Chapter 715: Envoy from the West Wind Nation
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
On the 10th of August, in the autumn of the 23rd year of Minghua, Old Madam w.a.n.g and Old man w.a.n.g arrived at Wanning City.
The city was already decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, waiting for the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Ah Yu and the others had already received Old Madam w.a.n.g’s letter in advance, so they were waiting at the city gate.
Zhu’er held a huge candied hawthorn in his hand and suddenly waved his hand. “Big Brother Zao’er!”
“Zhu’er, who are you calling?” Ah Yu tilted her head to look and saw people coming and going at the city gate. A few people turned around in the direction of the voice, but she did not know who Zhu’er was calling.
“He’s a very good Big Brother. He often goes to Little Aunt’s grocery store!” As Zhu’er spoke, he pointed at someone and said to All Yu, “Big Sister, look, that’s him.”
Ah Yu was on a break from work today, and the other Big Brothers were still studying in the academy. Today, only a few sisters-in-law brought her and Zhu’er to pick up Grandpa and Grandma.
When she heard this, she looked over and indeed saw a young man. He was about ten years old and had a lake-blue headband on his head. He had a green jade pendant tied to his waist and was holding a wooden fan in his arms. He was instructing two servants who were holding small wooden boxes.
Hearing Zhu’er’s shout, he looked around and discovered them.
Zhu’er walked forward and bowed to them. Only then did he realize that it was Ah Yu. “Miss, it’s you.”
Ah Yu also recognized Zao’er. “What a coincidence. It’s actually you.”
The two of them had met before. At that time, there was still an arrogant young man beside Zao’er. Back then, because he was rude, his hand was broken by Qin Huai.
It was also at that time that Ah Yu realized that Qin Huai might have psychological problems. As long as she had the chance, she would accompany him to relax, afraid that he would accidentally become a little demon.
“I didn’t ask around properly previously. 1 wonder how that brother is doing?” Ah Yu was also asking casually. That person’s words were indeed very annoying. After so long, she didn’t compensate him back then, so it was even more impossible for her to do so hypocritically now.
Zao’er shook his head. “He has already been sent to a villa in the countryside by Uncle and Aunt.”
Zao’er did not say much about what was happening there. He only said, “Don’t worry. Are you going out of the city?”
“No, we’re here to pick up our family. What about you? Are you preparing to leave the city or have you just returned?”
“I’m returning from outside the city. The West Wind Nation will be sending an envoy to visit soon. There are stalls set up outside Wanning City offering various goods from foreign lands, including quite a number of exquisite items. One of these items is a fragrance that our elders particularly enjoy, so 1 came to buy some. If there’s anything your family’s elders might fancy, consider this a gift for you.” Zao’er spoke, about to present one of the small wooden boxes.
Ah Yu hurriedly said, “No need, no need. Aren’t you a regular customer of my Little Aunt’s shop? She always prepares a few portions of any popular goods in her grocery store. She got someone to buy such fragrances a few days ago.”
“That’s true. 1 almost forgot. You’re relatives with Auntie Bao, so you definitely don’t lack anything. Then I’ll leave first. 1 have to present the gift to the elders in the family first.” As Zao’er spoke, he looked at All Yu and added, “By the way, 1 heard that West Wind Nation will be sending envoys this time. Wanning City will host a joyous party for half a month until nightfall. If you like lively things, you can get your family to book some restaurants and pavilions in advance, lest you can’t find a good spot.”
“That’s something we didn’t know. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
After Zao’er left, Ah Yu got into the carriage and told her sisters-in-law about this.
Jiang Wujing said, “We’re not from Wanning City, so we really don’t know about such rules. Usually, there’s a curfew at midnight. Now that it’s been extended to dawn, 1 wonder if the academy will give a holiday.”
The academy in Wanning City had much more rest days than w.a.n.gbei County. They would also rest during all kinds of festivals. Sometimes, they would rest for 2 weeks in a month.
Ah Yu said, “If Third Uncle and Third Aunt were here, they would definitely prepare a few new recipes in advance. With such a long festival, I wonder how much more money they can earn.”
“You!” Wei Qianying tapped Ah Yu’s forehead with her finger and shook her head helplessly. “Don’t joke about the elders like this. Be careful not to let Fourth Aunt hear you and scold you again.”
Zhou Chuchu also smiled. “Third Sister-in-law, you’re wrong. How can Fourth Aunt bear to say anything about our Ah Yu? If she hears this, she will definitely have to guard against Ah Yu sneaking out at night.”
“Sneak off to where?”
“To secretly sell sachets!”
“Hahaha…”
Everyone in the w.a.n.g Family knew that Ah Yu had a business selling Top Scholar sachets. Even the sisters-in-law were involved now. The w.a.n.g Family’s Big Brothers helped write and the sisters-in-law helped cut the materials. They did a lot.
However, in the past, it was always All Yu who asked Tang Yuan to send it to Fuji Temple. Puji Temple bought all of it and placed it in front of the Buddha to be consecrated before selling it to the fated person.
In this way, although they sold each piece for little money, hundreds could be sold at a time. They would not be sold anymore next year, and it would not ruin Qin Huai’s reputation.
Moreover, Qin Huai had also received a sum of money.
Although All Yu was young, she had already become the best at earning money in the w.a.n.g Family. No one knew how much money she had now.
“Alright, you’re all teasing me. I won’t buy anything for you in the future!” All Yu deliberately pouted, causing everyone to laugh again.
As they were talking and laughing, they heard Zhu’er shout, “Look, it’s Grandpa and the others!”
Everyone looked over and as expected, they saw Old man w.a.n.g sitting outside the carriage holding the reins of the horse. Next to him were several large paper bags filled with neatly wrapped items, clearly gifts prepared for the family.
“Grandpa!” All Yu shouted.
When Old man w.a.n.g heard Ah Yu’s voice, he handed the identification in his hand to the city guard for inspection as he looked up. When he saw Ah Yu, his old face wrinkled.
“Ai!”
When they got close and everyone got out of the carriage, Ah Yu’s heart ached. “Grandpa, why are you driving the carriage yourself? Where are the others?”
“He’s just itching for something to do. Ignore him.” Old Madam w.a.n.g got off the carriage with Old man w.a.n.g’s subordinate and said angrily, “The official road over there has been expanded. He just wanted to try the fast horses and almost shook my old bones to pieces!”
Their previous carriages had been taken away by the juniors of the two villages. This carriage had been prepared by Duke An. Not only was the carriage s.p.a.cious and comfortable, but even the horses were retired warhorses.
Although they were old horses, their speed was not something ordinary horses could compare to.
When they reached the wide and s.p.a.cious official road, Old man w.a.n.g could not sit still. On the way, he encountered a few foreigners galloping on their horses, so he still wanted to compete with them.
In the end, it was obvious that he had lost. He couldn’t get enough of it, so he pushed the Crimson Guards aside and rushed all the way to the city gate.
Old Madam w.a.n.g rolled her eyes. If not for her martial arts foundation, she would probably have fallen apart.
Ah Yu was surprised when she heard this. She did not expect Grandpa to have such a side to him. She was wondering if she should think of a way to prepare a good horse for Grandpa.
It was not that they could not get a first-grade horse, but it was too eye-catching. They could get a second-grade horse for Grandpa to enjoy. In any case, their family did not have much now. They only had a lot of land. It was very suitable for riding horses.
The family chatted and laughed as they left the city gate. There were still some things that were not suitable to be said here, so they did not say much.
Not long after they left, they heard the sound of horses galloping. Everyone gathered at the city gate to watch.
“Those are the advance envoy representatives of the West Wind Kingdom, right?”
“All of them look dignified. They really stand out.”
“The advance envoys are already acting like this. Could it be that they’re here to establish an imposing air? It’s been decades since the West Wind Nation and our Great Chang fought a major war. They’re not here to cause trouble, right?”
“You don’t understand. I heard that the old king of the West Wind Kingdom is critically ill, and his children are restless. I heard that they want to usurp the throne! It’s said that the person who came to visit our Great Chang this time is a Prince. He came to the Great Chang to seek external help so that it’s easier for him to go back and seize the throne.”
“Tsk, how do you know so much? In my opinion, that Prince is probably not here to seek external help, but to look for a marriage alliance.”
“Looking for a marriage alliance? There are only three princes in our Great Chang. Only the Eldest Prince is barely of marriage material, but he’s already engaged. If he’s looking for a princess, Princess Ruyi is still too young. It doesn’t make sense…”
Everyone’s words were just hearsay. No one could explain clearly.
Only one person held a wine pot in his hand and said drunkenly, “You’re wrong. You idiots are all wrong. The West Wind Nation is not here to form a marriage alliance, but to look for someone! The most favored princess of the West Wind Nation has come to the Great Chang and her whereabouts are unknown. They’re here to look for her.”
When everyone heard this, they were stunned and immediately dispersed.
“Go, go, go. Where did this crazy alcoholic come from?”
“Who doesn’t know that there’s no princess in West Wind Nation, let alone one that’s the most favored? Why haven’t I heard of her?”
“Forget it, forget it. Who cares about the West Wind Nation? 1 still have to rush home to cook for my wife.”
When everyone dispersed, they did not realize that the crazy alcoholic who had originally spoken was already far away..