Zhao Wenqi excitedly shouted, "Auntie, I'll have Qin Ming shoot it down, and we'll roast it and eat it!"
At the end of last month, He Youyou had a hunter take Han Wenzheng and Zhao Wenqi, two children, on a hunting trip in the mountains.
During the New Year, Liu Zi gave Han Wenzheng a three-strength light bow. Half a year later, the boy's arm strength has improved significantly, and he can now use an eight-strength regular bow, which has yielded great success in hunting.
Zhao Wenqi's archery skills were still lacking, but with Qin Ming following up and finishing him off, they managed to bring back quite a few wild game.
For several days, everyone in the He family mansion ate wild ducks, wild rabbits, and wild chickens.
The child still has a hunting addiction and is very enthusiastic about shooting birds and rabbits.
"No, no!" Butler Qian hurriedly stepped in to stop them. "This is no ordinary sparrow. It's a falcon, a bird of prey. If we attack it rashly, we might get hurt. No, no!"
He Youyou wondered, "Birds of prey? Aren't they all in the wild? Why are they flying into the city?"
With his hands behind his back, Butler Qian sighed, "Who knows... Maybe they can't find their way home..."
A few days later, the sound of horses' hooves outside the gate became chaotic and rapid, crowding the narrow alleyway.
He Youyou was in her office at the time. When she heard the noise, she looked down from the window of the corner tower.
A horse-drawn carriage was parked in front of his house in the alley, with cavalrymen holding weapons in front and behind the carriage.
She quickly went downstairs to check.
The servant had already opened the door, and He Youyou walked out from inside, just in time to greet Zhao Changqing as he got off the carriage.
It was hot, and he was wearing a light summer shirt, holding a folding fan in his hand, as he gracefully landed.
She did not wear a golden crown, but simply used a sandalwood hairpin to tie her hair up.
It has been more than a month since I last saw him.
"Hanzhang, why such a grand entourage today?"
He Youyou pointed to the soldiers in front of and behind his carriage.
During the Chinese New Year, he only brought a dozen or so people.
This time, there were over a hundred of them.
Before he could answer, He Youyou continued, "My house here is not like the Han family's old house. It has fewer rooms and can't accommodate so many people."
Zhao Changqing's gaze never left her face.
"I am here on imperial orders to return to the capital and pay homage to the Emperor. I will also bring my nephew back to the capital along the way. The soldiers I am with will be lodging at the official guesthouse immediately, so you need not worry."
"Oh, that's good."
Zhao Changqing's carriage and driver remained at the He residence, while the others, led by the commanding officer, immediately set off for the local inn.
The two entered the courtyard, and Zhao Changqing stopped.
"Youyou, it's been so long since we last met, how have you been?"
He Youyou chuckled and couldn't help but laugh: "Hanzhang, why are you being so... polite this time? You don't usually say these kinds of things, hahaha... Sorry, I just feel a little strange..."
Zhao Changqing was embarrassed.
He wasn't just saying polite words.
He genuinely wanted to ask if she was alright.
I really wanted to hear her talk about it, the good and the bad, the happy and the troublesome things... her private thoughts.
But in He Youyou's eyes, he was still the same Zhao Changqing who was a bit arrogant, a bit domineering, and a bit unreasonable.
"It's cool under the tree, let's sit in the yard." He Youyou said, leading him to the stone table under the tree.
Then, she called to a servant: "Go to the City God Temple quickly and call Young Master Wenqi back. Tell him that his uncle has arrived and that he should come back immediately."
Zhao Changqing: No need... I'm not in such a hurry to see him...
He Youyou then took out two bottles of chilled juice from her sleeve, opened the caps and gave him one.
As soon as Zhao Changqing saw the bottle, he knew it was taken from her house.
"Don't let outsiders see these things."
He Youyou nodded: "Yes, only you and Ali have met."
Zhao Changqing touched the bottle and grinned.
After taking a sip of juice, He Youyou started gossiping with him: "Wenqi, that kid, dragged Qin Ming along to watch the show."
"What's all the commotion about?"
Zhao Changqing wasn't interested in what his nephew was watching; he just wanted to chat with He Youyou.
Just seeing her so enthusiastic as she talked to me was enough to make me feel satisfied.
"There's a county below. The magistrate committed a crime and was punished. The city god of that county was brought to the city god temple in the prefecture and had to be caned in front of the city god of the next level... Hahahaha... That's hilarious... Hey, this is the first time I've ever heard that city gods have ranks and superiors."
Infected by her laughter, Zhao Changqing's expression softened as he patiently explained, "The 'Cheng' in 'Chenghuang' refers to the city wall, and 'huang' refers to the moat. Each city worships a Chenghuang to protect the peace of its territory. The rank of the Chenghuang is the same as that of a local official. In a county town, it's equivalent to a county magistrate, and in a prefectural town, it's equivalent to a prefectural governor. Moreover, Chenghuang temples are usually built near government offices. The Chenghuang in the county you mentioned not only gets caned, but when he returns to his temple, he's also locked in chains until the next county magistrate achieves good results, at which point the chains can be removed."
He Youyou found it very interesting: "So that's how it is, gods and local officials being punished together, how strange."
"You don't have this custom where you live?"
“Maybe it used to be, but it definitely isn’t anymore.” He Youyou shook her head. “Then if the county magistrate achieves good results, can the city god be promoted as well?”
“The clay sculpture cannot move, but the spirit is unrestrained… If there is a spirit, it might be promoted one level.”
The two talked about everything from the City God to officialdom, to recent government decrees, to the frontier, to war, and to the Wuhuan.
Zhao Changqing told her some news: he had recently signed a treaty with Chakchin.
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