Chapter 293

Fan Zongxi again said: "Fugui told me before that you once saved his life."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't even remember!"

Fan Zongxi said: "Once you enter the palace gates, it's as deep as the sea; for us, from the moment we stepped through those gates, it feels like we've lived a second life. Actually, entering the palace and leaving home aren't that different." Fan Zongxi narrowed his eyes; his gaze now appeared vacant and distant.

Hu Xiaotian nodded in deep agreement; actually, in terms of the six senses being pure, entering the palace is even more thorough than leaving home.

Hongshan Horse Farm is the horse farm closest to Huangcheng and also one of the imperial palace's horse farms. Nestled against mountains and water, with lush grass, it is a rare tranquil spot in Kangdu; usually the imperial court's beloved horses are all kept here. The farm is managed by the Imperial Horse Directorate, and Fan Zongxi is also the specific person in charge here, often spending even more time here than inside the palace.

Passing through Kangdu's bustling streets, we went straight out the West Gate, then north along the tree-lined boulevard for about fifteen li; Hongshan Horse Farm came into view. The farm is entirely enclosed by cedar-wood fences, about two zhang high, with pointed tops, and a watchtower is set every hundred zhang, with guards stationed day and night on top.

When Fan Zongxi's party was still over a li from the horse farm's gate, the gate had already slowly opened. Fan Zongxi led the way, charging ahead into the farm. Although it was already Mid-Autumn, the grass remained lush green; looking far off, it stretched all the way to the base of distant Hongshan Mountain, whose summit had been dyed red by autumn. From afar, it looked as if the peak were on fire, but in fact the summit is covered with red maples, and at this season the leaves have fully turned red, creating this spectacle.

A small river winds and twists; under the sunlight it looks like a golden ribbon meandering at the foot of Hongshan, delineating a clear boundary between the red and green hues. The sky is azure and cloudless, a refreshing autumn breeze blows in, carrying the scent of wildflowers, making one feel exhilarated and at ease.

Two horsemen rode forward to meet Fan Zongxi; both were eunuch stewards of the Imperial Horse Directorate. When they were about ten zhang from him, they dismounted, dropped to one knee, and respectfully said: "Your subordinates pay respects, Steward Fan!"

Fan Zongxi narrowed his eyes, gave a slight flick of the whip in his hand, and said: "Rise! Where is Steward Dong?"

The eunuch on the right said: "Reporting to Steward, recently fifty horses were tribute from Xijiang, plus the newly selected batch. Altogether there are over a hundred batches; these past days, officials from the palace have been coming nonstop to pick horses, and Steward Dong is accompanying the selection at Qingfengkou."

Fan Zongxi said: "Who has come?"

Third Prince

Fan Zongxi heard that the visitor was the Third Prince, Long Tingzhen, pondered briefly, then immediately urged his horse toward Qingfengkou. Long Tingzhen is the third son of the new emperor, Long Yelin, and also one of his most beloved. Long Yelin has seven children: six sons and one daughter. The daughter is Qiqi, whom Hu Xiaotian escorted all the way to Xiezhou. After ascending the throne, Long Yelin began considering the crown prince; this is a case of learning from a setback, having taken a lesson from his own father, to prevent inner-palace strife he wanted to settle on a heir early, saving much trouble. Looking at his seven children, in terms of martial ability and strategy, the foremost is the third son, Long Tingzhen. Many of his close confidants also agree with his view. However, Long Tingzhen is not born of Empress Jian, and making him crown prince would break the rule of primogeniture; Empress Jian bore him the eldest son, Long Tingsheng. Although Long Yelin dislikes the eldest son's violent and rash temperament, he is nevertheless the legitimate eldest son, and Long Yelin himself inherited the throne on the principle of seniority; thus he cannot, after ascending, violate that rule, so for now he can only postpone the decision on naming a crown prince.

Qingfengkou lies at the foot of Hongshan; the over one hundred fine horses recently introduced to the farm are pastured here. Imperial Horse Directorate steward Dong Taqing is accompanying the Third Prince, Long Tingzhen, at his side. Long Tingzhen is twenty-one years old, tall and graceful, handsome in appearance; at present he stands on a grassy knoll observing the herd of horses grazing by the river, with a few attendants behind him.

Fan Zongxi, Hu Xiaotian, and their party arrived before the grassy knoll, dismounted, and all knelt down, proclaiming loudly: "Imperial Horse Directorate's Fan Zongxi pays respects to Your Highness, Prince." Although Long Tingzhen is a prince, he has not yet been enfeoffed as a king; likely Long Yelin learned a lesson from his own experiences with these brothers and is therefore especially cautious about granting princely titles.

Long Tingzhen had his hands behind his back, his gaze still fixed on the distant herd, absentmindedly saying: "Rise, Fan Zongxi, help me see which horse is the best."

Fan Zongxi rose to his feet, and Hu Xiaotian and the others behind him also stood up.

Hu Xiaotian then took a close look at this freshly minted Third Prince; to say Long Tingzhen is also somewhat handsome and suave, bearing a resemblance to Prince Long Yefang, though I don't know if this fellow, like Long Yefang, is merely a gilt exterior with rotten inside. Long Tingzhen gave Hu Xiaotian no particular impression, but when Hu Xiaotian saw the two people behind Long Tingzhen he was startled. Indeed, behind Long Tingzhen a young eunuch was squinting and waggling his eyebrows at him. That young eunuch had delicate features and a childish air still on his face; he was none other than the little princess Qiqi in disguise.

Seeing Qiqi actually here, Hu Xiaotian felt deep regret; had he known he would meet her here, he would never have come with Fan Zongxi to Hongshan Horse Farm no matter what.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Qiqi, the person who had originally been facing away from Hu Xiaotian now slowly turned her face; she too wore a blue eunuch's uniform, yet could not conceal her heavenly beauty, her brows and eyes like a painting, her glances shifting with myriad charms—this was none other than Princess Anping, whom Hu Xiaotian had disturbed in the Xu Xiu Palace.

At this moment Hu Xiaotian felt a chill rise up his back; what's going on? To actually meet them here? That day in the Xu Xiu Palace, Princess Anping had not exposed him; given her kind and gentle nature she should not make things difficult for him, but that mischievous little brat Qiqi is hard to read. Wei Hualin died by their combined efforts; since that day Hu Xiaotian has deliberately avoided seeing Qiqi, and fortunately she hasn't sought him out either. He had thought everyone understood the situation and would avoid each other henceforth, yet unexpectedly they still met here; he only hopes Qiqi won't cause him further trouble.

Princess Anping clearly also recognized Hu Xiaotian; her lovely face flushed unbidden, becoming even more radiantly beautiful beyond compare.

Hu Xiaotian felt for the first time that being a eunuch could be such a fine profession; even a beauty like Princess Anping, who could topple states, has joined this thriving trade—it seems being a eunuch can also be quite worthwhile.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian, Qiqi instantly broke into a grin; Hu Xiaotian, however, felt creeped out by her strange smile, lowered his head even more, with an urge to slip away like greased lightning. But having come, he couldn't just walk off.

Long Tingzhen pointed at a reddish-brown horse in the herd and said: "How about that horse?"

Fan Zongxi followed the direction of his gaze and said, flattering: "Your Highness indeed has keen eyes; that horse is a Dawan breed tribute from Xijiang, capable of covering a thousand li by day and eight hundred by night—a truly divine steed."

Long Tingzhen smiled and nodded: "Good, bring that horse over; I want to test its leg strength."

Fan Zongxi hastily arranged his men to do it; in the meantime Qiqi walked up to Hu Xiaotian's side and deliberately coughed. Hu Xiaotian lowered his waist even further, pretending not to see her.

Qiqi reached out and grabbed his ear: "Hey, you don't know me?" That remark drew everyone's attention. Hu Xiaotian began to say "Your—" intending to say "Your Highness, Princess," but Qiqi snorted coldly and cut him off.

This fellow's mind sparked: "Steward, what are your orders?"

Hearing him call her "steward," Qiqi couldn't help but laugh.

Fan Zongxi had served in the palace for many years; although he did not know Qiqi, he did know Princess Anping, and at a glance he saw that the two young eunuchs behind Long Tingzhen were both women in disguise. From Qiqi's behavior he vaguely guessed she might be the current princess; otherwise no little eunuch would dare act so presumptuously before the Third Prince, so Fan Zongxi also held his tongue.

Long Tingzhen glanced at Qiqi, said nothing more, saw that someone had already led the reddish-brown Dawan horse over, and stepped forward; a crowd gathered around him like stars around the moon, escorting him.

Hu Xiaotian remained where he stood, his ear still held by Qiqi; he wanted to leave but couldn't.

"Qiqi! Don't make things hard for him!" said Princess Anping, speaking up for Hu Xiaotian.

Only then did Qiqi release him; Hu Xiaotian saw that no one else was around, and then bowed deeply to the two, saying: "Thank you, Princess Anping!"

Qiqi raised her willow brows and said: "Why don't you thank me? You only thank my aunt?"

Princess Anping said: "Qiqi, he's just a little eunuch; you don't need to give him a hard time."

Qiqi glared at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Little eunuch, Auntie, you don't know him—he's certainly no good person."

Hu Xiaotian's face flushed with embarrassment; this little princess speaks without giving face: "I'm not a good person, so what are you? You also had a hand in killing Wei Hualin—not just a part, you were the chief culprit; I'm at most an accomplice."

Princess Anping smiled gently: "Look, you've frightened him till he's bloodless; let's go see the excitement." That remark dispelled Hu Xiaotian's embarrassment.

In his heart Hu Xiaotian protested quite a bit: When did I become afraid? Bloodless face? I'm just not blushing or racing-hearted; I simply don't want to deal with this willful princess. The three walked down the knoll together; by the riverside a black horse caught Qiqi's eye, she instantly forgot Hu Xiaotian beside her and exclaimed delightedly: "Bring that horse over!" Being a child at heart, she dashed straight toward the black steed.

Princess Anping was rather helpless, laughing as she shook her head.

Hu Xiaotian still walked respectfully at her side, Princess Anping's gaze fell upon him, and she softly said: "You aren't from the Imperial Gardens Bureau, are you? When were you transferred here?"

The top three are still far off, the gap to fourth place is one hundred fifty tickets; with the month's end approaching, everyone surely has a stash of Monthly Ticket in their pockets—Zhangyu plans to really extort a bit. Today, as long as we rush to fourth place, then another Three More! This weekend Zhangyu decided not to go anywhere, staying home honestly, burying himself in writing. Brothers and sisters, as long as you dare to give me support, Zhangyu dares to be splendid; don't believe us? Let's try! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to vote for Recommendation ticket, Monthly Ticket; your support is my greatest motivation.)