Chapter 332

In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the third month.

As in previous years,

The imperial garden Jinming Pool, west of Bianjing City, was opened wide,

Whether they were noble families or commoners of Bianjing, all could enter the garden to tour and fish.

Therefore, the commoners in Bianjing City heading west were endless, and early in the morning, the area near Shuntian Gate and Xinzheng Gate was already somewhat crowded.

Quyuanjie,

Marquis Yongyi's Prefecture,

Alan led a dragon colt in each hand out of the stables.

At this moment, the 'son' of the Li colt trotted over, and before it had gotten very close, the dragon colt that Alan had raised since it was small shook its head and kicked.

For a time, it kept the 'little Li colt' from getting close.

This action made Alan pause, then he hurriedly comforted the dragon colt to one side, and while looking down, he placed his hand on the horse's belly.

After Alan's hand felt it for a while, his eyes became full of surprise.

He patted the dragon colt's neck and then shouted happily to Ren Shu Yin, who was by the racecourse.

When Xu Zaijing's master, Ren Shu Yin, heard this, his face was full of surprise as he walked over with a limp, first putting a bridle on the 'little Li colt' and tying it to the side.

Then he walked to the dragon colt that Alan was taking care of, and after an inspection, Ren Shu Yin also smiled and said:

"Don't let her go out! She needs to be well-cared for!"

Alan nodded with a smile.

At this moment,

Xu Zaijing walked over from the aisle with Qingcao and the Huaxiang sisters.

Walking close,

Looking at the scene in the racecourse, Qingcao asked curiously: "Ren Shu, why is this little Li colt tied up?"

Ren Shu Yin explained a few words while putting a bridle and saddle on the dragon colt that Xunshu had raised before.

Listening to Ren Shu Yin's words, the three young maids looked at each other in surprise,

And the little Li colt tied by the wooden fence let out a few "neighs," lifting its front hooves from time to time, appearing quite proud.

A quarter of an hour later,

Xu Zaijing rode another dragon colt out of the Xu family's main gate.

Behind him followed a carriage.

Seeing Xu Zaijing come out, Chu Zhan hurriedly bowed in salute.

After Xu Zaijing and the carriage passed, Chu Zhan walked a few quick steps, jumped onto a carriage, and smiled: "Ren Shu, let's follow!"

The middle-aged man Ren Xiaoqiang, who was driving the flatbed carriage, flicked his whip, and the carriage began to move.

Behind them were several ox carts of the Marquis's old acquaintances, also following behind.

When they arrived at Shuntian Gate Street, the flow of people was bustling, and the carriages and horses were like a stream.

However, Xu Zaijing did not encounter the Emperor's imperial carriage this year; listening to the words of the passersby, it turned out that the Emperor's imperial carriage had already passed.

On the carriage, Chu Zhan sat to the side, somewhat worried, and said:

"Sigh, Ren Shu Shu's wife didn't give birth early or late, but had to give birth last night!"

"Now it's good, Ren Shu Shu and Qingyun Ge can't go to Jinming Pool!"

Ren Shu, who was driving the carriage, straightened his body, leaned forward to look ahead, and then glanced at him sideways, saying:

"Little Chu, I see you're not feeling sorry for Ren Shu Shu and Qingyun, but lamenting that you can't sit on Qingyun's big horse's back like last year, right?"

Chu Zhan was stunned, nodded sheepishly, and said:

"Ren Shu, didn't I just shout at you last year... why do you always speak the truth!"

"Besides, the difference in field of view is really big!"

Following behind their own Young Master, the two talked, and soon they left the city.

After leaving Xinzheng Gate with the crowded crowd and crossing the Hulong River,

Turning at the intersection, they headed toward the main gate of Jinming Pool.

In the Xu family carriage,

Qingcao, through the curtains lifted by Huaxiang and Yunxiang, saw that there were many colorful sheds set up along the road they had turned onto,

In her view, the contents of these sheds were about the same as every festival.

But the Huaxiang and Yunxiang sisters were watching with great interest in the carriage, and would exclaim endlessly when they saw fire-breathing performances.

After the sisters finished cheering, Huaxiang, the sister by the carriage window, looked at Qingcao and said:

"Sister Qingcao, are you really not watching?"

Qingcao shook her head and smiled: "You all watch."

She had been with her Young Master for so many years and had come out so many times that she was truly somewhat tired of watching.

"Oh!"

After asking, the sisters continued to look outside the carriage through the light gauze on the carriage window.

The sisters had been in the Marquis of Xiangyang's household since they were small; although they didn't have to worry about food and clothing and studied women's life skills every day, they were said to be more precious than the daughters of ordinary official families.

But their status was, after all, that of slaves, and they had no opportunity to come out and watch the festivals of previous years.

It was only since being sent to the Xu household over half a year ago and following Xu Zaijing to and from school that they had seen more of the city's style and could come out to watch the excitement during festivals.

They had only heard of the scenery of Jinming Pool.

Outside Jinming Pool,

Commoners and noble families entered in separate streams,

Although the noble families' side was walking in 'two lanes' side-by-side, it was still somewhat crowded, and entering obviously required waiting a little.

At the entrance,

The surroundings were full of people talking, shouting, and greeting each other.

The fine horses and ornate carriages in the two 'lanes' stopped and went from time to time, following the release speed of the imperial guards maintaining order.

For some reason, the release speed in front of Xu Zaijing's side had nearly stopped;

The carriages and horses on his left side were walking forward one after another.

At this moment,

An exquisite and luxurious carriage stopped behind Xu Zaijing's left,

A woman's voice came from the luxurious carriage:

"You haven't put down the curtain once this whole way!"

"Those who know understand you're seeing Jinming Pool for the first time; those who don't would think you're looking for someone!"

"Why did you suddenly stop looking?"

Another somewhat familiar, crisp girl's voice said:

"Mother, no, nothing."

The woman's voice said again:

"Oh? Nothing?"

Listening to the voices, Xu Zaijing felt a gaze fall upon him.

"Eh? Jing Ge'er?"

Xu Zaijing heard this and looked to the left rear.

To the left rear, the carriage curtain had been lifted, and Madam Chai was looking at Xu Zaijing, who was wearing a bright silk spring shirt, with a kind smile.

Because the dragon colt moved a few times due to Xu Zaijing's confused actions, Xu Zaijing hurriedly patted its neck to soothe it.

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing bowed slightly on horseback and smiled:

"Madam, spring greetings!"

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng, who was poking her head out from behind Madam Chai to look at him, he nodded and smiled:

"Da Niangzi Zhengzheng, good morning."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded in the carriage, counting as a return greeting.

Looking at the handsome youth on horseback who seemed to be shining in the bright spring sun, Chai Zhengzheng lifted her eyes to look at him, and a smile floated to the corners of her mouth.

Subsequently,

Feeling the youth's gaze looking at her, she lowered her eyebrows and eyes, looking at the silk patterns on the inner wall of the carriage.

For some reason, perhaps it was the sun, but Chai Zhengzheng's face felt somewhat hot.

Oh, the sun couldn't reach inside the carriage.

"Jing Ge'er, good child, after you enter the garden, come find Eldest Brother and Second Brother in our tent to play!"

Madam Chai smiled as she looked at the handsome Xu Zaijing in the sun, the more she looked, the more satisfied she became.

How should one put it,

Riding a fine horse combined with years of exercise made Xu Zaijing tall and straight, with an aura of masculine heroism;

Yet Xu Zaijing had been studying all along, whether in the Xu household or the Sheng household, and had quite a bit of scholarly aura,

And the way he looked at people was upright and peaceful.

No matter how Madam Chai looked, she found him pleasing to the eye, especially since Xu Zaijing had saved her precious pearl by a stroke of luck.

Xu Zaijing nodded in agreement.

Madam Chai nodded at Xu Zaijing with a face full of smiles and affection, and lowered the curtain.

At this moment, the carriages and horses in front of the Chai family began to move, and the Chai family carriage also walked forward.

Chai Jin and his brother, who were following behind, looked at the horse Xu Zaijing was sitting on with great envy,

And after patting each other on the shoulder, they followed.

When Madam Chai was talking to Xu Zaijing,

In a carriage not far behind the Chai family, a woman dressed as a noble lady knocked on the carriage door and said:

"Why have we stopped again?"

"Reporting to Madam, the Chai family in front is talking to the noble family on the right."

"Which family?"

"I can't see the nameplate hanging in front of the carriage, but the horse the noble youth is sitting on is very spirited!"

The noble lady lifted the curtain and tilted her head to look forward, but her field of view could only see the tail of the Xu family's carriage, and nothing else.

"Spirited? Can it be more spirited than our family's horse?"

The two girls beside this noble lady exchanged glances and said:

"Mother, a spirited horse? A few days ago when we returned to the capital and had our first gathering with the sisters of the Duke of Cheng's household, we heard them say the Marquis of Yongyi's Xu family has two."

After the two girls finished speaking, the noble lady glared over, resentfully tapped the two girls on the forehead, and said:

"If it weren't for you two dawdling, why would I have to wait here; I would have already gone in with your father."

Hearing her mother's words, the two girls sheepishly said nothing.

The carriage continued to move,

The noble lady leaned on the curtain, looking outside curiously.

Then she saw Xu Zaijing, who was still 'stuck' there.

Looking at Xu Zaijing's figure riding on the dragon colt's back.

The noble lady in the carriage: "Hiss! This boy!"

As she spoke, she looked at her own two daughters in the carriage.

As the carriage walked, the noble lady said: "Wait a moment where the Chai family stopped just now."

"Yes, Madam."

Soon,

This carriage stopped beside Xu Zaijing.

The carriage curtain had never been lowered, and the noble lady looked at Xu Zaijing, who was gradually approaching, her gaze constantly scanning him.

Xu Zaijing looked over curiously, and looking at the noble lady in the carriage who was covered in pearls and jade and whose eyes were full of scrutiny, he nodded politely.

"Good boy! This horse is truly good!"

Xu Zaijing nodded and said: "Madam, you flatter me! May I ask which household you are from?"

Looking at the noble lady in the carriage who pushed her daughter's head, which was poking over, to the side, Xu Zaijing smiled slightly.

The servant woman following beside the carriage said: "This Young Master, we are from the Duke of Consort Fu Guo's Dou household!"

Xu Zaijing looked at the noble lady in the carriage and nodded: "Oh! Duke's Prefecture, shouldn't you have already gone into the garden with His Majesty? This is?"

The noble lady tilted her head and glared at her daughter again.

The servant woman smiled awkwardly and said: "Inner family... some matters."

Xu Zaijing nodded apologetically.

Just as the noble lady was about to say something more, she saw two identical, very beautiful young girls flash by in the carriage behind Xu Zaijing.

Looking at the little beauties in the opposite carriage, the noble lady's eyes widened, and she lowered the curtain and sighed:

"Hiss, this pair of little fox spirits! This boy has such good fortune!"

The Dou household's girls poked their heads to the window: "Mother, where?"

Looking at her own two daughters of average appearance, the noble lady said:

"Don't look, lest you two ask me for clothes and hairpins again."

"In a few days, I'll have Madam Wu of the Liang household go ask; if it can really happen, I'll definitely have to drive these two fox spirits away."

Looking at her two daughters' curious appearance, the noble lady lifted the curtain a crack again.

The two Dou household girls poked their heads to look.

Looking at her two daughters' surprised, wide-open eyes, the noble lady pulled the curtain shut and whispered:

"Forget it, I'd better go inquire with Princess Pingning first!"

"Your father and the Duke of Qi were classmates, and I grew up together with Princess Pingning, so I should be able to ask something."

At this moment, Xu Zaijing's side finally began to move forward.

Soon, everyone entered the Jinming Pool garden.

Xu Zaijing saw a puddle of water at the entrance, and a smell of wine was drifting about, as if some family's fine wine had been dropped,

Which was also the reason for the congestion on this road.

The Jinming Pool garden, which hadn't been opened for a year, became lively again.

Walking a few steps inside,

Not far ahead, a military guard captain with a flower pinned to his head and a bright red cloak over his armor was riding on a horse, surrounded by several foot soldiers,

Who else could it be but Rong Xian, who seemed to be maintaining order at the entrance!

Seeing the Chai family's carriage pass, Rong Xian gave a few instructions and immediately dismounted, walking over with a smile and a bow.

Coming to the carriage, Rong Xian's eyes were full of hope, and he poked his head into the carriage from time to time.

But in the end, Rong Xian still looked disappointed, regretful, and reluctant on his face, his gaze following the Chai family's carriage as it went far away.

Subsequently, Rong Xian turned and got on his horse, and after seeing Xu Zaijing, a smile instantly appeared on his face.

When he rode over, his path was just blocked by the Dou household's carriage.

Looking at the Dou household girl in the carriage who lifted the curtain to look out, and her surprised eyes when she saw him,

Rong Xian rolled his eyes quite proudly,

And after a sneer, he thought to himself:

He had seen this kind of gaze too many times! Wasn't it just coveting his handsome exterior!

Can't they stop looking at his skin and look at his inner self, which is more carefree!

Why couldn't anyone see it?

Who understood the sorrow in his heart!

Also! These two girls, they look average... if they were better looking, actually, he could accept them coveting his Rong Xian's appearance.

Rong Xian thought about these things, sighed, adjusted the flower on his hair bun, and continued to walk toward Xu Zaijing on horseback with a smile.

Coming close, the two walked side-by-side.

Xu Zaijing and Rong Xian bowed to each other with a smile on horseback, saying: "Xian Ge'er, this outfit is truly quite good!"

"Fifth Young Master, you have an eye for it!!"

"Hiss, let me touch! Ouch, my little heart."

As he spoke, Rong Xian affectionately stroked the very smooth hair on the dragon colt's neck.

Xu Zaijing said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry:

"I say Xian Ge'er, can you put away this lecherous, enjoying look!"

"I can't put it away at all, because this is the true portrayal of my inner self."

Reluctantly leaving the dragon colt's neck, only then did Rong Xian look back,

"Hmm? Fifth Young Master, why do you only have these few people today? Where is Qingyun?"

Xu Zaijing cleared his throat and said: "Qingyun's mother-in-law just gave birth to a son last night, so he has to take care of his wife."

Rong Xian raised his eyebrows:

"Qingyun's father-in-law is truly still vigorous in his old age."

After looking around, he whispered again: "Jing Ge'er, does Qingyun's father-in-law have any secret recipe?"

Xu Zaijing looked at Rong Xian, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and said: "Yes!"

Rong Xian's eyes lit up: "Oh?"

Xu Zaijing: "According to the half-grown boy on the carriage behind, Ren Shu Shu loves eating oysters the most!"

Rong Xian: "Oh!!!"

He patted Xu Zaijing's arm again: "Good brother!"

Beside the Rong family tent by Jinming Pool,

Rong Feiyan, with two maids, held a fan and looked toward her brother.

Looking at her brother, who was talking very intimately with Xu Zaijing, Rong Feiyan pursed her lips somewhat gloomily.

"What are they talking about!"

"Looking at Brother laughing so happily, it definitely isn't anything good!"

(End of chapter)