Chapter 199: Then leave the mother and keep the daughter

A winter morning.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

On the horse racing track of the Marquis Yongyi's residence,

Xu Zaijing reined in the long spear in his hand, looked at Di Jing who had collapsed softly to the ground, and asked in confusion: "Why is your strength so soft today?"

Hearing this, several of the Marquis's personal guards nearby laughed.

"You all too, why are you all so weak-legged?"

After Xu Zaijing asked this, some of the personal guards lowered their heads, while others shyly looked elsewhere.

Qingyun, who was to the side, said:

"Young Master, Brother Di was promoted yesterday, and they all went to Pan Lou to celebrate. I heard that Brother Di had his virginity taken by the top girl of Qiyun Tower."

"Hahaha."

"Pfft."

"Hehehe."

Di Jing, who was lying on the ground, stood up and said: "Ye Fang, you brat, you're still laughing? You drank some wine yesterday, and your eyeballs were almost ready to strip off the girl's chest wrap."

"I—I'm not doing it for the first time! I'm not a virgin!"

"Bah! Without drinking, you wouldn't even dare to hug the girl's waist! You only dared to feast your eyes!"

"And you, Feng Dabao, weren't you taken?"

The burly Feng Dabao held up his round shield, rubbed the helmet on his head with the edge, and chuckled.

"Hahahaha."

Watching the laughing crowd, Zhu Qinghu, who was to the side, just took a look and twitched the corner of his mouth.

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said with a smile: "Then, everyone, rest for now."

"Yes, Young Master."

After speaking, Xu Zaijing walked to the weapon rack to the side, took a sharpened long-handled blade from it, and slowly performed familiar moves, then his movements became faster and faster.

Di Jing watched the long-handled blade, which he found somewhat strenuous to even hold and excessively heavy, being swung in Xu Zaijing's hands as if it were a wooden pole.

Di Jing whispered: "Captain, is the Young Master practicing with a horse-chopping blade?"

Zhu Qinghu nodded.

As they spoke, Xu Zaijing swung the long blade and walked forward. By the side of the horse racing track, there was a row of more than a dozen wooden stakes as thick as a horse's leg stuck in the ground.

The stakes were oriented irregularly, and they had been thoroughly dried, making them very hard.

*Swish. *

*Swish. *

The wooden stakes seemed to have turned into thatch; wooden blocks the size of a horse's hoof were shaved off the stakes by Xu Zaijing with his blade.

This scene left everyone stunned. If one were to encounter such a heavy-armored immortal with such effortless strength and nimble footwork on the battlefield, no matter how formidable a cavalryman one might be, one would be unable to stop the result of having one's horse's legs severed.

"Young Master, it's such a pity for him! If I had this ability, I would be happy even if I were promoted and ennobled!"

Listening to Ye Fang's previous words, Feng Dabao nodded, and then he stumbled.

"Let's go, let's head back."

After Zhu Qinghu finished speaking, he walked toward the side room.

Feng Dabao, who was behind him, took a few quick steps to his side and said: "Captain, how do the group of people from the Bai Gao Kingdom we met last night compare to the Young Master?"

Hearing this, Zhu Qinghu said:

"I don't know about that, because we didn't manage to test the Young Master's true depth, but those people from the Bai Gao Kingdom at Pan Lou last night, any one of them is not someone you could defeat, especially since they were followed by officials from the Ministry of Rites."

As Feng Dabao walked, he thought of last night's events.

After drinking at Pan Lou, he happened to come out of the private room and saw a group of people walking over. He specifically stepped aside, but he was still bumped into.

Such rudeness made him somewhat angry, and he was about to reach out and grab the man's collar, but the man pushed his hand away. Just as he was about to throw a punch, Zhu Qinghu pulled him back from behind and shook his head at him, saying:

"They are followed by officials from the Ministry of Rites; they are foreigners."

Hearing Zhu Qinghu's words, Feng Dabao didn't dwell on the matter anymore. After Zhu Qinghu accompanied him to relieve himself, the rest was all wonderful memories with the girls.

Zhu Qinghu walked forward.

Recalling last night's events,

Because of a sudden intuitive warning at Pan Lou, Zhu Qinghu not only kept an eye on himself but also on his comrades.

Therefore, he followed the drunken Feng Dabao out the door and even managed to restrain Feng Dabao's fist in time.

As for the group of people Feng Dabao had contact with, Zhu Qinghu felt something was wrong at a glance, because he seemed to have met his own kind!

The kind that had been through many battles;

The kind that had seen big scenes;

The kind that had experienced life-and-death situations;

The kind that was filled with indifference toward life and extreme confidence in their ability to kill any opponent.

Moreover, there was more than one; there were at least four or five such people in that group.

If Feng Dabao had really thrown that punch, the consequences would certainly not have been pleasant.

Recalling the chilling sensation on the back of his neck when those people looked at him, Zhu Qinghu also found the source of his intuitive warning.

To have such a group of people following them, accompanied by Ministry of Rites officials, it seemed they were no small figures.

But in Bianjing, they shouldn't dare to do anything.

After thinking it over,

Zhu Qinghu thought of the music from last night.

"A piece of music about a father might be worth a listen."

The next day,

Di Jing was transferred to the left shift in front of the palace, becoming an imperial guard.

On the fourth day, Di Jing was on leave and specifically came to the Marquis's residence to thank the mistress, Sun Shi.

According to what was heard, it was said that although Di Jing entered the imperial guard in the morning, because his background was neither noble nor official, and he had tattoos on his face, he was ostracized and assigned ten days of night patrol.

It was assumed he couldn't stir up any trouble.

The night in the dead of winter was bone-chillingly cold, and no one wanted to go out on patrol.

However, in the afternoon, a common rabbit fur scarf was bestowed from the palace, delivered to him by a small eunuch from the Empress's palace.

As a result, when Di Jing was preparing to go on duty in the evening, he was dragged away to drink by his immediate superior, and someone else was sent instead.

Di Jing was not a fool; how could the palace bestow things on a nobody like him for no reason?

After treating people to drinks and inquiring, Di Jing learned that it was because he was a personal guard of the Marquis Yongyi, and the Empress's Cao family was on good terms with the natal family of the Marquis's mistress, Sun Shi.

He believed it was a blessing from Sun Shi, so he came specifically to thank her.

It was said that his mother, behind a screen, enjoyed the admiring gazes of her two daughters-in-law, and she accepted Di Jing's kowtow with a smile but said nothing.

"Captain Di, when you return to the team, you must also remember the contribution of the colleague who took your night shift!"

Hearing Sun Shi's exhortation, Di Jing was stunned and bowed again to thank her.

When Di Jing took his leave, he was rewarded with many good things.

(Of course, what the Xu family didn't know was that after returning to the imperial guard, Di Jing took the initiative to take the night shift for the comrade who had helped him with his night shift a few days earlier, whose name was Zhang Huaice.)

All of the above is a retelling by the second elder sister, Anmei, who is currently idle and comes to Xu Zaijing's courtyard to play.

Watching Xu Zaijing put on his cloak, Anmei, who was to the side, said: "Little Five, are you going out?"

"Sister, if you have nothing to do, I have to do my schoolwork."

"Then why are you wearing so much?"

Xu Zaijing opened the door to the study and felt the cold inside. Anmei curled her lips at Xu Zaijing and said: "Little Five, do you still have that pattern of the cute cat?"

"Sister, what do you need it for?"

"The fifth sister of the Duke of Ying's residence wants to embroider a unique cat pattern on the saddle pad of her horse, but she can't find a unique one. Isn't that why she came to me?"

"Is there any benefit?"

"You want benefits from your sister?"

"Then this younger brother has no pattern in mind."

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing was about to walk toward the study.

"Yes! Sister will go and order a rhinoceros horn thumb ring for you!"

"Hiss! Inspiration has come! Qingcao, hurry! Have my sister sign a promissory note, otherwise the inspiration will run away!"

Half a quarter of an hour later, Xu Anmei left Xu Zaijing's courtyard with two pieces of paper, satisfied.

Yichun Lane,

There were several families in the lane who made the best New Year pictures, colored lanterns, and door gods in Bianjing.

You couldn't buy these things at a street stall because these good items had long been reserved by the stewards of the long-standing noble and official families in Bianjing.

Such trivial items were not valuable things,

but in the eyes of those who cared, they were also a display of a residence's heritage.

Therefore, even if they were far away, people still came to order them.

These days, as the end of the year approached, many maids in Bianjing city were sent here to pick up things.

It had just reached the time of *Wei* (after 1:00 PM).

Deep in this Yichun Lane,

at a small courtyard,

Yang Luoyou stood at the courtyard gate:

"Thank you for your trouble."

"Hard work."

"Come again tomorrow."

As she spoke, she placed strings of copper coins into the hands of the musicians. Most of the departing musicians were old and past their prime; after receiving the money, they bowed one after another, thanking her.

After everyone had left, Yang Luoyou looked at the little girl in the courtyard and smiled slightly.

"Let's go, let's go to Pan Lou."

These past few days, with Zhu Qinghu, a viscount of Bianjing, having greeted Pan Lou, when the waiter helped her out of a predicament, he could also say that she was valued by Xie Zijue Zhu.

Zhu Qinghu was not an extravagant figure,

but in the eyes of those squires and merchants, he still had some deterrent power.

Although there were still not many people listening to her play, it saved her a lot of trouble.

Because this top performer's music was an ensemble of multiple instruments, Zhu Qinghu also gave her some silver, hoping to hear the "Trap-Breaking Tune" she composed as soon as possible.

As Yang Luoyou held her *pipa* and the little girl went out the door, turning back to lock the courtyard gate, a voice came:

"Madam Yang, are you going to Pan Lou?"

Yang Luoyou hurriedly turned around, and after clearly seeing who it was, she bowed and said: "I have seen Xie Zijue Zhu. Yes, I am just on my way."

"Then, let's go together."

As he spoke, Zhu Qinghu dismounted from his horse, led the horse, and walked toward the outside of the lane with Yang Luoyou.

After walking a few steps, Zhu Qinghu looked at the little girl who was following closely and smiled, saying: "Little Zhiyue, come, let me carry you onto the horse's back."

Hearing this, the little girl looked at Yang Luoyou with longing.

"This—this, how can that be?"

"Madam Yang, you composed a piece of music just after hearing about my father and me. Such high righteousness, what harm is there in letting your beloved disciple sit on a horse?"

Yang Luoyou looked at her sensible disciple and the rare pleading look in her eyes, and Yang Luoyou nodded with a smile.

The little girl hurriedly went around to Zhu Qinghu's side, and then she was lifted onto the horse's back by him.

"Madam Yang, regarding that skirmish, I forgot to tell you about one person that day; his name is Liu Xiao..."

As they spoke, the three of them and the horse walked, gradually reaching a place no more than a few dozen *zhang* away from the entrance of the lane.

This happened to be the entrance to those families making colored lanterns and New Year pictures.

Seeing such a strong man and a big horse, the maids and servants who came to pick up things from those families hurriedly gave way.

Among the crowd passing by, a maid took a look at Zhu Qinghu, a flash of surprise in her eyes, and then she stopped, hesitated slightly, and turned to follow them.

At the entrance of the lane, Yang Luoyou looked at her disciple and said: "Zhiyue, get down, Xie Zijue Zhu is leaving."

The little girl on the horse's back nodded with a smile.

After Zhu Qinghu lifted the little girl down, he reached into his bosom, placed a silver note into Yang Luoyou's hand, and said: "This is for future expenses, please accept it."

Yang Luoyou bowed and said: "I—then I will accept it, and I will definitely give the Xie Zijue a good result."

"Madam Yang has also worked hard, then I will take my leave."

After speaking, Zhu Qinghu mounted his horse and left the place.

The maid who had just followed turned and entered the lane,

came to the entrance of the New Year picture shop, and asked in a low voice. They were all neighbors, so they naturally knew what Yang Luoyou did.

"Plays the *pipa*."

"Had a child the year of the war with Bai Gao and Northern Liao."

"Serves people with her beauty."

"Sings at Pan Lou."

The maid kept these in mind, and after picking up the items reserved by the steward of her family, she returned to the residence.

The Sun family at the West Water Gate,

which was Xu Zaijing's maternal grandmother's home. As the Marquis Yongyi's residence became more and more prosperous, the status of the Sun family's children, whether in Bianjing or the Western Army, had become much higher.

With the Xu family's cotton and corn seeds, the value of the produce from the Sun family's farms was also many times higher than when they grew grain before.

Therefore, the Sun family had also bought many maids over the years.

The maid who appeared in Yichun Lane was currently speaking in front of a mistress of the Sun family:

"This servant saw clearly, it is the nephew of our family's aunt, the Xie Zijue surnamed Zhu, who married the Miss Ni who teaches our family's young ladies how to read."

"You are also a clever one. I know about this matter; you must not spread it! Go out first!"

"Yes."

This mistress sat in the room, pondered for a while, and then got up and walked out.

When she arrived at her mother-in-law's room, two sisters-in-law happened to be talking happily with the mother-in-law.

The Sun family's matriarch, Sun Gu Shi, although not young, lived even more comfortably as she watched the Sun family's days go by in full swing.

The old lady sat on the *Luo Han* chair, looked at the daughter-in-law who came in with a worried look, and asked with a smile: "Seventh Son's wife, what's the matter?"

This mistress looked at her sisters-in-law and told them what she had heard from the maid.

"Mother-in-law, sister-in-law, neither our family nor the Marquis's residence has any outside mistresses. Miss Ni is still teaching our young ladies how to read in our house! This Young Master Zhu is also under the Marquis's command, so should we..."

Old Madam Sun asked: "Judging by what your maid meant, that Young Master Zhu already has a child?"

"Yes. It is estimated that he had it when he first came to Bianjing."

One of Sun Shi's sisters-in-law said: "This, I haven't heard of it!"

Old Madam Sun frowned and said:

"Go to the Marquis's residence, tell the Tenth Da Niangzi, the Marquis Xu is currently in his prime, she must know about this kind of thing!"

The time of *Shen* had passed (after 5:00 PM).

Three carriages of the Sun family arrived at Quyuan Street.

The steward at the entrance of the Xu residence was so frightened by seeing so many Sun family members that he shuddered, thinking that something bad had happened to the Sun family.

Soon, six daughters-in-law of the Sun family got off the carriages angrily at the second gate and entered the mistress's courtyard.

Sun Shi's maid hurriedly served tea.

Listening to her sisters-in-law from her natal family talking one after another,

seven women, chattering away, Anmei, who was to the side, was overwhelmed and listened in a daze.

"It's a singer."

"Rented courtyard."

"The child is not small."

"It's a girl!"

"It's definitely his."

"They were even carrying her on the horse's back to play, how could it not be his?"

"Truly."

"Plays the *pipa*!"

Sun Shi's expression became stern.

"Slap!"

Sun Shi patted the table: "This brat! The Marquis and I knew nothing! He actually already has a child!"

Anmei, who was holding a cat to the side, didn't dare to speak loudly and could only touch the cat's head and whisper: "Cousin doesn't look like that kind of person!"

"Tenth Da Niangzi, then why don't you let the Marquis reprimand him?"

Sun Shi frowned and sighed: "The child is already born, what's the use of reprimanding? Now let's go and see together. If this woman has improper intentions, we must support Miss Ni!"

"In the past, the old Xie Zijue Zhu was not bad to our Sun family's boys, his bloodline cannot be left outside."

"Right! If her intentions are improper, we will leave the daughter and get rid of the mother!"

"Tenth Da Niangzi, that woman performs at Pan Lou from afternoon to evening, so close to Qiyun Tower, it's not easy for us to go... How about tomorrow?"

Sun Shi pondered for a while and said: "Good! Tomorrow it is!"

Looking at the sky, Sun Shi said again: "Sisters-in-law, why don't you have dinner at home today?"

"No need, we are going home, we still have to report back to Mother!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 200 =====