Chapter 34

Xu Zaiduan knew that this uncle before him truly had talent and learning, and had passed the imperial examination.

Sheng Hong slowly stopped grinding the ink.

He pulled a brush from the brush holder, picked four sheets of paper on the table, and then moved his wrist, the brush wandering on the paper.

Sheng Hong finished writing one sheet in one go; Xu Zaijing looked and saw the four characters "Ploughing Clouds and Planting the Moon."

Xu Zaiduan helped Sheng Hong pull out the written paper.

Sheng Hong moistened the brush in the inkstone and continued to wield the brush like a dragon.

"Ice Pot Autumn Moon"

"Law Values Naturalness"

"Drinking to Plan for Merit"

The three pieces of calligraphy were also finished as soon as the brush was wielded.

Xu Zaijing showed envy; if one ignores Sheng Hong's rotten character, these few pieces of calligraphy are truly beautiful.

His two older brothers, who had already started school, stared straight at them.

When looking at Sheng Hong, it was already an expression of worship.

After Sheng Hong finished writing, Xu Zaijing hurriedly greeted him and offered a handkerchief to clean his hands.

"Brother Hong, I have troubled you. Little Zhu, quickly go to the city and find a mounting master; bring me the best materials!"

Sun Shi could see that Sheng Hong had used his energy to write these characters.

Sheng Hong smiled slightly, revealing the dimples on his cheeks.

Sun Shi's words, regardless of whether they were true or false, at least showed that she valued his calligraphy very much.

And Sun Shi on the side thought to herself, no wonder her aunt was stubborn and wanted to marry that Third Place Scholar.

If nothing else, this appearance and this temperament—which noble girl in the boudoir wouldn't be confused?

Of course, this was also from the perspective of appreciation.

Xu Zaijing also saw Sheng Hong's grace.

No wonder it was said that at first, the Wang family was not very willing to marry into the Sheng family.

But after Old Madam Sheng brought Sheng Hong to visit, Old Madam Wang took a fancy to him at first sight.

Handsome, good calligraphy, a scholar by background, and the family had quite a lot of wealth.

But Xu Zaijing, who understood Sheng Hong's character, knew that he was at most a qualified official and a sucker.

As a son, a father, or a master, he was unqualified.

If it weren't for the Old Madam sitting in the house,

either the children would have had their reputations ruined by Lin Qinshuang;

or Sheng Hong would have caused a great disaster and been exiled, and Lin Qinshuang would have taken the valuables and run away;

or Lin Qinshuang would have stepped on him to climb to other high branches to be a good mother-in-law for a good noble.

At Xu Zaijing's age and seniority, he naturally could not say much.

Sun Shi said:

"Brother Hong, this return to the capital, did things go smoothly?"

"Returning to sister-in-law, thanks to the high officials of the Ministry of Personnel for their appreciation, this performance review was not bad. In a few days, I will move to Yang Zhou; I didn't get a promotion, still just a small Assistant Prefect."

"Yang Zhou?" Sun Shi showed surprise.

Sheng Hong thought Sun Shi was surprised that he didn't return to the capital, and was just about to say something.

Sun Shi said, "Marquis Gu's wife, Madam Bai, is also from Yang Zhou."

Sheng Hong: "Oh? What does sister-in-law mean?"

"I hit it off with Madam Bai sister at first sight, and these days I'm still asking our family's young masters and young ladies to go to the boat to play."

Sheng Hong was stunned, his face still smiling, but his heart was churning.

Nothing else, it was because when his brother-in-law, Lord Kang, was drinking with him, he had once said that when he arrived in Yang Zhou, he must have a good relationship with those few major salt merchants.

Especially the Bai family.

They had a significant background before, and now they have become in-laws of the Marquis Ningyuan Prefecture.

Sheng Hong was just thinking about how to break the situation, but today he actually had this kind of connection with the Bai family.

"Brother Hong, you are about to take office in Yang Zhou; I heard from my Bai sister that her father is currently in Bianjing; perhaps you can go visit him."

Sheng Hong hurriedly stood up, bowed, and said, "Many thanks, sister-in-law; I was just worrying about having no one to point out the way."

The situation was not as serious as Sheng Hong said; as the future second-in-command of Yang Zhou, as long as he arrived in Yang Zhou, naturally there would be people fawning over him.

The few major salt merchants would not put on any airs either.

More friends mean more paths; they wouldn't want to add another wall.

Sheng Hong saying this made it seem like Sun Shi's words were of great help to him, which would make Sun Shi feel glorious and that she had helped in a practical way.

"Brother Hong, why be like this? We are all relatives."

"Sister-in-law is right, we are all relatives."

Having said this, the matters of the previous generation could be considered passed.

In the future, the Xu family and the Sheng family could also slowly interact, and later when talking about it, one could say this was the maternal family of Old Madam Sheng.

The Xu family is a noble family, with a background of military generals.

Although the Great Zhou does not say it emphasizes literature and suppresses martial arts, there are no large-scale wars, so military families have fewer paths to promotion.

Having an assistant in the civil service is not a bad thing.

Therefore, Sun Shi is willing to bring out the usable relationships in her social circle.

Conversely, the Bai family being able to have a future Yang Zhou Assistant Prefect as a friend is also a good thing.

Sheng Hong, who originally wanted to return to Jiying Lane as soon as possible, calmed his heart,

and went to the racecourse with Sun Shi, Xu Zaijing, and other Xu family members.

Sheng Hong, as a son of a concubine, when he was sensible, Old Madam Sheng had not returned to the Xu family, so he had never been here.

At this time, Sheng Hong could not help but sigh in his heart that the courtyard of his legitimate mother's maternal family was truly large.

"Only a courtyard this large could cultivate the polo skills like Mother's."

The servant Qingyun entered the stable and led out that fine horse.

Sheng Hong had also seen good horses; there were quite a few in the Sheng family stables.

But this horse was also the most spirited he had ever seen.

"Good horse, good horse! Jingge'er also has good skills."

"Thank you, uncle, for the praise."

The crowd returned to the main hall, and Sun Shi also carefully asked about the Sheng family's young ladies; having the lesson of her own mother-in-law, Sun Shi naturally would not talk about marriage matters.

Moreover, through conversation, Sun Shi also knew that the Sheng family's eldest young lady was not yet very old, and Sheng Hong was at most just paying attention to children of appropriate age.

Sun Shi sent Sheng Hong out of the Marquis Prefecture, watched Sheng Hong's carriage leave Quyuanjie, and after it turned the corner and could no longer be seen, she turned back to the prefecture.

On the way back to the courtyard, Sun Shi also asked about the mounting master, preparing to mount Sheng Hong's four pieces of calligraphy as soon as possible.

No matter where they are hung, they will look very good.

"Madam, just now the Master's personal guard returned to the prefecture to report that the Master will return to the prefecture in a few days." The maid Xiao Dan said from the side.

Ever since Xu Minghua sought that real power as Regional Military Commissioner of the Western Army and led the Xu family disciples of Daizhou to take office, he had returned home much less.

The last time he returned home was when Xu Zaijing received that bow and arrow gift.

Hearing Xiao Dan's words, a smile instantly appeared on Sun Shi's face.

"Good, did he say when he would arrive home? How many are accompanying him?"

"That personal guard brother said it would be in these one or two days. There are fourteen or fifteen in total, seven of whom are disciples from our old home in Daizhou, and several are personal guards selected by the Master. That brother who returned is one who grew up in our Bianjing."

"You go to the front courtyard and make it clear to the steward that these are all men who will risk their lives on the battlefield with the Master in the future; do not treat them slowly."

"Yes."

Sun Shi returned to the backyard, and when she told her own children, naturally there was another burst of cheers.

After Xu Zaijing finished being happy, he returned to his own courtyard; his heart was still quite looking forward to what surprises his father would have when he returned.

These years he had also obtained quite a few good furs, or high-quality jade.

He was so big, but only had one servant, Qingyun; other things like washing and sewing were all done by the maids and nannies beside Sun Shi.

Every morning he practiced archery and horse riding, and in the afternoon he began to study literature and practice calligraphy.

In this era without mobile phones, televisions, or tablets, one could play pitch-pot at home.

If he were to go out to listen to music in the pleasure quarters like his eldest and second brothers, Xu Zaijing would not want his palms to suffer.

The next afternoon.

Xu Zaijing was practicing the character "Yong" when Qingyun came to the door.

"Young Master, the eldest and second young masters of the Marquis Ningyuan family have come to our prefecture."

"Ah? Where are they?"

"They are all in the eldest young master's study."

"Let's go, let's go see."

Saying this, Xu Zaijing put down his brush and walked out.

Arriving at Xu Zaiduan's courtyard, walking into the study, he saw Gu Tingyu holding a brush and writing on Xu Zaiduan's table.

"These characters written by Lord Sheng are truly good; we are too young and truly cannot write the spirit within them."

Gu Tingyu put down the brush and shook his head.

Gu Tingye seemed to understand but not quite; seeing his eldest brother say so, he nodded in agreement.

"Jingge'er!" Gu Tingye saw Xu Zaijing and suddenly became happy.

"Greetings, Brother Yu, Brother Ye."

Gu Tingyu behind the table also put down his brush and cupped his hands in salute.

Gu Tingyu was not yet very old and would not hide his emotions.

Although he was talking about calligraphy, his brows were furrowed.

(End of chapter)