Chapter 202: Wind, snow, and seeking advice [Thanks to everyone for your support! Bow again]

A group of Bai Gao Kingdom warriors guarded a sedan chair,

walking outside this Xuande Gate, on the streets of Bianjing in the dead of winter.

Looking at the wide and lively market,

one of the Bai Gao Kingdom warriors rubbed his nose,

sniffed and coughed,

*Ptooey! *

Watching the passersby hurriedly dodge and the dissatisfied glares from the Street Department soldiers by the roadside, this Bai Gao Kingdom warrior smiled disdainfully.

At this time, someone said in the Bai Gao language:

"Boming, this is the Great Zhou, you still need to restrain yourself!"

"Pfft, is there anyone in this Great Zhou who dares to bare their teeth at me? Suoshan, your Jianing Army Division was beaten miserably by the Great Zhou, don't think..."

"Hmm?"

Hearing the voice from the sedan chair, the Bai Gao Kingdom warrior hurriedly shut his mouth.

He had let it slip; the previous war had been stirred up by the aunt and father of the noble young master behind him.

Silent all the way, the group continued to walk on the bustling street and soon arrived at the Bai Gao Hostel.

The guarding warriors dispersed to their respective barracks. Liang Yiren, the noble young master of the Bai Gao Kingdom who had stepped out of the sedan chair, also entered the hostel, followed by a fourteen or fifteen-year-old Bai Gao Kingdom attendant.

Inside the hostel,

seeing the two brothers standing in the corridor, Liang Yiren nodded slightly.

Li Taotie and Li Chimei nodded back.

As Liang Yiren entered the room and the attendant behind followed, the two Li brothers bowed solemnly with their hands on their chests and heads lowered.

Sun Shi had caused a misunderstanding in Yichun Lane, and after returning to the Xu residence, she explained the matter to Xu Minghua in the evening.

During their walk after dinner,

after Xu Minghua learned the ins and outs of the matter, he also sighed with emotion:

"We, as relatives, didn't think of composing a piece of music for Brother-in-law, but that Madam Yang thought of it."

"This kind of music, if forced to be composed, is not from the heart and cannot move people; instead, it falls into the lower tier."

"Madam is right. Madam Yang is so righteous, we should send some more charcoal; smelling the air, it should be snowing soon."

"Yes, from morning until now, the sky hasn't cleared up."

The second day.

Still waking up early,

Xu Zaijing wore his cloak, and Qingcao wore her cape.

The master and servant walked out of the bedroom door and stood in the corridor.

In the light of the lanterns,

watching the snowflakes falling like goose feathers,

on the ground near the door of the room by the corridor, snowflakes had been blown there and had already melted, soaking the ground.

"Young Master, use an umbrella!" said the nanny outside.

"No need."

"Hoo!" Xu Zaijing exhaled a puff of white air and walked toward the horse racing track.

Qingcao hurriedly followed.

*Crunch. *

*Crunch. *

Walking on the snow,

before they even reached the horse racing track, the master and servant were already covered in quite a few snowflakes.

The two rows of footprints behind them were also quickly covered by snowflakes.

Arriving at the horse racing track, Qingyun was standing under the lantern at the door of the small hut with an umbrella.

"Young Master, why didn't you use an umbrella!"

As he spoke, Qingyun held the umbrella and greeted Xu Zaijing.

"It's fine, with the cloak on, the snow won't soak through."

Xu Zaijing walked to the door of the small hut, opened the door, and took a look inside. His master was wearing clothes, squinting his eyes, and resting on the bed.

Qingcao also took off the hood of her cape, took her master's cloak, patted it a few times, and entered the small hut.

Qingyun put down the umbrella and walked into the utility room next to the small hut, which mostly contained things used by the master and servant.

Xu Zaijing walked into his master's room, picked up the wine gourd beside him, shook it, and then walked out satisfied.

He came to the door and took a small sip of strong wine to keep out the cold.

Qingyun also walked out and handed over a deer-skin felt hat.

"Here."

Qingyun took the wine gourd and also took a sip, saying: "Young Master, what are we practicing today?"

Xu Zaijing put on the felt hat, walked to the weapon rack, and said:

"In this kind of windy and snowy weather! Practice the spear!"

As he spoke, he picked up the long spear and walked to the open space of the horse racing track.

After warming up, Xu Zaijing began to drill.

"Whoo!"

"Whoo-whoo!"

Listening to the sharp whistling sound made by the spear shaft swinging in the wind in the field, Qingyun's eyes twitched. He knew the power of this whistling sound best.

After a while, Xu Zaijing walked over, shaking his head.

"Young Master?"

"I always feel like something is missing! Go, call them over."

Hearing this, Qingyun hurriedly walked toward the personal guards' side room.

"Right! And..."

After listening to Xu Zaijing's instructions, Qingyun nodded.

Inside the personal guards' side room,

Feng Dabao and the others were woken up by Qingyun.

The personal guards were putting on their clothes.

Ye Fang said: "In such a snowy day, the Young Master is also drilling?"

"Yes."

Soon, just as everyone was about to go out, Qingyun hurriedly said: "The Young Master is practicing with the long spear today, saying everyone should wear bamboo hats, put on straw rain capes, and it's best to use long-handled *pudao*!"

Feng Dabao said: "The Young Master really cares about us."

The personal guards to the side all nodded.

"The Young Master is considerate!"

"The Young Master is benevolent!"

"There's no such good opponent in the camp!"

Everyone put on their bamboo hats and straw rain capes.

When the personal guards arrived at the edge of the horse racing track, they heard the sharp whistling of the spear shaft in the wind and snow from afar!

Under the eaves of the small hut to the side, there was also a charcoal brazier that had just been lit.

By the time the personal guards arrived at the edge of the field in their dark shadows,

Xu Zaijing let out a long whistle in the field:

"Just in time! Come together!"

Two quarters of an hour later,

the personal guards were leaning on their long blade handles, panting in the snow.

Xu Zaijing, carrying the red-tasseled long spear, came to their side, patted them on the shoulders, and said: "Rest for half a quarter of an hour, we'll continue."

"Ah? Yes, Young Master!"

After speaking,

Xu Zaijing continued to walk, carrying the long spear.

He came to the charcoal brazier beside the small hut,

looked at the gradually flourishing flames,

"Atmosphere, hmm, atmosphere!"

The forage in the stable definitely couldn't be lit.

Xu Zaijing added a few long wooden strips to the fire and left the place.

Blazing charcoal fire.

The snow-covered ground was slippery.

Soon, the sound of weapons clashing and shouting rang out on the horse racing track again.

After the sky brightened, Xu Zaijing and the personal guards went to the bathhouse one after another.

In the winter of Bianjing, there was a custom of having gatherings and banquets on snowy days.

Therefore, before breakfast,

the gatekeeper sent quite a few invitations to Sun Shi's hands.

In Sun Shi's bedroom, there were only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

The maids were setting up breakfast in the outer room.

Sun Shi sat on the chair, looking at the name cards of each family one by one, while Xie Shi and Sheng Hualan talked beside her.

"Brother Zhang is here."

Hearing the maid's announcement, Sheng Hualan hurriedly stood behind Sun Shi with her head lowered, and Xie Shi also hurriedly sat to the side.

Sun Shi put away her smile and became serious.

"Mother, sister-in-law."

After bowing, Zaizhang took a pitying look at Sheng Hualan, who was "standing by the rules," and sat quietly on the chair.

"Mother, breakfast is ready!"

Xu Zaijing's voice came from the outer room.

Everyone took their seats, and before they could pick up their chopsticks, Xu Zaijing said: "Mother, today I want to go to Brother Ye's house."

"What's wrong?"

Xu Zaijing looked at Sun Shi with a smile and said: "This child has something to ask Brother-in-law."

"Go."

Zaizhang, who was to the side, said: "Mother, son also wants to be with Hua..."

Looking at Sun Shi's gaze, Zaizhang stopped talking.

"Hmph!"

Sun Shi snorted, and Sheng Hualan cooperated by lowering her head and tugging at her handkerchief.

"Pfft."

Anmei at the table laughed, attracting the gaze of her mother and brother, although the meanings were different.

One was afraid she would reveal the truth, the other was angry that she was laughing at her sister-in-law.

After the meal, Xu Zaijing and his sister left directly.

Zaizhang took a pitying look at Sheng Hualan and also lifted the curtain and walked out.

In the room, Xie Shi walked to the door and looked out. After confirming that Zaizhang had walked far away, she nodded. Sun Shi hurriedly rubbed her face, and Sheng Hualan also sat down on the chair with a thud. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law smiled helplessly.

On the way to the Gu family,

it was no longer snowflakes falling, but fine, hard snow particles.

The snow particles hit the carriage box with a *patter*.

Xu Zaijing was riding a horse, followed by Qingyun driving the carriage, and Anmei, Ye'er, and Qingcao sitting in the carriage.

Qingcao also carried a not-so-small shoulder bag on her back.

The snow on Quyuan Street had long been swept clean.

On the way to Xingguo Lane, there were also soldiers from the Street Department or hired idlers helping to sweep the snow.

The time of *Si* (around 9:00 AM).

Passing by the Duke of Qi's residence, the steward at the gate was distributing rewards to the small servants and maids who were sweeping the snow. Seeing the magnificent horse,

after taking a closer look, he hurriedly bowed to Xu Zaijing on the road: "I have seen Brother Jing. Are you going to the Marquis's residence?"

"Steward, you are polite. Yes."

Qingyun, who was driving the carriage, also nodded to the steward.

After entering the Marquis Lady Ningyuan's residence, at the second gate, Qingyun and the Gu family's servants went to arrange the carriages and horses.

The three Gu Tingyu siblings were already standing at the door.

After some pleasantries, everyone entered the front hall of the Bai family mistress's courtyard. Xu Zaijing then discovered that the mistresses of the fourth and fifth branches of the Gu family were also there:

"Aunt, may you be well. Two aunts, may you be well."

Anmei followed behind and bowed.

The two mistresses looked at Bai Shi and nodded embarrassedly.

"Brother Jing, come, let me see."

Bai Shi, who was becoming more and more dignified, beckoned to Xu Zaijing with a face full of smiles and affection. After he walked closer, she said:

"You've lost weight. You're becoming more and more like a big boy."

"Hehehe, studying makes people old."

Gu Tingye to the side nodded in agreement.

Bai Shi smiled and pointed at Xu Zaijing: "Go, your brother-in-law is on leave today, and he is in the courtyard with your sister."

"Then Aunt and Aunts, please be busy, nephew will go first."

A group of people retreated. Bai Shi put away her smile and continued to talk about things with the fourth and fifth branches with a straight face.

On the way to the Fuyao Courtyard, Xu Zaijing asked casually: "Brother Ye, how much of your schoolwork have you done?"

"Schoolwork? There are still so many days until the Lantern Festival, it's not too late to do it after the New Year."

Xu Zaijing sighed. His family's schoolwork was half more than others'! Who told him that at that time...

Arriving at the door of the Fuyao Courtyard, Qingzhi, who was waiting there, bowed and shouted into the room: "Mistress, everyone is here."

Inside the room, Qingxia smiled and lifted the cotton curtain, and everyone filed in.

Qingcao and Qingzhi followed behind, looked at each other and smiled, and held hands.

After calling everyone sister-in-law and sister, Xu Zaijing looked at his eldest sister.

The child was healthy, the husband's official career was smooth, and the mother-in-law was tolerant,

making her look even better than when the child was a month old, with smiles in her eyebrows and eyes, obviously having no worries.

Soon, the nanny carried the child out; the little boy in the swaddling clothes was sleeping soundly.

After saying a few words with a smile, Gu Tingyu also came into the room.

"I was just dealing with official business, Brother Jing, Sister An, sit down."

"Brother-in-law, I'm here to seek advice..."

"Little Five, go to your brother-in-law's study to chat, I'll chat with my sisters here."

Gu Tingyu smiled and waved his hand: "Let's go."

Seeing Xu Zaijing come out, Qingcao, who was chatting with Qingzhi, hurriedly handed him the shoulder bag.

As they spoke, the three of them came to Gu Tingyu's study. Xu Zaijing stated the reason for his visit this time:

Asking Gu Tingyu to help look at his schoolwork and see how it was written.

After all, having such a brother-in-law who was almost in the top three in the country, seeking advice more often was definitely not wrong.

Looking at the thick stack of schoolwork Xu Zaijing took out, Gu Tingyu nodded with satisfaction and then looked at Gu Tingye.

Taking advantage of the time Gu Tingyu was reading his article, Xu Zaijing looked around the study and saw the embroidered painting hanging on the wall.

Although Xu Zaijing spent a long time doing his schoolwork, Gu Tingyu read it very quickly, and the vermilion brush in his hand never stopped.

After correcting it, Gu Tingyu told Xu Zaijing about his strengths and weaknesses again, and Xu Zaijing hurriedly wrote them down.

After the guidance was finished, Gu Tingyu said:

"Looking at your schoolwork, the county examination should be easy."

"Hehehe!"

"But, don't be slack."

"Yes, Brother-in-law. By the way, I heard from Father that you are now in the Ministry of War?"

"Yes, I was appointed as a seventh-grade Vice Director of the Bureau of Operations."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

This was the energy of the long-standing noble Marquis Lady Ningyuan's residence, and also the result of Gu Tingyu's own efforts.

The Vice Director of the Bureau of Operations was a deputy official under the Ministry of War, and together with the Director of the Bureau of Operations, they were in charge of the Great Zhou's national maps, city gods, garrisons, and beacon towers.

Don't forget, Gu Tingyu was a *jinshi* this year, skipping the candidate step and being appointed to a position in the Ministry of War, one of the Six Ministries.

And this was just the first step in his official career.

Gu Tingyu looked at his brother-in-law who was nodding and said nothing. According to some news his father Gu Yankai had inquired about before, he was able to get this position because the palace directly sent a note to the Ministry of Personnel.

That note was sent to the Gu family together with the appointment letter and was now being clipped in a book.

He had carefully looked at this note, and there was a tiny, extremely inconspicuous fingerprint on the back.

Combined with what his own mistress had told him before: "Our Little Five has received quite a few rewards from the Empress,"

and the only imperial prince was born to the Empress,

so it was hard for Gu Tingyu not to guess whether his position was drawn by that imperial prince in the Emperor's hands.

Xu Zaijing didn't know these things at the moment. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him: "Brother-in-law, are the current maps accurate?"

Gu Tingyu nodded and said: "In the Han Dynasty, there were distance-recording drum carts, and in the Jin Dynasty, there were *dazhang* carts, which beat drums every mile and gongs every ten miles to measure distance and then calculate squares."

Looking at Xu Zaijing's curious eyes, Gu Tingyu continued: "The sage Pei Xiu of the Jin Dynasty established the 'Six Principles of Mapmaking,' and the scholar Jia Dan of the previous dynasty created the ink-vermilion distinction, so the maps are still accurate."

"'Six Principles of Mapmaking'?"

Gu Tingyu explained again, and Xu Zaijing summarized it: Ancient maps not only had scales but also grid squares that looked like latitude and longitude.

They were certainly not as accurate and detailed as modern maps, but they were definitely not as crude as a few mountains and cities drawn casually on a blank sheet of paper.

Xu Zaijing sighed secretly: "Sigh! My smart ancestors! What's wrong with letting me show off!"

At this time, the study door was opened, and Pingmei said with a smile:

"Husband, just now Cui Cui Mama Chang came to pass a message, Mother said Brother Jing ate too much, so she won't provide dinner, let him eat in our courtyard."

Xu Zaijing: "..."

Duke of Qi's residence.

It was snowing today.

At noon, relatives from the Qi family's eldest branch came, and Princess Pingning came over to talk and entertain the guests.

If it were before, Princess Pingning would at most show her face to express herself and then return, but now it wouldn't do.

Because the Duke position of her own husband, Duke Qi Yiqiu, was voluntarily yielded by her elder brother.

As a beneficiary, she had to take good care of her brother, sister-in-law, and nephew. If she was not careful, she would easily be criticized and get a reputation for being ungrateful, so Princess Pingning was very attentive to her sister-in-law's affairs.

Moreover, the relatives were the two sisters-in-law and nieces of her sister-in-law's natal Xue family, not some fallen families. Their ancestors had produced empresses and great generals, and they were considered old-fashioned nobles in Bianjing.

Princess Pingning talked to the mistresses of the Xue family with a smile on her face.

"I hope my Brother Heng can have half the ability of his Uncle Yu, then I will be satisfied."

"What the Princess says is true. Thinking back then, I didn't have the heart to let my brother study hard, and as a result, now! Sigh!" said the eldest sister-in-law of the Xue family.

Princess Pingning replied melancholically:

"Who says it isn't? I also feel heartache every day, wishing I could get up early to study for Brother Heng."

"By the way, speaking of Brother Yu, I do remember one thing."

"Oh?"

Looking at Princess Pingning's curious look, the second sister-in-law of the Xue family continued: "The Xu family of Marquis Yongyi and the Sun family of West Water Gate seem to be going to catch an outside mistress!"

"Ah? No way? Where did you hear that?"

"Hey! The servants in the family went to Yichun Lane to pick up things, but were blocked by the strong women in the carriages. One look at the formation and they knew what they were doing. When they wanted to ask them to make way, before the words came out, they heard them reporting their family name inside."

After the second sister-in-law of the Xue family finished speaking, she whispered again: "You say, whose outside mistress is this? Could it be Marquis Xu? This is too inexperienced, how could they report their family name at the door! They deserve to be beaten..."

"Cough, cough."

The eldest mistress of the Qi family gave a hint, and the second sister-in-law of the Xue family shut her mouth embarrassedly.

Princess Pingning hurriedly pretended not to hear the information that the Xue family was used to catching outside mistresses, frowned, and said: "Ah? This, it's hard to say..."

The eldest sister-in-law of the Xue family also hurriedly said: "By the way, why don't we let the children of our two families meet, so that when they meet outside in the future, they will know they are relatives."

Princess Pingning raised her handkerchief to cover the corner of her mouth and said: "What a coincidence! This morning, Brother Heng heard that his classmates went to the neighboring Marquis Lady Ningyuan's residence, so he went over to exchange learning insights."

The two mistresses of the Xue family responded with disappointment.

After eating his fill in the Fuyao Courtyard,

Gu Tingyu was influenced by Xu Zaijing's way of eating, and he also ate a little more.

After the meal,

Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye were sitting in the study. When Gu Tingyu continued to give them pointers on their studies, Pingmei walked in with quick steps:

"Little Five, you and Anmei go back first. Someone from the house came, saying that Cousin Zhu got into a fight with the warriors of the Bai Gao Kingdom envoy group because of a woman!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 203 =====