Chapter 353

"Jing Ge'er, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Yuan Erlang, for no reason, why are Sixth Brother and Ninth Brother inviting us to Pan Tower for high fun?"

Gu Tingye glared at Xu Zaijing and said: "Jing Ge'er, why go, you actually don't know?"

Xu Zaijing looked at Gu Tingye in confusion and shook his head.

The two were riding horses side by side, Gu Tingye leaned toward Xu Zaijing and said in a low voice:

"Before, I even heard that you stood up for her, you say you don't know?"

Xu Zaijing: "Who?"

Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing with an expression of 'you are still pretending', and said: "Fang Niang!"

Xu Zaijing froze, a realization in his eyes: "Oh! Yuan Erlang, you mean on the Dragon Boat Festival, the young ladies invited before are going to perform on stage?"

Gu Tingye nodded and said excitedly: "I heard that Ninth Brother and Sixth Brother have raised quite a lot of silver, just to get close to the beauty."

Xu Zaijing stroked his forehead and scratched it, asking:

"How old are they this year? Just..."

Gu Tingye said:

"They are both fifteen in nominal age! Several of my cousins in the fourth and fifth branches have three or four concubines at this age!"

"Jing Ge'er, why are you looking at me like that? I, I don't have concubines! I..."

"Female servant Qiuniang... she... sigh, Jing Ge'er, don't go! Listen to my... listen to my explanation!"

Xu Zaijing raised his chin and said: "Yuan Erlang, don't follow me, if you follow me, you will have to take a detour!"

Gu Tingye watched Xu Zaijing walk away and squeezed the reins in his hand.

Looking back at Zhique, who was holding back laughter, Gu Tingye glared:

"What are you laughing at? If you were married like Qingyun, would I still need to bring you to the study every day? Clumsy!"

The servant Zhique hurriedly lowered his head and said: "Young Master... alright! This little one will have my mother go propose marriage!"

Gu Tingye looked at Zhique in surprise: "No, this young master was just saying! You have someone to propose to? From our mansion? Who?"

Zhique scratched his head shyly:

"Young Master, not from our mansion. It's a young lady of a manager in the Wu family, her parents have been in Jiangning Prefecture, looking after the salt manor for the Mistress."

"A few days ago, she followed a lady surnamed Wei to Bianjing with her mother!"

"After the Mistress saw that young lady, she had Chang Mama make the connection... preparing to set the date in a few days."

Gu Tingye pondered for a moment: "My grandmother's Wu family side?"

Zhique nodded.

Gu Tingye pulled the reins lightly and said:

"Then proceed as normal, this young master was just saying it."

Tapping the horse's belly lightly, the horse walked toward Xingguo Lane.

Gu Tingye on horseback shook his head and sighed: "Sigh!"

Even the servant is going to get engaged, this young master actually doesn't even have a target for marriage!

The next day

Afternoon

Great Zhou Imperial Palace

Chuigong Hall

The Emperor was sitting at the entrance of the main hall, reading the memorial in his hand by the setting sun.

The Grand Eunuch, Zhao Zilong, and Zhao Meifeng stood to the side.

The Emperor looked back at Zhao Meifeng, who was somewhat thin and haggard, and said: "Meifeng has worked hard."

Zhao Meifeng bowed: "Subject, it is my duty."

The Emperor nodded in appreciation, stood up, and walked into the hall with his hands behind his back.

The Grand Eunuch and the others hurriedly followed.

"Meifeng, according to what you saw and heard on this trip, is it true that the Prince of Yong's statement that Jiaozhi has repeatedly harassed and killed the people who submitted to our Great Zhou?"

Zhao Meifeng bowed:

"Your Majesty, it is true."

After glancing at his master, Zhao Meifeng continued:

"Your Majesty, this time I went deep into Jiaozhi territory and also found out that the three major forces of the Ding, Li, and Li families in Jiaozhi were originally at daggers drawn, and internal chaos would likely occur soon."

"But hearing that our Great Zhou was using troops against Bai Gao, Jiaozhi has been acting continuously, mostly to use troops against our Great Zhou to solve their difficulties."

The Emperor looked at the memorial in his hand and patted it lightly, saying: "Meifeng, according to what you have seen, what is the combat power of the mountain people of the Nong and other tribal groups?"

Zhao Meifeng replied: "Your Majesty, the mountain people admire our Great Zhou and have the blood feud of being harassed and killed by Jiaozhi, so their combat power is stronger than Jiaozhi's soldiers."

The Emperor nodded and said: "Is the Xie family, who are in-laws of Marquis Xu, stationed in Yongzhou?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, yes!"

"If it weren't for the help of Xie Zijue Xie this time, I fear I would have died of illness in Yongzhou long ago and would not have been able to return to the capital."

The Emperor thought about the memorial submitted by Xie Zijue Xie that he had seen before and nodded:

"Have the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Rites all come to the palace."

"Let's discuss the matters in the south together."

The Hanlin scholar standing to the side hurriedly bowed and wrote vigorously.

After finishing, the Emperor sat behind the imperial desk and looked at other posts in his hand. When he saw the last one, the Emperor froze and said:

"Is this the matter that the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family entrusted you to investigate?"

Zhao Meifeng responded.

The Emperor shook his head and said:

"The brat's reach is quite long!"

"A twelve-year-old scholar?"

The Grand Eunuch to the side bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, it seems to be the auspicious sign mentioned in Youyang before."

The Emperor looked at the content in the post and sneered:

"I remember now! It was the birthday gift given to me by the Education Office of Pingjiang Prefecture back then!"

"What nonsense!"

Mid-April,

Xu Zaijing returned from school at the Sheng family.

After turning into Quyuan Street, with his excellent eyesight, he saw Gao Yunqing standing by Uncle Shu's stall at a glance.

In Xu Zaijing's field of vision, there was also a somewhat unfamiliar figure sitting at the table beside Gao Yunqing.

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing dismounted in surprise, walked to the table and said: "Brother Zhao, you, why have you become so thin?"

Zhao Meifeng, who was sitting on the stool, put down the teacup in his hand and said:

"Whoosh, the stir-fried chicken and rabbit made by Uncle Shu just smells like it makes one drool!"

After finishing, Zhao Meifeng shook his head: "I went to the south and got sick."

Xu Zaijing was speechless for a moment, and bowed very embarrassedly: "Brother Zhao, this little brother really didn't expect that..."

Before Xu Zaijing finished speaking, he was interrupted by Zhao Meifeng waving his hand: "It has nothing to do with you, Jing Ge'er, I got this illness in Yongzhou."

"Uncle Shu, send the cooked stir-fried chicken and rabbit to the mansion."

"Alright!"

As he spoke, Zhao Meifeng and Xu Zaijing walked toward the Marquis mansion gate together.

Still by the side of the racetrack, Qingyun, Alan, and Xu Zaijing's master, Uncle Yin, were sitting not far outside the room.

Inside the room,

After Gao Yunqing set up the wine and dishes, he also stood by the door.

Xu Zaijing poured a full cup of wine for Zhao Meifeng and said: "Didn't you say you were going to the southeast, why did Brother Zhao say you went to Yongzhou?"

Zhao Meifeng said: "South of Yongzhou is Jiaozhi, and the Prince of Yong wrote to the Emperor saying that Jiaozhi was somewhat unstable, so the Emperor sent me."

Xu Zaijing frowned: "Will there be a fight?"

Zhao Meifeng nodded: "Yes! They know that our Great Zhou is using troops against Bai Gao, how could they not come to take advantage?"

"By the way, the matter you entrusted me to investigate in Youyang, Yunqing went to see it."

Hearing Zhao Meifeng's words, Xu Zaijing looked toward Gao Yunqing at the door.

Gao Yunqing bowed:

"Fifth Young Master, that scholar surnamed Sun you mentioned, lost his father early, and his mother makes a living by washing clothes for others in Youyang county."

"He became a scholar at the age of twelve, and has been supported by the Sheng family's main branch to study all these years."

"Although he studies hard, he has failed the examination repeatedly."

Xu Zaijing nodded, looked at Zhao Meifeng in confusion and said:

"Brother Zhao, why are you looking at me?"

"Jing Ge'er, at your age, you haven't passed the academy examination yet?"

Xu Zaijing squeezed out a smile: "Yes! This little brother is taking the academy examination this year."

Zhao Meifeng raised his eyebrows, picked up his chopsticks and ate the food.

Xu Zaijing signaled Gao Yunqing to continue.

"The little one also found a woman to test this scholar Sun, and the conclusion is that this scholar Sun has the heart for lust, but no courage."

"Scholar Sun's mother is cowardly, stingy, and greedy for money!"

"The family is not a good match."

Xu Zaijing nodded and asked: "Has this conclusion been told to Da Niangzi Li of the Sheng family's main branch?"

Gao Yunqing bowed:

"The little one entrusted the Da Niangzi of the Youyang county magistrate's family to convey this matter to Da Niangzi Li of the Sheng family!"

"But, according to the county magistrate's Da Niangzi, the reaction of Da Niangzi Li of the Sheng family was mostly that she didn't listen."

"This Da Niangzi of the Sheng family's main branch seemed to think that the county magistrate's Da Niangzi wanted to snatch this scholar Sun from the Sheng family, and even brought out the Second Da Niangzi of the Marquis mansion..."

Xu Zaijing frowned and asked: "Was the Old Madam of the Sheng family's main branch told?"

"Told, that Old Madam also did not oppose this marriage."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Gao Yunqing glanced at Xu Zaijing.

Zhao Meifeng's wine cup stopped at his lips. Seeing Gao Yunqing's hesitant appearance, he said: "Say whatever you have to say, no need to hide anything from Jing Ge'er."

Gao Yunqing bowed: "Yes, Head."

"Fifth Young Master, this Da Niangzi of the Sheng family's main branch comes from the merchant Li family."

"I heard that a few years ago, the Li and Wang Da Niangzis of the Sheng family's main and second branches had a conflict, and in the end, Da Niangzi Wang bowed her head and apologized."

"Whether it is the Li family or the Sheng family's main branch, if they want to ask Master Sheng Hong of the second branch to do something, they mostly have to go through Da Niangzi Wang to find the Wang family..."

"Because of the previous matter, whether it was the managers of the Sheng family's main branch or the Li family, they suffered no small amount of humiliation and arrangement from Da Niangzi Wang."

Xu Zaijing looked at Gao Yunqing and said: "So the Sheng family's main branch is trying their best, hoping that their main branch can produce a scholar official?"

Gao Yunqing nodded and said: "Yes. It's not just the Sheng family's main branch, the Li family's maiden home is also supporting several seeds of study, among whom one named Li Yu from the Li family reads very well."

Xu Zaijing nodded, smiled at Gao Yunqing and said: "Thank you, Brother Gao."

Gao Yunqing bowed.

Zhao Meifeng spat out the chicken bone in his mouth and said:

"Fifth Young Master, what do you plan to do?"

"Do you want to ride a horse a thousand miles to Youyang, tell the Sheng family's main branch the pros and cons, and beat that scholar Sun up?"

Xu Zaijing picked up a cup of wine on the table, drank it, and said: "This mountain person has his own clever plan."

Zhao Meifeng looked at Xu Zaijing's appearance and nodded:

"Mm! It's good that Fifth Young Master has a plan in mind."

"Xie Zijue Xie is stationed in Yongzhou, and the results of the discussion by the important ministers of the court summoned by the Emperor are mostly to let the Xie family expand their army."

"The Emperor asked me to tell Fifth Young Master that Xie Zijue Xie should think about more things."

Xu Zaijing looked up at Zhao Meifeng and said: "Be wary of the Prince of Yong?"

Zhao Meifeng smiled slightly: "The Emperor is building an empire for his imperial son, not for the Prince of Yong."

Xu Zaijing nodded, the Emperor's meaning could not possibly be told to the Xie family through one channel.

Just as the two were about to continue clinking glasses,

Qingyun's voice came from outside the door: "Young Master, Brother Zhao, the Imperial City Division sent someone, saying to let Brother Zhao hurry into the palace."

Hou Fu

Mistress's courtyard

The female servants were all standing at the courtyard gate.

Dan Mama, Zhu Mama, and other personal mamas of Sun Shi were all standing facing the room, not allowing anyone to approach the main room.

Inside the room,

Xie Shi habitually protected her stomach, listening to Xu Zaijing's words, her eyes full of both excitement and worry.

"Eldest sister-in-law, the things that Chief Zhao mentioned are these! So the army under Xie Zijue Xie must be expanded."

After Xu Zaijing finished speaking, he drank some tea to moisten his throat.

Xie Shi glanced at her mother-in-law Sun Shi and said:

"Xiao Wu, then what do you think my father should do?"

Xu Zaijing pondered for a moment and said:

"Eldest sister-in-law, now that Great Zhou is fighting against Bai Gao in the north, the south is still mainly defensive."

"The Prince of Yong has been in his fief for many years, and his roots are deep in Yongzhou."

"Xie Zijue Xie must expand his army to prepare for war, and secondly, he must be wary of the Prince of Yong. This must be told to Xie Zijue Xie by Eldest sister-in-law and Aunt Xie."

Xie Shi nodded, then gently stroked her stomach and said: "Then I will invite Mother to our home tonight."

An hour later,

The Xie family's carriage drove into the Xu family's main gate.

At the second gate,

Da Niangzi Xie brought the third young lady Xie Rui off the carriage and hurried to Sun Shi's courtyard.

Seeing the Xu family female servants who could only stay at the courtyard gate, Da Niangzi Xie looked at her daughter with great worry.

Subsequently, she said to the Xie family's female servants and mamas: "You all stay here too."

The Xie family servants stopped and responded.

The mother and daughter came to the door of the room and walked in hurriedly.

Da Niangzi Xie asked anxiously: "In-law, what exactly..."

Xie Rui also shouted anxiously: "Sister!"

Subsequently, the mother and daughter looked at Xie Shi, who was sitting steadily beside Sun Shi, and Da Niangzi Xie said with great confusion in her eyes:

"This, didn't they say your body was not feeling well!"

After the two families talked and clarified the matter,

Da Niangzi Xie let out a sigh of relief and looked at Sun Shi:

"Da Niangzi, before I came, I had just received good news at home, and then I heard that she was not feeling well... it really scared me!"

Xie Shi said: "Mother, what good news?"

Da Niangzi Xie said:

"The Xiong family of Kang'an Earl sent news to our family, saying that their Xiong Yan had just received an imperial decree from the palace to go to Guangnanxi Road, saying he was granted an official position as a real-power Regional Military Commissioner."

Xiong Yan was the young Earl Yan who came to the Xu family for matchmaking before.

Sun Shi nodded: "It should be responsible for the recruitment and training of soldiers in Guangnanxi Road."

Da Niangzi Xie said:

"When the Xiong family sent the news, they were also somewhat confused, wondering why he suddenly got such an official position."

"With these words from my in-law, I understand now."

Sun Shi nodded and continued: "Da Niangzi, after you go out, just use the excuse that my eldest daughter-in-law is not feeling well to send a message to Xie Zijue Xie."

Da Niangzi Xie nodded hurriedly.

Subsequently, Sun Shi took her eldest daughter-in-law and sent her in-law and the third young lady of the Xie family to the door of the room.

Before parting, the Xu family's eldest daughter-in-law held the hand of the Xie family's third young lady and said:

"Rui Jie'er, this matter concerns Father's safety, so after you step out of this door, forget about this matter entirely."

Xie Rui nodded heavily.

In the evening, when the Xie family came,

Xu Zaijing had already returned to his small courtyard to avoid suspicion.

The next day,

Xu Zaijing exercised and went to school as usual.

After entering the Sheng family lecture hall,

After greeting Changbai,

Xu Zaijing sat behind his desk and began to read, while Huaxiang was busy weaving the hundred-knot cord on the wooden platform behind.

Morning,

Halfway through the class, Dong Rong walked in holding a court gazette.

After Scholar Zhuang looked at the content of the court gazette, his eyes widened, and he tapped the table with his folding fan:

"Stop reading for a moment, I have a piece of news to tell you."

Qi Heng asked curiously: "Scholar, what is it?"

Scholar Zhuang said: "The court gazette sent by Master Sheng says that the Jin Kingdom has crushed the army of the Great Bohai Kingdom in Liaodong and is fighting a fierce battle with the Great Liao army that rushed over."

(End of this chapter)