Chapter 103: The Ladies Whisper in Secret [Thank You All for Your Support! Again
The Empress extended one arm, revealing a pale hand beneath her exquisitely embroidered robe, pressing it against Zhao Fang’s chest.
“My son, come back to your mother like this, is that right?”
Zhao Fang froze, turning to look at his father, the Emperor.
The Emperor smiled at him, his long beard trembling slightly as he nodded toward Xu Zaijing with his chin.
Zhao Fang’s eyes lit up; he stepped back a few paces, raised the golden eagle-feather arrow high, gave Xu Zaijing a slight nod, then nodded likewise to all the young boys present at the ceremony.
Then he lifted the arrow of the ultimate victor high above his head.
“Thank you, young talents, for your offerings!”
The Emperor raised an eyebrow; his senior eunuch glanced sideways and immediately shouted with a raised voice: “Congratulations!!”
The nobles in the courtyard bowed in unison, chanting in chorus:
“May His Majesty live ten thousand years! Happy New Year!”
“May His Majesty live ten thousand years! Happy New Year!”
“May His Majesty live ten thousand years! Happy New Year!”
After the three chants, the young boys from each family shouted again several times.
The Emperor smiled, waved his hand, rose, took Zhao Fang’s small hand in his, extended his other hand toward the Empress, and the three of them walked into the palace.
The senior eunuch shouted once more: “Return!!!”
Consort Rong also waved farewell to her sister-in-law and followed after them.
The noble officials departed the palace in orderly fashion.
For a time, the path out of the palace was lined with glittering jewels and precious ornaments.
After leaving the palace, the Spring Festival—whether ancient or modern—was tiring; most people returned home to nap, while energetic youths invited one another to play somewhere.
Xu Zaijing walked out with the crowd, and soon a group of sons from Bianjing’s noble and official families gathered around him.
The noble youths eagerly invited Xu Zaijing to their homes, for their mothers or sisters had urged them to act—perhaps they could secure a marriage alliance?
Xu Zaijing hurriedly bowed and said:
“I have matters, sorry.”
“Already made plans, sorry.”
“Opportunity, opportunity.”
“Next time for sure, next time for sure,” he deflected with such phrases.
Several familiar families, like the Zhangs and the Zhengs, also invited him to play polo at their homes.
At that moment, Liang Liu dashed into the group and said:
“Brothers, why not go straight to my family’s pavilion beside the Jinming Pool polo ground? There’s a wrestling arena, indoor archery targets, food and entertainment, and the heated walls are blazing warm! Brother Jing, my mother said if I don’t bring you, she’ll hang me up and beat me.”
Xu Zaijing glanced at Wu Da Niangzi, who was speaking with his mother, then smiled at Liang Liu and said: “Fine. It’s not proper to go to others’ homes, but your family’s pavilion is certainly acceptable.”
“Great! I’ll tell the other families—when you come, the noble girls from their households will surely be there too. Maybe even Rong’s Feiyan sister will show up.”
The surrounding youths heard this and burst into exclamations:
“Is that true?”
“Feiyan? Ssshh!”
“Liu, Liu, save me a seat!”
“Liu, save me one too.”
Hearing Liang Liu’s words, Gu Tingye, Zheng Xiao, and others laughed heartily.
Rong Xian rubbed his mouth, glanced at the group, snorted, and walked over to his sister.
Qi Heng joined in, tugging at Liang Liu’s sleeve.
Liang Liu whispered: “Relax, Heng, what are we to each other? I’ll save you a prime spot.”
Qi Heng’s clear eyes sparkled with amusement, then he gazed with admiration at Xu Zaijing amid the crowd.
The youths exchanged a few more words, then burst into loud laughter.
Their laughter seemed to disturb the noblewomen’s whispered gossip; their mothers turned sharply and shot them stern glances, and the youths fell silent.
After the youths quieted, they witnessed something peculiar.
They saw their mothers all leaning heads together, their hairpins clashing, yet still whispering secrets with one hand shielding their mouths.
Zheng Xiao also spotted his elder sister-in-law, Lady Zheng, who came from a scholarly family, known for her integrity, quiet demeanor, and strict adherence to propriety.
To Zheng Xiao’s shock, Lady Zheng was whispering with the Duchess of Yingguo.
The Duchess of Yingguo seemed to be emphasizing something, and Lady Zheng’s face showed utter disbelief.
The Duchess leaned closer and whispered a few more words; Lady Zheng shook her head vigorously, murmuring something under her breath.
Anmei tried to sneak over to listen to Sun Shi and Wu Da Niangzi, but her mother pushed her aside.
Then she noticed Zhang Wu Niang, who stood beside Lady Zheng, her eyes wide open—clearly having heard some earth-shattering gossip.
Anmei hurried over and bribed Wu Niang with a household lynx kitten; after haggling, Wu Niang leaned close to Anmei’s ear and whispered: this and that, just so.
Anmei’s face showed astonishment.
The youths exchanged glances, then quickly scattered to ask their own families what the big news was.
At the Xuande Gate, many nobles bid farewell to one another.
Some close noblewomen rode together in the same carriage to continue gossiping, such as Sun Shi and Wu Da Niangzi.
The gossip following this grand court assembly spread rapidly among civil and military officials.
On the way, the two Da Niangzi parted ways; Wu Da Niangzi stepped into her carriage and waved her silk handkerchief as they said goodbye.
Xu Zaijing rode his horse behind them; since his mother had not invited him into the carriage, this gossip likely had nothing to do with him.
Quyuanjie
Yongyi Marquis Mansion
Main Hall of the Lady of the House
Back home, Xu Zaijing glanced at his elder and second brothers; they too sat beside Xie Shi, ears straining, faces filled with disbelief as they listened to her speak.
Seeing her mother-in-law and younger sister-in-law return, Xie Shi rose and hurried over, eager: “Mother, have you heard the big news?”
Sun Shi, eager to share, replied: “Da Lang’s wife, you’ve heard too?”
Then Xu Zaijing watched his mother, elder sister-in-law, and Anmei whispering together.
Curious, he edged closer to his brothers to listen.
The three Xu women ignored him, sipping tea served by maids, continuing their chatter.
Only after listening closely did Xu Zaijing realize it concerned him directly.
It was the scandal of the Marquis of Zhongqin, Yuan family—or rather, a colossal joke.
The three Xu women had heard it from different sources.
It was said that a few days ago, a woman had somehow appeared at the Marquis of Zhongqin’s gate, grabbing passersby and asking if they had two brothers.
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, she knelt at the Yuan family’s gate.
It was the busiest time before the New Year, and soon a crowd gathered before the Yuan gate.
The woman knelt and, like an opera performer, told the onlookers her story: she was an ordinary woman, but had been rescued from dire straits by the two Yuan sons, who had come to her aid against ruffians of Bianjing.
With no wealth to repay them, she offered herself to the Yuan family to repay their lifesaving grace.
The Yuan family’s gatekeeper rushed inside to report the matter.
Upon hearing the report, Lady Yuan stepped out from a side gate and stood among the crowd, listening to neighbors praise her two sons.
Seeing such a virtuous act, Lady Yuan quickly invited the woman into the Yuan mansion.
Coincidentally, the Lady of Shoushan Marquis had returned to her natal home to visit her younger brother, Yuan Bing, the Marquis of Yuan, and had brought along the Lady of Yongping to discuss betrothal gifts and see if she could assist with additions.
They happened upon the woman standing in the main hall of the Yuan mansion.
Below is the eyewitness account from the Lady of Yongping:
This chapter was posted on the morning of December 26, but the timestamp shows yesterday afternoon.
Qidian system malfunction.
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(End of Chapter)
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