Chapter 36, First Release on Jinjiang (Updated) "I've noted it down..."
Chaolu looked at his younger brother in front of him and didn't know what to say for a moment, but he immediately stopped him. Hurile on the viewing platform didn't look too good, while Madam Qiu looked at Yimin with a complicated expression.
Soon, Chaolu arrived with Turing.
Hurile: "Turing, what were you doing just now?"
Turing looked puzzled: "Father, your son is practicing archery."
"Ben Khan does not recall the tradition of using living people as targets on the grasslands."
After Hurile finished speaking, Yimin suddenly said, "It's all my fault, Great Khan. Turing's archery skills are too good. I allowed him to do it. These servants are all well-trained and usually don't have any problems. Today, this one is probably a novice and is very flustered. Urgan, go and see how badly that man is injured. Get him the best doctor and the best medicine."
Urgan immediately agreed.
Hurile: "Turing, don't you have anything to say?"
Turing glanced at Emin and said, "It was my mother who helped me like this. Traditional archery targets are really boring, and my son's archery skills can't be improved."
"you!"
Lady Qiu quickly tugged at Hurile's arm: "It's alright, Great Khan. Turing is so young, how could he understand these things? Turing, apologize to your father, and go visit the injured person later."
Turing gave Lady Qiu a deep look and replied, "Your son was wrong, I hope Father Khan will not be angry."
Having just reunited with his son, Hurile didn't want to get angry, so after thinking about it, he held back.
Lady Qiu: "Chao Lu, bring your brother to your seat. I think the competition should end here. It was just a friendly match between brothers, there's no point in trying to determine who's better."
Hurile nodded: "What you said makes sense."
After Chaolu led Turing down, Madam Qiu gave Yimin a deep look.
Turing was brought to Ruan Yu's side. Ruan Yu had also seen the scene clearly, and her heart was still pounding.
Looking at the young man in front of her, Ruan Yu felt a mix of emotions.
Chao Lu: "This is your fourth sister-in-law."
Turing immediately bowed respectfully: "Turing greets Fourth Sister-in-law!"
Ruan Yu suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and smiled, "Sixth Brother, you're too kind. Please sit down and rest for a while."
Turing looked up at her and smiled, revealing his canine teeth.
Ruan Yu suddenly thought of her younger brother.
My younger brother is fourteen this year, only one year younger than me.
Ruan Yu felt that the child's immaturity was mostly due to Yimin, and she had no good impression of the Kar tribe.
They had lunch together with the Kar tribe today, and they were leaving in the afternoon. On the way from the hunting grounds to the meal, Chaolu couldn't help but ask, "Turing, who gave you the idea of using live targets?"
Turing glanced at him, but his eyes darted past Chao Luding, who was standing behind him.
"It was my fault, Fourth Brother, I was wrong."
Chaolu couldn't bear to blame his younger brother, and said with a complicated expression, "Alright, come back with me this time, but never again."
Turing smiled and said, "Okay."
Not far away, Emin and Taren's family of four were walking together. Una couldn't help but say, "Mom, why is Turing like this..."
Yimin smiled and said, "When he was sent to Karl, it was the height of your father Khan's power. Who on the grasslands would dare to disrespect him? Everyone respectfully called him Liutaiji. I was even more afraid that he would suffer any grievances. But this child is very proud and arrogant, just like his maternal grandfather."
Turing's maternal grandfather was referring to the Liuyu tribe. Legend has it that among the grassland tribes, this tribe had the strangest temperament and worshipped violence, and was regarded as barbarians of the grasslands. It was precisely because of this that the people of the Liuyu tribe were often looked down upon and had a low status, until one year a beautiful woman appeared, and the tribal chief immediately offered her to Hurile in order to seek the development of the tribe.
Una also showed a disdainful expression: "Then, it's nothing to be afraid of."
Yimin turned to look at her: "It's been half a year since I last saw you, and you seem much more timid and hesitant! What are you afraid of? It's good to be wary, but if you're like this in everything, where is your magnanimity?"
Una pursed her lips: "Mother's words are right, I'll remember them."
Yimin continued, "You just need to be yourself and not be criticized in any way. As for other things, your father, mother, and mother-in-law are there for you. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Una nodded, moved, and said, "Then we'll be leaving this afternoon. Take care, Dad and Mom..."
Emin patted her hand, and Taren nodded to her daughter.
-
"Auntie!" Madam Qiu took some time to visit Chao Lu's residence.
When Turing met people, he didn't forget to change his address to the Central Plains.
Madam Qiu reached out and affectionately patted Turing's head: "You've really grown taller, you've become a fine young man."
"Auntie is still so beautiful, she hasn't changed at all!"
These words amused everyone in the tent. Madam Qiu exclaimed, "This child's mouth is truly sweet!"
Chao Lu said, "Mother, my sixth brother has been with me all the way since then, so you don't need to worry."
Madam Qiu nodded.
Ruan Yu asked, "Mother, when we go to Liangzhou, will you come with us?"
Lady Qiu smiled and said, "Your father Khan is taking me elsewhere. You and Chaolu will go to the prefectural city."
Ruan Yu immediately understood and smiled in agreement.
Turing: "Liangzhou? Can I go there too?"
Chaolu thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but you have to be obedient."
Turing: "I'll listen to my fourth brother."
Chao Lu raised his lips and nodded.
After noon, the Chaha tribe continued their journey.
Ruan Yu returned to her camel. Since they were approaching the border of the Central Plains, this time, Chao Lu did not leisurely accompany her. Instead, he returned to the Taiji's group, with each Taiji responsible for patrolling a section of the road, and they were on high alert.
Ruan Yu wasn't bored at all. She chatted with her older sister, and when she got tired, she would come down to check on her pair of prairie rabbits.
The pair of rabbits were brought by Afu and kept in a cage.
It really was a male and a female. The female stayed close to the male rabbit all the time, and Afu would occasionally feed them some vegetable leaves and carrots, which they both ate happily.
"Khedun, shall we name the two rabbits?"
Grassland rabbits usually have mixed fur colors, but these two are quite cute, with their whole bodies being grayish-brown.
"Let's name them Grey Grey and Little White."
After naming them, they're now just pets; they can't be killed for food anymore. Ah Fu smiled and agreed, "This male rabbit is gray, and the female is whiter, easy to remember and recognize!"
Chaolu was a trustworthy uncle. During the hunt, he didn't forget to catch a wild rabbit for Buhe as well. Its fur was mottled. At this moment, Buhe held it up to Ruan Yu and asked, "Aunt, what's the name of this one?"
Ruan Yu raised her eyebrows and said, "Let's call her Hua Hua, let's keep it consistent, okay?"
Buhe's eyes lit up: "Great! Huahua, let's call her Huahua, I like this name!"
He ran off proudly to show off to his mother.
As they were about to enter Liangzhou, even Xuanniang was getting excited.
"Khedun, once we arrive in the prefectural city... I will inquire about Chang'an. After all, we are now under the rule of the Great Zhou, so we should be able to know quite a bit."
Ruan Yu pursed her lips: "Go ask around near the yamen. Also, I want to write a letter home to my mother and younger brother at the post station. It's almost the New Year, so I'll send it back as soon as possible."
"Eh."
Xuan Niang and Qing Guo were both very excited. Once they arrived in Liangzhou Prefecture, things would be much easier to handle.
...
Pei Du was ordered to travel to Lingzhou and Liangzhou. He has been in Lingzhou for ten days and has taken care of things there. He plans to visit Liangzhou when he has some free time.
Establishing a protectorate on the border is no small matter. Pei Du needs to travel incognito to investigate the local conditions and relationships between officials, which requires a lot of travel in the early stages.
As soon as Pei Du settled in Liangzhou Prefecture, his guard Liu Yun reported: "My lord, I have found out that the prefect of Liangzhou, Ma Yuanfei, seems to have a bad reputation. He is lecherous and greedy, which is nothing new."
Pei Du nodded and said, "Find any inn we can stay at first. Don't alert them, and remember our identities."
Pei Du traveled under the name of Bai Yu, a wealthy merchant family from Jiangnan.
They came to the border region to do business.
Liu Yun agreed and quickly booked a superior room at the largest inn in Liangzhou Prefecture. Pei Du checked in that night.
Meanwhile, outside Liangzhou City, the Chaha tribe was encamped a hundred miles away. As grassland people, they could not swagger into Liangzhou at will, and Hurile had been deliberately concealing his identity.
So at this time, only Chaolu, along with Ruan Yu, Haila, Buhetuling, and a few others, changed into Central Plains attire and prepared to enter the city.
This was the first time Chao Lu had worn Han Chinese clothing, so he was naturally a little unaccustomed to it.
After he and Afu exchanged greetings, they looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Does it really have to be this way?" Chaolu frowned.
Just then, Ruan Yu lifted the curtain and walked in. Upon seeing the person, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Chao Lu felt extremely uncomfortable, his whole body felt awkward.
Ruan Yu smiled and walked over: "You can't fasten your belt, let me help you."
Turing followed behind her, and after changing into Hanfu, he looked perfectly at home, like a rich young master.
Chao Lu, on the other hand, was tall and strong, and even dressed in silk and brocade, he looked like a warrior.
Ruan Yu looked at it for a long time, then said, "You should wear a warrior's clothes instead!"
Chao Lu frowned: "This outfit doesn't look good?"
"It's not that it looks bad... it's just a little strange."
Chao Lu: "Then I'll change it!"
He was about to leave when Ruan Yu stopped him: "Hey, hey, there's no time to waste. I'll go into town and buy you two new outfits."
She wanted to buy herself clothes, and Chao Lufei quickly curled the corners of his lips.
"That's fine too."
Turing, who had been observing his brother and sister-in-law's interaction from behind, suddenly said mischievously, "Actually, I think Fourth Brother looks like a majestic general! Take his sword!"
Chao Lu: "That's a great idea!"
He immediately took the longsword, and Ruan Yu nodded as well: "Yes, that's much better, let's go!"
Chao Lu was also looking at her. He saw that Ruan Yu was dressed like a girl from a modest family today, with a light blue short jacket and a white skirt, and her hair was styled like a young girl's.
"Why don't you wear a woman's hairstyle?" Chao Lu suddenly grabbed her hand that was tying his belt, his tone a little strange, but when he saw the jade hairpin she was wearing, his mood improved.
Ruan Yu was taken aback for a moment, then frowned: "The clothes I brought from the Central Plains are all like this, and it's too strange to style them into a woman's hairstyle!"
“Then when you go to the city, you should also buy a couple more outfits,” Chao Lu immediately said.
Ruan Yu: "...Okay, I got it. By the way, have you memorized their identities?"
This time when they entered the city, Ruan Yu used her own name, Ruan An'an, and Chao Lu also had his own Han name, Wei Jun. The two were a couple from Lingzhou, who brought their older sister Wei Ning and younger brother Wei Cheng (Turing) to Liangzhou to visit distant relatives.
Turing smiled broadly: "I remember! Brother, sister-in-law!"
Chao Lu coughed lightly, "I've noted it down... Madam."
Ruan Yu smiled at him and said, "Let's go, my husband."
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Author's note: Something urgent came up this morning, so I'm posting this first chapter now. I'll make up the rest this afternoon!
Chao Lu was seduced by her husband again.
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