the next day
morning
Quyuan Street
Xu Minghua got up early and came to the yard where the stable was.
In the yard, a disabled groom was taking care of the horses.
He looked at the horses with tenderness, as if he was looking at his own children.
When he heard someone coming, he didn't move and continued to concentrate on serving the horses.
"Lord."
The voice was rough and hoarse, as if it was squeezed out from the neck, like the last breath before death. No wonder he didn't speak, the sound was scary enough.
Xu Minghua looked at the man in front of him. No one could recognize his true face.
"The Commander-in-Chief of the Xiangdu Commandery has acquired another horse ranch in Hetao and is in need of a seasoned horse keeper."
"Master, there is a family named Ai in Zhending Prefecture. Their skills in horse selection and breeding are as good as mine. Just don't mention me when you ask for help."
"For nearly a year now, I've been making inquiries under the pretext of searching for a good horseman. A military officer in Xuzhou once saw an exceptionally handsome dragon colt. I heard it was a gift from the Marquis of Dongchang that he was preparing to present to Your Majesty."
Hearing Xu Minghua's words, the groom stopped what he was doing, and something unknown surged in his one eye.
"I only know it's a dragon colt, but I haven't found out what color it is."
"Thank you, my lord, for your concern for my affairs. Back then, I was ambushed in Haizhou and my divine horse was taken away. Although I was well prepared at the time, I disguised myself as a servant and faked my death to escape. After all these years, I finally got this little news."
"Your meticulousness back then was admirable. I never expected anything to happen to you."
"Oh, now I think I'm just an actor on the stage who is being laughed at."
Xu Minghua hesitated to speak, probably because he had advised more than once. He paused and said:
"There's been some unrest in the north lately, and the armies are about to prepare for war. I'll be relying on you to look after it from now on."
"Okay! But the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion was also a title earned through military merit, so how come there isn't even a single experienced horseman? If I hadn't come, you'd have to buy even a good horse."
"The only daughter of the former Marquis of Yongyi, my aunt married into the Sheng family. She had loved playing polo since she was a child, and the horse official brought her as a dowry, but she didn't leave anyone behind at home."
The groom smiled.
He replied hoarsely, "You, the Marquis of Yongyi, are really cheap."
Xu Minghua didn't say much.
After breakfast, Xu Minghua went out and returned home in the evening. He had dinner with everyone and then went to bed early.
Early the next day, Xu Minghua left the capital.
Before leaving, he had a conversation with his wife. Xu Zaijing heard some of it after being woken up. He advised Sun that if she really encountered a big problem and could not make a decision, in addition to asking her parents-in-law from her natal family, she could also listen to the opinions of the groom in her own stable.
Sun was originally from a military family, and the groom had helped her find a good horse. Knowing that the horse was capable, she naturally obeyed her husband's words.
Xu Zaijing also knew that there was a master who was trusted by his father living in his stable.
So when Xu Zaijing had nothing to do, he would take the small bow and arrow given by his father and go to the chicken coop near the stable.
I don't mind the strong smell in the stable.
There is no metal tip on the feather arrow, but it still has some killing power.
From time to time, chickens and ducks were "accidentally injured" by Xu Zaijing.
On this day, Xu Zaijing was practicing archery near the stable. There was a foal in the stable that was a few days old. Xu Zaijing shot it in the nose with an arrow.
"Woo woo woo"
The pony felt a pain in the tip of its nose. Since it was a small horse and had never been whipped or tamed, when it saw the culprit who caused it pain, it suddenly rushed towards Xu Zaijing.
Xu Zaijing was only four years old, and being knocked down by the pony would be fine as long as he didn't hit the back of his head or other important parts.
So the groom looked at the flat and soft land behind Xu Zaijing, without any stones or other hard objects, and did not worry too much.
But the maids serving Xu Zaijing were horrified, but most of them lived in luxury, even more pampered than the daughters of small families, so they didn't react at all.
However, what made the one-eyed groom stare blankly and shocked was that Xu Zaijing actually grabbed the pony's neck and knocked it down with one hand.
He was amazed at the courage shown in the face of danger and the strength shown in pulling the pony over.
Xu Zaijing was already aware of his own strength. He held the pony's neck with one hand, pressing it down so that it couldn't get up.
Wait until it stops struggling before letting go.
After letting go of his hand, Xiao Ma stopped running around and rubbed his head affectionately against Xu Zaijing's sleeve.
"Oh, Sanlang, don't dare come here again. Go back to the lady's room quickly."
With that, Xu Zaijing was carried away by the maid, leaving Xiao Ma alone in the open space to watch the terrifying humanoid cub being taken away.
"Madam, please forgive me."
Sun was embroidering with her daughters when she heard the maid calling out and looked up.
The eldest sister Xu Pingmei looked at Xu Zaijing who was covered in mud.
"Little brother, are you rolling on the ground again?"
Xu Anmei also looked curious.
The maid put Xu Zaijing down and knelt on the ground.
"Please forgive me, Madam. I failed to take good care of the Third Young Master and nearly let him be trampled by the horse."
When Sun heard this, her expression changed and she stood up and asked, “What!!!???”
"You guys!!!" Sun hurried over and hugged Xu Zaijing, looking him up and down.
"Mom, it's the newborn foal. I pressed it to the ground with one hand."
Sun heaved a sigh of relief and looked at the maid and asked
"Is it a pony?"
"yes."
"Explain clearly next time."
The maid bowed her head and said
"Yes, ma'am."
"Jing'er really knocked down a pony with one hand?"
"Yes, madam. The pony rushed towards the Third Young Master, but was knocked down by him with one hand." The maid said in surprise.
Sun looked at her son in disbelief.
"I heard from my father that my Sun family has ancestors with supernatural powers. Could it be that they have been passed down to you?"
Xu Pingmei said curiously
"Mom, is my little brother really that strong? Let me arm wrestle him."
As she said this, she put down the handkerchief she was embroidering and walked towards Xu Zaijing.
Sun also wanted to see how strong her son was.
The brother and sister started working on a coffee table.
The unyielding Xu Pingmei used both hands, but Xu Zaijing didn't even frown.
Xu Anmei didn't believe it, so she took over. She used all her strength and Xu Zaijing even managed to yawn.
Seeing the smile in his mother's eyes, Xu Zaijing hugged his mother's legs and said
"Mom, have I tamed that pony? Can I ride it?"
"You're still young. If you fall off the horse, you'll be injured! No way!"
"Mother, you see I'm very strong. Mother, can you ask the servants to make a saddle for me? I don't want anything else for my birthday, okay, mother~"
As he spoke, Xu Zaijing shook his mother.
If you feel that the text is not smooth or there are typos, dear readers, please point them out in time.