Chapter 238: Zhengzheng is useful and Qiqiao [Thank you all for your support! Again

Princess Pingning left the palace,

and the female official behind her held several exquisite officer helmets from the Imperial Guard armory in the palace.

Not long after,

the carriage arrived at the Chai family gate not far from the palace wall and drove straight in.

Arriving at the second gate, Chai Jin was already waiting here.

"Cousin Aunt, I've troubled you."

"It's nothing. Wait a moment, you take them in and pick, see if you are satisfied."

"Yes."

Saying this, everyone entered the Chai family backyard.

Letting the maids stop at the door,

Chai Jin held the helmets and Princess Pingning entered the room.

"Zhengzheng, come and take a look."

Hearing Princess Pingning's voice, Chai Zhengzheng, who had bags under her eyes, walked out, bowed first, and then looked at the things in her brother's hands.

After examining them for a while, Chai Zhengzheng said:

"Looking at them, they are a bit too exquisite."

"Ah?"

"Brother, why don't I draw it, and then trouble Cousin Aunt..."

Princess Pingning smiled and said: "That's fine."

Chai Zhengzheng closed her eyes and thought about the appearance of the helmet the youth took off his head that day, then picked up a brush and started drawing on the paper.

After drawing, she handed it to Princess Pingning.

"Then I will go into the palace again, Zhengzheng wait for me."

"Troubling Cousin Aunt."

Princess Pingning entered the palace again and was informed by the eunuch that the Emperor had gone to the Empress's sleeping quarters.

Entering the hall,

the Princess squatted in a salute:

"Greetings, Father, Mother."

The Emperor looked at the drawing paper in Princess Pingning's hand: "Why, none of them satisfied the Chai family young lady? Let me see."

Princess Pingning gave the paper to the Great Eunuch.

While the Emperor was looking at the drawing,

Princess Pingning explained the reason for the Chai family asking for the item to the Empress on the side.

The Empress naturally knew the origin of the things Chai Zhengzheng encountered. If it weren't for Xu Zaijing, this young lady wouldn't know how long she would have had to spend in fear.

Thinking of the appearance of Xu Zaijing entering the palace that day, the Empress covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled slightly, thinking: Such a handsome and refreshing youth who saves people, who wouldn't be moved?

The Emperor examined the drawing paper carefully. He naturally couldn't distinguish what rank of helmet this was, so he gave the paper to the Great Eunuch to distinguish.

Seeing the Empress smile, he thought she was laughing at him.

Looking at the Emperor's appearance, Princess Pingning joked: "Mother, what are you laughing at?"

The Emperor pretended to be serious: "That's right, what are you laughing at?"

The Empress was confident: "I see, this thing must be found at the Yongyi Marquis family."

Princess Pingning and the Emperor exchanged a glance, while the Empress picked up the sleeping Princess Yue'er and said:

"Call the people from the Directorate for Palace Buildings, I have something to instruct."

The Emperor said to the Great Eunuch: "Go quickly."

Quyuanjie.

Yongyi Hou Fu,

beside the horse racing track, next to Alan and Xunshu's residence.

The eunuch from the palace was talking to Sun Shi:

"Daniangzi, it's really troubling you. It's so hot, this servant can just come himself."

"What are you saying, Eunuch."

Alan opened the room's door lock and retreated to the side, continuing to tend to the horses.

The eunuch and Sun Shi smiled and walked in together.

Looking at the dazzling array of various weapons, the eunuch said softly:

"Daniangzi, the Empress said she wants the weapons and armor Jing Ge'er brought that day. Which ones are they?"

This sentence stumped Sun Shi. She thought for a moment and said: "Wait a moment."

Soon, the groom and Alan were called over.

After a while,

the eunuch walked to the door and beckoned. Palace servants filed in, and then hugged the helmets, armor, and cotton armor that Xu Zaijing usually wore for exercise, with one person carrying a refined steel mace on their shoulder as they walked out.

"Daniangzi, I also ask you to tell Jing Ge'er, the Directorate for Palace Buildings will send new ones tomorrow. By the way, Daniangzi, is Jing Ge'er at the Sheng family now?"

Sun Shi nodded.

Sheng family study,

Zhuang Xuejiu was eating iced cheese comfortably,

glanced at everyone in the school, and said:

"Mm, today let's talk about the character 'Ren' (Benevolence). Changbai, you go first."

Changbai thought for a while and was about to speak,

when Qingyun at the courtyard gate said:

"Xuejiu, someone from the palace is looking for Jing Ge'er."

Saying this, the eunuch from the palace revealed his head behind Qingyun.

Xuejiu waved his hand.

Xu Zaijing hurriedly walked out of the courtyard, looked at the familiar eunuch, and asked: "Are you from the Empress's palace? I don't know what the matter is?"

That eunuch unfolded a piece of white satin: "Jing Ge'er has a good memory, please don't move!"

Saying this, he let Qingyun hold it, while the eunuch used a brush to trace Xu Zaijing's figure, then bowed and said:

"Troubling Jing Ge'er, I also ask you to draw a pair of eyes."

Xu Zaijing had a face full of question marks, but still picked up the brush and drew a pair of cross-eyed eyes on the white satin.

The eunuch covered his mouth and smiled, then bowed and left the Sheng family, leaving Xu Zaijing and Qingyun feeling inexplicable.

Returning to the study,

Changfeng glanced at Xuejiu,

and asked in a low voice: "Jing Ge'er, what did this eunuch want with you?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head:

"I don't understand either."

The eunuchs hurried back to the palace,

displayed the satin with Xu Zaijing's figure,

and subsequently, the master craftsmen of the Directorate for Palace Buildings got busy.

Some were busy chiseling wood,

some were busy repairing the edges and corners of the armor and helmets.

The Emperor went to handle state affairs,

and Princess Pingning and the Empress played with Princess Yue'er for a long while.

When the eunuchs brought the finished product over,

the Empress looked at it and said: "Put it on and see the effect."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Subsequently, the eunuchs put the things brought from the Xu family onto a wooden mannequin of the same height as Xu Zaijing piece by piece.

Looking at the final appearance, Princess Pingning said: "Mother's mind is truly ingenious."

The Empress nodded and smiled: "Looking at it like this, it's still very majestic! Let me see the eyes Jing Ge'er drew."

As a master craftsman of the Directorate for Palace Buildings, he naturally understood proportions, and specifically made an enlargement of Xu Zaijing's 'work'.

The eunuch embarrassedly pulled the neck guard of the step-in armor down,

and a pair of large cross-eyes were revealed in the position where the eyes should be.

Princess Pingning and the Empress looked at each other, unable to laugh or cry. The Empress said:

"This humorous kid."

Princess Pingning said:

"Mother, don't say that. This armor looks scary in the dark at night, and paired with this thing Jing Ge'er drew, it's actually quite interesting."

The Empress looked at this suit of armor, with double maces inserted behind the waist, looking very majestic, and nodded.

"Last winter, the ear muffs that were popular in Bianjing and looked quite pleasing, were they also drawn by him?"

Princess Pingning nodded:

"Mother is right!"

"Then, Mother, shall I send it to Zhengzheng?"

The Empress nodded.

Chai family,

Chai Jin and his younger sister sat in the room.

These days, Chai Zhengzheng's sleep had been poor. Although the physician had prescribed soothing decoctions, she stopped drinking them after one time.

Chai Jin had asked his younger sister the reason,

and Chai Zhengzheng said that after drinking the soothing decoction, she had nightmares, wanting to wake up but unable to, so it was better not to drink it.

Looking at his younger sister who was lost in thought, not knowing what she was thinking, Chai Jin said:

"Why has Cousin Aunt been gone for so long?"

Chai Zhengzheng also nodded and looked outside.

"Sister, when Father and Mother arrive in Bianjing, you can go out. In a few days, when the weather is cooler, let's go play at Wu Daniangzi's polo field."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled at her brother.

Seeing the smile, Chai Jin felt slightly relieved in his heart.

"Sister, don't overthink it! Cousin Aunt said, the only ones who know about this are the Gao family, the Xu family, and the Imperial City Department's little Chief Zhao..."

"Brother, have the corpses of Mama and Qingxue been found?"

Chai Jin paused, his tone low:

"Found. That thief was scared out of his wits by Jing Ge'er, and as soon as little Chief Zhao asked, he told everything."

"Can I go see..."

Chai Jin shook his head:

"You can't go!"

Realizing his tone was a bit urgent just now, Chai Jin said softly:

"Rest assured, they have already been buried, and with the family's care, there won't be a lack of incense."

"Besides, Mama's descendants, our Chai family will naturally treat them well."

"Qingxue, her family is far away in Little Liang Mountain, and I don't know if there is anyone left in the family."

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng's sorrowful and pleading gaze, Chai Jin hurriedly said:

"Good good good, I will inquire, I will inquire, and I will tell you when there is news."

"I don't know when Cousin Aunt will be back. Sister, why don't you close your eyes for a while?"

Chai Zhengzheng hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

Lying on the bamboo couch, Chai Zhengzheng closed her eyes, while Chai Jin hummed a Cangzhou tune on the side and fanned his younger sister.

Perhaps because her brother was there, Chai Zhengzheng actually fell asleep,

but before Chai Jin could be happy, he saw his younger sister startle and wake up again.

"Brother, how long have I slept?"

"A quarter of an hour, sleep a bit more."

At this time, Chai Bo walked over and said: "Cousin Aunt is here!"

"Brother, did you find what I wanted?"

Princess Pingning's voice came: "Naturally, I found it. Zhengzheng, you avoid for a moment."

After Chai Zhengzheng entered the inner room, Princess Pingning beckoned.

The eunuchs hurriedly entered the courtyard,

assembled the wooden mannequin in the room,

and subsequently put Xu Zaijing's things on the mannequin.

Finally, the eunuch stuck the eyes inside the helmet, covered them with the neck guard,

and then inserted the two refined steel maces into the leather buckles behind the armor.

The Chai brothers looked and nodded. Beautiful!

The eunuchs left the courtyard.

"Zhengzheng, come out."

Chai Zhengzheng walked out, looked at the upright armor in the room, and the helmet with red feathers inserted on it, and she smiled.

Princess Pingning said:

"The Empress said, armor that hasn't been worn is not good, so she specifically went to the Xu family to find the one their little Fifth often wears for exercise."

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng's beautiful eyes widened, and there was an unclear brilliance in her eyes.

"And didn't choose anything else, paired it with this pair of refined steel maces. I heard this mace is a 'good weapon', and the door gods also hold this object."

"The Empress is also hoping it can help you."

The Chai brothers listened and nodded.

"Cousin Aunt, Zhengzheng thanks the Empress and your love here."

"Good good, I will definitely convey it to the Empress."

Chai Jin said hesitantly: "It's fine during the day, but it looks a bit... at night."

Princess Pingning smiled, walked to the armor,

no one else in the room understood what she was doing, until the Princess pulled the neck guard covering the helmet down,

revealing the cross-eyes inside.

The majesty of the armor and the silly foolishness of the eyes,

had a strong contrast.

"This, who drew this..."

"Its original owner..."

"Hahaha, truly..."

After Princess Pingning left the Chai family,

the Chai Jin brothers walked back to Chai Zhengzheng's room.

The three siblings sat down, and Chai Jin said:

"Zhengzheng, do you remember last year you wrote a letter, asking who the noble youth who won consecutive victories against Northern Liao clan members at the Great Court Meeting was, which was spread very lively in the Cangzhou official gazette?"

Looking at his younger sister's very interested gaze, Chai Jin said: "Well, it's also its original owner."

After the three talked for a while about the gossip of 'offering the golden arrow', the brothers left the room.

Chai Zhengzheng lay on the bed with the service of the only maid.

Under the candlelight,

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the upright armor not far from the bed and thought: Brother is right, it is indeed very majestic and a bit scary.

But suddenly remembering that pair of cross-eyes, Chai Zhengzheng smiled slightly, and suddenly wasn't afraid anymore.

Chai Zhengzheng fell asleep in a daze and started dreaming again.

In the dream, those thieves who harmed the family's Mama and servants, like wild beasts, pounced again.

Chai Zhengzheng panicked instantly and was about to scream, when suddenly several golden arrows appeared out of thin air, pinning those wild beasts to the ground or the wall.

Then, a person wearing golden armor with red feathers inserted in the helmet appeared in front of her, using the double maces in his hands to scatter the things she feared most in the dream one by one.

When the dream turned into the morning of that day, the person in front of her took off his helmet and wiped his sweat.

Chai Zhengzheng thought of the youth's handsome face that day, smiled slightly, and waited for him to turn back.

That person turned back,

but it was a cross-eyed person.

Chai Zhengzheng woke up unable to laugh or cry, but the sky was already brightening.

Quyuanjie.

Amidst the sound of crickets in the morning,

Xu Zaijing arrived at the horse racing track.

The room beside the track had long been opened.

Xu Zaijing walked in,

looked at the empty wall, and shouted: "Master! Master! Our family has been robbed!"

Qingcao, who followed, hurriedly ran over to see what was happening.

"Robbed by what? Your things were given away by the Eldest Lady! Didn't the Eldest Lady tell you?"

Xu Zaijing was embarrassed.

Although he came out of the ancestral hall under the 'rescue' of the Empress, Sun Shi was still sulking with him like last time and ignored him.

"New ones should be sent to you today, practice something else."

After Xu Zaijing finished his morning exercise and went to the Sheng family study,

thousands of li away in Dengzhou,

a Dengzhou Navy warship slowly docked.

Seeing Hu Yanjiong walked off the ship,

looked at his father on the shore, and hurriedly walked over, followed by the falconer holding a pair of falcons, and the Pan family servant carrying a pair of wild geese in a cage.

"Father, why have you come?"

Listening to Seeing Hu Yanjiong's words, Huyan Hai gave a bitter smile and said: "Come, I'll tell you slowly."

After walking for a long time,

arriving at the Dengzhou Navy station,

Seeing Hu Yanjiong was still somewhat incredulous: "Father, you mean our family's title is gone?"

"Mm."

Huyan Hai sighed and said:

"Sigh, your mother and I thought they were just reselling some Liaodong treasures, I didn't expect... forget it."

"Father, actually, that title has nothing to do with our fifth branch, it's just that I and..."

"Your marriage, the Xu family didn't say it was broken, it's also thanks to them that your father can still be an official in this Dengzhou Navy."

"Then my maternal family, because of Mother, had some complaints before, how is it now?"

Huyan Hai smiled and said: "Now? Do you know who the Dengzhou Navy Regional Military Commissioner is?"

Seeing Hu Yanjiong shook his head.

Huyan Hai nodded: "It's Qi Guogong hanging his name in Bianjing."

"Ah? That is to say, the Dengzhou Navy is still under your control?"

Huyan Hai nodded: "Now all the things from the Jin Kingdom, the imperial court only recognizes exchanging with the Pan family."

Seeing Hu Yanjiong, who was somewhat uncomfortable just now, had eyes that lit up.

"Return to Bianjing,"

As Qixi approached,

just like previous years, there were many vendors on the street selling Mohere, water floats, and grain boards.

Jingying Lane Sheng family,

welcomed a visit from several Daniangzis of the Cheng Guogong Feng family and the Changxing Bo Fu family.

The Daniangzis all bought quite a few of the small things mentioned above as gifts.

Wang Ruofu welcomed the relatives into Shou'an Hall,

and Sheng Old Lady hurriedly stood up.

After everyone took their seats and tea was served, they started chatting.

The two families of relatives came mainly to thank the Sheng family and Wang Ruofu for sending the news.

"Sigh, Old Lady, my master said, my father-in-law had already walked to the door and almost went in to receive them! Truly close."

Old Lady said: "It's good that we could help."

Everyone sighed again about the Huyan family, clearly such a good opportunity to be promoted to top-level nobles, but in the end, they buried the title alive.

The Sheng family children finished school and came over to pay their respects, naturally not lacking praise for the children.

Talking to the end, the topic was the upcoming banquet held by the Qi Guogong Fu.

Several Daniangzis estimated that almost half of the Bianjing nobles and officials had received invitations.

Agreeing to gather together at the Qi Guogong Fu, the Daniangzis then bid farewell one after another.

Seventh month, seventh day,

Qixi night,

just like last year, Xu Zaijing and his elder brother borrowed the eldest brother-in-law's supplies to worship the Kui Star in front of the Qiqiao Tower.

Subsequently, Sun Shi took her daughters-in-law and daughter to beg for skill.

Anmei was somewhat unhappy these few days, but Hualan used the news she heard from her father Sheng Hong about the Qi Guogong hanging his name, Huyan Hai actually controlling it, and the business all belonging to Anmei's future mother-in-law, the Pan family, to tease Anmei, which made Anmei smile.

Zhu family residence, Xu Zaijing's aunt said that having more children was lively, so the Ni family children were picked up by Ni Qiqiu to the Zhu family to beg for skill together, and Ni Daniangzi also prayed that her husband far away could be safe and sound.

The Sheng family also set up a Qiqiao Tower,

and in order not to fail to beg for skill like last year, Seeing Mo Lan specifically asked Changfeng to catch her a few more spiders to put into several wooden boxes, and wrote the character 'Mo' on the wooden boxes.

Rulan didn't want to be outdone, catching more spiders than Seeing Mo Lan, and also made markings.

Only Minglan, who took two small wooden boxes from Wei Shuyi, hers were the ones without markings.

In the Chai family courtyard, a small Qiqiao Tower was also set up, with Mohere grain boards, melons, and fruits offered in front of the tower, among which there was also a wooden carved step-in armor wooden mannequin.

Chai Zhengzheng closed her eyes and prayed silently. When she opened her eyes, she wanted to look at Qingxue beside her as in previous years, but she stopped herself.

Putting down the small wooden box containing the spider, Chai Zhengzheng returned to the room.

The Rong family's Qiqiao was somewhat noisy,

because Rong Xian was personally sent back by Xiangzhou Magistrate Yu.

After returning, he ate the bamboo board fried meat with added ingredients rewarded by Watching Watching Rong Fei from the palace.

At that time, the one executing the punishment was a tall and sturdy eunuch, and every hit made Rong Xian lose his voice in pain.

On the night of begging for skill, Rong Feiyan's ears were full of her brother's groans and 'aiyo'.

On the morning of the eighth day of the seventh month, Minglan excitedly opened the wooden boxes in front of the Qiqiao Tower.

Both wooden boxes had beautiful spider webs spun by spiders.

She hurriedly presented them like treasures to the Old Lady and Wei Shuyi.

Rulan had two that spun webs, and Seeing Mo Lan had so many wooden boxes, but only one spun a web, better than last year, all considered successful begging for skill.

When the two young ladies of the Rong and Chai families opened their wooden boxes, they were also smiling.

In the Kang family courtyard, the offerings in front of the Qiqiao Tower were somewhat shabby, and the appearance of the Mohere seemed to be from last year.

Kang Zhao'er and her younger siblings held their breath and opened the only tattered paper box.

Looking at the round spider web inside, the three of them jumped up happily and hurriedly went into the room to find their little mother.

On the tenth day of the seventh month,

Si hour, exactly (10:00 AM).

Outside the Yongtai Gate in the northeast corner of Bianjing,

Qi Guogong and his wife welcomed the Chai family head and his wife, who had come from afar, into Bianjing City with full faces of smiles.

The two families had many carriages, and the servants and mamas were also dressed very brightly, attracting the attention of many Bianjing commoners.

When the servants of the two families met people asking, they all replied politely: We are from the Cangzhou Chai family and the Qi Guogong Fu.

When meeting old people who knew the history, most of them secretly said that this Chai family was the truly wealthy family of the Great Zhou.

The Chai family entered the Chai Fu near the Imperial Palace,

rested for a day,

and on the twelfth day of the seventh month, the Qi Guogong Fu sent invitations again.

South Lecture Hall Lane.

Rong Mother came to Rong Feiyan's Hui Xue Courtyard and said:

"Yan'er, the Guogong Fu sent invitations, the Chai family has arrived in the capital, and their family's young lady has also come to the capital!"

"At that time, we must go and take a look. I heard from your sister that this Chai family is truly extraordinary!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 239 =====