Chapter 1120: Princess Chun'an was led astray by the storybook 1
The sky is vast and the wilderness is endless, the wind blows the grass low and cattle and sheep can be seen.
The eagle spread its wings and flew in the sky, and the horse galloped wildly on the ground. Xiao Keyan loved this vast land very much.
In June, Xiliang is lush with grass and water, and herds of cattle and horses are everywhere. The annual horse racing meeting is quietly approaching amid everyone's anticipation.
Ganzhou Prefecture.
The prefect's backyard.
Dong Jingyi had just finished helping her mother with her chores and was returning to her own yard when a thumb-sized Dongzhu attacked from the side.
Xiliang is a border area. Although there has been no war in recent years, the bold and unrestrained customs of the people here have made the girls here less restrained and more heroic. In addition, since they have to herd horses and sheep, many girls know some fighting skills.
Dongzhu attacked, and Dong Jingyi quickly and decisively stretched out her hand, caught Dongzhu accurately and steadily, then turned around and looked in the direction where Dongzhu was attacking.
Looking at the girl in red on the wall, one hand on her waist and the other playing with the Dongzhu, Dong Jingyi's face suddenly lit up: "Princess, when did you return to Xiliang?"
Xiao Keyan put away the Dongzhu, jumped off the wall neatly, and came to Dong Jingyi with a smile: "I have been back for a few days. I just arrived in Ganzhou today."
Dong Jingyi took Xiao Keyan's arm familiarly and asked with a smile, "Where are the prince and princess? Are they back too?"
Xiao Keyan nodded: "I'm back, but they are still in Liangdu for some business, so I came to Ganzhou first."
Dong Jingyi smiled: "Princess, you must want to come and see the horse racing meeting in advance, right?"
More than ten years ago, King Weiyuan held the first horse racing event at the Gandan Military Horse Farm to review the riding and archery skills of the soldiers from the twelve military garrisons. Due to the amazing results, the horse racing event has been preserved since then and is now held as scheduled every June and July.
At the beginning, only the twelve military garrisons and soldiers guarding the border participated in the horse racing meeting. Later, the people also participated enthusiastically, and now the horse racing meeting has become a grand event for the military and civilians of Xiliang to celebrate together.
It is only June now, and people from all over Xiliang have already arrived in Ganzhou. It can be said that Ganzhou in June and July is even more lively than during the Chinese New Year.
Xiao Keyan admitted with a smile: "I've been traveling around with my parents these past few years and haven't been in Xiliang for a long time. This year I finally caught up with the horse racing meeting, so of course I have to have fun."
Dong Jingyi smiled and said, "Since the prince and princess are not here, the princess must stay at my house. My father is still in the government office. He will be very happy to see you when he comes back. Let's go and see my grandmother and mother first."
Xiao Keyan smiled and nodded, then followed Dong Xinran to meet Old Madam Dong and Madam Dong.
At the Dong family, Xiao Keyan had no intention of being polite. There was no other way. Her family was too familiar with the Dong family. When she was a child, whenever her father went on an inspection tour of Ganzhou, she would always follow him. She had already become familiar with the Dong family.
Sure enough, Old Madam Dong and Madam Dong were very happy to see Xiao Keyan. When Dong Yuanxuan learned that Xiao Keyan had arrived, he left the yamen early, and everyone sat together in the old madam's room to chat.
Madam Dong smiled and asked, "I heard your sister-in-law is pregnant?"
Hearing this, Xiao Keyan's eyes narrowed in smiles: "Yes, my eldest brother really loves my sister-in-law, and my grandfather also won't let me go to play with my sister-in-law. It's so annoying."
Dong Jingyi: "By the way, why didn't the young master come back?"
Xiao Keyan immediately revealed a gloating smile: "He was called back to Taohua Village by the Emperor. Ever since my sister-in-law got pregnant, everyone has been urging him to get married quickly."
Dong Yuanxuan couldn't help but ask Gu Jian: "Is the old Duke in good health?"
Xiao Keyan smiled and nodded: "It's fine, I can still go to the fields to plant medicine." After speaking, he paused and said, "But the old ancestor is over 90 years old after all, and his health is not as good as before."
At this point, Xiao Keyan showed sympathy: "The ancestors must want to see my younger brother get married and have children. This time, even the emperor has come out. I think my younger brother may not be able to withstand the pressure this time. Maybe the next time I return to Taohua Village, I will really have a sister-in-law."
Dong Jingyi: "The young master is already eighteen years old this year, it's time for him to get married."
Xiao Keyan didn't respond to this. She and her younger brother were twins. If they were supposed to get married when they turned 18, then shouldn't she be married too?
Thinking of this, Xiao Keyan really became melancholy.
Although the princess has no worries about getting married, it doesn’t seem good to be too old?
Not to mention, she really needs to think about this matter carefully. This time when she returned to Xiliang, her parents mentioned marriage to her several times.
Xiao Keyan settled down in the Dong family with peace of mind.
The next day, Dong Yuanyao, who received the news, brought her daughter Sun Lanxin to Dong's house. The mother and daughter talked to Xiao Keyan for a long time.
Dong Jingyi: "Grandma, mother, aunt, I'm taking the princess and Lan Xin for a walk outside the city."
Madam Dong knew that Xiao Keyan had been away from Xiliang for a long time and that she wanted to explore the surroundings, so she did not stop her. She simply called her eldest grandson, Dong Zhenghua, and asked him to accompany the three girls. "Ganzhou Prefecture is very crowded these days, so remember to protect Keyan and the others."
Dong Zhenghua agreed with a smile: "Don't worry, Grandma, I will protect my sister and the others."
Only then did Mrs. Dong nod and let the person go.
Watching the three girls chatting and laughing as they left, Dong Yuanyao sighed a little: "Looking at them, I can't help but think of the time when Shao Shi and Yi Yi went out together in Zhongzhou."
Mrs. Dong also sighed: "Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, your children have all started their own families and careers."
Dong Yuanyao: "Isn't it? I don't know how long Yiyi and the others can stay this time. I haven't seen her for so long, I have to have a good chat with her."
"The prince and princess have come, so they must be treated well." Old Madam Dong was very grateful to Daohua and Xiao Yeyang. The Dong family was able to revive thanks to their help.
Although his son has been a fourth-rank prefect in recent years, his power and position is no less than that of a third-rank councilor.
Ganzhou is the largest prefecture in Xiliang, and the largest military horse farm in Daxia is built here. In addition, the largest trade market in Xiliang is also in Ganzhou. It can be said that the real power in the hands of the son is much greater than that of participating in politics.
When calling for troops and horses, even the general and the commander-in-chief of the border army had to be polite to his son.
The reason why his son was able to hold the position of prefect of Ganzhou was entirely due to the support of Prince Weiyuan.
Ever since Xiao Yeyang defeated Western Liao, Xiliang no longer suffered from the ravages of war. Coupled with the subsequent establishment of branch governments and the promotion of the cultivation of high-yield grain varieties, Xiliang is no longer as poor and desolate as it once was.
The opening of the mutual trade attracted a large number of merchants from the Western Regions. As soon as Xiao Keyan and his party walked out of the city gate, they saw many camel caravans of merchants from the Western Regions.
"Ganzhou is becoming more and more lively!" Looking at the long queue waiting to enter the city, Xiao Keyan couldn't help but sigh.
Dong Jingyi smiled and said, "Normally there aren't that many people here, but it's the horse racing meeting. Come on, I'll take you to see the assembly square that my father just marked out two years ago."
As he said that, he pulled Xiao Keyan and Sun Lanxin and ran forward.
Seeing this, Dong Zhenghua had no choice but to quickly chase after him with his maids and servants: "Be careful, don't run around."
As the horse racing events became more and more grand, more and more people came to Ganzhou. The smart people saw business opportunities. Every June and July, some businessmen and people would bring furs, medicinal herbs and other agricultural and animal husbandry products to Ganzhou for exchange and sale.
In this way, small gatherings were formed.
After Dong Yuanxuan learned about this, in order to facilitate management, he set aside an area outside Ganzhou City as a gathering square, so that merchants and civilians could have a fixed place to trade with confidence.
The horse racing meeting has not started yet, but the assembly square is already crowded with people.
Crowds of common people and merchants gathered around the square and set up various tents on the green grass around the square. From a distance, it looked very lively.
Xiao Keyan, Dong Jingyi and Sun Lanxin were strolling around the square happily. They would go up to ask about anything interesting, fun or that they had never seen before.
Just when the three of them were in high spirits, there was suddenly a burst of noise and cheers from the crowd.
"Quick, there are people fighting in the arena in the center of the square."
Hearing this, Xiao Keyan's eyes lit up, and she pulled Dong Jingyi and Sun Lanxin and followed the crowd to the center of the square.
"Bang!"
On the ring, a young man wearing only a white shirt easily knocked down his opponent with a sweep of his leg.
Watching his opponent fall, the man shook his head slightly disappointed, then raised his head slightly and smiled.
That smile was three parts arrogance, three parts unruly and four parts domineering confidence.
“Come again!”
The young man roared in a deep voice, looking at the people below.
Men never give up, and one man immediately jumped onto the ring to challenge.
In the crowd, Xiao Keyan looked admiringly at the young man on the ring who was once again showing his overwhelming momentum: "This man's martial arts skills are quite good!"
Dong Jingyi took over the conversation: "Not only is his martial arts good, but he also looks good."
Xiao Keyan showed her approval. This man was tall and strong, with a bit of roughness in his toughness and a bit of wildness in his heroism. He was a very eye-catching person. No wonder the girls around him stared at him with shining eyes.
"Bang!"
On the stage, Yuan Yonghao suddenly exerted force with his arms and threw his opponent off the stage.
"Is there anyone else who dares to come up?"
Yuan Yonghao stood on the ring, looking around with a smile. When his gaze moved to the left and back, his eyes suddenly lit up and he looked straight at the red figure in the crowd.
Xiao Keyan felt that Yuan Yonghao was eye-catching, and Yuan Yonghao also felt that Xiao Keyan was extremely beautiful, standing out from the crowd like a crane among chickens, and could attract people's attention at a glance.
Yuan Yonghao had seen many beauties, and his sisters were all good-looking, but the girl below had a face as white as jade, eyes as clear as water, and a smile that made her look like a newly blooming flower, so graceful and extraordinary that it was hard to look away.
At this moment, Yuan Yonghao felt his heartbeat quicken.
Below, Xiao Keyan felt that the people on the stage seemed to be looking at her, but she was not sure. She looked around and frowned slightly.
"Keyan, Jingyi, is that person looking at us?" Sun Lanxin asked nervously.
Dong Jingyi also looked around. There were many girls on their side, so they might not be looking at them: "I don't think so."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Yonghao suddenly jumped off the ring and walked towards them.
At this moment, all the girls on this side became nervous, even Xiao Keyan, who claimed to have seen all kinds of scenes, held her breath.
With the opening of trade in Xiliang, the people's living habits were somewhat influenced by the Hu people and the countries in the Western Regions. As a result, people here were not as taboo about sex as people in other inland provinces.
In some public places, men and women expressing their affection will not cause gossip.
Seeing Yuan Yonghao getting closer and closer, Xiao Keyan's heart began to beat faster.
Is this person looking at her?
What was he trying to do? Was he trying to publicly express his love like the Hu people?
Xiao Keyan swallowed her saliva. At this moment, she heard a commotion behind her. Turning around, she saw several ladies accompanying a girl in yellow.
When the people around saw them, they all made way for them.
"It's Miss Ren from the Governor's family!"
"I didn't expect Miss Ren to come to Ganzhou as well."
"She really is worthy of being the most beautiful woman in Xiliang. She is so beautiful."
"So that warrior was looking at Miss Ren!"
Seeing Ren Yaning, Yuan Yonghao couldn't help but stop. At this time, he was only about three or four meters away from Xiao Keyan.
Wherever Ren Yaning goes, everyone will give way to her, but there are always exceptions.
Looking at Xiao Keyan and the other two who were blocking the way and had no intention of moving aside, Ren Yaning frowned. After a moment, he smiled politely and said, "Please move aside."
Dong Jingyi frowned: "The road is so wide, why do you have to go our way?"
Ren Yaning didn't expect that someone would dare to refute her, and she was stunned where she stood.
At this time, Yuan Yonghao took the coat from the servant's hand, put it on, and walked towards this side.
Seeing Yuan Yonghao coming over, Ren Yaning ignored Xiao Keyan and the other two and called out with a smile, "Brother Yuan."
The ladies behind Ren Yaning also hurriedly bowed and greeted him: "Mr. Yuan."
Yuan Yonghao glanced at Xiao Keyan and the other two, then asked Ren Yaning with a smile, "Why are you here?"
Ren Yaning replied with a smile: "We heard that Brother Yuan was here, so we wanted to come and take a look."
Yuan Yonghao nodded and was about to turn the topic to Xiao Keyan and the other two, but Xiao Keyan directly pulled Dong Jingyi and Sun Lanxin away.
Looking at the three people who left without looking back, Yuan Yonghao showed a slightly amused smile on his face: "Quite unique."
Only after they were some distance away from the center of the square did Xiao Keyan let go of Dong Jingyi and Sun Lanxin.
Sun Lanxin asked in confusion: "Why should we leave?"
Xiao Keyan laughed, "I'm not leaving. I'm staying to eat dog food." After saying that, she paused and asked with a smile, "The most beautiful woman in Xiliang? When was this chosen? How come I didn't even know about it?"
Dong Jingyi sneered, "It's just some flatterers saying it to compliment the newly appointed Governor Ren, and you really take it seriously. If we really want to choose the most beautiful woman in Xiliang, who else is qualified besides Ke Yan?"
Xiao Keyan hurriedly shook her head: "I don't want to be the most beautiful woman. This title sounds nice, but it's actually useless. It might even get me into trouble."
She doesn't want to be called a beauty who brings disaster.
"What about that Mr. Yuan? Who is he? Do you know him?"
Dong Jingyi shook her head.
At this time, the middle-aged woman who was talking excitedly with the guests nearby helped them to clear up their confusion.
"That Young Master Yuan is the son of General Yuan, the commander-in-chief of the Western Liang army. I heard he's incredibly skilled in martial arts and can take down 10 to 20 men by himself."
(End of this chapter)
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