“Shubao, how much farther is that excellent fishing spot you always mention?” Li Shimin looked toward Qin Qiong.
Qin Qiong lightly tugged on the reins and pointed due south. “Your majesty, another twenty li will bring us to Kaolao Village. Last year, I saw an old gentleman catch a bream a foot long here. There was even a Copper Coin hanging from its lip!”
Li Shimin nodded. “Mm, we can take a look at the autumn harvest situation among the nearby common people. And casting a few more lines would be a fine choice as well!”
Cheng Yaojin held three bamboo poles in his hands. They were the fishing rods for the three men.
“Father~ Go a little faster, quack~” a cute, dazed voice sounded from inside the carriage.
“Hahaha!” Li Shimin let out a hearty laugh. “Anan, go a little faster. Listen to Sizi.”
“Yes, your majesty!” Zhang Anan flicked the whip. “Giddy-up!”
The carriage suddenly sped up, sending dust flying from the ground. The clear laughter of a young child could still be heard faintly.
It was the golden autumn season, and the fields were filled with the joy of harvest.
After a year of hard work, the season of harvest had finally arrived.
Li Shimin lifted the carriage curtain, his gaze sweeping over the neat wheat stubble in the fields. They were the traces left behind after the summer wheat harvest, while the newly planted winter wheat nearby had already sprouted tender shoots.
Seeing the flourishing scene, the corners of Li Shimin’s mouth lifted slightly. The abundance of these fertile lands stretching for a thousand li was the finest testament to the years of diligent governance by him and his ministers.
“Mm, this side looks good too. Shubao, how much farther?” Li Shimin asked again.
“Your majesty, it is just ahead. We only need to go around that mountain.” Qin Qiong pointed toward it.
“Good. Then go a little faster.” Li Shimin was in excellent spirits and wanted to cast a few lines.
“Yes, your majesty!”
Soon, the carriage stopped beside the water pool.
Zhang Anan jumped down from the carriage and prepared the mounting stool. Li Shimin carried Little Princess Jinyang down from the motorhome.
Following closely behind was the graceful Princess Changle, Li Lizhi.
Li Shimin reached out to help Li Lizhi down.
Originally, Li Shimin had only brought Zhang Anan, Qin Qiong, and Cheng Yaojin along. But the little princess had insisted that Li Shimin take her out to play, so Li Lizhi had come along as well.
Qin Qiong pointed toward the area. “Your majesty, that place over there is quite good. Let us fish there.”
“Good!” Li Shimin put down the little princess and reached out to take a fishing rod from Cheng Yaojin.
Li Lizhi held her younger sister’s hand and looked around curiously.
Although they were Princesses of noble status, they rarely had the chance to come outside.
Most of their time was spent in the imperial palace. On the rare occasions when they left the imperial palace, they stayed within Chang'an City.
It was rare for them to travel this far beyond the city. This was the little princess’s first long trip, and her large, watery eyes were filled with curiosity.
“Wow~” The little girl was visibly excited as she pulled Li Lizhi along and ran across the grassland.
“Sizi, slow down!”
“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm~”
When a princess went out to play, it was unsettling if no one was there to protect her.
But there was no problem with Li Shimin accompanying them. Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong were there as well—especially Qin Qiong, who was the foremost master of the twin red staffs under Li Shimin.
The dueling king of the early tang!
The other Door Guardian, Yuchi Jingde, had even been captured alive by Qin Qiong.
Cheng Yaojin took out a small jar filled with prepared bait, namely earthworms.
They could have used provisions such as dough or rice grains, but Li Shimin did not approve of wasting food that way and advocated frugality.
He did not want others to criticize him. At present, a group of people were watching Li Shimin’s every word and action, so he had no choice but to act with extreme caution.
“Phew!” Xiao Ran let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The entrance to the mountain cave was basically covered. At least from outside, no one would be able to discover the motorhome inside.
After setting down the things in his hands, he wanted to wash up beside the water pool. But just as he stepped out of the mountain ravine, Xiao Ran was startled.
There were actually people here!
Xiao Ran saw three people sitting beside the water pool, each holding a fishing rod.
There was another person standing behind them and watching.
As a veteran angler, he felt an immediate sense of familiarity at the sight.
It was as if he had suddenly found his own kind.
On the grassland nearby, two people, one large and one small, were also playing. Their faces could not be seen clearly, but he knew they were girls.
Even from this distance, he could tell they were dressed in ancient-style clothing, though the details were unclear.
“Fellow anglers, huh!” Xiao Ran thought he could use this to draw closer and become acquainted with them.
It would also count as a way to learn more about this era through subtle probing.
He turned and ran back to the mountain cave. From the motorhome, he brought out his two boxes, which contained not only fishing gear but also tableware.
Xiao Ran had quite a lot of equipment. After finally earning some money, he spent most of it on fishing once tolls, fuel, and other such expenses were excluded.
When Xiao Ran appeared beside the water pool, he also caught the attention of Li Shimin and the others.
Zhang Anan, Qin Qiong, and Cheng Yaojin grew vigilant. The things Xiao Ran held looked extremely strange.
“No need to worry! It should be a coincidence!” Li Shimin stared at the water and told the others to remain calm and pay no attention.
A white Samoyed stood beside Xiao Ran, making it particularly conspicuous.
Xiao Ran looked around. As a veteran angler, he could tell at a glance which spots around the water pool were suitable for fishing.
“As the saying goes: fish the shallows in spring, deep pools in summer, shade in autumn, and sunlight in winter.” Xiao Ran chose a spot with aquatic plants and a thicket of shrubs.
Li Shimin and the others were clearly positioned in a poor spot. Looking at where the three men had settled, Xiao Ran knew that these fellow anglers were not very skilled.
Thinking this, he actually felt a surge of pride.
Xiao Ran sat down and began preparing the bait. He took out sweet-smelling bait and mixed it with wine-soaked rice to lay down a heavy chum bed and keep the fish there.
“Your majesty, this person is behaving strangely. Should slaves and servants seize him?” Zhang Anan leaned close to Li Shimin’s ear.
“Not for now!” Li Shimin and the others continued watching Xiao Ran’s every move.
Leaving everything else aside, Xiao Ran’s clothing and appearance alone made it obvious that he was not a local.
Highly suspicious!
It was not until Xiao Ran took out his fishing rod and cast it that the three men finally understood.
“So he is fishing too!” Li Shimin said with a smile.
“Elder sister, what is that duck~” Little Princess Jinyang pointed at the Samoyed on the other side of the water pool.
The little princess was not interested in Xiao Ran, but she was very interested in the white fellow beside him.
Li Lizhi took a look. “Mm, it seems to be a dog, but I have never seen one so white and so large.”
Although they were somewhat far away, it was clear that the Samoyed was very large.
Much larger than the dogs of the Great Tang.
In truth, it simply had longer fur. Samoyeds were not small to begin with.
Li Lizhi and the little princess returned to Li Shimin’s side. Li Lizhi pointed across the way. “Father, what is that?”
Now that they knew Xiao Ran was fishing, the group’s attention was no longer on him, but on the Samoyed.
“It looks like a dog, but perhaps it is not.” Li Shimin began to doubt himself.
“Could the white one possibly be some kind of white fox?” Qin Qiong asked as well.
“A fox could not possibly be that large!” Cheng Yaojin also stared fixedly at it.
“Father, I will go take a look.” Li Lizhi was very curious.
Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin set down their fishing rods, intending to accompany her.
They were uneasy and wanted to protect Li Lizhi.
“It is enough for Anan to go with you. This is beneath the son of heaven; surely no one would dare behave outrageously!” Li Shimin spoke with great confidence.