Chapter 554: The Ladies on Horseback [Many thanks! Thanks again! 40 chapters owed]

Those two exceptionally spirited Northern Liao dragon horses,

ever since arriving at the Xu family,

have produced only one foal, which now resides with Xu Anmei, who has married into the Hu Yan family.

Speaking of that little horse's ancestors,

one was a descendant of a fine steed selected by Xu Xu Zaijing's master, Yin Bo, from the horse market.

The other was a spirited black colt bestowed by the Emperor upon Xu Xu Zaijing after his performance in the palace.

As for its parents, the sire was the little black colt Xu Xu Zaijing rode most often, while the dam was a Northern Liao dragon horse.

Inheriting the virtues of these fine steeds, the young horse, though not yet old in tooth, possessed a well-proportioned build and astonishing height at the shoulder, already revealing a spirited physique.

Previously, because that little horse shared a birthday close to that of her nephew, Hu Hu Yanbi, creating a fated connection,

Ping Mei, as his aunt, found it improper to compete with her younger sister and nephew for this foal.

But now,

Ping Mei's son, Gu Gu Shixing, was nearly five years old by nominal age,

and observing that her father-in-law, Gu Yankai, the Marquis of Lady Ningyuan, seemed inclined to let his grandson begin learning to ride,

Ping Mei, as a mother, naturally thought to find a good horse for her son.

Yet although Bianjing was filled with numerous high-ranking families, dukes, marquises, and nobles,

regarding the quality of mounts, only a handful of families could compare to the Xu family, Marquis of Marquis Yongyi, such as the Cao family, Marquis of Marquis Tuoxi, and the Zhang family, Duke of Britain.

The only one possessing pure-blooded Northern Liao dragon horses was her own younger brother from her maiden family.

This year, coincidentally, two of her younger brother's mounts were with foal, so Ping Mei naturally began to scheme.

One must know that

previously, while chatting with her mother-in-law, Bai Shi, at the Lady Ningyuan Marquis Manor,

Bai Shi, having seen the foal Xu Xu Zaijing sent to the Hu Yan family, stated bluntly: "If this foal were placed in Yang Zhou, it would likely fetch over ten thousand strings of cash."

This price was due not only to the foal's own spirited nature but also to its Northern Liao dragon horse bloodline.

Having received such a precious and noble foal as a gift,

Pan Da Da Niangzi, the matriarch of the Hu Yan family, did not accept it for nothing; in the past year, the gifts from the Hu Yan and Pan families to the Xu family during festivals had been frighteningly heavy.

After Ping Mei shared her thoughts with Bai Shi, Bai Shi was extremely supportive, stating plainly that Ping Mei need not worry about arranging repayment herself, as she would handle it.

For regardless of whether the Xu family gifted a stallion or a mare, once they bred naturally, the Gu family stables would gain many fine horses.

Moreover,

just two days prior at the Feng family residence, the little black colt's spirit, strength, intelligence, and cleverness were witnessed by all the prominent families in the capital; if they learned that the colt's "sibling" was soon to be born, those seeking to purchase it would likely trample down the Xu family's threshold.

The noble young ladies sitting beside Ping Mei were all intelligent;

hearing the conversation and observing Ping Mei's expression, they vaguely understood what was happening.

Casting a glance toward Xu Xu Zaijing, who was riding over,

Gu Gu Tingyi smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, does this mean our family will have an additional fine horse next year?"

Ping Mei shook her head: "It depends on whether that boy is willing to part with it."

Recalling the scene from a few years ago when, after her eldest brother married, Xu Xu Zaijing and Xu Xu Zaizhang caused a disturbance at the Gu family home because a certain concubine of their father had wronged their eldest sister-in-law,

the smile on Gu Gu Tingyi's face grew even brighter: With Xu Wu Ge doting on his sister so much, how could he possibly refuse?!

Nearby, Zhang Family's Fifth Lady, along with Chai Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Rong Feiyan, looked at Gu Gu Tingyi with eyes full of envy, saying, "Sister Gu Tingyi, if the Gu family truly gets a foal, you must tell us!"

Now that Xu Anmei had married, it was indeed improper for unmarried noble young ladies to visit the Xu family directly.

But with the unmarried Gu Gu Tingyi present, their visits to the Gu family would be far more justified.

Gu Gu Tingyi smiled and nodded repeatedly.

"Clomp, clomp."

The little black colt's sturdy four hooves struck the ground as it halted nearby.

Xu Xu Zaijing dismounted with skilled elegance, cupped his hands, and smiled, saying, "Sister."

Then turning slightly: "Greetings to the four younger sisters."

Afterwards, he also nodded with a smile toward the Gu family's Old Nanny, the Zhang family's Nanny Fan, and several others.

The four noble young ladies hastily rose from their armchairs and, together with the nannies and maids behind them, returned the bow.

"Sister, you still prefer this spot along the north wall, facing the sun and sheltered from the wind."

Ping Mei smiled: "It feels so comfortable basking here."

While the brother and sister were conversing,

the four noble young ladies remained standing, their gazes unanimously fixed on the two spirited horses behind Xu Xu Zaijing, which were 'automatically navigating' toward Seeing Qingcao.

Subsequently,

the little black colt and the dragon horse lowered their heads, attempting to reach their muzzles into the basket before Seeing Qingcao, which was filled with carrots and fruits.

"Shoo, shoo! You can't eat like that!"

Seeing Qingcao and Yun Xiang, the sisters, guarded the basket and scolded aloud.

"What are you doing?"

Xu Xu Zaijing spoke softly; the two fine horses, which had been pushing their heads against Seeing Qingcao and the others in a 'rogue' attempt to force a meal, lifted their heads and snorted loudly.

Seeing this scene,

"Wow! Are they this intelligent?"

Zhang Family's Fifth Lady exclaimed in amazement from the side.

The nannies and maids standing near the four noble young ladies also looked on with eyes full of surprise.

Xu Xu Zaijing simply smiled and waved his hand toward Seeing Qingcao and the others.

Understanding the cue, Seeing Qingcao and the other two maids, with help from others, moved the baskets toward the racecourse.

"Brother Jing, let's go feed the horses,"

Gu Gu Tingyi said with a smile.

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded.

Whether it was Chai Chai Zhengzheng, Rong Rong Feiyan, Gu Gu Tingyi, or the Fifth Lady of the Zhang family, they all knew how to ride; their families kept gentle mounts on hand, so there was no fear of saying or doing anything that might startle the horses.

"Mama Fan, you need not follow us,"

the Fifth Lady of the Zhang family said with a smile as she handed her hand-warmer to her personal maid.

Then,

the four noble young ladies walked over to where Seeing Qingcao and the other two maids stood,

and held out carrots and fruit taken from the baskets to the mouths of the two fine steeds.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

The sounds of the horses munching carrots and fruit began to ring out.

In the racecourse,

A Lan also moved aside the wooden rail separating the two pregnant mares.

She saw that Xu Xu Zaijing's black filly and dragon steed, both heavily with foal, had entered the enclosure farthest to the north.

"Chai Zhengzheng, you and Rong Feiyan keep feeding them; Sister Gu Tingyi and I will go feed those two!"

the Fifth Lady of the Zhang family said, taking Gu Gu Tingyi's hand.

Chai Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Rong Feiyan smiled and nodded.

Gazing at the tall horse before her, Rong Rong Feiyan held out a carrot to the little black filly's mouth and said softly, "Thank you for that day at the Feng house; you are truly clever!"

"Crack, crack!"

The little black filly twitched its ears a few times and ate contentedly.

As the horse's mouth took the carrot, it brushed against Rong Rong Feiyan's palm; laughing, she drew her hand back, then happily patted the filly's head.

Beside her, Chai Chai Zhengzheng said nothing, only smiling as she looked at the beautiful dragon steed before her.

Under A Lan and the others' care, the dragon steed's coat was sleek and glossy, faintly shimmering in the sunlight.

The first time Chai Chai Zhengzheng had seen this dragon steed was not at the Xu house, but in the Golden Goat Mountain Shanzhai within Prince Yan's fiefdom.

Since that incident concerned her own reputation, Chai Chai Zhengzheng naturally could not say much; she merely smiled at the spirited horse before her.

After feeding the dragon steed another carrot,

Chai Chai Zhengzheng turned around in the sunlight,

and looking at Xu Xu Zaijing, who was speaking with Xu Xu Pingmei behind her, said, "Brother Xu Wu, may I ride it?"

Hearing the voice beside her,

Rong Rong Feiyan also turned to look.

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded. "You may."

Saying this,

under the gaze of both Chai Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Rong Feiyan,

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and stepped forward.

On the north side of the Xu family's spacious racecourse,

Xu Xu Zaijing was the host and the two young ladies were guests;

moreover, maids and matrons from five households stood nearby, so this was not a private meeting alone, and there was no need to avoid suspicion.

Watching Xu Xu Zaijing draw nearer,

Chai Chai Zhengzheng strove not to grow nervous; she crouched, picked up another carrot, and held it out to the dragon steed's mouth.

In the brief time it took Chai Chai Zhengzheng to make that movement, Xu Xu Zaijing had already stepped to the dragon steed's side and adjusted the length of the hanging stirrup.

He then moved from behind the horse to the other side and adjusted that one as well.

Looking at Xu Xu Zaijing standing not far away beside the dragon steed, Chai Chai Zhengzheng regarded him openly; when Xu Xu Zaijing met her gaze, she smiled and said crisply, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Xu Wu."

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded. "Come over."

Chai Chai Zhengzheng paused for a moment, then smiled and walked from Rong Rong Feiyan's side toward Xu Xu Zaijing.

Meanwhile, Xu Xu Zaijing retraced his steps from behind the horse, circled more than halfway around the little black filly, and arrived at the spot where Chai Chai Zhengzheng had just been standing, where he patted the dragon steed's head.

Chai Chai Zhengzheng, with practiced ease, stepped into the stirrup; as her beautiful skirt fluttered, she swung her leg over and settled onto the saddle.

"Can you apply force?"

Xu Xu Zaijing asked from before the horse.

Testing her feet in the stirrups, Chai Chai Zhengzheng, looking down at Xu Xu Zaijing from above, nodded with a smile at the corner of her lips, as if recalling something. "Just right."

Adjusting the dragon steed's bridle, Xu Xu Zaijing said, "Good! When riding, do not pull too hard on the reins; it is very clever."

"Mm!"

Chai Chai Zhengzheng nodded firmly, then lightly tapped the horse's flank; the dragon steed stepped forward smoothly.

After waving to Xu Xu Pingmei, the Chai family matron, and her personal maid nearby, Chai Chai Zhengzheng patted the dragon steed's neck and cried brightly, "Giddyup!"

The saddle on the dragon steed's back was of Northern Liao make, very comfortable and well-fitted.

The experience of riding the dragon steed was altogether different from that of other mounts.

Riding while taking in the scenery around the racecourse, Chai Chai Zhengzheng felt truly joyful and carefree this day.

Turning her head to look at Gu Gu Tingyi and the Fifth Lady of the Zhang family, who were watching her with envy from not far behind, Chai Chai Zhengzheng smiled and waved.

Nearby,

"Pfft~"

The little black foal lowered its head, let out a loud snort, nudged its large head into Rong Rong Feiyan's embrace, then lightly lifted a hoof and took another step forward.

This caused Rong Rong Feiyan, who stood before the little black foal, to be pushed back two steps.

Seeing this scene, the Rong family maidservant Seeing Xi Bu and Seeing Ningxiang were about to step forward.

Looking at the little black foal constantly twitching its ears before her, Rong Rong Feiyan, who was gripping its bridle, looked somewhat at a loss toward Xu Xu Zaijing beside her,

then glanced at Xu Pingmei not far behind and stammered, "Sister Xu Xu Pingmei, Brother Xu Wu... what's wrong with it?"

Xu Pingmei smiled at the little black foal and said, "Look, it likes you very much and wants to play with you a bit."

"Ah?" Rong Rong Feiyan's face filled with surprise.

Seeing Xi Bu, who had already walked forward two steps, said, "Miss, this... you must be careful!"

After nodding to Seeing Xi Bu, Rong Rong Feiyan turned to look at Xu Xu Zaijing beside her and said, "Can I... Brother Xu Wu?"

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled: "Why wouldn't you be able to?"

Having said that,

Xu Xu Zaijing walked over to the little black foal and similarly adjusted the stirrups one or two notches.

Rong Rong Feiyan mounted sideways, sitting atop the little black foal, and sighed with some emotion on her face: "Brother Xu Wu, this... it's so high!"

Xu Xu Zaijing chuckled: "Ride slowly."

Looking at Xu Xu Zaijing's smiling face, Rong Rong Feiyan nodded and said, "Mm."

Afterwards, matching the stepping rhythm of the little black foal, Rong Rong Feiyan slowly guided the horse and walked out.

After Gu Gu Tingyi and the Zhang family's Fifth Lady watched Rong Rong Feiyan ride off into the distance, the two held hands and quickly ran over to Xu Xu Zaijing's side, looking at him.

Gu Gu Tingyi said, "Brother Jing, can Fifth Lady and I..."

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "Wait until those two younger sisters return."

"Brother Jing, you're so good!" The Zhang family's Fifth Lady beside him couldn't help but smile, stood on tiptoe, and praised.

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled.

Before long,

Chai Chai Zhengzheng rode the dragon horse around the bend in front of the wooden hut, the road behind leading straight north.

Although the dragon horse's gait was steady without any bumping,

on this final straight stretch, the dragon horse's speed was not slow; the wind generated by its run blew Chai Chai Zhengzheng's hair, who had ridden more than half a circle, into some disarray.

Not only her hair,

but the winter wind also froze Chai Chai Zhengzheng's cheeks until they turned somewhat red.

"Whoa~"

With a smile on her face, Chai Chai Zhengzheng gently pulled the reins, and the dragon horse slowly halted before Xu Xu Zaijing.

"Brother Xu Wu, this horse is wonderful!" Chai Chai Zhengzheng laughed. "It's a pity that for us riding it to play polo, it's a bit too high."

While Chai Chai Zhengzheng was speaking,

Seeing Qingcao had already walked to the side of the dragon horse, preparing to extend a hand to help Chai Chai Zhengzheng dismount.

Meanwhile, the Zhang family's Fifth Lady beside Xu Xu Zaijing asked doubtfully, "Is that so, Chai Zhengzheng? Then let me try!"

Saying this, the Zhang family's Fifth Lady was about to step forward.

Seeing Qingcao, standing at the dragon horse's side, said, "Fifth Miss, you'd better feed it first and get on friendly terms with it."

Chai Chai Zhengzheng, still on horseback, smiled at Seeing Qingcao and nodded to Fifth Lady.

"Oh! That's true!"

By the time Rong Rong Feiyan in the distance had ridden the little black foal halfway,

the Zhang family's Fifth Lady had already stepped into the stirrup, flipped onto the horse, first let out a startled "Wa!", then flicked the reins and shouted, "Let's go!"

Saying this, she guided the horse into a light trot and dashed out.

Riding horses in the Duke of Britain's residence was as natural to Fifth Lady as drinking water; her horsemanship skills were far beyond what Chai Chai Zhengzheng, who rode less frequently, could compare to.

After trotting only a few steps,

the dragon horse's speed picked up,

and while galloping, the Zhang family's Fifth Lady even performed several polo movements on horseback, making Mama Fan, who watched from the side, extremely anxious.

The result was that,

just as Rong Rong Feiyan was about to reach the group,

Fifth Lady had already caught up from behind, riding the dragon horse that was running joyfully.

"Sister Rong Feiyan, you must hold on tight!"

The Zhang family's Fifth Lady behind called out toward Rong Rong Feiyan.

"Oh!"

Rong Rong Feiyan hurriedly acted according to her words.

Sure enough, as the dragon horse passed by, the little black foal also suddenly accelerated, causing Rong Rong Feiyan on its back to lean slightly backward.

"Clomp clomp~"

The dragon horse and the little black foal stopped one after another before Xu Xu Zaijing.

The Zhang family's Fifth Lady looked at Chai Chai Zhengzheng, who had already sat back down beside Xu Pingmei, and said, "Chai Zhengzheng, you were right; Brother Jing's dragon horse is indeed a bit too high."

Supported by Seeing Qingcao, Rong Rong Feiyan also dismounted; after glancing at the little black foal beside her, she smiled and said, "It's... truly mischievous!"

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded, saying, "When I ride it, if other horses pass nearby, it also wants to chase them."

Afterwards,

the Zhang family's Fifth Lady switched to the little black foal and rode another lap,

Gu Tingyi likewise tried out the two fine steeds,

By the time the crowd returned to the Xu family's rear courtyard, the sun had already begun to dip toward the west.

Not long after their return,

the guests who had come to the Xu residence today one by one took their leave and departed.

At dusk,

within Lady Ningyuan Hou Fu,

Gu Gu Tingye, wearing an expression of exhaustion, led a female servant to Bai Shi's courtyard to take their meal.

Upon entering the room,

seeing his sister in the main hall smiling brightly as she spoke with her sister-in-law, Xu Pingmei, Gu Gu Tingye and Bai Shi performed their rites before asking, "Gu Tingyi, what matter has made you so happy?"

A moment later,

after Gu Gu Tingyi finished speaking,

Gu Gu Tingye looked at Xu Pingmei with an expression of some disbelief on his face,

and once Xu Pingmei smiled and nodded in confirmation, Gu Gu Tingye's face lit up with delight; he quickened his pace by several steps, took his nephew Gu Gu Shixing from Bai Shi's arms, and said in a tone brimming with doting affection and consultation, "My good nephew, your uncle has a matter..."

(End of Chapter)