"If you want to buy a horse, just buy one," Xiao Changyi paused before adding, "When I came back originally, I rode a horse."
An Jing immediately chuckled, "Are you saying that we don’t need to buy a horse, and can just use the one you rode back instead?"
"If you don’t mind it being a warhorse, we can," he replied.
An Jing fell silent instantly. A warhorse was too precious to be used for pulling carts.
After a while, An Jing asked, "Your warhorse?"
"Hmm. It was given to me by the old man before my first battle, and since then, that horse has always followed me."
"And where is it now?"
"I heard that horses recognize their owners. It followed you for so long, can Meng Zhuqing ride it?"
"It would only let me ride it. Meng Zhuqing can only lead it."
An Jing fell silent again, then hugged his arm and leaned on his shoulder, smiling, "It’s been with you in so many battles, using it to pull a cart would be inappropriate. However, you can take me riding on it. I’ve never ridden a horse before."
Her meaning was crystal clear, she agreed to bring the horse home, but would not let it go to waste.
The horse had been with him through life and death for so many years; she would only treat it well.
Grasping the deeper significance behind her words, Xiao Changyi felt moved and turned to nuzzle her forehead gently.
In the past, it had been the horse accompanying him; later on, it had been her; and in the future, not only would she be with him, but the horse too.
"My lord, the horse has been with you for many years. Have you given it a name?"
"I have. It’s called Zhuri."
"Zhuri? What a good name! Can it travel a thousand li in a day?" Logically speaking, a horse bestowed by the Emperor that had been with her husband through life and death for so many years must be an exceptional steed.
By the time the two arrived in the county, it was midday, and An Jing and Xiao Changyi did not immediately go to find the property agent, but chose to eat at a nearby tavern.
Qian Wei Tavern was located in this county, but it was near the central part of the county. Thanks to the good location, the Qian Wei Tavern had cost a thousand taels.
However, the tavern was a bit far from where they stood now, so they didn’t plan on going there for a meal.
After eating at a convenient tavern they found, An Jing and Xiao Changyi went to the property agent to buy a shop.
The property agent had many shops for sale, some in good locations and some not, with varying sizes.
"What kind of shop would the two of you like?" the property agent asked politely.
It was then that An Jing detailed their requirements, "A location that’s decent enough, the shop needs to have a backyard, and preferably a large one."
Property agent: "Then I have only three shops that meet your requirements, one near the center, one in the middle of the south side, and one in the middle of the east side."
As he spoke, the property agent also took out the floor plans of these three shops for An Jing and Xiao Changyi to review, "Take a look first. If you like any, I can take you to see the actual places."
After examining the three shops, An Jing and Xiao Changyi found that the ones near the center and in the middle of the south side were quite good, while the one on the east side had too few rooms in the backyard—just three. One for a granary, one for the shopkeeper to live in, and one for husking rice. Where would the other workers live? And where would they cook and eat?
So, An Jing asked, "How much for the shop near the center and the one in the middle of the south side?"
"The one near the center is in a better location and the shop is quite spacious with a large backyard. The backyard has six small rooms and one big room, along with a well in the courtyard. I can’t sell it for less than fourteen hundred taels," said the property agent.