Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 401: Chapter 401 Let Him Wait_1

From An Jing and Xiao Changyi’s residence to the Imperial Capital, under normal circumstances, traveling by carriage would take more than a month, and riding a horse about twenty days—horse riding here refers to traveling by horse during the day and resting at night.

Even if it were an emergency that required traveling 800 li in haste, it would still take four to five days.

If Xiao Changyi were to go alone, riding Zhuri day and night without rest, even though Zhuri could cover a thousand li in a day, it would still take three days to reach the Imperial Capital.

An Jing and Xiao Changyi set out for the Capital on August 20th. The Emperor of Xiyun’s birthday was on September 12th, leaving only twenty-one days between. An Jing and Xiao Changyi decided they couldn’t afford to take their time traveling to the Imperial Capital, nor did they want to rush through day and night. As the Emperor’s birthday was still twenty-one days away, there was no urgent need. Thus, they planned to travel during the day and rest at night.

It wasn’t just for their own rest, but also to give Zhuri, their warhorse, a chance to rest.

Although An Jing had already learned to ride a horse, it was still exhausting to travel every day, especially since it was her first time. Her legs, in particular, were incredibly sore and felt almost alien to her.

Each evening, Xiao Changyi would massage An Jing’s legs to help ease her discomfort.

An Jing felt it was much like her first military training, where she was dead tired at first, but as she got used to it, it became less exhausting, and her legs seemed to adapt to the constant horse riding. After ten days, An Jing only felt a little tired, and her legs were no longer as sore.

Eventually, she didn’t even need Xiao Changyi to massage her legs at night.

Zhuri truly lived up to its reputation as a warhorse capable of covering a thousand li in a day; even though they didn’t travel by night and rested at noon, Zhuri was faster than an average horse, and they reached the Imperial Capital in merely fifteen days, not the anticipated twenty.

They had not dallied on the way, and with the Emperor’s birthday still six days away, Xiao Changyi wasn’t in a hurry to enter the palace and see the Emperor of Xiyun. Therefore, An Jing agreed with Xiao Changyi the night before that they would first find an inn to stay in the Imperial Capital and enjoy a few days there before entering the palace.

In fact, Changsheng Mansion had long been prepared for them.

However, because Xiao Changyi at one time had been retained in the palace for a whole year by the Emperor of Xiyun, he had not yet stayed in Changsheng Mansion.

They chose to stay in an inn now because, based on Xiao Changyi’s understanding of the Emperor, as soon as he set foot in Changsheng Mansion, the Emperor would undoubtedly learn of it and summon them to the palace to stay.

Even so, Xiao Changyi still greatly underestimated the Emperor’s excitement about his imminent arrival...

As Xiao Changyi and An Jing rode Zhuri, before they even arrived at the gates of the Imperial Capital, the city’s guard commander—General He—had already been waiting at the entrance for a long time.

Upon seeing Xiao Changyi and An Jing, General He respectfully saluted with his men, ”This General pays his respects to the Prince and Princess.”

General He did not actually recognize An Jing, but the Emperor had mentioned that Xiao Changyi would bring his wife; knowing Meng Zhuqing and seeing no other women with them, it was evident that the person was the Changsheng Princess, sitting in front of Xiao Changyi, riding the same horse.

”Prince,” General He continued respectfully, ”the Emperor commanded me one and a half months ago to await you here. His Majesty wishes the Prince to enter the palace for a reunion as soon as you arrive at the Imperial Capital.”

One and a half months ago...

Wasn’t that right after the Emperor of Xiyun learned that her husband was coming to the Capital to see him, and he sent someone to wait here?

An Jing, sweating.

Xiao Changyi remained expressionless, ”Let him wait.”

Apart from his wife, he disliked it when someone arbitrarily changed his plans. Right now, he simply desired to stay at an inn with his wife and then enjoy a good time in the Capital for a few days before entering the palace.