Chapter 263: Coal Hill Looks Reassuring [Deep thanks to everyone for your support!]

Seeing the Xu Zaijing brothers,

the Xu and Rong family maids serving at the entrance all squatted and bowed,

and the sounds of "Greetings, Third Young Master"

and "Greetings, Young Master" rang out one after another.

Qingcao, who had gotten off the carriage, saw the maids and hurriedly approached them with a smile.

When Xu Zaijing entered the courtyard sitting on the back of the fine horse, he saw at a glance the two noble ladies in the distance who were lightly pulling the reins and shouting to stop their horses.

After exchanging a look with his elder brother, Xu Zaijing cupped his hands toward the two in the distance, then dismounted,

and patted the fine horse. The fine horse walked toward Alan on its own. After Alan removed the saddle and bridle, it ran happily into the stables together.

After the two Xu Zaijing brothers dismounted, they soon walked out of the large courtyard where the racetrack was located.

Xu Zaijing disappeared from view. After the two fine horses neighed a few times, they became obedient and no longer walked toward that side.

Anmei and Rong Feiyan raised their eyebrows and said: "Still quite polite, huh."

Rong Feiyan smiled, unable to tell if she was happy or disappointed in her heart.

Hearing the "huh" at the end of Anmei's sentence,

the fine horse she was sitting on suddenly increased the frequency of its four hooves, shaking Anmei so that she had a backward leaning motion, and then the two fine horses began to trot in the racetrack.

When Anmei and Rong Feiyan passed by where the maids were,

looking at Rong Feiyan, who was riding on the horse,

because the horse was running against the breeze, the cyan-white hair ribbon on her head was blown fluttering behind her head,

and the light-colored silk autumn shirt and the tied straps of the apron at her waist were also blown to cling to her body and flutter,

laughing very happily,

the maids Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang seemed to have their moods infected,

and they looked at each other happily at the same time.

The horse speed slowed down slightly. Rong Feiyan looked at Anmei and said:

"Sister, why is it that riding this horse, these stirrups feel so comfortable to step on?"

Anmei smiled and said: "Alan and Xunshu, the two of them, adjusting the length of these stirrups is a skill they've known since they were young!"

Xu family mistress's courtyard,

Xu Zaijing and his elder brother entered the hall,

and bowed gracefully:

"Madam, peace."

"Mother, autumn peace."

Madam Sun and Madam Rong smiled and asked:

"Why did you come back so early today?"

Zaihang was about to speak,

when Madam Rong on the side looked at the two Xu family sons and hurriedly said:

"Sit, sit quickly! Why are you still standing and talking!"

Zaihang smiled, watched Madam Sun wave her hand to signal, and then he and Xu Zaijing sat on the chairs.

After sitting down, he said:

"Master Zhuang's family arrived in the capital ahead of schedule today, so the master let us finish school early."

After hearing this, Madam Sun frowned and said:

"You should have accompanied the master to pick up the people; why did you come back early!"

Xu Zaijing took up the conversation and said:

"Mother, my classmates and I were going to, but we were sternly refused by Master Zhuang."

Madam Rong looked at Madam Sun in confusion. Madam Sun thought for a while and nodded:

"That's true; if you went, it would indeed be a bit eye-catching."

The Xu Zaijing brothers accompanied them for a while longer,

and seeing that it was almost time for lunch,

the Xu and Rong family daughters still hadn't returned from the racetrack.

When Madam Sun turned to pick up the teacup, she glanced at Mama Dan in the house, and Mama Dan understood and went to prepare.

"Madam, it's getting late; why not have a meal at my house today. I hope you won't mind!"

Hearing Madam Sun's words, Madam Rong, who was thinking about the Imperial Consort's instructions in the palace earlier and racking her brains for topics, was overjoyed and hurriedly said:

"This... how can this be! Feiyan, this girl, has she gone crazy playing!"

As she spoke, she poked her head out to look, then turned back and said:

"Sister's kitchen, I don't mind, I don't mind!"

"Uh... I've eaten it before; it's much better than my house's!"

Subsequently, the two Madams chatted about some matters regarding "General Rong Xian" in the Imperial Guards,

and then Anmei brought Rong Feiyan back to Madam Sun's courtyard.

With mothers and elders present,

the children of the two families didn't need to avoid each other as before.

At the door, she untied her apron, and after entering the hall, Anmei smiled and said:

"Mother! Madam! This apron of mine looks good on Feiyan sister, I want to give it to her, but she's too embarrassed to take it."

As she spoke, Anmei bowed to Zaihang and the two sisters-in-law, while Rong Feiyan, who was following behind, bowed to Xu Zaijing again.

Hualan on the side had just seen what Rong Feiyan looked like before she untied the apron, and she said:

"This color is really a perfect match."

"Sister-in-law is right! The trick to flower arranging was actually suggested by Rong sister!"

Anmei started the conversation, and the Madams present began to chat about flower arranging and clothing color matching.

Looking at Rong Feiyan, who was talking eloquently in the hall, there was some pride in Madam Rong's eyes.

After listening to Rong Feiyan's insights on color matching, Hualan nodded with a smile:

"Miss Feiyan's insights happen to coincide with the views of an elder in my maiden family."

Rong Feiyan looked at Hualan and smiled: "Hualan sister, could it be the one who matched that sash for you when we first met?"

Hualan was stunned and nodded with a smile.

Rong Feiyan's eyes lit up: "To have the same view as that person is excellent."

Seeing that Rong Feiyan didn't mind that she was talking about a concubine from her maiden family, Hualan looked at Rong Feiyan even more kindly.

"Madam, the banquet is set."

Hearing Mama Dan's words,

Madam Sun stood up and said: "Madam, please."

As she spoke, the women in the hall went to dine,

and Xu Zaijing and Zaihang both returned to their own courtyards.

When the women were dining, Rong Feiyan and Anmei ate together very happily.

After lunch, they had a hot drink to aid digestion together, and Madam Rong refused Madam Sun's offer to let them take a nap at the Xu house.

After the noon hour, they left the Xu house.

When they returned, the maid of Rong Feiyan held a wooden box containing the apron.

In the afternoon, when Xu Zaijing was practicing calligraphy, his sister Anmei came to the racetrack again.

"Uncle Yin, please, help me pick a horse!"

Xu Zaijing's master asked hoarsely: "For the girl who came today?"

Anmei nodded.

"Fine!"

Hearing the reply, Anmei bowed happily.

Watching Anmei walk away, Xu Zaijing's master shook his head and muttered to himself:

"A noble lady of such background, what kind of horse could she not have? Asking a little girl like you to help pick a horse, it's really a give-and-take!"

As he spoke, he asked Qingyun to find a horse dealer in Bianjing. He hadn't picked a horse for a long time, so he would just treat it as practicing his skills.

The last day of the ninth month.

At the mansion of Minister Wu of the Left Department of the Ministry of Revenue,

Minister Wu, who had been busy for half a month and finally had half a day of rest, changed into casual clothes and was examining the children of the family.

The two Wu family brothers who were reading in the hall,

looking at their father whose eyes were becoming increasingly serious on the seat, swallowed their saliva one after another and looked at the ruler Minister Wu had placed on the side of the table.

After examining for a while,

just as Minister Wu reached out to grab the ruler,

his Madam walked in holding a wooden box:

"Husband, this was sent by the Sheng family."

Hearing his Madam's voice, the Wu family brothers in the hall felt lucky and cheered in their hearts, praising their mother for coming at just the right time.

Hearing this, Minister Wu's brows furrowed even deeper, and he said with anger:

"Why are you so muddled too? Can things be accepted casually?"

This Madam lowered her eyes and said:

"Husband, you should take a look."

Minister Wu put down the ruler, exhaled, and took the wooden box.

"You two, get out..."

Before his Madam finished speaking,

Minister Wu took up the conversation: "Get out? Let them kneel here first!"

The joy on the faces of the Wu family brothers froze.

*Thump*

The two knelt down skillfully.

Glaring at his sons again, Minister Wu opened the wooden box and saw the neatly folded oilcloth inside.

There was a look of disdain on his face.

After taking it out and stroking it carefully in his hand, Minister Wu was stunned. There were no rare items inside; it was really just a piece of oilcloth.

"The Sheng family steward said that their master ordered that this kind of oilcloth is the sample for their first batch of supplies, and they are willing to ask the Ministry of Revenue to act as a middleman for inspection for each batch."

Minister Wu looked at the oilcloth in his hand and fell into deep thought.

After pondering for a while, he looked at his Madam again, and this Madam said:

"My sister asked someone to inquire; for this quality, if the quantity is large, there should be profit."

"Compared to the goods supplied by the Han family's relatives before, the quality is two grades higher!"

The sister she was referring to was Madam Wu.

Minister Wu sneered at the Han family and said:

"The Sheng family lets us inspect each batch; it seems they are confident in the quality."

"Husband, in this way, those people who gossip..."

Minister Wu nodded, looking at the oilcloth in his hand with a smile on his lips, as if it had already been stuffed into someone's mouth.

In a great mood, he looked at his two sons and said:

"Next time this happens again, I'll punish you for this time as well! Go read."

"Yes, Father."

"Thank you, Father, for your leniency."

The two hurriedly supported themselves on the chairs on the side and stood up with difficulty.

On the way to the military prefecture where the Marquis Yongyi was stationed,

inside the Great Zhou fortress,

thousands of cavalry were resting inside.

Beside a huge military supply warehouse,

Zhang Fangshun, the second legitimate son of the Duke of Ying who was leading the army, was taking the coal to be used in the coming winter with his subordinate officers.

Watching the boys pulling the coal and the newly built iron stoves on flatbed carts,

Zhang Fangshun, with a full smile on his face, bowed to a high official on the side:

"Many thanks to the Grand Minister for thinking of the boys; they can have a better time this winter."

The Master of the Hai family, wearing a cloak, looked at the busy military supply warehouse, nodded solemnly, and revealed a slight smile, saying:

"That pile of coal by the roadside at the Beimen was over-procured by the Ministry of Revenue. The soldiers under Yuan Erlang's command can take as much as they want."

Hearing this, Zhang Fangshun was stunned, then smiled:

"Then this boy won't be polite."

"Go."

After leaving the place where Grand Minister Hai was,

Zhang Fangshun came to the Beimen.

After giving the order for each rider to carry twenty jin of coal,

"Yuan Erlang, since joining the army, this is the first time I've heard that we can receive extra coal! Isn't this just giving it away for free?"

Listening to the words behind him, Zhang Fangshun scratched his helmet and said:

"This is my first time too."

As he spoke, he looked at the carriage parked on the side. The word "Chai" was branded on the buttocks of the draft horses.

Zhang Fangshun didn't pay much attention to it; after all, most of the coal in the entire Great Zhou was mined and sent out by the Chai family.

After arriving at the military prefecture where the Marquis Yongyi's main camp was stationed,

the coal brought by the cavalry alone accumulated into a mountain; a small mountain of coal appeared in the military prefecture city.

As winter approached, looking at it made people feel reassured.

Zhang Fangshun also met several young cavalry generals transferred from the command of the Duke of Ying's eldest son in the east. Only after asking did he know,

it seemed that only his route to the Marquis Yongyi's command had extra coal procured by the Ministry of Revenue.

Si hour (9:00 AM)

Bianjing

Chai Mansion

Courtyard of the Chai family's legitimate daughter,

in the open space in the courtyard,

several maids were standing on the side.

Chai Zhengzheng in the middle was holding an exceptionally exquisite soft bow,

and beside her was a rather sturdy woman helping her correct her posture for drawing the bow.

"Miss Zhengzheng, actually, there are decorations on my bow too."

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng, who was a bit distracted, looked at Zhou Niangzi in surprise. How did this Zhou Niangzi guess her thoughts?

"The Madam has arrived."

Following the voice,

Madam Cheng of the Chai family, who entered the courtyard, nodded to this woman:

"Zhou Niangzi, you've worked hard."

"Greetings, Madam! Miss Zhengzheng learns as soon as she is taught, she is exceptionally intelligent; it really can't be called hard work."

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng on the side blushed and pursed her lips.

Looking at Madam Chai's smiling eyes, Zhou Niangzi said: "I'm a bit thirsty, I'll go drink some water."

After Zhou Niangzi left, Madam Chai said: "Zheng'er, how is the learning going?"

Chai Zhengzheng touched the soft bow in her hand and said: "Zhou Niangzi is a good teacher."

"That goes without saying. Zhou Niangzi's father was from the Western Army in Huazhou; his martial arts and archery skills were outstanding, and he was the best even in His Majesty's archery class!"

"The Empress heard you wanted to learn archery and specially invited Zhou Niangzi."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded, stroking the dark brown bow arm of the soft bow.

"The 15,000 *cheng* of coal our family sent should arrive at that fortress in these few days."

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng's eyes lit up and she said:

"In this way, the soldiers under his father and brother's command can also have a warmer time."

"Hmm. But their family doesn't know about this."

"The matter of a thousand strings of cash, I didn't intend for their family to know either."

Madam Chai stroked her daughter's hair:

"Tomorrow, come with me to the palace to attend the Empress's Warm Stove Gathering! Alright, continue playing."

As she spoke, she left the courtyard.

Chai Zhengzheng gripped the soft bow and practiced for a while longer with Zhou Niangzi who came out,

and then they studied the decorations for the soft bow together.

In the bright autumn sun,

words like "mother-of-pearl, amber, tortoiseshell, gold thread" appeared from time to time in the garden.

"On this quiver, I embroidered a few pleasing patterns, copying the ear muffs that were popular in Bianjing in winter before..."

After hearing who drew it, Chai Zhengzheng nodded hurriedly; she wanted exactly this!

Beginning of the tenth month.

It was close to the beginning of winter, and the weather was getting cold.

Ordinary people in Bianjing who got up early,

some would spend a few coins at a street stall to buy a basin of hot water for washing their faces; some would wash their faces immediately, and some would carry it home.

The Sheng family school was also closed for the day because Master Zhuang was going to attend a friend's Warm Stove Gathering.

Whether it was a master like Sheng Hong or a Madam like Wang Ruofu, they were all attending Warm Stove Gatherings of their peers or relatives and friends.

The mothers and sisters-in-law had entered the palace,

and the places in the mansion where Warm Stove Gatherings could be held were mostly occupied by banquets held by the older generation.

Therefore, Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and others, as noble scions of Bianjing, were like horses with loosened reins.

At the Chen hour (after 8:00 AM),

everyone didn't go to Pan Tower or Fan Tower,

but gathered in the courtyard of Gu Tingye's maternal grandfather.

The Master of the Bai family was now in Yang Zhou, and this courtyard in Bianjing was empty, so it was used by Gu Tingye.

Of course, it was with Madam Bai's permission.

Qiao Jiulang brought the fattest aquatic products from his family's shop,

the scions who were familiar with his family brought lambs slaughtered in the morning,

Liang Han brought the servants from Wu Lou and seasonings for barbecue,

and Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and others brought stomachs, fruit wine, and fruits (dessert cakes), etc.

When Xu Zaijing arrived at the door with Qingyun, Qingcao, and the Hua Xiang sisters, heat surged out of the room as soon as the door was opened.

It turned out that the *dilong* (underfloor heating) had already been burned hot.

The things brought by the scions of each family were also placed on the table.

... Continuing to code,

... Time is uncertain,

... Don't wait.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 264 =====