Chapter 291: They must have the wrong script! [Thank you all for your support! Bowing again!]

On the road back to Quyuanjie,

"Little dried fish~ here~"

Amidst the noisy sounds of the marketplace,

The melodic singing of the fish vendor continued.

The servant woman walking beside the Xu family carriage said: "Da Niangzi, the dried fish ordered by the young lady has been bought."

"Hmm, let's go."

There were many commoners on the road.

Seeing this valuable carriage pulled by large horses starting to move, the passersby hurriedly made way.

After walking for two quarters of an hour,

Anmei, feeling the carriage stop, asked: "What's wrong?"

"Da Niangzi, it looks like a noble is taking a concubine ahead, and the procession has blocked the road."

Hearing the servant woman's words outside,

Anmei lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look out, and the voices of passersby nearby reached her:

"Which noble family is this? To have such a grand procession just for taking a concubine?"

"What noble? This is the old Prince of the Kang Prince Mansion taking a concubine!"

"Brother, you must be mistaken; it should be the Kang Prince Heir! How old is this old Prince Kang now!"

Someone nearby interjected:

"It is the old Prince; he is still vigorous in his old age! I heard that the girl is only sixteen this year, and her family has someone serving as an official in the north!"

"Tsk tsk... this must be for the sake of a career..."

The passersby continued to chat.

Anmei, who had lowered the curtain, exchanged glances with her mother and sisters-in-law.

This Prince Kang was of a higher generation and age than the current Emperor, so the Emperor still had to give him some face.

Soon the procession passed, the intersection became clear, and the Xu family's line of carriages continued forward.

By the roadside,

The Luan-surnamed boy who had driven the carriage to Bianjing was enthusiastically picking out ear-warmers by the roadside, but the styles he was looking at were all on the cute side, presumably to buy for a woman.

After arriving at Quyuanjie,

From time to time, old acquaintances of the Marquis Mansion greeted the caravan.

After entering the main gate,

And arriving at the racetrack, the Xu family female relatives in the carriage heard the sound of several horses galloping past outside.

When Anmei got off the carriage, she saw five or six noble boys, along with their respective servants, riding horses in the racetrack.

Seeing the Xu family carriage approaching, the horse team slowed down on the side.

After strolling over,

The boys on horseback greeted Sun Shi and the other female relatives one after another.

Sun Shi also got off the carriage and waved her hand: "You all continue playing; eat at our house tonight."

"Mother, I'm going to eat at Qingfeng Tower with them tonight, you don't need to worry."

Sun Shi nodded and said: "Then, don't drink too much!"

"Understood, Da Niangzi!"

After Liang Han finished speaking, he exchanged glances with Zheng Xiao, and the two of them continued to ride their horses in the field, adjusting their mounts' paces from time to time, hoping to step in sync with Xu Zaijing's mount.

Watching the group ride away, the Da Niangzi smiled and shook her head: "A bunch of kids, they don't even mind the cold."

Anmei, beside her, took the cat from Qingcao's arms and said: "How did it come today? How did it dare to stay with Xiao Wu?"

"Da Niangzi, it went to the courtyard to catch fish again."

Anmei returned to the room in the backyard,

Placed the dried small fish bought by the servant woman into the cat's bowl,

And looking at the cat eating with great gusto, said: "Remember which shop bought this; from now on, it only eats from this shop!"

"Yes, Da Niangzi!"

In the racetrack,

"Qingyun, go prepare some hot water."

Qingyun was about to agree when Zheng Xiao, beside him, said: "Jing-ge'er, let's go directly to Qingfeng Tower; it won't be too late to wash our hands and faces when we get there!"

Liang Han smiled: "Right! If we don't go now, Qiao Jiu, who is hosting, will be anxious."

Xu Zaijing glanced at Zhang family's fourth son, Zhang Fangling, beside him: "Fourth Brother?"

"Let's go, to Qingfeng Tower!"

"Let's go!"

In Bianjing City,

The Bianhe, eight or nine zhang wide, was frozen.

There were thin traces of the previous heavy snow on the ice, and near the banks, there were piles of melted snow that had been cleared away.

Covered in ice and snow, the color of the Bianhe was somewhat brighter than its surroundings.

By the Bianhe was Qingfeng Tower, one of the famous restaurants in the capital.

Although it was already dark,

The area around Qingfeng Tower was still bustling with noise.

In front of Qingfeng Tower, just like Pan Lou, there were colorful towers built and lanterns hanging.

Guests were entering and leaving from time to time under the lanterns, and there were many vendors with small lanterns on both sides of the colorful towers, occasionally sending food and drinks from their stalls into the building.

In front of the stalls, there were also many Bianjing commoners who had come out to buy food.

"Sigh! Squire, your scallion-splashed rabbit meat is ready."

The vendor handed the steaming dish to the customer paying for the stall, but the customer didn't reach out to take it, instead turning sideways to look at a group of people coming down from the bridge.

"Squire?"

"Oh! I'll come to the building to get the bowl later!"

The customer paid the money, took the dish in the porcelain bowl, and watched this group of noble boys who had arrived on horseback and were laughing and talking.

Walking to the front of the building, by the light of the lanterns at the entrance, the squire saw that each of the boys' horses had a long sword hanging on one side.

"Hiss!"

The squire gasped at the aroma of the rabbit meat.

Everyone dismounted, and their respective personal attendants led the horses into a courtyard on the side.

Xu Zaijing and the others entered Qingfeng Tower.

The interior was much brighter than the entrance, and amidst the noisy chatter, it was very lively.

Liang Han called for warm water to wash hands at the entrance.

Subsequently, he and Xu Zaijing and the others, each holding a large Gao sword in their hands, attracted quite a few gazes as they prepared to go upstairs.

The squire who had just bought the rabbit meat followed beside Liang Han, placed the porcelain bowl on the table, scanned Liang Han, and said: "Young Master, this sword, could it be a large Gao sword?"

Hearing this, Liang Han curled his lips, walked two steps to the squire, half-drew his long sword, and said: "Take a look?"

Under the squire's widened eyes, Liang Han sheathed the sword and followed the pace of the others in front.

"It's real! It's real!" the squire shouted with envy.

"Brothers are finally here! Come inside!"

On the stairs, the young Qiao Jiulang responded.

He looked happily at the long swords in everyone's hands.

"Jing-ge'er, their roasted lamb and wine are unique!"

Xu Zaijing, on the stairs, handed the sword he was holding to Qiao Jiulang, and Qiao Jiulang instantly smiled from ear to ear:

"I knew it, brothers love me."

"Let's go, let's look inside!"

At this moment, Xu Zaijing went up to the second floor; looking out, on the second-floor corridor, maids and servants dressed in luxury stood at many doorways.

Qingfeng Tower was different from Pan Lou; generally speaking, the consumption level was a grade lower than Pan Lou,

Because there were no Qiyun Tower, Music Bureau, etc., near Qingfeng Tower, and it was very troublesome for guests to call for female musicians or music masters.

But it also had its benefits, which was that it was relatively quiet, and it was fine for female relatives to come.

This was also the reason why no music could be heard after entering the door.

Led by Zhang Fangling, a group of noble boys entered the room. Before entering, Liang Han said to the Qingfeng Tower waiter who followed:

"Prepare two tables at the entrance, and let the servants come up and sit there later."

Everyone washed their hands in the room, eating roasted lamb while talking.

A legitimate son of a State Duke's mansion like Zhang Fangling actually didn't lack a few large Gao swords in his mansion, but he was the fourth son, and the good swords were all used by his father and elder brother; it wasn't his turn yet. Now that he had the opportunity to get one himself, he naturally would take action.

Qiao Jiulang stroked the long sword in his hand; the Qiao family also had money, but not to the extent of spending thousands of guan to buy him a sword, so Qiao Jiulang was paying Xu Zaijing in "installments"—of course, without interest.

In the room, they were talking.

Qingyun, Diaoche, and other servants were also sitting outside today, eating roasted lamb and drinking wine lightly.

After drinking four or five cups of wine, listening to the laughter of the young masters in the room,

Zhang Fangling's servant clinked his wine cup with Qingyun's.

At this moment, a maid dressed in luxury with a beautiful face, holding a meat dish, followed behind a Qingfeng Tower waiter to the table.

"Young masters, a guest has added a dish for you all."

After speaking, the waiter stepped aside, revealing the maid behind him.

The maid bowed and said:

"My master said, seeing that you young officials are unfamiliar, it's likely your first time here, so she sent this signature dish of Qingfeng Tower for you to taste."

After speaking, she looked at everyone's surroundings, her gaze somewhat puzzled.

The servants sitting down had all stood up at this time, also looking confused.

"We are complete strangers, so let's forget it; thank you for your master's kindness."

Qingyun said, cupping his hands.

"My master is right there; you young officials might want to take a look."

The servants of each family turned their heads to look and saw a plump woman holding a small dog, with a maid behind her, standing not far away.

Seeing everyone looking over, the woman even curtsied.

Diaoche turned his head, looked at Qingyun, who was a head taller and broad-shouldered and extremely sturdy beside him, then looked at the woman not far away,

And after exchanging glances with the other servants, he wanted to speak but stopped, and finally burst into laughter with a "pfft."

Zhang family's servant laughed and asked: "Go, go, go! We don't want the dish! Come back after you've found out who we are!"

After speaking, everyone laughed again.

Qingyun smiled and cupped his hands in a salute: "Thank you for your master's kindness!"

The maid stared at Qingyun, bowed, and turned to leave.

Qingyun smiled and shook his head, sitting back down with the other servants. Just as he was about to raise his cup to drink, the maid walked back and said:

"My master said..."

Qingyun stopped smiling, stood up, stared at the maid, and said sternly: "Please show some self-respect."

The maid was startled and turned to leave.

At this moment, a waiter came to add meat and wood charcoal. Diaoche said: "Who is that person who came just now?"

As he spoke, he pointed to the maid who had walked away.

The waiter said: "Oh! That's the wife of Zhang the blacksmith, a wealthy person nearby."

Hearing this, the servants raised their eyebrows.

The waiter continued:

"I heard that because her husband sold the large Gao sword she brought as a dowry, she divorced and returned home in the second half of the year."

"When she divorced, all eight of her brothers went. But that large Gao sword couldn't be redeemed."

After serving the dish, the waiter shook his head and left.

Qingyun and the others sitting together exchanged glances and said: "Did we... misunderstand something?"

As he spoke, he looked at the servant Diaoche, who was lowering his head to eat.

"Come, let's not think about it!"

The Qiao family servant raised his wine cup. When everyone finished drinking and set their cups down,

A man's clamor erupted from a private room not far away.

After the clamor subsided, there was a burst of animal cries.

The Zheng family servant turned his head to look at the room where the sound came from, then turned his head back and said:

"This deer's cry is imitated quite well."

Just as he finished speaking,

A night bird's cry came from over there.

"Could it be that a ventriloquist from the entertainment district is eating? Fine! I'm done; I can't drink anymore, I have to accompany the Young Master back later!"

After the Zhang family servant finished speaking, Qingyun and the others nodded one after another, putting down their wine cups and drinking no more.

Two quarters of an hour passed.

Xu Zaijing, with one arm around Qiao Jiu and the other around Liang Han, came out of the room.

Seeing this, the servants hurriedly gathered around. Xu Zaijing said: "Go, take them to change clothes."

After the servants took them over, Xu Zaijing followed behind them as if nothing had happened.

Passing by the doorway of the room where the sound had occurred, the waiter at the door was very puzzled and said to the people inside:

"Guest, you... want a rope?"

A person who looked like a translator said: "Yes! They want a rope!"

Xu Zaijing glanced inside and saw big men with shaved hair and furs in the room,

Some of whom were holding wine jars and drinking, while others were eating meat in large mouthfuls.

When they returned from changing clothes,

Liang Han and Qiao Jiulang were a bit more sober.

Following behind Xu Zaijing,

Qingyun told Xu Zaijing what had happened just now: "Young Master, I guess, did that Da Niangzi Zhang want to... buy a sword?"

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Passing by the doorway of the room that wanted the rope,

A banging sound came from inside, as if someone was slamming against the door with their body.

Xu Zaijing and Qingyun exchanged glances.

Qingyun said hesitantly:

"Young Master, something must have happened inside again, right?"

Xu Zaijing: "How could there be so many things for us to run into?"

Qingyun pursed his lips: Have we run into few?

As they talked, they happened to pass by the doorway.

At this moment, the door was opened, and a bound Jin Kingdom warrior appeared behind the door.

After he stumbled out, he leaned against the pillar at the doorway and sat on the ground, clearly having drunk quite a bit.

The second one,

The third one.

Soon there were three or four warriors at the doorway. After some rolled on the ground,

For some reason, the ropes on their bodies loosened.

At this time, Liang Han and Qiao Jiulang happened to pass by here following the servants. Having drunk alcohol, his foot accidentally bumped into the drunken warrior.

Suddenly!

The Jin Kingdom warrior, having loosened his ropes, grabbed Liang Han's ankle.

With a pull, Liang Han almost fell.

Just as he was about to curse, Liang Han felt a spin before his eyes, and he was already lying on the ground.

Immediately, he felt a weight on his body; the Jin Kingdom warrior was already riding on him, and then his neck tightened. In his blurred vision, someone was raising a fist and hitting him.

"Bang!"

Liang Han felt a lightness on his neck and body; the person riding on him had already vanished from his vision.

Qiao Jiulang, who was following at the end, looked in confusion at the black shadow that flew past him, not yet reacting to what had happened.

At this moment,

The others in the room from which the warrior had walked out heard the sound and walked out.

Eight or nine people, each walking relatively steadily, but the smell of alcohol was very strong.

The young man in the lead quickly ran to the warrior who had been kicked away by Xu Zaijing, touched his neck, and shouted something Xu Zaijing couldn't understand.

The seven or eight people who came out were breathing heavily.

Diaoche hurriedly pulled Liang Han to the side. Liang Han looked at the situation and said urgently: "Go, go call for help."

That group of fierce-looking Jin Kingdom warriors gradually approached Xu Zaijing.

Qingyun clenched his fists, and Xu Zaijing also prepared for a big fight.

Then,

These seven or eight sturdy Jin Kingdom warriors stopped their steps.

They placed their hands on their chests,

Bowed their heads,

And shouted in muffled voices:

"Hannibal!"

"Hattab!"

The person at the doorway translated: "Young official! They say thank you! The latter part is them apologizing to you!"

Xu Zaijing:??? Shouldn't we have a fight first?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 292 =====