Chapter 413: Revisiting an Old Haunt [Many Thanks! Bowing Again! Four Chapters in Arrears]

In mid-October,

winter had already arrived,

and the sun set earlier each day.

After sunset, the light grew dim,

so,

at the first quarter of the You hour,

the Sheng family academy had already dismissed for the day.

Riding out of Jiying Lane,

Xu Xu Zaijing, Qi Heng, and Gu Gu Tingye rode side by side for a stretch before bowing to bid farewell.

On the way back to Quyuanjie,

"Whoa~"

"Many thanks, Young Master!"

"Make way, let this cart pass first."

"The bamboo baskets on both sides of your donkey are too wide; it won't fit through!"

"Steamed buns~"

Listening to the clamor from the roadside,

Xu Zaizhang looked at the flatbed carts on the main street, laden with goods and pulled by oxen, horses, or donkeys, nearly causing a traffic jam, and turned his head to say, "Little Five, I've noticed many more of these carts on the road these past two days this year!"

Xu Xu Zaijing gazed at the bustling evening scenery of Bianjing: "These days are precisely when people prepare winter vegetables and winter grain. I recall that around this time last year, Lady Zhu's relatives delivered over ten cartloads of fine goods to our home."

Xu Zaizhang nodded.

"Besides, after the continuous heavy snows last year, the common people of the capital will surely stock up on more supplies this year!"

As Xu Xu Zaijing spoke, seeing the street ahead clear up somewhat, he lightly tapped his horse's flank and moved forward.

The cart driver, who managed to lead his horse and cart through smoothly only because Xu Xu Zaijing's party had made way, was also accustomed to seeing the lavish young masters of Bianjing.

As he passed beside Xu Xu Zaijing, holding his horsewhip in hand, he bowed repeatedly and offered thanks again and again to Xu Xu Zaijing and the others.

Brother Qingyun, standing beside Xu Xu Zaijing, nodded in acknowledgment as a return gesture.

Stopping and going intermittently,

by the time Xu Xu Zaijing's party turned from the main street into Quyuanjie, the sky had already turned dark.

From a distance, two lanterns bearing the character 'Xu' could be seen hanging at the entrance of Hou Fu.

Along the street, old acquaintances of Hou Fu were lighting candles to set up stalls,

and upon seeing Xu Xu Zaijing's party approach, people occasionally bowed in greeting.

As they passed Hearing Shu Bo's stall, Chu Zhan, a half-grown boy standing nearby, waved to Xu Xu Zaijing and said, "Young Master, there is someone over here who says he is waiting for you!"

Xu Xu Zaijing followed the direction of Chu Zhan's voice and saw a man rising from beneath a canvas awning.

"Greetings, Zhang Zhang Sanlang! Han Han Wulang!"

The man walked over, bowed with clasped hands, and spoke.

"Who are you?"

Xu Zaizhang looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Brother, I know him; you go back first, and I will speak with him for a few words."

After Xu Zaizhang nodded, he rode his horse away from Hearing Shu Bo's stall.

Xu Xu Zaijing dismounted and, looking at Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding before him, asked, "How did you come to my place?"

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding bowed deeply and said, "Han Wulang, I... I truly had nowhere else to turn for help, so I presumptuously came to Hou Fu to find you!"

"Has he eaten anything?"

Xu Xu Zaijing asked Chu Zhan, who stood nearby.

"Young Master, as soon as he arrived, he ordered a bowl of dumpling soup, and then he has been sitting and standing restlessly until now."

Speaking thus, Chu Zhan pointed to a dining table illuminated by candlelight, upon which sat a bowl of dumpling soup, still full.

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "Have Shu Bo prepare a few of his signature dishes and send them in."

"Yes, Young Master!"

"Come inside with me."

With these words, Xu Xu Zaijing led Brother Qingyun and the carriage behind him toward the interior of Hou Fu.

Beside the racecourse,

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding stood beneath a lantern outside the wooden hut,

he glanced at that row of tall stables,

then looked at the snow-white high walls of Hou Fu not far away,

and afterward lowered his head to stare at the ground surrounding the wooden hut,

on his face were pain, sorrow, nostalgia, melancholy, and shame.

After closing his eyes to recompose his emotions, he let out a deep sigh.

"Come in!"

A voice came from within the wooden hut.

Inside the room,

A Lan and Xun Shu set the wooden table in place, glanced at Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding, then bowed to Xu Xu Zaijing before withdrawing.

Before long,

bowls of food still steaming with heat were placed on the table by Chu Zhan.

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding sat stiffly opposite Xu Xu Zaijing.

Seeing Brother Qingyun place the wine warmer on the table, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding hurriedly stood up again.

After waving for him to sit, Xu Xu Zaijing extended his hand and said, "Come, taste Hearing Shu Bo's craftsmanship."

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding picked up his chopsticks, lifted a piece of fish meat, tasted it, and nodded with full approval.

Xu Xu Zaijing continued eating on his own, without speaking first.

The room immediately fell silent.

After putting down his chopsticks, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding timidly raised his eyes to look across at his host.

From where he sat, he could see the rooms where Alan and Xunshu lived; hanging and displayed there were all the weapons used by Xu Xu Zaijing.

Upon seeing these items, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding hurriedly turned his head to look elsewhere.

After a while,

Xu Xu Zaijing lifted the warmed wine pot from the hot water and poured a cup for Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding opposite him.

This action made Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding stand up again, overwhelmed by the unexpected honor.

After filling his own cup, Xu Xu Zaijing raised it and said, "Come, warm your body."

After both drained their cups, seeing Xu Xu Zaijing's hand reach for the wine pot again, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding hurriedly grabbed the pot first.

He poured wine for Xu Xu Zaijing first, then for himself, filling both cups.

Seeing Xu Xu Zaijing raise his cup, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding hurriedly drank another cup.

After three cups of wine down the hatch,

Looking at Xu Xu Zaijing who still remained silent, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding said, "Han Wulang, I have come to beg you to save someone."

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded: "Speak."

"It is, it is the former Si Xiang of the Bai Gao Jin Chuihuan Bureau."

The chopsticks Xu Xu Zaijing was using to pick up rabbit meat stopped, and his eyes narrowed.

A moment later,

"Isn't the Jin Chuihuan Bureau the office that previously plotted to assassinate the Li brothers at my home?"

"Yes."

"Si Xiang? Heh! You really have the nerve to say that."

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding lowered his head even more stiffly.

"Han Wulang, that my lord previously contributed efforts in Xingqing Prefecture! Please, look upon this matter with favor and extend a helping hand!"

After pondering for a moment, Xu Xu Zaijing said: "It is useless for you to find me! Although my father is a Hou Jue, I hold no official title or position!"

"Furthermore, those responsible for secret intelligence matters like the Jin Chuihuan Bureau must be from the Imperial City Bureau! How could they release someone without squeezing every bit of intelligence out of that Si Xiang you mentioned?"

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding raised his head, waving his hands and saying: "Han Wulang, I am not asking to release him; mainly, I wish for the Imperial City Bureau to pay extra attention to him and be more cautious..."

"Han Wulang has established many merits in the Northwest and has extensive connections in Bianjing! Please, Han Wulang, find someone to pass a message; as long as the message reaches the Imperial City Bureau, I will definitely offer rewards."

"Sigh! You have come to the wrong person for help! Did you not try asking other families?"

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding forced a bitter smile: "I did! Previously serving as an envoy for Bai Gao in Bianjing, I did know a few noble Young Masters in the capital."

"But upon hearing my identity... I could not even meet their stewards."

Seemingly recalling the previous cold reception, or perhaps emboldened by the alcohol,

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding gritted his teeth, looked up at Xu Xu Zaijing and said: "Han Wulang, since the families of the Li brothers and other Bai Gao generals could be arranged to stay in the Hou Fu, you must have some connection with the Imperial City Bureau, correct?"

Xu Xu Zaijing exhaled a breath of wine vapor and nodded: "Yes!"

Hearing this, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding's eyes lit up.

"However, anyone capable of serving as the Si Xiang of the Jin Chuihuan Bureau must be formidable! They would not rashly spill all the intelligence in their belly! As long as this Si Xiang has not been emptied, there is naturally no threat to their life!"

"What are you worried about?"

Listening to Xu Xu Zaijing's question,

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding lowered his head, his hands on the table clenching together somewhat unnaturally.

"I..."

"If it is inconvenient to say, then forget it," Xu Xu Zaijing said.

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding suddenly raised his head, words caught in his throat.

Meeting Xu Xu Zaijing's probing gaze, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding finally sighed and said in a low voice: "Han Wulang, a few years ago, someone within the Great Zhou territory had intelligence exchanges with Bai Gao."

"The Jin Chuihuan Bureau, being in Bai Gao two thousand li away, naturally finds it difficult to investigate who is exchanging intelligence with us, but the Imperial City Bureau can investigate easily!"

Xu Xu Zaijing was stunned: "Are you saying you fear that Si Xiang might be silenced?"

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding nodded.

"Then you should go directly to the Imperial City Bureau; why come to me?"

Hearing Xu Xu Zaijing's words,

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding shook his head: "Han Wulang, the few families I previously visited were all noble and pure households; they have no access to the intelligence received by the Jin Chuihuan Bureau."

Seeing Xu Xu Zaijing's thoughtful expression, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding said: "Some intelligence can only be accessed by clerks of the Great Zhou Military Strategy Bureau or the Imperial City Bureau. Therefore..."

Xu Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "Then you need not worry even more; as long as that Si Xiang is not foolish, they will naturally inform the Imperial City Bureau of such life-threatening intelligence immediately."

Hearing this, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding was stunned.

"You are just confused because you care too much."

After speaking, Xu Xu Zaijing raised his wine cup once more.

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding sighed resentfully, seemingly blaming himself for not figuring it out sooner.

He clinked cups with Xu Xu Zaijing and then drained his cup in one gulp.

"You have been in the capital for so many days; has your family's reward been issued yet?"

Xu Xu Zaijing asked.

Relieved, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding nodded: "Yes, Father received a Viscount title that can be passed down for three generations. The family members who came along also received official posts by virtue of his rank."

"But most of the posts are in the southeast circuits."

Xu Xu Zaijing picked up some food with his chopsticks: "The southeast has a mild and humid climate; it is a good place to nurture people. Did any join the army?"

"Yes."

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded, then suddenly seemed to think of something; his eyes lit up as he said, "Earlier in Xingqing Prefecture, I heard you mention a few men who were exceptionally skilled at drilling infantry?"

"That's right! The sons of You Lian Nu's family that we saw earlier in the mountains beyond the frontier! Bai Gao's Bu Ba Zi; Young Master Han Wulang, you should know them."

"Yes, the Bu Ba Zi fight with fierce bravery and strength, and are especially skilled at climbing mountains, occupying high ground, striking, and launching surprise attacks!"

"Young Master Han Wulang, what do you mean by this?"

Xu Xu Zaijing said, "Do they have any good prospects available?"

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding thought for a moment: "The Great Zhou and Bai Gao have been at war for many years! Their infantry is also formidable; many Bu Ba Zi are selected and incorporated into the Great Zhou army, though their military ranks are naturally reduced significantly."

"Are there any who dare to go south to seek merit and fame?"

"Young Master Han Wulang, the south?"

"Yes, three thousand li away, in Yongzhou."

Seeing Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding's surprised expression, Xu Xu Zaijing continued, "Currently, Jiaozhi south of Yongzhou shows signs of internal turmoil and repeatedly invades the border. I have relatives in the south who have commanded troops for many years and are currently busy training soldiers!"

"If any fierce Bu Ba Zi dare to go there, they will naturally be guaranteed a future."

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding shook his head: "Young Master Han Wulang, I have also read some books! Yongzhou is humid, stuffy, and hot, with many snakes, insects, and poisonous miasmas. If one cannot adapt to the local environment, it would truly be..."

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "You need not worry about this. My relative's ancestral home is in Qingzhou, and he has been in Yongzhou for over ten years already. Previously, military officials and nobles who grew up in Bianjing went there, and I have not heard of anyone falling ill."

"Oh? Qingzhou is in the northwest, not far from the original Bai Gao!"

"Yes!"

"Then, I will write a letter to ask!"

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "I will also write a letter to my father. If there are any who truly wish to go, the path will naturally be clear."

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding nodded heavily.

With the major matter settled in his heart,

after exchanging a few more words, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding stood up to take his leave.

By now, the sky had turned completely dark,

standing outside the wooden house,

listening to the children's voices occasionally coming from the stable, Bai Gao's words, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding sighed.

Xu Xu Zaijing escorted Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding to the main gate of Hou Fu,

and after bowing respectfully to Xu Xu Zaijing, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding moved toward the hitching post nearby to mount his horse.

Suddenly,

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The harsh sound of a copper gong rang out from a street intersection not far away, accompanied by the clamor of citizens shouting.

Seeing Xu Xu Zaijing's gaze turn toward that direction,

Chu Zhan volunteered, shouting, "Young Master, I will go and ask."

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding also stopped his movements.

After waiting a while,

Chu Zhan ran back, panting heavily, and pointed in one direction, saying, "Young Master, it is an inn on the other side of the river on the main street. Somehow, a fire broke out and ignited the tung oil in a workshop nearby!"

Looking at the place in the distance that faintly illuminated the sky,

Xu Xu Zaijing asked, "Were any people injured?"

"I don't know. According to the news brought by the idle hands, the fire is quite large."

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded: "Tell the people on the street that winter is dry; be very careful with fire! Also, keep watch to ensure the fire does not spread along the houses!"

"Understood, Young Master!"

The gatekeeper of the Xu family and Chu Zhan replied in unison.

"I will move a ladder and stand high to keep watch."

The gatekeeper added.

After Xu Xu Zaijing made a sound of acknowledgment, he clasped his hands in a bow to Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding, who had already mounted his horse.

After returning the bow, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding guided his horse away.

Leaving Qu Yuan Street,

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding, who had spent a considerable time in Bianjing, checked the direction and then rode toward the location of the fire that Chu Zhan had mentioned.

Riding across the bridge,

on the street not far from where the fire had broken out,

Yamen Runners from Bianjing were already maintaining order, telling people not to approach.

Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding dismounted, calmed his mount, which was somewhat agitated by the firelight, and spoke in the language of the Great Zhou to the citizens of Bianjing gathered around: "May I ask which inn caught fire?"

The citizens watching the fire turned to look at him; seeing his silk robes and his tall, imposing mount, they said, "I heard it is the Gan family inn."

"The Gan family inn? The Gan family whose ancestral home is in the Huainan Western Circuit?" a citizen behind Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding interjected with a question.

"Yes, I heard that because they burned charcoal for heating, they suffered from carbon poisoning, and the entire family failed to escape!"

"Alas! It is truly a pity!"

Hearing the discussions of the people around him,

looking at the bright firelight reflecting in his eyes, Zhe Jue Zhejue Zhongding's gaze was thoughtful.

Turning around,

in the early morning,

the sky was still somewhat dark,

Xu Xu Zaijing, having finished his morning exercises and breakfast, rode out of the Xu family gate together with Zai Zhang.

The early morning of early winter was somewhat cold,

and as people and horses breathed, white vapor appeared before their mouths and noses.

As the carriage and horses walked across the bridge,

a wave of scorched smoke surged into the surroundings,

Qing Yun, by Xu Xu Zaijing's side, narrowed his eyes and pointed toward the distance, saying, "Young Master, it seems the fire broke out here last night!"

Xu Xu Zaijing and Zai Zhang exchanged a glance,

and rode their horses over.

The five or six wooden buildings he had grown accustomed to seeing while going to and from school over the past few years had now turned into ruins, leaving only a ground covered in ash and scorched black walls.

In the somewhat dark sky, one could vaguely see Yamen Runners still standing around.

Behind Xu Xu Zaijing and the others, the curtain of the Xu family carriage was also lifted, and Seeing Seeing Qingcao looked at the scene by the street with eyes full of surprise.

As the group passed by this place,

Xu Xu Zaijing's gaze sharpened: "Gao Da, how are you here?"

Upon seeing Gao Gao Yunqing, Qing Yun quickly clasped his hands in a bow from atop his horse.

(End of this chapter)