Chapter 187: Reaping What One Sows [Many thanks for everyone's support! A second bow!]

After delivering the gifts to the Empress's hall,

Amidst the female official's polite yet deeply concealed wary gaze,

Consort Rong, seeing the senior inner eunuch serving beside the Emperor standing respectfully at the door, smiled, bowed her head in a gesture of respect, and then, supported by the female official, departed from this place.

Once out of the hall doors, having dismissed the attending palace servants to a distance, the female official beside her whispered:

"Your Ladyship, the Marquis sent word that to allow the Xu family's Fifth Young Master to ride his horse into the palace, the palace gates were opened."

"Jing-ge'er?"

"Yes."

"Where is he now?"

"He said he still has studies this afternoon and has left the palace."

Consort Rong fell silent for a moment, her mind echoing with her younger brother's voice: 'Sister enjoys such favor! Studying? Studying my foot!'

Suppressing the voice in her mind, Consort Rong said, "He is indeed an ambitious child! Her Majesty the Empress now has both a son and a daughter."

Hearing these words, the female official beside her said nothing.

Consort Rong's favor had not waned over these years, relying on more than just her external beauty; yet, no matter how brilliantly clever she was, the fact that she still had no children remained like a stone blocking her heart.

Moreover, this stone, much like the Emperor's age, was growing larger by the day.

"Your Ladyship, this humble servant heard that the Eldest Miss, who married into the Gu family, is nearing her confinement; perhaps we should send some precious, soft fabrics to the Gu household?"

After the female official finished speaking, Consort Rong pondered for a moment before saying, "Organize the furs sent by those in the north who went through our family's connections, and send them all to the Xu family."

"But, wouldn't that be too much? The Xu family would find it difficult to return a gift of equal value."

The female official looked up to ask, only to see Consort Rong smile: "Just say it is to express gratitude for Jing-ge'er running errands for Her Majesty the Empress; no return gift is necessary."

Slightly dazzled by that smile, the female official lowered her head in acknowledgment, then spoke with some hesitation: "Your Ladyship, if we send them all away, we won't have enough to make new clothes for ourselves."

"Then wear the old ones."

Hearing these words from Consort Rong, who usually loved new clothes most of all, the female official lowered her head and suppressed her surprise.

While many noble families in Bianjing still did not know whether the Empress had given birth to an Imperial Prince or a Princess,

Xu Xu Zaijing, carrying a body full of cool wind, entered the Sheng family's lecture hall; seeing the surprised looks of everyone in the hall, Xu Xu Zaijing bowed respectfully to Tutor Zhuang of Chaozhuzhuang and said, "Tutor, your student has returned."

"Mm, sit down! Sheng Changbai, you continue speaking."

After placing his large fur-lined cloak behind Seeing Seeing Qingcao, Xu Xu Zaijing sat on a bench in the back row, feeling the slight warmth transmitted from the floor, and let out a comfortable sigh.

Leaning back on his hands, Xu Xu Zaijing glanced to the side; most of the young male and female servants belonging to his classmates were dozing off;

Meanwhile, Sheng Changfeng nearby looked at Xu Xu Zaijing with curiosity.

"Tutor, your student has finished speaking," Sheng Changbai said.

"Mm, not bad! Let us rest for a while."

Having said this, Tutor Zhuang of Chaozhuzhuang went to the arhat bed nearby and lay down on his own.

Gu Gu Tingye and Qi Heng immediately turned their gaze toward Xu Xu Zaijing: "Jing-ge'er, Jing-ge'er, what exactly happened?"

"Did something occur in the palace?"

"Her Majesty the Empress has given birth to a Princess!"

"Then why did they call for you?" Sheng Changfeng asked from the side.

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Who told me my name carries such auspicious meaning!"

"Oh! So that's how it is!"

His classmates all wore expressions of sudden realization.

On the arhat bed, Tutor Zhuang of Chaozhuzhuang turned over, shaking his head slightly against the pillow, seemingly searching for the most comfortable position.

By the time Xu Xu Zaijing finished school and returned home, the matter of him being summoned to the palace because his name carried good meaning was already known to many.

After all, when he rode his horse to the palace that morning, too many people along the way had seen him.

The next day,

Early in the morning, under Seeing Seeing Qingcao's service, Xu Xu Zaijing finished dressing;

"Young Master, it is raining outside."

"Mm, have the kitchen heat up the bathhouse."

"Yes."

Facing the soft, drizzling rain that rushed against his face, Xu Xu Zaijing took a deep breath of fresh air; upon reaching the edge of the field, he saw Brother Qingyun already waiting in the center, holding a short spear.

Xu Xu Zaijing warmed up before walking over.

In the side room where the Hou Fu private soldiers rested, located right beside the horse racing track, hearing the 'thud-thud' sounds coming through the wall, Di Jing covered his ears with his quilt; he had no intention of going out to seek abuse.

After three quarter-hours, the wall finally fell silent.

After finishing his practice of throwing short spears, Xu Xu Zaijing practiced further with the Xu family long spear; this spear was not a wooden shaft with a metal head, but entirely metal, its shaft covered with a thick layer of dense, anti-slip granules.

Furthermore, Xu Xu Zaijing's practice targets were not Brother Qingyun, but several human-shaped wooden dummies; at the throat position of each wooden dummy was a narrow slit the width of a spear tip, with a mechanism below that, under Brother Qingyun's forceful manipulation, caused them to shake irregularly; Xu Xu Zaijing needed to pierce the narrow slits with his spear tip and then swiftly withdraw it.

Practicing until sweat covered his body, and after smashing quite a few wooden dummies with a long hammer, Xu Xu Zaijing finally went to the bathhouse.

Riding a carriage to the Sheng family as usual, upon entering the lecture hall and seeing Minglan shaking her head back and forth to exercise her neck, Xu Xu Zaijing nodded.

It had just reached the hour of Chen (7:00 AM).

Jin'an Studio.

Inside the bedroom,

Wei Wei Shuyi took her son from the wet nurse's arms; looking at the infant in the swaddling clothes, full from eating and drinking, Wei Wei Shuyi looked up, met eyes with Mama Cui beside her, and then smiled.

Mama Cui pondered for a moment and was just about to speak when Sister Sister Xiaodie walked in from outside:

"Wei Xiaoniang, just now I heard the Guan Guan Pozi guarding the gate say that last night at Linqi Pavilion, several young female servants were punished again; they weren't even allowed to wear outer coats and were made to kneel in the courtyard like that."

Mama Cui therefore said nothing.

"What is the matter?"

Wei Wei Shuyi asked, frowning.

"They say the young maids did not work properly by day and did not rest properly by night, and Zhou Zhou Xueniang caught them."

"It rained last night," Cui Cui Ruan said.

"Indeed! They are only about the same age as Xiao Xiao Xiaotao; how could these people bear to be so cruel!"

"So much time has passed; drinking ginger soup now will do no good." After speaking the last word, Wei Wei Shuyi's eyes narrowed and her brows furrowed.

"Sister Sister Xiaodie, I recall that a few days ago, when Lin Qige sent things, you said the young maids were coughing?"

"Yes! Wei Wei Xiaoniang?"

Wei Wei Shuyi took a deep breath and said, "From now on, nothing sent from Lin Qige may be used! If anyone with a cold or cough comes to deliver things, they are not allowed into the courtyard."

Sister Sister Xiaodie spoke with a look of surprise, "Wei Wei Xiaoniang, are you saying they..."

Wei Wei Shuyi said, "Xiang Zhuang dances with the sword, but his intent is on the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Pei."

Hearing these words, Cui Cui Ruan nodded and said nothing more.

At this moment, a young maid outside the door called out, "Fang Mama has arrived."

Cui Cui Ruan hurriedly went out.

Shou'an Hall

The Old Da Niangzi was shaking turtle shells and copper coins on a Luo Han bed; the copper coins were scattered across the table.

The Old Da Niangzi looked up at the returning Fang Mama and continued gazing at the divination signs, saying, "Have you told her everything?"

"No, this servant did not even enter the gate before returning!"

"Ah?" The Old Da Niangzi raised her head, her face full of confusion.

"This servant arrived at the courtyard, and Cui Cui Ruan came out and told this servant about the situation at Jin'an Zhai. That Wei Wei Xiaoniang said one sentence."

Seeing the Old Da Niangzi's gaze, Fang Mama smiled and said, "Xiang Zhuang dances with the sword, but his intent is on the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Pei."

"Does she know the sword technique of others?"

"She knows!"

The Old Da Niangzi paused, then smiled: "Excellent. Go to the pharmacy and procure some medicine to keep ready! In case anyone has a headache or fever, they are not allowed to go to Jin'an Zhai."

"Yes, Old Da Niangzi."

That evening, Sheng Hong came to Shou'an Hall to pay respects.

"Mother!"

"Mm. Did you stay at Lin Qige last night?"

"Ah? Yes, Mother."

"Then did you know about the punishment of the young maids last night?"

"Son... I, I know!"

"Such small young maids; if they err, bamboo board discipline is sufficient. Yet your Lin Xiao Niang made them kneel in the rain in the courtyard until the Hour of Yin!"

"Mother, they are just lazy and spoiled." Seeing the Old Da Niangzi's gaze, Sheng Hong fell silent awkwardly.

"Treating servants so harshly; if a young maid falls ill or loses her life because of this, do you think that is a good thing?"

"Son... is ashamed."

"Hmph!"

A few more days passed.

Xingguo Ward

Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi's Manor

Qi Heng returned to his study.

Hearing Buwei stood respectfully with hands hanging by his sides before Princess Princess Pingning.

"Today, was there anything at the Sheng family academy?" Princess Princess Pingning asked after taking a sip of tea.

"Replying to Your Highness, there was nothing!"

"What about the three Misses of the Sheng family?"

"Miss Minglan was practicing calligraphy, Miss Hearing Rulan was dozing, and Miss Seeing Mo Lan was writing... poetry."

"Mm? What were you hesitating about just now? What poem was she writing?"

"Not that, Your Highness, but Miss Seeing Mo Lan coughed a few times while writing poetry yesterday, and she coughed again today!"

Hearing Hearing Buwei's words, Princess Princess Pingning's brows immediately furrowed: "What? Why did you not say this sooner?"

As Princess Princess Pingning spoke, Hearing Buwei, hearing her tone, was already kneeling on the ground.

"Your Highness, this lowly one..."

"Someone! Go fetch the Physician! Drag him away and give him five strokes!"

After speaking, Princess Princess Pingning rose and walked toward Qi Heng's study; after a round of asking after his health, she even made Qi Heng drink a bowl of medicine prescribed by the Physician that evening.

The next day, Hearing Buwei, baring his teeth in pain, sat in a carriage and arrived at the Sheng family; he saw Seeing Qingcao at the Sheng family gatehouse.

"Brother Seeing Qingcao!"

Seeing Hearing Buwei's appearance, Seeing Qingcao hurriedly took a few steps forward to support Hearing Buwei and walked a few steps with him.

Now that Seeing Qingcao was married, he waited for Xu Xu Zaijing at the Sheng family gatehouse, while Seeing Seeing Qingcao followed inside.

"Where is the Young Master of the Xiao Xiao Gongye?"

"Your Highness sent me to inform the Tutor of leave; the Young Master of the Xiao Xiao Gongye must rest at home for one day."

"Let us go!"

Arriving at the lecture hall, Hearing Buwei lifted the curtain and entered, only to see Tutor Daozhuang holding a tea cup, frowning as he drank something.

Smelling the herbal medicine scent in the lecture hall, Hearing Buwei glanced over and saw that Mo Lan's seat was empty; she also saw Ru Lan, Gu Gu Tingye, and others drinking medicine just like the tutor Zhuang.

Sheng Changfeng coughed once.

After taking leave, Hearing Buwei returned to the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi's mansion to report.

In the afternoon, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi's mansion sent over a large quantity of herbal medicine.

Fortunately, the others in the lecture hall were in good health, and no one continued to cough like Mo Lan.

Xu Xu Zaijing arrived early every day to open the windows for ventilation, and even brought a jar of vinegar; when closing the windows, he would boil the vinegar on the small stove used for brewing tea.

Regardless of the effect, at least he had some psychological comfort, although Xu Xu Zaijing had never caught a cold since childhood.

Weirui Hall

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu ate her breakfast with a well-nourished look on her face.

"Is the one in that courtyard still lying down?"

"Da Niangzi, she is still lying down. Three or four Physicians have been summoned, yet there is no sign of improvement."

Wang Wang Wang Ruofu pressed her lips together and smiled: "I think today the Master will surely come to my room. It is nearly the end of the year, and the Ministry of Personnel is in a rush; he cannot fall ill."

"The Da Niangzi speaks truly!"

Mother Liu said with a smile.

"Even Ru Lan came back smelling of vinegar all over. She even said it was a folk remedy found by Brother Jing."

"Da Niangzi, Brother Jing is a fortunate one; I think we should boil some too."

"Boil it! Huilan's room must boil some too! Her Wedding date is approaching; we cannot afford any mistakes!"

In an instant, the Sheng household was filled with the smell of vinegar.

Even in Shou'an Hall, the scent of incense burned by the Old Da Niangzi had diminished.

This cold raged in Linqi Pavilion for over ten days; it was not until early October that Lin Lin Qinshuang recovered.

That night, Sheng Hong went to Linqi Pavilion. Seeing Lin Lin Qinshuang, who had grown thinner and looked so pitiful, Sheng Hong's heart ached so much that tears fell from his eyes.

"Shuang'er, you have suffered so much!"

"Hong Lang, for the sake of Hong Lang's health, what does it matter if Shuang'er never sees you again for a lifetime!"

A night of tenderness.

When Sheng Hong got up early to attend court,

a blast of north wind blew, and he shivered.

Exactly at You hour.

Xu Xu Zaijing and his elder brother stepped out of the carriage holding hand warmers; as the evening air was cold, both exhaled a puff of white vapor.

In the stable nearby, someone was leading a horse out.

Just as the two brothers were about to go pay respects to their mother, they saw Sun Shi walking out of the courtyard with a serious expression and hurried steps, followed by Xu Xu Anmei.

Xu Xu Zaijing, with sharp eyes, saw that the female servant Sister Qingzhi, whom he had not seen for a long time, was also accompanying Sun Shi.

"Mother, what is wrong?"

Zai Zhang asked.

"Your elder sister is about to give birth!"

Saying this, Sun Shi approached the carriage the two brothers had just stepped down from, and Xu Xu Anmei followed behind.

"Go!"

Pulling hair!

In the book, why are there so many childbirths!

Not sure if there are more; do not wait.

(`) Sending love.

Thank you to the one who kept their promise for the 1000 donation!

Thank you all for the monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!

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(End of this chapter)