It Really Is a Fine Horse

She walked back to the stables with her head down, kicking stones along the way.

As soon as she entered, the stable manager hurried over and said, "Miss Lily, Miss Cecilia is looking for you!"

Goldie looked up and saw Cecilia Chen holding the reins of a horse, looking like she was about to head out.

She calmly walked over and asked, "Miss Cecilia, were you looking for me?"

"Where did you go?" Cecilia Chen asked.

"I went to see Steward Qin."

"Reporting to him again?"

"Again?" Qingluan was puzzled.

"Steward Qin came looking for me early this morning. Don’t tell me you weren’t the one who tattled to him?" Cecilia Chen stared at her, eyes cold as ice.

Steward Qin came looking for her early in the morning?

Judging by Cecilia Chen’s attitude, did Butler Qin come to give her a warning about yesterday’s incident?

Butler Qin really is loyal and righteous.

Grace replied, "No, I didn’t say anything to Steward Qin."

Cecilia Chen sneered, "You’ve gotten bold, haven’t you? I’m your mistress, but now I can’t hit or scold you! But you’re still just a maid, aren’t you? I can at least order you around, right?"

Grace said nothing.

Goldie! Clean my horse until it’s spotless! Not a speck of dust left!" Cecilia Chen tossed the reins at her.

Grace stepped back, making no move to catch the reins.

The reins fell straight to the ground.

"Miss Cecilia, everyone in the stables has their own job. My duty is to feed the horses, not to groom them. I need to go feed the horses now—if I’m late, they’ll go hungry."

With that, Grace turned and walked away.

Cecilia Chen blocked her path, face dark and cold. "I want you to groom my horse. Are you really going to defy my orders?"

Grace raised her eyebrows, neither humble nor arrogant, and replied, "Miss Cecilia, I may work in the stables, but officially I’m still the head maid of Cold Moon Pavilion. I only take orders from the General. Your commands don’t actually apply to me!"

"You arrogant little maid!" Cecilia Chen’s pretty face twisted in anger as she suddenly shoved her. "I said, groom my horse! Now!"

Grace couldn’t withstand the push and landed squarely on her backside.

Her eyes flashed coldly, ready to retort, but just then the stable manager and Cecilia’s maids all bowed and called out, "General!"

Grace turned to look and saw Evan Xiao leading a gleaming, majestic Silver Dragon Stallion out from the shade of a tree around the corner.

She scrambled to her feet, feeling utterly embarrassed.

Why did he have to see her like this?

Cecilia Chen, on the other hand, felt a little nervous seeing Evan Xiao appear.

Evan Xiao rarely came to the stables.

Usually, it’s Louis Lin who handles the horses.

Why did he come to the stables today?

Did he see her shove Goldie just now?

But as soon as Evan Xiao spoke, she felt relieved.

"Who’s in charge here?" Evan Xiao asked, his expression unreadable.

"General, that would be me," the stable manager stepped forward to answer.

"This Silver Dragon Stallion can travel thousands of miles a day, leap over streams, and swim. There’s only one like it in all of Blue Moon Kingdom—it’s incredibly rare!" Evan Xiao explained to the stable manager.

"Oh! It really is a fine horse!" the stable manager exclaimed in awe.

"This horse is precious. Take good care of it," Evan Xiao said. "I’ll also have guards stationed to watch over it."

"Yes, General," the stable manager replied.

After giving his instructions, Evan Xiao turned to Cecilia Chen, smiled at her, and asked, "Cecilia, would you like to take a ride?"

Cecilia Chen ran over, delighted. "General, can I really ride it?"