The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!-Chapter 877 - 763, Horse Racing Competition

"Yiyi, so it was you all along!"

Kang Naixin and Wu Xirong came over to Daohua and her companions with smiles.

Daohua stood up and introduced Zhou Jingwan and Su Shiyu to them. Since Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai were present, it wasn’t convenient for the two to stay long. After exchanging some pleasantries, they left.

Before leaving, Kang Naixin whispered to Daohua, "I just saw your maid heading over to the horse troughs—well done!"

Daohua, watching Kang Naixin wink at her, just smiled and said nothing.

The little episode with the Princess from Xiliao didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits; they continued their boat ride on the river after lunch and didn’t head back to the residence until mid-afternoon.

Not long after they returned, Xiao Yeyang came over.

"Did you have fun today?"

Daohua took Xiao Yeyang to the pavilion in the garden. Responding to his question, she pursed her lips, "The scenery was fine, but some people were a bit of an eyesore."

Xiao Yeyang smiled silently, leaned in close to Daohua, "Seeing Wentao and the others paired up, did you miss me?"

Daohua glanced at him, "Don’t flatter yourself, I had plenty of fun on my own."

Xiao Yeyang took the round fan from Daohua’s hand and began to fan her while explaining, "I was actually planning to join you today, but I suddenly received an order from Imperial Uncle to visit the royal hunting grounds, which caused the delay."

Daohua took a chilled watermelon that Wang Manman brought over, skewered a piece with a bamboo stick, and offered it to Xiao Yeyang’s mouth. After he ate it, she took a piece for herself, "What did you go to the hunting grounds for?"

Xiao Yeyang said, "The Xiliao delegation brought over some excellent horses this time. In a few days, there will be a horse race at the royal hunting grounds in the Beijing Suburbs." He smiled and added, "At that time, I’ll accompany you to have a good horse ride there."

Daohua shook her head, "Forget it, it’s too hot these days, I don’t feel like riding."

Xiao Yeyang laughed, "There’s a forest over there. Riding in the woods won’t be too hot."

Daohua was still uninterested, but she asked, "Can we go and watch the horse race?"

Xiao Yeyang said, "Of course, officials and their families can go to watch."

Daohua inquired, "I heard the Xiliao people are very good at horse-riding. Do you think we can win against them?"

Xiao Yeyang replied, "Xiliao people are indeed skilled in archery and riding, but the men of Daxia are no less formidable."

Daohua looked at him, "You’re not going to compete, are you?"

Xiao Yeyang smiled, "You don’t want me to compete?"

Daohua stayed silent for a moment, "If the emperor disagrees with the political marriage and the Xiliao people can’t marry a princess, might they try another method, like sending a princess to marry into Daxia? That way, they could still cement an alliance."

Xiao Yeyang suddenly laughed, "Are you afraid that the Princess from Xiliao has her eyes on me?" Shaking his head with a smile, he added, "She surely wouldn’t look twice at me. The one she’s interested in, you see, are the princes."

Daohua’s interest was piqued, "How do you know?"

Xiao Yeyang snorted with laughter, "These past few days, whenever possible, that Princess from Xiliao has had ’coincidental’ encounters with the princes. It’s clear what she’s aiming for to anyone with eyes."

Daohua clicked her tongue twice before eagerly asking, "Will the emperor agree to it?"

Xiao Yeyang smiled faintly, "Sending away a princess and receiving one are not the same thing. Since they’re offering, how could we refuse? The only question is, which prince will this good fortune fall upon?"

Daohua commented, "It’s not necessarily a good thing."

Xiao Yeyang looked at her, grabbed her hand, and ate the watermelon she was holding, then smiled without saying a word.

"Oh, speaking of which, we ran into that Princess from Xiliao today while we were out; we even had a bit of an altercation with her." Daohua shared the day’s events with Xiao Yeyang.

Xiao Yeyang snorted coldly after hearing that, "The Xiliao people dare to covet the technology of glazed glass. Well, if the Xiliao Princess got beaten, there’s nothing to worry about."

Hearing him say that, Daohua stopped dwelling on it.

...

On July 15th, Daxia and Xiliao held a horse racing event at the imperial hunting grounds outside Beijing. Early in the morning, officials from the capital and their families began to arrive at the venue in carriages.

"Xinran!"

Daohua, following Madam Li and others, had just entered the venue when she spotted the Han Family.

Han Xinran, seeing her elder sister and mother standing closely together, flickered her gaze and, with her eyes downcast, supported her grandmother as she walked towards her maternal family.

Madam Li smiled and greeted Han Madam.

Han Madam immediately introduced her eldest daughter to the Yan family with a smile, "Madam Mother-in-law, this is my eldest daughter, married to the legitimate heir of the Earl Residence of Yongqing. She has been very busy managing household affairs and hasn’t had the opportunity to visit yet. Xinman, why haven’t you greeted your Aunt Yan yet?"

Han Xinman immediately saluted Madam Li with a smile and then looked at Daohua with a laugh, "This must be the Countess of Shengping, right? Indeed, to see one’s face is better than to hear one’s name; you truly are more charming than flowers." ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Daohua did not respond but rather looked towards Han Xinran, waiting for her introduction.

Han Xinran immediately beamed with a smile and said to Han Xinman, "Elder sister, this is my family’s eldest sister." She then pulled on Yan Yihuan and her two sisters, "These three are my second, third, and fourth sisters."

Daohua then saluted, "Madam Fang."

Yan Yihuan and her sisters followed suit, "Madam Fang."

Seeing that Daohua and her sisters addressed her as related through their husband’s family, not the Han family, the smile on Han Xinman’s face stalled momentarily. It turned out as her mother said, her sister-in-law’s family did indeed lack some finesse in social interactions.

Wouldn’t it be more intimate if they just called her ’Big Sister Han’?

Han Xinman, with a smile, asked Han Xinran, "Second sister, where will you be watching the race later?"

Han Xinran immediately looked towards Madam Li.

Madam Li glanced at the constructed stands and, seeing that there weren’t many seats left, she chuckled, "We’ll watch from wherever there is space available."

Upon hearing this, Han Xinman’s smile deepened, and she quickly extended an invitation to Madam Li, "Auntie, my husband’s family has some standing with the Emperor, and we’ve been granted seats to watch the race this time. Later on, you can squeeze in with us."

"Watching from the stands not only offers shade from the sun but also provides a higher vantage point for a clearer view."

Before Madam Li could respond, Han Madam took over the conversation, "Madam Mother-in-law, please don’t be so polite. We’re all relatives, today, let’s bask in Xinman’s glory."

As she watched Han Madam bask in anticipated honor, Daohua quickly glanced at her sister-in-law, then swiftly spoke up, "Thank you for your kind offer, Madam Fang, but there’s no need. Our seating will be arranged for us."

Han Madam’s smile paused, and just as she was about to speak, a servant named Defu hurried over, "Countess, our master has sent me to lead you to your seats."

Daohua smiled and nodded to Han Madam and Han Xinman, then supported Madam Li and signaled Han Xinran to follow.

Han Xinran smiled and said to Han Madam and Han Xinman, "Mother, Elder Sister, I’ll be going over there first."

Noticing that the Yan family’s seating was quite close to the prime seating, the expressions on Han Madam and Han Xinman’s faces soured a bit.

Han Xinman snorted, "What’s with second sister? She knew the Yan family had seats and didn’t tell me earlier, making me run around for nothing, even specially asking Mother-in-law."

Han Madam quickly comforted her, "Your second sister has never been as thorough as you. Don’t stoop to her level."

Han Xinman murmured an indifferent ’hm’ and was about to help Han Madam to their seats when she saw Princess Lekang approaching Yan Yiyi, "Mother, since when did the Yan family have relations with Princess Lekang?"