Chapter 65 Gu Ci also has a cousin? !

The autumn hunt is a royal hunting event held every autumn in this dynasty.

The enclosure is located in a place called Quzuo, northwest of Kyoto.

During the hunting process, soldiers who are specially responsible for reconnaissance will search for herds of animals in the hunting grounds, and the cavalry led by the officers in charge of the hunting will surround the area where the herds of animals are active and gradually shrink the area. When the herds of animals are finally concentrated in one area, Your Majesty and the princes and nobles will shoot them one by one.

Finally, the animals are hunted on a large scale, and the one with the most shooters wins.

The king's hunting was not only for fun, but also for training the army. Emperor Gaozu of the Jing Dynasty had a set of training rules, and there was a fixed process for hunting every autumn to train the soldiers' riding and archery skills.

A temporary palace was built in Quzuo Paddock for the convenience of the emperor's residence.

The Empress also came with him on this trip. Empress Lu was a graceful and voluptuous woman. Although she was not as beautiful as Consort Shu, she was more dignified and quiet, and had the aura of a queen mother.

He also took great care of Xiao Nanxi and specially allocated Xiyuan for her to live in.

Nianxi naturally lived with the princess. The entire West Garden was quite large, with a main hall and side halls, all of which were complete, with red doors, carved railings and jade bricks, and it was built very gorgeously.

Just after settling down, Nianxi was watching Lanzhi and Xingyue unpacking things and tidying up the place. Xiao Nanxi was already very interested, "Let's go, let's go horse racing."

The team just arrived today, and everyone is tired and there is nothing to do at night, so the main focus is on rest.

When Xiao Nanxi got off the carriage, he felt as if all his meridians were opened up at once. Not only did he regain his strength, but he couldn't rest for a moment.

The sun was about to set, and the dark golden light stained the distant mountains, forests and fertile fields. This place was different from the capital. Outside the palace, there were old forests and wilderness.

Although there were guards following him, the view was not as wide as in the daytime. Nian Xi was a little worried and could not help but advise, "It is getting dark. Your Majesty and the Empress have been exhausted all the way and have just arrived at the palace to rest. Your Highness should not make any noise. It will not be too late to ride again tomorrow."

At this time, it was a mess outside.

When the imperial guards arrived, there were so many people, including the army, bodyguards and attendants, that the palace could not accommodate them all. Many tents of different sizes were set up early in the morning, scattered around the palace.

Everywhere there are people busy trying to find a place to stay.

Although Xiao Nanxi had a strange temper, he was not unreasonable. As he was hesitating after hearing this, a group of people came towards him around the corner.

Princess Deqing, Princess Xinchang, and several young ladies from aristocratic families came over, chatting and laughing. When they saw Xiao Nanxi and Nianxi, they asked with a smile, "Third sister, what are you doing standing here? It's so noisy outside. We are going to the side hall to play pot throwing. Third sister, would you like to come with us?"

Xiao Nanxi was very happy and took Nianxi with him.

The palace maids had already arranged all the necessary items in the hall, including food and drinks.

Banquets in the capital always include games such as throwing cups and throwing covers, passing wine and flowers, and although Nianxi is not proficient in them, she is not completely incapable of them.

Everyone sit down.

Princess Deqing was the host of this small banquet. She smiled and said, "We just arrived today, so we shouldn't be too presumptuous. Let's have some fun. Father will have a big banquet tomorrow."

Princess Xinchang smiled and refused, "I've been bored in the capital all day, and now I finally get to go out, I must have fun."

A young lady said, "Since we are playing the game to entertain the guests, why not set a rule? The limit is ten. If you miss a few shots, you will be fined a few cups. If you can hit all ten shots, everyone in the room will have to drink three cups!"

The lady who was speaking was the legitimate daughter of Xindu Hou, Jiang Yuan.

Everyone is familiar with the banquet game of throwing the pot. But it is just for fun, and forcing people to drink is inevitably too much.

Princess Deqing was older and was about to refuse, but Princess Xinchang took the lead and said, "It's rare to be free here, this is the best!"

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Why don't we let Miss Wen take the lead?"

The eyes of dozens of people in the audience all fell on Nian Xi.

Nian Xi had a premonition since she met Jiang Yuan just now.

Nian Xi was not at all unfamiliar with this Miss Jiang.

After "Half a Cup of Floating Life" opened, she came here several times with Xu Wanxin. Every time they met, she always looked at Nianxi with scrutiny and unconcealed disgust.

Nian Xi asked herself that she had never offended Miss Jiang, and she didn't know where the hatred came from.

Until one day, Gu Ci came home early and waited for her outside the door. Jiang Yuan was sharp-eyed and jumped in front of Gu Ci while chatting and called in a coquettish voice, "Cousin!"

Gu Ci was surprised, "Why are you here?"

Jiang Yuan responded to Gu Ci with a warm tone, "Why are you here?"

Gu Ci never liked to talk nonsense with this cousin, so he said directly, "I'm waiting for someone."

"Then I'll wait for you." Jiang Yuan was even more direct than him, "Cousin, I want to eat the eight-treasure duck at Fan Lou, can you treat me to it?"

"You go with your little sister and put it on my account."

Jiang Yuan refused, stamped her feet and acted coquettishly, "Do I owe you those two coins? I want you to eat with me."

She emphasized.

Gu Ci only looked down at her at this moment. He was not as cold and imposing as Pei Jian, but when he looked at her seriously, he had the majestic bearing of a noble family. He said lightly, "It's inconvenient."

Jiang Yuan was so angry that she said, "I'll tell my aunt that you bullied me!"

Jiang Yuan's aunt is Lady Wang. Compared to Pei Jian and Xu Wanxin, Gu and Jiang are real cousins.

Wang Muyi and Nian Xi stood by the window on the second floor and looked down. Although they couldn't hear what the two were saying, they could guess the general situation.

Wang Muyi asked, "You're not going down?"

"What are you going to do?"

Nian Xi walked back to the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and said nonchalantly, "They are cousins ​​talking, why would I go and cause trouble?"

"You're not feeling well." Wang Muyi had a keen sense of smell. He stared at Nian Xi and said, "Don't you know how Gu Ci feels about you? It's obvious that he's being entangled by someone. What are you afraid of?"

Nianxi was slightly stunned by what her cousin Mu said. She wanted to deny it, but when the words came to her lips, she was speechless.

After what happened to Cousin Xu, she was indeed a little scared. If she hadn't intervened in the previous life, the lovers wouldn't have been separated, and the three of them would have regretted and lived in depression for the rest of their lives.

Now, I am a little timid towards this cousin Jiang.

Nian Xi thought about it and laughed. She was short-sighted. If she lived again, even if Gu Ci was the second Pei Jian, so what?

Will she just keep waiting there foolishly?

She wants to love, wants to be loved by someone, it doesn't matter who the person is. The world is vast, and she will no longer stubbornly wait for one person.

She still has many choices.

But after all, it was not Pei Jian who refused.

As soon as she appeared, Gu Ci saw her at a glance. He walked a few steps forward to meet her, took her hand and held it, then said to Jiang Yuan, "I do have something important to do. It turns out that I have an appointment with Nian'er to go to Wazi to watch a play."

His tone was gentle. Although he was talking to Jiang Yuan, his eyes were on Nian Xi. "It's not just today that I'm busy. I'm afraid I won't be free every day from now on."

The implication of his words could not be more obvious.

Nian Xi knew Gu Ci. He was a kind and sensitive person. He would give basic respect to women even if they were clingy.

It's not out of kindness, but a measured refusal.

Nian Xi glanced at Jiang Yuan's ugly face and followed his words, "Since we have met, why don't we ask Miss Jiang to stay with us? Did you book the original room?"

"I didn't order a big one, this one is a little small."

"If we squeeze in, there will always be room for three people to sit down."

“…It’s not impossible.”

The two of them discussed as if no one else was around, leaving Jiang Yuan aside. Jiang Yuan's face turned pale, and she could no longer maintain her dignity, so she interrupted, "No need, who wants to watch a useless play?"

Having said this, he walked away.

After the people walked away, Nian Xi glanced at Gu Ci. Gu Ci didn't need her to say anything, as he was already eager to explain, "She is my cousin. When she was young, she was often sent to my house by her aunt to play. I just treated her as my sister."

Nian Xi said with a long tone, "So she is my childhood sweetheart, my cousin."

Gu Ci felt that he had said something wrong, and was even more afraid that Nian Xi would get angry, so he almost raised his hand and swore, "My aunt did have the idea of ​​strengthening the relationship between the two families, but I only treat her as a relative."

He didn't dare to mention his sister anymore. "I already have you as my little ancestor, how can I dare to think about someone else?"

Nian Xi pricked up her ears and leaned in closer to ask, "What? What did you say?"

Gu Ci was so embarrassed that he realized he had let the cat out of the bag. His ears turned red. "It's all Qin Lang's nonsense."

Qin Lang's original words were, "You treat your sister like an ancestor. Look behind you, isn't that tail wagging happily?"

Gu Ci naturally refused to tell Nian Xi these words.

Nianxi could guess what he meant without him saying anything, and asked with a smile, "So what was your reply?"

Gu Ci smiled and said, "I told Qin Lang, 'I do.'"

Nian Xi couldn't pretend to be angry anymore and sighed softly, "Miss Jiang already disliked me, and now she is even more annoyed with me."

Gu Ci helped her get on the carriage, and sat on it himself, frowning, "Why are you so greedy, young lady? Do you have to make everyone love you?"

He helped to give her some advice, "I have a lot of love here, why not do this, whatever you lose with her, I will give you double the money."

Nian Xi couldn't help laughing, "You are a very nice person."

Gu Ci couldn't help laughing, and said seriously, "You're welcome, it's just a small favor."