Chapter 323

The look the Fifth Sister gave her maidservant, and the words she had just said to Zhengzheng and Tingyi, were as if they were also spoken to them.

Seeing the apologetic look from their young lady,

the Zhang family maidservant lowered her head and bowed.

Rong Xian followed behind Xu Zaijing and the others, turned his head, and took another look at the three noble ladies,

feeling secretly annoyed in his heart: Why wasn't his own sister here? Otherwise, he could have moved a bit closer!

As Xu Zaihang, Zheng Xiao, and other young noblemen of Bianjing walked back to the wooden tower along the riverbank, official family noble ladies looked at them from time to time, then used their silk handkerchiefs to cover their mouths and whispered something.

Although Gu Tingye and the others did not actually participate in the "action," their series of movements could be considered "acting with chivalry and righteousness,"

and their walking pace was quite self-satisfied.

As the group stepped onto the wooden bridge, they happened to run into several brightly dressed noble ladies coming down from the second floor on the opposite side.

Seeing the group coming from the opposite bank, they waited downstairs with eyes full of surprise.

Rong Feiyan, one of these people, looked at the clothes Xu Zaijing was wearing, and there was some regret mixed in with her surprise.

Liang Han, in the crowd, pulled down the forehead band on his brow and wiped away some sweat; when he saw that there was Chunge among the group on the opposite side, he immediately put the forehead band back on properly,

and then, imitating the manner of Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others, nodded slightly toward that side to thank the young ladies for making way.

Chunge's beauty was high enough, and the beauty of the several young ladies beside her was not low either; they were all pretty and good-looking,

but, people are always afraid of comparison.

Once Rong Feiyan stood among these people, her beauty and temperament were truly outstanding.

Even her skin tone was a level whiter than everyone else's.

The young ladies all lowered their heads slightly, not looking at the young men, and bowed slightly in return.

After the young men passed, they raised their heads, their gazes chasing after different people for a while, and then walked toward the opposite bank of the river.

Xu Zaijing and the others went up to the second floor, only to find that several people were already sitting there.

"Jing Jing Biao Ge!"

"Jin Ge'er!"

Seeing Chai Jin, everyone hurriedly bowed and greeted him.

After some conversation, they learned that the Chai Jin and Chai Bo brothers had arrived early and had just walked around the garden like them,

and must have been walking ahead of Xu Zaijing and the others.

Subsequently, the group brewed their thoughts on the floor and more or less wrote a few poems, especially Hearing Qi Heng; although he was not very old, he had written quite a few flowery ones.

The manager of the Yangzhong Garden also knew how to handle things and immediately begged for Liang Han and Hearing Qi Heng's works as if they were treasures, saying that they would be hung on the first floor of the wooden tower in the future.

Xu Zaijing also composed one, but after he finished writing, before anyone else could see it, he had Qingcao put it away.

At noon, the group ate some seasonal vegetable porridge.

After resting on the floor for a while, the group played *cuju* downstairs for a while.

When playing *cuju*, there were quite a few girls on the female guests' floor who felt bored and watched from afar; rules and scoring were put aside, as the main thing was watching the people and the excitement.

Before the end of the *Wei* hour (before 3:00 PM),

taking advantage of the warm and good weather,

families like the Chai and Rong families, who lived far away and had come from the east side of the Imperial City to the west side of the outer city, were already preparing to go home.

Xingguo Lane and Quyuanjie were not very close to the Yangzhong Garden, and they were also preparing.

Gu Tingye and Zheng Xiao stood downstairs talking with Xu Zaijing and the others, while the attendants and maidservants were busy packing things up again.

Huaxiang walked down from the floor carrying a tray, on which were several sheets of paper held down by paperweights.

When she reached the entrance, a somewhat strong spring breeze blew over, and the paper on the tray rustled.

Just as Huaxiang reached out to hold down the paper, some sand was blown into her eyes from the ground, which had been drying for most of the day!

"Ah!"

Huaxiang stopped in her tracks, and the hand that was going to press the paper began to rub her eyes.

The sheets of paper on the tray were blown into the air and flew toward the side where the female guests were.

Qingcao, who was following behind carrying the tea set box, was quick-eyed and fast-handed; she closed her eyes and pressed down on the tray.

After the wind blew past,

Qingcao helped Huaxiang blow into her eyes, while Yunxiang was sent by Qingcao to pick up the paper that had been blown away.

The maidservants and attendants of the various families around were all observant; seeing the paper flying over, everyone helped out one after another.

Very soon, the sheets of paper were collected back by Yunxiang.

At this time, Chai Zhengzheng walked out of the tower; Miss Yun Mu, who was beside her, looked at the little maidservant Fuyi walking over from not far away and asked:

"Why aren't you waiting by the carriage, why did you go over there?"

Fuyi said a few words, and Miss Yun Mu nodded directly without looking at Chai Zhengzheng.

The three master and servants got into the carriage and soon embarked on the return journey amidst the rumbling of the carriage wheels.

On the way home,

"Do you still remember the poems on that paper?"

Fuyi said: "I remember."

Xingguo Lane.

The Duke of England's mansion.

The Fifth Sister of the Zhang family, wearing clothes that had already been frayed by the tree trunk, lowered her head.

She stood before the Duchess of England, her hands nervously pinching the hem of her skirt on both sides of her body.

"Madam, this is exactly what the young lady told us servants!"

"It was our slow-witted brains that didn't think in time that the young lady would go climb a tree, which is what put the young lady in danger."

The Duchess of England looked at her only daughter and said in a deep voice: "What Seeing Fan Mama said, do you acknowledge it?"

The Fifth Sister raised her head to look at her mother and said timidly: "Daughter..."

"Speak louder!"

"Daughter does not acknowledge it!" the Fifth Sister said loudly.

"It was all daughter's fault, it has nothing to do with Seeing Fan Mama and the others!"

The Duchess of England nodded and said: "Good, you can be considered to have a sense of responsibility; then how should you be punished?"

The Fifth Sister bit her lip, hesitated for a while, and then said:

"Daughter will be grounded... ten... five... ten days!"

The Duchess of England: "Mm!"

"But if Mother can reduce the punishment for Seeing Fan Mama and the others, daughter is willing to add..."

The Fifth Sister thought for a moment about the number of maidservants who had followed her today and said: "Twenty-five days!"

The Duchess of England nodded and said:

"Good, the servants who went with you will be exempt from punishment, and you will be grounded for thirty-five days!"

She added: "Hmph, you can still be considered to have a bit of responsibility!"

The Fifth Sister, not knowing whether to cry or laugh, bowed and said:

"Mother, daughter accepts the punishment, but if this is the case, daughter won't be able to make it to Sister Anmei's wedding."

The Duchess of England smiled dismissively: "You aren't the bride, if you can't make it, then don't go."

The Fifth Sister of the Zhang family was dejected: "Oh."

Early in the second month,

north of Bianjing City,

outside the Ansu Gate,

a troop of fifty sturdy cavalrymen slowed their speed by the Hulong River.

The knight in the lead, whose face was full of the color of wind and frost, raised his head to look at the towering city wall, and after exchanging glances with the personal guards nearby, paced his horse into the city.

At this time, the morning court session had long since ended.

Inside the Imperial Palace,

inside the main hall,

the Emperor sat behind the imperial desk,

and sitting to the side were the top Great Zhou officials who had been kept behind.

The heir to the Marquis of Yongyi, Xu Zaiduan, stood in the room with a face full of wind and frost, making a report to the Emperor.

Every time he mentioned a location, Gu Tingyu would make a mark on the large map in the hall.

After listening to the report, the Emperor nodded, looked at the several important court officials, and said:

"Mm, not bad! Do you have anything else you want to ask!"

After another round of questions and answers,

the important officials of the Great Zhou court nodded one after another; those who didn't nod didn't refute either, after all, if they encountered a defeat, it would be more effective than ten thousand words from them.

After talking about state affairs for another half an hour,

the important court officials all withdrew.

The Emperor waved his hand at Xu Zaiduan and said:

"Gu Dalang Xu, sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zaiduan sat down straight with his back upright, his hands placed on his thighs.

After the eunuchs moved the embroidered stools away, the Emperor looked at Gu Tingyu and said to Zaiduan:

"In this battle, what are your father's chances of winning?"

Zaiduan pondered for a moment and was just about to stand up when he was pressed back down by the Emperor's wave.

Zaiduan sat and bowed:

"Replying to Your Majesty, if Northern Liao intervenes, there is a sixty percent chance! If Northern Liao stands by and watches, eighty percent!"

The Emperor nodded, smiled as he looked at Zaiduan, and said:

"It's been nearly a year since we last met; Gu Dalang looks much more steady than before! The north is bitter and cold, you must have suffered quite a bit, right?"

Zaiduan stood up, bowed, and cupped his hands: "To open up territory for Your Majesty, it is not bitter!"

"Hahahaha!"

The Emperor laughed heartily and said: "Sit down! How was the effect of the thing sent over earlier?"

Zaiduan said: "Replying to Your Majesty! The effect was extraordinary; many scouts sent ahead and soldiers in the army who were injured all relied on this item to stop bleeding and save their lives!"

The Emperor nodded with gratification and said: "This, we must thank your father-in-law!"

Zaiduan sat and bowed.

At this moment, the door was opened, and Zhao Fang peeked in and said: "Father Emperor, the son saw that the important officials had all left; can the son come in?"

The Emperor beckoned.

Zhao Fang came behind the imperial desk, sat on the Emperor's lap, and smiled at Xu Zaiduan.

Xu Zaiduan hurriedly stood up: "Greetings, Your Highness."

Zhao Fang waved his hand in a manner quite like the Emperor's:

"Duan Ge'er, you sit!"

"I heard Father Emperor say that several brave warriors who are close to Jing Ge'er have gone under Marquis Xu's command; I wonder how they are performing?"

Xu Zaiduan sat on the embroidered stool and bowed:

"Replying to Your Highness, they are all brave warriors; after repeated competitions, the lowest among them is already a squad leader!"

"Among them, one named Guo Kui, who arrived at the military prefecture before the New Year, has martial prowess not inferior to Di Jing."

The Emperor nodded and said: "Di Jing, this name, we have seen it several times; is he now a battalion commander?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, yes!"

"Father Emperor, when they win and return in triumph, the son wants to toast them personally!"

As soon as Zhao Fang said this, the smile on the Emperor's face became even more cheerful, and he said: "Good! Granted!"

After finishing, he looked at Xu Zaiduan and Gu Tingyu, and the Emperor said:

"Alright, Duan Ge'er has a lot to do since returning, we won't keep you any longer. Go get busy!"

Gu Tingyu accompanied Xu Zaiduan out of the side gate of the Imperial Palace.

"Are Pingmei and my nephew well recently?"

"Well! My wife and the eldest are both able to eat and sleep!"

Xu Zaiduan nodded with a smile.

Jiying Lane.

The Sheng family, Shou'an Hall.

The Old Madam finished making incense very skillfully, lit it, and said: "Oh? Your eldest cousin has returned to the capital?"

Minglan nodded repeatedly: "The servant boy from the Marquis's mansion who came to call the two cousins said so."

The Old Madam beckoned to Cui Mama, letting Cui Mama go and light the incense.

She herself took the towel to wipe her hands and said: "Suqin, have the old family disciples who came from the manor in the south all rested well?"

"Old Madam, they have rested well; these past few days at the Xiaoyu Manor, they have even helped out quite a bit!"

The Old Madam nodded and said: "Together, send them all over!"

Hearing Fang Mama nodded in agreement.

A quarter of an hour later, Hearing Fang Mama, followed by two maidservants holding wooden boxes, got into the Sheng family's carriage.

Beside the carriage were several very capable young men following, heading toward Quyuanjie.

Quyuanjie.

Hearing Chu Zhan, at the entrance of the street, jumped on his feet, pointed into the distance, and shouted: "Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is back!"

Xu Zaiduan reached out and moved Hearing Chu Zhan to the side: "Don't block my view, go to the mansion and pass the word!"

After finishing, he waved at his eldest brother in the distance.

Hearing Chu Zhan ran back in a flash.

After a while,

Xu Zaiduan dismounted.

After a solid hug with Xu Zaiduan, the brothers separated.

Zaiduan looked Xu Zaiduan up and down and said: "In less than a year, how have you grown so tall?"

Xu Zaiduan smiled proudly: "Brother, wait until I surpass you!"

"You brat!"

Inside the main gate of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion,

Madam Sun looked at her eldest son, Xu Zaiduan, with teary eyes, touched him, and said:

"Touching him, he doesn't seem to have lost much weight, he just looks a bit uglier."

Xu Zaiduan touched his own face, glared at Xie Shi, who had broken into laughter through her tears, and reached out toward Xu Xingdai in Xie Shi's arms:

"Come, son, let Daddy hold you!"

As he spoke, he took his eldest son into his arms.

"Ah~~~"

Xu Xingdai immediately started crying and looked for help toward his grandmother Madam Sun, his mother, and his two uncles,

but no one paid him any mind.

In the end, it was Anmei who reached out, took Xu Xingdai into her arms, wiped the tears and snot from his face, and said:

"Silly boy, that's your daddy!"

Xu Zaiduan shook his head with a smile, nodded at Hualan, who had a big belly, and said:

"Let's go, let's go into the courtyard!"

Entering Madam Sun's courtyard,

Zaiduan first took out quite a few cute wooden carvings from his luggage and handed them to Xu Xingdai as if presenting a treasure.

But seeing Xu Xingdai hugging the tiger doll and refusing to let go, Xu Zaiduan said dejectedly:

"This, who gave this to him?"

Xu Zaiduan waved his hand: "Eldest Brother, don't look at me, I was just running an errand!"

Zaiduan smiled and pointed at Xu Zaiduan, then took out an exquisite gold neck ring and handed it to Zaizhang:

"Father said, whether it's a boy or a girl, he likes it!"

After finishing, Zaiduan waved his hand at Hualan, who wanted to stand up to thank him, and said: "No need for that!"

Then he said to Anmei: "This hairpin inlaid with gems was picked out by Father for a long time."

Anmei smiled: "Thank you, Daddy and Eldest Brother!"

"Fifth Brother, your things are outside, they are the Northern Liao saddle on my horse's back; I heard it was given to Father by the Duke of England's son."

"Don't even mention it, it's really comfortable to ride!"

Xu Zaiduan rolled his eyes at his eldest brother.

"Here, this is from Eldest Brother to you!"

As he spoke, Zaiduan threw over a dagger with a sheath inlaid with gems.

Xu Zaiduan caught the dagger and smiled: "Thank you, Eldest Brother!"

After finishing, he drew the dagger, looked at the patterns on the blade and the edge, and nodded in praise without stopping.

At this moment,

a little maidservant at the door said: "Madam, Hearing Fang Mama from the Sheng family is here."

Madam Sun was stunned and said: "Quick, invite her in!"

A moment later, Hearing Fang Mama arrived in the hall.

Then, the three Xu brothers quickly walked out and headed toward the racetrack.

Walking and talking along the way.

"Are these Jin warriors this strong?"

"Can they even crush the Northern Liao Imperial Guard?"

Eldest Brother Xu asked Xu Zaiduan with confusion.

Xu Zaiduan nodded: "Mm!"

Eldest Brother Xu clicked his tongue, thought for a moment, and asked:

"Little Five, do you think the Northern Liao Imperial Guard isn't as strong as you thought?"

"After all, you've both seen what the Tianwu Army was like before!"

Xu Zaiduan pondered for a while and nodded: "Eldest Brother's words make sense!"

Eldest Brother Xu smiled slightly, placed his hands on his two younger brothers' shoulders, and said: "Let's go, let's see how powerful the people recommended by our Great-Aunt are!"

(End of chapter)