Chapter 274: If You Won't Eat It, I Will

Just as the hour of You arrived (five in the afternoon).

The Sheng household.

Jin'an Studio.

Sister Sister Xiaodie gathered up the dried infant clothes from beside the incense burner.

A female servant, younger than Sister Xiaodie, was holding a flame to light the candles in the room.

Sister Xiaodie glanced around the room and said:

"Xiaoxiu, bring the candle closer; Young Mistress is still embroidering."

The female servant responded and placed the candle near Wei Wei Shuyi.

Wei Wei Shuyi smiled at this maid from Shou'an Hall, Cuixiu.

"Young Mistress, the Young Master already has enough bellybands; why are you still embroidering?"

Hearing Sister Xiaodie's words, Wei Wei Shuyi examined her work under the candlelight, nodded, cut the thread with small scissors, and said:

"This is being embroidered for the one in Eldest Miss Zhen'er's womb."

At that moment, a young maid at the doorway called out:

"Nanny Liu has arrived."

Cuixiu in the room hurried to the door, lifted the cotton curtain, and Nanny Liu, smiling and clutching a handkerchief, bowed slightly as she entered beneath the curtain.

Seeing Wei Wei Shuyi, Nanny Liu offered a slight curtsy and said:

"Young Mistress! The Main Da Niangzi heard you intended to draw funds from the common coffer to buy fabric for making future necessities for Eldest Miss, so she specifically sent this servant to deliver items to you."

As she spoke, Nanny Liu turned and took a bolt of silk from Jiuer, the maid who had accompanied her, presenting it forward.

Seeing Cuixiu place the embroidered stool properly, Wei Wei Shuyi made a gesture of invitation, and Nanny Liu took the seat accordingly.

Stroking the fabric, Wei Wei Shuyi sighed from the heart: "This material is truly soft."

"To be honest with Young Mistress, these are several bolts of fabric that were at the very bottom of the late Main Da Niangzi's dowry!"

"The Main Da Niangzi said that such things would be wasted in others' hands; only Young Mistress's craftsmanship is worthy of them."

"The Main Da Niangzi praises me too highly!"

After speaking, Wei Wei Shuyi glanced at Jiuer standing behind Nanny Liu and said:

"Nanny Liu, I have had little to do in my courtyard these past few days, so I made a few cotton-lined jackets for the maids here."

Smiling slightly, she continued:

"I did not expect the maids to already enjoy the Main Da Niangzi's consideration and affection; thus, what I made seems superfluous!"

"I observe that this Miss Jiuer's figure might just fit one! If you do not disdain it..."

Nanny Liu laughed and said: "What words are these, Young Mistress! Jiuer, come over immediately and thank the Young Mistress!"

Jiuer approached, bowed her head in a curtsy, yet her downcast eyes showed no excessive gratitude.

Wei Wei Shuyi waved her hand, and Sister Xiaodie hurried to open the wardrobe.

Wei Wei Shuyi continued:

"In the coming days, I must go out to purchase silk threads and also take care of Brother Zhen, so my courtyard is somewhat short-handed; I wish to borrow one or two maids! I wonder if you could speak a few words to the Main Da Niangzi on my behalf..."

Looking at the fabric beside Wei Wei Shuyi and then into Wei Wei Shuyi's eyes, Nanny Liu smiled and said:

"Young Mistress, why not leave Jiuer here tomorrow? This servant will return and speak to the Main Da Niangzi."

Just as Jiuer was about to raise her head to speak, she saw the embroidered lined jacket that Sister Xiaodie was unfolding in her hands.

Seeing her daughter unable to tear her eyes away, Nanny Liu, with a smile on her lips, continued:

"With Jiuer here under Young Mistress, I beg that Young Mistress might find time to teach her a trick or two."

"What words are these, Nanny Liu? As long as Miss Jiuer wishes to learn, I will naturally hold nothing back."

"Jiuer, why do you not yet thank the Young Mistress!"

After a few more words were exchanged,

Nanny Liu walked out of Jin'an Studio, while Jiuer, following behind her, was stroking the cotton-lined jacket.

Returning to Weirui Pavilion,

"Did you give her the items?"

"Replying to the Main Da Niangzi, I did."

As Nanny Liu spoke, she approached Wang Wang Wang Ruofu, while Caihuan beside her hurriedly vacated the seat next to the dining table.

After serving Wang Wang Wang Ruofu her evening meal,

While helping Wang Wang Wang Ruofu remove her hairpins and ornaments, Nanny Liu mentioned Wei Wei Shuyi's request.

Upon hearing this, Wang Wang Wang Ruofu opened her wide eyes, frowned slightly, and said:

"Borrow Jiuer for a few days?"

Having spoken, she shook her head.

Nanny Liu said nothing more, continuing to help Wang Wang Wang Ruofu change into her nightclothes.

Once Wang Wang Wang Ruofu had climbed onto the bed, just as Nanny Liu was arranging her quilt, Wang Wang Wang Ruofu suddenly said:

"Hiss, this Wei Wei Shuyi asking for Jiuer—could it be that she wants Jiuer to see that bolt of fabric I gave?"

Nanny Liu nodded and said: "That should be the intention; Young Mistress Wei only made this request after this servant mentioned how precious the fabric was."

"Hmph! She is indeed a sensible one."

"Let Jiuer go then!"

Nanny Liu by the bedside responded affirmatively and walked outward.

Soon the room plunged into darkness.

From the bed came a voice brimming with joy:

"One thousand five hundred strings! Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

The next day,

under a moon-bright, star-sparse pre-dawn sky,

amidst a bone-chilling northern wind,

Sheng Hong walked out of Linqi Pavilion,

left the Sheng residence,

ate still-warm rice porridge and meat buns in the carriage,

and after alighting outside the palace gates to wait beyond the hall,

Sheng Hong, feeling the warmth in his belly, comfortably exhaled a puff of white breath.

Since they had not yet entered the hall, the remonstrance officials of the Censorate would not overly interfere with the officials' movements.

Thinking of the evening banquet, Sheng Hong felt quite eager!

Just then, someone approached Sheng Hong and whispered:

"Brother Sheng, I cannot go to Fan Tower today; my wife's elder brother from the Minister Huangfu family has returned to the capital and is hosting a banquet at Pan Lou."

Sheng Hong was stunned: "Ah? Brother Liu, you this, you..."

It was a family relative's banquet; others could not easily decline, and Sheng Hong likewise had no business intruding on the festivities.

"Brother Sheng, please forgive me; tomorrow I will host."

"Tsk! Very well!"

"Forgive me, forgive me!"

With that, Sheng Hong's fellow examination graduate, Official Liu serving at the Court of Judicature and Revision, apologized and departed from that spot,

approaching a middle-aged official,

who, seeing Li Li Guangren, Minister Li, speaking with Sheng Hong,

asked Official Liu in a low voice:

"Who is that young man from which family?"

"My wife's elder brother; originally I had an appointment tonight with Brother Sheng. Brother Sheng is from the Di branch of the Sheng family of Youyang; his principal mother was the only daughter of the former Marquis Marquis Yongyi, and his eldest daughter has married back into the Xu family."

The middle-aged official suddenly understood, his eyes shifting as he said:

"Invite him tonight as well; I heard Father say that the Di grandson of the Lu family and the youngest son of the Xu family are sworn brothers."

Official Liu nodded, walked back, spoke a few words, then:

"Brother Sheng, this brother-in-law of mine is also a lover of swords; tonight we shall truly feast our eyes!"

"Hiss, Brother Liu, from your tone, is it even better than that silver-patterned sword of yours?"

Official Liu nodded; just then the hall doors swung open, an inner official called out,

and the various officials began to enter the hall.

In the Sheng family lecture hall,

when Scholar Zhuang entered, he looked in surprise at the empty seat in the corner,

and just as he was about to ask, Xu Zaizhang rose and said:

"Scholar, Xu Zaijing had matters to attend to this morning; he should arrive very soon."

"Good; it has been some days since he attended class; why not let everyone speak of what they have been doing these past days."

At the Hu Yan residence,

when Xu Xu Zaijing entered the courtyard of Seeing Hu Yanjiong, he did not have the young attendant Fu Ding announce him,

but went directly into Seeing Hu Yanjiong's room.

In the fairly warm room,

no one greeted Xu Xu Zaijing,

for Seeing Hu Yanjiong had his head buried in a basin filled with somewhat deep water.

Xu Xu Zaijing did not disturb him, but instead watched the incense sticks drifting with green smoke within the room;

after a quarter of an hour, just as the incense sticks were about to burn out,

"Puh! Hu hu hu!"

Seeing Hu Yanjiong suddenly lifted his head, wiped his face, and began gasping heavily.

Then he was startled by Xu Xu Zaijing sitting before his eyes:

"Brother Jing? How did you come here?"

Xu Xu Zaijing gave Seeing Hu Yanjiong a thumbs-up, saying:

"Impressive!"

After speaking, Xu Xu Zaijing pointed to the long sword placed beside him, saying:

"I came to deliver this to you!"

Seeing Hu Yanjiong took the Mao Jin handed over by Fu Ding, wiped the water droplets from his face, and walked over.

Placing the Mao Jin on a chair nearby, he took the large Gao iron sword but did not draw it, instead examining the scabbard carefully, saying:

"Ho! Green Dragon Wood!"

Having spoken, he drew it with a casual flick:

"Hiss! A fine sword! Brother Jing, where did you obtain such an excellent large Gao sword?"

"His Majesty bestowed it."

"So valuable; how can you give it away!"

Speaking thus, Seeing Hu Yanjiong shook his head, saying: "I cannot."

Xu Xu Zaijing: "Your Majesty bestowed several dozen swords!"

"Cough! I couldn't refuse them!"

Saying this, Seeing Hu Yanjiong set the long sword aside,

walked into the adjacent room, and brought out another long sword:

"This was bought in Dengzhou previously from a Northern Liao maritime merchant; it cost me two hundred taels of gold."

Handing the long sword to Xu Xu Zaijing,

Xu Xu Zaijing drew it out, examined it, and said, "Not a bad sword."

Holding the long sword given by Xu Xu Zaijing and gazing at the patterns on its blade, Seeing Hu Yanjiong sighed:

"Compared to it, alas!"

Meanwhile, Xu Xu Zaijing set down the sword, walked over to the water basin where Seeing Hu Yanjiong had just been standing,

glanced at Seeing Hu Yanjiong, took a deep breath, and plunged his face into the basin.

Fuding, standing nearby, had already cleverly relit a stick of incense.

At first, Seeing Hu Yanjiong noticed nothing unusual,

but when the incense stick was nearly burnt out, seeing Xu Xu Zaijing still with his face submerged in the basin,

Seeing Hu Yanjiong and his servant exchanged a glance filled with shock and terror.

A moment later, Xu Xu Zaijing lifted his face, water dripping from it, gasping heavily just as Seeing Hu Yanjiong had done earlier; he had never trained this way before.

"Brother Jiong, how was it? How long did I hold my breath?"

"Just one stick of incense."

After wiping his face, Xu Xu Zaijing and Seeing Hu Yanjiong chatted for a while longer.

The low water levels of winter also had their benefits,

allowing the old friends and stewards of the Hu Yan household, who often traveled the inland rivers, to clearly assess the condition of the northern waterways,

so that when the weather warmed, dredging could be carried out in a targeted manner.

After exchanging a few more words, Xu Xu Zaijing finally learned that the two members of the Hu Yan family he had interacted with during his previous trip to Yang Zhou

had now been reassigned to the grain transport canal heading north,

and if war broke out next year,

they might have a chance to earn merit.

After bidding farewell to Pan Da's wife,

Xu Xu Zaijing, accompanied by Yun Xiang, arrived at the Sheng family lecture hall,

just in time to hear Chang Feng speaking about the previous distribution of charcoal fire free of charge in the vicinity.

At noon,

the Sheng family's main kitchen delivered lunch,

and since everyone in the lecture hall was observing silence while eating, it was very quiet,

when suddenly, through the window lattices installed for the winter in the lecture hall,

sounds of footsteps and conversation drifted in from outside the courtyard.

Chang Bai's young servant, Han Niu, noticing the slight frown on Chang Bai's brow, hastily rose and went out into the courtyard.

Soon the sounds ceased, and Han Niu returned to the courtyard,

where the tutor, who was eating dried bamboo shoots, asked, "What is happening outside?"

Han Niu bowed and replied:

"Replying to the Tutor, it is seven or eight stewards and tenant farmers from the Old Da Niangzi's estate outside the city; they have come specifically to kowtow to the Old Da Niangzi."

Seeing Qi Heng frown, stop his chopsticks, and look puzzled,

Mo Lan smiled and turned around to say:

"Brother Qi Heng, Grandmother previously bestowed quite a lot of cotton from the estate to be made into winter clothes!"

Behind Mo Lan, Ru Lan, unwilling to be outdone, said:

"Brother Qi Heng, the day before yesterday, Grandmother even sent someone to inspect the estate and exempted two farming households whose houses had collapsed from paying rent!"

Qi Heng nodded and said, "The Old Da Niangzi is kind-hearted."

After speaking, Qi Heng turned and looked toward Ming Lan, who was seated at the very back,

where Ming Lan was chewing slowly with her eyes closed,

her plump face full of enjoyment.

At this moment, Yun Xiang walked somewhat awkwardly to the side of Ming Lan's desk,

"Sixth Miss."

Ming Lan opened her eyes: "Mm?"

Yun Xiang pressed her lips together and said:

"My Young Master asks... asks if you are still going to eat the smoked fish on your desk!"

"If not, he will eat it."

Hearing Yun Xiang's words,

Ming Lan hastily poured the smoked fish into her own bowl and accelerated her chewing,

while casting a sidelong glance at Xu Xu Zaijing,

only to meet the gaze of Xu Xu Zaijing, who was staring at her with a fish bone dangling from his mouth.

Ming Lan waved her hand,

and Little Xiao Xiaotao stepped up beside her young lady's desk, successfully blocking Xu Xu Zaijing's line of sight.

At the second gate,

The Old Da Niangzi, clad in a thick, dark cloak,

supported by Mama Fang,

watched the kneeling tenants and, standing, waved her hand saying:

"Rise, all of you rise! If you truly wish to thank me, just work hard at farming when spring arrives!"

The crowd did not rise;

the kneeling tenants said:

"Old Da Niangzi, let us kowtow to you first!"

"Rest assured, Old Da Niangzi!"

"We will certainly do our utmost!"

The Old Da Niangzi looked at the estate steward, Old Cui, and said, "You manage them!"

Steward Cui hurriedly replied "Yes!" and shouted:

"Yes! Get up immediately, or you'll be driven out next year!"

These words proved highly effective; the kneeling tenants all stood up.

"I have received your sentiments. Old Cui, take them to the gatehouse for some hot water; once things are ready here, return with them!"

Steward Cui shoved the people along to leave,

yet he remained behind, bowing deeply to the Old Da Niangzi of the Sheng family,

thanks to the Old Da Niangzi's blessings, his prestige within the estate was now exceedingly high!

After all, among the other estates surrounding Xiaoyuzhuang, no small number had frozen to death or been crushed by collapsing houses.

The Sheng family storerooms had released some Chinese cabbage, pork, and mung bean vermicelli,

loading them onto a cart for the Xiaoyuzhuang tenants to take back, serving as the Old Da Niangzi's return gift and treating the Xiaoyuzhuang tenants to a meal.

Winter days grow dark early;

Sheng Hong, having returned home from the yamen and dressed up, arrived at Pan Lou.

Since there were still three days until the Winter Solstice,

the Emperor of Great Zhou was lodging today in the Daqing Hall,

which lay on a straight line with Xuande Gate and Daqing Gate.

On the open ground outside Xuande Gate,

sheds had been erected and arranged as the 'Alert Grounds',

within which several hundred elite Imperial Guard soldiers served as Martial Stern Soldiers, these Martial Stern Soldiers carrying drums at their waists,

while on the palace wall beneath the Xuande Gate tower nearby, Imperial Guards holding horns were also stationed.

Thus, when Sheng Hong ascended to the third floor of Pan Lou,

he heard the desolate sound of horns from the palace wall at Xuande Gate,

and after the horn sounds ceased, came a burst of drumming, rising and falling in pitch; with several hundred people beating drums together, the sound was heard clearly and distinctly from Pan Lou.

Unlike young men such as Xu Xu Zaijing and Gu Gu Tingye,

who knew the identities of the officials attending the banquet, the Kaifeng Prefectural Yamen had directly dispatched Yamen Runners here.

Li Li Mubai, appearing once again at Pan Lou,

watched the precious long swords passing before his eyes, either hung at waists or carried by servants, then glanced at the saber at his own waist and smiled helplessly.

With no one else around, Hearing Shu Bo gave him a tap and said:

"Smiling? Do you know who just passed by?"

"Master, who was it?"

"Lord Sheng from the Ministry of Personnel!!"

On Quyuan Street,

at Hearing Shu Bo's stall, a haggard-looking Hearing Zhao Zhao Meifeng waved at Xu Xu Zaijing, who approached on horseback.

(End of Chapter)