, and she bowed with both hands, "Greetings to Your Highness!"

  Gongsun Chenglin chuckled and said, "Never mind, never mind. I was just talking to Second Brother about calling you over, didn't expect it to be so soon!"

  Gu Yunxi was taken aback, "Yunxi's identity is probably not suitable for appearing in this place, if it is..."

  "Don't worry! Today's horse racing is the main event in the hunting ground, I just want you to see the excitement, we won't go up on that platform, just watch from aside, what kind of trouble could possibly happen?"

  Gongsun Chenglin said so, Gu Yunxi naturally wouldn't decline again. At this moment, Gongsun Mo sitting on the high platform also saw Gu Yunxi, and the two of them nodded at each other with their eyes meeting. Gongsun Chenglin pulled Gu Yunxi to sit down in a random seat below the stage.

  The ancestors of the State of Yan were all good riders, but over the centuries, as the State of Yan grew stronger, the people's horsemanship skills gradually declined, except for those seasoned generals who had been through many battles. Nevertheless, whenever the royal family went on a hunting trip, horse racing was always an indispensable event!

  The small hunt a few days ago didn't attract many people, but today almost everyone including Gong Sunlie has shown up. The number of people in the arena is unusually high. By now it's already noon, and the sound of horses neighing and drums beating is deafening, creating an electrifying atmosphere. On both sides of the field below the high platform sat various officials' relatives. Gu Yunxi swept her gaze across them, and today's Gu Yingxue was wearing a bright blue palace attire, sitting among a group of officials' daughters, standing out remarkably.

  Accidentally meeting a gaze, today's Wan Xi Chen is still wrapped in a black fox fur coat, he sits alone in the corner next to the high platform, his whole body exuding an icy aura that is far removed from the excitement of the surrounding crowd. A fleeting touch like a dragonfly skimming the water, Gu Yunxi feels another gaze falling on her, but when she looks again, there's nothing.

  "Oh dear, this outfit looks great on the crown princess. They say that Liang Guo is born to be beautiful, and now it seems to be true."

  The Empress sat beside the Emperor and suddenly spoke out this sentence, drawing the attention of everyone on and off the stage to the Crown Princess. Only then did Gu Yunxi carefully examine that Lang Hua princess, whose starry eyes shone brightly on her delicate small face. Upon hearing this, she merely hooked up the corner of her mouth.

  The Shu Fei's eyes swept the scene below, "Huh, our De Wang Fei is also wearing a blue dress, how come it seems that this palace looks even better?"

  This remark undoubtedly slapped the face of the Crown Prince's consort, and Gu Yingxue, who was sitting below, naturally couldn't sit still either. "Consort Shu is joking, I, Yingxue, don't dare to be called De Wangfei now, let alone compare myself to the beauty of the Crown Prince's consort?"

  Gu Yingxue stood up, and with a gentle bow to Xiang Yu Jin, her movements were extremely elegant. The Crown Princess on this side heard the words of the Empress Dowager and didn't get angry, but only smiled slightly, "Empress Dowager said it right, younger sister is indeed beautiful, Duke De's luck is truly good. I heard that the marriage edict has been issued, why not set a date early, then at that time, you can also be my sister."

  Gu Ying's eyes moved slightly, and her gaze fell directly on Gong Sun Mo beside the crown prince's consort. Many people on and off the stage were discussing it, their gazes going back and forth between Gu Ying and Gong Sun Mo.

  The Empress's mouth hooked up, and she leaned over to whisper something in the Emperor's ear. Her face was filled with even more smiles, "If we're going to say it, our Miss Gu has 'noble aura' written all over her fate. Others would be lucky to have this blessing. Why not ask Duke De to set a date today and fulfill the Emperor's wish?"

  The emperor seemed pleased to see such a harmonious scene, and at this moment, he slightly turned his head, "Mo Er?"

  Gongsun Mo turned his head, and the corners of his cold mouth slightly raised, "Your son will follow whatever decision Your Majesty makes."

  The Empress smiled and covered her mouth, "If it were me, the King would want to bring Consort Gu back to the palace as soon as possible. Your Majesty, why not arrange for it after the New Year? What do you think?"

  As soon as the words fell, the discussion in the field became even more intense. Gong Sun Chenglin slightly worried and turned to look at Yun Xi, "Yun Xi, Second Brother also has his own difficulties, you should understand him a bit."

  Gu Yun Xie was watching Shu Fei's behavior at this moment, secretly guessing her purpose. At this moment, she heard the words and couldn't help but pause for a moment, "Your Highness, is there a misunderstanding?"

  Gongsun Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, "Your meaning is——"

  Gu Yunxi looked at him and shook her head with a smile, "Not all women in the world want to marry into the royal family, Prince Wang is indeed a dragon among men, but I am only his strategist, I dare not have any other thoughts, from now on, Your Highness should not say such things again."

  "But—"

  Gongsun Chenglin slightly furrowed his brow, as if he wanted to explain, but Lie Di spoke up instead, "After the New Year, there will definitely be a auspicious day according to the Yellow Calendar. Mo Er, what do you think?"

  Gongsun Mo paused, his eyes seemed to flash to the side for a moment. The next instant, Gu Yunxi only heard Gongsun Mo's voice with a smile, "I like it very much, please decide, Your Majesty."

  The emperor was overjoyed, beckoning a nearby attendant to convey something, while Gong Sun Mo finished speaking and lowered his head. The crowd couldn't see his eyes, but saw a faint blush rising on Gu Xiang's face below, and for a moment, another perfect match made in heaven was about to be born.

  It was another round of laughter among the royal family, amidst a string of tight drumbeats, dozens of energetic young men in uniform attire, with majestic momentum, rode into the vast arena on their spirited horses, whose neighing echoed through the sky, instantly bringing the atmosphere of horse racing to its peak.

  Gu Yunxi thought the horse racing was about to start, but instead saw the young men in the arena bowing to Gong Sunlie on their horses and then suddenly galloping around the arena in unison.

  The snow in the arena had already been swept away, and now dozens of fierce horses were galloping around, kicking up clouds of dust. The riders, who had initially sat high on their mounts, suddenly transformed into various shapes as they leapt through the air, performing daring stunts that left the officials' relatives watching with bated breath and cheering in amazement.

  It turned out to be an equestrian performance, the horse team's formation changing constantly, the riders' movements on and off the horses were unrestrained and elegant, drawing continuous applause from the audience, the drumbeats getting heavier and heavier, with only a few dozen people but with the momentum of thousands of troops. Suddenly, the horse team began to charge towards the high platform in the center of the arena in groups of five at high speed, the riders' imposing killing intent and the deafening sound of the horses' hooves made the masters on the platform change their expressions, however, just as they were about to reach the platform, the riders pulled the reins, the horses neighed loudly, and together with the drumbeats, they burst into the sky!

  The first team, the second team, the third team...

  The riders' exquisite skills made even Emperor Lie nod his head in approval, and the people on stage saw the emperor's expression and couldn't help but show their admiration. When the last three groups came to the high platform together, Empress Shu was leaning against Emperor Lie's side, and Ling Ren's aura still made her a bit nervous. Emperor Lie, with an unchanged expression, held the beauty in his arms, listening to the deafening sound of hooves, suddenly recalling his youthful days of galloping horses and elegant clothes.

  A shocking change is happening at this very moment!

  The riders who should have been holding back their horses did not do so. Each of them had a fierce glint in their eyes, and an aura of murder surrounded them!

  They rode their fierce horses recklessly towards the high platform, and just as they were about to crash into it, the riders leapt off their mounts. The loud neighing of the horses was accompanied by the sudden appearance of sword clashing sounds, and several black figures darted towards Gong Sunlie on the main seat like lightning!

  Digression

  Merry Christmas to everyone, I made some minor changes to this chapter. Once again, wishing you all a happy and joyful holiday season, happiness galore, and a harmonious family with everything going as wished!