Chapter 213: Everyone after school starts [A thousand thanks for everyone's support

"Sister Hualan!"

Minglan's eyes lit up suddenly. While calling out happily, she walked to Hualan's side. Little Xiaotao beside Minglan, who had felt it was a pity that her mistress didn't want the lantern Qi Heng wanted to give, now just followed Minglan and giggled.

Rulan beside her looked happily at the cricket lantern in her hand. After hearing Minglan call someone, she also leaned to the side of her own eldest sister.

Hualan looked at the three Lans and said:

"I saw that the lanterns outside the palace gate were exceptionally beautiful, so I specially bought a few more, intending to send someone to deliver them to you."

As Hualan spoke, Cuichan behind her took the other two lanterns from the servants beside her.

Looking at the three Lans who were happily holding the lanterns with glowing eyes, Qi Heng beside them smiled and took an extra look at Minglan, who had just said she was afraid of fire and didn't want a lantern.

At this time, Xu Zaizhang came to Hualan's side, followed by Xu Zaijing.

Seeing two classmates from the study, Qi Heng politely called them.

Princess Pingning, who had been talking to Wang Shi just now, had already prepared to leave when Qi Heng wanted to give the lanterns,

but because of the arrival of the Xu family, the Princess gave up the idea.

Thus, the Sheng family young men, the four Lans, Qi Heng, Xu Zaijing, and others were at the front,

Princess Pingning and the madams of the Sheng and Xu families were in the middle,

and the masters of the three families, including Xu Minghua, with the young men, were at the back.

The three families walked together on this prosperous and crowded road.

"By the way, Madam, has the matter of Xu Hou's selection been decided?"

Hearing Princess Pingning's question, Madam Sun felt a slight surprise in her heart and said, "The Princess is right. We just received His Majesty's decree."

Wang Ruofu looked at the two talking in surprise. She couldn't suppress her curiosity and concern for Hualan, so she took advantage of the gap in the conversation and said, "Madam, what is the Princess talking about?"

Madam Sun opened her mouth to speak, but Princess Pingning patted her arm to signal her to say it:

"Madam Wang, the news hasn't spread yet. It was His Majesty who issued a decree. Because the two countries in the north are not peaceful, he said he wanted to transfer more troops to the west and north. The one responsible for commanding this newly established army will be Xu Hou."

Hearing this, Wang Ruofu blinked, digesting the news.

Behind them, Xu Minghua was also talking to the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi and Sheng Hong.

He also knew about the Emperor's decree not long ago, and in his heart, he had both worry about the complicated affairs to come and longing for the family's future.

If things went smoothly and he could make contributions, then in the west and north of the Great Zhou, the Xu family of the Marquis of Yongyi might become a military force slightly inferior to the Cao and Zhang families, but capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the Gu family.

However, the newly established army had many troops, and the news was bound to be unable to be hidden. In the future, they would also have to take over the defense of a section of the border, and the newly established army would likely be "cared for" by the Bai Gao and Northern Liao nations. One careless move could lead to defeat and death.

It was precisely because he knew these things that Xu Minghua made up his mind that he must choose soldiers according to his own wishes. He would inevitably refuse some requests and offend some nobles.

"In the future, these matters might need the Xiao Xiao Gongye to mediate."

Hearing Xu Minghua's last sentence, Qi Yiqiu said:

"This is a major military and national affair of the Great Zhou. If there are any discrepancies, I will naturally help without hesitation."

"At that time, I will host a banquet and invite the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Ying, the Marquis of Tuoxi, and the Marquis of Ningyuan. At that time, Xiao Xiao Gongye..."

"At that time, I will definitely be there when called."

Sheng Hong, who was beside them, became more and more helpless the more he heard. These things were not something a small official in the Ministry of Personnel like him could know.

"Master Sheng..."

"Xu Hou, please speak."

Sheng family

Shou'an Hall

Sheng Hong sat in a chair, looking down at the Old Madam sitting on the Luo Han bed.

The Old Madam had a serious and solemn face.

Sheng Hong held the tea cup in his hand. He felt more and more the majesty and nobility that had been growing on the Old Madam since she returned to Bianjing.

This feeling was most obvious when he was a child. Born as the only daughter of a Marquis mansion, a top noble in Bianjing, every gesture was full of nobility.

Sheng Hong still remembered when he was a child, after his mother passed away and he was raised by the Old Madam, the Old Madam taught him to burn incense in her spare time.

That tiny, ugly piece of spice was actually worth dozens of times its weight in gold...

And these were just toys for the Old Madam in her spare time.

But later, with the help of the Old Madam, the Sheng family's main branch gradually improved, and Sheng Hong gradually grew up and got used to this wealthy life.

As Sheng Hong grew older and kept passing various imperial examinations, after he passed the metropolitan examination and became a jinshi, this feeling lessened a lot in the Old Madam's incomparably emotional eyes. Later, he married a Wang family daughter, relied on his wife's family's relationship and his own ability to govern one side, and steadily rose in rank.

And the Xu family of the Marquis of Yongyi in Bianjing slowly declined. After Sheng Hong became a jinshi, for many years, he hadn't seen the name of the Xu family of the Marquis of Yongyi on the daily court bulletins more than once or twice.

Slowly, for some reason, he felt that the majesty and nobility of the Old Madam were getting smaller and less.

Until Sheng Hong went against the Old Madam's wishes and took Lin Qinshuang into the house, Sheng Hong, besides listening to the Old Madam's opinions on some major matters,

was actually the real master of the entire Sheng family as a scholar. He also knew that good medicine is bitter to the taste but beneficial to the illness, and loyal words are unpleasant to the ear but beneficial to conduct, but...

Until the things that happened in recent years, the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion, which had improved, began to take the initiative to show favor to the Old Madam, and Sheng Hong gradually saw the luxury of the Bianjing nobles again.

Especially the many things that happened in Yang Zhou, the Sheng family's face that he valued most was almost trampled on the ground, and his eldest daughter was almost sent into a tiger's den. It was also because of the Old Madam's relationship that he not only didn't suffer setbacks in the turmoil of Yang Zhou Prefecture but was promoted to Bianjing.

Being able to enter the Ministry of Personnel, his wife's family's relationship was one aspect, but it couldn't be said that the Xu family didn't contribute. Sometimes, competitors knew that Sheng Hong had such a layer of relationship and a powerful god standing behind him, so they didn't fight for it.

Plus, Madam Sun of the Marquis mansion was so good to Hualan, and the Old Madam's reason for this was not small.

So during this period, Sheng Hong became more and more respectful to the Old Madam.

"Sigh!"

The Old Madam frowned and sighed.

"Mother, Cousin Xu's promotion is a happy event, why do you need to sigh..."

The Old Madam looked at the small table on the bed in front of her, on which there was a tortoise shell and a few copper coins, and said earnestly:

"War is dangerous. Although your cousin is promoted, fortune and misfortune depend on each other!"

"Hong'er, the things you told me these days, the internal chaos in the two northern countries, shows that the north will not be peaceful!"

"But, where there is danger, there is opportunity! Find time to send a letter to your cousin. When he has free time, come and see this old woman..."

Sheng Hong hurriedly nodded and said:

"Mother is right, son knows."

The Old Madam said:

"Such a big event, there must be many opportunities for promotion inside. Many people know about our relationship with the Marquis mansion. In case someone asks for help in front of you..."

"The child will naturally inquire carefully and consider carefully."

"Good. In the officialdom, I am still at ease with you. You should pay more attention to the civil official side. If the Xu family can have a good future, it will be no harm to Hua'er and our Sheng family."

"Mother is right."

Watching Sheng Hong leave Shou'an Hall, the Old Madam let out a heavy breath:

"Everything must be fine!"

After speaking, the Old Madam got off the bed and came to the room where Minglan lived.

In the room, the beautiful lantern was still lit by the bed. Coming to the bedside, looking at Minglan who had already fallen asleep and Little Xiaotao who was dozing off, the Old Madam didn't let Nanny Fang wake Xiaotao, but waved her hand slightly and went to the Buddha hall.

Incense smoke curled up.

After the Lantern Festival

The Sheng family study opened again.

In the small courtyard of the lecture hall,

Qi Heng, wearing a cloak, stood at the door talking to Gu Tingye, who had just entered the courtyard:

"Second Uncle, the lanterns last night were very beautiful. Did you buy any?"

Gu Tingye looked at Qi Heng with wooden eyes:

"Ah? Kite? What kite?"

A sentence left Qi Heng not knowing what to say.

Changbai in the lecture hall looked at Gu Tingye's state and shook his head with a smile. Sheng Changfeng, who was sitting in the third row behind Changbai, was in the same state.

Gu Tingye could still stand and talk, but Changfeng was already snoring on the desk.

Xu Zaijing also entered the courtyard at this time and saw Gu Tingye talking to Qi Heng. After patting him, Gu Tingye actually walked forward, making Xu Zaijing look at his own hands suspiciously.

When Gu Tingye turned his head, looking at the dark circles and this listless state, Xu Zaijing knew in his heart: the child stayed up all night to finish his homework.

Everyone took their seats and started the somewhat unfamiliar morning reading, and then there were two snoring sounds in the lecture hall.

After morning reading ended,

Master Zhuang entered the lecture hall leisurely.

Not having seen them for a month, Master Zhuang seemed to have gained some weight.

"In that case, hand in the lessons from these days."

Looking at the different states of everyone in the lecture hall, the master already knew in his heart who had really done it and who had done it in a rush.

Holding the papers handed in by everyone,

the master said: "Changbai, same as before, you three will be tested on recitation."

On the side of the three Lans, Rulan laughed when she saw Changfeng stumbling during the test, but Mo Lan didn't even look at Changfeng.

Suddenly hearing Xu Zaijing testing Qi Heng, Mo Lan pretended to look at Qi Heng unintentionally. During Qi Heng's recitation with ups and downs, Mo Lan nodded constantly.

After finishing the recitation, Qi Heng smiled and whispered: "Thanks to Brother Jing for the reminder."

Xu Zaijing smiled and said: "You haven't put down your books during these days either, right?"

"Mother is checking strictly."

Feeling the gazes of Rulan and Mo Lan, Qi Heng didn't care. Not knowing what he thought of, he looked at Changfeng behind him and glanced at Minglan.

Just now he didn't feel Minglan looking at him.

Sure enough, Minglan was practicing calligraphy intently.

Master Zhuang in front of the lecture hall said at this time:

"Hmm, the Sixth Da Niangzi's calligraphy has improved."

Hearing the master's praise, Minglan hurriedly stood up and returned the salute.

"Fifth Da Niangzi... hmm... also okay."

Rulan stood up with a smile and returned the salute, then looked at her brother Changbai. Changbai thought of Rulan's calligraphy and turned his head to look elsewhere.

"Fourth Da Niangzi, very good."

Mo Lan lifted her chin and returned a gentle salute.

"Changbai, these lessons are very good, with your own insights."

"Zaizhang, the first four topics are unknown, but the latter ones are considered okay."

Looking at Xu Zaijing's thick stack of lessons, Master Zhuang nodded and said:

"Zaijing, not bad. The topic analysis is exquisite and unique. You can start preparing for the prefectural examination."

"Qi Heng, not bad. It can be seen that you have put your heart into it."

"Changfeng, the sentences are incoherent!"

"Tingye, the topic analysis is exquisite, quite like your brother's style, but this... tsk..."

Master Zhuang shook his head.

"The imperial examination is a major event in your life. If you don't take it to heart, you'd better not go to school."

Hearing the master's evaluation, the six young men had different reactions.

The last sentence made Gu Tingye and Sheng Changfeng lower their heads.

Rulan and Mo Lan competed with their own brothers. Rulan won a great victory, and Mo Lan suffered a miserable defeat.

Minglan took a big look at Xu Zaijing and Qi Heng when they were commented on.

Yu family medical clinic,

Yu Huguang stood proudly in front of Zhu Qinghu and his comrades, looking at the fawning expressions on their faces and said:

"What's wrong? You heroes who were shouting and killing me because of the pain before, why are you so smiling today?"

"Hehe..."

"Not at all..."

"Brother Guang, it was the brothers who didn't recognize Mount Tai."

"Drinking and whoring, whatever you want, my salary for this month is Brother Guang's."

Zhu Qinghu also shook his head with a smile, looking at the proud Yu Huguang.

Before, when a conflict occurred with the Bai Gao warriors, Zhu Qinghu's comrades were injured and were treated by Yu Huguang and the orthopedist together.

Yu Huguang was not only ruthless to thieves but even more ruthless to these military men. When treating them, he was scolded quite a bit because of the pain.

But feeling the recovery of their bodies, combined with their previous experiences, these people gradually understood Yu Huguang's superb medical skills.

Looking at them, Yu Huguang smiled slightly and said:

"Good, your kindness is hard to refuse, so let's go have some fun."

Pan Lou,

Private room,

Zhu Qinghu and his comrades felt the "sinister nature of human hearts."

They looked at the delicacies on Yu Huguang's table, then looked at the clear fruits and vegetables in front of them, and everyone looked uncomfortable.

They looked at the beauties from Feiyun Terrace beside Yu Huguang, then looked at the old... oh, they weren't in the Yu family clinic, there were no old nannies serving them medicine,

Zhu Qinghu and the comrades with arms in slings and legs in casts nodded:

'Brother Guang, you're loyal, you're a good person.'

Yu Huguang's wicked smile flashed by.

Injured, avoid alcohol and sex.

Alcohol naturally couldn't be drunk.

Watching Yu Huguang drinking freely with the beauties from Feiyun Terrace,

the few men who loved alcohol swallowed their saliva I don't know how many times.

When the drinking was at its peak, Yu Huguang took the beauties directly into a small room beside the private room.

Listening to the movement of men and women tossing about in the small room, Zhu Qinghu coughed uncomfortably.

A cough made the comrade who went to smell the wine in the private room shrink his head back and lick his lips;

another one whose hand was about to reach into someone's clothes also hurriedly pulled his hand out.

"Brother Hu, I want to beat Brother Guang again..."

"He doesn't even look at what the brothers are like, how could he..."

After two quarters of an hour, Yu Huguang walked out proudly.

The beauty from Feiyun Terrace beside him looked at him with admiration. Zhu Qinghu closed his eyes, turned his head to one side, and whispered, "Thieving bird bastard..."

After everyone was full of food and drink,

they limped downstairs and said goodbye to each other at Pan Lou. A little maid from Feiyun Terrace walked over.

Looking at a group of military men, the little maid bowed softly and took out a purse.

Zhu Qinghu and the others:

Bird!

No justice!

How could she give him money instead!

"Young Master, Qianniang thanks the Young Master for his superb skills, curing her chronic... in just a few times."

Zhu Qinghu and the others looked at Yu Huguang in surprise, shaking their heads: Tsk tsk tsk...

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Yu Huguang coughed a few times.

The little maid didn't understand what was going on and offered the purse, saying:

"Thanks to the Young Master for curing her chronic abdominal pain!"

Yu Huguang took the purse and said, pretending nothing happened: "A disease of the five internal organs, my hands were itching, just a casual act!"

After everyone parted ways, Zhu Qinghu followed Yu Huguang back to the clinic.

"Brother Guang, besides thanking you, I have an uninvited request."

Yu Huguang signaled him to continue. Zhu Qinghu said:

"The Marquis of Yongyi is about to set off for the north. I see that Brother Guang's medical skills are superb, so I want to ask for a few prescriptions for treating internal injuries and bone injuries."

Yu Huguang looked at Zhu Qinghu, his eyes flowing as he said:

"Brother Zhu, how about I go to the army as a medical officer?"

Zhu Qinghu grabbed his hand at once, wanting to say a lot, but finally only said: "If you can come, I will feel at ease."

Yu Huguang smiled.

Di Jing, an imperial guard of the palace who was telling Zhang Huaiying how invincible he was in the Tianwu Army, received an invitation.

The person who sent the invitation was his former superior in the Tianwu Army: Zhu Qinghu.

After the Lantern Festival, more than ten days later,

the Emperor's decree spread.

The various government offices of the Great Zhou court began to move around the Emperor's decree.

Among them, the most important one was Xu Minghua, the Marquis of Yongyi, who was designated by the holy will to command this military force.

The newly established army,

represented countless opportunities for promotion, so all the military nobles in Bianjing moved.

Quyuan Street actually became a bit congested.

Naturally, there were more servants accompanying the masters.

The guests who took their seats made Chu Zhan, a half-grown boy helping at the stall, busy until his heels hit the back of his head.

And Xu Zaijing,

was preparing for his county examination in February.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 214 =====

(End of chapter)