Chapter 21: Supremely Auspicious [Thank You to Readers for Your Monthly Votes and Recommendations]

The Yongyi Marquis House was an old-established noble family of the Great Zhou Dynasty; its founding Marquis had contributed the feat of conquering a kingdom, but after several generations, there were no worthy successors, and the house had somewhat declined.

It could not compare with powerful noble houses like the Duke House or the Ningyuan Marquis House.

Many years ago, much of the Jingzhong Marquis House’s elite had followed Xu Zaijing’s aunt.

Yet the Marquis House’s properties in Bianjing were undeniably real.

In this land where every inch was worth its weight in gold, the Yongyi Marquis House possessed not only a training ground but also a vast riding field.

Xu Zaijing looked at this riding field, as large as a football field from his past life,

and for some reason, suddenly imagined that Sheng Laofu, the central figure of this world’s story,

perhaps when she was about the same age as he was now,

had galloped freely across this very field, playing polo with youthful abandon!

“Snap!”

Ouch! Pain!

The groom had whipped Xu Zaijing’s buttocks with a horsewhip.

“What are you daydreaming about? Get used to these bows and pick the one that feels best to you.”

“Yes, Master,” Xu Zaijing bowed.

Just as he was about to move, the groom pulled him back and slipped a leather thumb ring onto his right hand.

Arriving at the ground where five bows were laid out, the groom’s eye twitched as he watched Xu Zaijing casually draw a bow that even a grown man would struggle to pull open.

His expression seemed remarkably easy.

Had Xu Zaijing been older and his arms longer, the groom felt he could have drawn the bow fully taut.

“Enough testing. These bows are unworthy of you. Let’s begin teaching you riding skills first.”

“Yes, Master.”

Xu Zaijing happily walked over to his small horse.

Behind him, the young servant Qingyun curiously approached the bows, picked the smallest-looking one, summoned his strength—and to his surprise, pulled it open.

Qingyun was pleased, then released his grip.

“Oh no!”

The groom turned and saw his nephew’s thumb, bare of a thumb ring, had already been scraped raw by the bowstring, blood about to well.

During breaks from reading or needlework, Xu Zaijing’s older siblings often came to the riding field.

Sun Shi had prepared saddles and bridles for her two daughters.

So they would ride gentle old horses for leisurely rides.

Xu Zaiduan and Xu Zaizhang would practice archery, learn self-defense techniques, and occasionally ride as well.

After witnessing her youngest son’s talent, Sun Shi repeatedly emphasized to her older children not to speak of it outside the family.

As for the affairs of the Sun family, they were treated as children’s play; as family, the four siblings had directly witnessed Xu Zaijing’s unusual nature.

The groom and Qingyun were trusted servants of the Marquis House, but Sun Shi had specifically warned them as well.

Some secrets were better known by fewer people.

A Daoist emerged from the Yuxing Temple outside the city.

Behind him were the sitting Daoists of Yuxing Temple.

These sitting Daoists interpreted dreams, deciphered oracles, and foretold fortune and misfortune; now they gazed at the man ahead with utter reverence.

The man ahead was surnamed Yuan, from Yangzhou.

He turned and bowed: “Fellow Daoist, farewell.”

“We respectfully see you off, Dao Brother.”

Master Yuan boarded a carriage; inside, his fingers moved continuously. As the carriage neared the city, he opened his eyes, filled with confusion.

These days, Bai Wanshu no longer stayed at the Marquis House but resided in the Bai family’s residence in Bianjing.

The mansion was large, yet due to its owner’s long absence, signs of daily life were sparse.

A servant announced that Master Yuan had arrived.

Bai Wanshu invited Master Yuan inside.

Servants set out tea utensils; Bai Wanshu waved his hand, and they all withdrew from the courtyard.

Inside the room,

“Old friend, have you uncovered anything?”

Master Yuan’s expression had returned to normal, but his hair was damp. He sipped tea and spoke slowly:

“I spoke with the Daoists of Yuxing Temple and investigated events before and after my divination—and uncovered one thing.”

“Related to my niece?”

“The Yongyi Marquis House, Xu family, spent considerable offerings to have the sitting Daoist deliver several oracles.”

Master Yuan paused, then said, “I calculated it, and—”

Bai Wanshu’s eyes lit with curiosity: “What?”

“It was a chaos of confusion, no clarity—but on my way back, my carriage was struck by a mad ox and plunged into the river. Luckily, I can swim, or else—”

Master Yuan sighed: “I fear I’ll never dare to divine again.”

“Our friendship has nearly cost you your life.”

“Your niece was raised before my eyes; she nearly lost her life, and I feel deep guilt.”

“Then is it the Yongyi Marquis House that enabled my niece to survive this great calamity?”

“I don’t know for certain, but it’s close.”

“Good, at least we have a lead. By the way, do you recall when my niece married, you divined the fortune of a sea vessel setting sail?”

“You mean the one marked ‘Supremely Auspicious’? What happened to that ship? Did it sink?”

“No, that ship fared excellently. Today we received word from Yangzhou—it has docked.”

“The last ‘Supremely Auspicious’ ship was the one that launched my fortune. Now that this one has docked, my old comrades say everything is normal.”

“But it brought back only a few exotic beasts—hardly worthy of your ‘Supremely Auspicious’ omen.”

“Then perhaps we should invite someone from the Xu family to visit. Who knows?”

“Reasonable.”

The sun rose and set, time flowed on.

On this day, four carriages arrived at the Yongyi Marquis House gate, their rain covers caked with dust.

Sun Shi looked at the middle-aged steward in the hall; his sister was Xu Zaijing’s wet nurse, Cui Niangzi—she was familiar.

Sun Shi: “Steward, you’ve been with the Marquis House since the beginning. My sister sent these from afar—please thank her on my behalf.”

“Yes, Lady. The Old Lady also asked me to convey her thanks to your Sun family relatives.”

“Xiao Zhu, go to the back courtyard and call Cui Niangzi to join the steward for wine and to welcome him.”

“Thank you, Lady.”

A banquet was arranged in the house, with several elder servants invited.

As Xu Zaijing’s wet nurse, Cui Niangzi held high status in the house; sitting with the elders, no one objected.

The steward, who had traveled from Quanzhou to Jinling and then to Bianjing, was overjoyed to see his long-absent sister and expressed his concern.

As they spoke, the house erupted in chaos; when they stopped a maid to ask, they learned the palace had sent imperial gifts.

The reason: the northwest armies had repelled a large-scale invasion by Li’s Baigao Kingdom along the Zhou border, slaying over two thousand enemies—a modest but notable victory.

Within the northwest armies, the Cao family held deep influence; as an allied house, Xu Minghua had shared in the spoils, his name appearing on the battle report.

The middle-aged eunuch who delivered the edict finished reading the imperial commendation and turned to Sun Shi and the other Xu family members: “Rise, all of you. Lady, may I have a word with you privately?”

Sun Shi rose, waved to her maids Xiao Zhu and Xiao Dan, and followed the senior eunuch behind the screen in the hall.

A seven- or eight-year-old eunuch followed, carrying a box.

“Qingyun, open the box.”

“Yes.”

“Lady, this was specially ordered by the Empress for you.”

Sun Shi glanced inside and saw an exquisitely carved hairpin.

A single prong is a hairpin; multiple prongs are a hairpin set.

Inside the box was a gold-leaf jade cicada hairpin: golden leaves held a jade cicada, carved from the finest jade.

The jade cicada was masterfully carved, lifelike and vivid.

“Thank you, Empress!”

Sun Shi was about to kneel in thanks when the senior eunuch gently held her up.

“Lady, this gift is for your son Jingge. No need for such formalities.”

Sun Shi was accustomed to her youngest son receiving gifts from elders—whether from Wu Niangzi or Princess Pingning, all had remarked on his great fortune.

Both had seen their wishes fulfilled.

Sun Shi’s mind turned, her eyes filled with astonishment; she hurriedly said:

“Is the Empress—”

“Lady, understand in your heart. Say nothing more.”

“Yes, thank you, eunuch, for the reminder.”

“The Empress also instructed that if you have time, you may visit the palace with several of the Cao family.”

“Yes, thank you, eunuch.”

"Madam is too modest; then, I shall take my leave."

"The eunuch, please go slowly."

Saying this, she saw the senior eunuch out the door; before he boarded his palanquin, Xiao Zhu placed a sachet into his hand.

He did not refuse it, but once the procession had moved away, the young eunuch named Qingyun returned the sachet.

This confirmed for Sun Shi that the Empress in the palace was most likely with child.

Readers who tipped have already been kissed flat by me (づ￣3￣)づ╭～

Readers who tipped have already been kissed flat by me (づ￣3￣)づ╭～

Thank you very much to all readers for your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets!

Deeply grateful.

Bowing again!

If you find any typos, please kindly point them out.

If any passages are awkward, please let me know.

(`) sending heart





(End of chapter)