For officials, the tenth day of the lunar month is a rare day when they can sleep in. Even if they need to go out, they will get enough sleep before getting up unless it is urgent business.
This was the case with the Earl of Pingjiang, who lived next to Princess Huayang's mansion.
Pingjiang Bo was nearly fifty years old. His title and mansion were inherited from his ancestors. By his generation, they were already in decline. When he died, his title would be gone. Pingjiang Bo was not very talented, but he was diligent enough. He worked hard since he was young and passed the imperial examination three times. He then worked diligently and finally got promoted to the position of a fourth-rank official in the capital at this age.
The weather was clear and crisp in the autumn, and Pingjiang Bo planned to take his two sons to the suburbs to run some horses and stretch their muscles.
He slept until noon, ate, packed up, and then prepared to go out.
As the father and his two sons stepped out of the house, they caught a glimpse of a horse-drawn carriage coming towards them in the alley. The three of them turned their heads and the first person they saw was the prince consort Chen Jingzong, who was riding a horse and following the eldest princess's carriage.
Chen Jingzong and the others were already familiar with him. No matter how handsome he was, he was just so-so. What first amazed and then made the three of them envious was the majestic black horse that Chen Jingzong rode.
"Master is going out?"
As the distance got closer, Chen Jingzong greeted him condescendingly, smiling and revealing a row of white teeth.
The muscles at the corners of Pingjiang Earl's eyes twitched. This bastard, that old fox Chen Tingjian has been an official for thirty years and has never been so ostentatious, how come his son has such a temperament
"Yes, where are the Prince Consort and the Princess going?"
Although he was extremely jealous, Pingjiang Bo smiled respectfully on his face.
Chen Jingzong glanced at the carriage curtains and said slowly, "Let's go back to the Chen Mansion and have a seat."
Pingjiang Bo nodded with a smile, and his smile lasted until the princess' carriage drove away.
His eldest son also dared to speak up: "Father, when did the prince consort get such a good horse? I always saw him riding an ordinary black horse before."
Pingjiang Bo said sourly: "Yesterday the Tatars presented horses, and the emperor rewarded the eldest princess with one."
His second son: "And the princess turned around and gave it to the prince consort? After all, it is a gift from the emperor. Isn't the princess afraid that the emperor will have a problem with it?"
Pingjiang Bo: "What do you know? At that time, the princess said that she had no use for such a good horse, and the emperor suggested that she could give it away, so the princess was basically choosing the reward for her husband."
The two sons looked at each other, and they were very envious of Chen Jingzong for having a good father. If their fathers had the ability of Chen Ge Lao, maybe they would be the men favored by the eldest princess now! .
From the Princess's Mansion to the Chen Residence, all the residences passed by were those of dignitaries, and when they ran into the head of the family, Chen Jingzong, they would basically exchange a few words of greeting.
Although Huayang was sitting in the car, he could still imagine how proud he was.
Apart from anything else, Chen Jingzong always rode in the same car with her wherever she went on her days off. But today he insisted on riding a horse. If it wasn't to show off, then why
But Huayang couldn't tell whether he was showing off the horse or her "favor" for him.
Not long after, they arrived at the Chen Mansion.
After Chen Tingjian was promoted to the position of Prime Minister, he set a rule for the gatekeeper that he would only receive officials who had urgent business to discuss with him or common people who had grievances to complain about. Otherwise, female relatives could come to visit Sun's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but no male guests would be seen.
Therefore, those ministers who wanted to establish a relationship with the Prime Minister were tactful enough not to disturb him, and the front of the Chen family's house was quiet.
Yesterday evening, Chen Jingzong asked Fugui to run a trip to inform his family that they would be back today, so everyone in the Chen family gathered together early in the morning, waiting to welcome the eldest princess.
When the doorman sent someone to report that the princess's carriage had turned into the alley, Chen Tingjian and Sun led their son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and granddaughters out together.
When they came out, the first person they saw was Chen Jingzong riding a horse.
Chen Tingjian, Chen Bozong, and Chen Xiaozong, who had witnessed the princess’s horse selection:
On the side of the Sun family, the one with the best eyesight was actually Luo Yuyan. When she saw Chen Jingzong's horse, she quickly whispered in her mother-in-law's ear: "Mother, this horse of our fourth brother is very unusual. You can't buy it without a thousand taels of silver!"
Sun, who felt that her son looked particularly handsome and heroic today, felt her legs tremble and she almost fell down!
One thousand taels, she had followed her husband till today, and had seen ten thousand taels of silver, but who in the family had ever used something worth one thousand taels of silver? Was it her son who wasted his salary as a consort, or was it the eldest princess who spent it on her son
Sun glanced at her husband secretly.
Chen Tingjian pursed his lips.
Chen Bozong forced a smile and explained to his mother, "Mother, the Tatars presented a horse yesterday, and the emperor wanted to reward the eldest princess. The eldest princess said she didn't need it herself, so she specially chose this divine horse for my fourth brother."
Sun calmed down, as long as neither her son nor the eldest princess spent any money!
The carriage moved slowly, and Chen Jingzong also rode his horse leisurely. It was not until they arrived in front of the Chen family's gate that he dismounted calmly and greeted his mother in a casual manner.
Chen Tingjian looked at his son coldly.
Chen Jingzong went to help Huayang get off the car.
Chen Tingjian quickly changed into a refined, calm and respectful appearance.
He couldn't say anything. When Sun saw her daughter-in-law, she was flattered and said, "Such a divine horse, it would be great if the eldest princess could use it herself. Giving it to the fourth son would be a waste of talent. He is not worthy of it."
Chen Jingzong just looked at Huayang.
Huayang smiled at his mother-in-law and said, "A horse is suitable for a hero. Your Majesty is a military commander who has made great achievements in battle. It is just right for him to ride this horse. Mother, please stop being modest on his behalf."
Sun said half seriously and half jokingly, "When I returned to Lingzhou, some neighbors said they saw green smoke coming out of the Chen family's ancestral tomb. I guess this green smoke is the blessing that the ancestors have accumulated for the fourth child. Look how much luck he has gained from following you."
Huayang looked at his father-in-law with a smile.
Chen Tingjian said helplessly: "It is his good fortune that the princess rewarded him, but the fourth child is the least humble, the princess should not spoil him too much."
Huayang: "You said this to mother, but you don't know that mother often told me to be nice to my husband. You are all my elders, but I am confused now and don't know who to listen to."
Chen Tingjian, Sun:…
Wanyi smiled and came over, holding Fourth Aunt's arm and said, "The Majesty is the most powerful, of course you have to listen to the Majesty."
However, the men and women were soon separated. Dalang, Erlang and Sanlang pestered their fourth uncle to take them horseback riding. Chen Tingjian, Chen Bochong and Chen Xiaozong also followed them to the racecourse.
The racecourse at the Chen Mansion is smaller than that at the Princess's Mansion, but at least it has this much space.
Chen Jingzong took his nephews for a ride.
Chen Tingjian coughed, and Dalang obediently led his two younger brothers away.
As soon as the children left, Chen Tingjian's face immediately darkened. He stared at the four children and said, "You really know how to show off!"
Chen Jingzong: "The emperor is almost about to say in public that he gave me this horse as a reward. Since I have received the emperor's grace, I should let the emperor know that I like this reward very much. If I hide it and don't use it, the emperor will suspect that I don't like this horse. Oh, by the way, I learned all this from you. When the last emperor gave you the cloak, didn't you always put it on as soon as winter came?"
Chen Tingjian: …
Chen Bozong advised: "Father, what my fourth brother said makes some sense, so don't bother with him."
What's the point of being calculative? Every time you have to suffer the anger of the fourth brother, but the fourth brother is invulnerable to swords and guns.
Chen Tingjian snorted and walked away.
After watching his father's figure disappear, Chen Xiaozong walked straight towards the imperial horse, his eyes full of admiration and love.
Just as he was about to reach out and touch it, Chen Jingzong walked over quickly and grabbed his wrist in time.
Chen Xiaozong couldn't believe it: "Old Four, don't go too far!"
Chen Jingzong: "The princess gave it to me. How dare you, as her brother, touch it?"
Chen Xiaozong: "It's just a horse, why am I embarrassed?"
Chen Jingzong: "The princess named it Baixueta, which means peony. This horse is like a peony flower she gave me. The children are still young, so it's fine if they like it. But you are an old man who will be thirty soon, how can you do that?"
Chen Xiaozong: …
The older Chen Bozong: …
Chen Jingzong ignored them and ordered Fugui to take Bai Xueta to the stable.
Fugui, who knew the meaning of the White Snow Tower, did not dare to touch the horse. He just held the reins carefully and led the horse in the same respectful manner as Eunuch Wu supporting the eldest princess.
Chen Xiaozong finally sneered, "Usually during the holidays, you always take the princess out for a stroll. Last night I was wondering why you were willing to go home to visit your family, but it turns out you just came here to show off."
Chen Jingzong: "I know you are all concerned about whether I am doing well in the Princess's Mansion. Only when you see with your own eyes how well I am doing, you will be able to rest assured."
Chen Xiaozong: "Your skin is really getting thicker and thicker. It seems that you don't need me to give you facial cream this year. Your thick skin is enough to withstand the wind and frost of autumn and winter."
Chen Jingzong: "If you dare not send me off, I will tell my third sister-in-law that there is a girl in our town who has been thinking about you."
Chen Bozong frowned: "Which girl?"
Chen Xiaozong was anxious: "Brother, you really believe him, he is basically threatening me, knowing that his third sister-in-law is the most jealous."
Chen Bozong gave his two younger brothers a lecture: "You can't do this kind of thing, and you can't even joke about it."
Chen Jingzong: "Don't worry, big brother. I'm not the third brother who smiles at everyone and shows mercy everywhere."
Chen Xiaozong: …
.
The next morning, Chen Jingzong rode the majestic Bai Xue Ta horse and came to Daxing Zuowei at lightning speed. Poor Fugui was left far behind and could not even be seen.
When the soldiers guarding the camp saw the prince consort's divine horse, their eyes lit up. They knew that the prince consort was approachable. One of them asked enviously, "Is this the new mount that the lord has bought?"
Chen Jingzong smiled and touched the horse's neck, saying casually: "The emperor gave it to the princess, and the princess gave it to me again."
Soldiers guarding the camp: ...
After Chen Jingzong entered the garrison, soon more than 5,000 new recruits and veterans in the garrison rushed to the stable, eager to catch a glimpse of the divine horse.
Fugui stood guard outside the fence of the White Snow Tower, shouting, "You can look, but you are not allowed to touch. The Prince Consort said that if anyone dares to touch a horse hair, he will personally punish him with a military stick!"
The soldiers burst into laughter.
Although they laughed, they knew that their commander valued the eldest princess the most, including the divine horse given by the eldest princess, so they all abided by the rules obediently.
In a blink of an eye, it was August 13th, and the palace was about to hold another court meeting.
It was still dark when Chen Jingzong rode the Baixue Tower towards the imperial city. He turned into an alley and bumped into another horse head-on with Qi Jin sitting on its back.
Chen Jingzong ignored it and continued moving forward at the original speed.
Qi Jin was two horse lengths behind him, and all he saw was Chen Jingzong's straight back and the divine horse's round and strong buttocks swaying regularly left and right.
Obviously every horse walks like this, but for some reason, the horse that Chen Jingzong was riding seemed to reveal contempt and ridicule for him.
Qi Jin secretly tightened the reins.
(End of this chapter)