Chapter 718: He Is Horse Bone, We Are a Thousand Golds【Thank You! Again, We Bow】

Early May,

precisely at the hour of Chen (around 8 a. m.),

Yunneizhou,

Jiuyuan City,

twelve hundred li from Dongjing,

in the height of summer,

the city's interior and outskirts were no longer the withered, yellowed desolation of winter,

standing atop the city walls and gazing outward from above, the view was filled with lush greenery, brimming with vitality.

The sprawling military camps outside the city were likewise enveloped in green.

A southern breeze stirred, causing the battle flags within the camps to flutter now and then.

At that moment,

"Boom! Boom!"

a sound like thunder faintly echoed from afar.

The soldiers on the walls turned their gazes toward the source of the noise.

As time passed,

the thunderous sound grew louder and louder.

After a long while,

the soldiers on the walls finally saw a vast cavalry force, following the banners snapping in the wind, advancing in battle formation toward a distant point.

Soon after,

in the soldiers' line of sight, the massive cavalry division split naturally, like water meeting a fork in the stream, veering around a central point.

The city guards, having some military knowledge,

understood that in actual combat, the area bypassed by the cavalry would now be raining arrows.

Watching from the walls, though sizable, the cavalry moved with seamless precision, no hint of disorder—many riders turning and maneuvering as one, clearly an elite force of rare quality.

Merely observing them was a great pleasure.

Just as the soldiers wished to continue their "enjoyment," unseen signals—flags and drums—appeared elsewhere.

The distant cavalry ceased their drill, consolidated into one unit, and charged toward the outer camp.

Within the camp,

before the central command tent,

whinnies rang out continuously,

over a dozen sturdy, battle-hardened young captains and lieutenants reined in their horses before the tent, dismounted, and walked into the courtyard.

Without knowing how many blades of grass they had crushed, these young officers and their mounts were both dusted with bits of leaves and grass.

A faint scent of crushed plant juice lingered in the air.

As they entered the courtyard,

the young officers were still chatting among themselves.

One said with evident dissatisfaction: "We were just getting warmed up! Why did the General order us back?"

"Junyi, I think our coordination was flawless! At the point where we split—"

As they walked a few steps further and noticed the sharp-eyed personal guards standing nearby, the officers fell silent and exchanged startled glances.

Soon after, they entered the main building serving as the central command tent.

At a glance,

beside the large sand table,

the camp's usual commander, Xu Zai, and his deputy, Zhang Fang, stood solemnly to one side.

Beneath the map directly opposite the entrance,

a man stood with his palms resting on the edge of the sand table, intently studying the terrain before him.

Seeing this man,

the young officers entering the room all bowed and clasped their fists in unison: "Your humble officers, salute General!"

Marquis Xu Minghua raised his head, gazing at the many young, sweat-drenched faces in the room, and nodded with a smile: "Good!"

He added: "Are all present?"

"All here, General!" Xu Zai replied, clasping his fists.

"Hmm!"

Xu Minghua withdrew his hands from the sand table, adjusted his robes, then extended his hand outward.

Moments later,

Xu Minghua held up a golden tiger tally and declared loudly: "By imperial decree and the orders of the Palace Guard Command!"

Upon hearing these words,

all officers and soldiers in the room knelt on one knee, clasping their fists in salute.

Listening to Marquis Xu Minghua's words, the kneeling young captains' eyes gleamed with excitement.

Soon after,

elite vanguard scouts, each with three horses, rode out of the camp toward the east.

You hour (after 5 p. m.),

Bianjing,

when Xu Zaijing and the others finished class, the sun still hung in the west, the daylight brighter than on a winter afternoon at Shen hour (after 3 p. m.).

Xu Zaijing and his classmates did not hurry home; as usual, they found a roadside tavern, sat together, ate chilled snacks, and drank iced beverages.

Seated in a private room upstairs,

the fruit—freshly washed and bought earlier on the street—was placed on the table.

Qi Heng gazed across at Gu Tingye.

At that moment, Gu Tingye had just taken a folding fan with its case from the maid Qiuniang.

Qi Heng asked curiously: "Second Uncle, that fan case you hold looks exceedingly refined."

Between them, Xu Zaijing was gently fanning himself, the cool breeze bringing him great comfort.

Hearing Qi Heng's words, Xu Zaijing glanced at Gu Tingye and said: "Yuanruo, guess who gave you that fan case?"

Qi Heng smiled: "Likely the eldest daughter of the Yu family?"

Gu Tingye glanced at the two with mild disdain: "Pfft! Let me tell you—it was my own younger sister who gave me this!"

"Tsk! You two don't even have sisters—you can't even wish for one! Hah!"

After laughing twice, Gu Tingye picked up a apricot and added: "Wait—maybe Jingge might get a sister someday! But to get one like this? Who knows when that'll happen!"

With that, he bit into the apricot.

Xu Zaijing and Qi Heng, unable to refute him, could only smile helplessly.

Then, seeing Gu Tingye's face twist from the sourness of the apricot, they laughed even harder.

As Qi Heng was about to speak, watching Hua Xiang bring Xu Zaijing the early peaches, Qingyun called from the doorway: "Young Master Liang Liu is here!"

Hearing this, the three in the room all looked surprised, turning toward the screen at the door.

There emerged Liang Han, frowning.

"Greetings, Elder Brothers, Young Lord."

After bowing stiffly, Liang Han sat down heavily across from Xu Zaijing and grabbed an apricot.

"Hey, Liu Lang," Gu Tingye reached out.

"Crunch."

Liang Han bit hard into the apricot, chewed, then looked at Gu Tingye in confusion: "Hm?"

Then his face twisted in sourness too.

"Pfft."

He spat out the chewed apricot flesh.

"Too—too damn sour."

Hua Xiang, standing nearby, quickly poured a cup of drink and brought it over.

After rinsing his mouth, Liang Han thanked Hua Xiang.

"Liu Lang, why are you here today?" Gu Tingye picked up two cherries.

Liang Han shook his head: "Second Uncle Gu, it's just that—"

Xu Zaijing said: "Whatever it is, we can discuss it—maybe we can help you figure something out."

"Sigh!" Liang Han sighed wearily: "It's my eldest half-brother again. Somehow, he got transferred from General Gan's command to General Tao's."

"According to my father, if war breaks out, my half-brother might get the chance to earn glory for the nation, like Jingge."

"Whereas I—neither scholarly nor martial—just waste my days wandering around Bianjing. I should be sent to the northern front!"

"Because of this, Father and Mother have been quarreling again at home."

Seeing Gu Tingye nodding, Liang Han glared: "Wait—what's your nodding supposed to mean, Second Uncle Gu?"

Gu Tingye paused, then laughed and waved his hand: "Liu Lang, I'm not mocking you—I myself truly wish to go north and earn glory like Jingge."

"Ah! I thought— I don't want to go north! What's good about the battlefield? Better to stay in the capital, study, and focus on fishing!" Liang Han grumbled.

"Hmph." Qi Heng, across from Gu Tingye, glanced at Xu Zaijing and couldn't help laughing.

Xu Zaijing spat the peach pit into his palm, glared at Qi Heng, then said to Liang Han: "?"

Liang Han nodded.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Sixth Young Master, I think you don't want to go—and you need another reason inside your heart: that girl you were hugging and cuddling by Jinming Pond."

Upon hearing this,

Gu Tingye and Qi Heng both laughed.

Liang Han looked helplessly at Xu Zaijing and said, "Brother Jing, if I dared say it, Father and Mother would break my legs."

Qi Heng glanced at Xu Zaijing, then hesitated: "Sixth Young Master, as sons of marquises and dukes, we must be cautious before we have a lawful wife."

Liang Han nodded: "Mm-hmm! I know. When Father pressures me too hard, I'll just pretend to be sick!"

"Hm?" Gu Tingye, listening to their exchange, asked with curiosity: "Sixth Young Master, you and that girl—surely you're not…"

Liang Han nodded, half-proud, half-embarrassed: "Cough! Yeah!"

Seeing this, Xu Zaijing sighed and shook his head—he now knew Liang Han had secretly pledged his heart to that girl.

"Sixth Young Master, what's her disposition like?" Xu Zaijing asked.

"She's gentle as water—whatever I say, she does," Liang Han said with a smile. "She's my one true love; in the future, she'll have a place by my side."

Beside him, Qi Heng looked at Liang Han with both envy and agreement.

Xu Zaijing raised an eyebrow without comment: "Still, be more careful."

Liang Han nodded: "Mm-hmm! Brother Jing, I'll remember. Enough about me—I heard today that silk, tea, porcelain, and other goods sold from our realm to the Northern Liao and Jin are going to rise in price…"

Xu Zaijing and the others nodded. Gu Tingye said: "This is merely one of our realm's tactics."

As he spoke, Gu Tingye exchanged a knowing glance with Xu Zaijing.

The Northern Liao's focus now lies in the east; its control over the Northwestern Pacification Commission is visibly weakening.

The Great Zhou, meanwhile, is steadily absorbing Bai Gao's strength, and the number of Western Army troops is gradually increasing.

Moreover, the Great Zhou has long been trading with the Mongol tribes.

For the same goods, the Mongol tribes charge far less than the Northern Liao—selling to the Northern Liao lets Mongol nobles profit from the price gap, and thus many have been won over.

With this shift, the balance is tilting toward the Great Zhou.

"The men in the Imperial Palace Surveillance and Military Strategy Offices might be up to no good in the Northern Liao."

No sooner had Gu Tingye spoken than a commotion rose from below.

Xu Zaijing immediately stood and walked toward the window draped in fine gauze.

After glancing down, he said: "They look like palace guard attire."

"Huh?"

The other three in the private room all looked puzzled.

Before anyone could speak, a greeting came from the door.

"Master Huai Bao has arrived."

Qingyun opened the door and announced dutifully.

Hearing this, Gu Tingye and the others, already standing, grew even more confused.

A eunuch stepped around the screen, flicked his flywhisk, and cried: "Oh my! Young Masters, still playing here? I've been searching all over for you!"

The four quickly bowed. Gu Tingye said: "Master Huai Bao, what brings you to us?"

Wiping sweat from his brow, the eunuch Huai Bao said: "Indeed. Tomorrow, the young master and family of the Zhao clan from Lu Long will enter the capital."

"His Majesty specifically instructed that you four go to the new Cao Gate in the Outer City tomorrow to greet them and escort them in, as a sign of imperial favor and welcome."

The four bowed deeply in response.

Qi Heng added: "Master Huai Bao, will only the four of us go?"

Eunuch Huai Bao smiled: "Young Duke, you jest—there'll be far more than just you four. Young masters and young ladies from noble and high-official families in the capital will all be there to join the celebration."

Gu Tingye exclaimed: "Master Huai Bao, so the noble ladies of the capital will come too?"

Eunuch Huai Bao nodded with a smile.

Xu Zaijing said: "Master Huai Bao, there are many noble ladies in the capital—if they all come in carriages, won't it be terribly inconvenient?"

Huai Bao looked at Xu Zaijing with particular warmth—years ago, if Xu Zaijing hadn't intervened outside the Shenbao Temple in the western city, preventing casualties among the crowd, Huai Bao might not have lived.

"Fifth Young Master is right. So the noble ladies who attend tomorrow must all know how to ride."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "I see."

Eunuch Huai Bao chuckled: "Young Masters, don't forget to dress well tomorrow morning! Then I'll return to the palace."

"May Your Excellency take your leave safely."

They saw him off downstairs,

watched the palace guards and eunuch depart,

then exchanged glances, and Xu Zaijing said: "Well then, shall we meet again tomorrow?"

Nanjiangtang Alley,

Rong Family,

Huixue Courtyard,

The sky was bright, and the light inside the main chamber was adequate.

Rong Feiyan stood in the room with arms crossed; opposite her, her maids Xi Bu and Ning Xiang each held up a summer dress.

Looking at the dress in Ning Xiang's hands, Rong Feiyan shook her head and flicked her wrist: "This one won't do. Bring another."

Ning Xiang quickly turned, placed the unfolded dress on a nearby rack, took down another, unfolded it, and was about to step back in front of Rong Feiyan—when she saw Rong Feiyan wave her hand again.

This gesture meant: no more choices.

Xi Bu said: "Miss, shall we wear this one tomorrow?"

Rong Feiyan smiled and nodded.

Ning Xiang said: "Miss, you'll be riding tomorrow—dust may fly. Won't you wear a veil?"

"Yes."

"Mm!" Ning Xiang eagerly rummaged through Rong Feiyan's chest for a suitable veil.

Half an incense stick later,

Ning Xiang exchanged a helpless glance with Xi Bu and said: "Miss, these are all the veils in your chest."

Rong Feiyan shook her head: "None suit me."

Ning Xiang said: "Then wear a veil-hat?"

Another half incense stick passed,

the two maids sighed helplessly—her lady had not a single veil-hat she found satisfactory.

Rong Feiyan looked at the veil-hats in their hands and said: "Tomorrow, everyone wearing veil-hats will have sheer gauze hanging—too ordinary!"

"Miss, what if we change the gauze's color?" Xi Bu suggested.

Rong Feiyan shook her head: "Changing the color won't match the dress we picked."

Ning Xiang said: "Then Miss, what if we cut the gauze into strips…"

Rong Feiyan shook her head: "That'll make us look like beggars!"

"True… then what do we do?" Ning Xiang and Xi Bu, frowning in thought, exchanged glances.

The room fell silent.

After a while,

"I've got it!"

Rong Feiyan's delighted voice rang out.

The next day,

Outside the Outer City of Bianjing,

At the new Cao Gate,

Many brightly dressed young nobles rode sleek, glossy horses, chatting beneath the shade of trees.

At some distance, carriages from various families stood parked.

Xu Zaijing, laughing with Lu Zezong, was suddenly tapped on the shoulder by Qi Heng: "Brother Jing, look over there."

Xu Zaijing turned, puzzled, following Qi Heng's gaze.

In his line of sight,

a noble lady rode toward them, her veil-hat's rim not hung with translucent gauze, but with golden threads strung with pearls the size of date pits.

Each pearl-thread was spaced closely; as she moved, her face beneath the veil-hat shimmered in and out of view.

She drew immediate attention the moment she appeared.

"How did she think of dressing like this?" someone murmured involuntarily.

Soon after,

the lady rode over to join her familiar noble companions,

amid crisp compliments and laughter, she removed her custom veil-hat—none other than Rong Feiyan.

Then Rong Feiyan exchanged veil-hats with her friends, trying them on.

This kept the gaze of all noble youths constantly drifting toward her.

Xu Zaijing, with his sharp eyes, enjoyed the sight and sighed: "Another new trend will sweep the capital."

(End of Chapter)