Chapter 13

On this day, the sunlight blended harmoniously with the scenery, and the whole family got up early. Xu Hao changed into a brand new samurai outfit, with a pair of wrist guards embedded with polished iron buckles, and a pair of light brown deer leather boots.

He was somewhat slim, of medium height, and his appearance was above average. This meticulous dressing made him look much more spirited. Qiuxiang carefully fastened the rows of brass buttons on his chest and patted her hands in satisfaction.

Together with his mother, Lady Xiao, they went to Fushou Hall, where the old lady had a simple breakfast. The maids brought in clear tea for mouth rinsing, and the spittle was spat into a spittoon. In recent days, Xu Hao had finally become familiar with the daily etiquette and rules of the Xu family and could handle them with ease. After Qiuxiang brought a basin of clear water, he washed his hands casually and wiped them with a silk handkerchief that Hongye had used, then followed the old lady out of the courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, four sedan chairs were already prepared, carried by sixteen strong and agile bearers. In addition, there were four beautifully decorated long-box carriages, as well as a large number of grooms and guards.

Xu Hao and his brothers watched as the old lady and the three madams boarded the cool and comfortable sedan chairs, which had canopies to protect them from the sun. The sisters stepped onto wooden stools and one by one entered the carriages. Only then did they walk to the stables, where a group of servants and grooms had been eagerly waiting.

Xu Hao mounted his old and feeble horse, 'Xiaoqing,' and glanced at his second brother Xu Ji's horse, 'Taxesnow,' a black mare with white hooves. He smiled and let Lai Bao lead the reins in front.

Xu Wen laughed loudly and galloped out first. Xu Ji excitedly followed, cracking his whip, but his riding skills were not proficient. Taxesnow suddenly moved, nearly throwing him off, which frightened the surrounding servants into a chorus of exclamations.

"Ha ha." The fourth brother, Xu Song, laughed loudly, riding a fine horse he had bought for 250 taels of silver, a tall chestnut horse. He ran ahead with a relaxed demeanor.

Xu Ji clutched the reins tightly, his face pale. Angered, he adjusted his slightly askew headgear and did not dare to spur Taxesnow again, cautiously following behind.

Six adult servants nimbly mounted their horses and quickly followed. In no time, the stables were empty, and the smell of horse manure seemed to have diminished.

Lai Bao looked back at his young master, asking if he should catch up. Xu Hao shook his head slightly, and thus the master and servant, along with a group of servants, slowly left the stables and met up with the women's procession at the back gate, leading the way.

In the distance, dust rose as the Xu family's three brothers galloped freely, their laughter echoing. The old lady smiled and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, instructing, "Let those rascals go a bit further; the dust is too much. Also, warn those following them to be careful and not to fall off, it's not a game."

Hearing this, Xu Hao immediately dismounted and said to Lai Bao, "Ride ahead and pass on the old lady's words."

Lai Bao agreed and nimbly mounted the horse. Even though Xiaoqing was old, it still neighed and galloped away. Xu Hao squinted as he watched him go, walking beside the old lady.

"Why don't you join your brothers in horseplay? Hmm, it's hard for you to think of accompanying your grandmother. Never mind, go to the back carriage and chat with your sisters. It's a long journey, and your legs might not hold up," the old lady said with a smile.

Xu Hao looked up and laughed, "It's rare to get out and walk, no problem. Besides, the older stewards are all at home, and an elder needs someone to attend to them. My riding skills are not great, but I can勉强 serve as a steward."

"Then it's up to you." The old lady smiled and said no more, lifting her head to admire the scenery around her.

Xu Hao continued walking without pause, which made Lady Xiao behind him worried, fearing he would run out of energy later, but she did not want to dampen her son's spirit.

Lady Wang, with a lazy demeanor, leaned against the soft silk backrest, moving steadily up and down as the bearers carried the sedan chair. She said disdainfully, "Let you flatter the old lady, you'll cry later."

The surrounding maids and servants often glanced at Xu Hao, all guessing how long the third young master could keep up his performance in front of the old lady.

These days of continuous exercise had clearly made Xu Hao's previously weak body much stronger. He walked without panting or feeling his heart race, and he had time to enjoy the distant scenery.

The weather was particularly good that day, sunny and warm, perfect for the whole family to go out for a spring outing. Xu Hao's gaze extended far, seeing the lush green mountains and the red pavilions and Buddhist towers shrouded in mist. A canal ran north to south, extending to the vast Yangtze River.

On the calm river surface, colorful boats floated, and the sound of flutes and drums could be faintly heard. On the boats, the ladies vied for beauty and fragrance.

On both banks, many young girls played, their bright clothing like red clouds and green rain. The long embankments were covered with green grass and various wildflowers, and groups of young men rode their horses with high spirits, their horses galloping.

On the main road, whether commoners or officials, all carried pots and boxes, orderly and in formation, presenting a scene of prosperity.

The Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu wrote, "In the Southern Dynasties, there were four hundred and eighty temples, how many pavilions in the misty rain." After many storms and the passage of time, there is also the famous line by Li Yu, "Ask you how much sorrow, just like the spring river flowing east."

It is said that in the misty depths around Jinling, there are still three hundred temples hidden, and two thousand six hundred bridges of various sizes. The largest lake, Xuanwu Lake, covers a thousand acres, a vast expanse of blue water.

Now, in our great Ming Dynasty, we are the dominant power in the world, with all nations paying homage. But Xu Hao could not be happy, for in his limited historical knowledge, he knew about the Jingnan Campaign.

The Jingnan Campaign meant little to later generations, just an internal war in the early Ming Dynasty for the throne. But for Xu Hao, who was in the midst of it, everything he saw could be completely destroyed by this impending brutal civil war. In war, the ones who suffer are always the common people.

So be it, Xu Hao shrugged, feeling somewhat ashamed, and quietly let his compassionate heart slip away. By family ties, the great Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, was his uncle. He couldn't let his arm turn outward, could he? Besides, his brother's arm was too thin to qualify as the bold mantis trying to stop the rolling wheels of history.

In any case, there was still a peaceful period before the war. Xu Hao gazed at his carefree brothers galloping, thinking that the old man had just celebrated his sixtieth birthday last year and was still in good health. It seemed that Zhu Yuanzhang died after the old man, so they should be able to live in peace for another three to five years? How many years had the Hongwu era lasted?

Xu Hao had no idea about the death dates of these great historical figures, having returned that knowledge to his junior high school history teacher. He only knew that this year was the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu era.

He didn't know that his second grandfather, the Marquis of Wei, Xu Da, had died in the eighteenth year of the Hongwu era. In any case, history had already deviated.

Was it because of him, this fluttering butterfly?

A small flutter of wings might cause a storm far away, or it might just be a breeze.

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