Relax at the racecourse
Because Xie Shangjia was still "sick", it was not convenient for him to bring too many people with him when traveling, so only Jinyu and four servants accompanied him.
The carriage was traveling on the flat official road in the suburbs. Inside the carriage, the breakfast boxes had been put away.
Li'er excitedly leaned against the car window, pointing at the dead trees passing by outside and the occasional birds flying by, chirping non-stop. Xie Shangjia responded from time to time, while Chen Qianyue sat aside with her eyes closed to rest.
When they arrived at the racecourse, the sun was already high. Since they had made a sudden decision yesterday, a deposit had to be paid seven days in advance to reserve a spot at a private venue. They could have used their connections, but the timing was not right, so it was better to keep a low profile. They went to the public area, where shouts and the sound of horses' hooves intertwined, full of fresh vitality.
Xie Shangjia got out of the car holding Li'er, his eyes swept over those unruly figures, and his steps paused slightly. He clearly remembered that he was one of the most dazzling regular customers of this horse farm a few days ago.
But now, among the young men riding horses and waving whips in the field, there was not a single familiar face. A huge sense of emptiness and melancholy that things and people have changed instantly gripped him.
Where had all those friends gone, who had raced and drank with him? Were they all okay? Now he finally realized that during his illness, not a single friend had come to visit. Where were they now? Had they married and had children?
Chen Qianyue had already sat down in a pavilion not far away, and her maid served her hot tea and snacks. She was in a relaxed posture, but her eyes were like invisible threads, vaguely connecting to the scene.
"Daddy! Little Pony!" Li'er pointed at the docile little pony on the sidelines and shouted excitedly, bringing Xie Shangjia back to his wandering thoughts.
He took a deep breath, suppressed his surging thoughts, and handed the pear to Jinyu who was waiting beside him.
"Watch out young lady, don't get too close to the horse."
After saying that, he walked towards the stable, deliberately lowered the brim of his hat to cover most of his face, and his eyes wandered among several strong horses. He chose a snow-white horse, led the horse out, and climbed on the horse with smooth and agile movements, which were full of familiarity.
He kicked the horse's belly and it rushed into the field like an arrow, the wind whistling in his ears. He no longer thought about those troubles and galloped freely, running around the wide field again and again, immersed in the brief relaxation brought by the speed, until the horse was slightly panting, then he pulled the reins reluctantly and slowly walked back to the edge of the field.
Xie Shangjia had just dismounted and was about to walk towards the pavilion when a young man in his early thirties, wearing a gorgeous brocade suit and with a big belly, came up to him with a smile.
"Brother, you are good at riding. My name is Li Ruwei. I would like to know your name and where you are employed." He spoke in a bright voice with the usual confidence of a child from a noble family.
Li Ruwei!
It was Xiao Qilang from the Jingzhao Yin family! His best friend.
Xie Shangjia's heart was beating wildly, almost jumping out of his throat. He forced himself to calm down, and at the same time, he cleared his throat calmly and deliberately lowered his voice.
Shen Qianyue sat upright in the pavilion, holding a celadon teacup in her bare hands. The misty heat blurred her calm brows. Her gaze seemed to fall casually on the scene, but she accurately captured every subtle movement.
On the pasture not far away, Li'er, wearing a thick jacket, giggled as she chased a docile pony whose reins were held by Jinyu, with her maidservant standing by her side.
Xie Shangjia made up a name casually, his eyes fixed on the face before him, which was no longer as thin as before. "My name is Xia Jian, but I'm just... a person from the underworld."
"Summer cocoon?" Li Ruwei read it again, frowned slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.
He looked Xie Shangjia up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on his well-tailored and exquisitely made riding clothes, then fell on the way he held the reins. The more he looked, the more familiar he felt.
"Brother Xia, you're too modest. Your riding clothes look like the new style of the Beijing 'Yun Jin Ji' this year. Ordinary people in the martial arts world can't afford to wear them. And the way you control the horse and ride it show that you are a trained horseman. People in the martial arts world don't behave like that."
Li Ruwei's tone was full of understanding, as if to say, "I understand why you keep a low profile." It was obvious that she regarded Xie Shangjia as a young man from a noble family or a noble who did not want to reveal his identity.
Xie Shangjia subconsciously turned his head to look in the direction of the pavilion, where Chen Qianyue was putting down her teacup in a leisurely manner.
Li Ruwei followed Xie Shangjia's gaze and saw Shen Qianyue lifting the white gauze on her hat and nodding to greet him. He withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and placed his folding fan on his right shoulder in a simple return of greeting.
Looking back at Xie Shangjia, his tone was full of warning: "Don't look at him. The person in the pavilion is a bit of an icy lump, and he is not someone we can afford to offend. Give up your thoughts as soon as possible!"
His words clearly indicated that he believed that this "Brother Xia" was intimidated by Shen Qianyue's beauty and had feelings for her, but at the same time, he also revealed his awe of Shen Qianyue's identity.
Xie Shangjia felt complicated when he heard him evaluate Chen Qianyue like this, and could only say "hmm" vaguely.
Li Ruwei changed the subject and his eyes became eager.
"But Brother Xia, I see that your riding skills are truly exceptional. To be honest, I'll be managing this stable. We hold a horse racing event every March. Brother Xia, why don't you stay here and be the headliner? I guarantee you'll gain both fame and fortune."
Xie Shangjia declined politely: "Mr. Li is so kind to me. I am not used to being restrained, so I am afraid I cannot take on this responsibility."
Li Ruwei's eyes were filled with undisguised admiration. He reached into his bosom and took out a wooden waist badge with only the word "Li" engraved on it, and stuffed it into Xie Shangjia's hand.
"In that case, why don't we be friends? You wouldn't refuse to make friends with people from all walks of life, right? Take this sign, and come back whenever you want. It's a bit useful around here!"
Xie Shangjia held the warm wooden plaque, feeling the familiar patterns of the Li family emblem on it, as if he was holding the passing years.
"Thank you very much."
"Don't be polite!" Li Ruwei waved his hand generously, but his eyes fell on Xie Shangjia's tightly wrapped hat again, with undisguised curiosity.
"Brother Xia, we are already friends, why are you still wearing this thing? Take it off and let me see your true appearance so that I can recognize you." As he said this, he actually stretched out his hand with a smile, as if to lift Xie Shangjia's hat.
Xie Shangjia was caught off guard by this. His pupils suddenly shrank and his body instinctively wanted to step back, but Li Ruwei moved so fast that his fingertips almost touched the edge of the hat.
At this critical moment.
"Li Ruwei."
A cold and calm female voice pierced through the air like broken ice and sounded not far from the two of them.
Li Ruwei's movements suddenly stopped, and he looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Shen Qianyue standing quietly a few steps away. Her eyes, like deep pools, were scanning him lightly, with an instantly suffocating pressure.
The smile on Li Ruwei's face froze instantly. He abruptly withdrew his hand and stood properly. "Mrs. Xie, what are your instructions?"
Shen Qianyue's gaze did not linger on Li Ruwei for too long, as if he was just an eyesore on the side of the road.
"This is my cousin. He came from far away and is shy. It's better to keep some distance."
Li Ruwei suddenly realized something. He raised his head abruptly, his face filled with an exaggerated smile that was almost overflowing, and his tone was full of exaggerated apology and flattery.
"So it's the young master of the Shen family! My apologies! My apologies! I just thought you were extraordinary and definitely not an ordinary person! I'm sorry for offending you! Please forgive me! Please forgive me!"
Xie Shangjia looked at Li Ruwei's face, which was arrogant at first but respectful later, and was extremely fawning. Listening to the harsh flattering words, he felt a chill spreading from the bottom of his heart.
This was his former best friend, yet now he was so servile to a "disciple of the Shen family"... What if he knew I was Xie Shangjia...
He could only nod stiffly, his throat tight and unable to utter a word.
Chen Qianyue seemed not to notice Li Ruwei's performance, nor did she care about Xie Shangjia's stiffness. She reached out her hand and very naturally straightened Xie Shangjia's hat, which was blown a little askew by the wind. Her movements were gentle but carried an unquestionable meaning.
"It's time to go back."
After saying that, she turned around and walked calmly towards Jinyu and Li'er.
Xie Shangjia felt as if he had been pardoned. He lowered his head and followed Shen Qianyue closely.
Li Ruwei maintained a bowing posture, the smile on his face had not faded yet, but his eyes involuntarily followed the backs of the group of people leaving, and his eyes subconsciously fell on the "Shen family disciple" beside Shen Qianyue.
strangeness……
The smile on Li Ruwei's face gradually faded, and his brows frowned slightly.
When they were standing and talking just now, they only felt that this young man "Xia Jian" was tall and straight, and his posture was indescribably familiar, but they just thought it was the demeanor common to children from aristocratic families.
But at this moment, looking at the way he walked beside Shen Qianyue, the straight lines of his shoulders and back, and his slightly restrained yet powerful gait.
How...how come he looks so much like Xie Shangjia.
This thought flashed into Li Ruwei's mind like lightning, and he was shocked himself. Minister Xie was now seriously ill and recuperating at home, not even attending court. This was something known to everyone in the capital.
He shook his head vigorously, trying to get rid of this absurd idea. The Shen family is prosperous and has a cousin with a body shape similar to Xie Shangjia. What's so strange about that? Besides, even if Xie Shangjia really came out to relax, why would he be so sneaky?
Li Ruwei tried hard to convince herself in her heart, but her eyes did not leave the figure that was walking away.
The curtain of the carriage fell, blocking out the noise of the stables and the biting cold wind, but the carriage was still warm, and the charcoal basin exuded cozy warmth. Li'er was held in Jinyu's arms, and seemed a little tired, nodding her little head.
Xie Shangjia's tense back finally relaxed. The thrilling crisis of exposure and the torment of not knowing his old friend who was so close to him quickly flooded his heart with a cold tide, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Shen Qianyue sat opposite him, picked up the small teapot warmed on the stove, poured two cups of hot tea gracefully, and gently pushed one of the cups onto the small table in front of him, and the mist of hot steam rose.
"Is the horse ranch fun?"
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