Chapter 96

The King had summoned an audience, but of course not everyone could attend; only the Gold Steward followed a palace servant to the Mingguang Hall side chamber where guests were received.

The Gold Steward still hadn't had a chance to see Chengguang Hall; the palace servant led him straight, turning east off the Prince's mansion toward Mingguang Hall, only catching a glimpse of a corner of the mansion, and his mind had already turned over eight or ten thoughts.

When you go back, you must truthfully report to His Highness; this Prince You must by no means be underestimated.

Before they even got there, from afar the Gold Steward heard a clear, crisp laugh, and a young voice chimed in with a complaint: '... Who would give a horse such a name? Even its mother would hear it and shake her head in opposition.'

The King was displeased: 'Quite unlike the rest.'

The palace servant whispered a reminder: 'His Highness is coming; let's just wait here.'

A moment later, a child riding... a colt turned into the corridor; behind him only followed a middle-aged attendant; the Gold Steward saw Prince You for the first time, and judging by his age, that must have been him.

"Your servant Jin Fengxian greets Prince You; may Your Highness enjoy everlasting happiness and longevity!" The Gold Steward made a deep bow; the King also was courteous, gesturing for Zhao Ba to rise, then eagerly asked: 'Was it my second older brother who sent you? And did he say when he himself would come again to Youzhou?'

This, probably, impossible.

"The Second Highness never told your servant when he would come again to Youzhou; this time your servant came to request an audience with Prince You mainly because of the White Gold Wild Horse you mentioned to the Second Highness. Your Highness is very interested, and specially sent your servant here; if it truly is a divine steed, please grant your favor, Prince You."

Upon hearing that his second older brother wouldn't come, the King at the right moment showed a little gloomy expression; when he heard mention of the White Gold Wild Horse, he waved his hand broadly: 'It's not a matter of parting with affection; my second older brother doesn't want that horse, so he'd send it back; I, the King, can't afford to buy it, and I'd feel bad seizing someone else's precious horse, but fortunately I also have one. Zhao Ba, have the stables bring the White family's deposited precious horse here for the Gold Steward to see.'

"Why don't we go sit over there in the corridor and wait a moment?"

"Please, Your Highness."

While waiting for the horse to be brought, the king didn't even go inside to sit; he just sat on his own short little colt.

The colt obeyed each command with a movement, very clever; the king intended to show off, and the gold steward clicked his tongue in amazement, thinking that these steppe barbarians really had a knack for raising horses.

After the performance, the king finally got off the horse, leading the colt whose shoulder was still lower than his own, strolling up to the gold steward and said, 'Do you think my second elder brother will like this horse?'

The gold steward took a quick look at the tiny colt, estimating it had just been born not long ago; its appearance was actually quite good. It's no small feat for such a short, tiny creature to be able to carry… this plump king.

The gold steward gave face by nodding, 'Excellent appearance, decent stamina—it should be a good horse.'

The king was delighted, 'One hundred thousand taels—will my second elder brother buy it?'

The gold steward said, '…This… Second Prince came for that white platinum wild horse; this colt must wait until I, the humble subject, return to ask the Second Prince. After all, I, the humble subject, will definitely still come to Youzhou later, and then I'll come again to seek an audience with Your Highness.'

The king wanted to let out a deep sigh, afraid that you would come in half a year and find it still this big…

After a while, Zhao Bao finally brought the white platinum wild horse; the horse wasn't led by him, but was dragged over by two tall, burly guards. Just now the horse almost dragged away the two little eunuchs in charge of the stables, frightening Zhao Bao into shouting for four guards, who finally managed to control the horse.

But now, to show the horse to the buyer, he sent away two of them, fearing that just seeing them would scare the buyer!

If this horse ends up in our hands and stays at the prince's residence… no, Zhao Bao just thinking about it makes him anxious; he would have to sell it to the Second Prince no matter what.

The white platinum wild horse's appearance is top-notch; just looking at its looks, it doesn't lose to his little red horse, equally tall and divine, but theirs is a rare color—white platinum.

The gold steward took a liking to it at first glance, believing the Second Prince would certainly be satisfied; this horse's divine magnificence is something he has never seen in his life.

When the white platinum wild horse flicked its head, its white mane, smooth and straight, swept out a handsome arc, not failing to captivate all the men present, big and small.

The gold steward immediately hammered the deal, 'What a magnificent steed! I, the humble subject, will buy this horse for the Second Prince!'

The king could tell from Zhao Bao's expression that this guy had just been up to something behind the scenes; hearing the other party agree so readily stirred a bit of brotherly feeling, and the king reminded, 'Are you sure you want to buy it? I must remind you, this horse's temperament is extremely unruly—ordinary people can't even hold it, let alone tame it.' He pointed at the two guards leading the horse.

'Your Highness, rest assured; I, the humble subject, have brought the Gold Family's escort agency north, each a top-notch expert. May I ask how this horse is to be sold?'

The king nodded, 'The horse-capturing wanderer asks 180,000 taels; I've told my second elder brother about it, but because this horse is wild and hard to tame, I helped my brother haggle, and now the horse's owner has agreed to sell it to me for 170,000 taels.'

The gold steward thanked the king again.

The king shifted tone, 'I've reminded you: this horse is wild and hard to tame, so when you go back you must also protect my second elder brother well! If it really doesn't work, I still have a secret horse-taming elixir here—taking it makes one's mind a bit clearer and dispels the wildness. It's extremely precious and hard to obtain, so take this horse back first for my second elder brother to play with; if you truly can't control it, send word and I'll have the caravan bring two pills.'

The gold steward immediately said, 'No need to bother; why not just sell him a few now?'

The king nodded in satisfaction and sent someone to contact the seller of the Beast-Feed Pills.

Not long after, Chen Cang arrived, exchanged greetings and discussed the price; mainly the king was helping him haggle for his second elder brother.

He successfully haggled the Beast-Feed Pills he himself had bought at 300 taels each up to 1,000 taels each, and the gold steward bought twenty of them at once.

If anyone else were selling such nonsense, he wouldn't buy it, but since it was recommended by the Prince of You, he thinks the Gold family ought to have the judgment to know whether it's useful or not.

No one who has finished touring the You Prince's mansion would dare to look down on this You Prince.

Well, the zeros wiped off the white platinum wild horse have doubled back into the king's hands.

That night, Vermilion Bird Street was blazing with lights, once again returning to the scene of all-night queuing from a month ago.

To the north lies a desolate, uninhabited mountain belonging to the Xianbei of Liaodong; today several large horses are stopped at its base.

'The south is really richer than I imagined; that You Prince is just a little brat not yet weaned, and the Great Jin emperor had such a splendid palace built for him.'

'I don't even know whether that little brat's fate can be held down…'

'…You say what kind of lamp can be that bright, able to illuminate the sky, brighter than the moon!'

'Do the Great Jin people even deserve to live in such a fine palace? I just won't accept it! Our steppe grass has all dried up, yet they seem to be doing quite well.'

'I disguised myself as a Jin person and went to look; that little prince not only built a palace, but also built a street better than our royal city for selling goods.'

'The day after tomorrow is their big festival…'