NCCnovel Chapter 285 Selecting and Naming Horses
Chapter 285 Selecting and Naming Horses
As for the gift for Cao Can, Ying Wuyou planned to take another look. At that moment, a chestnut-colored horse caught his attention. Three horses were galloping wildly in the arena; their coats were bright and vibrant, like burning flames, their bodies agile and their muscles beautifully defined. Seeing that Ying Wuyou's gaze was drawn to them, Ying Gaolu introduced them, saying, "Jiayang, these horses are fine breeds from the Western Regions. They have excellent stamina and run extremely fast; they would be perfect for military campaigns."
Ying Wuyou moved lightly, slowly circling the horses. She narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinizing the horses with keen eyesight. Each horse was agile and muscular, exuding a powerful and captivating aura.
She thought to herself, "Cao Shen is a seasoned warrior, a renowned general. He would surely be fond of such a powerful and explosive steed." Just as she was hesitating, wondering whether she should choose a chestnut horse to give to Cao Shen, the sound of footsteps approached from afar.
The stable owner hurried over and immediately recognized the imposing Ying Gaolu standing to the side. Ying Gaolu was a regular there, and the stable owner knew his identity perfectly well. Now, seeing a charming young girl beside Ying Gaolu, and Ying Gaolu's eyes filled with doting affection for her, the stable owner couldn't help but feel suspicious. However, he never imagined that this girl was the renowned Princess Jiayang; he simply assumed she was the daughter of some high-ranking official.
The stable owner hurriedly bowed respectfully to Ying Gaolu, then said with a beaming smile, "Young master, these horses are all brand new arrivals at our stable. If this young lady takes a liking to them, I'll certainly offer you the best price!" He then cast an expectant glance at Ying Wuyou. However, Ying Wuyou seemed lost in thought and did not respond to the stable owner's words.
Seeing this, Ying Gaolu smiled slightly, turned to look at Ying Wuyou tenderly, and asked softly, "Well, how about it? Why don't you pick one you like?"
Ying Wuyou carefully examined the three horses before him. Each was agile and had a glossy coat, truly deserving of the title of fine steed. After some comparison, Ying Wuyou finally fixed his gaze on one of the horses with a tuft of white hair on its head. This tuft of white hair was very eye-catching, making the whole horse look unique.
At this moment, Ying Gaolu, who had been observing from the sidelines, smiled with satisfaction upon seeing the horse Ying Wuyou had chosen, and nodded slightly to indicate his approval of her selection. Then, Ying Gaolu turned to the stable owner and asked, "How much silver do this horse and that little white horse over there cost in total?" As he spoke, he pointed to the little white horse that was being led slowly towards them by a guard.
The stable owner looked in the direction Ying Gaolu pointed, and when he saw the little white horse, his face immediately lit up with a fawning smile. He replied obsequiously, "Oh my, Miss, you have such a discerning eye! These two horses are the best in our stable, so their price is naturally quite high. But since you're a regular customer, sir, I'll certainly give you the lowest possible price. Is that alright?"
Hearing this, Ying Wuyou smiled and nodded in agreement. Ying Gaolu laughed and said, "Well then, I'll have to trouble Boss Wu."
Upon receiving the reply, the stable owner smiled broadly and said, "Young master, you're too kind. It's my honor to serve you and your daughter! I'll send someone to calculate the total price right away. Please wait a moment." With that, he turned and hurried away. Watching the stable owner's departing figure, Ying Wuyou couldn't help but ask Ying Gaolu curiously, "Tenth Brother, it seems you frequent this stable?"
Ying Gaolu smiled and said, "Yes, I always come to check out any new products. You know I've loved riding and archery since I was a child, so good horses are a must."
Ying Wuyou smiled and nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She said to Ying Gaolu, "Then you must find some free time to teach me how to ride a horse!" Her smile was as bright as the warm spring sun, bringing joy to everyone.
Ying Gaolu responded with a hearty laugh, saying, "No problem, Jiayang, don't worry!" His voice was loud and magnetic, full of an elder brother's care and affection.
Just as the two were talking, the owner of the horse farm strode over, clutching the horses' registration information tightly in his hand. After some haggling, they finally succeeded in buying the two fine horses for 1,200 taels of silver.
After making the purchase, Ying Gaolu turned to Ying Wuyou and asked with a smile, "Now that we have the horses, why don't we give them each a catchy name?"
Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou walked enthusiastically to the little white horse, gently stroking its smooth, silky fur. After a moment's thought, he said, "How about we name it Snow Treader?"
Upon hearing this, Ying Gaolu's eyes lit up, and he praised it highly: "This name is wonderful! It's both descriptive and pleasant to hear, and it perfectly matches the temperament of this little white horse." Receiving his brother's approval, Ying Wuyou was overjoyed. The little white horse seemed pleased with its name as well, letting out a neigh.
Ying Wuyou's first horse was named Ta Xue. She then asked her tenth brother to help escort her beloved Ta Xue back to the palace and settle it in. She then turned and gestured for the guards to lead the chestnut horse to Cao Can's residence.
Along the way, a tall and majestic chestnut horse attracted the curious gazes of many passersby, who stopped to watch and point. Faced with the attention, Ying Wuyou couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and had no choice but to quicken his pace.
When Ying Wuyou arrived outside Cao Can's courtyard, he found the surroundings quiet and serene. A guard stepped forward, walked to the vermilion gate, and gently knocked on the knocker a few times. However, after a while, there was no response from inside. The guard then increased the pressure and knocked several times before finally hearing hurried footsteps from within the courtyard.
With a soft creak, the courtyard gate slowly opened, revealing a young man dressed as a servant, his face still somewhat immature. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, his gaze sweeping over Ying Wuyou standing at the door and the group of solemn, menacing guards behind her. He involuntarily swallowed, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "Who...who are you? Who...who are you looking for?"
Ying Wuyou smiled warmly and replied softly, "Don't be afraid, I am Ying Wuyou. I have come here today to pay my respects to Mr. Cao Can. Please inform him of my presence."