Chapter 362

Imperial City Dongmen, Donghua Gate.

The market outside the palace gate is more lively and prosperous than in other directions.

Listening to the various sounds of hawking, shouting, and bargaining coming from the street outside the gate, Rong Xian, dressed in armor, sat on a folding chair in the gate tunnel and yawned.

An internal official who went to buy things outside the palace city walked into the city gate tunnel, still carrying a bamboo basket filled with fresh fruits and vegetables in his hand.

The internal official bowed and said:

"Greetings, Xian Ge'er!"

"Hmm! What did the internal official buy?"

"A few tender bottle gourds!"

Rong Xian stood up and walked over, looking at the things in the bamboo basket and nodding: "Tsk! Really beautiful! The color looks like jasper!"

"Xian Ge'er is right! These few bottle gourds cost this humble servant four strings of cash!"

Rong Xian smiled: "Today, the nobles in the palace are happy; seeing bottle gourds of this quality, they will certainly give the internal official a reward."

"Borrowing Xian Ge'er's auspicious words!"

Listening to the sound of horse hooves ringing outside the gate, the internal official looked back and said to Rong Xian in a low voice: "Concubine Rong said, let you think more about how to celebrate such a national joyous event."

Rong Xian looked indifferent: "It's just setting off firecrackers, giving porridge, scattering some money, I understand!"

After finishing, he waved his hand.

The internal official bowed: "As long as Xian Ge'er understands! Then you go ahead!" After finishing, he walked toward the palace.

Soon, Imperial Guard cavalry dismounted and walked into the gate tunnel; the knight who had been shouting all the way hoarsely cupped his hands: "Commander, this subordinate has returned."

Rong Xian stretched while saying: "You've worked hard, after your shift, accompany me to Sai Sai Fanlou to have some fun!"

The knight showed a smile: "Order received!"

A quarter-hour later,

during which several Imperial Guard knights returned to Donghua Gate one after another to report for duty.

One of them, when looking for Rong Xian, even took out a few apricots from his chest and said:

"Commander, I met Little Xiao Xiao Gongye Qi, Second Young Master Gu, and Fifth Young Master Xu on the street outside Jiying Lane before!"

"This was rewarded to this subordinate by the Fifth Young Master."

Rong Xian took an apricot and asked suspiciously: "Why, are they not in school?"

"This subordinate saw the direction those few were walking, it was leaving the Sheng family, maybe it was a break!"

Rong Xian's eyes lit up, he nodded and said: "Good! Then we won't go to Sai Sai Fanlou, let's go find Jing Ge'er and the others to have fun! You go change your clothes first, and find out where they are playing!"

"Yes, Commander!"

Afterward, Rong Xian, standing in the gate tunnel, looked at the lively market outside the palace gate, shook his head, and said: "And have to give porridge, scatter money, annoying to death!"

Xingguo Lane

Xiao Xiao Gongye of Ying's Mansion

"Whoa!"

After the divine horse under Fifth Young Lady's seat lifted its front hooves into the air, it slammed heavily onto the ground.

Fifth Young Lady was wearing a neat outfit for playing polo, sat on the horse, waved the polo stick, and smiled at the steward mother on the side of the field:

"Seeing Fan Mama, what's wrong?"

Seeing Fan Mama, who was startled by the rearing horse, looked at the Fifth Young Lady, who was laughing heartily, with some reproach and said: "Young Lady, Young Lady Zhengzheng sent someone to deliver a post!"

Fifth Young Lady's eyes lit up.

"Has the person left?"

"Not yet!"

Fifth Young Lady turned to one side, gracefully got off the horse, and said: "Seeing Fan Mama, please invite the person here, I have a few words for Zhengzheng's maid."

"Yes, Young Lady."

Before long, Seeing Fan Mama led the young maid Fuyi to the side of the racecourse, looking at the noble young lady sitting on the chair, Fuyi bowed:

"Greetings, Fifth Young Lady!"

Fifth Young Lady smiled and nodded, beckoned to Fuyi and said: "Come closer!"

Fuyi walked to Fifth Young Lady's side, and Fifth Young Lady waved her hand at Seeing Fan Mama again.

Seeing Fan Mama retreated to the side helplessly.

Fifth Young Lady looked at the maid in front of her, then glanced at Seeing Fan Mama a few feet away, and said in a low voice:

"Little Fuyi, I heard your eldest young master combed and groomed a female musician? Have you seen her? Is she good-looking?"

Fuyi hurriedly lowered her head, concealing her gaze: "Uh... this humble servant doesn't know."

Fifth Young Lady pondered for a moment, seemingly having figured it out herself, and nodded:

"That's true, you are a maid in the inner courtyard, you wouldn't see these things."

"Give the post to me!"

After taking the post from Fuyi's hand, Fifth Young Lady looked at it for a few moments and said: "Go back and tell your young lady, I'll wait for her at the southeast corner tower of the Imperial City tomorrow."

"Yes."

Seeing Seeing Fan Mama, who was sending Fuyi away, glare at herself, Fifth Young Lady's eyes turned, she shook her head and muttered to herself: "It's so far, Seeing Fan Mama shouldn't be able to hear what I asked, right?"

Thinking about these things, Fifth Young Lady stepped on the stirrup and got on the horse, looking at the still quite large racecourse of the Zhang family: "Ha!"

The horse ran again.

The Chai family carriage came out of Xingguo Lane, turned, and went straight east.

The maid Fuyi sat in the carriage, looking out through the thin gauze on the window.

After crossing the wide Imperial Street, the carriage arrived at Pan Lou Main Street, and its speed slowed down.

Fuyi lifted the carriage curtain and asked toward the front of the carriage: "What's going on?"

"Replying to Fuyi Young Lady, there are many people ahead, it seems there is some excitement!"

"Go around!"

"Yes!"

Saying this, the carriage was about to turn away.

At this time, Fuyi saw those noble youths on fresh clothes and divine horses on the road, she was stunned and hurriedly shouted:

"Wait!"

"Go ask what's going on!"

Chai family

Qiusheng Garden

In the hall,

Chai Zhengzheng stood, opened her arms, and let Yun Mu measure her shoulder width and arm length with a soft ruler, looking forward and saying:

"Fuyi, say it again, what did those families say when they were giving things away."

Fuyi repeated the words Xu Zaijing said before, "rejoice together, rejoice together."

"They are going outside Xuande Tower?"

"Yes."

Chai Zhengzheng closed her arms, said with a smile on her mouth:

"Go, take two thousand strings of cash, buy more fruit, sugarcane, sugar, and meat buns!"

"Also take a few sets of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the shop and send them to Xu... send them to them. Just say this is a little bit of Chai family's heart to celebrate our Great Zhou's great victory..."

"Yes, Miss."

Donghua Gate,

the current Imperial Guard camp commander Rong Xian finished his shift, took off his armor and changed his clothes with a group of five or six personal subordinates, and walked out.

Got on a horse outside the gate.

A subordinate said: "Commander, this subordinate specifically went to the Qiao family aquatic shop and bought top-quality oysters! When the time comes, will you and several young masters do us the honor of tasting them?"

Rong Xian's eyes lit up, he looked at the subordinate with great satisfaction, nodded, and said: "Sensible!"

"It's the Commander setting an example."

Rong Xian: "Hahaha... hiccup~"

Looking at the exquisite carriage parked by Donghua Gate Street, Rong Xian stopped laughing.

He raised his chin at the subordinate, and the subordinate walked to the side.

Rong Xian rode his horse to the side of the carriage and said: "Younger sister, why are you here?"

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Rong Feiyan, who was growing more and more beautiful, tilted her head to look at Rong Xian and said: "Brother, it's not a solution for you to never go home!"

Rong Xian looked anxious and said: "I!!! I will not agree!"

Rong Feiyan said softly: "Brother, how can you say that, that is the legitimate daughter of the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Fuxian... didn't you agree very well at the beginning! Why..."

Rong Xian tilted his head to one side, crossed his arms, and said angrily: "Who, who knew that the legitimate daughter of a dignified Xiao Xiao Gongye would look, look so..."

Rong Feiyan: "Brother, I can't persuade you, in two days, the eldest sister will be looking for you."

Rong Xian looked at the subordinate who went to find out where Xu Zaijing and the others were and returned to report, and said: "Even if sister looks for me, I won't agree!"

Rong Feiyan sighed in the carriage and asked: "Then, brother, where are you going today?"

Rong Xian asked back: "Me? You tell me where you are going first!"

Rong Feiyan said: "Tomorrow, Miss Zhengzheng of the Chai family invited me to play, I'm going to see if there are any new fabrics in the shop."

Looking at the way his younger sister was waiting for his answer, Rong Xian raised his eyebrows: "I'm going to find the young masters of the Qi family, Gu family, and Xu family to have fun!"

Rong Feiyan asked suspiciously: "Aren't they in school?"

Rong Xian beckoned to the subordinate who went to inquire.

Seeing the person come over, Rong Feiyan put down the carriage curtain.

After the person arrived nearby, Rong Xian looked at the subordinate and said: "Did you find out clearly, from Jiying Lane to now, what have Jing Ge'er and the others been doing? Where are they?"

This Imperial Guard knight hurriedly said a lot:

"At first, it was Jing Ge'er saying he was happy today and bought several carts of fruit; later, this subordinate asked, on the way to Pan Lou, Second Young Master Gu and Little Xiao Xiao Gongye Qi spent more money instead."

"Arrived at Pan Lou... there is a staff member of the Bianjing Prefect... now they should be going outside Xuande Tower..."

Rong Xian nodded: "Go!"

Watching the departing subordinate, Rong Xian said to his younger sister: "Know it now? Then I'm leaving!" Saying this, he was about to ride away.

"Wait!"

Rong Feiyan said urgently.

Rong Xian: "Hmm?"

Rong Feiyan lifted the carriage curtain, her face solemn, her eyes moving back and forth, and said: "Seeing Xi Bu, give the money I prepared for buying fabrics to brother!"

Rong Xian had an expression of 'there's such a good thing' and took the silver notes handed over by the maid.

"Brother, these are not for you to spend recklessly!"

"Younger sister, I didn't spend recklessly..."

Rong Feiyan continued:

"Brother, listen to me!"

"The enemy Bai Gao Kingdom had an earthquake, helping our Great Zhou win a great victory in the north, isn't that an auspicious sign? Should we as subjects be happy? Should we celebrate?"

Rong Xian nodded: "We should!"

Rong Feiyan: "Then how should we celebrate?"

"Your brother I am just about to give porridge, scatter money, and set off firecrackers!"

Rong Feiyan shook her head, looked at the street scene outside the carriage, and said: "No! Brother, don't do that today! You do this, let's go buy..."

Rong Feiyan stopped her words.

Because she saw a steward-like person buying meat buns cage by cage on the street outside Donghua Gate.

"Brother! Our family has more than a dozen tea shops, let our shops close today, prepare tea and drinks to give to passersby for free, just say it's to celebrate with the country!"

"And prepare some to send outside Xuande Tower!"

Rong Xian looked at his younger sister's gaze and complexion, nodded and said: "Alright, listen to you! I'll go to Xuande Tower first to see what it's like! Younger sister, send someone to notify the stewards in the shops!"

Before Rong Feiyan could speak, Rong Xian rode away.

Donghua Gate is the east gate of the Imperial City, the street market on the east side is prosperous, and there are also two Rong family shops nearby.

Two quarter-hours later,

when Rong Feiyan got into the carriage, preparing to use an ox cart to carry the best tea drinks to Xuande Tower, Rong Xian rode hurriedly to the side of the carriage and said:

"Younger sister, hurry! I heard people say His Majesty might go to Xuande Tower!"

"You didn't see the scene in front of Xuande Tower!"

Rong Feiyan asked: "What happened in front of Xuande Tower?"

Rong Xian said: "Younger sister, when I came, Xuande Tower was already gathered with thousands of people by Jing Ge'er and the others, Second Young Master Gu is leading the shouting! Listen! They shouted again!"

"Hurry up!"

Rong Feiyan leaned to the carriage window and listened carefully; through the heavy roof ridges, there were indeed shouts of 'Great Zhou Wansheng' coming.

"Brother, look at this full ox cart of tea drinks being sent to Xuande Tower, how fast can it be?"

Saying this, Rong Feiyan rolled her eyes at her own brother and put down the carriage curtain.

"Hey~ younger sister!"

Rong Xian glanced at the subordinate beside him and said: "You watch and escort them over!"

"Yes, Commander!"

Afterward, Rong Xian rode his horse to guard beside the carriage and drove toward Xuande Gate.

The nobles and officials of Bianjing, and even the wealthy squires, have a very keen sense of smell.

After hearing about the events on Pan Lou Main Street and outside Xuande Tower, they understood the benefits of the actions of Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and the others in a flash of lightning!

Conquering the Bai Gao Kingdom!

The reason for this is the most important thing: the current Great Zhou Emperor's ambition to expand the territory!

And then?

The enemy country had an earthquake! Great Zhou won consecutive victories! Isn't this the mandate of Heaven? Should we celebrate?

Today, the palace Imperial Guard is shouting and promoting it all over the street.

However!

For such an auspicious sign, the Great Zhou court, like the Ministry of Rites, needs to organize celebrations, which will definitely take some time.

But, what about the actions of Xu Zaijing and the others?

They spent their own money, so the actions were naturally very fast, and they were completely self-organized!

But the scale and momentum were not small! And looking at the scale, it was getting bigger and bigger.

Listening to the shouts of the commoners, isn't this a scene of being supported by ten thousand people, the hearts of the people being available, and the Emperor's decision being very correct!

Therefore,

when Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others took ox carts and carriages to Xuande Tower, not long after, other noble and official family young masters participated.

They also gave things away for free like Xu Zaijing and the others.

The lively scene in front of the building was soon spread by the commoners near Imperial Street.

The Bianjing commoners were fond of excitement, especially when there were good things to eat without spending money!

So, by the time it was noon, although the sun was high and it was a bit hot, the place in front of Xuande Tower, which was only lively during the Lantern Festival in previous years, was already packed with people!

When Rong Feiyan's carriage arrived near Xuande Tower, there were already many commoners who came after hearing the news on both sides of the wide Imperial Street, and Imperial Guards and yamen runners maintaining order could be seen everywhere.

With Rong Xian, an Imperial Guard commander, present, the Rong family carriage soon walked to the vicinity of Xuande Tower, which was the most lively.

Rong Feiyan in the carriage could hear shouts of 'Long live the Saint', 'Ten thousand blessings to the Imperial Prince', and 'Great Zhou Wansheng' from time to time, mixed with the sound of drums.

Rong Feiyan lifted the carriage curtain, looked at Rong Xian beside the carriage, and said: "Brother, why are these shouts sometimes high and sometimes low?"

Rong Xian said: "The young masters of the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Korea, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Ling, and other families have also come. They are competing with Gu Yuan Erlang and the others, comparing the height of the shouts!"

"Brother, then whose voice is higher?"

Rong Xian smiled: "Naturally, it's Jing Ge'er and the others!"

While talking, the Rong family carriage stopped slowly under the palace wall guarded by the Imperial Guard, where there were carriages, horses, and several servant women and maids.

Rong Feiyan listened to the noisy shouts around her, lifted the carriage curtain, and looked out, just in time to see the maid Huaxiang in the Xu family carriage.

In the field,

because it was Xu Zaijing's unintentional action, and also because Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and others acted on a whim, there were no high wooden frames or wooden platforms on the wide field in front of Xuande Tower.

It just so happened that several Xiao Xiao Gongye and Marquis young masters who were not on good terms came to compete.

Looking at the young masters of the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Korea, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Ling, and other families not far away who also brought out big drums, Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing and said: "Jing Ge'er, what should we do?"

Xu Zaijing looked around, his gaze fixed on the place where the carriages were parked!

"Go, go pull the carriages!"

"Put three carriages side by side! Let's stand on the carriage roofs and beat the drums!"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and the others' eyes lit up!

Under the palace wall where the carriages were parked,

seeing Xu Zaijing and the others walking over, Rong Feiyan hurriedly put down the carriage curtain, looking at the maid on the side at a loss.

Soon,

the sound of Xu Zaijing and the others talking approached, and the enthusiastic chatting sound of her own brother reached the carriage.

"Jing Ge'er, I'll come to help too!" Rong Xian said.

Saying this, an outer coat was thrown into Rong Feiyan's carriage, and the maid hurriedly put it away.

After some discussion, the sound of talking went away.

Rong Feiyan lifted the carriage curtain and saw that there were a few fewer carriages beside her own carriage, and the place was much more spacious.

And the Xu family maid, Huaxiang, was holding the clothes Xu Zaijing took off, standing on the side; seeing Rong Feiyan look over, Huaxiang smiled sweetly and bowed.

Rong Feiyan looked at the clothes in Huaxiang's arms and smiled, then said to the maid Seeing Xi Bu in the carriage: "Go, invite Miss Huaxiang to our carriage to rest!"

"Yes, Miss!"

At this time,

in front of Xuande Tower, the sound of slow drumming came from the tops of the three carriage compartments placed side by side.

Every time Gu Tingye on the carriage roof beat the big drum, Xu Zaijing would sprinkle a rain of copper coins with a fruit basket, and a huge mountain-like shout would erupt from the surroundings!

And the young masters of the Xiao Xiao Gongye and Marquis families like the Han family and the Lu family, who were late to realize, were still learning from Xu Zaijing and the others, trying hard to pull the carriages into the crowd; after all, they didn't have the strength of Xu Zaijing.

The carriages arrived, and they had to get the big drums up, which was very laborious!

However, on Xuande Tower, the shadows of internal officials were already swaying.

(End of chapter)