Chapter 24

On the second day, the nobles and wealthy households in the capital had already begun to set up high platforms on the roadside, inviting theatrical troupes, and famous courtesans in the capital to dance and sing on the stage.

There were also courtesans from other places who rented a high platform on the street to perform, hoping to get the attention of high-ranking officials and wealthy people in the capital, stay in the capital, and fight for a name that would be recorded in history.

At night, the Bianjing City, which had no curfew, made all the envoys from other countries and various tribes from outside the territory look surprised; in their own countries or islands, there had never been such a lively crowd and such prosperous food and drink.

How prosperous was it? The names of food in "Tokyo Meng Hua Lu" filled almost a page.

Because it was the time for the performance in two days, Sun Shi naturally didn't let Xu Zaijing go out for the sake of stability.

So on this day, only the four Xu brothers and sisters followed Sun Shi to tour this prosperous Bianjing City at night.

It was already Hai hour when they returned.

However, they didn't forget their little brother at home, bringing back many lanterns, food, poems, and silk handkerchiefs and sachets scattered by the courtesans.

The maid Xiaozhu, who stayed at home, saw everyone and said in a low voice: "Young Master Jing has already slept, saying he is conserving energy for the performance."

"You take more care, don't let him kick the quilt at night and catch a cold."

"Yes, Madam."

Xu Zaihang and Xu Anmei, who wanted to secretly tease their brother awake, were taken away by their mother.

"Don't disturb your brother; you are not young anymore, why are you still so insensible."

Outside the Marquis Yongyi's residence,

the street was still full of people coming and going, noisy and incessant,

Xu Zaijing, who was sleeping in his room, returned to the modern city in a daze, sitting on a train, standing at the door of the toilet in the carriage.

He waited and waited, but the person inside just wouldn't come out,

there was a voice telling him to wake up, but Xu Zaijing was somewhat reluctant to leave this modern life with its convenience and developed technology.

He wanted to savor modern life a bit more and subconsciously didn't want to wake up.

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Just when he couldn't help it, the toilet door finally opened, and he rushed in in a panic.

A burst of comfort.

A burst of warmth under his body.

Xu Zaijing woke up.

Terrible!!!

Naturally, he couldn't sleep all night wet; if he caught a cold because of this, he would lose more than he gained.

So he could only shout.

Xiaozhu hurriedly put on her clothes and walked over.

Xu Zaijing: "Wet."

Xiaozhu: "..."

Tomorrow is the day of the Emperor's birthday.

At the dinner table of the Marquis Yongyi's residence, Sun Shi looked at her youngest son's seat with some confusion.

Today her son did not sit together for breakfast on time.

Just as she was about to send Xiaoju to ask, Xiaozhu, who had taken care of Xu Zaijing last night, had already come to Sun Shi's side with a smile and whispered a few words to Sun Shi.

Sun Shi looked surprised, but her eyes were full of smiles.

Her son was too sensible, and she was starting to suspect he had innate wisdom.

But what Xiaozhu said made her know that her son was just a six or seven-year-old child, the kind who would still wet the bed.

Xu Zaijing knew that his bed-wetting would be known by his mother; his skin was thin, and he was embarrassed to eat breakfast at the table.

"Pack a few portions in a food box for Jingge'er and send them to the horse racing track."

Xiaozhu agreed.

The four Xu brothers and sisters were quite curious about this, but Sun Shi glanced at them and said: "Eat, after eating, do what you need to do."

Xu Zaihang and Xu Anmei, the two restless ones, looked at each other, not knowing what they were thinking.

In the horse racing track, the groom was talking to the servant Qingyun.

"Tomorrow you will go to the palace with Jingge'er; have you remembered what I exhorted you?"

"Remembered, watch the young master's horses, don't let anyone approach, don't let anyone touch the young master's horses. Don't let anyone touch the young master's clothes, bow, and arrows. After going on stage, check the archery target and mechanism."

"Good. Remember, the most important thing is the young master. If someone tells you that someone in the residence is looking for you, what should you do?"

"If there is a big matter, naturally I will find Madam; I am just a servant, it is better to look after the young master."

"Someone says I am dead, what should you do?"

Qingyun's eyes were horrified, but seeing the severity in his uncle's eyes, he lowered his head.

"Raise your head! Look at me and say it!"

"Qingyun is the young master's playmate servant, a, a, a, a groom died, what does it have to do with me." In the second half, Qingyun's voice already carried crying.

"Hold out your hand," the groom said.

Qingyun wiped his tears and held out his hand somewhat timidly.

"Pa!"

A red mark appeared on his palm.

"Say it again."

"A groom, that's all, died, what does it have to do with me!"

"Hmph."

The groom turned and left.

When he left, he said: "Take the shield and stand in front of the archery target."

"Yes."

The groom walked to Xu Zaijing's side and said casually: "Practice less today, just maintain the feel; Qingyun will stand in front of the archery target, don't be disturbed by him."

Xu Zaijing said: "I won't."

The day of the Emperor's birthday.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and the sky was not yet bright.

Early on, Xu Zaijing entered the palace with the servants of the residence.

Before leaving, Sun Shi encouraged Xu Zaijing; looking at her son's bright eyes, Sun Shi stroked Xu Zaijing's face and said: "Go."

The bow and arrow, and the archery target mechanism had already been transported to the palace yesterday; today Xu Zaijing only needed to bring the servants, horses, and clothes.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites were at the palace gate, counting the people according to the list in the booklet.

At the same time, they arranged everyone's position according to the order of the programs.

Xu Zaijing was closing his eyes and resting in his position when a voice came.

"Xu Zaijing, Xu Zaijing!"

He turned his head and saw a young boy holding a small long spear calling out not far away.

This long spear was made in the palace, the spear shaft was symmetrical, the spear head was fine copper, and the red tassel was smooth,

beside the young boy was a servant, who hurriedly bowed and saluted when he saw Xu Zaijing: "Greetings, Zhang Zhang Sanlang."

Qingyun had also been taught many courtesies these days, and hurriedly saluted toward Gu Tingye: "Greetings, Second Young Master."

Gu Tingye came to Xu Zaijing's side; in these years, Xu Zaijing had often gone to the Marquis Ningyuan's residence, and naturally was familiar with Gu Tingye.

Gu Tingye was not the child who lost his mother in his childhood in the play; his personality was naturally not that rigid, and although he liked to compare strength with Xu Zaijing, generally speaking, he was still an ordinary child.

He wouldn't do things like harming the goldfish in the palace.

"Zhang Zhang Sanlang, when I came, I saw a pool of water in the palace, the fish inside were this big!" Saying this, Gu Tingye gestured.

"After performing for Emperor Uncle, let's go catch a few and roast them to eat!"

Alright, Xu Zaijing took back his previous thought; Gu Tingye would continue to do things like harming the goldfish in the palace.

"Don't mess around; the things in the palace are all imperial; what does it count if you catch them? Aren't you afraid of Marquis Gu teaching you a lesson?"

"Hmph, he dares... dares to beat me to death, but that fish is really big; not only big, but also stupid. Seeing me go over, they actually swam over."

Saying this, Xu Zaijing took a piece of beef jerky from his bosom,

"Here, do you want to eat?"

"Since you gave it, what do I dare not eat? If something happens, I'll have my mother go to Aunt Sun to reason.

Hey!

The night before yesterday, I went to the street and saw someone performing; that was truly wonderful!

Have you seen it? It was beside the Imperial Street."

Saying this, Gu Tingye grabbed it, and the servant Zhique at the side just took a look and didn't say much.

(End of this chapter)