Chapter 324

The Marquis of Yongyi's mansion,

outer courtyard, by the wooden railing of the racetrack,

a group of quite capable-looking men stood there.

One of them cast his gaze around and sighed:

"I heard Grandfather say before that the Marquis's mansion in Bianjing was very large; I thought Grandfather had remembered wrong and exaggerated the scale, but now it seems he really remembered wrong!"

A young man on the side said:

"Jing Jing Biao Ge is right! This Marquis's mansion looks much larger than what Grandfather described!"

He added: "And this is in Bianjing, where every inch of land is worth an inch of gold!"

After finishing, the young man continued to watch the field intently, where several fine horses were being groomed by knights.

"Jing Jing Biao Ge, when do you think we'll be able to ride such fine horses!"

"Our mounts back home in the village were considered pretty good, but compared to this..."

The young man called Jing Jing Biao Ge nodded and greeted the capable personal guards of the Marquis's mansion who were looking over, saying:

"Just now, when the servant boy from the Marquis's mansion came to lead the horses, I asked; those few are the Marquis's personal guards! They came back from the north with the Gu Dalang!"

"But those two servant boys had some accents when they spoke, and they had scars on their foreheads, strange!"

"Pang Pang Wanchun, do you know why?"

The young man named shook his head and looked at the others near him.

These six or seven people shook their heads one after another, and someone said: "Could it be scars from fighting each other?"

At this moment, a voice came from the side: "That is the Northern Liao's forehead-cutting ritual!"

Everyone turned to look toward the source of the voice, only to see Shu Bo and Chu Zhan, one old and one young, walking over with chestnuts still steaming in their hands.

Carrying a large bowl, he walked up to the group, and Shu Bo looked carefully at a young man: "Young man, is your elder surnamed Wang?"

The young man named had eyes full of surprise and asked in confusion: "How does the old gentleman know?"

Shu Bo held the large bowl and said:

"Come, eat!"

"You look just like your grandfather carved in his youth!"

Shu Bo looked at the others for a few more glances, his eyes full of thoughtful expression, and said: "You are surnamed... Pang?"

Chu Zhan tilted his head and looked: "Grandpa Shu, could it be that he also looks like his grandfather?"

Shu Bo shook his head: "Should be his grandmother, right?"

After Shu Bo finished these few sentences, ordinary people knew that this was an old man who was familiar with their elders.

After some questioning, the young man surnamed Pang suddenly realized and said:

"Oh! You are the one Grandmother mentioned who didn't find a wife..."

"Cough!"

The young man surnamed Wang coughed.

"Old gentleman, please forgive me, this brat doesn't have a gate on his mouth..."

Shu Bo waved his hand: "It's fine, at that time, the old man was also young and frivolous!"

Chu Zhan on the side handed the chestnuts forward again: "Now Grandpa Shu has his first child!"

The young man surnamed Wang said: "Oh, I wonder where the old gentleman's child is?"

Chu Zhan: "Conceived just last year, still in the belly!"

Shu Bo smiled, nodded at this group of people with great self-satisfaction, and confirmed their thoughts.

"Whoa! Old gentleman is amazing!"

"Is this forehead-cutting ritual you mentioned the one our elders talked about, the one where Northern Liao people swear to die in loyalty?"

"Are they..."

Shu Bo nodded.

After talking for a while longer, during the conversation, Shu Bo heard that the elders of several young men had already passed away, and his face was full of sighing.

The personal guards of the Marquis's mansion in the racetrack, seeing Shu Bo talking happily with this group of young people,

also came over and started talking.

Listening to these people from Jiangnan East Circuit and Liangzhe Circuit praising their horses, several personal guards of the Marquis's mansion all smiled and waved their hands, saying:

"Brothers, you'd better see Fifth Young Master's horses before you say anything!"

The young man surnamed Pang cupped his hands: "Brothers, you are too modest!"

The personal guards of the Marquis's mansion continued to wave their hands.

At this moment, Chu Zhan, who had cleared the chestnuts in the bowl, poked his head out and said: "The three young masters are coming!"

After everyone looked over, they hurriedly checked their clothes and stood ready, waiting for the three of them and the servant boys to walk over.

Chu Zhan, standing in the middle of the crowd, whispered:

"The one in the middle is Eldest Brother Duan Ge'er, the one on the right is Third Brother Zhang Ge'er, and the one on the left is Fifth Brother Jing Ge'er!"

As the three Xu brothers walked closer, this group of young men, together with the personal guards, bowed.

Zaiduan also cupped his hands, scanned this group of capable young men up and down, and said with a face full of joy:

"No need for formalities, we are all our own family!"

After finishing, he looked at everyone with a smile, and the atmosphere became slightly quiet.

Xu Zaiduan smiled: "It looked very lively just now, what were you chatting about?"

Chu Zhan said from the side: "Young Master, we were chatting about horses! We wanted to see the fine horse..."

Xu Zaiduan and his two brothers looked at each other and said: "Horses are not urgent, I wonder what the names of these brave warriors are?"

Everyone looked at each other; their hands were constantly moving, and it seemed everyone wanted to let others speak first, after all, the first impression is deep.

Shu Bo on the side shook his head, handed the large bowl to Chu Zhan,

cupped his hands toward the three Xu Zaiduan brothers, and pulled the sleeve of one person, saying:

"Young Master, this is the grandson of Wang Hu, the squad leader of the old Marquis's personal guards, Wang Yan! He has studied books!"

"The great-grandsons of personal guard Fang Song, Fang Ding and Fang Jie!"

"This brat is called Pang Pang Pang Wanchun; his grandfather's archery was previously in the Marquis's mansion's personal guards, like this!"

As he spoke, Shu Bo gave a thumbs-up!

Subsequently, Shu Bo patted a young man whose figure was even sturdier than Qingyun's and said:

"Deng Yuanjue, his grandfather had great strength! He used the shield quite well, I don't know how this brat is!"

Hearing this, Qingyun looked at him with great interest.

And this Deng Yuanjue, after finishing his salute, cast his gaze toward the mottled exercise equipment around the racetrack, which had been used so severely that they were scrapped, such as shields and archery targets.

"Lie Tianrun."

"Si Xingfang."

Zaiduan looked at these people with glowing eyes, his mouth constantly saying the word "Good."

Subsequently, Xu Zaiduan whistled; after Alan and Xunshu looked over, he pointed to the stable.

The two attendants understood and immediately ran toward the stable.

Very soon, several fine, handsome horses with their bridles removed and bare-backed ran out slowly.

This series of actions attracted everyone's attention to the racetrack.

These young men who came with Mother Fang walked to the wooden railing and whispered to the personal guards of the Marquis's mansion nearby:

"Where did so many fine, handsome horses come from!"

Chu Zhan squeezed into the middle of the crowd, pointed with his finger, and said as if counting his family treasures:

"The ugliest one is Jing Ge'er's first horse, the best-looking one was born from the fine horse bestowed by Northern Liao and the fine horse bestowed..."

The people by the wooden railing all swallowed their saliva in unison.

Zaiduan and Zaizhang also stood on the side, looking at the horses in the field.

Xu Zaiduan, seeing everyone's attention attracted, walked to the side of Shu Bo, who had a face full of happy smiles, and whispered:

"Shu Bo, such good hands, why didn't they go to the Western Army with Father before?"

Shu Bo's face became awkward: "Fifth Young Master, this has to be said about the elders' mistakes..."

Xu Zaiduan looked at the weapons and bows carried by Wang, Pang, and others nearby and said: "Speak freely!"

Shu Bo coughed lightly and said:

"Before, after the old Marquis inherited the title, Northern Liao invaded the border; the Sheng family's Old Madam sent people to help, and it was also to give these old family members a place to go."

"As a result, they were scolded away by the Marquis's mother... cough... and the relationship became very bad! Before, when the Marquis went to the Western Army, he was too embarrassed to send letters to find people."

"Now that these children who are the same age as you, Fifth Young Master, have grown up, and the Marquis is also valued in the north, the Second Madam is also the eldest daughter of the Sheng family..."

"It was said that it was the Old Madam who sent the letters, letting them decide whether to come or not."

Xu Zaiduan nodded, and then he also walked to the wooden railing and stood in front of the crowd.

Seeing Xu Zaiduan's figure, the horses were not afraid of people and walked toward the crowd with their steps.

After feasting their eyes, the horses were led to the stable by Alan.

Xu Zaiduan watched the gazes of the crowd chasing the horses, coughed, and said:

"Since we are going to the north, why don't we have a competition today to show everyone's strength!"

"How about it?"

Everyone nodded one after another.

After a warm-up competition,

Wang Yan held a long spear from the Marquis's mansion with the metal tip removed and wrapped in cloth, and sparred with Zaiduan.

Laymen watch the excitement, experts watch the technique.

The offense and defense of Zaiduan and Wang Yan holding the spears made the onlookers cheer one after another.

Afterward, they fought against several personal guards of the Marquis's mansion, with mutual victories and defeats.

However, the young man named Pang Pang Pang Wanchun had archery techniques that were truly outstanding, slightly better than Qingyun's.

Xu Zaiduan watched with great interest and let Chu Zhan go to Master Yin Bo's room to carry out his own bow and arrows.

Watching Xu Zaiduan easily string the frighteningly strong bow, Pang Pang Pang Wanchun's eyes were stunned.

Xu Zaiduan held the strong bow and said: "Come!"

As he spoke, he pinched a feathered arrow and placed it on the bow; just as he drew the bow and had not yet released his fingers,

Qingcao's voice came from outside the crowd:

"Young Master, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi's mansion has sent the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye here, asking the Young Master to go over!"

"It looks quite urgent!"

Xu Zaiduan turned his head to look, then released the bowstring casually.

*Whoosh, * the somewhat thick feathered arrow shot out like lightning.

Xu Zaiduan placed the bow in Zaizhang's hand, looked at the crowd, and said: "Everyone continue, Brother, you play with them, I'll go take a look."

After finishing, Xu Zaiduan cupped his hands and left the spot.

Alan on the side quickly put the saddle and bridle on the horse, then gave the reins to Qingyun.

The Marquis of Xiangyang's mansion,

at the main gate,

seeing a procession of several people riding horses, the gatekeeper servant hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands to speak:

"Young Xiao Xiao Gongye, Young Master Xu, the inner courtyard has sent word that since the two of you have come, you can ride your horses directly inside."

Xu Zaiduan and Qi Heng, who were preparing to dismount, had expressions that were much the same as the servants of the Marquis of Xiangyang's mansion—both were slightly nervous.

Hearing this, the two rode their horses into the main gate of the Marquis's mansion.

The area of the Marquis of Xiangyang's mansion was about the same as the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion.

After the two rode for a while,

they dismounted at the second gate and entered the inner courtyard.

Xu Zaiduan looked at Princess Pingning with some confusion, and at the two groups of maidservants behind her who were hesitant to speak, and asked:

"Princess, what is going on?"

Princess Pingning smiled and said: "What else could it be? Jing Ge'er, two of Heng'er's grandfather's concubines are about to give birth."

Xu Zaiduan looked at the crowd behind Princess Pingning with confusion and said:

"Have you asked for the imperial physician?"

Princess Pingning nodded and said: "Two have been prepared, and they have gone to invite them."

Xu Zaiduan pursed his lips and said nothing like "The old Marquis's concubine is giving birth, why call me here."

As he spoke, he reached out and said: "Come, this way."

Subsequently, just as a maidservant behind the Princess raised her head and was about to speak, she was glared at by Princess Pingning with a sharp look and scolded:

"Whoever dares to speak more, don't stay in the Marquis's mansion!"

The two groups of maidservants hurriedly lowered their heads.

Xu Zaiduan followed Princess Pingning as they walked, and only then did he learn that this morning, one of the old Marquis's concubines had suddenly gone into labor,

and the other concubine seemed to have heard the painful cries or something, and her stomach also started to hurt.

The Marquis of Xiangyang's mansion had naturally prepared everything thoroughly and had also called Princess Pingning over.

But as time dragged on, the old Marquis didn't know what he was thinking, so he had Princess Pingning send Qi Heng to find Xu Zaiduan.

Arriving in a courtyard,

the door of the main house facing south was open, and there were independent houses on both sides of the main house, from which the painful cries of the women in labor could be heard from time to time.

In the main house, the old Marquis of Xiangyang was sitting inside, his four fingers tapping on the table incessantly like playing a zither.

Seeing Xu Zaiduan's figure, the old Marquis stood up at once and said:

"Brat, I heard from the Empress that when the princess was born, you were there?"

"This, these two of mine who are about to give birth, you must help me!"

Hearing the old Marquis's words, Princess Pingning on the side also looked at Xu Zaiduan with eyes full of hope.

Xu Zaiduan smiled and said: "I'm not a physician, brat!! Old Marquis, you sit down first!"

"Princess, is the Physician Ren who protected my sister during her labor here?"

Princess Pingning nodded and said: "She is here, she is here! After Madam Bai knew, she sent someone to escort Physician Ren over."

Xu Zaiduan said: "With the imperial physician and Physician Ren here, please set your mind at ease!"

The old Marquis and his daughter nodded with similar movements.

"Jing Ge'er, sit, sit quickly! Serve tea!"

Princess Pingning shouted.

After the old Marquis sat down, the speed of his finger tapping slowed down a lot, and he said with some melancholy:

"I don't know if these two are boys or girls."

As he spoke, the old Marquis looked at Xu Zaiduan, and Xu Zaiduan was left between laughter and tears, saying:

"Old Marquis, this brat's words really don't count."

The Marquis of Xiangyang frowned: "You, you can't even say auspicious words?"

Xu Zaiduan put down the teacup in his hand, sat, cupped his hands, and said: "Old Marquis, this brat feels they must be two boys."

"That's more like it!"

Just as the Marquis of Xiangyang finished speaking, a maidservant ran over quickly, her happy expression overflowing, and shouted:

"Marquis, it's born! It's a boy!"

Qi Heng widened his eyes and turned his head to look at Xu Zaiduan in disbelief.

And the Marquis of Xiangyang glanced at Xu Zaiduan, stood up happily, walked around in a flurry, and then the old Marquis's expression froze,

and then,

"Slap!"

The old Marquis first slapped himself, and one side of his face became visibly red.

"It hurts! It's not a dream! Haha, hahahaha!"

The Marquis of Xiangyang laughed and laughed, and there were actually tears in his eyes.

"Good! Good, good, good!"

Princess Pingning also pinched her silk handkerchief and stood up with a start in her joy:

"Reward! Reward them all heavily!"

Then she walked to Qi Heng and said with a smile: "Heng Ge'er, you have an uncle!"

Qi Heng smiled, helplessly exchanged glances with Xu Zaiduan.

Qi Heng understood the meaning in Xu Zaiduan's eyes very clearly: 'Heng Ge'er, this uncle of yours is young enough.'

Then, the Marquis of Xiangyang and Princess Pingning hurriedly walked out; the Marquis of Xiangyang even grabbed Xu Zaiduan's arm, walking and saying:

"Brat... no, no, Zaiduan! You really have a way!"

Xu Zaiduan smiled; a fifty percent chance really wasn't his doing.

Entering the warm room, after a while, the midwife walked over holding an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.

The Marquis of Xiangyang stiffly took the child and muttered to himself: "Beautiful, really beautiful! Beautiful!"

Qi Heng stood on tiptoe to take a peek and curled his lips!

Subsequently, the infant started wailing.

The Marquis of Xiangyang: "The voice is also loud, good!"

Subsequently, amidst the midwife's talk of "hungry" and "eating milk," the Marquis of Xiangyang reluctantly handed the infant over.

Watching the wet nurse take him, the Marquis of Xiangyang walked out with a smile from ear to ear.

Walking and hugging Xu Zaiduan's shoulder, he said:

"Zaiduan! Can I have a daughter for the other one? Pingning had a miscarriage before, it was a girl."

"Look..."

Xu Zaiduan pinched his brow and whispered: "Old Marquis, this brat feels that two boys would be more stable, don't you think?"

The Marquis of Xiangyang was startled and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, yes, take back what I just said, Zaiduan, don't take it to heart!"

Xu Zaiduan nodded helplessly.

On the other side, a maidservant ran over with a smile,

"Marquis! It's a boy!"

The Marquis of Xiangyang laughed with lingering fear: "Good! Reward!"

After going to see Qi Heng's little uncle,

Qi Heng was held by the hand by Princess Pingning and heard his grandfather say with a smile:

"Zaiduan, I sent you two maidservants and you returned two sons to me! Worth it!"

After finishing, he also patted Xu Zaiduan's shoulder and said again: "Good boy... good Zaiduan, it would be best if they were as sturdy as you!"

The things that followed had nothing to do with Xu Zaiduan.

When leaving the Marquis of Xiangyang's mansion, he talked all the way with Physician Ren, who was traveling with him, mostly about Pingmei.

"Fifth Young Master, rest assured, the Madam is a person of good fortune."

Now that Madam Bai had a title, she could be called Madam Bai.

Madam, now it could refer solely to Pingmei.

Hearing this, Xu Zaiduan nodded.

After exiting the main gate,

a commotion came from behind Xu Zaiduan.

The Marquis of Xiangyang, still vigorous in his old age, rode his horse past Xu Zaiduan: "Zaiduan, the old man is going to the palace to thank the Emperor!"

In the evening,

inside the Imperial Palace,

the Emperor paced in the bedchamber,

suddenly slapped his thigh in annoyance, looked at the Empress not far away, and said:

"Hey! Forgot to bestow five palace maids on that brat!"

"Empress, you didn't remind us!"

The Empress patted the princess gently and said:

"Having both a son and a daughter is quite good."

"Besides, how old was Jing Ge'er at the time?"

The Emperor sighed and secretly cursed the Marquis of Xiangyang as an old rascal.

Then he walked to the bed, looked at his daughter, whose eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to the Empress's, and whose eyelashes were long, and the Emperor felt his heart was about to melt.

"The Xu family's An Jie'er is about to get married, Empress, bestow more things!"

The Empress looked at the way the Emperor was looking at their daughter, smiled happily, and said: "This concubine understands."

(End of chapter)