Chapter 224

"Oh, Three Pure Ones! How can these Northern Liao children be so ruthless? To swear an oath, they actually cut their own foreheads! Isn't... isn't that painful?"

Wang Ruofu exclaimed in disbelief.

"In the eyes of the Northern Liao people, if you don't even have the courage to cut your own forehead, who would believe the oath you make?"

After the Old Madam said this softly, she looked elsewhere and continued:

"Actually, in the past, the Marquis's residence also had Northern Liao people who swore oaths of loyalty."

"Grandmother, were they also horse-raisers from Northern Liao?"

"Not horse officials, but a fierce Northern Liao warrior. After becoming my father's personal guard, he even changed his surname to..."

Seeing the Old Madam reminiscing, Fang Mama, who was beside them, added: "Chu."

"It's a pity..."

Seeming to think of her nephew who was currently out on a military campaign, the Old Madam found it difficult to say anything inauspicious, stopped her train of thought, and waved her hand:

"It's all ancient history; let's not talk about it."

Wang Ruofu listened to the Old Madam's words and smiled ingratiatingly, sighing in her heart that this was the foundation of the founding nobility.

Although her Wang family had a father who was entitled to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, things like having people of foreign tribes swear loyalty to the Xu family were things she had never even heard of, let alone seen; she considered them rare occurrences.

The Old Madam looked at Hualan, who was thoughtfully fanning her, and asked:

"Hua'er, how is Dai Ge'er?"

"Grandmother, your great-grandnephew is crawling so fast now! Sister-in-law is always calling out 'Xu Xingdai, Xu Xingdai'."

"Hahahaha, that's good..."

The Old Madam said it was good, but her eyes were fixed carefully on Hualan.

Hualan felt embarrassed by the gaze and turned to her mother Wang Ruofu for help, but when Wang Ruofu heard the Old Madam's words, her gaze toward Hualan was also full of scrutiny and urging.

Wei Shuyi watched Hualan, who was embarrassed by the gaze, and there was also a look of joy and... envy in her eyes.

Hualan said indignantly: "Grandmother, Mother, how can you be like this!"

Mentioning her husband's nephew and then looking at her without speaking—didn't that mean they were asking about her progress!

"You've been married for over half a year now..."

Listening to Wang Ruofu's words, the Old Madam said:

"Are you and your husband still close?"

"Hmm..."

Hualan nodded shyly.

"That's good. Grandmother is just asking; don't be impatient."

"Hmm. By the way, Grandmother, I was just talking; previously, my family's Fifth Young Master had some dealings with the Wang Family Silk Shop. Look, their shop sent over some fashionable fabrics."

Hualan waved to Cuichan to signal her to take them, then continued:

"I saw that they were a bit different from the ones our family had before, so I took some."

While the Sheng family women were choosing fabrics,

Xingguo Lane,

Duke of Qi's residence,

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingyu, and Xu Zaihang walked out from the outer room of the Duke of Qi's study.

Being allowed to enter the study, this action alone expressed the Duke of Qi's trust in them.

The study was a restricted area.

Even the personal maid beside Princess Pingning could not enter without permission.

The three of them talked as they arrived at the front hall for receiving guests.

At this time, quite a few people had already arrived in the spacious and cool front hall.

In addition to classmates from the Sheng family school, there were also several unfamiliar noble youths.

When they arrived in the front hall, the Duke of Qi intended to train Qi Heng, so he didn't say much.

Qi Heng became the introducer at this time; he bowed and said:

"Uncle Yu, Brother Zhang, Brother Jing, these two are my cousins from the Chai family, Chai Jin and Chai Bo..."

As he spoke,

two youths dressed in extraordinarily luxurious clothing bowed in greeting.

Among them, the youth named Chai Jin moved nimbly, his every gesture showing a certain method; after seeing Xu Zaijing, his eyes were full of eager anticipation.

The others were youths from a branch of the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence.

Although the Marquis of Xiangyang was still vigorous and worked hard every day, the harvest... well, there wasn't one yet.

Princess Pingning was still the only seedling of the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence. Whether intentional or unintentional, for this Dragon Boat Festival banquet at the Duke of Qi's residence, the Marquis of Xiangyang sent these few children.

After everyone was seated,

the dishes from the Duke of Qi's kitchen were brought out by the maids of the tray department like a flowing stream.

Qi Yiqiu picked up his chopsticks, signaling the start of the banquet.

Except for the youths from the Marquis of Xiangyang's branch, the others were not restrained.

While eating and drinking, they began to talk.

Qi Yiqiu had also studied when he was young, but unfortunately, he failed to reach the metropolitan examination, so he liked Gu Tingyu from the bottom of his heart.

Whenever Gu Tingyu finished speaking, Qi Yiqiu would always look at Qi Heng; seeing Qi Heng listening attentively, he smiled.

Afterward, Qi Yiqiu left the banquet; with him there, the youths couldn't speak freely.

Because everyone present, except for Changfeng, was a legitimate son of their respective families,

unexpectedly, Changfeng began chatting with those youths from the Marquis of Xiangyang's branch.

The youths from the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence had no intention of taking the initiative to chat with Gu Tingyu, Xu Zaijing, and the others.

Seeing this scene, Princess Pingning, who was observing from behind the screen in the front hall, shook her head.

She understood her father, the Marquis of Xiangyang's, intention, but the youths adopted into the Marquis of Xiangyang's side would have heavy burdens in the future; they didn't need to be overly fawning, but they still needed to have some daily awareness.

Chatting with Changfeng was certainly comfortable, but in the future, if something happened at the level of the Marquis of Xiangyang that required help, Changfeng wouldn't be able to contribute.

In modern terms, this was ineffective socializing.

Just as Princess Pingning was about to leave,

at the banquet table, Chai Jin stood up, holding a cup of wine, and said:

"Jing Ge'er, I often heard Heng Ge'er mention your name before; I didn't expect it would take so long to meet you."

Xu Zaijing also hurriedly stood up, holding his wine cup, and said: "Heng Ge'er didn't speak ill of me, did he?"

Qi Heng, who was beside them, hurriedly waved his hands, causing Gu Tingyu and Zaihang to laugh one after another.

"No, no, Heng Ge'er only praised you, saying you practice martial arts diligently every day and study without stopping. You also have a divine horse at home that makes people itch with curiosity."

When Chai Jin said the last sentence, Qi Heng hurriedly tugged at his clothes.

"Heng Ge'er is right."

Gu Tingye nodded and said.

"To tell you the truth, Jing Ge'er, I also practice martial arts diligently every day in my hometown of Cangzhou and rarely have an opponent. I wonder if in the future..."

Xu Zaijing raised his cup and said: "If Jin Ge'er wants to come to my house, just send a post."

"Good, then it's a deal!"

As he spoke, Chai Jin drained his cup of wine, and Xu Zaijing did the same.

After watching this scene in the front hall,

Princess Pingning's eyes revealed a thoughtful look; after taking another heavy look at Xu Zaijing, she turned and left.

At the banquet table,

Gu Tingyu looked at those clansmen who were chatting enthusiastically with Changfeng and shook his head secretly.

An hour later,

the banquet dispersed; after everyone sat in the front hall and talked for a while, they all said their goodbyes.

On the road back to Quyuanjie,

many were commoners returning from their own banquets.

When the two brothers entered Sun Shi's courtyard, drinking hangover soup and listening to an interesting story Sun Shi had heard from Lady Wu:

A few days ago, there had been vegetable and melon farmers selling produce outside the Donghuamen.

A eunuch who had come out to purchase goods with his foster father from the palace actually encountered his biological parents, whom he hadn't seen for many years and who should have been thousands of miles away, while buying vegetables.

They were currently selling vegetables outside the Donghuamen.

But the eunuch didn't dare to acknowledge them; it was his foster father who saw the clues from his tear-reddened eyes, and only after some questioning did he learn of the matter.

The old eunuch patronized that vegetable stall the next day as if he knew nothing about the matter.

During their casual chat, he learned that this family had survived using the money from selling the eunuch, and their life had been quite good over the years; although they had another son, they still missed the eunuch who had been sold.

So they came to Bianjing, thinking of finding this son who had been sold, to let him know that there were still relatives waiting for him outside.

Understanding the whole story, this old eunuch reported the matter to the eunuch Huai Bao.

And Huai Bao's master was the Great Eunuch before the Emperor.

"After the Emperor learned of this, he didn't say anything else, but a few days later, that eunuch received a post guarding the incense of a temple outside the palace."

"Mother, is the Emperor letting that eunuch work outside the palace so that his parents can see him at any time?"

Sun Shi looked at Anmei and nodded: "Naturally, that is so. But there are other reasons as well."

Anmei looked at her mother in a daze.

Xie Shi and Hualan just wanted to speak, but were stopped by Sun Shi, who said: "Let her think more for herself."

Anmei stroked her fingers, which were almost developing calluses, looked at her brother and the maids beside her, and said hesitantly:

"Mother, do you mean that this eunuch has attachments and is easily threatened by others using his family?"

Hualan saw that Anmei had already realized it, and after receiving Sun Shi's nod, Hualan said:

"Exactly. After being separated for so many years, to still be able to recognize his parents means that this eunuch..."

"The biggest attachment in his heart is his parents!"

Xie Shi, holding her son Xu Xingdai, said:

"This eunuch's parents had another son, yet they were still able to travel thousands of miles to Bianjing to find him; they must have been in desperate straits when they sold him."

"This eunuch has family now, but his post in the palace should be over."

Xu Zaijing, who was beside them, said:

"Sister-in-law, I heard from my cousin that the eunuch Huai Bao also seems to have relatives in Bianjing; why is he..."

"Little Five, that eunuch's parents have already passed away; he was raised by a eunuch in the palace, and that nephew is just fulfilling the wish of continuing the incense."

After the Dragon Boat Festival,

inside the Imperial Palace,

the Emperor's personal Great Eunuch listened to the report with his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Grandfather, quite a few little eunuchs are discussing this matter."

"Has anyone been inquiring about the little eunuchs' words?"

"Yes, and several little eunuchs have had their memories of their families teased out."

Hearing this, the Great Eunuch said with a calm face:

"These few who have no sense, let them all stop staying in the palace."

"Yes, Grandfather."

After speaking, the Great Eunuch turned and entered the Emperor's Imperial Study within the palace.

Inside the Great Zhou Emperor's study,

the Marquis of Xiangyang, who was older than the Emperor, was dragging a lame leg and talking beside the Emperor.

The Marquis of Xiangyang and the Emperor had a friendship that had survived life and death.

That crippled leg was injured when the Emperor ascended the throne, amidst the blood and carnage, in order to protect the Emperor.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... You... You old scoundrel, how old are you, and you still believe in these ethereal, baseless things that Princess Pingning talks about..."

"Your Majesty, then you must pity this old scoundrel!"

"Go, go, go! I still have state affairs to attend to!"

The Marquis of Xiangyang knelt on the ground and hugged the Emperor's leg:

"Your Majesty! You... you have a son, the country has pillars, but... you cannot disregard your old minister... I am so old, look at my beard..."

The Emperor heard the subtext:

"Your Majesty, previously we two monarchs and ministers were in the same boat! How come you have a son and don't tell me the secret recipe!"

The Emperor closed his eyes and tilted his head; where would he have any secret recipe for having a son!

Then the Emperor's heart suddenly stirred, and he looked toward the Marquis of Xiangyang who was hugging his leg.

The Emperor scratched his face with his index finger and said: "You rascal, you don't want me to go to the Empress to ask for a favor for you, do you..."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"You, you, you only know how to do these crooked, troublesome things. Fine, I promise you."

"Wuwuwu, this old minister thanks Your Majesty!"

As he spoke, the Emperor waved his hand at the Great Eunuch who wanted to run over to help the Marquis of Xiangyang, stopping the Great Eunuch from coming to help.

Afterward, the Emperor smiled and reached out his hand toward the Marquis of Xiangyang on the ground.

This posture,

just like that young emperor who faced blood and carnage upon ascending the throne, in the study, reaching out his hand to promise the young Marquis of Xiangyang who hugged his leg and wouldn't let him act impulsively.

The Marquis of Xiangyang was also somewhat stunned,

then smiled and grasped the Emperor's hand.

"Still as heavy as it was back then; back then, how did you dare to be pulled up by me and dare to rush out?"

"I've said this several times, Your Majesty doesn't believe it; back then, I was just gripped by Your Majesty's dragon claw, and instantly, I was full of strength..."

The Emperor smiled and shook his head; this Old Gu seemed to have forgotten that before he rushed out, he had shouted, "Even if I die, I will die before Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, tell me, what should this old minister send..."

"Naturally, something precious, rare, and sincere; their family is not lacking in ordinary gold and silver."

By the evening,

Zhao Fang had already fallen asleep.

The Emperor sat beside the huge bed:

"Ahem, there's a matter."

The Empress looked at the female official who was fanning their daughter in the cradle and said: "Lower."

The female official squatted to show she understood.

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"The Marquis of Xiangyang came to see me today, saying he wanted to ask for the secret recipe for having a son..."

The Empress beside him was stunned for a moment, then rolled her eyes and said:

"This old rascal, he doesn't say anything clearly and just likes to beat around the bush; isn't he just wanting me to agree to send a gift to Xu family's Jing Ge'er! Just send it."

"After all, it concerns Fang'er and Yue'er; he isn't sure of your thoughts in his heart."

"Humph, Gu Hou has sought medical advice and medicine with no results, and has started to pray to gods and Buddhas."

"People also prayed to gods and Buddhas from the beginning, using both methods."

After the Dragon Boat Festival,

Xu Zaijing attended a day of classes at the Sheng family school.

When he returned to the Marquis's residence in the evening,

he was handed a post by his mother, Sun Shi.

The post was from the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence, forwarded through the Duke of Qi's residence.

The content mainly said: The Marquis of Xiangyang likes spirited horses and heard that the Marquis of Yongyi's residence has four divine horses, so he wants to come and see them.

The reason Sun Shi gave the post to Xu Zaijing was that the Marquis of Yongyi and his eldest son were currently away, and it was not appropriate for the women of the house to receive guests, so they could only let the two brothers come forward.

And the two Northern Liao Dragon Colts were given to Xu Zaijing by the Emperor, so the focus was still on Xu Zaijing.

Looking at her nodding youngest son, Sun Shi suddenly remembered the words of Princess Pingning, who had sent the post: "Sister, you don't need to prepare anything; Father is just coming to see the horses and, by the way, see our family's young master."

Xu Zaijing naturally treated this as a small matter; he was just coming to see the horses, what could happen?

Just at the hour of Chen (7:00 AM),

Sheng family school,

the seats of Qi Heng and the Xu brothers were empty.

Scholar Zhuang shook his head helplessly and said:

"Asking for leave whenever there's something, really..."

And at this time on Quyuanjie,

things on the roadside stalls were arranged neatly,

the street had been swept clean and even sprinkled with water.

The Marquis of Xiangyang looked at this scene and nodded proudly, thinking to himself: It seems this Xu family doesn't know that I am planning to send gifts; if they don't know, they won't refuse directly. Very good!

Arriving in front of the Xu family's main gate,

Xu Zaijing was already waiting below the steps at the gate. After seeing the Marquis of Xiangyang riding his horse, followed by ten carriages covered with thick cloth, he hurriedly helped the Marquis of Xiangyang lead his horse and said:

"Grandfather Gu, don't dismount; just ride in directly."

The Marquis of Xiangyang was about to say something, then his heart stirred, and he nodded: "Good, then this old man will be impolite! The carriage team behind, follow."

As he spoke, the group from the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence filed in under the gaze of Chu Zhan and other passersby.

Sun Shi, with her two daughters-in-law, squatted in a bow to the Marquis of Xiangyang at the second gate, and the Marquis of Xiangyang also arched his hands on horseback as a return greeting.

Arriving at the horse racing track,

the racing track had also been tidied up.

Ma Er attendants Alan and Xunshu were leading "Xiao Li Ju," Xiao Li Ju's son, and the two Dragon Colts around.

The Marquis of Xiangyang coming to see the horses was originally just an excuse for Gu Hou to come to the Xu residence, but after seeing the two Northern Liao Dragon Colts, he arrived at the side of the racing track and dismounted.

With an agility that an old man shouldn't have, he vaulted over the wooden fence.

Xu Zaijing followed the Marquis of Xiangyang over the fence,

chasing after him and shouting:

"Grandfather Gu, slow down."

Arriving beside the four horses, the Marquis of Xiangyang's eyes were full of light; he seemed to have forgotten why he had come this time.

After watching and stroking the four horses for three quarters of an hour in the racing track, the Marquis of Xiangyang finally let the excitement in his heart be fully expressed.

He slowly remembered the other things he had come to the Xu residence for.

At this time, a Xu family steward reported the matter on the racing track to Sun Shi, and Sun Shi muttered to herself: "So the Old Marquis really did come to see the horses..."

(End of chapter)