Chapter 61 061 "Please stop the carriage, Your Highness! This humble official has come to escort Madam back..."
As March arrived, the capital city once again welcomed the bright sunshine of spring. On the morning of the eighth day, after bidding farewell to her mother-in-law, Luo Fu put on her veil, mounted the chestnut horse that Princess Kangping had given her the year before, and headed to the Dingding Gate in the south of the city to keep her horseback riding appointment with the princess.
The two guards of the Marquis's residence kept their distance and escorted the Third Madam to the city gate. After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Princess Kangping's carriage arrived. Twenty-four valiant guards on tall horses surrounded the carriage. One of the guards was leading a magnificent horse from the Western Regions with snow-white fur. Wherever the horse went, the merchants and commoners waiting in line to enter or leave the city all turned their heads to look.
From this point on, the two guards from the Marquis's residence no longer needed to follow her. They only needed to find a cool place to wait for more than an hour until the Third Madam returned, and then escort her back to the residence.
There were many people and eyes on this side of the city gate, but Princess Kangping remained calm in the carriage. After the carriage had traveled a mile, she dismounted and rode a horse. She also wore a veiled hat, with a purple-red peony larger than the mouth of a large bowl pinned to one side of the brim, exuding wealth and elegance.
Luo Fu exclaimed in surprise, "The peonies on my side are still just small green buds, but the peonies at the princess's residence have already bloomed?"
Kang Ping glanced at the incredibly realistic pale pink peony silk flower on Luo Fu's veil and smiled, "It's grown in a greenhouse and blooms early. If you like it, I'll send someone to deliver two pots to you later."
Princess Kangping was always generous to those she liked.
Luo Fu did not politely decline.
Today, Princess Kangping was going to ride horses along the Yi River. The two of them, accompanied by a group of guards, rode ahead. When the maids arrived at the Yi River with the carriage, the two of them had just finished riding and it was time to rest. The maids spread out a felt rug and set out fruits and refreshments on the grass by the stream. Luo Fu and the princess took off their shoes and sat down, basking in the soft, bright morning sun while enjoying the spring scenery in the area.
"Shouldn't your Xiao Yu be back by now?" Kang Ping suddenly teased after chatting for a while.
Like the princess, Luo Fu lay on her back on the felt blanket and looked up at the blue sky above her head and said, "It can't be that fast. He sent a letter home on the day he set off, saying that if all goes well, he will arrive around the sixteenth or seventeenth of this month."
Kang Ping turned to the side and winked at Luo Fu: "A beautiful bride, your husband has been gone for two years, leaving you alone in your empty room. Have you been longing for him for a long time?"
It's impossible for Luo Fu not to think about it. It's fine if you haven't tasted it, but once you have, you can never forget it. Besides, that's not all she's thinking about.
Her face felt hot, so Luo Fu grabbed the veil and covered her face with it, but Princess Kangping snatched it away before she could finish, and the two of them started arguing.
Despite being eight years older than Luo Fu, Princess Kangping was playful and acted on her own whims. As Luo Fu and Princess Kangping became acquainted, she often forgot about the age difference between them.
As the sun rose higher, Kangping, as before, invited Luo Fu to ride with him back to the city, with guards helping to lead the horses.
Around noon, the princess's carriage arrived outside Dingding Gate.
Dingding Gate has three gates. The most spacious and magnificent gate in the middle is the Imperial Road. Only the emperor or officials carrying out urgent military affairs can use the Imperial Road. All other people, merchants, nobles and officials must abide by the same rules: enter the city through the east gate and leave the city through the west gate. When queuing, they must not make noise or cut in line.
Ordinary people and merchants obediently abided by the city's regulations, but the families of nobles and officials were not necessarily so. As long as they had enough power, the imperial guards at the city gates would turn a blind eye.
Princess Kangping never followed these rules when entering or leaving the city. She didn't even need to give any instructions. The coachman would simply drive the carriage to the front, take out the princess's waist token, and the guards would let them through. If the guards recognized the princess's carriage, the coachman wouldn't even need to take out the waist token.
As a guest favored by Princess Kangping, Luo Fu naturally wouldn't offer any advice; she wasn't Xiao Yu.
The Imperial Guards responsible for checking the identities of everyone entering the city had seen the princess's carriage leave the city that morning. As the carriage drew closer, one guard asked the people in line to make way, while the other signaled to the Imperial Guards blocking the way to let them pass.
Just as the coachman lowered his hand to take out his waist token and the people were used to it, suddenly a man led a horse out of the procession and blocked the carriage. The coachman was so startled that he hurriedly reined in his horse and stopped the carriage. His sudden stop caused Luo Fu and Princess Kangping, who were sitting inside, to sway. Princess Kangping, in particular, who was in a lazy posture, almost fell off the couch if Luo Fu hadn't caught her in time!
"What's going on?" After settling in, Kang Ping frowned and questioned outside.
Before the coachman could answer, the guards outside shouted at him to drive them away, and another righteous voice refused to be driven away: "I am the newly appointed Censor of the Censorate. Today I have seen you people who have disobeyed the city order and allowed people to pass through the city without permission. I have the right to stop you."
The Imperial Guards who chased people away: "..."
Luo Fu, who was still supporting the princess, was speechless.
Princess Kangping, both angry and shocked, paused for a moment, then slowly turned her head to look at Luo Fu: "...This voice, why does it sound so familiar?"
Luo Fu also felt that the voice sounded familiar, so familiar that her heart pounded and a feeling of ecstasy rose rapidly, but the inappropriate context of the voice made her want to grit her teeth.
A new conversation could be heard outside the carriage.
Imperial Guard: "You claim to be an Inspector General, how can you prove it?"
The man who stopped the carriage said, "This is the official document from the Ministry of Personnel ordering me to return to the capital."
"...So it's Dean Xiao, Dean Xiao! Forgive us for being so blind as to not recognize you. But, but..."
The Imperial Guard glanced at the arrogant and fearless coachman of the Princess's residence, and tried to move the well-known Imperial Censor Xiao aside so that he could tell him who the distinguished person in the carriage was. However, before he could speak, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted, revealing a beautiful and slightly angry face. Judging from her noble air, it must be the Princess herself.
The imperial guards who rushed over all bowed to the princess.
Kang Ping ignored them, first looking Xiao Yu up and down, then, under Xiao Yu's calm gaze, he laughed gleefully, "Two years have passed, how come Lord Xiao has become so dark?"
Xiao Yu didn't care about the ridicule, because he had looked in the mirror at the post station last night and knew that his skin color was only comparable to light wheat, far from being charcoal black.
"So it's the princess. It's been a long time. Your abusive style is still as impressive as ever." Xiao Yu gave a slight bow, but her words stunned the imperial guards and civilians watching the spectacle.
Princess Kangping was so angry that she was trembling all over. Because of her close relationship with Luo Fu and because of the letters Xiao Yu wrote to her, she had developed a good impression of Xiao Yu over the past two years. But today, Xiao Yu had just returned to the capital, and before he even entered the city, he came to pick a fight with her, shattering all that good impression!
Faced with the princess's burning anger, Xiao Yu kindly advised, "As an imperial censor, it is my duty to impeach illegal acts. However, my wife has been favored by the princess for the past two years. I do not wish to make things difficult for the princess. I ask that the princess return to the end of the procession and enter the city as ordered."
Kang Ping laughed: "So you did know I had connections with your wife!"
Xiao Yu: "Yes, that's why I stopped the carriage in time. As long as the princess's carriage hasn't entered the city, it doesn't count as a violation of the city's regulations."
Kang Ping challenged, "If I don't back down, what will you do?"
Xiao Yu: "Then please let the princess's carriage pass over this humble official."
Kang Ping: "..."
After glaring at Xiao Yu a few times, Kang Ping abruptly lowered the curtain that had only partially opened to reveal her upper body, and ordered the coachman to go back and queue up.
The princess's carriage slowly backed away. Xiao Yu looked at the few Imperial Guards who seemed hesitant to speak and said in a low voice, "I know your predicament, but as Imperial Guards, you are here to guard the city on the Emperor's orders. If you neglect your duties out of fear of powerful figures, you will be damaging the Emperor's dignity and benefiting the powerful figures' private interests. I'll let it go today, but if I see you letting powerful figures pass through again, I will impeach you, the commander of Dingding Guard, for lax discipline before the Emperor."
The entire Imperial Guard broke out in a cold sweat. Even if Imperial Censor Xiao impeached the Commander, and the Commander was punished, would they get away with it?
With the matter resolved, Xiao Yu led his horse back to his position in the team, seemingly oblivious to the admiring gazes and words of praise from the surrounding people.
In the princess's carriage, which had already retreated to the back of the procession, Luo Fu whispered apologies to Princess Kangping on behalf of Xiao Yu: "...Princess, don't worry, I will definitely give him a good beating when we get back to vent your anger."
Princess Kangping waved her hand: "Forget it. Even my father and elder brother have been scolded by him. What is my petty temper? Besides, he is him and you are you. I will not lump you together, and I do not need you to apologize to me on his behalf."
Luo Fu then changed her tune and began to criticize Xiao Yu, saying things like he hadn't changed his bad habits even after being demoted for two years and that he only caused her trouble when he returned to the capital.
Kang Ping smiled but remained silent.
After the carriage entered the city, Luo Fu prepared to take her leave, but Kang Ping pressed her hand down and said in an unyielding tone, "Come on, I'll treat you to lunch at my residence."
Luo Fu: "..."
She understood; the princess was using her detention as retaliation against Xiao Yu!
She understood, but if the princess wouldn't let her get out of the carriage, would Luo Fu really jump out on her own? Her husband, whom she hadn't seen for two years, wasn't worth her breaking her leg, and Imperial Censor Xiao, who had almost ruined her connection with the princess upon his return, was even less worthy!
"Alright, if the princess doesn't mind, I'd like to stay at your residence for another night."
"One night isn't enough, let's stay a few more nights!"
The princess's carriage drove away smoothly. The two guards from the marquis's mansion, who had been following at the back and watching the whole thing with trepidation, finally dared to show themselves. They caught up with their third master, who was walking ahead with his horse due to the crowd, and, sweating profusely, reminded him, "Third master, the lady went out of the city this morning to ride with the princess. She's in the princess's carriage now!"
Xiao Yu, who deliberately left Qingchuan, Chaosheng, and the eight black goats behind, galloping two hundred li a day at breakneck speed just to return to the capital to see his wife as soon as possible: "..."
"You should not return to the manor for the time being, and do not tell the Lady of the Marquis about my return to the capital in advance. I, I will go to pick up the Lady first."
After briefly instructing the two guards, Xiao Yu quickly mounted his horse and chased after the princess's carriage at the fastest speed possible, without disturbing the surrounding people.
Riding a horse is faster than a carriage, so Xiao Yu deliberately followed at a distance for a while before choosing a sparsely populated section of road to speed up...
"Who goes there? Do not disturb the princess!"
The ten guards from the princess's residence following behind the carriage stopped Xiao Yu, feigning ignorance of the question.
Xiao Yu hurriedly called out to the carriage, "Please stop the carriage, Princess! I have come to escort Madam back to the manor!"
Inside the carriage, Kang Ping, who had already been informed by his personal guards that Xiao Yu was following behind, deliberately did not stop the car and looked at Luo Fu with a mocking gaze.
Luo Fu's cheeks were already flushed. She was naturally looking forward to getting off the carriage to see her debt-collecting husband, but she was ashamed to go back on the big promise she had made earlier.
"Forget it, forget it. I don't want to be a bully who breaks up a loving couple, and I don't want Xiao Yu to accuse me of kidnapping his wife. Get out of the car now!"
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Author's Note: Hehe, here's a unique reunion! [doge]
100 little red envelopes, see you at midnight!
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