Chapter 435: Appearance
Editor: Atlas Studios
Chen Qian curiously sized up Mu Yangling, who was wearing a riding outfit. He elbowed Qi Haoran and asked in a low voice, “Is she really very strong?”
She looked so petite and her face was even a little pale. Was she really as strong as Fan Zijin said? Could she lift a huge rock?
Qi Haoran nodded proudly. “Of course, but she’s sick now and can’t get on a horse or tire herself out. I’ll bring her out to hunt with you guys next time.”
Chen Qian asked curiously, “Then why did you bring her out?” Shouldn’t she be lying at home when she’s sick?
“It’s too boring at home, so I brought her out to relax. Once she’s in a good mood, she’ll recover faster. Tell your wife not to bully her.”
Chen Qian looked at Qi Haoran as if he was looking at a monster. After a while, he turned to Fan Zijin and said, “I now believe that what he said at the palace banquet was the truth.”
He had originally thought that those words of love were just an excuse for him to reject the marriage, but now it seemed that this kid was truly serious about it.
Instead of commenting on this, Fan Zijin jumped onto the horse and said, “Let’s go. We’re here to hunt, not to chat.”
Chen Qian pouted. “When did you become so keen on hunting?” But he still led his horse over.
“If you don’t want to sour your teeth, just stay behind. However, if you want to drink tea instead of hunt, I’ll definitely welcome you.”
“Impossible. I came here today to hunt. Why waste the fine weather drinking tea on such a rare sunny day?” Chen Qian turned his head and was about to call Qi Haoran when he saw him wrap Mu Yangling in a cloak and give her a few instructions before running over to hold his horse.
Chen Qian’s teeth were indeed sore for a moment. If he were to do such a thing, he would be suave. If Fan Zijin were to do it, he could barely be considered a gentle scholar. But seeing Qi Haoran, who always spoke in a loud voice, do something like this, Chen Qian wanted to poke his own eyes.
Smiling, Madam Chen-Shu said, “Fourth Young Master is really good to you.”
Mu Yangling lowered her head and beamed. “Young Master Chen treats you very well too.”
Madam Chen-Shu only smiled. Her husband was indeed good to her, but it was still far inferior to how Qi Haoran treated Mu Yangling.
There were quite a number of people who came to hunt this time. Most of them had brought their delicate wives with them, and they were all wearing riding clothes. Some of them who were more familiar with Chen Shu called her along to ride with them.
Those people looked at Mu Yangling strangely and only smiled. They did not greet her.
The moment Qi Haoran arrived, everyone heard that she was sick. Since Qi Haoran even asked everyone to take care of her, they naturally wouldn’t ask her to ride a horse. Who would be blamed if she got sick from the wind?
Madam Chen-Shu was a little hesitant. She wanted to go too, but Qi Haoran had specially instructed her to help take care of his wife. Even her husband had instructed her.
However, Mu Yangling said with a smile, “Sister Shu, go play. I want to take a walk around this area since this is the first time I’ve come to Lin’an Prefecture. It’s usually snowing heavily there now, and it’s rare to see trees that are so green in winter.”
Madam Chen-Shu stood up and said with a smile, “Then you can play nearby first. I’ll bring you to the Nation Protecting Temple next time. The plum blossoms there bloom especially well. Every year after the 15th of New Year, many people go to the Nation Protecting Temple to pray for blessings. Hence, the Nation Protecting Temple limits the number of visitors. Now, you have to make an appointment to enter. Coincidentally, I’ve arranged with a few sisters to go together.”
Mu Yangling expressed her gratitude with a beam.
Madam Chen-Shu left with everyone to ride.
Mu Yangling sat in the base camp and swung her legs as she waited for everyone to return. She looked around curiously.
In her previous life, she had been to the old site of Lin’an City. There was only a city wall and some broken things there, completely different from the current prosperous Lin’an City.
Mu Yangling looked at the prosperous city at the foot of the mountain and wondered how long such stability and prosperity could last. Qi Haoran said that Longxing Prefecture, which was not far from Lin’an City, was still in rebellion. Refugees gathered in the city, and people died from hunger and cold every day. Now, those refugees had yet to join the rebels, but if the Imperial Court did not provide relief, this would happen sooner or later. Furthermore, considering this place was so close to Longxing Prefecture, could they really be safe and sound?
Mu Yangling sighed slightly. However, even if the Imperial Court wanted to provide disaster relief, they would probably be powerless, right?
The Ministry of Revenue had no money.
Therefore, the people could rely on the country, but they mainly had to rely on themselves. If every family had surplus grains, even if there were major natural and man-made disasters in the future, they would not be destitute and would at least be able to fill their stomachs.
Mu Yangling scratched the ground with her feet, feeling a little down.
In just four hours, Qi Haoran excitedly carried over a deer with someone. “Ah Ling, look, we caught this.”
Mu Yangling smiled and sat on the shaft of the carriage, swinging her legs. “It’s so fat. Let’s roast meat.”
“Even if we roast meat, you won’t be able to eat it. Don’t be greedy. I’ll bring you to eat vegetarian food tonight.”
Chen Qian’s eyes widened. “What kind of joke is this? You’re going to eat vegetarian food when we have such good venison here?”
However, Mu Yangling was a little touched. Qi Haoran was a carnivore like her. Perhaps in order not to make her feel cravings, he had been eating vegetarian food for the past two days.
Mu Yangling looked at Qi Haoran with a smile and said, “I can’t eat the venison, but I can help you roast it. Set up a small pot at the side to make some porridge. It’s also very fragrant.”
Spring immediately said, “Fourth Young Master, we brought some mushrooms and cabbages over. We can cut them into pieces and make vegetable porridge. Fourth Madam likes it very much.”
Qi Haoran had not reunited with his friends for a long time and indeed wanted to eat venison, so he immediately agreed.
Mu Yangling put on her cloak and brought people to prepare the seasonings. Qi Haoran said proudly, “Ah Ling’s roasted venison is especially delicious. You’ll know after eating it.”
Mu Yangling set up three piles of firewood, and started roasting the entire deer on a large rack. Another pile was used to make porridge, and the third pile was used to make meat soup.
Mu Yangling smeared the concocted ingredients on the venison and slowly turned it over the fire. The servant, who originally wanted to help turn it over, was slightly surprised when she saw that she could turn the entire deer over with one hand. Then, she retreated.
The fragrance quickly spread. Chen Qian and the others, who weren’t hungry at first, couldn’t help but crave it. They kept looking over.
At this moment, the women who had gone out to race also returned. Everyone detected the fragrance and ran over excitedly. “Gosh, I didn’t expect Sister Mu to have such skills.”
“How fragrant. Not to mention others, even I’m craving it…”
Amidst the commotion, everyone’s relationship became much closer. Mu Yangling waved her hand and asked someone to bring the honey over. “I don’t know what you like, but it tastes awesome coated with a thin layer of honey before roasting it.”
Everyone took out their daggers and cut off a slice of meat. Qi Haoran was the fastest. From time to time, he helped Fan Zijin cut a few pieces of meat. He was the fastest among them, annoying Chen Qian and the others. They pressed him down and punched him a few times.
Mu Yangling sat there and watched everyone laugh. The women who came along were slightly surprised. One had to know that this was not the rumor they had heard. It was said that Mu Yangling was very valiant and dared to express her jealousy at the palace banquet.
However, the person smiling now was clearly an introverted little girl. After interacting with her for the entire day, they found that her personality was not aggressive at all. Instead, she was a little soft, looking obedient as she listened to everyone talk with a smile.
Unfortunately, they were not qualified to attend the palace banquet at that time, and could only listen to their mother or mother-in-law gossip about what happened. It seemed a little unreal.