AGENT 11 (Chu Te Gong Huang Fei novel/Xiao Xiang Dong Er 潇湘冬儿

Agent 11-ch4

credits to the author, wuxialover.com & its translators ,editors etc.
Acknowledgement
Cover: http://www.sohu.com/a/135403228_114780

Vol 2 The Great Xia Dynasty

Chapter 4: Royal Hunting

The birthplace of the Great Xia Dynasty was in Hengshui which was located at the east banks of Hongchuan. From a nomadic life, their ancestors began by living near the waters and the nearby plants and brought their folk customs and martial arts with them. The Xia Dynasty was bitter cold and the environment had limited the development for the Xia people. However, there existed the Quanrong people who constantly tried to invade the border despite that. For a thousand centuries, they've come. It was very hard to live in the Xia Dynasty until that man came to be. It was Luo Zhenhuang who established the Great Xia regime which made the people free to develop and breathe.

In the Great Xia's history, almost every word was cast with blood and tears. The nature of the nomadic nation caused the relationship with them and the land to be simple. This also made easy for them to swallow Southern Bian Tang and Eastern Huai Song. Over the centuries, the Xia people continued to migrate to the west, fighting different nationalities, increasing their vast homeland. They grew to the point that they've exceeded more than 3000 years of history. Bian Tang became the center of commerce, Huai Song was the most fertile farmland, and the mainland gave rise to its first military power.

The Dynasty rose majestically with the bright city of Hongchuan becoming its economic and political center. The city was filled with tall buildings, business dealings, exquisite silk, powerful officials, rich and powerful merchants that shuttled back and forth on the Nine Lofty Main Streets. It was equal to any other bustling city.

The first morning bells sounded. The sound of the distant and mighty bells spread as the gates slowly opened. The sun shone on the city. Under the blood and iron order of the empire, a new day slowly started again.

"Drive!"

A hoarse voice suddenly sounded as a dark horse came up with a white horse beside it. Riding in the snow, the hooves thundered on the ground as the snow splashed. They were followed by more than a dozen followers.

"Yan Shizi, you're late!"

Zhuge Huai chuckled while driving his horse forward facing the person with a smile. His voice was warm. In the spring's breeze, a pair of eyes partly narrowed with a glittering astute light. He was wearing a purple dress designed with a gold and silver carps with a Cang Wu Shan Silver jade, and snow ferret fur over his shoulder. He appeared even more elegant and clean. However, at fifteen years, he seemed more magnificent and wise beyond his age.

Standing beside him were four youths. The younger ones were 11-12 years old, while the older ones were 13-14. Everybody wore a brocade satin Chinese dress looking extraordinary. Hearing this voice, together they turned their heads to look and locate where it came from.

Yan Xun reined in his horse at the call. His snow-white horse stomping on the ground with a loud neigh and firmly stopping on the snow. He wore a deep purple dress with snow white fur over his shoulders, "When brother Zhuge received the news that the Eighth Princess is home, you wanted to get out. It is going to be somewhat difficult, you wait."

"Originally, that beautiful woman kept harassing Yan Xun, ruining his fun." A pine green brocade gown wearing boy walked up. He had soft voice, with eyes slanted like a fox general. He looked to be 11-12 years old, with a sneaky smile on his face.

Yan Xun looked at him indifferent, "Prince Jing Xiao should not be laughing. At the state banquet the day before, I, who if not for Prince Jing Xiao, would not have broken the Princess's glass. Today there will be no such good fortune flying this way. I will thank Prince Jing in advance."