Chapter 259

A few days after the Chai family gathering,

Duke of England's residence,

the Duchess of England, who had returned from a banquet, came to look at her daughter's courtyard.

The saddle, bow and arrows, polo sticks, chuiwan sticks, and long sword were cleaned and arranged neatly.

This scene surprised the Duchess greatly.

Entering the Fifth Da Niangzi's room, she saw a flower arrangement standing on the dark table; behind the vase was a hanging painting, which complemented each other perfectly.

"This arrangement is quite good, which maid's craftsmanship is this?"

"Reporting to the Duchess, it was guided by our Fifth Da Niangzi."

After hearing this, the Duchess shook her head with a smile:

"Hey!... You all can even say that!"

Saying this, she entered the Fifth Da Niangzi's bedchamber and saw her daughter wiping a short sword; the Duchess felt a bit more normal.

Just as she was about to speak, she saw the Fifth Da Niangzi place the short sword beside a flower basket filled with chrysanthemums.

Seeing her mother enter, the Fifth Da Niangzi hurriedly walked over.

"Fifth Da Niangzi, what new school of flower arranging is this?"

The Fifth Da Niangzi said with a smile: "This was learned from Tingyi!"

"Oh? Is there a saying?"

"Some words are like fresh flowers that make one feel comfortable in the heart; some words are like knives and swords that will hurt others and oneself, so one must be cautious in speech and action."

Hearing this, the Duchess was full of surprise and then hugged her youngest daughter with appreciation.

The Fifth Da Niangzi raised her eyebrows proudly.

In the few days since Qingcao returned,

when she wasn't accompanying Xu Zaijing to school, she was left in the Xu residence, where she incidentally started a "training class."

Because she did needlework in the morning, other maids came to exchange techniques in the afternoon.

Even Ye'er, the maid beside Anmei, was sent to learn a thing or two.

When at the Sheng residence, besides accompanying Xu Zaijing, Qingcao would sometimes go to Shou'an Hall to continue her "advanced studies" beside Fang Mama.

Whether it was the Old Madam or the two Mamas, Fang and Cui, they were all very interested in this new trendy incense formula in Bianjing and would study it from time to time.

Sometimes she would bring some gifts and follow Xiaotao to Jin'an Studio to see Wei Shuyi and Xiaodie sister.

One reason was to be grateful for their previous help, and the other was that Qingcao could learn a few embroidery skills from Wei Shuyi.

Qingcao thought she was having an illusion,

because every time she went, Wei Xiaoniang's eyes were full of tenderness when she looked at her, and when she explained embroidery techniques and needlework, she was also very patient, sometimes even teaching her hand-in-hand.

Xiaodie sister would even take out pastries wrapped in a handkerchief for her to eat every time, although she would always be embarrassed by Xiaotao's gaze and would quietly stuff them to Xiaotao before returning to the Xu residence.

This made Qingcao's embroidery skills far better than before.

On this day at the end of August,

Yunxiang followed Xu Zaijing to the Sheng residence.

When Qingcao and Huaxiang were embroidering clothes for Xu Zaijing, Dan Mama came to pass a message, saying that someone outside the gate was handing a letter to Xu Zaijing.

After Dan Mama accompanied Qingcao to the entrance,

Qingcao looked at the person for a few moments before recognizing who it was.

"Are you Fuding big brother from the Huyan family? How have you changed so much!"

"Qingcao girl!"

Fuding smiled embarrassedly.

Then he bowed and cupped his hands in a salute, handed over the letter, said a few words, and then took his leave.

In the evening, Xu Zaijing returned to the courtyard to wash his face.

Qingcao was helping him hand over a towel while saying:

"Young Master, the Huyan family sent you a letter. Their young master is visiting tomorrow. This servant personally went to the entrance to receive the letter."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

"I heard from Fuding big brother that he personally accompanied the Huyan young master to the Jin nation, and they traveled a long way!"

"Oh? Very far?"

"Hmm, I heard they even went as far as Heishui!"

Xu Zaijing, who was wiping his face, paused, then said:

"Good, send someone to the Sheng residence to ask for leave."

"Also, send a letter to brother-in-law, inviting him to come tomorrow."

At dinner, Da Niangzi Sun gave instructions about entertaining guests again.

Gu family,

Fuyao Courtyard, in the study,

Gu Tingyu, who had finished dinner, was also a bit surprised after receiving Xu Zaijing's letter:

"Why did Little Five think of sending me a letter?"

Pingmei lowered her head to look at the account book and ignored him; Gu Tingyu didn't care either, looking at his son in his arms on his own:

"Hmm? Why did Uncle send a letter to Father... Hey! You little brat!"

Gu Tingyu finally managed to make his son let go, saving the beard he was growing.

On the other side,

Qingxia put away the account book Pingmei had finished reading and whispered to Pingmei:

"Mistress, it might be late, it's not certain yet."

Qingzhi also nodded to the side.

Pingmei glared at Gu Tingyu irritably.

The next day,

Gu Tingyu, who had finished his morning court session, changed into casual clothes and came to Quyuanjie.

First, he went to pay respects to his mother-in-law, and after saying a few words, he came to Xu Zaijing's courtyard.

"Young Master, the Heir has arrived."

Gu Tingyu nodded to Qingcao, who was lifting the curtain for him, and came to Xu Zaijing's study.

There were no maids serving in the room, only Xu Zaijing and Seeing Hu Yanjiong and their respective servants.

"Brother-in-law!"

"Yu big brother!"

Gu Tingyu nodded with a smile.

Coming to Xu Zaijing's desk, he finally understood why no one was serving in the study.

Because the two were drawing a map on a large piece of paper.

"Brother-in-law, you come!"

Gu Tingyu nodded, took the brush from Xu Zaijing's hand, and after changing to a new sheet of paper, with a few strokes,

the general territory of the Jin nation appeared on the paper.

At this time, Qingyun went to the entrance to bring in the new tea.

Amidst the sound of Seeing Hu Yanjiong and Fuding talking about what they had seen and heard along the way over the past few months, Gu Tingyu asked a few questions from time to time and added a few strokes to the paper.

The further north they went, the more Gu Tingyu asked.

Finally, at the top edge of the paper,

near the Heishui River,

Gu Tingyu's eyes were even more frighteningly bright.

After Seeing Hu Yanjiong and Fuding finished speaking, Gu Tingyu smiled with satisfaction:

"There were some ways to find out about the situation in the Jin nation before, but none as detailed as Jiong Ge'er's!"

"And..."

Saying this, Gu Tingyu drew a horizontal line on the paper and said:

"About two months ago, the Jin nation stopped allowing Great Zhou envoys and merchants to cross this line."

Coincidentally, Seeing Hu Yanjiong was in the Jin nation during those months.

Because the tea was so good, and he gave many gifts,

he was introduced to many tribes north of that line.

Also wanting to find falcon catchers and places to capture gyrfalcons,

he had traveled through most of a large area.

The three left the desk,

and sat down at the table for drinking tea.

Drinking tea and listening to Seeing Hu Yanjiong talk about some things in the Jin nation,

especially the Heyuan tea cakes, which were worth their weight in gold; Seeing Hu Yanjiong sent out two wooden boxes, and half a boat of tea was used to open the door.

Gu Tingyu patted Seeing Hu Yanjiong's arm with emotion:

"Jiong Ge'er, you have really helped my Ministry of Personnel's Bureau of Military Evaluation a lot!"

Saying this, Gu Tingyu nodded at Xu Zaijing with appreciation; Seeing Hu Yanjiong going to the Jin nation was only known to Da Niangzi Sun, Da Niangzi Pan, and Da Niangzi Wu.

And whether the Ministry of War had a map of the Jin nation, neither the Marquis of Jinghai nor Huyan Hai knew, so naturally, they wouldn't let Seeing Hu Yanjiong take the initiative to go to the Ministry of War to talk about these things.

"Big brother-in-law, let's go, let's go see the gyrfalcon my future second brother-in-law gave me."

As Xu Zaijing spoke, he took the map that Gu Tingyu had drawn and which Qingyun had already rolled up.

Gu Tingyu was about to wave his hand to say that the map was already in his heart, but he didn't say it; instead, he took it and said:

"It's copied, I'll give it to you."

"Thank you, brother-in-law."

Subsequently, the three went smiling to the newly established "Falcon Courtyard" beside the horse racing track; the falconer bought from the Jin nation had already moved in and was serving them carefully.

"Whoa! Four?"

Seeing Gu Tingyu's surprised look, Seeing Hu Yanjiong smiled; the two large and two small gyrfalcons, a family of four, were all sent over.

"When the time comes, invite the Zhang family's boy to take a look, perhaps he can exchange some insights on raising falcons."

Xu Zaijing continued:

"When they grow up, I can also send one to Father and Brother!"

"Not bad!"

Gu Tingyu said.

The three observed the divine-looking gyrfalcons again and then walked outside.

When passing the horse racing track, Anmei was riding a dragon horse in the field; the dragon horse, which didn't look tall or long-legged, didn't walk very fast, just paced over and came to the three of them.

"Brother-in-law, Little Five, Eleventh Brother."

Gu Tingyu and Xu Zaijing just nodded, and Seeing Hu Yanjiong hurriedly bowed and saluted.

Anmei just greeted them, then the dragon horse took a few light steps and moved away from the three.

"Let's go!"

Hearing Gu Tingyu's voice, Seeing Hu Yanjiong hurriedly followed.

When they arrived near the room where Alan and the others lived, two cats were tied up and lying in front of the door.

The mat under the cats was a large dog lying on the ground with a helpless look.

When Xu Zaijing approached, one cat stood up and hid behind.

Ye'er, who was serving here, saw the crowd and hurriedly performed a squatting salute.

The Xu family's lunch was set in Xu Zaijing's courtyard.

During the meal,

after some conversation, Xu Zaijing and his brother-in-law also figured out the Huyan family's attitude that they felt this year was not going well and were preparing to get married next year.

Gu Tingyu asked with a sincere attitude: "Jiong Ge'er, how are your grandfather and grandmother doing recently?"

Seeing Hu Yanjiong nodded and said yes.

Their health was good, so next year would be fine.

If they weren't good and something happened, Seeing Hu Yanjiong would have to observe mourning...

In the afternoon, Seeing Hu Yanjiong left the Xu residence with Gu Tingyu.

Gu Tingyu took the drawn map and went directly to the Ministry of Personnel's Bureau of Military Evaluation.

Combining the information provided by the two major secret agencies, the Imperial City Bureau and the Rongji Bureau, Gu Tingyu further perfected the map of the Jin nation.

Soon it was September.

The autumn wind was refreshing.

Outside Jinming Pool,

Da Niangzi Wu's polo field was renovated again, piled full of various chrysanthemums.

Different from last year, outside the polo field's felt fence, with the polo field as the center, a garden forty steps wide was also cleared, and chrysanthemums were placed there as well.

However, if you want to enter the garden outside the polo field,

one is to pay ninety-nine coins, or bring a pot of outstanding chrysanthemums to place in the garden.

Two is that you must bring at least one man or woman of marriageable age.

Only by satisfying these two conditions can one enter.

And inside the polo field, one cannot enter without a letter.

Because to enter the polo field, one has to pass through that garden outside the field.

The result was that when Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye rode their horses over together,

after showing their letters and entering the garden outside,

they saw many young men and women dressed in festive attire on both sides of the road leading to the polo field.

(End of chapter)