Chapter 256: Turtle soup and lamb wine [Thank you all for your support! Bowing again!]

The hour of Mao is about to pass (around 7:00 AM).

Inside the hall,

The Rong Concubine woke up and habitually touched her belly. It was only after a pause that she remembered she had already given birth to a Princess last night.

Feeling the soft fabric of the forehead band on her forehead,

The Rong Concubine's mood could not be said to be good or bad. There was disappointment, and there was also a sense of relief.

Zhao Fang was now the only Imperial Prince. The Rong Concubine did not know how the Empress would look at this child if she had given birth to an Imperial Prince.

Being a Princess, it saved a lot of trouble. As one of the two younger sisters of the Imperial Prince Zhao Fang, her status was very noble.

If the younger brothers and sisters of the family could marry into the public and noble families in the capital, the Rong family could get rid of the name of a nouveau riche family of bricklayers.

The Rong Concubine turned her head slightly and saw her daughter, who had already been washed clean, sleeping soundly beside her pillow at this time.

Her heart was free of those calculations, and she only felt that her heart was about to melt.

The personal female official beside her said:

"Niangniang, the Princess looks like you."

The Rong Concubine smiled slightly. A nursing baby couldn't tell who she looked like, but looking like herself was also a very good thing.

"Niangniang, the Empress has sent some things that the Prince and Princess Yue used before. What do you think?"

The Rong Concubine paused and said, "Help me thank the Empress. Use what can be used, and it can also let her get some of the blessings of her brother and sister."

"Yes, Niangniang."

The hour of Si (9:00 AM).

The Emperor, together with the Empress, brought Zhao Fang to the Rong Concubine's place.

The swaddling clothes were being held by a female official.

When walking to the side of the couch, Zhao Fang looked at the small mattress spread on the couch and said in surprise:

"Mother Empress, the small mattress that younger sister used before!"

The Empress nodded with a smile: "You also used it when you were young!"

Zhao Fang was puzzled: "How come I don't know?"

The Empress and the Rong Concubine looked at each other and smiled. The Rong Concubine said:

"The Prince was still young at that time, so naturally he doesn't remember."

Zhao Fang, beside the couch, walked to the Emperor's side. The Emperor hurriedly sat on the chair and showed the child in his arms to Zhao Fang.

Zhao Fang rested his arms on the chair armrest and held his chin with both hands, saying:

"Younger sister, grow up quickly. When the time comes, I will also send you new gourds and dates!"

Hearing this, everyone in the hall was stunned, and then they laughed one after another.

"Fang'er, it's a bit early for you to say this when your younger sister is only this big."

"Oh, then I'll wait until younger sister is older!"

The Emperor and Empress and Zhao Fang stayed in the hall for a while before leaving.

At noon,

The Rong family entered the palace again.

Rong Feiyan, with the help of the female official, finally learned how to hold a child.

Looking at the little Princess in the swaddling clothes, Rong Feiyan said: "Sister, Yue'er is really red! I'm whiter than her."

Saying this, Rong Feiyan showed her fingers under the swaddling clothes.

The Rong Concubine smiled and said:

"For a newborn child, the redder the skin, the whiter it will be later! I remember when Mother gave birth to you, you were also red! I should have been contemplating that piece of mutton-fat white jade when I was three months pregnant with Liyue, and it had an effect!"

Looking at Rong Feiyan's surprised eyes, the Rong Concubine continued:

"That piece of mutton-fat white jade, your sister has already put it away. When you... you can also contemplate it."

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan frowned:

"Sister! What are you talking about! What later? I'm ignoring you!"

Saying this, Rong Feiyan turned her back to the Rong Concubine and her mother,

Holding the Princess, she continued to walk in the hall. Not knowing what she was thinking,

She leaned toward her niece in her arms and said:

"Yue'er is so beautiful! Prettier than your mother!"

Listening to her younger sister's words, the Rong Concubine smiled and looked at her mother.

Rong Daniang, however, was somewhat disgusted and whispered beside the Rong Concubine:

"Why is it a girl? If it were an Imperial Prince, our Rong family..."

Looking at the Rong Concubine's smile disappearing, and the gaze that pierced like a needle, Rong Daniang closed her mouth.

She didn't know why, but she was somewhat afraid of this eldest daughter.

"Yue'er is a noble of the imperial family, the only younger sister of the Imperial Prince. Mother, don't say this again in the future, don't blame your daughter for turning her face."

"I..."

"Now that I have a daughter, Xian Ge'er shouldn't continue to walk dogs and fight chickens in the capital. Didn't he want to join the army before? I begged the Emperor to find him a position in the Imperial Guard!"

Rong Daniang said with a panicked expression: "Imperial Guard? Before, your cousin was scared to death, Xian'er he..."

"Listen to you, listen to you!"

The Rong Concubine withdrew her angry glare, and then shouted to her younger sister: "Feiyan, bring Yue'er over!"

Before Rong Daniang left the palace,

The Rong Concubine looked at her younger sister and instructed: "Some things, after all, we owe the Xu family. Your sister has a thank-you gift here, and our family cannot be lacking either."

Rong Feiyan listened to her sister's words: "Then, should Mother and I find an opportunity to go to the Xu family to express our gratitude?"

The Rong Concubine nodded:

"For things like setting up porridge sheds, you still have to watch your brother, don't let him fool around."

"Yes, sister."

The next morning,

The news that the Great Zhou had an extra Princess had already spread throughout Bianjing.

The official gazettes to various prefectures also added this information.

The Madams of the imperial clan and nobles were not in a hurry to enter the palace, but were waiting for the little Princess's full-month celebration.

The hour of You (after 5:00 PM).

Jiying Lane,

Because the location was not considered noble, and the surroundings were mostly wealthy commoners of Bianjing,

It couldn't compare with areas like Xingguo Lane and Huiming Lane,

And there were no residences of high officials and nobles.

On the roadside leading to the outer city, there were often people begging.

When Xu Zaijing and his elder brother returned home in the afternoon,

They saw that near Jiying Lane, soldiers from the Street Department were listlessly setting up sheds.

Qingyun asked a few questions casually and learned that it was the Rong family setting up many porridge sheds in Bianjing to accumulate blessings and virtues for the little Princess.

After Qingyun asked, he took a string of money from the bag on the horse's back and threw it to the soldiers as a hard-work fee,

Receiving continuous thanks.

Behind the Xu family group, the servants of the Gu and Qi families who hadn't left the lane yet also followed suit, throwing a few strings of reward money.

After they walked far away,

The busy soldiers gathered together and said:

"Can't tell, this Jiying Lane, the location is not extremely good, but the reward money is unexpectedly much."

A soldier dressed as a squad leader said:

"Should be relatives of the Rong family! Little ones, set it up firmly! If it's not set up well, tomorrow it might not be reward money, but whips!"

"After we're done, let's go eat something good on the side!"

Hearing this, the soldiers worked energetically.

On the way back to Quyuanjie, there were many fewer sheds,

Beside the working soldiers, there were also servants and managers standing on the side,

Constantly telling the surrounding commoners that things would be distributed tomorrow,

And what they were preparing to distribute was not cooked cakes or rice porridge,

But food like meat buns and oil cakes that were more expensive at the stalls nearby.

At that time, they could receive them for free just by saying some auspicious words.

Passing through Quyuanjie,

Arriving at the Xu family's main gate, Qingyun looked back at the stalls they passed.

Shu Bo was cooking food with a full face of smiles today,

But the few boys who were busy at the surrounding stalls were gone.

Entering the main gate and arriving near the horse racing track, they saw that not far away, by the pond,

Several large wooden buckets were being washed.

Chu Zhan, carrying a crab in one hand, was shouting and chasing after the few Bai Gao Kingdom children.

The terrified screaming sounds of the few Bai Gao Kingdom children seemed to be as if there was some monster chasing them from behind.

When they looked back, Chu Zhan didn't chase them. Just as they were about to relax, they saw Chu Zhan throw the crab over directly.

The children scattered like birds and beasts again,

Making Chu Zhan laugh until he held his belly.

Zaizhang saw this scene, shook his head with a smile, and went straight to find Hualan; they hadn't seen each other all day.

Xu Zaijing drove his horse to the pond side.

Alan and the Li brothers, who were helping, hurriedly bowed:

"Young Master!"

Sitting on the horse's back, looking at the large "Qiao" character on the large bucket, Xu Zaijing said:

"Is this the river fresh food sent by the Qiao family?"

A servant on the side bowed and said:

"Yes, Young Master, sent in the afternoon. The inner courtyard asked us to wash the buckets clean."

Looking at the servants picking up the river fresh food crawling around by the pond, Xu Zaijing said:

"Don't pick them up anymore. If you want to eat, I'll have them sent to the courtyard later. Let these enter the pond; maybe we can catch them to play next year."

"Yes, Young Master!"

After dismounting, the horse was led away by Alan.

Xu Zaijing shouted at Chu Zhan, who was still running: "Come, let's go to the kitchen to pick a few fat ones and take them to Shu Bo's stall to eat."

After finishing, he beckoned to the Li brothers.

After waiting for them to follow, Xu Zaijing looked curiously at the appearance of the few Bai Gao Kingdom children:

"Why are they so afraid of this kid Chu Zhan?"

Li Taotie said: "In my... in the Bai Gao Kingdom, they haven't seen these crabs or anything, and thought they were monsters."

Looking at Qingyun's surprised appearance, Li Chimei said:

"When we first came to Bianjing before, we were also afraid to eat this monster-like crab."

"It looks too ugly."

Xu Zaijing said: "Then what about now?"

"I wish this monster were even bigger."

"Hahahaha."

The few people laughed and arrived near the Xu family kitchen, sent someone to bring some in a basin, and then arrived at Shu Bo's stall.

Xu Zaijing hadn't eaten yet when he was called back to the inner courtyard by Sun Shi.

Qingyun accompanied Shu Bo to have some stir-fried chicken and rabbit first.

Less than two quarters of an hour later,

The cooked crabs were served on the table.

The few Bai Gao Kingdom children, both boys and girls,

Looking at the Li family elder brother they trusted eating with gusto, only then did they hesitantly taste the "monster" in their eyes.

"Hmm, the monster is really good."

A quarter of an hour later,

Chu Zhan, who ate slowly and carefully, looked at the children he had scared just now, who were now staring at the crab in his hand.

"Forget it, you big brother, I've eaten enough, you guys eat."

Shu Bo walked over with a smile and placed the old wine bought from the restaurant on the table:

"Big ones and small ones, all drink some."

Qingyun hurriedly stood up and responded.

Shu Bo waved his hand with a smile.

Xu family inner courtyard,

Xu Zaijing sat at the dining table.

The crabs in this plate were much larger than the ones Xu Zaijing took out.

When Anmei wanted to eat the fourth crab, she was patted by Sun Shi, and she could only helplessly eat river shrimp.

Xu Zaijing, who ate slowly and carefully, saw this scene and smiled, which drew a roll of eyes from Anmei.

After rolling her eyes, Anmei picked through her plate, wanting to find the crab claw her younger brother was eating.

When the meal was almost finished, a maidservant walked in carrying a large soup bowl with a lid.

Xu Zaijing wiped his mouth and looked at the soup bowl with anticipation as the lid was lifted.

Just as Xu Zaijing hurriedly handed over his bowl, Sun Shi frowned and said:

"Jing'er, dispose of these few crabs!"

"Mother, crab is cold in nature, I want to..."

"You are not a woman! What do you want, you only want to eat crab!"

Xu Zaijing looked at the turtle in the soup bowl and straightened his face:

"Yes, Mother, I only want to eat crab."

Looking at the sensible Xu Zaijing, Sun Shi showed a smile:

"Xiao Zhu, go and get him a bottle of lamb wine bestowed by the palace."

"Yes, Madam."

Hearing Sun Shi's words, Anmei happily looked at the others at the table:

"Today we have a treat."

This lamb wine was a top-grade imperial gift, and Sun Shi treasured it like anything, not opening it easily.

Saying this, Sun Shi looked at Hualan and gave a look of "why don't you pour the soup into the bowl."

Zaizhang on the side had his attention drawn by the blushing Hualan when the turtle soup came up.

He only heard Xu Zaijing's "I only want to eat crab," and then he smiled and gave the crab in his hand to Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing sighed helplessly.

Soon, Mama Zhu brought the lamb wine in. The mud seal of the wine bottle had been opened and placed beside Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing beckoned to Huaxiang, who was standing by.

After she approached, he whispered a few words.

Soon, Huaxiang placed a washed bamboo tube for holding tea leaves beside him.

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing diligently poured wine for his mother, two sisters-in-law, and sister. When he passed Zaizhang, who was holding his cup, he skipped over him as if he hadn't seen him.

Arriving at his seat, Xu Zaijing took advantage of pouring wine for himself to secretly fill the bamboo tube.

Hualan pulled Zaizhang's sleeve, signaling to the nourishing turtle soup in front of him, and Zaizhang gave up.

Sun Shi and her daughters-in-law and daughter each drank a cup of lamb wine. At first, they didn't feel anything, but after drinking it, they felt a warmth in their lower abdomen.

After Zaizhang finished the turtle soup,

The family talked for a while longer,

And after finishing the meal, they returned to their respective courtyards.

Just after leaving Sun Shi's courtyard, Xu Zaijing was caught by Anmei and whispered "extorted":

"Hand over the rest!"

Xu Zaijing was helpless and handed the small wine jar he was carrying to his sister.

"You're sensible."

Saying this, Anmei gave the wine jar to the maidservant Ye'er and walked back to her courtyard.

On the way, Ye'er said:

"Miss, you are really amazing!"

Anmei smiled and said: "That's right, can he escape my eyes? Hmph!"

After finishing, she continued walking and arrived at her courtyard. Anmei didn't know what she thought of, but her eyes were full of satisfaction. She also knew that her younger brother was cherishing her.

"Quick, put the crabs you hid on the plate, slurp."

Xu Zaijing also returned to his courtyard at this time.

Huaxiang, who was serving him, was still carrying a small food box.

Entering the room, Qingcao and Yunxiang looked at the food box in surprise. After the food box was opened, there was some disappointment on their faces.

Qingcao, who had experienced stomach pain, had taken the crab as the culprit and didn't dare to eat it at all.

Xu Zaijing directly placed the bamboo tube in his hand on the table and said:

"After eating, everyone must drink a cup before going to sleep!"

Huaxiang on the side hurriedly smiled and bowed: "Thank you, Young Master, for your care!"

Looking at the confused appearance of Qingcao and Yunxiang, Huaxiang hurriedly explained what was in the bamboo tube.

After the three of them ate the river fresh crab while sharing the lamb wine in the bamboo tube,

They soon turned into three little drunken cats, sleeping together on the couch in Qingcao's outer room.

The next day,

When Xu Zaijing returned from his morning exercise,

Qingcao, who saw him, said happily: "Young Master, my stomach doesn't hurt!"

"Hmm."

Xu Zaijing waved his hand.

Arriving at Sun Shi's courtyard, he saw only himself and his eldest sister-in-law, Xie Shi, eating.

After asking his mother, he learned that his elder brother and sister were both somewhat unwell.

When going to the Sheng family,

Zaizhang walked with Xu Zaijing, but didn't choose to ride a horse like Xu Zaijing, but chose to take a carriage.

When getting into the carriage, he also secretly rubbed his waist.

On the way to the Sheng family,

Xu Zaijing saw that under the shed set up yesterday, people were already distributing food.

From time to time, he could hear those Bianjing commoners saying auspicious words, and after receiving the gifted food, their voices became even louder.

There was also a young man in a tattered green shirt, holding two meat buns in his hand,

Looking at the "Rong" flag under the shed, he bowed and then turned to eat them in large mouthfuls.

After eating one meat bun, he hesitated slightly,

Smacked his lips, swallowed his saliva,

And still put the other meat bun into his bosom.

Xu Zaijing saw this scene and pointed to the green-shirted young man to Qingyun.

Qingyun understood, rode his horse to the green-shirted young man.

After dismounting, Qingyun bowed and placed a string of copper coins into the young man's hand.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Qingyun said: "My master saw that you were in trouble, so he wanted to help."

The green-shirted young man said: "Please tell me your name, I will definitely repay you in the future!"

"My master said, if you see other people in trouble in the future, you can also extend a helping hand, that is the repayment."

After finishing, Qingyun bowed again and rode away.

Looking at the departing Qingyun, the young man whispered: "Good! If I see another person in trouble, I will definitely extend a helping hand!"

Although he had a few strings of copper coins, the young man had no intention of taking out the bun to continue eating.

When they were about to reach Jiying Lane,

From time to time on the roadside, people said,

At the porridge shed in front, there was a beautiful young lady serving porridge, and a handsome young master distributing cooked cakes.

When Xu Zaijing rode past, he saw that it was a somewhat familiar maidservant, and a servant of Rong Xian was busy.

Qingcao, who was in the carriage behind, lifted the curtain and said:

"Young Master, it's Sister Ningxiang beside Rong family's young lady."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

When turning into Jiying Lane,

There were two other carriages hanging the "Rong" wooden sign,

Stopped by the wide lane,

Standing around were a few tall and strong soldiers.

Hearing the sound of horse hooves, Rong Xian lifted the curtain and jumped out of the carriage:

"Jing Ge'er! Hahaha! Tell you a good news, your brother... your brother I am going to join the Imperial Guard and become a Grand General!"

Xu Zaijing bowed and said: "Xian Ge'er, why so early today?"

"Hey, sister has a Princess, I was sent to serve porridge!"

In the carriage in front of Qingcao, Zaizhang opened the carriage door, yawned, and asked:

"What General?"

Rong Xian said proudly: "Bestowed by the Emperor! Let me join the Imperial Guard's Shenyong Army."

Zaizhang frowned and thought, looked at the few tall and strong soldiers, and said:

"Shenyong Army? Being so tall and strong, it's also ordinary."

Rong Xian said with a smile: "Jing Ge'er, when the time comes, I will treat you to celebrate, you must come!"

Xu Zaijing bowed and said: "Easy to say!"

Saying this, the horse walked forward.

At this time, the curtain of the Rong family carriage on the roadside was lifted,

Rong Feiyan and Seeing Xi Bu were sitting in the carriage. Seeing Xu Zaijing, whose line of sight was higher than their carriage roof,

Rong Feiyan hurriedly turned her head to look outside and smiled slightly:

"Feiyan greets Xu family brother."

Xu Zaijing nodded and smiled politely, then said: "Feiyan girl, morning."

The horse walked away with a trot. In the carriage behind, Qingcao lifted the curtain, nodded politely to Rong Feiyan, and said with a smile:

"Feiyan girl, morning, Sister Seeing Xi Bu, we meet again!"

Rong Feiyan waved with a smile.

Watching Xu Zaijing dismount at the Sheng family gate,

Entering the Sheng family courtyard gate,

Rong Feiyan then put down the curtain and said: "Return to the mansion."

Rong Xian outside the carriage:

"Sister, aren't you watching the porridge serving?"

After returning to the Xu family from school,

On this last day before the Mid-Autumn Festival,

The Xu family received a message from the eldest sister Pingmei.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival,

The Chai family was going to invite many noble girls to participate in the incense clothing gathering, incense tasting, and flower arranging.

Before in Yang Zhou, Pingmei knew that Qingcao had learned the skill of tying hair from Mama Fang for a long time,

And wanted to ask for an external aid for her sister-in-law Tingyi.

Xu Zaijing naturally had no objection. Being able to see Qingzhi, Qingcao was also happy.

Chai family.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the puppet armor in the room somewhat unsure,

She hesitated and muttered to herself:

"Qingcao is an inner courtyard maidservant, she shouldn't recognize that this is his armor..."

"Or, don't move it..."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 257 =====

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the puppet armor in the room with some uncertainty.

She hesitated and muttered to herself:

"Qingcao is just a maid in the inner courtyard; she shouldn't be able to recognize that this is his armor, right?"

"Maybe I shouldn't move it."

(End of chapter)