Chapter 251 The Intention of a Drunkard
Chapter 251 The Intention of a Drunkard
Xiao Xia now has three staff members. Liu Wenjing alone is too busy to handle the work, so he recruited two assistants for Liu Wenjing. One of them is called Du Wen, who is from Duling, Chang'an. He was a tribute scholar from Jingzhao Prefecture, which means he did not pass the imperial examination.
The other one is called Pei Kun, who was born in the Pei family of Wenxi. However, he is a bastard and has a low status in the family. He was recommended by Cui Lian, Xiao Xia's former classmate at the Imperial College. Pei Kun is Cui Lian's brother-in-law. Although he is quite talented, he has no connections, so he is in a rather miserable state. He works as a teacher in a primary school in Chang'an and also earns some money by copying books for others to support his family.
Xiao Xia found that his handwriting was very good, so he hired him and Du Wen as Liu Wenjing's assistant.
It was normal time now and Xiao Xia was relatively free. Liu Wenjing had done all the normal military procedures for him. Xiao Xia handed things over to Liu Wenjing and planned to go out for a three-day vacation, actually it was only two days because one of them happened to be the ten-day holiday.
Early in the morning, Xiao Xia rode to the gate of Taipingfang and waited. Xiao Xia brought a bag with several sets of washed clothes in it. He was wearing a blue warrior uniform, a gauze hat, a leather belt around his waist, and a sword. With his tall and straight figure, he looked even more handsome. He didn't look like a general at all, but more like a well-mannered scholar.
Xiao Xia did not bring his men with him, although he had 5,000 soldiers under his command, but going to the manor for vacation was a private matter, and Xiao Xia always distinguished between public and private matters. He did not bring Achu with him either, as he thought it was troublesome and he felt more relaxed and comfortable alone.
At this time, five carriages came out of the town, guarded by warriors. Xiao Xia saw an acquaintance at a glance. Xiao Zhurong was there too.
"Zhu Balang, why are you going too?" Xiao Xia walked forward and asked with a smile.
Of course, Xiao Zhurong hadn't seen Xiao Xia for a long time. Half a month ago, Xiao Xia hosted a dinner at Wanhuhou Restaurant, and Xiao Zhurong also came.
And basically, wherever the second sister is, this kid will be there?
Xiao Zhurong smiled and said, "It's school vacation. I wanted to climb Mount Huashan with a few classmates, but my elder brother dragged me here."
Xiao Xia smiled and blinked, "I'm afraid it wasn't my eldest brother who brought him here!"
Xiao Zhurong and Yang Feiyan are already engaged. Because Xiao Zhurong has to study, the wedding will be postponed for two years. However, the Sui Dynasty inherited the Northern Zhou Dynasty and was greatly influenced by the Xianbei. They were very tolerant of women. It was normal for women to show their faces in public, and it was also normal for men and women to play together after getting engaged. There were not so many restrictions.
Xiao Zhurong's temper has been improved and he will probably be dominated by his wife after he gets married.
"Third brother, come here!" The second sister Yang Feiyan was calling him. She was now the sole owner of the famous Wanhuhou Restaurant in Chang'an and she was very confident.
Xiao Xia stepped forward with a smile, "Second sister, what's the matter?"
Yang Feiyan said with a smile on her face while riding in the carriage: "Give me your bag. It's a bit of a disgrace for such a handsome young man to have an old lady's flowered bag behind his horse."
"Pfft!" Someone in the carriage laughed.
Only then did Xiao Xia realize that there were two girls sitting in the carriage.
"Hey! It's you."
It turned out to be his female apprentices, Cui Yu and Cui Mei. Cui Mei was cute and lovely, and smiled and said, "Are you surprised?"
Xiao Xia handed the package to her second sister and said with a smile, "It's a bit unexpected. How are your flying needle training going?"
"I can now stab villains from a distance of ten feet, and I never miss a single shot. My sister is even better than me."
Xiao Xia said: "You always hit the target, how is your sister even more powerful?"
Cui Mei was speechless for a moment. Cui Yu smiled and said, "Master Xiao, don't listen to her nonsense. We only practiced making figurines for one day before our father stopped us, saying it was unlucky. We then changed to making wooden stakes, but it was still a long way from the original practice!"
Cui Mei complained in a low voice: "It's unreasonable to surrender before even going into battle."
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "It's okay, go to the manor, I will teach you something else!"
"Brother Xiao, I want to learn archery. I have brought my bow and arrows, and my sister has brought them too."
Cui Yu blushed and complained in a low voice, "Xiao Mei, don't say everything!" "What does it matter? We agreed to learn archery from Brother Xiao! How would he know if I didn't tell him?"
Xiao Xia liked this innocent young lady very much. He nodded happily and said, "Learn archery, of course. If there are deer, we can also go hunting!"
Cui Mei clapped her hands with joy, "I like hunting, shooting little rabbits, whoosh--"
This is a little dark witch.
Cui Yu said helplessly: "The little rabbit has really been shot, you should cry again."
Xiao Xia suddenly discovered that the hairpin Cui Yu pinned on her hair was actually the gold needle he had given her. His heart skipped a beat.
He suddenly had a strange feeling towards Cui Yu.
Yang Feiyan smiled but said nothing. Her elder brother really cared a lot about his brother's lifelong affairs.
There were five carriages in total. Yang Zhao was fat and riding a horse was too tiring, so he, his wife and two sons rode in one carriage. Yang Feiyan and the Cui sisters rode in one carriage. Four personal maids and two wet nurses rode in one carriage. The remaining two large carriages were filled with various items.
Yang Zhao was a prince and the grandson of the emperor. He had thirty warriors protecting him and the county lady Yang Feiyan.
In addition to Xiao Xia and Xiao Zhurong, there was another learned gentleman who was Yang Zhao's aide and also a member of the Cui family. His name was Cui Wenbo and he was considered the cousin of the Cui sisters.
Cui Wenbo was also a person who was keen on fame, wealth and power. When he heard that this young man was the recently famous Prince of Xihai County and General of the Right Wuhou Guard in the court, he immediately became much more enthusiastic towards Xiao Xia. He used all kinds of flattering words and ignored Cui Zhurong, the future son-in-law of Prince Jin, which made Cui Zhurong really despise him.
Liquan County is not far away, only about a hundred miles away from Chang'an. In the afternoon, they arrived at Yang Zhao's Beihu Manor. There was a lake in Yang Zhao's manor, about a hundred acres. Yang Zhao named it Beihu, and the manor was also called Beihu Manor.
Xiao Xia immediately stood by the lake, looking at the sparkling golden water, which made him feel truly relaxed and happy.
Arriving at the manor, Yang Zhao also rode a horse, walked up slowly to Xiao Xia and said with a smile: "Your manor also has a lake, much bigger than mine."
Xiao Xia's eyes lit up, "Really?"
Yang Zhao pointed to a very tall and straight towering tree in the distance and said, "Do you see that tree? That fir is the third largest tree in Guanzhong. It is twenty feet tall and six feet in diameter. It is protected by the government and is called the sacred tree. Your manor is called the sacred tree manor. Next to the sacred tree is a lake with lush water plants and many wild ducks."
Xiao Xia nodded, "It seems there are hills!"
"Yes! That mountain is called Shenmu Mountain. Although it is only a hundred feet high, it is very deep and covers an area of at least three thousand acres. To the east is an official road that separates our two manors, and to the west is a small river that meanders and forms two lakes.
Look at how good the Feng Shui of your manor is. There is the Black Tortoise in the north, the Vermillion Bird in the south, the Azure Dragon in the east, and the White Tiger in the west. In the entire Liquan County, your manor is the place with the best Feng Shui."
Xiao Xia's heart was moved. Li Shimin's Zhaoling Mausoleum was in Liquan County. Could it be his own manor? Could it be that Shenmu Mountain was later renamed Jiujun Mountain?
The two brothers were watching the scenery by the lake. The setting sun shone on Xiao Xia's body and face, dyeing them a layer of red. He looked firmly at the Shenmu Mountain not far away. The wind blew through the grass, and his clothes fluttered, making him look more energetic and otherworldly.
In the carriage, Yang Feiyan smiled at Cui Mei and said, "Xiao Mei, is my brother a handsome man?"
Cui Mei nodded heavily like a chick pecking at rice, and sighed faintly: "I really want to grow up quickly!"
Yang Feiyan turned her eyes and glanced secretly at Cui Yu, only to see her looking out the window with her cheek in her hand, a soft luster flowing in her beautiful eyes. She looked at Xiao Xia quietly with a beautiful smile on her lips.
Yang Feiyan sighed softly, such a gentle and beautiful girl, she would be the best match for her brother!
(End of this chapter)