Chapter 366: Tell me about it? [Thanks to everyone for your support! Bow again!]

Three days have passed since the Tan family of the Duke of An invited the medical officer.

The tenth day of the fifth month

Early morning

The sun has not yet risen

Today is the full month of the second grandson of the Marquis of Yongyi, the Xu family.

In the spacious horse racing field, there is a faint morning mist near the pond.

The thin Zhao Meifeng is walking in the horse racing field with Xu Zaijing.

"What the Lu Imperial Son-in-law said, what the Old Madam of the Duke of Lian said was more than ten years ago?"

Zhao Meifeng looked at Seeing Alan, who was leading a horse out of the stable door in the distance, and shook his head: "No, no, no, it's more than ten years, it's been about twenty years!"

Looking at Xu Zaijing's eyes, Zhao Meifeng said: "Why do I remember it so clearly?"

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Zhao Meifeng said: "That's right, not many people in the capital know the full story."

Xu Zaijing said: "Brother Zhao, you must be very clear about what happened back then? Tell me about it?"

Zhao Meifeng nodded: "That's true, not many people in the capital know the full story."

This Old Madam of the Duke of An was born into the Wei family of the mansion of the Grand General who assisted the country.

She had a cousin who married the cousin of the late Emperor, a Great Zhou Prince, and gave birth to the current Sage.

The Old Madam's own niece married the cousin of the current Sage and gave birth to the Prince of Jing.

This Old Madam's close friend from her maiden days married into the Cao family of the Marquis of Tuoxi, and her daughter is the current Empress, who gave birth to Zhao Fang.

The Old Madam herself married into the Tan family of the Duke's mansion, and the future Duke of An is her son.

No matter how you count it, the current Emperor and Empress are both juniors to this Old Madam.

This is also why, when the Tan family's young master was beaten by the Jin Kingdom warriors, she could go straight to find "trouble" with the Great Zhou Emperor and Empress.

More than twenty years ago, after the daughter of the Cao family became Empress, she finally became pregnant after several years.

The Cao family of the Marquis of Tuoxi naturally sent piles of tonics and good things to the palace.

The problem arose with these "good things."

According to investigations, a military veteran general had previously presented the Tan family of the Duke of An with a moisturizing gel that could remove stretch marks on a woman's abdomen after pregnancy.

Hearing the three words "moisturizing gel," Xu Zaijing's eyes were full of surprise, but it quickly dissipated.

Zhao Meifeng, to the side, looked at the change in Xu Zaijing's expression and smiled slightly: "Brother Jing's thoughts are correct; the formula the Empress bestowed upon you is already different."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Zhao Meifeng continued:

That general stated directly that this item was a secret formula from the previous dynasty, the medicinal materials used were extremely expensive, and it had already been tested by the general's own wife. Starting from the fourth month of pregnancy, applying it until giving birth, there were no stretch marks on the abdomen and no harm.

The daughter-in-law of the Old Madam of the Duke of An had also used it, and the effect was truly as the general had said.

The Tan family, feeling indebted, used the Cao family's connections to secure a real position for this veteran general in the Western Army.

The Empress's mother, the Eldest Madam of the Marquis of Tuoxi, naturally also knew about this.

The Eldest Madam of the Marquis of Tuoxi and the Madam of the Duke of An had both given birth to children and knew that stretch marks on the stomach were not good-looking.

In conversations that were sometimes there and sometimes not, eventually, the Eldest Madam of the Marquis of Tuoxi spoke up and asked the Madam of the Duke of An for the formula of this item for the Empress to use.

As a result, the Empress miscarried. It was a fully formed baby boy.

The Great Zhou Imperial Medical Bureau examined the formula; the materials used were indeed extremely precious, but they didn't find any problems.

That year, the master, Zhao Zilong, traveled day and night for a thousand miles to the Western Army, wanting to find the original formula for comparison.

But that general had already taken his family and defected to the Liang Yi family of the Bai Gao Kingdom, and was even heavily relied upon, leading troops to guard Yanzhou of the Bai Gao Kingdom.

Others used it and were fine, but the Empress's own daughter used it and had an accident, and she was the one who had asked for it herself. The Cao family had a greater responsibility, so they could only swallow their teeth and swallow them into their stomachs.

And the Empress's mother became depressed and ill, bedridden for years.

It was clear to the eye that the veteran general of the Duke of An's family had a problem, colluding with the Bai Gao Kingdom and offering medicine to harm people.

But the person had already run away, and how the news was obtained and what the truth was, it was difficult to verify!

Although there were rumors that the Duke of An had passed the news, how much credibility could the words of someone who had fled to the Bai Gao Kingdom have?

Who knew if it was to sow discord among the Great Zhou nobles?

In the end, it was determined that the Duke of An was negligent in his use of personnel, and the current Sage took the opportunity to strip away more than half of his military power, dividing it among the Duke of England, the Marquis of Lady Ningyuan, and the Marquis of Zhongjing.

The old General Cao of the Marquis of Tuoxi could have been made a Duke, but later...

"Then, the Duke of Lian?"

Zhao Meifeng said: "Back then, the Duke of Lian and a group of Great Zhou royal relatives were watching from the beginning, so they naturally understood these things."

After saying this softly, he said no more.

The two walked quietly in the spacious horse racing field.

"Brother Zhao, the Imperial City Division and the Marquis of Tuoxi's family, didn't they find someone to test whether it was really a problem with the formula?"

"Naturally, they spent money to find people to test it! But... there were those who miscarried, and there were those who gave birth to children."

After walking for a while, Xu Zaijing said softly: "Brother Zhao, how did the Empress eventually discover the problem?"

Zhao Meifeng sighed and said: "It was the He family of the Imperial Medical Bureau who discovered that one of the medicinal materials in the formula was problematic and could cause miscarriage. Based on this, the He family was promoted to the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau."

Xu Zaijing asked curiously: "Brother Zhao, since there is such an old matter, why would the Old Madam of the Duke of An still confidently go to find the Emperor and Empress, asking the Emperor to make decisions for the Tan family descendants?"

Zhao Meifeng looked at Xu Zaijing with a smile and said: "Brother Jing, the Tan family of the Duke of An wasn't like this before! It wasn't until a few years ago when the Imperial City Division ferreted out several dead soldiers with ulterior motives in the nursing home that things changed."

The reason for the beginning of this matter was that the Empress received the cotton wool offered by the Xu family and thought a bit more, which led to finding the "thread."

It was also the beginning of the Imperial City Division's turnaround.

Xu Zaijing said: "The Tan family of the Duke of An feels that their family has suffered an injustice?"

Zhao Meifeng nodded: "Correct."

Thinking of the unreasonable appearance of that old woman before, it did seem like something she could do.

"Then, the Imperial City Division went to the Tan family, how could they scare someone into illness?"

Zhao Meifeng looked at Xu Zaijing with an expression of "you can't even figure this out."

"Yanzhou."

After saying these two words, Zhao Meifeng said no more.

"Old General Cao broke Yanzhou and caught the general who offered the secret formula and defected to Bai Gao?"

Zhao Meifeng said: "The Imperial City Division told that Old Madam of the Tan family so."

Looking at Xu Zaijing's inquiring gaze, Zhao Meifeng smiled and continued: "Actually, when Old General Cao broke the city, that general had already been crushed under the ruins."

"But do you think that general was wronged?"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "Defected to Bai Gao, if he didn't do something, how could he guard a state?"

Zhao Meifeng nodded and said with a cold laugh: "Correct, there were several clerks who sneaked into the Imperial City Division of the Bai Gao Kingdom, and captured Great Zhou soldiers, all of whom were killed by this general himself."

"The one from the Chuihuan Division said so?"

Zhao Meifeng nodded.

"Since there is no proof, then how could the Emperor let the Imperial City Division go to the Tan family..."

Xu Zaijing didn't continue.

Because, if one had truly suffered an injustice, hearing that the culprit had been caught, one shouldn't be ill, one should be radiant and laughing heartily!

Because this meant that the Tan family could wash away their injustice, and after having their innocence, this old woman would definitely rely on her status to go to the current Sage to ask for "compensation."

How could there be talk of being scared into illness?

"Figured it out?"

Zhao Meifeng asked.

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Then how will it be handled?"

"The mansion of the Grand General who assisted the country has deep ties with the Great Zhou royal family, and several royal relatives and princesses have already entered the palace to beg the Emperor and Empress for mercy."

"Listening to Master, because there is an Imperial Prince, the Emperor is kind-hearted, so mostly..."

Zhao Meifeng shook his head.

Xu Zaijing shook his head as well and said: "It must be to persuade the Emperor that since there is already a healthy Imperial Prince, he should accumulate blessings for the Prince, and since there is fighting in the north, the Great Zhou territory should still be stable."

Zhao Meifeng took a deep breath: "Today is your little nephew's full month, are you staying at home?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "The classmates in the school are all coming."

Zhao Meifeng turned to look at Xu Zaijing and said: "Brother Jing, besides Seeing Alan, does your family have any experienced horse officials?"

Xu Zaijing was surprised that the topic had changed so quickly and replied: "Naturally, why, Brother Zhao?"

Zhao Meifeng looked at the pregnant dragon horse, Xunshu, and the maid Qingcao to the side, and said:

"Brother Jing, this matter is also one of the reasons I came to your house today."

Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Meifeng solemnly.

"Yelu Ying of Northern Liao is contacting our Great Zhou, wanting to trade horses with our Great Zhou, and the Emperor intends for the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion to take on this matter."

"Brother Zhao, hasn't this horse trade always been the business of the Cao family and the Zhang family? Why find my family?"

"Brother Jing, before you helped the Marquis of Tuoxi break through the Bai Gao Kingdom's pass, which caused fewer casualties for the old general's soldiers, so the Cao family naturally wants to express something."

"Also, it's because the Imperial Prince also contributed and begged the Emperor a few words."

Xu Zaijing was stunned.

After patting Xu Zaijing on the shoulder, Zhao Meifeng said:

"Alright, I'll go first!"

Xu Zaijing nodded and sent him to the Xu family's main gate.

Returning to the horse racing field,

Xu Zaijing saw his master standing at the door of the hut, talking to Qingcao, and walked over.

Approaching, Xu Zaijing said: "Qingcao, you go back to the courtyard first."

"Yes, Young Master."

After listening to his apprentice finish, Master Yin's single eye was full of surprise: "This Imperial Prince, at such an age, actually knows how to bestow favors?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "The Prince, he has always been intelligent."

"By the way, Master, just now Master Zhao said, the Tan family of the Duke of An..."

After Xu Zaijing finished speaking about the old matter, Master Yin said: "Fifth Young Master, do you still remember what you told me before about the Marquis of Lady Ningyuan's Gu family taking a concubine?"

"Master, I naturally remember, you said the Imperial Prince might encounter some things halfway... adult royal relatives, 'whether there is preparation is different'."

Master Yin nodded:

"Fifth Young Master, the Emperor has been on the throne for many years without an heir, and the forces in the court have also relied on each other. Now that the Imperial Prince is healthy, the Emperor naturally wants to sort things out for the Imperial Prince in advance."

"The Emperor is too kind-hearted and always wants to handle the affairs of the vassal kings stably. But, dealing with the Prince of Yan was only after you made a big scene and the evidence was conclusive that he took ruthless action."

"Although it deterred the royal relatives, the meat that has been eaten into the mouth is not so easy to spit out."

Xu Zaijing's eyes were full of approval.

Master Yin continued:

"The Prince of Jing went to his fief, bringing the elite soldiers and fierce generals of the Grand General's mansion, acting like a local emperor in Huainan Road, and also on good terms with the Prince of Tan."

"The Prince of Yong is in Guangnan West Road, also deeply rooted for many years."

"This beating of the Duke of An is just to give an explanation to the old General Cao who made military contributions."

Xu Zaijing nodded and said:

"Master, I actually think the Emperor has already noticed these things, but it just so happens that the Bai Gao Kingdom is in internal chaos, and Northern Liao is at war with the Jin Kingdom."

"The Emperor chose the former between expanding the territory and dealing with the vassal kings."

Master Yin nodded: "You can see these things, the books were not read in vain."

Xu Zaijing smiled and said: "Master, I think the Emperor chose to expand the territory, also relying on this righteousness, taking the opportunity to take many things back into his hands."

Master Yin sighed: "Fifth Young Master, what you said is not bad! But, interests and power are intertwined, how can they be taken back without shedding blood and dying?"

"If you force them too hard, do you believe the Prince of Jing will rebel for you to see?"

"Master, I believe it."

"Alright, let's not talk about these. Now your father and brother are in the north, hoping they can make contributions, even if your reading and taking exams don't work, you can still get a hereditary favor."

"Master, you are looking down on yourself! With my martial arts, it's also possible to go to the north to fight and get a title!"

Master Yin stood up, limped toward the horses, and said while walking: "That's the truth. Alright, you are busy this morning, go back to the courtyard!"

Master Yin came to the dragon horse, touched the horse's smooth skin, looked back at his apprentice walking away with his single eye, looked at Seeing Alan who was walking the horse, and shook his head slightly.

He said to himself in an extremely low voice: "Fifth Young Master, with your martial arts, if you go to the army, I'm afraid you will truly become a figure like a god of war."

"It's still better to read books! Reading books is good!"

Xu Zaijing naturally didn't know what his master said. After returning to his courtyard, he changed his clothes and went to his mother's courtyard for breakfast.

After the meal, he returned to his courtyard to write for a while,

At the hour of Si (after 9:00 AM)

When Dan Mama came to call, under Qingcao's service, he changed into new clothes, took Qingyun, and went to the Xu family's main gate with his elder brother Zaihang to welcome guests.

The first to arrive was still Madam Wu, and the teenage Liang Han didn't take a carriage, but rode a horse to accompany her.

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who was handsome at the door, Liang Han dismounted, threw the reins to the carriage, looked at his own carriage that had gone to the second gate, and said:

"Brother Jing, tell you something, the Qiao family has redeemed Jiulang's Great Gao sword."

Zaihang looked surprised, while Xu Zaijing nodded with a relieved smile.

Liang Han continued: "Brother Jing, also, listening to the Qiao family's servant, yesterday Jiulang even had a fight with Lu Sanlang."

Xu Zaijing: "Why is this?"

Liang Han licked his lips, smiled at Zaihang who was staring at him, then leaned into Xu Zaijing's ear and said: "I heard that that scoundrel Lu Sanlang found a skilled Daoist priest who makes medicine somewhere."

"The day before yesterday, he spent a lot of silver to invite Yunniang to accompany him. The day before yesterday... Jiulang also happened to go find Yunniang, but because Lu Sanlang offered more silver, that Yunniang didn't choose Jiulang."

"So, they had a fight yesterday!"

Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at Liang Han with a face full of question marks.

Liang Han continued to lean over and said: "Yunniang, the night before yesterday, was... cough cough, by that scoundrel Lu Sanlang all night, that's why Jiulang fought..."

Xu Zaijing pinched his eyebrows; actually, he didn't want to know these things later.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 367 =====