Chapter 373: And Treasure [Thank you! Thank you again! Owed 7,000 words version]

Hearing this,

The Empress asked suspiciously: "Emperor, why do you say that?"

Having been the Empress of Great Zhou for so many years, and with the support of the Cao family of the Marquis of Tuoxi, the Empress also had her own news channels outside the palace. She really had never heard that Xu Zaijing had provoked any girl.

The Emperor flicked his sleeves: "Men's affairs, what do you women understand!"

Saying this, he walked toward the hall.

The Empress frowned and said: "What men, little Jing Ge'er is still a child!"

"Pfft! Him?"

The Emperor, who turned to enter the hall, laughed.

The laughter left the Empress and Princess Pingning outside the hall full of confusion.

Suddenly,

Princess Pingning was stunned, her face felt awkward, and she said embarrassedly: "Empress... it might be because..."

The Empress blinked and also understood the meaning of the Emperor's words: "The Marquis of Xiangyang... hmph!"

Saying this, the Empress also stepped toward the hall. After walking two steps, the Empress stopped, turned her head to look at Princess Pingning beside her and said: "Pingning, the little maidservant your father sent to Jing Ge'er, it wouldn't be you..."

Princess Pingning looked up at the Empress and said: "Empress, your subject just said a word to my father, that Jing Ge'er only has one maidservant."

"And also, whatever is in the Marquis of Xiangyang's mansion, as long as Heng Ge'er speaks, there is nothing he cannot get! So..."

The Empress looked at Princess Pingning and shook her head, saying: "Then don't keep such a tight watch on your Heng Ge'er."

"Yes, Empress."

Time passed leisurely,

The news of the Marquis of Yongyi's great victory in the North was still spreading to all parts of Great Zhou.

As for whether they could "rub off on the good fortune" in time like the prisoners in Bianjing, that would depend on their own "luck."

This day,

South of Bianjing,

1,500 li away,

Jinghunan Circuit,

Seat of government Tanzhou (Changsha),

Shen hour (4:00 PM),

Rainy and cloudy,

A huge passenger ship was slowly sailing toward the wharf on the shore in the rain. The flags of "Huyan" and "Xiong, Earl of Kang'an" hanging on the ship had already been drenched.

On the second floor of the passenger ship,

Listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the roof of the ship,

The legitimate son of the Earl of Kang'an was wearing cool clothing, with a beautiful large Gao sword hanging from his waist, and was gently shaking the folding fan in his hand.

Xiong Yan tilted his head and said to his family's old steward: "Looking along the way, there are really many shipyards on the river in Tanzhou!"

"The young master is right, shipbuilding is one of the three wonders of Tanzhou."

"Oh? What are the other two wonders?"

"Replying to the young master, one is bamboo shoots, one is fish. Nowadays, there is actually a fourth wonder?"

Seeing Xiong Yan looking over suspiciously, the old steward said:

"Young master, you don't know, the bronze mirrors of Tanzhou are numerous and exquisite in style, and they have always sold well in Bianjing."

"Other paper, ink, and inkstones also have some reputation in Great Zhou."

Guo Zhui and Yu Zhi, who were following Xiong Yan, both nodded. Yu Zhi said: "Little Earl, then after we go ashore, we must taste this fish!"

Xiong Yan smiled and nodded: "Okay! But we must first send the things of the Shen family's son to the mansion."

While they were speaking, some grain transport boatmen on the river rowed their light skiffs over.

Seeing the "Huyan" and Earl's mansion flags on the ship, he hurriedly bowed and began to direct the passenger ship to dock without collecting money.

When the cables were tied, the rain stopped.

Six tall horses and the carriage got off the ship together.

Learning that Xiong Yan and the others were going to visit the mansion of the Pacification Commissioner, Lord Shen, the water transport soldier volunteered to lead them toward Tanzhou City.

Riding on the horse, Guo Zhui stroked the horse's neck with full "love" and sighed.

Xiong Yan, Yu Zhi, and the others behind them were already used to this scene.

Although everyone was riding good horses bought for the occasion,

Ever since Guo Zhui saw the black stallion of the Xu family's fifth son in the Pan Tower stables on the Dragon Boat Festival, he had often been like this.

There were over 100,000 households and hundreds of thousands of people in Tanzhou City.

There were quite a few people on the street after the rain, so naturally, they couldn't go fast on the road.

Rich young masters in brocade clothing with attendants were not uncommon in Tanzhou, but it was rare for all of them to be riding tall horses.

What's more, the few who followed Xiong Yan were mostly sons of low-ranking military officers in Bianjing, who had been training in martial arts since childhood and carried swords, looking like tough martial artists at a glance.

As they rode slowly down the street, they attracted the attention and curiosity of the Tanzhou people along the way.

By the street, on the second floor of a restaurant,

A rich young master with decent attendants stood by the railing and was also attracted by Xiong Yan's group:

"Tsk! These few are really extravagant!"

The attendant beside him said: "Young master, look at the waist of the leader!"

That rich young master: "Hiss! This is?!"

When Xiong Yan walked closer, the rich young master bowed:

"Greetings, brother. I am from the Huang family, the Transport Commissioner of Tanzhou, and I have some connection with the Earl of Shoushan in the capital! May I ask, brother, is that a large Gao sword at your waist?"

Xiong Yan looked up and bowed in return: "Exactly!"

"Thank you for clearing my doubts, brother. Do you have any leisure time? Let me broaden my horizons! If I have been rude, please forgive me!"

"Not rude at all, but we are in a hurry to go to the mansion of the Pacification Commissioner, Lord Shen!"

"Then brother, please go ahead! If you stay in Tanzhou, don't forget to send a post to my family!"

Xiong Yan nodded with a smile.

The sons of the military officers following Xiong Yan also bowed and nodded in the same way.

In a quiet and clean wide alley.

Blue bricks paved the road,

Flowers planted by the roadside were blooming brightly.

White walls and blue tiles,

From the top of the wall, one could see the emerald green and dense canopy of the camphor tree in the courtyard.

At the entrance of the tall courtyard gate,

A plaque with "Shen Mansion" hung on the lintel,

At the horse-tethering post beside the gate, six tall horses were tied there, and servants were taking care of them.

In the garden of the Shen family courtyard,

In a pavilion surrounded by red flowers and green leaves, an eleven or twelve-year-old girl sat in front of a stone table, being corrected on her posture by a strict governess.

Beside her stood two personal little maidservants.

Seeing a little maidservant walking hurriedly through the moon gate into the courtyard, the governess said softly: "Miss Zhen, take a rest."

"Yes!"

After responding, the girl hurriedly stood up, and the personal maidservant beside her hurriedly stepped forward to help rub her shoulders and neck.

At this moment, the little maidservant walked close and bowed: "Governess! The Da Niangzi said to let the young lady go to the front hall to meet guests!"

The governess nodded: "Hmm, go ahead!"

Afterwards, the girl led the three maidservants toward the front courtyard.

On the way through the gates and corridors,

"Do you know where the guests are from?"

Before the little maidservant could reply, the girl continued:

"It wouldn't be the legitimate son of some prominent family under my father's rule again, would it?"

The little maidservant behind said: "Young lady, no!"

"The sister who passed the message for the Da Niangzi beside her said it is from Bianjing..."

Watching their own young lady start to trot ahead, the two personal maidservants behind also hurriedly lowered their voices and said: "Young lady! Slow down! Slow down! If the governess sees you, she will definitely scold you again!"

Hearing this, the girl slowed her pace.

Arriving at the entrance between the front hall and the backyard, after catching her breath, the girl stepped inside.

"The young lady is here!"

Hearing the little maidservant's announcement, Xiong Yan hurriedly stood up.

The Shen family Da Niangzi waved her hand: "Yan Ge'er, sit down quickly, why did you stand up!"

Looking at the girl walking into the hall, the Shen Da Niangzi said: "Yan Ge'er, this is my third daughter, He Zhen. Third daughter, this is your eldest brother Yan from the Xiong family of the Earl of Kang'an in Bianjing!"

"Third young lady, greetings!"

"Greetings, eldest brother Yan!"

Shen Hezhen finished saying with a smile, bowed together with the maidservants behind her, came to the Shen Da Niangzi's side, and sat down according to the governess's requirements just now.

The Shen family Da Niangzi continued: "He Rui is really ignorant, troubling you, Yan Ge'er, to bring things, and actually packed a whole carriage! Sorry to trouble you."

"Auntie, you are too polite! It's all on the way, it's all the same!"

"It's a 1,500-li journey! How can it not be exhausting! When I came here back then, I was exhausted!"

"Half of the things inside are for this girl, Third Daughter. Third Daughter, why don't you thank your eldest brother Yan!"

Shen Hezhen stood up and bowed as instructed.

Xiong Yan stood up and returned the bow.

"You child... you are too polite!"

The Shen family Da Niangzi smiled and shook her head, continuing:

"Yan Ge'er, I heard your marriage is settled? Is it the third daughter of the Xie family?"

Xiong Yan nodded slightly shyly.

Shen Hezhen's eyes rolled around, thinking about the Xie family she knew.

After chatting for a while,

A Shen family steward walked to the entrance of the hall, bowed and said: "Da Niangzi, the official beside the Master said that the military officers in Tanzhou City have all arrived, please ask the Little Earl to go to the banquet."

The Shen family Da Niangzi stood up with a smile: "Then let's go!"

Xiong Yan stood up, bowed, and left the hall.

Lord Shen was a high-ranking official of Great Zhou in the South, having served in the South for more than ten years since leaving the capital.

Regardless of civil or military affairs, Lord Shen had promoted many people and was a real giant in the officialdom of Southern Great Zhou.

Shen Hezhen, who had always grown up beside her parents, could also feel this.

Therefore, after Xiong Yan left the hall,

Shen Hezhen held the Shen family Da Niangzi's arm and walked toward the backyard with her mother, asking: "Mother, why did Father host a banquet for this eldest brother of the Xiong family in our house today?"

The Shen family Da Niangzi tilted her head and looked at her youngest daughter: "Zhen'er, do you know which Xie family I just mentioned?"

Shen Hezhen thought for a while and shook her head.

She grew up in Tanzhou since she was a child and was not very familiar with the nobles in the capital.

"In our southern Guangnanxi Circuit, there is a garrison of more than 10,000 people, among which three armies of more than 7,000 people are under General Xie."

"The Xie family also has a Xie Zijue title."

Shen Hezhen nodded: "Oh! It's this Xie family!"

The Shen family Da Niangzi said: "Yes! And when your father first came to Jinghunan Circuit, he borrowed troops from them when suppressing bandits. You were just born then, so you don't know about this!"

Looking at the surprised look in her daughter's eyes, the Shen family Da Niangzi had some thoughts in her eyes and said slowly:

"Also, this Xiong family brother will become the brother-in-law of the Marquis of Yongyi's legitimate eldest son."

"Mother, is it the Marquis of Yongyi who conquered the land after Bai Gao mentioned in the court gazette?"

"Yes!"

"Mother, because of the Marquis of Yongyi's great victory before, Father drank a lot of wine happily. Why don't you tell your daughter about this Xu family!"

"That's fine! Zhen'er, this Marquis of Yongyi Xu family has three sons and two daughters, all legitimate."

Shen Hezhen said: "Mother, this is the same as our family!"

The Shen family Da Niangzi smiled happily.

Lord Shen was a good official, handled things flawlessly, and was slippery in dealing with people, but there was only one Da Niangzi in the inner courtyard, and there were no concubines.

"The legitimate eldest son's wife's family is the Xie Xie Zijue family just mentioned, the legitimate eldest daughter married the legitimate eldest son of the Marquis of Ningyuan Gu family, the legitimate second son's wife's family is the Minister of Personnel, and the legitimate second daughter married the youngest son of the fifth branch of the former Marquis of Jinghai mansion."

"Zhen'er, the maiden family of the Da Niangzi of the Marquis of Ningyuan mansion is the Pan Da Niangzi of Yang Zhou, and the Da Niangzi of Dengzhou..."

Listening to the maiden family backgrounds of the ladies her mother mentioned, Shen Hezhen secretly clicked her tongue.

Lord Shen had been in the South for more than ten years, and the Shen family also had some business shares in the South, but compared with maritime transport, salt affairs, and water transport, there was still some gap.

Thinking of these, Shen Hezhen was stunned and said: "Mother, didn't you just mention four? Is there another one?"

"There is another one, the youngest son of the Xu family, who is studying, three or four years older than you, and it is said he is not yet married!"

Looking at her daughter who was gradually coming to her senses, the Shen family Da Niangzi said: "There are many smart people in Bianjing, the near water tower gets the moon first, it should have nothing to do with our family."

Just arrived in July,

The Taoist temples outside Bianjing City began to get busy.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 374 =====