Chapter 225

The Marquis of Xiangyang looked at the four spirited horses in excellent condition and turned back to ask:

"Jing Ge'er, are they both taken care of by these two dolls?"

"Grandfather Gu, previously it was my master who took care of them; since they two came, they have been theirs."

Although he walked with a limp, the tall Marquis of Xiangyang nodded and looked at Alan and Xunshu with admiration.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up; he looked at the scabbed wounds on their foreheads and asked:

"Jing Ge'er, have they sworn an oath of loyalty to you? How did you subdue these two Northern Liao fledgling eagles? Tell me about it."

Hearing the Marquis of Xiangyang call them "fledgling eagles," Alan and Xunshu were full of surprise, then respectfully performed a chest-touching salute to the Marquis of Xiangyang.

The Marquis of Xiangyang patted them with his large palm.

Xu Zaijing scratched his head and said:

"I didn't do anything; it was just a few days ago when I went to Wu Lou outside the city to play. Others were painting these two Dragon Colts, and I thought the horses were mine and I could paint them anytime, so I painted them beside the horses."

"After coming out of Wu Lou, I gave it to them, and the next day they swore this oath."

The Marquis of Xiangyang waved his hand and said: "You two walk in front; let's go see where you live."

Seeing Xu Zaijing nod, Alan and the other walked in front, leading the horses.

Looking at the horses' long legs and smooth, glossy skin as they walked, the Marquis of Xiangyang also clicked his tongue several times like the noble youths before him, looking like someone teasing a beauty.

At this time, the carriage team of Hou Gu of Xiangyang also stopped beside the racing track.

"Tsk tsk tsk, they are truly beautiful, but their teeth are a bit young; we'll have to wait two years to ride them."

"Grandfather Gu is right."

As they spoke, they arrived at the small hut beside the racing track.

Looking at Xu Zaijing's master, who was helping him open the door with a limp, the Marquis of Xiangyang laughed at himself: "Old partner, how did you injure your leg?"

The one-eyed horseman looked at the Marquis of Xiangyang and bowed: "Reporting to the Marquis, it was injured when I was fighting for my life."

"Hahaha, we are the same."

The difference was that the Marquis of Xiangyang survived and fought for a bright future, while the horseman only fought for a way to live.

After looking at the living quarters of Alan and Xunshu, as well as the portraits inside,

the Marquis of Xiangyang walked out and looked at the traces of martial arts practice on the field:

"This living condition is even better than that of Northern Liao nobles, and you treat them as human beings; being loyal to you is not a loss. Perhaps they will have a good future."

"Grandfather Gu, sit down and rest. Alan, you and Xunshu let the four of them run."

"Yes, Young Master."

Just now, the old man vaulted over the fence, ran to see the horses, and walked back and forth; it was somewhat tiring.

"Good! Let's sit and rest."

As he spoke, the Marquis of Xiangyang waved his hand, and one of the people dressed as stewards walked over.

After he whispered a few words in his ear, the steward hid the surprise on his face and turned to leave.

In the morning breeze, the Marquis of Xiangyang came to the table and chairs placed at the edge of the field.

Qingcao pulled out a chair, the Marquis of Xiangyang smiled and sat down.

Taking the tea cup, the Marquis of Xiangyang smelled it and tasted a sip, then said to Qingcao: "Little girl, did you make this tea?"

Qingcao squatted in a bow.

"Well done. Someone, give her a reward."

Qingcao was surprised and hurriedly squatted in a bow again: "Marquis, this is what I should do; I am ashamed to accept it."

"It's fine, I am rewarding you; your young master won't scold you. Right, Jing Ge'er?"

"Grandfather Gu can do whatever makes you happy."

"Good!"

As he spoke, a mama from the Marquis of Xiangyang's Gu family bowed beside a carriage, then opened an exquisite wooden box on the carriage and, after taking a look, held it and walked over.

She placed it in Qingcao's hands.

"See if you like it; if not, I'll have her change it."

After Xu Zaijing nodded, Qingcao opened the wooden box; inside was a set of pure gold headwear and jewelry. Having followed Xu Zaijing for so many years, Qingcao also had a discerning eye.

She closed the wooden box and said:

"Young Master, it's too precious."

"Grandfather Gu, why don't you change it for something else?"

"Good, I'll listen to you and change it!"

Qingcao breathed a sigh of relief. The Gu family mama smiled and took the wooden box from Qingcao's hand, and a moment later, she changed it for another one.

Qingcao took the wooden box, but the weight was even heavier than before. Opening it, she saw six solid gold hairpins lying in the box.

"Little girl, do you want to change it again?"

"Young Master..."

Xu Zaijing smiled and said: "Forget it, if you change it again, you won't be able to hold it."

The Marquis of Xiangyang raised his eyebrows.

Watching the horses running in the racing track, the Marquis of Xiangyang rewarded Qingyun with two gold water pots and two gold stirrups for different reasons.

Xu Zaijing was given a leather belt covered in gold ornaments.

After watching the horses run for three quarters of an hour, someone arrived at the side of the racing track again; it was the steward who had just left, bringing a master of painting.

When the master of painting was preparing the items for painting at the side of the field,

the steward came to the Marquis of Xiangyang's side and nodded.

Qingcao had received benefits, so when serving some snacks to the Marquis of Xiangyang, Qingcao let someone else take the popular task.

Unfortunately, after another maid placed the snacks on the table, the Marquis of Xiangyang didn't even move his eyelids.

This made the Xu family maids watching from the side sigh.

"Then, I'll do it."

Qingcao said from the roadside, then took another plate of fruit and served it.

The Marquis of Xiangyang nodded and said: "How did the little girl know I love this fruit? Reward her."

The maids: "..."

Sun Shi in the backyard, listening to the maid's report, instructed: "Don't change anymore; if it's not Jing Ge'er's person, the Old Marquis won't look at them."

An hour and a half later,

the Marquis of Xiangyang stood up from the chair beside the racing track and stretched.

Taking the drawing paper handed over by the steward and looking at the portrait of the spirited horse, he nodded with satisfaction.

Afterward, he said to Xu Zaijing: "Jing Ge'er, do you only have this one personal maid, Qingcao, now?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, then I think my gift is appropriate. Jing Ge'er, come, let me tell you."

As he spoke, the Marquis of Xiangyang took Xu Zaijing's hand and stood at the edge of the racing track, pointing at the ten large carriages:

"These first two carriages are a thank-you gift because your family's entrance was swept clean and tidy."

"These middle four carriages are a thank-you gift because you led my horse at the entrance."

"These next three carriages are an apology because I rode a horse in your Xu family's courtyard."

"This last one is because I see you are so young and only have this one maid taking care of you; it's a token of an elder's affection."

The last one was a carriage for people to sit in.

The carriage body was also decorated with beautiful flowers.

"Good, then this old man will take his leave. Let's go!"

As he spoke, the Marquis of Xiangyang nimbly mounted his horse.

The Marquis's stewards and maids followed behind the Marquis of Xiangyang and walked toward the outside of the gate.

Xu Zaijing saw them off to the main gate, and the Marquis of Xiangyang said with a smile: "Jing Ge'er, go back and see the last carriage; see if it's to your liking."

After speaking, the Marquis of Xiangyang rode away from the Xu residence.

Outside Quyuan Street, there was a carriage from the Duke of Qi's residence waiting there. Qi Heng bowed at the side of the carriage and said: "Grandfather."

"Hmm, get on, and come back with me."

As he spoke, Qi Heng was pulled onto the horse, and the remaining stewards and maids also boarded the Qi family's carriage.

Xu Zaijing returned to the racing track,

seeing Sun Shi, Xie Shi, and Hualan pointing and looking at the various boxes on the carriages at the edge of the racing track.

Anmei, who had been released from the embroidery room, casually opened a box and sighed as she looked at her two sisters-in-law.

At this time, Qingyun led the last carriage to everyone and said: "Matriarch, the Old Marquis instructed that this carriage should be opened by the Young Master himself."

Sun Shi raised her eyes and looked, and she had already guessed what was inside.

Sun Shi couldn't say whether she should be angry or happy in her heart,

but soon, she said: "Register the first nine carriages and put the things into the warehouse for safekeeping. As for this carriage, Jing'er?"

"Please handle it, Mother."

Xu Zaijing watched Qingcao put the rewards she had received into the carriage, then waved to her, and the master and servant returned to the small courtyard together.

Two quarters of an hour later,

Xu Zaijing heard Dan Mama's voice at the courtyard gate: "Young Master, the Matriarch asked me to send these people over."

Stepping out of the room,

looking at the two beautiful little maids who were younger than Qingcao, dressed in gold and silver, and looked extremely similar, Xu Zaijing looked at Dan Mama.

"The Matriarch says these two sisters are young, and since your courtyard has few people, she wants you to accept them. All their contracts and backgrounds are in the Matriarch's hands."

After Dan Mama walked away,

the two beautiful little maids didn't speak or look at each other; they directly squatted in a bow in unison and said:

"Servant sister Rong Yunxiang..."

"Servant sister Rong Huaxiang..."

"Greetings, Young Master."

Qingcao, who was behind Xu Zaijing, instantly felt a great sense of crisis,

and finally understood why the Marquis of Xiangyang gave her so many rewards...

But those things didn't fall into her hands either!

The old man looked kind; how could he be like this!

The Marquis of Xiangyang returned to his residence.

On the lunch table, there were quite a few nourishing and body-strengthening medicinal dishes.

After lunch and a nap,

the Marquis of Xiangyang once again admired the portrait of the Dragon Colt with emotion for a while.

By the evening,

the Marquis of Xiangyang went to a young mistress's courtyard.

By the time the Marquis of Xiangyang sent ten more carriages of gifts to the Marquis of Yongyi's residence, it was already the birthday of the Shenbao Temple in the sixth month of this year.

(End of chapter)