Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 106

Chapter 106

“Has General Chen developed a teacher’s complex from instructing those two younger brothers of his? We’re grown men, yet he wants us to copy books? That’s a punishment for children,” Xiao Dingbei said, stunned by the stakes Chen Chu had proposed.

If one were to ask what military men hated most, he could guarantee that at least seventy percent of the officers in the army-if not all of them-despised reading and writing.

“Using money as a stake sounds improper, and using valuable items isn’t quite right either. This is the only thing I could think of for the time being. It is up to the Third Young Master whether he is willing or not.”

Hearing Chen Chu put it that way, Xiao Dingbei waved a hand and agreed. “Fine! Ten times it is. Come on then, it’s not yet certain who will win or lose.”

He had only ever heard of Chen Chu’s extraordinary archery; as for his horsemanship, he hadn’t heard much.

Seeing Xiao Dingbei’s eagerness to rush into copying books, the corners of Xiao Wangshu’s mouth curled up slightly. She turned back to look at Chen Chu with a faint, curving smile in her eyes.

Chen Chu’s ears instantly turned red. He pursed his lips and stood up, stepping down from the rock to go lead his warhorse over.

–

Stakes were meant to heighten the competitive spirit.

As soon as the others on the grass heard that Xiao Dingbei and Chen Chu were going to have a proper match, they stopped what they were doing and gathered around.

“Get ready!”

Xiao Fuguang reached out, one arm raised horizontally to align with the starting line, while the other held a branch tied with a silk ribbon high in the air. Then, he swung it down abruptly.

“Start!”

Before his voice had even fully trailed off, the two warhorses shot out like arrows released from a bow.

The sight of two powerful warriors galloping at full tilt was a primal, high-impact display of raw energy.

“Wangshu, who do you think will win?” Tuoba Yunxiao walked over to Xiao Wangshu’s side, crossing his arms as he watched the field.

Xiao Wangshu replied in a flat tone, “General Chen.”

“Oh?” Tuoba Yunxiao raised an eyebrow and looked at her, asking with a smile, “You have that little faith in your third brother?”

“Correct,” Xiao Wangshu answered honestly.

Tuoba Yunxiao let out a laugh. “True. I also feel that General Chen’s horsemanship is quite unexpected. It seems even a cut above many of our sons of the grasslands.”

“Everyone in the army says General Chen’s archery is top-tier, but many overlook the fact that his riding and shooting are one and the same. If he can push his archery to its peak while on horseback, how could his horsemanship be poor?” Xiao Wangshu countered.

Many people only saw Chen Chu’s ability to pierce a willow leaf from a hundred paces, yet they ignored his other strengths.

Even setting aside his exquisite archery, any of Chen Chu’s other skills would likely not be inferior to most generals if examined individually.

“I didn’t realize you could praise someone so earnestly, Wangshu.” Tuoba Yunxiao looked at her beautiful profile, then at the galloping Chen Chu, feeling a strange, inexplicable tightness in his chest.

“Listen to you, Brother Yunxiao. Have I never praised you?” The smile remained on Xiao Wangshu’s face as she countered him again.

Just then, Xiao Fuguang, who had been watching them while observing the race, walked over.

“Sister, did you bring any tea or snacks? I’m a bit hungry.”

“You’re hungry when it’s only just started?” Xiao Wangshu teased him, smiling as she walked toward the carriage. “Wait a moment, I’ll go get some food for everyone.”

“Okay.”

Xiao Fuguang watched her climb into the carriage and disappear inside. Then, he turned to Tuoba Yunxiao and asked, “Brother Yunxiao, can you show me your mount?”

“Look at my mount?” Tuoba Yunxiao looked down at him, asking with some confusion, “What’s there to see?”

“The North produces fine steeds. Your mount must be a thousand-mile stallion; I want to take a closer look,” Xiao Fuguang answered earnestly.

Seeing that he was just a child and likely had no ulterior motives, Tuoba Yunxiao assumed he was overthinking things. He smiled at the boy and said, “Then let’s go. I’ll take you to have a look.”
He had actually thought for a moment that the child was trying to keep him away from Wangshu. He really must have been on edge from the recent assassination attempts; now he was overthinking everything.

With those thoughts in mind, Tuoba Yunxiao led Xiao Fuguang toward his mount.

On the other side of the field.

Xiao Dingbei had only completed three laps with Chen Chu before he was left behind by more than half a circuit.

Seeing Chen Chu still looking relaxed and at ease, Xiao Dingbei simply waved his hand. “Enough, enough. I finally realize just how much those people in the army were flattering me for the sake of my father’s reputation.”

Those people really had some nerve making things up. The rumors had spread from one person to another until they made it sound like he and Chen Chu were evenly matched.

If he hadn’t come to spar with Chen Chu today, he would have remained in the dark, listening to their empty praise!

“The Third Young Master’s horsemanship is indeed excellent.”

Hearing this, Xiao Dingbei instinctively thought Chen Chu was mocking him, but then he heard the man continue.

“Against ordinary generals, I would have been ahead by more than a full lap.”

Xiao Dingbei: “…”

Previously, he had felt that Chen Chu was quite young to hold a fourth-rank official position and that it seemed a bit inflated.

Now he realized that when his father had conferred the title on behalf of the Emperor, he had actually been quite conservative to avoid gossip.

“Fine, I know when I’m beaten! Ten days. Within ten days, ten hand-copied volumes of the Classic of Horse Appraisal will be delivered to you, General.”

Xiao Dingbei had taken a blow to his pride and became much quieter, admitting defeat straightforwardly.

Chen Chu nodded to him, showing no intention of engaging in polite pleasantries.

At that moment, Xiao Wangshu walked over carrying tea and snacks.

Xiao Dingbei didn’t even have the energy to bicker with her. He reached into the food box, grabbed a tartary buckwheat cake, and took a large bite without even looking at what it was.

“Pfft! Bah-what is this? Fourth Sister, are you playing a prank on me?”

What kind of pastry could possibly have such a coarse texture!

“Third Brother, you wasted one of my cakes and yet you sound so righteous about it,” Xiao Wangshu said unhurriedly.

Chen Chu took a buckwheat cake from the box, paired it with a cup of milk tea, and looked at Xiao Dingbei while eating and drinking.

His calm gaze seemed to ask: *Have you never eaten this before?*

“Alright, alright, my fault. I’m just not used to this. Is there anything else?” Xiao Dingbei grabbed a cup of milk tea and took two gulps.

Xiao Wangshu tilted her chin toward Tuoba Xin. “There are some jujube paste cakes and sugar biscuits over there. See if those are more to your taste.”

“Fine, I’ll go check it out.” Drinking his milk tea, Xiao Dingbei walked over to where Tuoba Xin and the others were.

Once he was far enough away, Xiao Wangshu and Chen Chu shared a look, a hint of a smile dancing in her eyes.

Chen Chu’s lips curved up as well. He took another bite of the buckwheat cake and washed it down with the milk tea.

“Where did Milady buy these?”

This was made of coarse grains. Xiao Dingbei was used to fine rice and flour; even when stationed at the frontier, he was rarely mistreated in terms of food, so he naturally couldn’t stomach such rough fare.

However, Chen Chu had grown up with irregular meals. When there was nothing to eat, he would find whatever he could in the fields to fill his stomach. To him, tartary buckwheat cakes were the best thing he could have eaten as a child.

“I didn’t buy them. I had Uncle Tian make them and brought them along.”

Eating coarse grains occasionally was good for digestion; eating too many refined meals and pastries made it harder on the stomach.

This habit was somewhat related to her gastric cancer in her previous life, but she didn’t mention that.

Chen Chu only heard that she had specifically asked Uncle Tian to make them. He assumed she had gone out of her way to learn about his childhood life. His hand tightened slightly around the buckwheat cake, and he appeared somewhat flustered and shy.

He had thought this was just a transaction to her, but was she… truly this attentive?