Chapter 32: The Imperial Gift Arrives and the Black Foal

Bai Shi and Chang Mama sat in the carriage returning to the mansion.

The street was bustling with noise—vendors calling out, hosts soliciting guests, chatter—all filtering into the carriage.

“Miss, after this incident, the Marquis must now understand what kind of people the Qin family truly are.”

“For the sake of these dowry goods, the Qin family actually went so far as to harm their own nephew.”

“Miss, you’re still young, and your Master has always protected you well.”

In Yangzhou, I once heard of families whose daughters and sons-in-law had died, leaving their granddaughter to return home with the family fortune, expecting a bright future.”

Who knew.”

Bai Shi looked surprised: “I’ve never heard of such a thing—what happened next?”

“The maternal family used up every last bit of the orphan girl’s inheritance to build their mansion; later, the girl fell ill and died without cure.”

“How could relatives act so cruelly?”

“Though your Lady Mother passed early, your Master has acted as both father and mother, never once depriving you of anything—hence your refined nature and pure heart, free from malice.”

“I have indeed seen too little of the world’s storms and too little of human wickedness.”

“With our Bai family’s wealth, had we not come to Dongjing Bianliang, where wouldn’t we be among the top households?”

“I once envied the noble families of Dongjing, but now I see—even if not all are wolves and tigers, none are vegetarians.”

“Then how shall we deal with the Dongchang Marquis family from now on?”

“From what I observe, the Marquis won’t act immediately—he’ll simply switch Yu Ge’s medicine, wait until he uncovers who truly has a black heart, then settle the matter himself.”

The Ningyuan Marquis’s carriage returned to the mansion.

Time passed slowly; two months slipped away in an instant.

On a street, a carriage bearing the banner of the Zhongqin Marquis’s mansion headed toward Quyuanjie.

Behind the carriage followed a small foal adorned with silk red flowers.

Arriving at Quyuanjie,

a middle-aged man from the Yuan family stepped down from the carriage,

and the Yuan family’s servant hurried forward to knock on the gate and state their purpose.

Soon, the wide central gate of the Xu family slowly opened, and Sun Shi, accompanied by the household stewards and children, greeted the visitor at the entrance.

The visitor was Marquis Yuan Bing, of the Zhongqin Marquis’s mansion,

Yuan Bing was Deputy Director of the Bianjing Herd Supervision,

and as a marquis making a formal visit, the Xu family opened their central gate to receive him.

This time, Yuan Bing brought the imperial gift Xu Zaijing had won at the Emperor’s birthday banquet.

Soon, the central gate of the Xu mansion swung wide open, and Yuan Bing, Deputy Director of the Herd Supervision, led a small foal through the main entrance.

“Marquis Yuan, thank you for your trouble,” Sun Shi bowed in gratitude.

Marquis Yuan Bing hurried to reply:

“Lady, you’re too formal—this gift was bestowed by His Majesty; please have your Third Son come see if it suits his taste.”

“Marquis, if you’ve brought it, the boy won’t have a word to say.”

“Lady, don’t be so polite—this foal was the Emperor’s own decree to give to Third Son; I dare not be careless.”

“Then, Marquis, please wait a moment.”

Soon, Xu Zaijing was brought from his desk to the front courtyard, and his eyes immediately fell upon the jet-black foal.

The foal was entirely black, with long limbs; though still young, its withers already reached below Yuan Bing’s waist.

At that moment, Xu Zaijing saw no one else—his horse trainer had long taught him much about judging horses through words and example.

To Xu Zaijing, this horse was nothing short of a peerless beauty among steeds—unmatured, yet already bewitching those who understood horses.

“Hehehe, so beautiful.”

A flash of delight passed through Yuan Bing’s eyes.

As Deputy Director of the Herd Supervision, he naturally knew horses.

He could have simply delivered the foal to the Xu family and been done.

But he insisted on coming himself, because this foal was delivered by his own hands.

Its mother was a legendary mare of unmatched grace,

and the filly had been born so lovely he’d adored her from the start.

Sending her felt like matchmaking a daughter.

Seeing Xu Zaijing so captivated, he knew the boy understood horses and would cherish her—his heart finally settled.

“Young Master, I entrust this little black filly to you.”

Since ancient times, a pure black stallion has been called Li.

Xu Zaijing snapped out of the foal’s enchantment.

“Thank you, Marquis.”

“Young Master, don’t be so formal—seeing you understand horses so well, I have no more worries. Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Marquis, won’t you stay for a meal?”

“The Herd Supervision has many duties—thank you, Lady.”

“Jingge, come with me to see the Marquis off.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The little Li foal, sensing Yuan Marquis was leaving, filled her bright eyes with panic,

neighing shrilly.

Even Yuan Marquis’s eyes held unmistakable reluctance, a faint moisture glistening at their edges.

Yet he still forced himself to turn and walk away,

trusting that Xu Zaijing would care for the Li foal.

The group emerged from the Xu mansion’s main gate.

Xu Zaijing saw a boy about three or four years older than him standing beside the Yuan carriage.

Yuan Bing walked to the carriage and bowed:

“Lady, Young Master, please stop here. Oh, this is my Second Son, Yuan Wenshao.”

The boy by the carriage bowed deeply:

“Greetings, Lady, Young Master.”

Sun Shi: “At your age, Second Son is already accompanying the Marquis on official duties—remarkable!”

Xu Zaijing: “Greetings, Elder Brother.”

Xu Zaijing bowed his body, but his mind thought:

Isn’t this Hua Lan’s future husband? I heard his mother has always favored his elder brother, Yuan Wenchun.

“I wonder if Sheng Hong has visited them yet.”

“Please, don’t see us off—farewell.”

Sun Shi looked at her Third Son: “Jing, why are you staring at the Yuan Second Son?”

“I admire this Yuan Second Brother—he’s young, yet already involved in household affairs.”

“Jing, you’re not bad either—you brought honor to the Xu family before His Majesty. Come, let’s go see the imperial gift, the little Li foal.”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

The little Li foal, removed from her familiar surroundings and the people she trusted, grew restless.

She could only neigh shrilly.

The one assigned to receive the Li foal was naturally Xu Zaijing’s horse trainer,

whose single eye had not left the foal since he first saw her.

His gaze toward Xu Zaijing’s own foal was full of disdain.

When the Xu family returned to the riding field after seeing off their guest, Xu Zaijing saw the Li foal nuzzling his master’s chest, blowing air from her nostrils.

This was how horses showed affection.

Xu Zaijing’s own foal, by contrast, grew uneasy, pawing the ground incessantly.

But tied by a rope, it could do nothing.

Seeing the one who had always cherished it now turned away, it grew angry.

Xu Zaijing grabbed a handful of grass and walked to his foal.

“You’re such a fool—she’s your future bride, and I got her for you. I even feel you’re not worthy of her.”

After feeding her, Xu Zaijing patted his foal’s head.

He then moved closer to his master, stroking the Li foal’s smooth coat, his eyes brimming with affection.

The arrival of the Li foal instantly stole all the attention from the little foal.

Whether Sun Shi or the Xu siblings, all gathered around the Li foal.

“Mother, little brother’s horse is so beautiful.”

“Jingge, I think your little horse doesn’t suit her anymore.”

“Brother, I feel the same.”

“You children—you’re saying she’s worthless just because she’s not pretty, when she brought the Xu family great honor?” Sun Shi said, displeased.

“Mother is right.”

“Right? Right what? Go write your characters and practice embroidery.”

The five children walked off laughing, and Sun Shi approached Li Ju.

“What a fine horse—look at that coat.”

The groom rasped, “In three years, the Hou Fu will have a steed nearly as good as the Hai family’s Yellow Wind Steed.”

“I beg you, Master, to spare no effort.”

“Lady, you flatter me too much.”

(End of Chapter)