Chapter 108: The Power of Dismounting
Chapter 108: The Power of Dismounting
Due to heavy snow, the road was difficult to walk on and the weather was cold. Xiao Xia basically set out in the morning and stayed in a hotel to rest in the afternoon. He could not walk very far in a day.
Every day in the inn he practiced the Taoism given to him by Yuan Shoucheng. However, along the way, his internal strength made almost no progress. Unless he practiced deeply for a long time, it would be difficult to upgrade.
After nearly fifty days of arduous journey, Xiao Xia finally arrived in Chang'an City on the eighth day of the first lunar month.
Xiao Xia led the horse into Chang'an City from Chunming Gate. Standing at the city gate, a bustling atmosphere hit him in the face.
Chang'an City, also known as Daxing City, was built in the second year of Kaihuang in the Sui Dynasty. It began to take shape in the third year of Kaihuang and was finally completed in the ninth year of Daye.
But now Chang'an City is almost the same, with neat neighborhoods and wide and flat roads. Although it snowed heavily, the roads were swept clean and the snow was piled in the corners.
Xiao Xia took a deep breath, feeling sober and cold.
This was the capital of the Sui Dynasty 1,400 years ago. It seemed so distant in his memory, yet it was so vivid before his eyes. A soul from 1,400 years later appeared in this magnificent capital.
Xiao Xia climbed onto the horse and urged it to slowly walk towards the capital city...
Soon, he arrived at Taipingfang, which was still a few hundred steps away from the gate, but he saw the gate of the palace at a glance. Although there was a curfew in the Sui Dynasty and the gate was closed at night, the people were not allowed to step out of the gate.
But the curfew has no effect on high-ranking officials and nobles, as the gates of their mansions are directly outside the wall of the block, and there is only a back door of the mansion inside the block.
Xiao Xia dismounted and walked forward, only to see that the palace was very calm with two old soldiers standing there. The plaque on the door read 'Prince of Jin's Palace', and it had been restored. Xiao Xia thought it was the Prince of Runan's Palace, after all, the emperor's troops had not returned yet.
He walked slowly, and the emperor's entourage walked even slower. It was estimated that they would spend the New Year in Xiangyang, and traveling from Xiangyang to Chang'an by land would be time-consuming and laborious.
Xiao Xia walked up to an old soldier and asked, "Excuse me, is the princess in the mansion?"
The old soldier looked at him and asked slowly, "Which family are you from, and why are you asking about the princess?"
"If the princess is at home, please tell her that I came from Jiangdu. My name is Xiao Xia, and the princess knows me!"
"Jiangdu!"
The old soldier nodded, "What's your name?"
"Xiao Xia, the Xia of summer!"
"I know, just wait!"
The old soldier turned around and hobbled into the palace. He thought it was the princess's family members who had come.
Inside the palace, Princess Xiao of Jin was sitting in the back hall drinking tea. Last October, she did not go to Jiangdu, but instead returned directly from Luoyang to the Chang'an Palace with her second son and daughter, the home she had been dreaming about.
Just a few days ago, the imperial court changed the name of their palace and hung up the sign of Prince Jin's Palace again.
Xiao felt like he was having a nightmare, being watched every day, a nightmare that he couldn't bear to think about. Now the nightmare was finally over.
Xiao was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old. She married her husband Yang Guang at the age of thirteen and gave birth to her eldest son Yang Zhao at the age of fifteen. Now she is a grandmother.
Princess Xiao was very beautiful. Perhaps it was because she had given birth to three children, her figure was a little plump. Or perhaps it was because she had lived in resentment for five years, and her emotions affected her face. Her cheekbones were slightly high and her lips were slightly thin, making her look a little sharp.
Princess Xiao has always resented her cousin Xiao Chunyu. If it weren't for her and that damn illegitimate child, how could her husband have such a ruined future and been demoted for five whole years.
The emperor did not execute Xiao Chunyu, but let her become a female Taoist priest. This was really a good deal for her.
At that time, she strongly opposed her husband's relationship with Xiao Chunyu. Her husband agreed on the surface, but secretly placed her in Luoyang and gave birth to a son.
Princess Xiao also resented her husband. Why couldn't he control himself and had to be bewitched by that woman?
At this time, the old housekeeper walked over quickly, bowed and saluted in the hall, saying: "Princess, there is a young man outside the door. He came from Jiangdu. He said his name is Xiao Xia."
"Clang!"
Princess Xiao's teacup fell over, she was so shocked that she couldn't say a word. Of course she knew who Xiao Xia was. She was just resenting this illegitimate child, and now he came.
Princess Xiao received an express letter from her husband the day before yesterday, saying that the emperor had already acknowledged Xiao Xia in Jiangdu, but because of his mother, he had not yet accepted him into the royal family and had not changed his name.
I just received a letter from my husband the day before yesterday, and this little bastard couldn't wait to come here today. Does he want to enter the palace so badly?
Princess Xiao was filled with hatred. She wanted to kick this little bastard out. She didn't want to see this damned illegitimate child. "Princess, how do we place him?" the old housekeeper asked in a low voice.
Princess Xiao suppressed her anger and said coldly, "The prince is not here, and I don't know whether he is real or fake. We can't rashly let a stranger into the backyard. Let's do this! Find a room in the front yard for him to stay in, and wait for the prince to come back!"
The old butler knew who Xiao Xia was. He hesitated for a moment and reminded, "Princess, the front yard is where the servants live. It might not be appropriate to put him in the front yard. Why not let him live in the guest room in the east yard?"
Princess Xiao's heart was burning with anger, and she glared with her almond-shaped eyes, "Didn't I tell you? I don't know if he is real or fake, let him stay in the front yard first, and wait for the prince to come back!"
"Yes! I obey your command."
The old butler sighed helplessly and had to turn around and leave in a hurry.
..........
Xiao Xia waited for a quarter of an hour before the old butler finally came out.
"Mr. Xia, please follow me!"
"Excuse me, old housekeeper."
Xiao Xia led the horse and followed him in. Xiao Xia had lived in the Xiao Mansion in Jiangdu for some time and knew the layout of the mansion of the wealthy and powerful families. It was divided into two wings and three entrances, the front yard, the courtyard and the back garden, and then the east yard and the west yard. These two yards were mainly guest rooms and guards' dormitories.
The palace covers a large area. The main difference is that the back garden is very large, but the rest of the layout is the same.
Xiao Xia originally thought he was going to the courtyard, but unexpectedly after entering the gate he turned left and entered the left front yard.
The left front yard of the Xiao Mansion is the servants' dormitory, and the right front yard is the kitchen, warehouse, stable and other functional areas. Obviously, the royal palace has the same layout.
'Maybe let me place the horse first!'
Xiao Xia thought of a reason for herself, but it should be the servants who took over the horses! How could she let herself take care of the horses?
Xiao Xia was confused and followed the old housekeeper forward. At this time, the old housekeeper pushed open an empty room and said to Xiao Xia apologetically: "Because the prince has not returned yet, please stay here for a few days and make new arrangements when the prince returns."
"what?"
Xiao Xia took a deep breath. He actually let her stay in the servants' room?
He asked in surprise, "Is it the old housekeeper's decision to let me live here?"
"No, the princess arranged for you to live here temporarily."
Xiao Xia's face suddenly turned red. How could the princess humiliate her like this?
Xiao Xia made a decisive decision in his heart. He shook his head and said, "I'm not used to living here. I'd better stay at the inn. Thank the princess for her kindness for me."
He turned around and left without looking back. The old housekeeper followed him and said anxiously, "Sir, don't rush away. I'll talk to the princess again!"
"Thank you, old housekeeper. I am sorry for being rude. I will find an inn nearby to stay in. We will discuss everything after the prince comes back!"
Xiao Xia led the horse out of the mansion gate. At this time, a carriage stopped in front of the mansion gate. A young man in 18 or 19 years old in brocade robe got out. He had a slender figure and an extremely handsome face. He wore a golden crown on his head, which made him look even more elegant.
Xiao Xia passed him by. He turned around and looked at Xiao Xia strangely, then asked the old butler behind him, "Who is he?"
"Reporting to the Second Prince, this young man came from Jiangdu, his name is Xiao Xia."
"Oh!"
The young man suddenly realized and asked curiously, "Why did he leave?"
"The princess arranged for him to live in the front yard, so he might be a little unhappy!"
The young man's face suddenly darkened and he snorted, "You don't know how to appreciate my kindness!"
Xiao Xia had already walked down the steps leading the horse. He heard clearly the conversation between the young man and the old housekeeper. He knew who this man was: Yang Guang's second son Yang Ling.
Xiao Xia jumped on his horse and glanced at Yang Ling, only to see him walk into the mansion without looking back.
(End of this chapter)