Chapter 340: This kid is much worse than his brother Zaid Zhang [Thank you all for your support!]

Xu Zaijing ran around Bianjing City in the morning, and waited at home for his second sister-in-law Hualan to pack all the silver notes in envelopes, which took a lot of effort.

When he arrived at the Sheng family, it was around the hour of Si (around ten o'clock in the morning).

After getting off the carriage,

Xu Zaijing said a few words beside Qingyun, and Qingyun walked toward the steward Mama at the second gate of the Sheng family.

Xu Zaijing took Qingcao and stepped into the courtyard where the study was located.

At this time,

there was a lot of green in the Sheng family's courtyard, and the thick cotton curtains used for cold protection and warmth around the lecture hall had already been removed.

Without these obstructions,

in this cloudy and rainy spring weather, the fresh spring smell and the fairly bright light filled the lecture hall.

Xu Zaijing took Qingcao to the steps of the lecture hall,

bowed to Zhuang Xuejiu, who was looking at the Great Zhou Di Bao behind the desk:

"Xuejiu, the student is back."

Zhuang Xuejiu didn't look up, waved his hand to signal Xu Zaijing to enter, and the Xuejiu continued to turn his body sideways, using the light outside the house to focus on the content of the Di Bao.

In the lecture hall,

after hearing Xu Zaijing's voice, Changbai, Zaid Zhang, and others who were writing words carefully all looked over.

However, Changfeng didn't need to look up, because he was biting the back of his brush, looking up and thinking about something.

On the few steps Xu Zaijing took to his seat,

Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing who was walking over and whispered:

"Jing Ge'er, knowing you were going to Xingguo Lane today, I waited for you to come together."

"Maybe I could have slept a little longer..."

Zhuang Xuejiu coughed lightly.

Gu Tingye immediately closed his mouth.

Xu Zaijing ignored him, but nodded with a smile at Zaid Zhang, who was sitting in the front row and looking over with concern.

Seeing Xu Zaijing's signal, Zaid Zhang's mouth curled up involuntarily.

Qingcao carefully placed Xu Zaijing's "stationery" on the desk, then took the wooden box and carried the book box to the very back, sitting on a thick, low wooden platform.

Xiao Xiaotao beside Qingcao rubbed her sleepy eyes when Xu Zaijing was talking.

Seeing Qingcao walk over, Xiao Xiaotao quietly moved her butt and leaned against Qingcao.

"Sniff sniff."

Qingcao looked at Xiao Xiaotao, who had grown taller than when she first came to Bianjing, and was twitching her nose, and smiled.

Xiao Xiaotao looked at the people in the study and asked in an extremely low voice:

"Qingcao sister, did you change to some new incense again? It smells so good!"

Qingcao didn't speak, but nodded.

Then Qingcao looked at the people in the study like Xiao Xiaotao. Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, Qingcao whispered to Xiao Xiaotao:

"Yesterday, I was playing behind the tent by Jinming Pool with Hua Xiang and the others, and happened to meet the maids of several other Duke and Count families, and we talked for a while."

"It was a Ningxiang sister from the Rong family who whispered to me about this formula she came up with on a whim."

"Does it smell good?"

Hearing Qingcao's low inquiry, Xiao Xiaotao nodded repeatedly.

"I'll tell you after class."

"Hmm hmm."

Xiao Xiaotao nodded again, then looked curiously at the wooden box on Qingcao's lap.

Sensing Xiao Xiaotao's gaze, Qingcao smiled slightly.

It was noon after class,

after the people in the study thanked the Xuejiu for his teachings,

Caihuan, a first-class maid of Weiruixuan, led a row of Sheng family maids carrying food boxes to the steps of the lecture hall, bowed and said:

"Xuejiu, young masters, this is the meal specially prepared by our Da Niangzi."

"We invited a famous chef from Fan Tower in the capital."

Qi Heng, Zaid Zhang, Gu Tingye, and others thanked them, and their respective servants and maids took the food boxes.

The three Lans packed their things and prepared to return to their respective residences.

At this moment,

Xu Zaijing stood up, nodded to Changbai and the others, and said:

"You eat, I'm going to Aunt's place!"

In the surprised eyes of everyone, he walked out of the courtyard.

"Jing Ge'er?"

"Little Five?"

"You!"

Xu Zaijing walked out of the lecture hall with a smile, followed by Qingcao, who was not carrying the book box, but holding the wooden box.

On the way to Shou'an Hall,

Minglan looked back curiously at Xu Zaijing and Qingcao walking behind, and after looking at Xiao Xiaotao, she said:

"Cousin Jing is going to Grandmother's place?"

Watching Xiao Xiaotao nod, Minglan's eyes turned, and she said anxiously:

"Bad! I'm going to be hungry again at noon!"

In Shou'an Hall,

Fang Mama was standing by the round table, busy serving dishes.

The Old Madam was sitting on the Luo Han bed, opening the wooden box in her hand and taking out the envelopes inside.

Xu Zaijing sat on the chair below the Old Madam, peeking at the dishes Cui Mama was serving from the maid's tray.

Smelling the fragrance drifting in the room, Xu Zaijing smacked his lips.

The Old Madam, who was opening the envelope, looked at Xu Zaijing's greedy look and shook her head slightly with a smile:

"Jing Ge'er, what is this? Hualan, this girl, is being so mysterious."

Xu Zaijing looked at the chubby Minglan standing beside the Old Madam and said:

"Grandmother, you will know when you open it."

"Minglan, what are you looking at? This bamboo shoot meat bun is mine! Fang Mama specially steamed it for me."

Minglan lowered her eyebrows and eyes: "Oh!"

While Xu Zaijing was talking,

the Old Madam had already opened an envelope with the words "Grandmother" written on it, took out the papers inside, and glanced at them:

"Jing Ge'er, what is this?"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Grandmother, this is the interest on the six thousand guan of silver notes you gave Hualan sister last year."

The Old Madam looked at the things in her hand with surprise, and said with disbelief:

"This is so much interest in just a few months?"

Xu Zaijing, who was

The Old Madam looked at Xu Zaijing with some confusion: "Seven thousand guan in interest?"

Xu Zaijing nodded and said:

"Great-aunt, those carts of fine goods sent by our relatives—whether it is from His Majesty's side, Father's army, or even the Marquis of Tuoxi—have all brought back good news."

"After these days of research by various great physicians into their medicinal properties, they not only have miraculous effects on stopping bleeding, relieving pain, and reducing swelling, but it is also said they have benefits for a woman's skin and appearance!"

"The silver notes gathered before the new year have all been exchanged for that 'Gold-Cannot-Replace' in the south, and we have also collected quite a few seeds!"

"The Imperial Academy of Medicine, the northern armies, and all the major pharmacies are busy clamoring for this item; how could the interest be low!"

Listening to Xu Zaijing's words, the Old Madam nodded.

Xu Zaijing sighed; after this whole affair, the Prince Yong Mansion must have also earned a great deal of gold and silver.

After all, the Prince Yong Mansion began collecting this medicinal herb for sores earlier than these noble families in the capital.

Thinking of this, Xu Zaijing glanced at the Old Madam and said:

"Great-aunt!"

The Old Madam put the silver notes back into the envelope, glanced at the bright-eyed Xu Zaijing, and said: "Hmm?"

Xu Zaijing:

"Great-aunt, on your manor, are there any outstanding farming youths?"

"Your grandson would like to invite a few back."

The Old Madam placed the envelope into a wooden box, handed it to Fang Mama who was standing to the side after finishing serving the dishes, and looking at Xu Zaijing, said:

"I seem to have heard Cui Ruan mention it; there are indeed a few!"

"In a few days, I will have someone send them over."

Xu Zaijing stood up with a smile, bowed, and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Great-aunt!"

The Old Madam also stood up and said: "Come, let's eat!"

During the meal, there was no such rule as 'no talking while eating'.

The Old Madam asked questions intermittently, and Xu Zaijing answered everything he knew.

"Great-aunt, in this business, the one who actually profits the most is the Cao family of the Marquis of Tuoxi; they provided the most capital at the time."

The Old Madam nodded and said:

"The Cao family has controlled northern border trade for many years; they certainly have deep resources."

"In that case... Her Majesty the Empress must have also profited quite a bit?"

Xu Zaijing nodded:

"Great-aunt is right."

"After all, Her Majesty also needs to save up a dowry for the Princess in advance."

Listening to Xu Zaijing's words, the Old Madam couldn't help but laugh and tapped him with her chopsticks.

After finishing the meal,

Minglan went to the small room partitioned off by rosewood lattice screens in the inner chamber for a nap,

while the Old Madam remained sitting in the outer hall with Xu Zaijing, slowly drinking tea.

Placing her teacup on the table, the Old Madam looked at Xu Zaijing:

"Jing Ge'er, just now you said Her Majesty the Empress is preparing the dowry for the little Princess..."

"Then, what about His Majesty the Emperor?"

Xu Zaijing smiled slightly and said seriously:

"Great-aunt, your grandson feels that Father is currently helping His Majesty in the north."

"However, the things being prepared with that help are for His Highness the Imperial Prince."

The Old Madam said with some worry: "This help is not easy to give."

Xu Zaijing nodded and said:

"Great-aunt, don't worry too much about your nephew! His Majesty has been on the throne for many years; he knows what he is doing!"

The Old Madam looked at Xu Zaijing, her eyes full of thoughtful expression.

Thinking of some things she had heard and seen since the Sheng family arrived in Bianjing, she knew that this grand-nephew of hers was favored by the Emperor.

Now, after all, she was no longer the sole daughter of the once-illustrious Marquis Yongyi, and her channels for obtaining information were limited.

Looking at what was revealed in the eyes of the young Xu Zaijing,

The Old Madam nodded, her expression relaxing quite a bit, and then she asked with some curiosity:

"Jing Ge'er, what were you busy with this morning? Why did you arrive at the Sheng family so late?"

Xu Zaijing whispered a few words to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam said with joy: "Good news! You must instruct your sister to pay close attention to her diet and to think twice about everything..."

After talking for a while longer, Xu Zaijing left Shou'an Hall.

The Old Madam sat alone in the hall, pondered for a moment, and then muttered to herself:

"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings!"

After saying this, the Old Madam straightened her body and called out:

"Suqin, come! Send the envelope that Hua'er gave to the Madam in the box to Weiruixuan."

"Yes, Old Madam!"

End of the You hour (7:00 PM)

The sky had already darkened,

lanterns were hung in the courtyard of Shou'an Hall, illuminating a small area.

Warm yellow candlelight shone out from inside the room, illuminating the painted pillars standing in the outer corridor of the hall.

In the night's spring breeze,

voices could be heard through the window lattice from time to time:

"Listening to that Madam, the effect of this thing was tested in the Ministry of Justice prison!"

"... and there's also something for nourishing blood and removing spots..."

"Those few Madams saw the daughter-in-law, and were very..."

A quarter of an hour later,

"Mother, then this daughter-in-law will take her leave!"

"Go on!"

A moment later,

a group of people walked to the outer corridor and walked out of the courtyard along the corridor.

On the way to Weiruixuan,

Wang Ruofu said while walking:

"This, the Old Madam told me to think more about why... what could it be for?"

"The few Madams from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Works are treating me better, isn't it because my father once held positions in these two ministries!"

Liu Mama, who was following to the side, said softly:

"The Madam is right; the civil officials in the court always have to show some respect for the late Master."

"But, Madam, the Master has been gone for nearly twenty years."

"The imperial examinations have been held five or six times since then; the officials in their prime in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Works... actually..."

Wang Ruofu cast a sidelong glance at Liu Mama in the darkness:

"Actually what, actually?"

"Can they not look at what status my father had?"

Liu Mama: "The Madam is right."

When they were about to reach Weiruixuan, Wang Ruofu stopped and looked at Caihuan to the side:

"By the way, how was the lunch prepared for Changbai and the others by the capital's head chef today?"

Caihuan said: "Replying to the Madam, the young masters all liked it very much, it's just..."

Wang Ruofu continued walking forward and said: "Just what?"

"The Xu family's fifth young master didn't eat at the school; he went to Shou'an Hall."

Wang Ruofu was stunned and said:

"Did Fang Mama go to invite him, or did Jing Ge'er go himself?"

"Fang Mama didn't go to the school."

"What about the son-in-law?"

"The son-in-law stayed at the school."

Wang Ruofu curled her lips and said in a low voice:

"Tsk! Really, how much effort it took to invite this head chef!"

"This boy looks so good, why is he so impolite!"

"He's far worse than his brother Zaizhang!"

While talking, the group entered Weiruixuan, and Wang Ruofu, served by Liu Mama, changed her clothes and removed her hairpins.

While she was tidying her hair in front of the dressing table,

Caihuan walked over holding a letter and said:

"Madam, this was sent to our courtyard by Fang Mama this afternoon; she said it was brought by the fifth young master at the request of the eldest young lady."

Wang Ruofu reached out and took it:

"Is this girl Hualan a fool now that she's pregnant?"

"Why did she have this boy bring it?"

"Didn't the son-in-law also come to our house to study this morning?"

While speaking, Wang Ruofu opened the envelope, pinched it with some disdain, and then froze.

"What is this? Silver notes?"

While speaking, Wang Ruofu pulled out the letter paper, first looked at the amount of the silver notes wrapped in the paper,

and said with some disdain:

"Tsk, Hua'er is really something, she only earned this little after so long."

"Although she is by the Old Madam's side and has entered the Hou Fu, she is still young and lacks experience!"

Liu Mama said with a smile: "The Madam is right."

She handed the silver notes and the letter to Liu Mama and said:

"Put them away first and talk about it tomorrow! When I have a grandson, these will all be his!"

"Yes, Madam!"

Liu Mama smiled, took them, and put them into the wooden box in front of Wang Ruofu's bed.

Soon,

the candles in the bedroom were blown out,

and Liu Mama led the maids out of the bedroom.

Weiruixuan fell into the night,

and only the stars in the sky flickered.

Time passed,

while it was still dark, Lin Qige in the distance became busy,

and soon, a lantern in the darkness was carried by Dongrong, illuminating the path for Master Sheng Hong to get into the carriage.

The horizon was tinged with a fish-belly white.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

In Bianjing City, the sound of roosters crowing at dawn reached the courtyard of Weiruixuan.

Liu Mama led Caihuan, who was carrying water, and pushed the door to enter the room.

After a while,

Wei Shuyi, holding Changmei, led Xiaodie to the gate of the courtyard,

and the three of them walked around a rockery and waited on the steps in front of the room.

"Little Madam, the Madam invites you in."

After another while,

Seeing Mo Lan and Minglan also arrived in the courtyard with their respective little maids,

and finally, Rulan, rubbing her eyes as if she hadn't washed her face, walked out of the room with Xique and stood in front of Minglan and Seeing Mo Lan.

Subsequently,

the three 'Lan's went in to pay their respects to Wang Ruofu, and were then taken by Wang Ruofu to Shou'an Hall together.

After a flurry of activity,

and after returning to their respective courtyards for breakfast, the three 'Lan's went to the school.

Weiruixuan

Wang Ruofu sat on the chair behind the study desk, holding a brush, with thick account books spread out in front of her.

Liu Mama stood to the side, with the wooden box taken from Wang Ruofu's bedroom at hand.

"Come, the silver notes Hua'er gave last night..."

Liu Mama handed over the paper.

Wang Ruofu muttered: "The principal plus interest is..."

Liu Mama to the side looked at the words on the paper spread on the table and tugged at Wang Ruofu's clothes: "Madam, take a closer look."

(End of chapter)