Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 517 October Weaving Rope (Part )

There was no sun early in the morning and the clouds were as dark as a gentleman's face. It was quite cold weather.

He put his hands into his sleeves and clenched them carefully to get some warmth. His aunt pushed the small stove next to him, but it didn't help much. He was more used to curling up in his own way to keep warm.

He curled up in his seat, but pushed his head open to peek out of the curtains. The cold wind blew into his face through the gap, causing him to squint.

This horse always feels very cold when running. He has ridden in other people's carriages before, but there was never such a loud noise.

The dim sky was brighter than the light inside the carriage. Carriages and horses were galloping on the wide and flat road. People in various clothes stood on the roadside, holding in their hands or carrying on their shoulders various things he had never seen before, but they all just flashed by.

He actually couldn't understand or distinguish what was happening, but he just stared at the colorful figures passing by without blinking.

"Yao'er, why are you lifting the curtain again?" A big hand reached out, and it was the aunt's voice that gently scolded, "Be careful not to catch a cold again."

The hand pressed down the curtain, he retracted his head, and his cheeks soon turned red from the warmth of the wind.

"Have you read the military manual carefully? Be sure to listen carefully to the general's questions and answers later. Don't panic."

"Yeah." He responded, and the woman beside him with a frown sighed silently.

The horse's speed slowly slowed down. He pushed aside the curtains again and took a look. The courtyard wall and the gate began to look tall and beautiful. He knew they were almost there.

It was the first time for him to come to this strange place, but for a boy over twelve years old, every time he went out, the place he went to was very unfamiliar. The adults spoke words that seemed like common sense, and he could only grab one or two familiar words and guess based on his immature knowledge.

He asked his aunt where they were going, and his aunt said it was "the residence of the General." A general is a person who leads troops. He was thinking that a man in armor and holding a halberd would come to test him, and there were many neatly-organized troops behind him.

However, it was just another large compound.

There was no battlefield or tents made of wood and felt as described in the books. Instead, a cold green round-leaved tree stretched its branches out from the high wall, looking fresh and beautiful in the dim weather.

The carriages all stopped, he wrapped himself in an old fur coat, took his aunt's hand and got off the carriage, standing behind and at the edge of everyone as usual. Looking up through the gap, he saw a man in plain clothes standing under the high door, greeting the uncles who came up the steps, and hearty laughter could be heard from time to time.

This man caught his gaze. He had not met many people, nor had he been to many places, but among those uncles and aunts who were always dignified, this man's temperament was so eye-catching... He was only wearing the simplest silk clothes, but his knife-carved face and ancient eyes were unforgettable at first sight.

He took his eyes off the man and tilted his head. Many luxurious carriages were parked in front of him, and faces were getting off them. He didn't want to look at them, so he lowered his head and took the time to continue memorizing the contents of the military books.

However, the examination had not started yet. As people walked in, he followed behind, holding his aunt's hand. Then the adults seemed to have forgotten this "big event" and went into the main hall, chatting about something else. They were welcomed into another warm and comfortable side room, where some strange women and children were waiting.

This was a familiar arrangement for him, where men would always be with other men and women with children. This was a more familiar environment for him, but he originally thought it was a test, but it turned out to be a visit.

"I will come to test you after we have had a drink." The aunt seemed to know what he was thinking and whispered to him.

"Ah."

He looked at the strange women and children, guessing their relationship to the man just now - they were also two very beautiful women, one was older, dressed simply like the man, with sparse hair ornaments on her black hair, and a gentle smile on her face, but she was more beautiful than all the carefully dressed aunts.

He thought it must be the general's wife.

Another young woman in white sat behind the woman. She had a more outstanding temperament and a long sword tied around her waist, which she did not take off even on such occasions.

He looked at them twice more. He didn't like to get close to people in white clothes, as they always felt harsh and cold. But this woman was like the autumn moon, cold in color but soft in light. He didn't know their names, and he wasn't used to speaking on his own initiative in such occasions. His aunt was chatting and laughing with them, and he watched quietly for a while, then lowered his head, took out the book, and put it on his lap to read.

"Shang Qi is twenty years old this year and is about to get married." The general's wife's voice was also very gentle, "Do you have a girl you like?"

“We’ll also need Madam Jinmu’s help to take a look at it for us.” Auntie said with a smile.

Shang Qi is the oldest person here. He heard that the real big brother had returned from the war last year. He really wanted to ask Brother Shang Qi what the battlefield was like, but they were not familiar with each other and were afraid of being presumptuous.

"Where's Li Heng?" The lady smiled again, as if looking him up and down. "He's really good, with a proud face and a proud chest... Only fifteen years old, right?"

"After the New Year, it will be the fifteenth."

He tightened his hand holding the page and moved his ears, as if trying to avoid the name.

But this made the woman notice him, and she said, "This child is so quiet, please forgive my poor eyesight...?"

"Yao'er is the best at studying." Auntie smiled and said, "He is a very well behaved boy, but a little withdrawn and never likes to go out."

"Well. This child is Li Yao..." The lady looked at him tenderly. He closed the book, got off the chair, and bowed seriously.

The lady laughed: "What are you reading?"

"Madam, it is Wu Zi's Art of War."

The lady was slightly startled: "Why do you like to read the Art of War?"

"No." He hesitated, "My aunt said... the general will test and teach us the art of war later."

There was laughter in the hall.

"...What a good boy." The lady didn't smile at this time. She looked at him seriously and turned around and said, "Xiao Zhu, I have a copy of Six Strategies annotated by the general in my room. You can give it to this child as a gift."

He was even more confused at this time, not knowing whether to refuse or thank him. He turned to look at his aunt for help. His aunt stood up and bowed deeply: "Thank you, ma'am."

He also followed behind and saluted.

When I looked up, the woman in white behind the lady was no longer in her seat.

"Let the children go out and play for a while." The lady smiled, "They are all teenagers, it's too boring for them to stay here."

His aunt nodded, and he walked outside. After walking a few steps, he turned around and saw a young man with cold and arrogant eyes, dressed in elegant clothes and noble manners, looking at him with a sneer, and behind him were his other brothers and sisters.

"Come on, Brother Yao, let's go to the back garden to play together."

----

"At that time, the emperor had no son, so he selected those from his own clan. The princes and nephews competed fiercely for the throne, and there was no shortage of bloodshed." - "Qian Yu Shu"

(End of this chapter)