CHAPTER 145: CHAPTER 145: THE STABLES (PART 2)

The few kneeling and kowtowing were the foreign women seen at the brokerage the other day.

Ma Yaosong indeed handled matters swiftly. On that day, after paying the silver, he had these women settled at the horse ranch. The women, having been trafficked over a thousand miles, had long become numb while awaiting their tragic fates. Unexpectedly, they arrived at a horse ranch, with no men bearing fierce grins, no whips or curses, and even had a house to live in and clean clothes to wear.

More importantly, they even met their fellow tribe members, and finally, language barriers were lifted. They learned that the place they were in was called Nanyang County, and Nanyang County Princess was the one who bought them.

Today, as the Commandery Princess came to inspect the horse ranch, they didn’t have the opportunity to approach, so they knelt from afar, kowtowing to the Princess in gratitude.

Jiang Shaohua relaxed her brow and stepped forward.

The trusted aides stayed close, stepping forward along with the Commandery Princess.

"Arise."

The words of the Commandery Princess were not understood by the women, but the gentle tone was evident.

The women did not rise and continued to kowtow.

Jiang Shaohua turned to look at Ma Yaosong, noticing Ma Sheren stepping forward and speaking a string of words. The women knelt on the ground, moved to tears, kowtowed three more times before standing up.

Jiang Shaohua, with great interest, asked, "What did Ma Sheren just say?"

Ma Yaosong answered with a smile, "Replying to the Commandery Princess, I just spoke in the Qidan language. These women are Qidan people."

Before Jiang Shaohua could inquire further, he explained, "The horse slaves at the ranch are all foreigners, hence the stewards in the horse ranch all speak a bit. I can speak Qidan and Rouran languages."

Outside the border, there are many nomadic tribes, the largest being Rouran, rumored to have a hundred thousand cavalry. The Qidan are slightly smaller, with fifty to sixty thousand cavalry. There are about ten other tribes of varying sizes. Learning all foreign languages is virtually impossible. Knowing Rouran and Qidan languages is generally sufficient.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and praised, "I didn’t expect you to have such capability."

Ma Yaosong was very humble: "A minor matter, not worth mentioning, many thanks for the Commandery Princess’s praise."

Chen Sheren couldn’t help but glance at Ma Sheren.

Unexpectedly, Ma Sheren possessed such capabilities. This stirred her vigilance and a slight sense of crisis.

Beside the Qidan women, a five or six-year-old girl lifted her delicate face, her rosy little mouth uttering a sentence.

Ma Yaosong dutifully translated: "She said, the Commandery Princess is her sun."

Jiang Shaohua’s brows arched in a smile: "Tell her to be at ease staying in the horse ranch. They belong to me now, no one dares to bully them."

Ma Yaosong nodded and translated these words into Qidan.

The girl burst into a joyful smile, her little mouth revealing one front tooth missing alongside a prominent gap in another.

The other women were also filled with delight and excitement.

When living on the grassland, they often had to deal with hunger. Their lives got tougher after their husband (father) died in a hunting trip. Their cattle and sheep were stolen, and they were sold to human traffickers, eventually arriving at the Biyang Dental Clinic.

Now, having come to the horse ranch, they were experiencing a life they had never thought possible.

After the Commandery Princess and her entourage left, the thirty-something Qidan woman, with reddened eyes, bowed devoutly in the direction of the Commandery Princess.

Buddha above, bless our Commandery Princess with health and peace, a smooth life.

...

That evening, Jiang Shaohua stayed at the horse ranch overnight.

Chen Jinyu muttered in a low voice, "Commandery Princess, with hundreds of foreign horse slaves at the ranch, could it be unsafe?"

Jiang Shaohua responded calmly, "Uncle Meng brought six hundred men, and I have two hundred personal soldiers with me. Whoever dares to act recklessly is courting death."

Chen Jinyu still felt somewhat uneasy, speaking in a hushed tone, "The Commandery Princess mentioned expanding the horse ranch today and exempting the Biyang people from taxes, providing grain subsidies. I noticed Ma Sheren’s expression changed. Isn’t this a soft attack on the Ma Family? Aren’t you afraid of causing chaos among the Ma Family people?"

Jiang Shaohua suddenly laughed, "Sister Jin Yu, are you so wary of Ma Sheren?"

Chen Jinyu chuckled awkwardly, touching her nose, "Is it that obvious?"

Jiang Shaohua laughed, holding Chen Jinyu’s hand, "Ma Sheren is clever and capable, speaks Rouran and Qidan. But I’m employing him to placate the Ma Family. Ten Ma Sheren couldn’t compare to Sister Jin Yu’s importance in my heart."

Chen Jinyu blushed, feeling unusually shy and embarrassed, "Sister Shaohua, am I being too petty? I know your intentions for employing Ma Sheren, but seeing him in the limelight, receiving everyone’s praise, I feel a bit uncomfortable."

Jiang Shaohua was amused, "That’s human nature. If it were me, I’d probably have to compete as well. If Ma Sheren is disrespectful to you or usurps your tasks to shine, don’t hesitate to reprimand him."

Chen Jinyu also laughed.

After some idle chatter, they each retired for the night.

The next morning, Chen Jinyu got up early to wait outside the Commandery Princess’s room.

Ma Sheren arrived even earlier.

Chen Jinyu secretly vowed to wake up half an hour earlier next time.

"Good morning, Chen Sheren." In the morning light, Ma Sheren’s face was slightly flushed, whether from nerves or some other reason, he spoke a bit haltingly.

Chen Jinyu responded reservedly, "Not as early as Ma Sheren."

Chen Sheren had kindly offered him a handkerchief to wipe sweat the previous day. Why did today’s gaze seem wary and unfriendly?

Perplexed, Ma Yaosong’s smile only grew warmer and more amiable, "We also raise some cattle and sheep at the ranch. Last night, I specifically instructed the cook to slaughter two sheep. The kitchen has been simmering lamb soup all night, it’s hot and fragrant. The cook also made crispy pastries, which taste even better with the lamb soup. Later, you and the Commandery Princess should give it a try."

This attention to detail seemed to cast her in a more careless light.

Chen Sheren replied without expression, "Ma Sheren is thoughtful."

Ma Yaosong scratched his head in confusion.

What had he done wrong? Why did Chen Sheren keep a stony face?

Yin Zhu came out with a bright smile, "The Commandery Princess invites Chen Sheren to join for breakfast."

As for Ma Sheren, he had none of such honor and waited patiently.

The lamb soup was incredibly delicious, and the freshly baked pastries were crispy and fragrant with each bite. Jiang Shaohua was very satisfied, "Today’s breakfast is quite good."

Chen Jinyu couldn’t deny the truth, "Ma Sheren had the kitchen prepare the lamb soup last night, indeed thorough."

Jiang Shaohua laughed, "How come I never noticed your pettiness before?"

Chen Jinyu amused herself too, clenching her fist, "I have my strengths too, can’t be outdone by Ma Sheren."

Jiang Shaohua chuckled continuously, entertained.

Youths in their teens, it is the age of competitiveness. Thinking back to her own youthful days, it was the same, a relentless pursuit for superiority.

Jiang Shaohua stepped out of the room, Ma Sheren immediately approached, respectfully asking, "What does the Commandery Princess wish to see today?"