Chapter 360

"Met four times?"

"Yes."

Inside the hall, it suddenly became quiet.

Wei Fangzhi still lowered her head, hugging the pipa, and did not raise her head.

Wei Fangzhi had outstanding pipa skills; whether following her master, the Great Tang, or Mother Ruan, she had been to many important occasions in Bianjing, seen many big scenes, and had seen noble officials and their relatives more than once.

Although it was just a hurried glance just now, the noble lady in front of her tonight, whose appearance was soft and beautiful and whose temperament was luxurious and noble, was one of the few young ladies in Wei Fangzhi's memory who could compare to her.

Thinking of the deep and winding courtyard corridors after entering, the solemnity and quietness of the servants, and the novelty and comfort of the new clothes on her body, Wei Fangzhi could realize that this family was both rich and noble without even using her brain.

As for why the eldest son of the Chai family, who had been decided in the building, was replaced by this outstanding noble lady, and why she asked questions about the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family, Wei Fangzhi did not dare to think too much and explained truthfully:

"Miss, after the birthday of the god at the Shenbao Temple, the first time I saw the young master of the Xu family was in Mother Ruan's small courtyard beside Pan Lou Street; that day, the Sixth Young Master of the Liang family... Young Master Xu did not let this slave follow to help... and even gave money before leaving."

"The second time was being invited by the Second Young Master of the Gu family..."

"The third time was after the New Year, my master was seriously ill, and I originally wanted to go and ask for help, but the horse of the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family was too good..."

"The fourth time was when I pawned my master's pipa, and on the way to get medical treatment for my master... with the help of the personal servant of the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family, I was able to send my master to see a doctor."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled at the corners of her mouth, looked at Wei Fangzhi, who was sitting on the embroidered stool and had not raised her head, and said: "The fourth time you mentioned, why did the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family stand up for you?"

"Replying to Miss, this slave's humble opinion is that the noble servant of the Xu family acted righteously that day simply because the carriage driver was relying on his power and was bullying people too much, blocking the passage. This slave feels that if it were someone else, the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family would still have acted righteously."

Chai Zhengzheng: "Hmm, that makes sense! Raise your head, take off your veil!"

Wei Fangzhi bowed on the embroidered stool and said: "Yes."

After finishing, Wei Fangzhi hugged the pipa with one hand and moved the other slightly, gently taking off the thin veil.

"Has the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family seen what you look like?"

"Replying to Miss, no."

Chai Zhengzheng examined the beauty in front of her and nodded: "She is indeed even better looking than when wearing a veil."

Wei Fangzhi lowered her eyebrows and eyes and said: "Thank, thank you, Miss, for the compliment."

"Have you always had this voice when you speak?"

"Replying to Miss, half a year ago, this slave's throat was a bit painful, and it has been like this ever since."

"Try speaking in a few other tones for me to hear."

"Yes."

After listening to Wei Fangzhi speak in other tones, Chai Zhengzheng nodded with satisfaction.

After a rustle of paper turning,

"Original name, Wei Fangzhi?"

Hearing this sentence, Wei Fangzhi suddenly raised her head, looking in surprise at Chai Zhengzheng, who was sitting behind the table in the candlelight.

Only to see Chai Zhengzheng holding several sheets of paper in her hand.

"Yes! It is this slave's original name."

"The name is very good!"

"Thank you, Miss, for the compliment."

"Hmm! Regardless of whether it was intentional or not, since he has protected you twice, it can be considered fate, so I cannot let you continue to stay in that mud pit."

Wei Fangzhi blinked, not quite understanding, and looked at Chai Zhengzheng behind the table with confusion.

Only to see Chai Zhengzheng raise the several sheets of paper in her hand and say: "Your deed of sale and household registration are all here."

Hearing this, Wei Fangzhi hugged the pipa, nodding with a dull look in her eyes; it's no wonder she reacted this way, it's just that an unbelievable thought was rising in her heart.

"From now on, you will play the pipa in the stationery shop under my name, and you must still wear a veil."

After saying this, Wei Fangzhi lowered her head again, knowing that she had indeed been daydreaming just now.

"With me protecting you, as long as you play the pipa and discuss poetry in the shop, no one will force you to sell wine, and no one will force you to serve people with your beauty. You decide when to take off the veil and whether or not to let people see you."

"You can rely on your skills to make the customers who enter the shop spend money, whether it's continuing to listen to you play music, discussing poetry with you, or buying more of the shop's items; these profits will all be counted as yours."

"After you have paid back the money I spent, I will make the decision to have your status removed."

Wei Fangzhi was happy in her heart when she heard the first few sentences from this noble lady, but when she heard the last sentence, she raised her head in surprise: "Remove... remove my status?"

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and nodded.

Wei Fangzhi stood up from the embroidered stool, bowed deeply, and said: "This slave thanks Miss for her great kindness."

Chai Zhengzheng handed the several deed papers in her hand to Yun Mu to keep safe and shook her head: "Don't thank me yet."

Wei Fangzhi raised her head, glanced at Chai Zhengzheng, lowered her head, and said: "This slave understands! Once I walk out of this door, this slave will let the events of tonight rot in her stomach."

Chai Zhengzheng said: "Hmm, Fuyi!"

Fuyi at the door opened the door and came in: "Miss?"

"Take Miss Wei down, see what needs to be prepared! And while her reputation is still loud these two days, send a few guards from Cangzhou to protect her, and she will go to the shop tomorrow."

"If Miss Wei has any different insights about the shop and wants to redecorate any shop, after you have looked it over, please... please invite the craftsmen of the Li family."

"Yes, Miss!"

"Miss Wei, please this way."

Looking at Fuyi, who was extending her arm to invite her, Wei Fangzhi first bowed, then bent down to place the pipa in her arms on the embroidered stool on the side, and only then knelt on the thick carpet and kowtowed to Chai Zhengzheng behind the table.

"Go!"

Chai Zhengzheng's voice came.

Wei Fangzhi then stood up, hugged the pipa, and walked out.

Wei Fangzhi had already guessed that this noble lady tonight was eight-tenths likely to be the young lady of the Chai family.

The Chai family was a famous wealthy family not only in Bianjing but in the entire Great Zhou; protecting a small woman like her was not a big deal at all.

"Scholar, under Yelu Ying's command, there is a force that was once the Northern Liao Northwest Route Pacification Commission commanded by his uncle. Their pastures are close to our Great Zhou and Bai Gao, so naturally, they won't be split up."

"These people of the Northwest Pacification Commission were originally responsible for controlling and managing the Mongol tribes, so naturally, they don't want Mongol tribes around them."

"Although the Bai Gao Kingdom's Helan Mountain has good pastures, the area is not enough for the Mongol tribes brought by Yelu Ying, and they would also have to face fighting against our Great Zhou's cavalry and the Bai Gao Kingdom's soldiers."

"Such a thankless task, how could it be as convenient as sitting and waiting for the Northern Liao nobles to die in Liaodong, and then directly occupying the pastures near the Upper Capital?"

Qi Heng asked suspiciously, "Jing-ge'er, you mean the Mongol tribes are following Yelu Ying for the pastures near Northern Liao's Upper Capital?"

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile.

Scholar Zhuang glanced at Minglan in the corner of the lecture hall; just now, Minglan's eyes were full of realization, but she did not say anything.

It was Gu Tingye who suddenly realized: "Scholar, isn't this Yelu Ying's strategy of driving the tiger to swallow the wolf?"

Scholar Zhuang waved his fan, signaling Xu Zaijing to speak.

The position here was deep, and people wouldn't often pass by in the corridor.

After sitting down at the table full of Bianjing snacks, under the porcelain bowl containing the snacks, there was also an exquisite flower note pressed, on which was written the name and address of the merchant of this snack; if one really liked it, one could find this shop through the flower note.

Qingcao came outside the screen, waved to the Pan Lou serving maid not far away, and said:

"This young lady, please have someone send the small stove for cooking tea."

While Xu Zaijing was eating snacks with Liang Han, Qingcao began to prepare the tea.

When the flower note on the table in front of Qiao Jiulang, which was written "Li He's Family at Liang Gate," was piled up with pumpkin seed shells,

Qi Heng and Gu Tingye waved to Xu Zaijing and the three from the first floor.

Soon, both of them went up to the second floor.

"Qingcao sister, making tea?"

A girl's voice came,

Xu Zaijing turned his head to look; it turned out that Gu Tingye, besides bringing Zhique today, had also brought Qiuniang from the courtyard.

After Qi Heng brought Buwei in, he scanned the compartment and sighed with disappointment when he saw that the Yunxiang sisters hadn't come.

Buwei smiled and stood beside Qingyun: "Qingyun brother!"

Qingyun nodded with a smile.

The small servants of Liang Han and Qiao Jiu were younger than Buwei; after Buwei finished calling people, the two hurriedly called "Zhique brother, Buwei brother."

Buwei and Zhique nodded just like Qingyun.

There were more and more guests in Pan Lou,

and the performances on the round stage gradually became more exciting.

Among them, many performers were top performers who "debuted" on such a round stage several years or more than a decade ago.

Many years passed,

some powerful female musicians had redeemed themselves, but met the wrong person and came back again.

Some female musicians still had some fame, and after dancing or playing music, they got some rewards.

Performing on the stage today, they might attract new patrons; after all, not all men like young, green girls.

There are also many people who like mature sisters.

And those who were long forgotten didn't even have a chance to get close to this round stage.

Cheers sounded from time to time in Pan Lou,

and Qingcao, who was cooking tea in the compartment, walked to the back after filling a cup of tea for Xu Zaijing.

After pouring tea into several Pan Lou tea cups on the tray, Qingcao walked to Qingyun and the others with the tray and said softly:

"Qingyun brother, Buwei, drink some tea."

Xu Zaijing listened to the sound of "Thank you Qingcao sister" from behind, looked at Liang Han on the side, and said: "Sixth Young Master, what are you thinking about?"

Gu Tingye, who was being fed pumpkin seed kernels by Qiuniang, also looked over and said: "He must be thinking about the young lady under Ruan Mama!"

Qiao Jiulang also looked over and said: "Sixth Young Master, it's agreed, you won't fight with me for Yun Niang!"

Liang Han waved his hand and said: "Go, go, go, even if I don't want to, can you definitely win, Jiulang?"

Saying this, Liang Han pointed around the second floor and said:

"Jiulang, over there are the families of the Duke of Korea, the Duke of Ling, the Duke of An, and others; they are all from the Prince's mansions, and they were all invited by Ruan Mama to watch the performances of several young ladies!"

"Fight with them? Can you really win?"

Qiao Jiu snorted and said: "That's not necessarily true!"

Saying this, he glanced at Xu Zaijing again.

Which made Xu Zaijing feel inexplicable.

After Liang Han finished speaking, he fell into deep thought again, closed his eyes, frowned, and thought for a while, but still shook his head.

At this time,

Gu Tingye on the side took the tea handed over by Qiuniang and took a sip: "Hey, before, when we were at Pan Lou..."

"Slap!"

Suddenly,

Liang Han slapped the table hard and opened his eyes.

"Sixth Young Master, what are you doing!"

Gu Tingye, who was almost choked, asked.

Liang Han said: "Jing-ge'er, I remembered!"

Looking at Xu Zaijing's "what did you remember" look.

Liang Han said hurriedly: "It's those two serving maids at the entrance of Pan Lou!"

Hearing this, Gu Tingye glanced at the back of Qiuniang, who was pouring tea for him, gave Liang Han a thumbs up, and said: "Sixth Young Master, tsk tsk tsk, the two of us heroes see things the same way!"

After speaking, he raised his eyebrows.

Liang Han rolled his eyes at Gu Tingye and said: "Jing-ge'er, do you still remember the few rich and evil youths I told you about when we came to Pan Lou to play before, also around this day?"

Xu Zaijing heard Liang Han's words, frowned, pondered for a moment, and said hesitantly:

"Sixth Young Master, are you talking about the time we came to Pan Lou after my father set off for the north?"

"You also said that those few who had tattoos and were circling around two or three young ladies riding horses were rich and evil youths who looked like they had just arrived in Bianjing!"

Liang Han nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! Jing-ge'er, at that time, I saw those few young ladies riding horses in the carriage coming to Pan Lou; they were the ones we just saw at the entrance!"

Xu Zaijing gave a thumbs up: "Sixth Young Master, good memory!"

After Xu Zaijing and Liang Han's words, Qi Heng on the side also nodded:

"Jing-ge'er, now that you mention it, I remember it too."

"I just don't know what happened to those few rich and evil youths."

Liang Han picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said: "What could happen? Either they were set up to be caught in adultery and had to pay money, or they were dragged to a gambling den and lost everything."

Listening to Liang Han's words, Gu Tingye raised his eyebrows.

At this time, Qingcao at the door said:

"Young Master, Young Master Hai has brought people over."

When Xu Zaijing and the others stood up hurriedly, Hai Chaojie had already revealed his figure by the screen.

Hai Chaojie bowed and said to the few people behind him: "Everyone, this is the Qi Duke Mansion, Ningyuan Marquis Mansion, and Yongyi Marquis Mansion that I told you about..."

The group of people behind Hai Chaojie bowed and greeted hurriedly.

Xu Zaijing looked at the few people beside Hai Chaojie; he knew Shen Herui of the Shen family and the Fourth Young Master Chen of the Ministry of Revenue, but the other few young people following were a bit unfamiliar.

Qi Heng, Gu Tingye, and the other four also had similar expressions.

Seeing the expressions of Xu Zaijing and the others, Hai Chaojie introduced with a smile:

"Everyone, this is the eldest son of the former Minister of Rites, Master Su, Su Song, Su Zirong, whose ancestral home is Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Circuit."

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others bowed hurriedly: "Nice to meet you!"

That Su Zirong bowed in return.

Hai Chaojie continued: "This is the eldest son of the former Vice Minister of Rites and Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Master Wang Shao, Wang Hou, Wang Chudao."

Gu Tingye and the others bowed: "Nice to meet you!"

Xu Zaijing glanced at Wang Hou and asked Hai Chaojie: "Is this Master Wang Shao the one who presented the 'Peace Strategy' to His Majesty, enabling our Great Zhou to expand its borders by more than two thousand miles in Hehuang?"

Hai Chaojie nodded with a smile: "Jing-ge'er, you are right! Since the birth of the Imperial Prince, what His Majesty has used in the Hehuang region is Master Wang Shao's Peace Strategy."

Hearing the conversation between Xu Zaijing and Hai Chaojie, Qi Heng and the others bowed again hurriedly.

And Wang Chudao, hearing the two praising his father, bowed somewhat embarrassedly and said:

"Nice to meet you all! Before, my father also told me that when the Marquis of Yongyi was in the Western Army, he once received the military order of the old General Cao, led troops to conquer the Qiang people, and fought against Bai Gao."

"In recovering Hehuang, the Marquis of Yongyi also made great contributions!"

Xu Zaijing hurriedly declined: "Brother Chudao, you flatter me! Master Wang's strategy contribution is greater!"

After another round of mutual praise, Xu Zaijing looked at Su Song, Su Zirong, and said: "Brother Zirong, your ancestral home is Quanzhou Prefecture?"

Su Zirong nodded: "That's right!"

After speaking, Su Zirong looked at Xu Zaijing curiously, waiting for the following.

Xu Zaijing smiled: "My Second Sister-in-law's father once served as an official in Quanzhou Prefecture, so I asked this question!"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Su Zirong bowed and said: "I wonder which master it is?"

Xu Zaijing replied: "It is Sheng Hong, Master Sheng, who is currently serving in the Ministry of Personnel."

Hearing this, Su Zirong's eyes lit up and he said:

"So it is Master Sheng! Before, when I was studying at home, my father once entrusted someone to take me to Master Sheng's mansion to ask for calligraphy advice."

On this day,

Gu Tingye on the side said: "When did you go? We few have been studying at the Sheng family study, but we haven't heard of it?"

Su Zirong said: "That day, I heard Master Sheng say, it seemed to be a holiday at the school!"

Everyone suddenly realized.