Chapter 284: Scholar

The night is deep and the frost is heavy,

everything is silent,

and the unmelted snow in the corners reflects the starlight from the sky.

In the house by the racecourse,

the stall where they ate before has been cleaned up.

The stone coal in the fire stove has also burned through and needs more coal.

Two big dogs are sleeping comfortably on the ground,

with two large bones with tooth marks beside their mouths.

Suddenly,

the dogs lifted their heads and looked outside the door.

Yin Bo on the bed opened his eyes, then turned over.

A moment later,

footsteps approached, the door was opened,

and when a girl wearing a cloak walked in, the two big dogs were already standing up and wagging their tails.

The girl didn't care about the dogs; after closing the door, she walked straight to the stove, put down the water pot, and then put the back of her hands toward the fire stove.

"Sit!"

The girl gave an order to the dogs, and the two big dogs stopped crowding forward and sat down to the side.

After the girl roasted her hands for a while until they were hot, she used a coal shovel to add a piece of stone coal.

"Whoosh, whoosh."

Smelling the wine fragrance in the house, the girl's eyes turned and she saw the wine pouch by Yin Bo's bed.

Pulling out the stopper, the girl's delicate nose leaned over,

"Hmm, smells quite good!"

Looking at Yin Bo, who had his back to her, the girl's eyes turned, and she quietly unscrewed the cap of her young master's water bottle and poured a little wine from the wine pouch into the bottle cap.

One gulp!

The features on the girl's face squeezed into a ball!

"Ah! Whoosh!"

The girl raised her eyebrows beautifully, opened her mouth, and said silently, "Tastes good!"

Yin Bo on the bed stretched out his hand from under the quilt and scratched his face.

The girl stopped her movements and stood still.

"Boom—"

"Boom—"

The sound of horse hooves rang out outside the house; the girl put down the things, left the stove, came to the door of the house, and opened it to peek.

Her young master was being helped to put on his armor by a servant named Alan, while another named Xunshu was warming up the horse.

"Young Master, would you like to drink some wine to warm up your body?"

Xu Zaijing felt the chill of the iron armor penetrating his body and looked at Qingcao, who was peeking, and nodded.

Qingcao turned back and happily held the wine pouch as she came out.

Xu Zaijing put on his five-fingered leather gloves, stretched his fingers, and said: "Qingcao, the gloves you and Huaxiang sewed are good, make a few more pairs!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

Taking the wine pouch, Xu Zaijing took a gulp of warm wine and moved his body.

A while later, Xunshu led one of the two dragon horses over.

Between the human and the horse exhaling, white mist steamed.

Stepping on the stirrup, Xu Zaijing mounted the horse, sitting on the dragon horse's back with the heavy weight of the armor,

because the tall dragon horse wasn't wearing heavy armor, it lifted its hooves playfully without feeling anything.

The horse lance, which was a section longer than the one Xu Zaijing had used in Jinyang Stronghold, was laboriously carried out of the house by Alan.

Xu Zaijing took it lightly, leveled it to find the center of gravity, then danced it around casually, and then lightly tapped the horse's belly; the dragon horse started to trot slowly on the racecourse.

On the racecourse, Qingyun, who had set up the targets, hurriedly ran to the side.

Having trained for so many years, Xu Zaijing already had a profound understanding of the power of cavalry nowadays.

Not to mention anything else, just like when we usually ride a bicycle, it's easy to get hurt once the speed is up,

so what about a horse weighing a thousand jin!

Once the horse really runs, with the addition of the weight and speed of the human and horse, even if it's a stick, its power is different from the past.

Moreover, what Xu Zaijing was using now wasn't a stick, but a horse lance that was astonishingly heavy, sharp at the front, and heavy at the back.

In the darkness of the winter morning,

the thundering sound of iron hooves,

the clattering sound of things colliding,

and the muffled shouts of the youth were endless.

Half an hour later, a man and a horse rushed out of the darkness,

*Neigh—*

The dragon horse stopped playfully in front of Xunshu and lifted its front hooves high, its head higher than the combined height of the two youths.

But the horse attendant Xunshu, who was already used to it, didn't even retreat.

Xu Zaijing on the horse's back also sat steadily on the horse's back by relying on the strength of his waist and legs.

After dismounting, he patted the dragon horse's neck, which was vaguely emitting white mist, and after drinking water, he took Qingyun and Qingcao, the master and two servants, to the greenhouse.

Xu Zaijing arrived at the Sheng family, and when the morning reading ended, the sky was already bright.

At this time,

Xu Zaijing's Master was holding the refilled wine pouch, looking at the racecourse, where the area with cavalry-height and human-height wooden targets in the distance was covered with scattered wood, as if ravaged by a monster, in a mess.

There, the children of the Bai Gao country living in the outer courtyard were happily picking up the broken wood, preparing to help carry it to the Xu family's big kitchen for firewood, saying they might get a boiled egg reward from the cook.

And in the Sheng family,

Scholar Zhuang was walking slowly in the warm lecture hall,

stopping from time to time to look at the content written by a certain young master,

sometimes nodding,

sometimes pointing at a certain place with the folding fan in his hand.

When walking to the girls' side, the scholar nodded as he looked at Minglan's practice of calligraphy,

walked to Rulan's desk, the scholar reached out his hand, and Rulan sheepishly put an idle book into the scholar's hand,

passed Seeing Mo Lan, the scholar glanced at her but didn't speak, then walked to the table in front of the hall and sat down.

Leaning on the couch, Scholar Zhuang casually opened the idle book he had collected from Rulan.

When school ended at noon,

everyone stood up and said in unison:

"Thank you, Scholar, for your teachings!"

Scholar Zhuang nodded, looking at the crowd in the lecture hall busy putting on cloaks or capes,

the scholar said casually:

"Fifth Young Lady, stay behind."

Rulan, who was happy, had her face fall, and looked toward Changbai for help.

Because they had to continue class in the afternoon, everyone didn't pack up their book boxes or anything,

and soon, Xu Zaijing and Changbai left the lecture hall; Xu Zaijing said:

"Changbai, aren't you going to manage Rulan?"

Changbai sighed and said: "Don't talk about her, just now that question from the scholar..."

The crowd walked away.

In the lecture hall, Rulan looked at the scholar who was pondering and clapping his hands with his folding fan, and smiled sheepishly.

After a while,

Rulan, who came out lifting the curtain, had an expression of disbelief,

walking and saying: "Magpie, remember to help me bring the second volume of that storybook this afternoon."

"Yes, Young Lady."

After the two left,

in the lecture hall, Scholar Zhuang sat behind the table, holding the idle book, muttering to himself:

"I wrote this how many years ago, why is it still being printed! Really!"

Shou'an Hall,

The Old Madam smiled and said a few words like "Treat it as your own home" and "Don't be strangers" to the children, then returned to the inner room,

and after the maids moved the screen to separate the men and women, everyone started eating.

With no elders present, Xu Zaijing and the few others chatted idly,

and after the meal, they drank some digestive drinks served by the maids.

The Old Madam was taking a nap, and they didn't disturb her, so they prepared to return directly to the lecture hall.

When they came out, the servants and maids who had finished eating were already waiting in the outer hall,

put on their winter clothes, and the group walked out.

The young maid Danju stood at the door of the room, bowing incessantly to the young masters and young ladies passing by.

When everyone had gone out, and Qingcao behind had walked to the gate of Shou'an Hall's courtyard, she turned back and said to a maid:

"Go, tell Mother Zhi that she can send someone to move the tables, stools, bowls, and chopsticks used by the maids and servants."

"Yes, Sister Danju."

Outside the courtyard,

Qingcao looked at Xu Zaijing, who had stopped in front, and said in a low voice: "Young Master, what's wrong?"

Qi Heng and Gu Tingye, who were walking in front, also looked at Xu Zaijing with curiosity.

"Jingge'er, did you forget something?"

Xu Zaijing forced a smile and said: "It's nothing, let's go!"

In the afternoon,

everyone continued class, Scholar Zhuang hadn't come to the lecture hall yet,

Rulan squatted in front of Changbai's desk and said:

"Brother, I haven't finished reading the storybook yet! The scholar took it away..."

Changbai glanced at his sister and said:

"The scholar's annual tuition is four thousand strings, and you are reading this in the hall?"

Rulan lowered her head: "I don't need to take the imperial examination..."

"Then you must also listen attentively, understand reason, and know right from wrong."

"Oh."

Changbai sighed and said: "I'll try later."

"Thank you, brother."

After a while, Scholar Zhuang came to the lecture hall, and Rulan reluctantly handed over the second volume of the idle book.

Scholar Zhuang flipped through it, didn't speak, just placed the idle book on the table.

While everyone in the lecture hall continued to study,

Scholar Zhuang looked curiously at Xu Zaijing, who was lost in thought.

This kind of situation was rare!

Xu Zaijing felt the gaze and hurriedly sat down and bowed to Scholar Zhuang.

About a quarter of an hour later,

Scholar Zhuang took the article Xu Zaijing had written in the afternoon, looked seriously at him in front of the table, and said:

"Fifth Young Master, you have been restless all afternoon, what are you thinking about?"

Scholar Zhuang said, shaking the paper in his hand:

"Look at this article you wrote..."

Xu Zaijing lowered his head and said: "Scholar, the student wasn't thinking about anything."

Scholar Zhuang said earnestly:

"Hmph! When facing major events, one must have a calm spirit! The imperial examination is the biggest major event in your life besides life and death!"

"No matter what you encounter! You must also do your article well!"

Xu Zaijing hurriedly bowed and said: "Yes, thank you, Scholar, for your teachings."

"Go."

Xu Zaijing bowed and left the lecture hall.

Arriving outside the courtyard, seeing Gu Tingye and Qi Heng who hadn't left yet, Xu Zaijing smiled, signaling it was fine.

The few said goodbye at the door,

Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang each rode their horses out of Jiying Lane,

looking at the commoners and hunters selling pheasants and rabbits on the roadside from time to time,

Xu Zaijing's eyes were full of thoughtful expressions.

When they arrived at Quyuan Street,

Xu Zaijing looked at his elder brother who had already entered the door,

and said to Qingyun beside him: "Go, invite Brother Zhao to our mansion for a trip."

"Yes, Young Master."

Qingyun drove his horse and left forward.

"Qingcao, go tell my mother, I won't go over for dinner tonight."

Qingcao hurriedly agreed.

"Shu Bo, send a few hearty dishes in later."

Night fell,

in the house by the racecourse,

Xu Zaijing and Zhao Meifeng sat at the table with wine and dishes,

asked Zhao Meifeng a few questions in detail,

especially the details of the small official killed by the robbers; Zhao Meifeng didn't hide anything either, gritting his teeth and saying everything he knew:

"That thief once boasted to the fence, saying he cut off his head and threw it in front of my niece..."

After speaking, Zhao Meifeng drank a mouthful of wine fiercely: "Hateful, to let that thief die so quickly!"

Xu Zaijing nodded and said: "Brother Zhao, there is a matter..."

Zhao Meifeng's expression, which had been depressed, began to change drastically with the words Xu Zaijing said in a low voice,

then he stood up fiercely,

came outside the house, and after letting Gao Yunqing and Qingyun outside stay far away,

he returned to the house, frowned, walked around the house for a few steps, and looked at Xu Zaijing:

"This couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?"

Xu Zaijing remained seated, his chopsticks stopped on the dish as he said:

"Whether it is or not, I don't know yet!"

Zhao Meifeng walked over and sat down: "Then, she... does she have any special features?"

Xu Zaijing picked up the meat dish, just as he wanted to put it in his mouth, it was pressed on the arm by Zhao Meifeng.

Looking at Zhao Meifeng's anxious appearance, Xu Zaijing helplessly put down his chopsticks and said:

"No special features!"

Zhao Meifeng heard this, not only was his expression not depressed, but his eyes brightened instead as he pursued:

"Anything else?"

Xu Zaijing frowned and thought about what he knew, saying:

"Looks stupid, but is very smart."

Zhao Meifeng slapped his palm with his fist, smiling: "You say it like that, it's really extremely likely!"

He looked at Xu Zaijing: "Jingge'er, you are truly... truly my lucky star!"

Xu Zaijing waved his hand: "No, no, what if it's not, you'll be happy for nothing!"

Zhao Meifeng nodded, then rubbed his face hard,

and said in a solemn voice: "By the way, before the New Year, he will come to Bianjing."

Xu Zaijing: "Who?... Your Senior Brother?"

Zhao Meifeng nodded and said: "Hmm! The peace delegation of the Bai Gao country has already walked into the Great Zhou territory."

Xu Zaijing nodded, then his Senior Brother should be in this delegation.

"The delegations of Northern Liao and the Jin country will also arrive in the capital in a few days! This time it will be even livelier than before!"

Xu Zaijing said: "Bai Gao country is seeking peace, then why are Northern Liao and Jin country coming?"

Zhao Meifeng curled his lips and said: "Northern Liao should be promising that when we deal with Bai Gao country, they won't interfere, while Jin country is..."

"Inviting Great Zhou to attack Northern Liao together?"

Zhao Meifeng nodded.

"Then do you want to go see that little girl yourself, and then tell your Master?"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Zhao Meifeng pondered for a long time before nodding:

"When the time comes, find an opportunity and let me meet her!"

Xu Zaijing stared at Zhao Meifeng's eyes and asked with doubt in a low voice: "Brother Zhao, you wouldn't be... not wanting to tell your Master, would you?"

Zhao Meifeng was stunned, and laughed at himself: "Is it that obvious?"

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Zhao Meifeng said: "If that little girl you mentioned is really my Senior Brother's descendant, do you think she would have any good days?"

Xu Zaijing thought for a while and shook his head: "She would probably be held in the palm of their hand and used as a chess piece."

Zhao Meifeng nodded and said: "Right! So, Senior Brother has paid enough!"

"Nowadays, besides the two of us, no one knows about this! Jingge'er, Brother, I'm going to owe you another favor!"

Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Meifeng and asked with doubt: "Oh? Owe me what favor?"

Zhao Meifeng smiled,

then he picked up the wine cup on the table and clinked it with Xu Zaijing.

The two drank it together.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 285 =====

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Zhao Meifeng said: "If that little girl you spoke of is truly the descendant of my senior fellow apprentice, do you think she would have any good days ahead?"

Xu Zaijing thought for a moment and shook his head: "She would likely be held in the palm of their hand and treated as a chess piece."

Zhao Meifeng nodded and said: "Correct! Therefore, my senior fellow apprentice has already paid enough!"

"Now, except for the two of us, no one knows about this! Jingge'er, I owe you another favor!"

Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Meifeng with a puzzled expression and asked: "Oh? What favor do you owe me?"

Zhao Meifeng smiled,

then he picked up the wine cup on the table and clinked it with Xu Zaijing's.

The two drank together.

(End of chapter)