inspire-indiana Chapter 426 You Came Riding a White Horse
Chapter 426 You Came Riding a White Horse
On New Year's Eve, Qin Shao and his daughter Qin Chuyun simply came to the Prince Xian's residence to gather with everyone.
Lian Guanliu also brought Hu Yiba to the Prince Xian's Mansion to join in the fun.
Emperor Gu Li and Consort Shu also sent people to inform Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan that they would also be coming to the Prince Xian's residence to celebrate the New Year with everyone.
But the New Year's Eve dinner had already been set on the table, and Gu Li and Xiao Aiyue were still nowhere to be seen. Even the steward Li, who went to the gate of the mansion to greet them, did not see a single eunuch to announce their arrival.
People couldn't help but gossip, wondering where His Majesty and Consort Shu had gone to spend New Year's Eve.
Could it be that something came up in the palace that caused the delay?
Just as Gu Zhanghua was about to ask Huang Shuo to help him search, Gu Li and Xiao Aiyue arrived at the Prince Xian's residence, looking rather dejected.
Both of them were dressed as ordinary people.
Although it couldn't conceal Gu Li's domineering aura and Xiao Aiyue's innate nobility, without close inspection, they still looked no different from an ordinary middle-aged couple.
"Father, Mother, why are you both dressed like this today? And you seem a little unhappy."
Zhao Xuan couldn't help but ask with a smile.
The palace wasn't far from the Prince Xian's residence, so there was nothing wrong with dressing up and spending New Year's Eve at his son's house.
In the past, Consort Shu had visited Prince Xian's residence several times without any attempt to conceal it, always with a large entourage, as if afraid that no one would know that Consort Shu was traveling.
Gu Li and Xiao Aiyue both sighed in unison, looking as if they wanted to say something but hesitated.
Gu Zhanghua couldn't help but look at Han Gu, the chief eunuch following behind the two, and gestured to Han Gu with his eyes for clarification.
What exactly is going on?
Han Gu looked even more comical at this moment, dressed exactly like a peddler, much like how Huang Shuo and Zhao Xuan dressed when they secretly investigated a case back then.
But Han Gu's hat was askew, he was covered in sweat, and he was carrying his peddler's load with trembling steps. When he stepped into the mansion, he stumbled and almost fell to the ground.
Seeing the look Gu Zhanghua was giving him, Han Gu looked resentful, but he had no choice but to take all the blame upon himself.
"It was my oversight. I thought that since it was New Year's Eve, the night market on Zhuque Street would be very lively, so I suggested that Your Majesty and the Empress go on an incognito visit to experience the joy of the common people. Who knew..."
Before Han Gu could finish speaking, Zhao Xuan burst into laughter.
"Who would set up a stall on New Year's Eve? After a busy year, everyone is finally at home with their families to celebrate the New Year! Eunuch Han, you've really been living a life of luxury in the palace, and you can't even think of something this simple?"
Before Zhao Xuan could finish speaking, Gu Zhanghua had already keenly noticed the expressions on his father's and mother's faces, and they immediately darkened.
Looking at Eunuch Han's bitter and resentful face, what else could Gu Zhanghua not understand?
It's highly likely that the Emperor and Empress wanted to travel incognito, to experience the lively atmosphere of ordinary people like a regular couple, and to stroll around the night market.
Even the wisest can make a mistake; he misunderstood the situation.
It's lively, but everyone's having fun at home. Who would set up a stall on the street?
Furthermore, the old couple's faces darkened when Zhao Xuan unintentionally mentioned the phrase "living in luxury."
Gu Zhanghua smiled and took the arms of Gu Li and Xiao Aiyue respectively.
"It's not my fault, Eunuch Han. It was my oversight. Father, Mother, when the night market opens in a few days, my wife and I will accompany you both for a meal!"
“That’s right!” Zhao Xuan clapped her hands and laughed. “I’ll have Guan Liushui dress us up nicely later! Or, I could set up a pastry stall at the night market, and Father, Mother, could you two help me out?”
Gu Zhanghua was about to speak up and say, "It's not very good."
But Xiao Aiyue had already opened her bright and lively eyes and looked at Zhao Xuan, asking a question with great interest.
"We could set up a stall and sell pastries? That would be so much fun! I love it! I'll make some rose cakes and we can sell them together!"
Gu Li and his son Gu Zhanghua exchanged a helpless glance.
Traveling incognito is already outrageous enough, but now an imperial concubine and a princess are setting up a stall to sell goods at a night market?
Is it so outrageous? !
After this little incident, the New Year's Eve dinner at the Prince Xian's Mansion was lively and everyone was happy.
However, Consort Shu's dream did not come true, because after the New Year, everyone began to make arrangements for Qin Chuyun and Qin Shao's parents to go to the Northern Border.
Finally, the sixteenth day of the first lunar month arrived at the gate of the Prince Xian's residence.
The carriages were all ready to go.
Everyone gathered at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion to bid farewell to Qin Chuyun and Qin Shao.
Zhao Xuan gently hugged Qin Chuyun, and said reluctantly:
"Take good care of yourself. When the opportunity arises, your sister and brother-in-law will definitely visit you in the Rongdi tribe."
Qin Chuyun nodded with a smile.
"A word is settled!"
Standing to the side, Qin Shao couldn't help but complain.
"Other people cry their hearts out when their daughters get married, but you're the one who can still laugh."
Qin Chuyun left Zhao Xuan's embrace, took Qin Shao's arm, and looked at everyone with a beaming smile.
"I don't know why, but I didn't feel like I was getting married. It felt more like I was going on a trip with my dad. I've never been on a long trip with my dad before!"
Gu Zhanghua smiled, pursing his lips.
"That's true. If you ever miss your father, just go to the Northern Army camp to find him. It's much closer than going from Liyang to the Northern Border!"
Zhao Xuan suddenly patted Gu Zhanghua on the shoulder and echoed his words.
"That's right, the absolute truth! I support you!"
Guan Liushui, who was gathering tears and preparing to shed a few sad tears for the impending farewell, suddenly broke down.
"I thought I was going to cry, and I almost didn't want to come, but in the end, you guys made me laugh with just a few words!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh when they heard Guan Liushui say that.
"I'm leaving! Take care, everyone!"
Qin Chuyun nodded slightly to everyone.
"Ta-ta-ta! Ta-ta-ta!"
Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from afar.
Along with the sound of horses' hooves came a loud, high-pitched male voice shouting.
"Yun'er! I'm here!"
Just as Qin Chuyun was about to board the carriage, she turned her head blankly towards the direction from which the sound came. Suddenly, her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at a fast horse and the person on it rapidly approaching.
A tall, strong white horse galloped in, its mane dancing in the wind!
The Rongdi King! Soaring like an eagle! Riding a white horse, his figure lithe and agile!
The bright red cloak fluttered loudly in the fierce, cold wind!
With a loud shout from the eagle, "Whoa!!!"
The white horse stopped abruptly, raised its front hooves high, then suddenly came down, stopping steadily in front of Qin Chuyun.
In a daze, Qin Chuyun seemed to see herself standing on the side of the street, lost and helpless, on a summer afternoon many years ago, when the boy appeared as if he had descended from the sky, riding a white horse.
She instinctively called out to the boy, "Big brother!"
The boy stopped in front of her, bent down to look at her, and smiled broadly.
Then, the boy reached out his hand to her and whispered something to her.
Come on, get in, I'll take you home!
Years later, Ying Yang once again bent down to Qin Chuyun with that same radiant smile and reached out his hand to her.
What they said was:
Come on, get in, I'll take you home!