Zhao Shu remained silent, her gaze falling upon the procession ahead. In the procession, she saw a carriage drawn by eight horses. Unlike ordinary carriages, it was extremely elaborately constructed, over ten feet high and seven feet wide, with front and rear railings, phoenix-wing panels, four vermilion-lacquered lower shafts, a vermilion canopy, an upturned lotus seat, and four red silk ribbons hanging down, surrounded by red silk curtains.
This is still from a distance. If you look closely, you'll see that every nail is documented in classical texts, unanimously approved by scholars of rites, established by the Ministry of Rites, and approved by Emperor Taizu before it can be used.
The carriages slowly approached with the procession, and the sound of horses pounding the ground could be heard from afar. Despite the freezing weather, no dust was kicked up as the long procession of people carrying banners and fans, as well as soldiers with swords and spears, passed by.
All eight horses were handsome and strong steeds, but Zhao Shu didn't recognize them. Huo Baichuan, standing to the side, pointed at the eight horses and said, "Ferghana horses."
Inside the carriage, Prince Yong peered through the fluttering crimson curtains and saw Zhao Shu on horseback in the distance. Although he hadn't seen her for half a year, and his daughter had grown thinner and her face was shrouded in a cloak, he recognized her at a glance as his only daughter.
He stood up, stepped out of the carriage, and waved to Zhao Shu. Zhao Shu turned to Duo Zi and said, "My father is calling me. Quickly take me there."
Duo Zi turned to look at Huo Baichuan, who smiled and nodded. Only then did she spur her horse and lead Zhao Shu to greet him.
The guards were Guo Kanshan and Zhang Beifu. When they saw a beautiful woman riding up with a little girl, they both thought to themselves, "Could it be that Prince Yong's romantic entanglements have come knocking on our door?" It's no wonder they thought that way, since there had been far too many such examples along the way.
Regardless of what the two were thinking, they both appeared ready for battle. Zhang Beifu gave a signal to his subordinates, and then led his men to block Duozi's way. "His Highness Prince Yong is inspecting the world on behalf of the Emperor. All other people should step aside and perform the three kowtows and nine prostrations."
Duo Zi remained silent, looking down at Zhao Shu. Zhao Shu, who had been covering her face with her cloak, now released it and glanced sideways at Zhang Beifu, who had come to block her way. "How dare you block this princess's path?"
Prince Yong was waiting in the carriage when he saw that Zhao Shu was being stopped. He immediately called for Uncle Fu to come over. “Commander Zhang, Commander Zhang, this is Princess Jun. Please let her pass.”
Zhang Beifu glanced awkwardly at Duozi. This woman was really beautiful, but she was too cold. He spurred his horse and stepped back, cupping his hands in a salute, "This humble official greets Princess Jun."
Zhao Shu hurriedly said there was no need for formalities and urged Duozi to hurry over. Uncle Fu came to greet her. He was thinner and darker, and looked travel-worn, but he looked much more robust than before.
"This servant greets the Princess." Tears streamed down his face, making him look particularly heartbreaking.
Zhao Shu smiled from the bottom of her heart, "Uncle Fu, you've lost weight, congratulations!"
"I'm glad this old servant can save fabric for our Prince's mansion, but Princess, why have you become so thin? The Prince's mansion doesn't need your little bit of fabric. You must grow as much as you can, otherwise the Prince will feel sorry for you if you're too thin." Uncle Fu wiped away his tears and said in a rambling voice.
As they spoke, they had already come to the carriage from the opposite direction of the ceremonial procession. Prince Yong stood in front of the carriage and said loudly, "Ah Jun, come on up quickly, it's cold outside."
Zhao Shu looked at the four curtains fluttering in the wind, and the people inside the carriage could be seen from the outside. It was indeed used for inspecting the world, and it was very approachable. Such a carriage was not necessarily warm, but who would care? As long as it conformed to the ancestral system and was stylish enough, that was fine.
Mo Qin came over from the opposite side with a stool and placed it on the side for Zhao Shu to dismount. Duo Zi lifted Zhao Shu up and placed her on the stool.
The procession of the prince on behalf of the emperor to tour the country was extremely elaborate. Even the wooden horse stools were wrapped in silver leaves, hinged with silver nails, and decorated with a coiled dragon pattern, with a layer of gold applied between the patterns.
Zhao Shu jumped off the stool and ran towards the carriage. The carriage had already stopped, and because she was extremely agile, Prince Yong reached out and pulled her onto the carriage.
"Father, you are so majestic!" Zhao Shu said admiringly. Standing on the carriage, she could see the entire ceremonial guard and the soldiers protecting them on both sides. It was such a long procession.
Twelve staff drums, one large music drum, twenty-four flower-patterned drums, two gongs, a pair of nine-aperture crimson banners, two purple square umbrellas, one red embroidered round umbrella, four blue embroidered round fans, four red embroidered square fans, eight ceremonial horses…
There were many people, some Zhao Shu knew and some she didn't, too many to count. The honor guard alone numbered over a thousand, and with the escorting soldiers, the procession stretched as far as the eye could see, like a long river.
Prince Yong was thrilled to be admired by his daughter for the first time, but he had also matured a lot in recent days, so he didn't look too proud. Instead, he cupped his hands in the direction of the palace and said, "It is all thanks to the Emperor's boundless grace."
“Father, you’ve grown a beard.” Zhao Shu reached out and plucked a beard, and Prince Yong feigned pain and glared at her angrily.
Prince Yong's face became rougher, and his hands became inexplicably thicker. The delicate and handsome appearance of the jade-faced prince was gone, replaced by the domineering aura of a prince.
He looked much more imposing than before. Clothes make the man, and Prince Yong was certainly judged by his bearing. His appearance was first-rate, and his figure was slender, but not particularly tall and imposing. After going out for a while, his entire demeanor had undergone a dramatic change. Looking at him now, Zhao Shu concluded that this man was reliable.
"Aren't you looking very dashing?" Prince Yong said, then gestured for the procession to continue.
Zhao Shu looked him up and down, put her small hand to her mouth, thought for a moment, and said, "It's 'imposing figure'." Picking up a line from *Water Margin*, she continued, "My father has an imposing figure, a dignified appearance, an aura that cannot be defeated by ten thousand men, and speaks with a majestic voice..."
"Alright, alright, Ah Jun, stop talking. Be humble, always be humble." Prince Yong was pleased, this was the first time he had such face in front of his daughter, and he had to set a good example, but the smug smile on his face made it impossible for him to be humble.
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