Chapter 551: Is My Dad Becoming a Jiang Zongshi?

The wind blew across ten thousand acres of rippling light, and the hundred thousand white lotuses blooming in the stagnant pool swayed with it, as various light boats glided across the water surface.

The royal giant elephant, standing over ten zhang tall, waded through the river, its long trunk probing the water, drawing up a waterspout and spraying it toward the tourists on the trestle bridge, like a sky-filling rain, causing playful noise and chaos.

The rain fell.

A faint rainbow bridge appeared, and the shoulder-to-shoulder tourists gasped incessantly.

Slap!

The detached stool leg smashed into the bench; the vendor put it back beside the table, sat on it, and shook it twice, hearing angry curses coming from the street.

"Damn! Where's my flower? You dare to ride a horse on the Imperial Capital's main street? Are you...?"

The wealthy young master in brocade clothing felt his head wet and hot, reached out to touch his head, and was shocked to find the flower pinned to his hair bun had disappeared. He turned around and cursed loudly.

But when he saw who it was, the young master leaned back forcefully, stopping his words.

Behind him was a majestic black horse, draped in silver chain mail, champing its teeth, chewing the flower down in two or three bites. After finishing, it deliberately spat out a puff of hot air.

Faint, floating with the fragrance of flowers.

The tall warrior on horseback seemed not to have heard the words, silently gazing into the distance, his eyes filled with visible emotion.

"It's been many years since I've been to the Imperial Capital."

A long while later.

The warrior lowered his head, gently stroking the hair on the black horse's neck, his face showing apology.

"Sorry, I've been galloping all the way from Heyuan Prefecture with little rest. Approaching the Imperial Capital, my heart surged more and more. I haven't fed you for three thousand li."

"No matter, no matter." The wealthy young master pointed to the distance, "The flower was picked near the White Lotus Pool. If the Lord's horse likes it, you can go there to eat some to pad its stomach."

"Many thanks."

There wasn't much conversation.

The crowd quietly avoided them, the black horse trotted by, and the six silent armored cavalrymen followed quietly behind.

"Whew."

As the crowd closed back up, the wealthy young master let out a long sigh of relief.

Riding a horse on the main street, accompanied by armored soldiers, he must be some incredible big shot.

Heyuan Prefecture?

Could it be from the Northern Frontier?

Is there an emergency at the border?

Leisurely and carefree, it doesn't look like it.

"Before the Great Qian, the stagnant pool area was the old course of the Yongding River. Later, because the river changed course, some stagnant water was left behind. Afterward, the Gaoliang River flowed into the old course, forming the prototype of the stagnant pool.

After the Great Shun destroyed the Qian, to satisfy the need for entertainment and leisure, the imperial court ordered the dredging of the stagnant pool and built two islands and the Taining Palace on the east bank of the pool as an imperial villa for royal outings.

From then on, outside the Imperial City it was called the Stagnant Pool, and inside the Imperial City it was the Taiye Pool.

And to receive supplies, so that cargo ships from the south and north could reach the heart of the Imperial Capital directly. Except for grain, supplies from all over the Great Shun were transported here; it is the busiest and most prosperous place in the entire Imperial Capital.

Do you see the elephants in the pool? The stagnant pool is the royal elephant-washing pool.

The elephants offered by the southern tribes are used as transportation tools and palace ceremonial guards. Sometimes the Emperor's carriage is pulled by southern elephants.

However, I have seen it once; the speed is not as fast as a horse, but the momentum is great."

The armored soldiers on the left and right rode side by side and couldn't help but ask: "The Lord's hometown is in Huaiyin Prefecture, and you served in the army in Heyuan Prefecture, one south and one north, why are you so familiar with the Imperial Capital in between?"

"Before my father retired, every year he would bring me to the Imperial Capital to pay respects to General Xu. General Xu's wife was virtuous and always insisted on keeping me to stay at the mansion for a period of time.

Although I was young at the time, I do have memories, but later when I was eleven or twelve and gradually grew up, I stayed less often; it wasn't convenient."

The six armored soldiers looked at each other, smiles appearing.

"In that case, the Lord must be quite familiar with the good restaurants in the Imperial Capital, right?"

"Hahaha! I knew what you were thinking, it must be so!" Yang Xu laughed loudly, waving his whip and spurring his horse, "Let's go, first go to the Xu Fu to pay respects to General Xu, and then I will treat you all to a drink at the best restaurant!"

"Good!"

"The Lord is generous!"

The spirited horses had spirit, and the seven riders wove through the crowd, quickly heading toward the Xu Fu.

Handing over the waist token and the visiting card.

A moment later.

The Xu Fu's steward, Qin Hongwei, came out to welcome them in person and sent several servants to lead the horses, drawing side-glances from passersby.

The status of the butler of Earl Guanying Xu Wenzhu's house was also quite extraordinary, yet he came to welcome them personally, making people secretly guess who Yang Xu was.

"Uncle Qin!"

"Nephew Yang! Come in quickly, the Mistress is already in the hall, and I have also sent someone to call the General. Truly, in the blink of an eye, you've grown so big? How many years has it been since we last met?"

Qin Hongwei settled the other six riders and took Yang Xu's hand as they entered the mansion, chatting about old times as they walked along the covered walkway, his words full of nostalgia.

"It's been five years, right? I haven't taken leave to visit my family in five years, so naturally, I haven't been south to the Imperial Capital in five years."

"Five years, time flies like a white horse passing a crack. Once you enter the military, it's truly rare to have leisure time."

"Are the General and the Mistress still well?"

"Good, all good. We quarrel occasionally, but that's life; it's just the same old patterns back and forth."

Qin Hongwei led Yang Xu into the hall.

The Mistress of Xu sat in the seat of honor; the two hadn't seen each other for a long time, and there was another round of pleasantries.

Yang Dongxiong and Xu Wenzhu had known each other since they were young, friends who had shared life and death, and they had a friendship spanning decades. Even after five years of not seeing each other, there was not a hint of estrangement.

"Nephew Yang, what made you think of visiting today? Is there any urgent matter at the border?"

Yang Xu put down his teacup, his expression serious: "My grandfather is celebrating his ninetieth birthday this year. It just so happens that I haven't been home for a long time and miss him dearly. Coupled with the fact that last year at the border, we worked together with the Marquis of Weining to do a job, and this year the Northern Court has ceased its flags and drums, with no major matters, so I asked Jiang Zongshi Kou for a long leave to visit my family."

"Old Master!"

The servants outside the door sent greetings.

"The Great Shun's largest Jianghuai Marsh, the Northern Court's largest Flowing Gold Sea, what a piece of fertile land, and we occupied it. The Northern Court wants to take it back every moment."

A tall, slender figure in black stepped through the door, wearing a white belt around his waist.

"Uncle Xu!" Yang Xu stood up to greet him.

"Sit!" Xu Wenzhu pressed down on Yang Xu's shoulder, turned to sit in the seat of honor, gently turned the tea lid, and skimmed off the foam, "Five years without seeing you, how is your martial arts progress?"

"Mid-level Hunting Tiger Realm, within a year, or I might enter the upper level."

"Passable. If there are no mishaps, in another five years, you might be stronger than your father."

"If?" Yang Xu sensed something strange.

"You don't know?"

Yang Xu hesitated: "I have lived in Heyuan Prefecture for a long time. The last letter I received from home was in August. Calculating the time, it should have been sent in mid-June or early June. Except for the Liang Shidi making another great contribution, no other major matters were mentioned."

"No wonder. I didn't receive the letter too long ago. You arrived here today; you should have set off in August, so I didn't write to you again."

Xu Wenzhu closed the tea lid, "It's the little disciple your father took in. He became the Marquis of Weining, which is the master of the current Prince of Yue's grandson. When he took him as a disciple, he specially sent out a Xuanhuang Token."

"The letter also said that he has already refined the hundred classics, and the remaining ten great merits are also within reach; both steps are complete."

"In other words, the path to Jiang Zongshi is only one step away from opening the mysterious light, and it will be a matter of course. He wrote the letter to seek my help. I picked out some good things for your father, and they should be arriving in Pingyang Prefecture soon."

Yang Xu was dumbfounded.

No.

Having lived in Heyuan Prefecture for several years, there were four or five letters back and forth every year, and the news from home wasn't blocked.

How, in the blink of an eye, in less than two or three months, was his own father about to become a Jiang Zongshi?

Xu Wenzhu observed Yang Xu's expression: "How much do you know about your little junior brother?"

"I know... very little." Yang Xu was a bit embarrassed, "My father took him in the year before last and hasn't taken any other disciples since. I only know that he has a natural Martial Bone, his cultivation progress is rapid, he has received the Holy Emperor's oral decree, and his future is limitless."

"But I haven't been home for five years, and I haven't even met my little junior brother. The letter only says he is handsome and not inferior to my fourth junior brother."

"Your father took in an incredible disciple. The Prince of Yue sent out invitations for talent far and wide. After being enfeoffed, he went south all the way from the Imperial Capital. I don't know how many gold, silver, and copper tokens were sent out."

"Among so many young talents, he only took a fancy to your little junior brother, specially giving him a jade token, and even arranged for his own grandson to be his disciple."

"If I weren't unable to get away, I would really like to go to Pingyang Prefecture to see with my own eyes what kind of talent the Martial Saint took a fancy to."

Yang Xu pondered: "Isn't Yuelong working at the River-Lake Office in Pingyang Prefecture? I am far away in Heyuan Prefecture, but I have also heard that the Duhai Canal has been opened. Taking a treasure ship and going south with the current, travel should be much more convenient."

Xu Wenzhu didn't have much reaction, but the Mistress of Xu was quite moved.

A mother misses her child, and the Huai River is long. ===== CHAPTER 552 =====