Chapter 275

In the distance,

in the cold night in the direction of the palace city,

the drum sound outside the Xuande Gate gradually faded.

Amidst the clamor of guests, the waiter, and others,

the lanterns lit on the eaves of the second and third floors of Pan Tower swayed in the wind.

The white window paper pasted on the window lattice under the illumination of the lanterns,

and the sound of candlelight and string and bamboo music drifted out through the window paper together.

In the private room,

seeing Sheng Hong enter the door,

Liu Fuming, Lord Liu, hurriedly stepped forward: "Sheng Brother, please, sit here."

As he spoke, Lord Liu looked in surprise at the long sword held by Dongrong behind Sheng Hong.

Sheng Hong noticed Lord Liu's gaze and smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth.

Subsequently, Sheng Hong bowed to Huangfu Li, who stood up at the main seat.

When taking his seat, Sheng Hong also specifically looked at the servant behind Huangfu Li, who was also holding a sword.

Huangfu Li's father was the current Minister of Justice, and this return to the capital was also a promotion.

People entered the room one after another.

There were not many people participating in this gathering, and they were all close to Huangfu Li.

So seeing Sheng Hong in the room, those few officials also looked curiously.

When the seats were full, the servants of the Huangfu family began to change the candles, and very quickly, the private room became much brighter.

Looking at the changed candles, Sheng Hong bowed and said:

"Huangfu Brother, is this a candle made of whale oil?"

Hearing Sheng Hong's words, Huangfu Li smiled and nodded: "Sheng Lord is well-informed!"

"I dare not, I dare not!"

The others in the room, hearing Sheng Hong's words, had expressions of sudden realization in their eyes.

"Previously, a whale was stranded on the beach in Mingzhou, and the prefect ordered craftsmen to take the oil and make it into these candles, which were then presented to the palace."

"His Majesty bestowed a hundred on my father. Father knew about the banquet today and specifically had me bring them."

Liu Fuming, sitting in the secondary seat, raised his cup: "Come! Let's have a drink to the uncle's concern for us!"

After everyone drank, someone said: "This Sheng Lord looks familiar, I don't know if..."

"Sheng Lord is my classmate and same-year graduate; we are close friends... His mother is..."

Upon hearing that Sheng Hong was an in-law of the Marquis Yongyi manor, the eyes with which everyone looked at Sheng Hong were somewhat different.

Listening to Lord Liu's introduction, Sheng Hong smiled, his attitude was very low,

and his sincere gaze, combined with his two dimples, quickly gained the favor of others.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes,

Huangfu Li at the main seat beckoned to a servant on the side and whispered a few words.

Very quickly, an eleven or twelve-year-old girl entered the private room,

and a long table was also moved into the private room.

Seeing this scene, everyone in the room stopped talking and watched quietly.

"Appreciating a sword should be accompanied by a sword dance!"

"Liu Brother, just watch this long sword I newly found!"

As he spoke, Huangfu Li raised his chin, and the servant behind him carried the sword to the girl.

Liu Fuming raised his eyebrows unconvinced.

And Sheng Hong on the side, upon seeing this young girl pull out the two or three jin long sword and hold it flat,

had an expression of surprise in his eyes.

The rhythm of the music in the room became faster, and the girl in the field began to dance with the sword, her posture quite vigorous.

After dancing for a while, she stopped, sheathed the sword, and placed it in the middle of the table.

Liu Fuming hurriedly had someone hand his long sword to her.

After the second sword dance was finished,

Liu Lord's long sword was placed in front.

Sheng Hong only then realized that this young girl was the one ranking these swords.

Looking at his own sword ranked first, Lord Liu looked at Huangfu Li quite proudly.

After a few sword dances,

when it was Sheng Hong's turn,

Lord Liu's long sword was still ranked first.

That girl pulled out the long sword from Dongrong's hand, and a flash of surprise appeared on her face.

After a song of sword dance ended,

Lord Liu watched the sword-dancing girl walk toward the end of the table where the long swords were placed...

Finally, she moved Sheng Hong's to the first place.

After placing it, that girl stood respectfully in the middle.

Lord Liu: "Gah?"

Huangfu Li looked at Lord Liu's appearance, a smile appeared on his face: "Go down!"

The girl bowed and left the room.

The others stood up one after another, surrounding the table.

That Lord Liu went to take not his own, but Sheng Hong's sword.

After checking the quality and balance, which were both excellent, Lord Liu said with bright eyes:

"Sheng Brother, I don't know where you bought this? How much silver did it cost?"

"With this quality, it wouldn't be less than three thousand guan, right?"

Huangfu Li, who also leaned over, looked at Sheng Hong after checking the long sword.

Sheng Hong smiled and bowed:

"None, none."

Hearing there was no three thousand guan, Lord Liu, who felt he had missed a bargain, felt somewhat uncomfortable and surprised.

He looked at the others around him and asked in surprise:

"What? Actually less than three thousand guan?"

"That is??? Please tell me, Sheng Brother!"

Sheng Hong said:

"It didn't cost money, it was a gift from my son-in-law..."

After finishing,

Sheng Hong narrowed his eyes: "Hehehehe."

The others:...

Looking at the dimples on Sheng Hong's face,

Lord Liu felt even more uncomfortable,

as if the envy he had harvested from Sheng Hong over the past few years

had all been returned in one go this time.

'Thief bird.'

On Quyuanjie,

Chu Zhan held a tray with steaming hot,

soup bubbling in a porcelain pot, running toward the Xu manor gate.

Arriving at the small room beside the racecourse, Qingyun, under the lantern at the door, helped him open the door:

"Young Master, the food is here."

The porcelain pot was placed on the table.

Chu Zhan took a chicken foot from Xu Zaijing's hand, thanked him, and prepared to leave the room.

"Tell Uncle Shu, don't add any more dishes, let him go back directly!"

"Yes, Young Master."

After only Xu Zaijing and Zhao Meifeng were left in the room,

Xu Zaijing poured a full cup of wine for Zhao Meifeng and asked:

"What is it that makes you so dejected?"

Zhao Meifeng looked at Xu Zaijing and shook his head.

"Can't say?"

Zhao Meifeng sighed and said:

"Not really, it's mainly that I feel miserable after saying it."

On the table,

the porcelain pot on the small charcoal stove was still bubbling with hot steam, but the meat inside was long gone,

and only the bottom of the soup remained.

Several wine jars were tilted on the ground under the table.

Zhao Meifeng looked at the bright-eyed Xu Zaijing with drunken, blurred eyes.

After wiping away the tears that flowed down, he said:

"Jing Ge'er, my heart is bitter!"

Xu Zaijing raised his wine cup: "Drink!"

The porcelain pot had already been roasted dry.

Xu Zaijing held the wine jar in his hand, listening to Zhao Meifeng's words, drinking one sip after another.

"If it weren't for Master telling me, I wouldn't know where the eldest brother's family was at all!"

"But..."

"Went too late!"

"Gone, can't find them!"

"Heaven is unfair! Zhao E Feng, that beast's family lives so well, how..."

"Wuwuwu!"

Xu Zaijing handed the wine jar to Zhao Meifeng and patted him on the shoulder.

The eldest brother Zhao Meifeng spoke of was the first disciple of Zhao Zilong, the master of the Imperial City Division, Zhao Taifeng.

He had gone to the Bai Gao Kingdom, and at that time, Zhao Taifeng's wife had just become pregnant and gave birth to a daughter.

For the next ten-plus years, the Imperial City Division was no longer valued, and they had lost contact with Zhao Taifeng.

Zhao Zilong even thought his disciple had died somewhere unknown in the Bai Gao Kingdom.

Fortunately, that daughter had already married into a small capital official's family.

Zhao Taifeng's son-in-law also took his wife and mother-in-law away from Bianjing due to a change in his official post.

Until these past two years,

the Great Zhou had been victorious in every battle, large or small, in the northwest, and the border had pushed hundreds of li straight into the territory of the Bai Gao Kingdom.

Tall city fortresses were built and stood on the border.

When a great upheaval occurred in the Bai Gao Kingdom and it was in chaos, a secret letter was obtained in the Great Zhou fortress.

Only then did Zhao Taifeng, who had been out of contact for a long time, have contact with the Great Zhou again.

And the first thing he sent were those pieces of information that Xu Zaijing obtained regarding the families and burial grounds of the Bai Gao Kingdom's surrendered generals.

The subsequent intelligence all showed that Zhao Taifeng's status in the Chuihuan Division of the Bai Gao Kingdom was shockingly high.

And Zhao Meifeng, who had made contributions and been promoted, became the best candidate to find his eldest brother's descendants.

As a result, while investigating in Yang Zhou Prefecture, he discovered that the small official had been robbed and killed by bandits four or five years ago!

After twists and turns, Zhao Meifeng tracked it down to the group of bandits Xu Zaijing had captured in Chuzhou.

When he found them,

after being repeatedly confirmed, the bandit leaders like Song Jiang and Wu Shuai, who were no longer hiding their wealth, were being escorted to the execution ground.

The death plaques behind them, written with their names and crimes, were all pulled out and thrown aside,

and their heads were pressed onto the foul-smelling wooden platform.

Some fierce bandits were still shouting that they would be good men again in eighteen years,

but the executioner's big sword was raised, only to be stopped by Zhao Meifeng!

These criminals, some of whom had even wet their pants, thought they had escaped death and that he had come to save them upon seeing Zhao Meifeng!

Then they were dragged aside by Zhao Meifeng and questioned in detail.

Finally, they obtained a result: the small official had been killed by hired hands because he had offended the salt merchants of Yang Zhou Prefecture!

The matter was taken by them, but the specific bandits who carried it out were already dead.

It was in Chuzhou,

right in the courtyard where Zhao Meifeng first fought with Xu Zaijing.

At that time, there was only one survivor in that courtyard...

Then...

the bandits who had just thought they wouldn't die,

were dragged back to the execution platform one by one by Zhao Meifeng, who personally did it...

Before, they died together; now, they were waiting for death on the side.

Watching their accomplices being beheaded one by one by the red-eyed Zhao Meifeng, the fear of those behind was infinitely magnified.

Finally, the 'military advisor' Wu Shuai had a good brain and said he knew the idlers and ruffians who fenced the stolen goods for the bandits, from whom they could at least get some news.

This military advisor lived for another day and a half, because under Zhao Meifeng's 'kind' questioning, the idler recalled,

that when the wealth was taken, they also helped sell a little girl who was dressed quite well.

After learning this news, Zhao Meifeng became even more 'kind', using life-saving medicine as precious as gold.

But the idler only repeated the three words 'Zhi Mama' in his wailing.

Where exactly she was from, because the old widow who introduced her had already passed away, could not be found out no matter what.

That 'military advisor' was sent to the Western Heaven by Zhao Meifeng.

Zhao Meifeng also thought about going to the local government office to search for relevant files, but it was also to no avail.

The clerks in the government office also said it might be an alias.

After being busy for a long time, they ended up with nothing.

Zhao Meifeng, who returned to the capital after the heavy snow, became this haggard appearance.

"How to explain to him..."

Zhao Meifeng, who seemed to be deliberately getting himself drunk, mumbled.

Listening to Zhao Meifeng's words, Xu Zaijing also sighed:

"Yes, how to explain."

"Then has your father-in-law made a decision?"

After Xu Zaijing finished asking,

Zhao Meifeng said: "Tell the truth!"

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Placing the wine jar on the table, Zhao Meifeng wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his fingers.

When he arrived at his master's side, he was only seven or eight years old.

At that time, the Imperial City Division was in use.

Zhao Zilong was busy investigating the Emperor's lack of heirs.

Zhao Taifeng, as the eldest disciple, was more like a teacher and father.

Unfortunately, Heaven truly has unexpected storms.

That year, the eldest brother and sister-in-law disappeared from Zhao Meifeng's life just like that.

By the time there was news, many years had passed.

Zhao Meifeng was helped into the Xu family's carriage.

After exiting the main gate,

when they arrived on Quyuanjie,

the Imperial City Division soldiers extinguished the stove fire for warmth at the roadside stall and gathered around.

Looking at Gao Yunqing and the others who were equally haggard,

Xu Zaijing sighed.

"Fifth Young Master, is the head drunk?"

"Yes."

"It's good that he's drunk!"

Jiying Alley.

Sheng Hong returned to Weirui Pavilion with the scent of wine all over him.

After changing clothes with Wang Ruofu's service,

sitting on a chair in the hall and soaking his feet, the smile on Sheng Hong's face still hadn't dissipated.

"Mistress, our family has found a good son-in-law!"

Wang Ruofu pursed her lips and said:

"Hmph! Yes!"

Sheng Hong looked at Wang Ruofu and smiled:

"You didn't see the appearance of Huangfu Brother and Liu Brother tonight; it's been so many years, hahahaha, so satisfying!"

Wang Ruofu frowned: "Huangfu? The Huangfu of the Minister of Justice?"

"Yes!"

"Sigh! Why do I see that you are not happy, Mistress?"

Wang Ruofu:

"Hmph!"

"Giving away things worth three or four thousand silver notes just like that, of course it's your good son-in-law!"

Sheng Hong narrowed his eyes:

"I say, Mistress, you wouldn't be jealous of your husband because of this, would you!"

Wang Ruofu flicked her handkerchief and glared:

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Sheng Hong pointed his finger, smiling at Wang Ruofu, and just as he was about to say something,

Caihuan at the door said:

"Master, word from the front yard says a manager from the Li Minister's house has arrived."

Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu were both stunned.

Sheng Hong hurriedly wiped his feet, put on cotton boots, draped a brocade jacket, and arrived at the front yard hall.

"Greetings, Li Manager."

"Sheng Lord, visiting at night, sorry for the disturbance."

That Li Manager looked at the room, and Sheng Hong understood:

"Dongrong, check outside."

"Yes, Master."

After a moment, Dongrong nodded at the door and retreated.

Only then did the Li Manager say:

"Sheng Lord, my master said that the promotion of several lords in the Huainan East Circuit you asked about has changed."

Hearing this, Sheng Hong was stunned:

"Ah? This was already a settled matter, how could it..."

The Li Manager looked at Sheng Hong and said:

"An inner official from the palace came tonight and told my master personally."

"My master asked me to tell Sheng Lord that it's not just these few, but any official who has served in the Huainan East Circuit in the past ten years will have their promotion delayed."

Sheng Hong's eyes were full of confusion and he hurriedly asked:

"What happened?"

"The little one doesn't know, my master is also confused."

Sheng Hong continued: "Then I..."

The Li Manager nodded solemnly, meaning Sheng Hong's promotion would also be delayed.

"The message has been delivered, Sheng Lord, the little one will take his leave!"

"Thank the Lord for me!"

After the person left, Sheng Hong pursed his lips somewhat uncomprehendingly, his eyes full of thought.

At this time, Fang Mama came into the room and said:

"Master, the Old Madam asks what happened."

Sheng Hong said: "I'll go talk to Mother."

Shou'an Hall.

The old lady, who had already undone her hair and was preparing to rest, draped her clothes and sat on the Arhat chair.

After listening to Sheng Hong's words, the old lady shook her head and said:

"Just based on these few words, it's really impossible to guess why!"

"Ruan, send someone to give the Yu family a post, inviting the Yu family Old Madam to come play tomorrow!"

Sheng Hong stood up and bowed: "Thank you, Mother."

"Go rest, there should be news after the morning court tomorrow."

After Sheng Hong left Shou'an Hall,

in the room, the old lady said: "Is Kong Mama still at the Yan Duke's house?"

"Yes."

"Send a letter there too, and ask!"

(End of chapter)