"Hello everyone. As Prince Mo mentioned, the Dongbin New School, also known as the Technical Workshop School, has many masters like Chef Butterfly teaching there. Both men and women from your families are welcome to enroll. Learning one or more skills, those with exceptional talent can apply or be recommended to become masters at the New School Workshops, with opportunities to be featured on the Craftsmanship Rankings in our newspaper, Neighborhood Gossip newspaper.
Today's sliced fish demonstration by master D, our Chef Butterfly is just a showcase. Each serving may only provide a taste, as it's shared among three tables. However, in the southern military farms where you will be stationed, there is a clear river flowing through the camp into the sea. I can assure you that in the future, there will be ample fresh fish and seafood for everyone to enjoy to their heart's content.
Now, let's pause the drumming. Anyone who wishes to perform or is nominated by their comrades, please come forward!"
Xiang Bei's speech brought the atmosphere to a climax. Among the performers, someone demonstrated sugar painting, another showcased family martial arts, and one person skillfully weaved small animals like crickets, grasshoppers, and dragonflies from thin grass, which they handed out to the women, earning rounds of applause...
Prince Mo and Xiang Bei quietly slipped away from the festivities to the stables behind the central command tent. A tall, majestic horse with a fiery red coat eyed the approaching pair warily.
"I remember this horse—it belongs to my uncle."
"Yes. Xiao Bei, can you see the difference between this horse and our southern Ba Yue horses?"
"Big, powerful, not as gentle as our horses?"
"This is a Ferghana horse! And it's a battle-tested warhorse."
Seeing Prince Mo's eyes gleam as he looked between her and the horse, Xiang Bei suddenly had a sinking feeling. "You don't mean to—"
"Yes, I do!"
"No way, don't even think about it. That's my uncle's warhorse, and I can't steal it." Xiang Bei stared at Cheng Mo with wide, wary eyes, as if he were a mischievous uncle trying to trick her.
"Steal? How could I ask you to steal a horse?" Cheng Mo, realizing her misunderstanding, reassured her, "Do you see this beautiful white horse beside it? It's a Western mare I requested from the Emperor father for you. I was just wondering if it would be possible to have it mate with your uncle's magnificent stallion in your space to preserve its lineage."
"You should have said so earlier, you scared me." Xiang Bei had already noticed that the cavalry horses were significantly larger and more powerful than the Southern horses of Dongbin. These two thousand horses were likely a testament to the Emperor's favoritism towards his son. If they could indeed breed a new line of hybrid horses... "Yes, that's a great idea! Let them stay inside for a few hours; it'll be almost ten days in there. I'll give it a try."
Cheng Mo had been waiting for her agreement. He immediately stepped forward to untie the reins, watching eagerly as the horses and Xiang Bei vanished.
"Symbiosis, Gong Sheng, Symbiosis GongSheng !" Xiang Bei called out loudly to the white tiger as she and the two horses stood inside the Snowflake Jade Cave.
"Can't you be a bit quieter? Just use your mind, you don't need to shout, and White Tiger and I will still receive it. Can't girls be a little more reserved?" The White Fox, Cave Essence Shui, riding arrogantly on Symbiosis GongSheng, appeared before her, speaking critically and looking quite annoying. "Huh? An Akhal-Teke! No wonder there's such a large fluctuation in space energy. You've managed to bring in this magnificent creature." Upon seeing the two horses, the fox immediately dropped its haughty demeanor and jumped off White Tiger's back.
Symbiosis GongSheng narrowed its tiger eyes at Xiao Bei, then moved to stand silently in front of the red horse. After a brief moment of gazing, the white fox understood and led the horses to stand under the swirling rain mist. It conjured some unknown items from somewhere and fed them to the horses. Completely ignoring Xiang Bei, the fox led the two horses out of the cave.
"Hey, I'm still standing here! What's this? Robbery?" Xiang Bei was so annoyed by the fox's attitude that she stood with her hands on her hips, looking like a teapot.
"Master, the essence that the fox fed them helps induce estrus. If you want to ensure more of this horse's lineage in the coming days, you might want to bring in a few more mares."
"Symbiosis GongSheng , you're so adorable and you really understand me! Love you, mwah!" Xiang Bei's excitement left only an echo as she flashed out of the space. To Cheng Mo, it seemed like she reappeared in an instant, brimming with excitement.
"Hurry, Cheng Mo, it worked! Quickly, get a few more mares. We have three or four more hours until my uncle discovers this. We can send in ten more mares."
"Really? That's fantastic! Tomorrow, I can find a way to keep uncle from riding his horse. But are you sure sending in so many mares won't harm it?" Cheng Mo loved his horses and was concerned about their well-being.
"Don't worry, with Symbiosis and the fox around, you forgot about our essence? Don't worry, just get the mares." Xiang Bei had unwavering confidence in Symbiosis. If it said it could be done, it would be done.
"All the horses are at the pasture by Qing River. I'll take you there," Cheng Mo said as he untied his warhorse. He helped Xiang Bei mount, and they quickly appeared at the pasture. Tonight, to welcome the southern army from the north, even the stable boys had been replaced by Cheng family guards keeping watch.
"Thank you for your hard work. Since you can't drink, enjoy these hot dishes and meat instead," Xiang Bei said, using the cover of night to transfer various foods from her space into two large bamboo baskets, which were then placed on the horse's back. Now, she called for them to be taken down.
"Your Highness, Your Ladyship!"
"Hmm, you all go eat. The prince and I will check on the horses," Xiang Bei said. As she and the taciturn prince walked into the pasture, the Cheng family guards gratefully indulged in the feast provided by their masters.