Chapter 219: Chapter 201, The Ferghana Steed_1
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While everyone was chatting and laughing, Daohua sneaked a glance at Xiao Yeyang’s tall and robust chestnut horse standing behind him. It had a full and beautiful figure, a refined head, a long neck, and slender limbs. When it started running just now, its steps were light and graceful, like a beautiful scene, very pleasing to the eye.
She looked around and among all the horses, this one was the most beautiful.
Seeing Daohua’s curious expression, Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, “This is a Ferghana horse from the Western Regions. Would you like to try riding it?”
Daohua decisively shook her head, “No thanks, this horse is even taller than me, and it’s clear that I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I’m afraid that if I ride it, it’s going to start kicking and throw me off.”
Xiao Yeyang laughed, “You do have a good sense of self-awareness, but you are also quite timid.”
Daohua retorted righteously, “I’m not timid, I’m being filial. Just think, if I really broke an arm or a leg, how sad my grandmother and the others would be. It’s unfilial to worry one’s elders, and how could I do such a thing?”
At this, Dong Yuanyao was the first to laugh.
Many people are actually afraid the first time they ride a horse.
For the sake of saving face, most people won’t admit it and will come up with all kinds of reasons to justify themselves.
Yan Yiyi’s reason was the most righteous one she had ever heard.
But indeed, Brother Xiaoliu was right, the Little Prince did treat the Yan Family’s miss differently. She had arrived early and saw with her own eyes how much the Little Prince treasured this Ferghana horse. He even had to take care of cleaning it personally, not letting anyone else touch it.
But now, he was proactively offering Yan Yiyi to ride it!
Seeing the others snicker, Daohua didn’t feel embarrassed at all. Xiao Yeyang’s Ferghana horse was indeed beautiful, but compared to her own life, it was hardly worth mentioning.
“Didn’t you say there are foals that are suitable for us to ride?”
Xiao Yeyang waved his hand, and soon, three servants brought over three foals.
One black, one white, and one chestnut, each fine and elegant with shiny coats.
Daohua, Zhou Jingwan, and Dong Yuanyao, the three young ladies’ eyes all sparkled simultaneously.
Unlike the larger horses that Xiao Yeyang and the others rode, which were even taller than them, the three foals were only about 1.2 to 1.3 meters tall and looked both docile and beautiful.
After the servants brought the foals over, Xiao Yeyang did not ask the three young ladies to choose and directly led the chestnut foal to Daohua.
Daohua saw Zhou Jingwan immediately rush toward the white foal, while Dong Yuanyao grabbed the reins of the black one, then she smiled and took the reins from Xiao Yeyang’s hand.
“This horse looks a bit like yours. Are they related by blood?”
Daohua asked while stroking the smooth back of the horse and looking at Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang nodded, “Yes, they’re both pure-blooded Ferghana horses. They are the only two foals among the horses my uncle brought back this time.” Looking at Daohua, he said, “This foal doesn’t have a name yet. You can give it a name.”
Before Daohua could respond, Zhou Jingwan, who was nearby, immediately asked in surprise, “Little Prince, can we name the horses?”
Xiao Yeyang smiled and nodded, “Of course, these three horses are actually gifts for you, you can name them whatever you like.”
“Gifts for us?”
Even Dong Yuanyao couldn’t help but get excited.
Xiao Yeyang appeared indifferent, “We had no use for the foals, so we might as well give them to you.”
Behind him, his servant looked up at the sky.
What do you mean, no use? Even if there’s no use, they could still be kept! The three foals were all exceptional, especially the one given to Miss Yan; it was a Ferghana horse capable of traveling a thousand li in a day.
“Thank you, Little Prince!”
Zhou Jingwan and Dong Yuanyao said in unison.
Xiao Yeyang turned toward Daohua.
While touching the horse’s back, Daohua looked at Zhou Jingwan and Dong Yuanyao, who were delighted, with some hesitation showing on her face.
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She knew how precious the Ferghana horses were, but if the other two accepted and she didn’t, it would seem like she was deliberately being contrary, and in the end, they would probably have to return the horses too.
After thinking it over, Daohua put on a smile and said to Xiao Yeyang, “Thank you.”
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang finally smiled, “No need.”
Daohua glanced at the others and, seeing that everyone had gone to look at Zhou Jingwan and the others’ young horses, whispered to Xiao Yeyang, “Is there anything you need?”
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua, his expression somewhat speechless.
After giving her a horse, this girl was probably pondering what to give in return again.
Sometimes he wondered why she couldn’t just be like other girls, happily accepting his gift and leaving it at that.
She always felt the need to give something back, as if to say she didn’t want to take advantage of him.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua sideways, “Hmph, what could a maiden from a boudoir possibly have to offer?”
Daohua said, “Don’t underestimate me, please. I might not be as rich as you, but I am definitely a little rich lady.”
At these words, Xiao Yeyang couldn’t help but laugh out loud, looked at Daohua with an indescribable expression, and shook his head, “A little rich lady? With just those few estates and shops you have?”
The moment Daohua saw his reaction, she immediately felt displeased, “I may not have that many estates and shops now, but they will slowly increase over time.”
Xiao Yeyang shook his head and did not argue with her, “The silver you earn, just keep it for buying rouge and face powder,” he said.
Seeing his dismissive attitude, Daohua felt like refuting, but after hesitating for a moment, she swallowed her words.
She knew that, to someone like Xiao Yeyang who was born into wealth, the estates and shops she owned didn’t amount to much.
At that moment, Zhou Jingwan’s voice rang out.
“Daohua, Dong Yuanyao and I have already named our horses. My white horse is named Taxue, and her black horse is named Juechen. What about yours, what is your red horse named?”
Daohua, distracted, looked at the reddish-brown horse in front of her. She was terrible at naming, and really couldn’t think of a good name right away.
Looking at the young horse’s reddish-brown coat, she pondered for a moment and said, “My horse will be called Hongzao then.”
Uh…
The stables fell into a brief silence.
“Hahaha!”
Seconds later, Yan Wenkai pointed at Daohua and burst into laughter, “Hongzao… Hahaha, big sister, your naming skills are really something… Hahaha, I’m dying of laughter, even I could name better.”
The others were either snickering or coughing to hide their amusement.
Xiao Yeyang also wore an expression of speechlessness. A Ferghana horse named Hongzao… Daohua really never forgot about food, no matter what!
Daohua pouted and watched Yan Wenkai laughing until he felt uncomfortable and his laughter eventually subsided.
Seeing that Daohua was not pleased, Yan Wenkai tried to smooth things over with an embarrassed smile, “Actually, the name Hongzao is quite good. It makes one think of bright red jujubes, which suits the horse quite well.”
“Come on, big sister, let me teach you to ride,” he said, stepping forward to help Daohua onto the horse.
Daohua quickly backed away, “No need, I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
Yan Wenkai was speechless, “You need mental preparation to ride a young horse? Come on, don’t worry, with me here, you won’t fall off.”
Daohua kept pulling the horse back, “It’s precisely because you’re here that I’m worried. How long have you been learning to ride, and now you want to teach me?”
Yan Wenkai responded unhappily, “Although I haven’t been riding for long, my technique is good. Didn’t you see that I won first place in the riding competition just now?”
Daohua shook her head without hesitation, “I didn’t see it, fourth brother, just go. I don’t want your teaching; Brother Xiaoliu is here, you go do whatever you need to do.”
As Daohua dismissed Yan Wenkai in such a manner, everyone else couldn’t stop laughing.