Chapter 28: Riding High with Pride and Success

Chapter 28. Spring Breeze, the Hooves of the Horse Drumming Rapidly

Without mentioning Pei Mangu's schemes at Houfu's mansion, the group departed Houfu, with Chen Yi and others heading south along Bashan Street, then turning east onto Sishui Street in the city.

At this time, it was midsummer, with the weather growing warmer.

The pedestrians within the city walls had mostly swapped their light winter garments for summer clothes. Particularly among those with a bit of wealth, their light silk robes fluttered about as if weightless, requiring a belt tied around the waist to keep them in place.

But the foreign travelers were different.

The damp, sweltering people from Suo remained tightly wrapped, only their five-colored eyes peeking out, their face coverings stained with dirt that could be seen at a glance.

The mountain tribespeople, much like Pei Mangu, wore colorful green and other hues, adorned with ornaments around their necks, on their heads, and hands, their footsteps either clinking or tinkling.

Occasionally, they could be seen a few towering, robust men—far taller and more imposing than Houfu's soldiers—bound hand-to-hand, being beaten and driven eastward toward the market.

When Xiao Diexue spotted them, she tugged at Chen Yi's sleeve excitedly, shouting, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, quick, look there—they're the savage tribespeople!"

Chen Yi naturally saw clearly, and even with his improved cultivation, he could discern the hidden strength within those savage warriors' bodies—indeed, as rumored, comparable to nine-grade disciples.

Yet he also noticed that each of these bound savages bore scars from whips, and iron brands branded onto their faces.

Savage slaves?

In no time, he had confirmed his suspicion: these savages were in fact a group of disguised merchants from Suo, speaking with a strange accent as they traveled along the road:

"Strong, robust southern barbarians, their strength is great, fifty taels, thirty taels, fifteen taels each for a basin of them!"

The words made Chen Yi grin, his curiosity about the savage slaves fading slightly.

In fact, not only him, but the other onlookers nearby, including several city guards in neat attire maintaining order, all began to laugh.

"Damn them, stop gawking at these savage slaves—what are they, a bunch of beasts fit only to pull carts and till the fields?"

"These beasts? I don't want them. Just the other day, several savage slaves from the border regions rebelled, nearly slaughtering an entire family."

"People who need labor, those with big families and businesses—they need slaves who work for cheap."

"When will the times come when even savages can be bought and sold?"

"These Suo bandits wouldn't sell them if they could help it, damn them to hell..."

As the carriage passed, Chen Yi overheard the loud-mouthed man's idle chatter, gaining a more authentic understanding of the city's conditions in Shu.

Previously, when he rode south through the city, he had only seen the bustling streets of Shengxiang and Luoxiu.

Today, by visiting the lively streets near the east market, he had come to understand more deeply the different groups: ordinary citizens, wealthy merchants, mountain tribespeople, Suo people, and savages.

To borrow a deep saying—everyone is striving to live.

At that moment, Xiao Hunge asked, "Brother, where are we heading this time?"

Chen Yi thought for a moment, then pulled aside the curtain to check the sky, "First, let's take a detour, and head north from the front to see what's there."

Xiao Hunge let out a sigh, "Brother, you want to join the festivities?"

"How? Do you know what's happening there today?"

"The exploration scholar is strolling about—spread throughout Shu these past few days, that Liu Laoba is even specially gone to visit his grandfather, saying the exploration scholar wishes to pay him a visit."

When Xiao Hunge finished speaking, Xiao Diexue nodded eagerly, "Brother, I thought you knew."

Chen Yi felt embarrassed, "These days I've been so absorbed in practicing martial arts, I haven't paid attention to such matters."

Xiao Diexue seemed to understand, leaning over to glance at his profile, whispering, "Brother, isn't it because you're still holding back from participating in the imperial examinations?"

Chen Yi shook his head; he had just finished writing the character for Wei Qing clearly, and had no idea about the intricate discussions and elegant compositions regarding the examinations.

"Purely for the sake of mingling and having some fun."

Seeing his calm demeanor, Xiao Diexue believed him.

These days, she didn't worry about her brother-in-law fleeing his marriage again; she could see he was staying safely at Houfu, but the examinations were something every scholar yearned for above all else.

If it were her own Chen Yi, with his talents and education, he would surely want to participate in the examinations and pursue a career.

Nearby, Xiao Hunge glanced at the two of them, seemingly understanding or not, saying, "Brother, when the second sister returns, I'll arrange for her to give you a position in the military."

Chen Yi froze, "No, please don't!"

Such a "grave betrayal of propriety" spoken aloud made him feel a chill down his spine, even more chilling than the "guardian" Liu Sier sitting ahead in the carriage.

After some persuasion, he managed to convince Xiao Hunge to abandon his idea of helping him escape through the back door.

Chen Yi sighed in relief, secretly thinking that the people at Houfu were all to be cautious.

Luckily, up until now, only Pei Mangu had discovered his martial arts cultivation; otherwise, if his uncle Xiao Xuanhu or the old patriarch had found out, they might have just sent him straight to the military camp.

At that point, he could only dream of returning to Houfu, to fishing and drinking tea in the Spring Lotus Garden.

In no time at all.

After viewing the bustling streets of the east market, Liu Sier turned the carriage northward, heading toward the academies and taverns where scholars and talented women were said to gather.

Along the way, Liu Sier remained expressionless, yet his ears pricked up, listening intently to the conversations within the carriage among Chen Yi and the others.

When he heard Xiao Hunge mention arranging an official position for Chen Yi, his face showed a slight movement.

But after hearing Chen Yi's persuasion, his two eyebrows furrowed so tightly they could grip a chopstick.

Liu Sier couldn't fathom Chen Yi's thoughts; how could someone with such talents remain so calm after arriving at Xiao's mansion?

Had he given up on life after failing to escape his marriage?

To Liu Sier, this was hardly good news.

"Fourth brother."

At that moment, Ge Lao San, sitting beside him, tapped his arm, whispering conspiratorially to the attendant in the front rank.

"Look, today's scholars and talented women in Shu City probably all came."

Liu Sier looked where Ge Lao San pointed, and saw a path of smooth, expensive blue stone flanked by young scholars in fine clothes, smiling and chatting in the spring breeze.

Some obvious unmarried maidens, holding small folding fans to shield their faces, followed behind in step.

To an untrained eye, they might seem like they were heading to the capital for the examinations.

Liu Sier let out a low whistle, saying, "They're not here for the examinations, this is just a social gathering, how careless of them."

Ge Lao San glanced at him, "Who made you say that? You didn't even see those maidens?"

"See them, so what? They'd fancy a fellow like us roughnecks?"

"Think about it..."

Listening to their conversation, Chen Yi gained a new understanding of Liu Sier.

After all, he had managed to hide undetected at Houfu for so long, yet his heart was honest, staying undercover, and not even glancing at women—so what else could he do?

Thinking this, Chen Yi pulled aside the curtain and took in the sights along the street. Indeed, they were quite different from the others.

To describe them—perhaps they were young people who hadn't yet known sorrow, their eyes filled with the admiration of youthful crushes.

Those bright, sparkling eyes clearly hadn't faced hardships.

Chen Yi glanced at them a few times, about to lower the curtain, when his peripheral vision caught a sound clearer than the horses' hooves at Houfu—a sharp, crisp hoofbeat.

Clop, clop, clop…

Within the gentle, crisp cadence of hoofbeats, a young lord in a crimson robe, upright and poised, settled upon a white horse, stepped into the collective gaze of all present.

Chen Yi arched an eyebrow, his gaze lingering, as a line of verse surfaced unbidden in his mind—apt, precise.

“Spring wind lifts the horse to gallop swift,

One day sees all the blooms of Chang’an.”

Though the lands of Shu lacked such a tapestry of flowers, the young gentleman astride the white horse bore a countenance bright with mirth.

“Your diligent efforts call for gratitude and reverence, past and present…”

(End of chapter)