Chapter 215

Xingguo Lane

Marquis of Ningyuan's mansion

The main branch,

the mistress's courtyard,

Gu Yankai was holding his eldest grandson with a dignified expression, but his eyes were full of love.

"Oh my! He smiled!"

After Gu Yankai finished speaking, he looked up, only to see Gu Tingye and Gu Tingyi playing pitch-pot,

Gu Tingyu had already returned to his study to handle official business, and Pingmei was standing beside the Bai clan, learning with full concentration how the Bai clan handled the incomparably vast industries of the Gu and Bai families.

No one paid him any attention...

But he didn't mind, continuing to look down with dignity at his eldest grandson, only to have his beard grabbed,

"Hiss! You little rascal, how do you have such strength!"

Hearing Gu Yankai's voice, the Bai clan gave him a disdainful look.

Just at this moment,

outside the courtyard, Qi Sheng walked over quickly,

and after a report, he was led directly to the door of the main room by Chang Mama:

"Master, Madam, someone has come from the palace; they want our family to prepare to receive the decree."

"Ah? Hiss!"

Gu Yankai, who had looked up suddenly, cried out in pain; the Gu family's eldest grandson, whose beard was no longer being grabbed, began to wail.

The Gu family changed into formal attire and set up the incense table; when the great eunuch arrived in the hall, everyone hurriedly knelt down.

"Gu's wife, the Bai clan... husband Gu Yankai, son Gu Tingyu, dedicated to state affairs; the Bai clan, with lofty character... treating others with sincerity, virtuous, wise, and kind, is hereby granted the title of Lady of Danyang. Respect this."

Listening to the decree, the people of the fourth and fifth branches looked at each other with surprise.

A merchant's daughter had actually been granted a title of nobility!!?

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace."

"Gu Hou, Madam, please rise."

The great eunuch said in a gentle tone.

Bai Shi clan was still a bit dazed at this moment; how had she become a second-rank noble lady without anything happening?

After giving a red envelope to the great eunuch who had come to announce the decree, Gu Yankai led the Gu family to see the great eunuch off, asking in a low voice as they walked: "Eunuch, I wonder why there was such a sudden reward?"

The great eunuch smiled and said: "Naturally, it is because of the Madam's lofty character; His Majesty feels that Gu Hou and Official Gu are dedicated to state affairs, which is why he granted the reward."

After speaking, the great eunuch descended the Gu family's steps, and Gu Tingyu hurriedly followed a few steps to help the great eunuch lift the sedan chair curtain.

Looking at the eldest son of the Gu family, the great eunuch looked at the young Gu Tingyu, thought for no more than half a breath, and said in a low voice: "Official Gu, Jing-ge'er entered the palace this afternoon and talked with His Majesty for a while; that is why I made this trip."

"Thank you, Eunuch."

"Official, you are too polite."

Watching the palace procession leave,

Gu Tingyu walked back to the Gu family mistress's courtyard.

In the front hall, the Bai clan was still touching her noble crown and robes with disbelief, turning her head to look at Chang Mama.

Chang Mama was also full of smiles, though there were some tears in her eyes.

Bai Shi clan turned to look at Gu Tingyu, who was walking in; she sighed in her heart, knowing that the imperial decree was sparing with words and wouldn't casually add Gu Tingyu's name.

Looking at Gu Tingyu, the Bai clan said with a smile:

"Yu'er, you've worked hard."

Bai Shi clan naturally knew that since Gu Tingyu had taken his official post, he had been busy with the Great Zhou maps every day; although it wasn't to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep, he was diligent and conscientious, and even with his great memory, he was exhausted.

Gu Tingyu looked up at Gu Tingye, then bowed respectfully and said:

"Mother has lofty character; without Mother, I would not be where I am today."

Bai Shi clan nodded with tears in her eyes; she only did good deeds and didn't ask about the future.

She didn't ask, but looking at Gu Tingyu's appearance, the Bai clan was gratified.

Gu Tingye looked at his elder brother, then at the Bai clan, feeling helpless in his heart, his eyes filled with panic.

Just past the hour of Xu (after 9 PM),

Fuyao Courtyard,

Gu Tingyu was holding his own son, looking at Pingmei, who was removing her hairpins under the service of Cuichan, and said: "Madam, the next title will be yours."

Pingmei turned her head and smiled at Gu Tingyu upon hearing this: "Then I shall wait."

In the imperial palace,

listening to the content of the decree the Emperor had dictated, Xu Zaijing was happy for the Bai clan from the bottom of his heart, and at the same time, there was a trace of self-satisfaction; the reason for this self-satisfaction was perhaps something only he knew.

Looking at Xu Zaijing's face, the imperial prince Zhao Fang glanced at the Empress, and after receiving an encouraging look, he said:

"Jing-ge'er, I know you study hard; how about I help you ask my father for an official post?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but there is a small question I would like to ask you."

Zhao Fang was very happy that he could help Xu Zaijing answer a question and hurriedly said:

"Jing-ge'er, just say it."

"If the Great Zhou were a carriage and the officials were the horses pulling it, how could it run faster?"

Zhao Fang thought for a moment and said: "Then there should be many horses pulling the carriage, and the horses should run fast."

"But the horses are as numerous as the crucian carp crossing the river; how can one distinguish which horse runs fast?"

"Hmm... judge the horses!"

"Your Highness, there are all kinds of horses; must one judge them one by one? Wouldn't that be too slow?"

"Then... let the horses compete first, then judge them."

"Your Highness is absolutely right; this imperial examination is a competition; only by selecting many fast-running horses can the carriage run fast and far."

"Without experiencing layers of trials, without the assistance of familiar fine horses, suddenly being placed above the fine horses—the fine horses are unruly, so how would they be convinced? They certainly wouldn't be able to work with me in the same direction to pull the carriage far and well."

Looking at the encouraging eyes of the Emperor and Empress, Xu Zaijing said: "The *Han Feizi* also says, 'The officials of an enlightened ruler and the fierce generals must rise from the ranks; the prime ministers must rise from the prefectures and counties.' Obtaining a high position suddenly without tempering is certainly of no benefit to the imperial court."

"Jing-ge'er, do you mean that we must select more fast-running horses through the imperial examination so that they can pull our Great Zhou carriage far and well?"

"Your Highness is absolutely right."

"Then, as for how the selected horses perform, one must first let them try pulling the carriage of a county; if they pull it well, then let them pull the carriage of a prefecture."

Xu Zaijing bowed.

"Then Jing-ge'er, what carriage are you going to pull?"

"To be the vanguard for the Great Zhou."

"Hahahaha!"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, the Emperor and Empress looked at each other and laughed.

Xu Zaijing took his leave and exited the palace hall.

Inside the hall, Zhao Fang looked at the Emperor and said: "Father, you can select so many capable officials in the court, so many fine horses; you are truly amazing!"

The Emperor was stunned, looked at the Empress with surprise, and stroked his beard, feeling comfortable and pleased in his heart.

After Xu Zaijing arrived outside the palace and followed the eunuch to his quarters,

he looked up at the starry sky and thought: 'This carriage is carrying the common people of the Great Zhou.'

The next morning.

The hour of Yin (4 AM).

Because he had to go to the study, Xu Zaijing got up early to exercise as he had before.

Zhao Fang, who was still dreaming, was awakened by the Empress.

"Fang'er, Jing-ge'er has already started to get up; would you like to go and see?"

Zhao Fang, who had been dazed just a moment ago, instantly woke up and said: "Go, I'm going!"

After Xu Zaijing finished washing and dressing under the service of a middle-aged female official, the official bowed and said: "Jing-ge'er, Her Highness has ordered that you may exercise your body outside this palace as you wish; do not be restrained."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Stepping out of the palace door, the morning breeze was still a bit cold,

and as Xu Zaijing slowly warmed up, seemingly knowing his habits, there were several rows of weapon racks placed outside the palace, similar in position to the horse-riding and martial arts field of the Xu family.

In the open space outside the palace, two rows of bright lanterns were also lit on the ground.

The palace guards were patrolling not far away, carrying lanterns, and the sound of uniform footsteps could be heard.

Xu Zaijing touched the weapons carefully crafted by artisans on the weapon rack, picked up a spear with a metal shaft, and began to wave it slowly; although the shaft was heavy and the inertial force was extremely great once it was swung,

it stopped instantly in Xu Zaijing's hands.

Subsequently, the spear thrust forward continuously like a poisonous snake spitting its tongue, the moves extremely fast and every strike aimed at a vital point, before suddenly changing from a thrust to a slap.

Less than a quarter of an hour later,

another team of guards began to patrol to this place, only to see in the light of the lanterns, a person as graceful as a startled dragon and as light as a startled swan, dancing a spear with impressive momentum and beauty.

Walking to the middle of the path where they could see Xu Zaijing,

one of the guards in the team said softly: "Fancy moves."

As soon as the words fell,

"Pa!"

"Pa!"

Several explosive sounds came; looking at the wooden stake that made a loud noise just by being grazed by the spear, with this kind of force, if you were hit, even wearing armor, you would be dead or severely injured.

The voice came again from the guard team.

"I was talking about myself."

The guard team continued their patrol and left the place.

After practicing for quite a while,

Xu Zaijing heard footsteps different from those of the guards and stopped the spear he was practicing with to look over.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Jing-ge'er, how long have you been practicing?"

"Returning to Your Highness, half an hour."

"Jing-ge'er, you hold it so easily; is it a wooden spear from the palace?"

"Returning to Your Highness, it is an iron spear."

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing handed the spear to the eunuch beside him; the eunuch, seeing the spear turning in Xu Zaijing's hands like a blade of grass, also thought it wasn't very heavy,

but when he took it, if Xu Zaijing hadn't kept a firm grip, the eunuch would have swayed his waist.

"Thank you, Jing-ge'er."

After speaking, the eunuch held the iron spear with effort and walked to Zhao Fang's side; looking at the metallic luster of the shaft in the candlelight, Zhao Fang's face was full of surprise.

After saying a few more words, Zhao Fang, with great enthusiasm, wanted to practice outside the palace with Xu Zaijing, but was persuaded by Xu Zaijing to go into the Empress's palace.

When the sky was bright, Xu Zaijing ate breakfast at his quarters and finished the lessons left by the scholar.

By the hour of Si (after 9:45 AM),

Xu Zaijing arrived inside the Empress's palace,

but this time it wasn't the inner room where they had eaten last night, but in a place closer to the outside.

Seven guards with figures similar to the Bai Gao Kingdom warriors stood to the side.

It was because Zhao Fang had always been very curious about the process of Xu Zaijing injuring several people at Pan Lou that day and had begged the Emperor and Empress to let Jing-ge'er reenact it.

The Empress felt it was somewhat inappropriate, but the Emperor smiled and said: "It's fine, I... have my own reasons. Great Eunuch, go to my desk and bring it over."

After Xu Zaijing entered the palace, the Empress gently explained the matter and said: "The Emperor said there are benefits for you, so I won't stop you."

Xu Zaijing hurriedly bowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Highness, for your consideration."

The Emperor waved his hand, and the lead guard bowed: "Jing-ge'er, I already know the process of the matter."

Xu Zaijing: "Please."

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing reenacted the situation at Pan Lou that day; whether it was the fist wind stopping at Bu Zhoutianhuan's neck or finally catching the sleeve arrow with his bare hands and throwing it back,

Xu Zaijing didn't hurt anyone.

The injuries and being kicked away were all the guards' own strength; the little eunuch Qingyun, who played the Bai Gao prince, cried out in a very realistic way, causing the Emperor, Empress, and Zhao Fang to laugh out loud.

The Emperor smiled, waved his hand, and said: "Reward!"

Everyone thanked them and withdrew.

The Emperor looked at Xu Zaijing, who remained in the palace, and said: "Jing-ge'er, I won't let you perform for nothing; here, take this."

Xu Zaijing curiously took the item passed on by the great eunuch, looked at it carefully, and his eyes widened.

"Your Majesty, this is..."

"The burial grounds of the slaughtered Bai Gao royal family, the Mi Mu, Lian Nu, and other families."

"How could Northern Liao give such intelligence to our Great Zhou? Wouldn't it be better to keep it in their hands to manipulate those who defected?"

The Emperor nodded approvingly and said:

"Jing-ge'er, those who defected are very useful; the Marquis of Tuoxi has already invaded a hundred miles into the Bai Gao Kingdom, and this news wasn't given by Northern Liao, but was delivered by the Imperial City Division."

When he said the last sentence, the Emperor's tone was full of emotion.

Xu Zaijing said with emotion.

"If I had known this, I wouldn't have been so ruthless."

"If it weren't for the fact that they were so severely injured and no longer a threat, the Bai Gao Kingdom would have surrounded and killed them long ago. The information at the end was personally selected by the head of the Imperial City Division a few days ago; it includes the appearance of the descendants of Mi Mu Tuoxia and Lian Nu Baili, as well as the characteristics of Mi Mi Chusheng's mother; they are all currently in the hands of the Imperial City Division soldiers in the Bai Gao Kingdom."

Looking at the dazed Xu Zaijing, the Emperor continued: "Your father is currently establishing the army, and the Marquis of Tuoxi has already learned most of what these three have in their bellies; in the future, they will join the Marquis of Yongyi's army."

Xu Zaijing naturally knew that whether or not there was this information made a world of difference in how much these people would reveal.

For the sake of their children or to let their relatives be laid to rest, how could these defecting Bai Gao warriors not help Xu Minghua with all their might?

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace."

Xu Zaijing was about to bow, but was held up by the great eunuch.

"Go."

Watching Xu Zaijing leave the palace excitedly, the Emperor smiled at the Empress and said: "I gave this to the Xu family; the Empress won't have any hard feelings, will she?"

The Empress said:

"They are all going to expand the territory for the Great Zhou; if the comrades have more help, the children can suffer fewer casualties. Your Majesty, you don't know that the Marquis of Tuoxi has already compiled what he learned into a book and distributed it to the British Duke, the Marquis of Yongyi, and the others, do you?"

"What Your Majesty said makes it sound like my family is very stingy. I have to look after Yue'er tonight; Your Majesty should go to Consort Rong's place..."

As she spoke, the Empress stood up and led Zhao Fang toward the outside.

"Father, you've made Mother angry again!"

The Emperor looked at the bowing great eunuch and said: "I... I... why is the Empress so unable to take a joke?"

Pei Yuanchen looked down at the program in his hand, sighed, and said:

"Di Jing, do you really want to go under the command of Marquis Xu?"

"Yes."

"If you go north, you'll be putting your head on your belt."

"This subordinate is willing to go to the border to achieve merit."

"Good! Since you have made up your mind, I approve."

Returning home, Xu Zaijing handed over the items bestowed by the Emperor to his father.

However, Xu Minghua, who had already received the book sent by the Marquis of Tuoxi in advance, wasn't as overjoyed as Xu Zaijing.

But he had a plan in his heart, preparing to use these things to make those people reveal more.

At the end of the second lunar month, before Xu Minghua and his eldest son Xu Zaiduan set off,

the Xu family received a program bestowed by the palace; in early March, the Emperor would hold a grand naval review at Jinming Pool, leaving a good spot for the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion.

(End of chapter)